GMI anjur kempen 'vigil' di Kem Tahanan Kamunting, 7 Jun

Anis Nazri
Fri | May 30, 08 | 10:54:43 am MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, 30 Mei (Hrkh)



Kem Tahanan Kemunting di Taiping bakal menerima kunjungan ribuan manusia dalam kempen 'vigil' yang akan diadakan 7 Jun ini, bagi membantah akta ISA yang jelas bertentangan dengan hak asasi manusia.

Kempen 'vigil' ini merupakan lanjutan kepada kempen-kempen GMI sebelum ini, seperti Letter Signing Marathon, Petition Online dan kempen poskad, yang dilancarkan badan itu sejak April lalu.

Pengerusi GMI, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, berkata kempen anjuran GMI Perak dengan kerjasama GMI Pusat ini dijadualkan bermula jam 8.00 malam, di hadapan kem, di Taiping, Perak dalam siri kempen membebaskan sekumpulan tahanan yang meringkuk di kem itu selama enam tahun.

"Kem tersebut merupakan simbol atau mercu tanda pembenaran ke atas kezaliman, yang pernah menempatkan beribu-ribu tahanan ISA yang tidak pernah dibicarakan dan dibuktikan bersalah di mahkamah," tegas beliau dalam sidang media, di Dewan Perhimpunan Cina, semalam

Pengarah 'Kempen Bebaskan Tahanan Enam Tahun ISA', Norlaila Othman, berkata program ini merupakan kali pertama diadakan di kem sepanjang kempen GMI bagi usaha meningkatkan kesedaran terhadap orang awam.

"GMI juga mengambil kesempatan untuk meraikan rakyat di sebelah utara (Kedah, Perak, Pulau Pinang dan Perlis) untuk bersama-sama menjayakan kempen ini, yang mana mungkin sukar menyertai kempen kita di KL, sebelum ini," kata beliau, yang mensasarkan kehadiran 1000 orang pada kempen 'vigil' tersebut.

Dalam pada itu, GMI dalam usaha memaklumkan kepada pihak polis Taiping mengenai prigram tersebut, bagaimanapun tidak berhasrat memohon permit, berasaskan kepada hak yang termaktub dalam Perlembagaan mengenai hak berhimpun dan menyuarakan pandangan.

"Lagipun, kita bukan mahu berceramah. Kita hanya buat 'silent protest'. Malah, kita berpengalaman dalam memohon permit polis awal tahun ini di Dataran Merdeka. Mereka seolah-olah mempersendakan kita dengan pelbagai alasan tidak masuk akal," tegas Syed Ibrahim, yang turut percaya kemungkinan program itu menerima halangan pihak polis.

Sehubungan itu, GMI menyeru orang ramai akan turut bersama-sama menyatakan bantahan pada 7 Jun ini, di Kamunting

KNOW YOUR STATE REP: Flooded with issues, but Sum likes it hot

NST - May 31, 2008 By Jaspal Singh



IPOH: Sum Cheok Leng has had very little sleep since he was elected Bercham state assemblyman,

Instead of getting his regular eight hours every night, he has been making do with less than five hours.

But the 58-year-old does not mind it at all.

Up by 5am, the father of four hits the sack only after midnight.

He spends the day attending to complaints from his constituents and visiting government departments to follow up on problems that have been brought to his attention.

"At my age, most people tend to slow down their pace but I do not have the luxury of doing that... I am not complaining, though," said Sum in an interview.

Sum, who joined DAP in 1970, defeated incumbent Barisan Nasional candidate Gooi Seng Teik in the general election with a majority of 6,010 votes. He lost to Gooi by 628 votes in 2004.

His attempts to contest for the Tanjung Tualang and Kampar state seats in 1978 and 1982 respectively also met with defeat.

Sum said being the elected representative of a densely populated constituency like Bercham was not easy.

With over 60 housing areas and a population of more than 80,000 people the state seat, which is located within the Ipoh Barat parliamentary constituency, has presented the first-time assemblyman with some tough issues to resolve.

Uppermost is the problem of flash floods which continues to plague several areas in the constituency even though over RM10 million has been spent on improving the drainage in the last five years.

"Flooding is a big head-ache... I think I have had enough verbal fights with the Ipoh City Council in the last two months over this matter."

Besides the flood problem, Sum has to move fast to tackle another important issue -- increasing the capacity of SJK (C) Bercham

With some 3,300 students, the school long ago exceeded its intake capacity of about 1,000 pupils.

Appeals from parents for the construction of a bigger school had been met with a deafening silence in the past.

Sum is very conscious of the possible political consequen-ces of not proceeding quickly with the expansion of the school.

"The DAP will probably lose Bercham to Barisan Nasional once again."

In the weeks that have passed since the elections, Sum has come to accept that, even as he tries his best to fulfil his responsibilities as a state assemblyman, he will always have to put up with the frustration of dealing with government departments and local councils which do not always grasp the importance and urgency of the projects that he is working on.

Not one to mince his words, Sum said, in his dealings with government officials, he had come to the conclusion that cicivil servants needed to work on improving their work attitude, planning and financial resource management.

"Responses and solutions are slow to come. But, I think the Pakatan Rakyat state government will be able to resolve some of the more important outstanding issues affecting the public.

"As for me, I believe I will be quite occupied until the next general election.

"There is not much time to sleep but to be honest this is the best of times."

The Regent of Perak opens RM6mil mosque - The Star

May 31, 2008

FOLLOWING a slight change to the dome’s design, which caused a nine-month delay, work on the Sultan Yusuff Izzuddin Shah mosque in Seri Iskandar, Perak, is finally completed.

Opened yesterday by the Regent of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, the mosque had been in use since Jan 18.

Construction of the RM6mil mosque started in 2005.

It was scheduled for completion on Dec 14 in 2006 but due to changes to the dome’s design, the date of completion was extended to Sept 16 last year.


Royal opening: Raja Dr Nazrin Shah touring the mosque in Seri Iskandar yesterday.

The mosque can accommodate up to 2,000 people.

In his speech, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin urged the mosque committee to organise more activities.

“The mosque is not only a place for prayers,” he said.

Raja Dr Nazrin Shah later joined the congregation for Friday pra-yers at the mosque.

Nizar: Show your Pakatan Rakyat spirit - The Star

IPOH: May 31, 2008

Show more strength and stamina when facing athletes from non-Pakatan Rakyat states at the coming 12th Sukma (Malaysia Games) in Terengganu.

That was the advice Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin had for the state contingent when he met the athletes yesterday.

“When contesting against athletes from non-Pakatan Rakyat states, you must show the spirit of the Pakatan Rakyat states,” he added.

On whether he was politicising the games with his statement, Nizar said: “No. It is a competition between PR and non-PR states. Even within the PR states, we must challenge each other,” he said.

Setting a target for the state contingent to win 45 gold medals this year, Nizar said the athletes must uphold the image of Perak and be disciplined as a team. Last year, Perak won 37 gold medals at Sukma.

He told the athletes that he and other state executive council members would greet them at the Perak border if they brought back more than 40 gold medals.

He also urged Muslim athletes to start their matches with a prayer. “Say your bismillah (in the name of God) before you begin the first stroke of a match,” he said.

The 12th Sukma is scheduled from June 2 to 8.

Explain how RM8mil was spent, Perak asks former state govt - The Star

IPOH: May 30, 2008 By HAH FOONG LIAN

Perak wants the previous state government to explain how this year's RM8mil development fund had been spent in less than three months.

