TERSINGKIR KERANA FITNAH
Ekoran dari cabarannya terhadap Presiden Umno pada tahun 1987, Tengku Razaleigh dituduh dalam skandal tersebut. Malahan media massa di dalam mahupun luar negeri mula menyerangnya dengan taburan fitnah penuh kedustaan kononnya Putera Istana Kelantan itu terlibat sama.
KAMAL AMIR MENULIS
Akhirnya Abdullah Ahmad Badawi bersama sidang wazirnya akur juga terhadap kehendak ahli akar umbi agar pemilihan pelbagai jawatan dari peringkat cawangan membawalah kepada Majlis Tertinggi , Pergerakan Wanita, Pergerakan Pemuda dan Pergerakan Puteri Umno diadakan pada tahun ini.
Setelah kalangan wazir dan “macai-macai”nya meledakkan pelbagai polimik agar pertandingan tidak diadakan serta ditangguhkan ketahun hadapan kesan gelombang Tsunami Suara Rakyat Kuasa Keramat pada musim pilihanraya 8 Mac 2008 mengakibatkan parti itu masih dalam situasi binggung, bermasaalah serta bagai hilang pedoman.
Biar apa pun, yang pasti pemilihan tersebut bakal diadakan juga tahun ini bermula dengan peringkat cawangan pada awal bulan Julai sementara Bahagian sekitar bulan Ogos sementara Majlis Tertinggi pertengahan Disember 2008 ini.
Selain dari pelbagai jawatan menyaksikan pertandingan, pastinya kerusi Presiden parti Umno dan Timbalan Presiden bakal mencetuskan situasi panas, menarik dan fokus utama seluruh ahli Umno serta rakyat Malaysia keseluruhannya.
Dalam situasi tersebut pastinya pelbagai ledakkan “peluru berpandu” dusta akan dilepaskan oleh kalangan orang keliling Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sebagai usaha menyelamatkan kedudukannya agar dapat dijadikan perisai serta payung berteduh.
Paling sensasi diledakkan oleh kalangan “pencacai” politik adalah skandal BMF anak syarikat Bank Bumiputra di Hong Kong seperti musim pemilihan presiden Umno 1987 menyaksikan pertembungan antara Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah menentang Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.
Untuk tidak terkeliru dengan “psywar” atau perang saikologi politik, ada baiknya ahli-ahli Umno mempersiapkan diri mereka dengan butiran kebenaran agar tidak terjebak menjadi percaya terhadap fitnah serta dusta yang sengaja dicetuskan.
Siasatan serta kajian terperinci membuktikan Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah bebas dari skandal tersebut kerana sejak ditubuhkan hasil kongres ekonomi Melayu pertama sekitar tahun 1970, Bank Bumiputra diletakkan dibawah penyeliaan serta pengawasan Pejabat Perdana Menteri sepenuhnya.
Berbeza dengan syarikat milik kerajaan lain terutama institusi perbankan berada di bawah kawal selia Kementerian Kewangan, tetapi untuk Bank Bumiputra, sejak diasaskan oleh Tengku Razaleigh ia diletakkan dibawah kawalan Pejabat Perdana Menteri.
Ramai tidak mengetahui, resolusi kongres Ekonomi Melayu pertama mengusulkan agar sebuah bank (Bank Bumiputera) sebagai sandaran orang-orang Melayu memajukan ekonomi mereka hendaklah dipimpin oleh Allayarham Tun Abdul Razak, Timbalan Perdana Menteri kepada Tunku Abdul Rahman ketika itu.
Agar ianya tidak menyinggung perasaan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Allayarham Tun Abdul Razak (bapa kepada Dato’ Seri Najib ) meminta agar Bank Bumiputra diletakkan terus dibawah kawal selia pejabat Perdana Menteri dengan Tengku Razaleigh dilantik sebagai Pengerusi Bank setelah kematian penuh misteri Pengerusi pertamanya Allahyarham akauntan Raslan.
Sebaik dilantik sebagai menteri kewangan oleh Tun Husein Onn, beliau telah meletakkan jawatannya di Bank Bumiputra tanpa boleh mencampuri sebarang urusan samada perjalanan,operasi dan pentadbiran bank tersebut meskipun dan ketika itulah tercetusnya skandal BMF di Hong Kong.