State senior executive council (exco) member Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said the government was shocked at the way the fund, meant for small projects, had been spent.

"We discovered that the entire sum was spent before or during the March 8 general election," Ngeh said Friday at a press conference.

The fund, he said, was made up of an allocation of RM75,000 to each Barisan state assemblyman and an additional of RM100,000 given to each state exco member.

"The total sum was RM8mil and it was spent in less than three months," he added.

"The people are suspicious that they were spent on election purposes. We are not accusing them yet but we want them to clarify," Ngeh said.

"I want (former Perak mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohamad) Tajol Rosli (Ghazali) and other former exco members, who are now assemblymen, to clarify the matter in order to be fair to the people," he said.

Urging the previous state government to itemise the expenditure and name the amount spent, Ngeh said:

"This is a clear case of bad management. The allocation is intended for the whole year but it was spent within less than three months. Has it been spent for political purposes?"

The previous government should immediately write to the state or announce the matter in the media so that the people can verify the expenditure, he said.

State Education, Local Government Housing and Public Transport Committee chairman Nga Kor Ming, who was also present at the media briefing said:

"This is extraordinary and we are suspicious. The people have the right to know."

When asked if there were any statements or receipts in the Government's record on the spending of the RM8mil, Nga said:

"Let them show first. They've spent the money so they must show. That is not a logical question. Why ask us to show?"

Ngeh explained that the local people could cross-check the spending.

"For example, if an item was tagged at RM20,000 but it could be worth only RM3,000. The public could scrutinise," he added.

Exco member Zainuddin Mohd Yusof, who was also present, said the normal procedure in the disbursement of public expenditure should be apportioned according to the time of the year.

"It should be spread out over the year. You don't spend all in the first quarter of the year. This is very questionable," he added.

Foreign investors confident in Perak - The Star

IPOH: May 30, 2008

Foreign investors have shown confidence in Perak’s Pakatan Rakyat government and the state is now considering investment valued at about RM21.8bil.

State Education, Local Government Housing and Public Transport Committee chairman Nga Kor Ming said investment projects valued at some RM21.1bil had been proposed to the state during the first two months of the new coalition’s administration.

“This is a big encouragement for the government,” he said at a press conference Friday.

Among the projects are a RM16bil investment interest from Qatar’s Gulf Petroleum and a RM1.5bil project from First Solar Incorporation from the United States.

Nga urged other corporations to invest in Perak to contact InvestPerak, a one-stop agency that processes applications of investors.

On whether the Gulf Petroleum investment was the same as announced by the previous Barisan Nasional government, senior executive council member Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said the Qatar-based oil company wanted to withdraw its investment but the state government had managed to persuade them to stay on.

On the appointment of local councillors in Perak, Nga said the state government had received an overwhelming interest from the public with 2,500 applications made for the 104 posts.

“We are preparing to interview applicants for the selection,” he added.

The state government had announced that one-third of the positions would be from non-governmental organisations and public interest groups while the rest would bee from political parties.

Nizar: Pakatan reps must declare assets - NST

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar says no deadline set

KUALA KANGSAR: May 30, 2008

All state executive councillors and Pakatan Rakyat state assemblymen must declare their assets, said Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.

The deadline for submission has yet to be decided as the state government has not received the specific form for asset declaration, which was being distributed by the federal government through the Anti-Corruption Agency, he said.

"As soon as we receive the form, we will distribute it," he told reporters after visiting the Kuala Kangsar Land Office here yesterday.

However, he said the Perak state government had not made any official application to the ACA for the forms.

On other matters, he said Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad agreed to pay RM300 in monthly subsidies for two years to 500 families in Perak who were squatting on land which would be used for the Ipoh-Padang Besar double-tracking system.

Each family would also receive an additional RM1,000 for agreeing to the relocation.

The state government was now preparing suitable housing lots for the affected squatters to ensure that they would be relocated to a better living environment.

"We will speed up this process so that the double-tracking system will be finished quickly."

A surau and two temples would also be relocated, he added

Perak diminta haramkan juga program berkonsep Islam Hadhari - The Star

28-05-2008 07:49:07 PM

IPOH: Dewan Pemuda PAS Ipoh Timur (DPPIT) dan Dewan Pemuda PAS Pasir Salak (DPPPs) hari ini menyarankan agar kerajaan Perak mengikuti pendirian kerajaan Selangor dan Pulau Pinang mengharamkan program berkonsepkan Islam Hadhari yang diperkenalkan oleh Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tiga tahun lepas.

Ketua DPPIT Salman Saleh dan Ketua DPPPS Zamarul Aini Abdul Malek berkata langkah itu perlu bagi mengembalikan ajaran Islam yang sebenar kerana Islam Hadhari amat menyalahi prinsip sebenar Islam yang sudah sempurna.

"Kami amat yakin bahawa Islam yang telah kita amalkan daripada dahulu dan hari ini tidak berubah dan sudah cukup. Kami menyarankan supaya semua masjid dan surau tidak dibenarkan mengadakan program termasuk khutbah yang menyentuh atau ada hubung kait dengan Islam Hadhari," kata mereka dalam satu kenyataan bersama di sini, Rabu.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Tetap Hal Ehwal Agama, Adatadat Melayu Infrastruktur dan Kemudahan Awam Negeri Selangor Datuk Dr Hassan Mohamed Ali telah mengumumkan bahawa kerajaan negeri Selangor mengharamkan sebarang pelaksanaan program berkonsepkan Islam Hadhari di negeri itu.

Ini diikuti oleh kenyataan Timbalan Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin semalam bahawa negeri itu akan mengikut jejak Selangor.

Selangor, Pulau Pinang dan Perak diperintah oleh Pakatan Rakyat terdiri Parti Keadilan Rakyat, DAP dan PAS. Dua lagi negeri yang bukan diperintah oleh Barisan nasional ialah Kedah dan Kelantan.

Mufti Perak Datuk Seri Harussani Zakaria semalam dilaporkan berkata tindakan mengharamkan program berkonsepkan Islam Hadhari boleh menyebabkan umat Islam di Malaysia keliru dengan konsep tersebut yang diperkenalkan Abdullah pada 2005.

Beliau berkata pihak yang berkenaan perlu mengkaji keseluruhan konsep Islam Hadhari terlebih dahulu bagi mengelak timbulnya satu lagi perpecahan dalam kalangan rakyat.

"Saya rasa kita kena faham betul-betul dahulu tentang konsep Islam Hadhari itu sebelum mengambil tindakan. Apa yang saya faham setelah berbincang dengan Perdana Menteri dahulu, Islam Hadhari menepati tujuan Islam yang ingin mengangkat 65 perkara.

"Antara yang wajib adalah memperkasakan agama, akal, jiwa, keturunan dan harta. Namun, ulama telah menambah untuk memperkasakan akhlak juga.

"Islam Hadhari boleh diambil sebagai sifat kemajuan Islam. Saya rasa tak salah kita gunakan konsep tersebut untuk memajukan Islam," katanya seperti dilaporkan mStar Online.

Harussani enggan mengulas sama ada Perak akan mengikuti jejak kerajaan negeri Selangor dengan mengharamkan Islam Hadhari. BERNAMA

Clogged drain driving ’em up the wall - The Star

May 29, 2008

SHOPKEEPERS in Taman Kota Jaya in Taiping, Perak, are unhappy that the drain in front of their shops is clogged with garbage.

U. Rajoo said contractors appointed by the Taiping Municipal Council should go there regularly and not every six months.

“Mosquitoes are breeding there,” he said.

Another shopkeeper, C. Shanmugam who is also Kampung Dew Barat Rukun Tetangga chairman said the council should assert its authority on the contractors as they were not doing their job.

Shanmugam, whose shop had been partially converted into an RT patrol base said residents had expected better services from the council-appointed contractors.

“Whenever residents and shopkeepers are late paying their assessment fees, they get into trouble with the council but when the contractors tasked with cleaning drains are not discharging their duties accordingly, we have to bear the consequences,” he added.

Council secretary Shahrom Datuk Abdul Malek, when contacted, said he would look into the matter .

Diners have a hunger for worthy cause - The Star

IPOH: May 29, 2008

The Bercham DAP branch has received good response from the public in its call for donations for the Sichuan earthquake victims.

Bercham state assemblyman Sum Cheok Leng said they collected RM14,661 from customers of the Restoran Tauge Ayam 818 in one night on Tuesday.

“Many told me how sorry they felt for the victims. They said they wanted to give as much as they could to help them out,” said Sum yesterday.

“During our first collection round last Sunday, we managed to get RM6,168 from the new villages,” he said.

Sum added that the drive in his constituency would continue until the end of the month.

Sand mining activities upset Trong folk - The Star

May 28, 2008 By RASLAN BAHAROM

SAND mining activities in Perak, which has large tracks of disused ex-mining land, have brought good income to the state.

However, villagers, especially in Trong, Taiping, said such activities should be stopped or closely monitored.

“There were no crater-like formations here previously but now the land is in a mess,” said Trong village chief Othman Hasan who accompanied Bukit Gantang MP Roslan Shahrum to a site owned by the Perak State Economic Development Corporation (SEDC).

Othman said the site was a levelled one a few years ago but sand mining activities had made it unsuitable for any economic activity.

Villagers breifing Roslan (second right) on sand mining activities which have left large craters at Trong.

“Sand contractors are filling up some construction needs in some other states or locations but we are left with these large unsightly craters,” said Othman who suggested that such SEDC-owned land be leased out to villagers to grow vegetables or other crops instead.

Othman said the previous Barisan Nasional-led state government had wanted to set up some industries in the vicinity but the plan was dropped for some unknown reasons.

Villagers in the vicinity claimed that the sand mining activity there was illegal but Roslan, who contacted an officer from the Larut Matang land office on the spot, was informed that a local contractor had been issued with a three-month sand mining lease due to expire in June.

Nevertheless, Roslan said he would bring up the matter to the attention of the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government to stop the activity.

“If I am not mistaken, an excavated sand mining site must be levelled back but this is not done and the large craters created may eventually be clogged with water, and thus endangering the residents’ safety,” he said.

Another villager Zainal Ayub said the sand mining operation could cause erosion to a nearby housing scheme.

Earlier, at a dialogue with Roslan at nearby Kampung Air Terjun, resident Liew Kam Choon said street lights were needed to discourage the theft of telephone cables.

Another resident, Zainudin Zainal, 30, said a football field should be provided in Trong.

“Youngsters here have to play at a school field here which should be reserved for school-related activities,” said Zainuddin.

He suggested that a sand mining location in the vicinity owned by the SEDC be turned into a football field instead.

“Though the state government or the SEDC may not be able to make much money from a football field, recreational activities should be promoted among youngsters to discourage them from becoming Mat Rempit or indulging in other immoral activities,” he said.

Roslan said he would try his best to solve the problems.

178 applications for 8 Ipoh City Council posts - The Star

IPOH: May 27, 2008 By CHRISTINA KOH

The city council has received an overwhelming 178 applications for the eight councillor positions open to the public and non-governmental organisations.

Startled by the figure, Datuk Bandar Datuk Mohamad Rafiai Moktar said that only 30% of the 24 city councillor positions were open to these applicants.

“We received 178 forms for the city council but we have also asked some of them to send their applicants straight to the State Secretariat.

“The results will be announced by the state soon,” he told reporters after presenting excellent service awards to 186 council employees here Tuesday.

The closing date to submit applications for councillor positions was May 22.

Meanwhile, Mohamad Rafiai declined to comment if he would remain as mayor.

Asked if he had received the official letter from the state to extend his tenure, he replied: “I don’t know.”

However, Mohamad Rafiai admitted that he was willing to serve again as mayor if asked.

“Yes, if they (the state) still need my services, I’m willing to serve.

“My birthday is on June 6, so my tenure is supposed to end on June 5,” he added.

On the Barisan Nasional councillors, Mohamad Rafiai said the city councillors from Umno were expected to submit their resignations by the end of the month.

“We have already received the letters from the two MIC councillors and three PPP councillors earlier this month (May). “Their resignations would be effective June 1,” he said.

The remaining three councillors from Gerakan and six from the MCA had earlier tendered their resignations.

Workers want their jobs back - The Star

May 26, 2008

RETRENCHED workers of the Royal Perak Golf Club (RPGC) are urging the Pakatan Rakyat state government to reinstate them as employees of the club.

Club Employees Union Peninsular Malaysia secretary-general Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid said he wanted the state government to settle the case before it went to court.

“The workers want their jobs back with wage increments,” said Abdullah Sani, who is also Kuala Langat MP.

“The state government should be thoughtful of the retrenched workers who have been jobless since they received their termination letters,” he told a press conference at the Perak DAP headquarters in Ipoh recently.

Echoing Abdullah Sani was Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran who said that it would take a long time to settle the case in court.

He said the present state government could help resolve the issue because RPGC Bhd was owned by the state government.

“The state government should order RPGC Bhd to reinstate the retrenched workers and give them backdated wages,” he said.

“A government that cares for the people must understand that it is its duty to help citizens,” he added.

RPGC is managed by RPGC Bhd, which is a public company formed under the State Secretary Incorpo-rated.

A total of 115 of the club’s employees had been retrenched following the previous Barisan Nasional state government’s takeover of the club in May 2006.

Forty workers were terminated on Oct 26, 2006, and 75 on Feb 28, 2007.

Change with times, MB urges media Media - The Star

May 26, 2008

THE media should change with times or risk being wiped out, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said.

He said society would find alter-native sources of information if the media continued to be a nitpicker.

“Those (media) with unhealthy intentions will be left out as the people will go to other sources,” he said during a press night he hosted at his official residence in Ipoh recently.

Mohammad Nizar (right) shaking hands with a reporter.

Calling for fairness in their reporting, Mohammad Nizar said if the media were to be fair, it would last forever.

Mohammad Nizar also expressed hope that newsmen should act as a bridge between the state and the people.

“While we would love to meet each and every citizen of Perak, we know it is impossible. That is why we need the media to help us disseminate information,” he added.

Perak Media Sports Club chairman Samad Majid urged the new state government to be media savvy.

“Our job is just to disseminate the facts to the rakyat. We work professionally with no hidden agenda,” he said.

Syariah court must keep pace - The Star

IPOH: May 25, 2008

Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah has advised the state Syariah administration to keep abreast of current efforts to reform the country’s judicial system.

He said this was to ensure that the integrity of the system was enhanced and stood strong as a body respected by all.

“Many steps are being taken now to reinforce the country’s judicial system so that it remains free and independent.

“This is especially important as it is the very basic foundation of the doctrine of separation of powers between the legislative, the judiciary and the executive bodies,” he said in his speech during the launch of the RM33.4mil Perak Syariah Court yesterday.

Better facilities: Sultan Azlan Shah checking out the judge’s stand in a courtroom after the launch of the court in Ipoh yesterday. With him is Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.

He added that the Syariah Court was an institution responsible for fulfilling its duties to manage the implementation of justice in the country.

“The construction of this court has achieved its physical needs in terms of hardware.

“Now, the most important thing is the software component. This comprises the judges and all of the court’s staff.

“These are the people who are blessed with the responsibility of bringing the very meaning of justice to this building,” he said.

Sultan Azlan Shah added that the Syariah Court needed to be able to carry out justice in an efficient and objective manner.

“All judgments made must be based on facts and valid data that has no doubt. Each judgment must be documented in writing so that it can be used as reference later,” he said.

Need to combat high cost of health care - The Star

TAIPING: May 25, 2008

The Sultan of Perak has called for a strategic approach to combat the escalating cost of providing health care and services to the people.

Sultan Azlan Shah said yesterday a preventive approach via effective education especially at the school level, should be enhanced.

He said the young must be inculcated with values which promoted healthy lifestyle including a balanced diet, promoting daily recreational activities, adequate sleeping time and rest period, abstain from smoking and avoid excessive drinking.

“Among strategic approaches that need to be developed are preventive measures through effective education,” he said when opening Taiping’s new health clinic.

Sultan Azlan Shah also said there might be a need to introduce a medical and health treatment scheme, which benefited the poor and low- income earners.

Present were Raja Permaisuri Tuanku Bainun, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Nizar Jamaluddin and Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai.

Sultan Azlan Shah also called for stern action to be taken against those who carried out activities which contributed to pollution and environmental degradation.

He added approval requirements for economic activities should be tightened so they would not affect the health of the people.

Earlier in his speech, Liow said the clinic treated between 600 and 800 patients daily.

Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, he said the ministry had built about 4,000 health clinics throughout the country.

He added Malaysia’s life expectancy had also increased from 56 years to 72 years.

Perak Puteri to use cyberspace and colours to woo youth - The Star

IPOH: May 24, 2008 By Hah Foong Lian

Using cool colours and the cyberspace –that is how Perak Puteri Umno wants to win over youth to regain the state from Pakatan Rakyat in the next general election.

Its chief Dr Wan Norashikin Wan Noordin said the movement was looking into various changes it needed to adopt to woo young voters in Perak.

“One distinct change is the use of colours. Hence, the black colour and shocking pink,” she said Saturday at the first series of Puteri’s 2013 mission to capture the hearts and minds of voters.

The colours would be used on the wing’s banners and certain clothing like t-shirts.

“We are also using blogs and Facebook to reach out to the youngsters,” she said.The movement’s blog is www.pu3perak.blogspot.com.

The wing had to change to stay relevant with youth in view of the recent political scenario while continuing its “conventional” programmes, she said.

The first series was a closed-door talk entitled “The Terengganu Experience” given by Terengganu Umno chief Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.

Dr Wan Norashikin, who is also Kampung Gajah state assemblyman, explained black was considered a “cool” colour among the younger generation.

At a press conference, Idris said the people had the impression that Terengganu had lost the recent general election.

“In fact, we won with more than a two-thirds majority. The impression people have is different and that is quite misleading,” he said when asked if he would step down as Terengganu Umno chief.

The only problem Terengganu faced was the issue of Mentri Besar, he added.

Idris, who was Terengganu Mentri Besar until he was replaced by Datuk Ahmad Said, said the people would be able to differentiate the Mentri Besar from the state Umno chief.

“Positions are not important. They are by appointment. If I am no longer relevant, I will leave,” he said.

“But the facts showed that under the previous leadership, Terengganu won in 2004 and 2008. Changes should not be made for the sake of changing,” he said.

Rep: Show you care for China quake victims - The Star

May 24, 2008

RESIDENTS in Taiping, Perak, have been urged to open their hearts and their wallets to help earthquake victims in Sichuan Province, China.

Pokok Assam assemblyman Yee Seu Kai said people can donate at all DAP-run service centres.

He urged associations and guilds to initiate their own donation drives to help the victims.

Nga (third left) and Yee (fourth left) collecting donations. With them is Yew (right).

“Open your hearts and also your wallet to show that we care about their plight,” he said during the opening of Aulong assemblyman Yew Tian Hoe’s service centre in Taiping recently.

Also present were Yew, Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming and local PKR and PAS leaders.

Earlier, Yew kicked off the donation campaign by giving RM500.

Nga and Yee later collected donations from those who turned up for the opening of the service centre.

Perak MB tells mainstream media not to be one-sided or monotonous in reporting - NST

IPOH, FRI: May 23, 2008 By M. Husairy Othman

The mainstream media should change its way of reporting or risk being left out in the future, said Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.

"The reports carried by the media must have elements of justice instead of being monotonous or merely one-sided reporting.

"They (editors) must move away from the current practice of subtracting and adding (unsubstantiated) material to the articles or analysis," he said.

He pointed out that failure to address this issue would cause the people at large to resort to seeking the "truth" from alternative media.

"The people must not be denied of their rights of access to accurate information. They are well aware of what is happening around them and will not hesitate to look for an alternative source of information," Nizar said at a gathering for the media held at his official residence recently.

DAP Jalong donates to Earthquake and Cyclone Victim

Kuala Lumpur: (The Sun) May 22, 2008

Syabas YB Leong for your commendable effort.



Jalong assemblyman Leong Mee Meng of DAP, handing over a RM125, 000 mock cheque raised by the people to DAP leader Lim Kit Siang and party treasurer Fong Kui Lun to help the earthquake victims in Sinchuan of China and cyclone victims in Myanmar.

RM8.37b allocation for Perak - NST

May 22, 2008

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department S.K. Devamany


THE government will spend nearly RM8.37 billion on economic and social projects in Perak under the Ninth Malaysian Plan.

This will include areas like tourism, commerce and industrial projects, transportation, communications, public amenities, health, housing and education.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department S.K. Devamany said projects with a direct impact on the people and economy would not be postponed or scrapped although Perak and several other states were under opposition control.

He said the implementation of these projects, however, depended on co-operation extended by the state governments in terms of issuing of land titles or approving the drafts of the development plans.

Devamany, in his reply to M. Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat), said 30 per cent or RM2.5 billion had been set aside for economic projects while RM3.3 billion would be used for social development which included health and education projects.

"We have a long list of things that we have planned for all states, including Perak, under the Ninth Malaysia Plan using a RM200 billion allocation," he said.

He added that if projects were postponed or reviewed in certain states, it would have been due to a restructuring to identify projects that should be given high priority.

Devamany said the federal government would concentrate on people-centred projects in Perak such as roads, water and electricity supply, flood mitigation projects and human capital development.

Govt may allow terminal to become pick-up point - The Star

May 22, 2008

PERAK may consider allowing northbound express buses to pick up passengers from the now defunct Medan Kidd bus terminal in Ipoh.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said this was one way to solve the problems faced by bus operators and traders whose businesses were affected when the terminal’s operation was shifted to Medan Gopeng in October 2004.

“We understand the difficulties faced by those who are based here after the terminal was shifted.

“From what I know, although there are 50 shop lots here, only 30 over traders are still operating as the rest had stopped operation due to bad business,” he said during a visit to Medan Kid bus terminal.

Nizar said that by allowing certain northbound buses to stop by the terminal to pick up passengers, the volume of customers patronising the shops would increase.

He said the matter would be brought up at the state exco meeting soon so that a quick win-win solution could be prepared for the traders there.

“We do not want either party to be victimised, whether those here at Medan Kidd or those at Medan Gopeng.

“We hope the traders will be patient and give us some time to come up with a good solution for everyone to benefit from,” he said.

Nizar added that Medan Kidd terminal could also be improved with better facilities like toilets and a surau in order to attract more customers to patronise the shops there.

“We could get the city council’s assistance on the matter to see what we can do to develop this place,” he said.

Getting ready to pick village heads - The Star

May 22, 2008 By RASLAN BAHAROM

A RM200 monthly allowance may be a paltry sum for handling the welfare of over 5,000 families.

But pensioner Abu Bakar Abdullah does not see it that way.

“Money is not everything as I enjoy helping people,” said Abu Bakar.

Abu Bakar, 69, was among those who turned up at the village community hall on Tuesday to witness villagers registering as voters to enable aspirants like him to become village chiefs under a new move initiated by the Pakatan Rakyat-led Perak Government.

Abu Bakar was recently appointed acting Kampung Dato’ Haji Hashim village chief by local representatives of the new government, occupying one of 98 vacant village chief posts up for grabs in the Larut Matang district.

Larut Matang and Selama district officer Datuk Mahmod Morsidi, who is also the returning officer, said voting day would be determined later.

Mahmod said the voter registration exercise which began on Tuesday would be carried out in stages.

“Those who cannot make it can still register at the respective penghulu’s office before voting day which will be decided later,” said Mahmod.

Mahmod said villagers who failed to register could still exercise their voting rights on voting day itself.

He said those interested in being elected as village chiefs could get the nomination forms from his office.

Mahmod said those aged between 35 and 70 years were eligible to vie for the posts.

Villager Ng Hai Huy, 50, said she welcomed the new move to elect a village chiefs.

“Anyone can become a village chief now unlike in the past when a person whom we hardly knew was appointed to become our village chief,” said the mother of six grown-ups.

Ng, who has been living in Kampung Dato’ Haji Hashim formerly known as Kampung Batu 2 1/2 for the past 20 years, claimed she did not know who or where to find the previous village chief.

Another villager, Cik Siah Daud, 70, hoped with the election of the new village chiefs, the problem over the management of the village community hall could be sorted out.

Kampung Kota Barat MIC branch chairman T. Rajoo, 66, claimed that a kindergarten class convened at the village community hall had to move elsewhere due to uncertainty over the community hall’s management after the fall of the Barisan Nasional-led Perak Government following the March 8 elections.

However, former village develop-ment and security committee member Mohd Tahir Mat Yusof said the kindergarten class organised by Rajoo was not a government-organised activity.

“It is a privately-organised kindergarten and no one seems to want to bear the responsibility of settling the electricity bills of the community hall,” said Mohd Tahir.

Residents say no to telco towers - The Star

May 21, 2008

KAMPUNG Simee residents who failed to stop the erection of tele-communication towers in their village eight years ago hope the new Perak Government will listen to them.

Resident Chong Phooi Khoon said they were getting fed-up with the situation now because a telecom-munication company wanted to erect another tower.

“We have no choice but to voice our frustrations,” said the 55-year-old mini market owner after a gathering on Sunday to protest against the towers.

Chong said the residents were concerned about possible exposure to low-level radiation.

“We don’t know much about it but we are still worried about the possibility,” said Chong.

He said the telecommunication towers were erected “very close” to people’s homes.

“The one closest to my mini market is only about 7m away,” he said.

He added that the owners of the premises were paid RM1,500 a month for the towers to be erected on their buildings.

“So it is good money for the owners,” he noted.

Chong pointed out that eight years ago, there was only one tower and over the years, two more were built.

“Now, another telecommuni-cation company wants to put up one more,” he said, adding that a small village like Kampung Simee would have four towers which were too close to the residents’ homes.

Another resident Wong Yuen Hin said they had been protesting for the past eight years but to no avail.

“Now we hope the new govern-ment will look into the matter seriously,” he said.

The 58-year-old Yuen Hin said the recent gathering was the residents’ fourth attempt to ask the authorities to look into their plight.

Three years ago, they managed to obtain 800 signatures from resi-dents, said Yuen Hin who is a sales-man.

Canning assemblyman Wong Kah Woh, who attended to their protest, said he would raise the matter with the authorities.

According to information ga-thered on the erection of telecom-munication towers, Kah Woh said towers less than 45m high must be built 20m away from the homes and 10m away from commercial units.

Towers exceeding 45m high should be erected 30m away from the homes and 15m away from commercial lots, he added.

Perak reps visit Parliament - Malaysiakini

A delegation of Perak's Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives led by its Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin visited the Parliament today.

During the visit, the delegation held meetings with opposition leaders including PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang.

Anwar: Umno crisis worsening - The Star

PETALING JAYA: May 20, 2008 By ZANI SALLEH

The resignation of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed indicates a worsening of the crisis in Umno and Barisan Nasional, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The internal problem of the party was deteriorating beyond any hope of recovery, and the welfare of Malaysians was being neglected, he said in a statement.

He said that Malaysians must avoid being trapped by personal agendas to replace leaders.

PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the whole issue was just about Umno's internal politics and it showed that Umno had no direction.

“We, however, welcome it if it makes our party stronger and they (Umno members) are also welcome to join us,” she said.

In Ipoh, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said Dr Mahathir was being unfair to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Abdullah in leaving Umno so suddenly.

“This is just not fair to Pak Lah,” he told reporters during a visit to the Medan Kidd bus station on Tuesday.

“After all, the nation is still reeling from the aftermath of the (March 8) general election. We need to give Pak Lah some time to develop himself and to stabilise the country.”

Nizar added that the former Prime Minister should have allowed more time to pass to allow for the country to be stable before making his shocking announcement.

He added that Dr Mahathir could have left the party, if he really felt he needed to, after the dust from the elections had settled. His resignation then would not be so open to misinterpretation.

“If there was an urgent reason for him to leave, he could have done so at a better time. Leaving at this point, he is not being people-friendly and is only further stressing the public,” Nizar said.

Earlier, during the Muzakarah Cendekiawan Islam 2008 conference, Perak Mufti Datuk Seri Harussani Zakaria echoed Nizar’s views on Dr Mahathir’s announcement.

“This should not have happened. He has led the nation for more than two decades and his departure will cause some cracks in society, especially among the Malays,” he said.

He added that differences in political beliefs should not be an excuse to cause instability and division among the people.

Polls petition for Teja seat to be heard in June - The Star

IPOH: May 20, 2008 By CHAN LI LEEN

An election petition to declare the results of the Teja state constituency null and void will be heard before the High Court here next month.

Election judge Siti Mariah Ahmad fixed June 13 and 16 to hear preliminary objections by the constituency's returning officer and the Election Commission.

Both have been named as second and third respondents in the petition filed by Barisan Nasional candidate Yew Sau Kham.

On April 25, Yew had filed the petition challenging the results of the Teja seat, which she lost to first respondent, Parti Keadilan Rakyat's Chang Lih Kang by a mere 175 votes.

Yew claimed that the March 8 results of the Teja constituency was invalid because a registered female voter had not been allowed to vote at the Lawan Kuda Timur polling station.

The woman was assumed to have already cast her vote as a line was found to have been drawn across her name on the voters' list.

Yew further claimed that later at 6pm, nine election workers at separate counting centres were told to leave their respective centres even before the vote-counting process had been completed.

The court was informed that Chang would be filing a notice to strike out the petition.

Perak party chief: DAP, PAS goals are compatible - Malaysiakini

By Jed Yoong | May 19, 08 4:44pm

Ideological differences between secularist DAP and Islamist PAS will not result in the Pakatan Rakyat state governments falling apart.

In fact, the DAP’s social democratic roots are compatible with PAS's agenda for a welfare state, said Perak DAP head and senior executive councillor Ngeh Koo Ham.

"Umno says DAP is a communist party, a (Chinese) chauvinist party, but DAP is a social democratic party," he told about 3,000 PAS supporters at a function in Pengkalan Chepa, outside Kota Bahru, yesterday.

Ngeh, who looks after the affairs of non-Muslims in Perak, spent most of his speech soothing the fears that PAS supporters have about DAP.

He said DAP is committed to creating a society with equal opportunities that also looks after the welfare of the underprivileged like orphans, single mothers, the disabled and the poor.

This, he said, is also in line with the PAS welfare state agenda, formulated in the run-up to the last general election. The party used this in place of its long-promoted Islamic state policy.

Ngeh stood in for Perak MB Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, a PAS leader, who could not attend the event due to other commitments. Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat, who was expected to give a speech, pulled out in the last minute due to health reasons.

Also present at the function were Kelantan Deputy MB Ahmad Yakob and state executive councillor Husam Musa.

DAP and PAS has long been at odds over their differing ideology, especially over the Islamic state issue. Their differences even saw DAP pulling out of the Barisan Alternatif opposition coalition in 2001.

However, the parties, along with PKR, have since come together to form Pakatan Rakyat, after their unprecedented success in the March 8 general election.

The Pakatan coalition controls five states and has 82 members of Parliament, effectively denying Barisan Nasional a two-thirds majority in the legislative chamber.

More news at www.malaysiakini.com

Perak looks to Kelantan for spiritual development - The Star

KOTA BARU: May 19, 2008

Perak plans to emulate Kelantan’s model of spiritual enlightenment policies in its own quest to find a balance between physical and spiritual development.

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said the state already enjoyed strong physical development and now it was equally important to have spiritual development.

“We can learn from Kelantan about their emphasis on spiritual development and incorporate some of it into our policies,” he said after a courtesy call on Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat here.

Present were state DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa and several other Perak leaders.

Warm reception: Nik Abdul Aziz welcoming Nizar during the latter's courtesy call on the Kelantan Mentri Besar in Kota Baru on Sunday.

Nizar became the first mentri besar from the Pakatan Rakyat states to make an official visit to Kelantan, which has been the bastion of the Opposition through PAS since 1990.

Next month, Nik Abdul Aziz is scheduled to chair the first consultative council of mentris besar and chief ministers under the Pakatan alliance.

He said the positive aspects of Kelantan governance could be emulated in Perak but based on Perak’s needs and acceptance of its people.

“We have to understand the (population) composition of Perak differs from Kelantan so we need a comprehensive study of all state policies first before we can see which parts of Kelantan administration can be adopted in Perak,” Nizar said.

Nik Abdul Aziz said the PAS victory in Perak – where the Islamist party grabbed six seats and its state liaison secretary, Nizar, was appointed Mentri Besar – was a testament that people did not reject Islam.

PKR man: Unhappy BN parties should pull out - The Star

IPOH: May 18, 2008 By HAH FOONG LIAN

Barisan Nasional component parties unhappy with Umno should pull out of the coalition and join Pakatan Rakyat, a Perak Parti Keadilan (PKR) Youth leader said.

At a public forum here on Saturday night, Perak PKR Youth Information deputy chief Chang Lih Kang said there were Barisan parties that shared the same views as PR on issues like abolishing draconian laws, and the fair and equitable treatment of all races.

However Umno, as the dominant party in the coalition, did not endorse their views, he said. Chang, who is also Teja assemblyman, said it was high time they re-considered their political positioning.

By joining Pakatan Rakyat, they would not only have the opportunity to realise their policies, they could also end the era of racial politics in Malaysia, he said.

“There is nothing wrong in switching parties if the political party you are in is no longer moving in the direction you want,” he said.

Chang's proposal came in the midst of persistent talk that some Barisan MPs will cross over to Pakatan Rakyat.

He was speaking at the forum entitled The move towards a two-party system -- how are young politicians making changes? organised by the Youth wing of the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall held at Yuk Choy Old Boys Association Building here.

Bumiputra property can be sold: Perak MB - The Star

IPOH: May 17, 2008 By HAH FOONG LIAN

The Perak government will release unsold bumiputra housing lots for sale in the open market to overcome the problem of "overhang stock" in the state.

As its first step towards the move, the state government has approved the release of 130 units of those lots, valued at some RM5mil, to be sold at the 2008 Malaysia Property Expo (Mapex) launched here on Friday.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said the state government had, in principle, agreed to release unsold bumiputra units for sale in the open market to overcome the problem of oversupply.

Nizar pointed out that the bumiputra units would only be released after the developers had fulfilled the necessary requirements for those lots to be released.

"It would not be healthy for the property sector if the 'overhang stock' were to remain in the market for too long," he said when opening the 2008 Mapex held at Stadium Indera Mulia.

One way of reducing the problem of oversupply is to allow developers to sell units that are initially allocated for bumiputras, Nizar added.

He pointed out that the move would be able to help generate additional capital to develop property at other places where bumiputras could be more interested in a purchase.

Generally, developers have to allocate 30% of the number of housing units built to be sold to bumiputras.

“Overhang property” in the housing sector last year stood at 1,379 units with a value of RM148.6mil, he said.

Nizar also noted that the state government would plan a suitable approach to bring about a balanced development in Perak.

Citing statistics from the 2007 property market report, he said, a total of 6,821 units of new housing schemes had been launched.

However, some 65% of the development was in the Kinta district while the remaining was spread out in seven districts in the state, he said.

A total of 19 developers took part in the property fair to showcase 3,701 units of mixed housing development valued at some RM1.141bil.

Political interest possible motive for bomb attack, say police - The Star

IPOH: May 16, 2008 By CLARA CHOOI

Police are investigating politically driven interest as a possible motive for the bomb attack on the Perak DAP office here.

Perak CID chief Senior Assistant Comm II Ismail Yatim said this motive would be considered if the two homemade bombs were truly aimed at the DAP office.

“We are not ruling out the possibility but at the same time, we do not want to speculate,” he said Friday.

Meanwhile, Perak DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said additional precautionary measures would be taken to ensure the security of the party’s office premises.

He said members of Pakatan Rakyat component parties would also be watching their backs from now on.

The homemade bombs were hurled at Wisma DAP at 2.20am on Thursday but caused minimal damage as they hit a wooden board and bounced back onto the road.

Witnesses claimed to have seen two men on a motorcycle approach the two-storey building, located just opposite the state secretariat in Bandar Ipoh Raya here.

Bom petrol tindakan ekstrim - Malaysiakini

Oleh Jimadie Shah Othman | May 16, 08 2:22pm

Pemuda PAS Wilayah Persekutuan menyifatkan insiden serangan bom petrol di pejabat DAP Perak sebagai tindakan melampau dan syak ada dalang di sebalik kejadian itu awal pagi semalam.

"Pemuda PAS Wilayah Persekutuan berharap agar setiap parti politik mengawal ahli masing-masing dan tidak menimbulkan tindakan provokatif sebegini bagi mengelakkan peristiwa hitam 13 Mei berlaku lagi," kata ketua penerangan pergerakan itu Herman Samsudeen.

"Apa yang berlaku ini adalah satu tindakan yang terlalu ekstrim, didorong oleh emosi yang tidak terkawal dan pastinya terdapat pihak-pihak lain yang turut terlibat dalam merancang jenayah ini."

Herman juga tidak menolak tindakan tersebut bermotifkan politik susulan perdebatan isu-isu semasa antara pemimpin parti itu dengan kepentingan pihak-pihak lain.

Perdebatan paling hangat baru-baru ini melibatkan pemimpin Umno dan persatuan Melayu yang menganggap pengerusi DAP Karpal Singh menghina Sultan Perak dan Raja-raja Melayu apabila mengulas dakwaan "campur tangan" istana dalam pentadbiran di beberapa negeri, termasuk Perlis dan Terengganu.

Karpal menafikan tuduhan itu dan menjelaskan beliau tidak berniat menghina Raja-raja Melayu.

Dalam kejadian kira-kira 2.20 pagi semalam, dua orang yang tidak dapat dicam yang menaiki sebuah motosikal dilihat membaling bom petrol itu ke arah pejabat DAP tersebut.

Satu daripada bom petrol itu telah memecahkan kaca tingkap pejabat itu yang terletak di tingkat dua bangunan kedai di situ, tidak jauh dari bangunan Dewan Undangan Negeri Perak.

Pengerusi DAP Perak yang juga exco kanan kerajaan negeri Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham semalam memberitahu Malaysiakini bahawa beliau percaya serangan itu “bermotifkan politik”.

"Bagaimanapun, saya tidak boleh mengulas sama ada ini ada kaitan dengan (isu membabitkan) Karpal Singh," katanya.

Ngeh diminta mengulas sama ada insiden itu ada kaitan dengan kenyataan Karpal mempertikaikan Sultan Azlan Shah yang menitahkan menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohammed Nizar Jamaluddin menarik balik arahan pertukaran pengarah jabatan agama Islam negeri Datuk Jamry Sury baru-baru ini.

Pemuda PAS Wilayah Persekutuan turut mengesa polis bertindak segera menangkap mereka yang terlibat.

“Kerajaan yang selama ini amat tegas terhadap sebarang aktiviti keganasan seharusnya memandang berat kejadian ini sebelum ada pemimpin politik yang dicederakan atau mati dibunuh,” tambahnya lagi dalam satu kenyataan semalam.

Ketika dihubungi Malaysiakini semalam, seorang anggota polis berkata, kes tersebut dalam siasatan dan tiada sebarang tangkapan dibuat.

Menurutnya, kes tersebut diklasifikasikan sebagai "merosakkan harta".

"Kita tidak dapat mengklasifikasikannya sebagai jenayah kerana ia membabit orang yang tidak diketahui," katanya.

Bombs thrown at DAP office - The Star

IPOH: May 16, 2008 By HAH FOONG LIAN and CHAN LI LEEN

Homemade bombs were hurled at the Perak DAP headquarters here but did not cause major damage to the building.

Instead, a wooden board put up at the glass windows of the office caused the explosives to bounce off and land on the road.

A witness said two men on a motorcycle had approached the two-storey Wisma DAP located near the state secretariat building at Bandar Ipoh Raya at 2.20am yesterday.

The security guard of a nearby school, who was on duty, said he saw two men throw things at the window and heard two loud explosions.

Bomb spot: Ngeh (second from left) and other state DAP leaders looking at the debris caused by the bombs in front of the party’s Perak headquarters Thursday.

The bombs broke the glass windows of the office on the first-floor.

However, a wooden wall behind it prevented the bombs from entering the building.

Perak DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said the bombs bounced off the wooden wall of its conference room, leaving only burnt marks, before landing on the road.

“If not, the whole row of shops would have been razed,” he said.

Referring to the attack as “politically-motivated,” he added: “It is an attack on democracy and violence cannot be condoned.”

Ngeh, who rushed to the scene after being informed at about 9am, urged the police to quickly apprehend and prosecute the culprits.

Perak CID chief Senior Assistant Comm (II) Ismail Yatim said the case was being investigated as mischief by fire with intent to destroy a building.

“However, we are still investigating whether the target had been the DAP office or the restaurant below it,” he said.

He added that firemen had taken samples of the residue from the homemade bombs for analysis.

Perak Umno Youth chief Zainol Fadzi Paharudin views seriously Ngeh’s accusation that it was a politically motivated attack.

The Sungai Manik state assemblyman said the DAP should let the police conclude its probe first before making any accusations.

Hishammuddin reminds Anwar: BN needs only 2 to re-take Perak - Malaysiakini

Education Minister and Umno youth chief Hishammuddin Tun Hussein says that Anwar Ibrahim, PKR's de facto leader has made a lot of promises but has done nothing.

"He has disappointed a lot of people especially the public who have given a strong mandate to the opposition perform but what has he done since the election apart from trying to entice our members to join the party (PKR)?" says Hishammuddin.

Hishammuddin warns Anwar that he needs 30 defections to take over the government, but BN needs only two to re-take Perak.

Perak contributes RM1mil worth of rice, sugar and cooking oil for hardcore poor - NST

IPOH, THURS: May 15, 2008

The Perak government will contribute RM1 million in the form of rice, sugar and cooking oil supply for almost 5,000 hardcore poor families to lessen their burden following spiralling prices of goods.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said these families, including those headed by single mothers, would each receive 30kg rice, 5kg sugar, 2kg cooking oil and cash of RM100, within a week from tomorrow.

“The state government has taken this initiative as it is sensitive to the plight of the hardcore poor at this time of sudden price hikes. This is among the characteristics of a welfare state,” he told reporters here today.

He said the provision of aid was made based on the existing list of hardcore poor families in the state, that is, of those earning below RM420 monthly.

“The price hike of goods is a global phenomenon and so, no quarters should be blamed,” he added.

Mohammad Nizar urged the corporate and private sector, social institutions and non-governmental organisations, which are keen to help the poor in this difficult time, to channel their contributions via the state government and the monetary donations to be made out to the state government treasurer

Nizar gets seal of approval from religious council - The Star

IPOH: May 15, 2008

The Perak Religious and Malay Customs Council has recorded its appreciation to Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin for accepting the advice of the Sultan of Perak over the transfer of state Religious Department director Datuk Jamry Sury.

In a statement issued to the press after the council’s 161st meeting yesterday, the council said it was thankful the matter had been tackled with care and wisdom.

Early this month, Sultan Azlan Shah ordered the reinstatement of Jamry after the latter was removed from the post.

Days later, Nizar apologised to the Sultan for the hasty decision to transfer Jamry without consulting the Ruler first.

The council also supported Nizar in not allowing and not wanting to be influenced by outsiders with regards to the administration of the state.

It said the council also wished to see a harmonious working relationship between the state and palace based on long-standing traditions and customs.

This, it said, was to ensure that the working relationship would be based on consultation and for the good of the state and its citizens, particularly among Muslims and Malays.

The council would defend the Ruler’s institution and would be responsible in defending the honour of the Sultan against those who belittled, humiliated, questioned and insulted the institution in their speeches or actions.

The council also pledged its loyalty to Sultan Azlan Shah as the head of Islam in the state and endorsed the stand of Raja Muda Raja Dr Nazrin Shah as council president to ensure that religious institutions in the state were protected from being smeared by partisan politics that would split the Muslim community.

Homemade bombs hurled at DAP building (Updated) - The Star

IPOH: May 15, 2008 By HAH FOONG LIAN and CHAN LI LEEN

Homemade bombs were hurled at the Perak DAP headquarters here but failed to cause major damage to the building, located near the State Secretariat Building.

A wooden board put up at the glass windows of the office caused the explosives to bounce off and land on the road instead.

According to an eyewitness, two men on a motorcycle had approached the two-storied Wisma DAP at Bandar Ipoh Raya here at 2.20am Thursday.

The security guard of a nearby school, who was on duty then, said he saw two men threw some things at the window and heard two loud explosions.

The bombs broke the glass windows of the office on the first-floor but fortunately for a wooden wall behind it, prevented them from making their way into the building.

Perak DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said the bombs bounced off the wooden wall of its conference room, leaving only burn marks, before landing on the road.

“If not, the whole row of shops would have been razed to the ground,” he said.

Referring to the attack as “politically-motivated”, he added: “It is an attack on democracy and violence cannot be condoned.”

Ngeh, who had rushed to the scene after being informed at about 9am, urged the police to quickly nab and prosecute the culprits.

State CID chief Senior Assistant Comm (II) Ismail Yatim said the case was being investigated as mischief by fire with intent to destroy a building.

“We are still investigating whether the target had been the DAP office or the restaurant below it,” he said.

He added that firemen had taken samples of the residue of the homemade bombs for analysis to determine the chemical contents.

In an immediate reply, Perak Umno Youth chief Zainol Fadzi Paharudin viewed seriously the accusations of Ngeh who referred to the attack as “politically motivated.”

Zainol, who is also Sungai Manik assemblyman, said the DAP should let the police conclude its investigations first before making any accusations.

Perak to have liaison officer for families of missing 26 - The Star

IPOH: May 15, 2008

The Perak government will send a representative as a liaison officer to keep families informed on search and rescue efforts for the 26 missing tourists in China, says exco member Thomas Su.

The 26 elderly Malaysian tourists have been missing since Monday’s devastating earthquake that hit south-western Sichuan province as the death toll rose to nearly 15,000 and thousands were reported buried under the rubble of collapsed buildings and landslides.

Malaysian Consul-General in Kunming Ayauf Bachi said that while the fate of the group is still not known, there have been no reports of Malaysian casualties.

Muhd: Saya tak campur tangan di Perak - Malaysiakini

Muda Mohd Noor | May 15, 08 12:53pm

Menteri pembangunan wilayah dan luar bandar, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib berkata, beliau tidak mencampuri urusan pentadbiran kerajaan negeri Perak, apabila melantik semula ketua-ketua kampung yang berhenti berkhidmat di negeri itu.

Sebaliknya, kata beliau, mereka sendiri yang meletakkan jawatan kerana tidak mahu berkhidmat dengan kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat.

"Mereka berhenti sendiri dan kementerian tidak suruh mereka letak jawatan sebagai ketua kampung.

"Tetapi kerana mereka masih mahu berkhidmat, kita ambil dan bayar gaji sebagaimana sebelumnya," katanya dalam pertemuan dengan Malaysiakini, Isnin lalu.

Muhammad yang juga ketua penerangan Umno berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas mengenai tindakan kementerian itu menyerapkan ketua kampung yang berhenti dari kerajaan negeri Perak.

Elaun RM400

Seramai 700 hingga 800 ketua kampung di seluruh Perak diserapkan ke dalam kementerian tersebut apabila mereka enggan berkhidmat dengan kerajaan negeri Perak.

Kementerian, tambahnya, membayar elaun sebanyak RM400 sebulan kepada ketua kampung terbabit iaitu sama dengan apa yang mereka dapat sebelum ini.

Muhammad menafikan tindakan tersebut boleh menimbulkan pertindihan tugas dengan ketua kampung yang dilantik oleh kerajaan negeri.

"Ada peranan yang boleh di mainkan oleh ketua kampung tersebut untuk masyarakat di tempat mereka," katanya lagi.

Bagaimanapun, kata Muhammad, tidak ada ketua kampung di Selangor yang meletakkan jawatan walaupun pentabiran kerajaan negeri turut diambilalih oleh Pakatan Rakyat.

Petrol bombs thrown at DAP HQ in Ipoh - Malaysiakini

Petrol bombs thrown at DAP HQ in Ipoh
May 15, 08 1:45pm

Three homemade Molotov cocktails were hurled at DAP’s Perak headquarters in Ipoh early this morning but no one was hurt from the attack.

In the 2.20am incident, two individuals on a motorbike with helmets were spotted hurling the fire bombs outside the DAP office.

The bombs broke the glass panel of the windows in the headquarters, which was located on the second floor of the two-storey shoplot, a stone throw away from the Perak state assembly building.

However, the bombs bounced off the windows as they had been boarded up and they fell onto the street below.

A security guard at a school opposite the building who witnessed the attack had lodged a police report at Ipoh’s central police station this morning.

DAP state leader and senior executive councillor Ngeh Koo Ham told Malaysiakini that he believed the attack was politically motivated.

"However, I cannot comment if this was related to Karpal," he said when asked whether the incident was connected to the controversy over DAP chairman Karpal Singh's questioning on the limits of the sultans' constitutional powers.

Ngeh condemned the attack and called upon the parties responsible “to respect the new state government which was chosen by the rakyat”.

“Even though only a few windows were broken, we took this matter very seriously,” said Ngeh, who along with other party leaders inspected the premises this morning.

Police: Case under investigation

Contacted today, an officer from the police station said the case was under investigation and no arrests had been made.

According to him, the case is classified under “damage to property”.

“We can’t classify it under crime as it involved unknown persons,” he said.

However, he could not confirmed that the incident was politically motivated as claimed by Ngeh.

More news at www.malaysiakini.com

Rombongan Ke Bangunan Parlimen Dan Sidang Dewan Rakyat

KUALA LUMPUR, 12 MEI 2008

Menteri Besar Perak, serta Ahli Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri (Ahli MMK) mengambil peluang melawat ke Bangunan Parlimen buat pertama kalinya setelah menerajui kepimpinan Kerajaan Negeri Perak.

Rombongan yang turut disertai oleh 25 Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri itu telah bertolak dari Ipoh seawal jam 7.00 pagi dengan menaiki bas Pejabat Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Perak.

Setibanya di Bangunan Parlimen, rombongan disambut oleh pihak pengurusan seterusnya dibawa ke Dewan Rakyat untuk mengikuti sidang perbahasan Ahli-Ahli Dewan Parlimen. Seterusnya YAB Menteri Besar dan rombongan melakukan kunjung hormat ke atas YB Datin Seri Dr. Wan Azizah di Pejabat Ketua Pembangkang yang merupakan Presiden Parti (PKR). Rombongan turut melakukan kunjung hormat ke atas YB Dato’ Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, Presiden (PAS) dan YB Lim Kit Siang, Presiden (DAP).

Kehadiran YAB Dato’ Seri Ir. Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin mendapat perhatian luar biasa Ahli-Ahli Parlimen dan para wartawan. Ketika ditanya wartawan pada sidang media, beliau menyifatkan lawatan ini lebih bermakna apatah lagi setelah berpeluang bertemu dengan kepimpinan Parti Pakatan Rakyat. Beliau juga terus memuji usaha media alternatif yang kini menjadi pilihan utama rakyat bagi mendapatkan sumber berita yang diinginkan. “Ini menunjukkan rakyat kian hilang percaya terhadap media arus perdana yang dilihat lebih gemar menyiarkan berita-berita yang kurang tepat”, katanya.

YB Datin Seri Dr. Wan Azizah memberi perhatian ketika mendengar pandangan daripada YB Tn. Hj. Mohd Zainuddin.

YAB Menteri Besar dikerumuni oleh wartawan pada sidang media di lobi parlimen.

Petugas parlimen sedang memberi penerangan kepada ahli rombongan