Ekoran dari cabarannya terhadap Presiden Umno pada tahun 1987, Tengku Razaleigh dituduh dalam skandal tersebut. Malahan media massa di dalam mahupun luar negeri mula menyerangnya dengan taburan fitnah penuh kedustaan kononnya Putera Istana Kelantan itu terlibat sama.
Sebagai usaha membersihkkan namnya diperingkat antara bangsa, beliau mengambil tindakan menyaman tiga buah akhbar, satu di Hong kong dan dua di London kerana menuduhnya dalam skandal tersebut. Setelah dibawa ke mahkamah terbukti dirinya tidak terlibat disamping memperolehi ganti rugi .(sila lihat kenyataan akhbar tahun 1990 permohonan maaf dari ketiga tiga akhbar itu.)
Malangnya permohonan maaf dari ketiga-tiga syarikat tersebut hanya terselit diruangan cukup terbatas dan tidak ramai berkesempatan membacanya mengakibatkan isu tersebut berterusan berlegar di pasararan politik tanah air.
Ditanya kenapa beliau tidak mengambil tindakan terhadap akhbar tempatan, Tengku Razaleigh menjelaskan iklim politik ketika itu menyaksikan laluan sukar baginya mencari kebenaran disebabkan mahkmah dilihat gagal menterjemahkan keadilan secara jelas dan nyata.
“Saya juga tidak sampai hati berbuat demikian kerana jika akhbar tersebut gagal mempertahakan dirinya dimahkamah pastilah ia harus membayar harga cukup mahal serta tinggi.
“Saya yakin boleh menang dalam kes tersebut, tetapi mampukah saya membunuh syarikat yang selama ini saya anggap sepebagai anak sendiri. Biarlah dosa itu diampunkanlah oleh yang maha esa. Tidak sampai rasanya hati ini untuk mengambil tindakan terhadap akhbar. “ ujar nya dalam suara berbaur keharuan dan sedih.
Sementara itu dalam pertemuan dengan Ezham Mohd Nor, Pengerusi Gerak sebuah pertubuhan bukan kerajaan yang menyanggah sebarang perlakuan rasuah, beliau menyatakan bahawa dari siasatan serta penghayatan Gerak, Tengku Razaleigh bebas dari sebarang kegiatan rasuah.
“Saya berani bertegas, dalam soal rasuah, tidak setitikpun noda-noda korupsi terlekat di batang tubuh Tengku Razaleigh. Malahan beliau juga merupakan pemimpin cukup menentang perbuatan rasuah. Ini bukan rekaan atau sekadar cakap-cakap, namun Gerak cukup yakin beliau adalah pemimpin yang benar-benar bebas dari Rasuah serta cukup konsisten menentang jenayah korupsi.” Ujar Ehzam Mohd Noor.
Malahan sewaktu perbicaraan kes Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang disifatkan sebagai konspirasi pihak tertentu mahu menjatuhkannya, mantan Timbalan Perdana Menteri itu pernah menyebut didalam afadavitnya (insyallah akan disiarkan dikeluaran akan datang) bahawa sewaktu berhenti dari jawatan Bendahari Umno, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah ada meninggalkan sekitar RM 750 juta harta milik parti itu.
Seandainya Putera Istana Kelantan itu mudah gelap mata tentulah harta dan wang sebegitu banyak tidak akan diserahkan olehnya kembali kepada Umno. Memperkukuhkan kenyataan tersebut penulis pernah diberitahu olehnya bagaimana Almarhum ayahndanya berpesan,
“Kita tidak boleh mengambil wang atau harta atau barang yang bukan milik kita. Ingatlah, sekali kita mengambil atau menerima sesuatu yang bukan milik kita maka selama-lamanyalah jiwa dan diri kita tergadai.” Ujarnya
Sesungguhnya korupsi merupakan agenda beliau untuk diperangi sebagai landasan utama perjuangan politiknya. Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah disingkirkan dari arus perdana politik tanah air kerana golongan yang rakus meneguk budaya korupsi tidak mungkin merestuinya berada di anjung kuasa.... fikir-fikirkanlah.
Friday, March 28, 2008
I offer to restore Umno for the sake of party survival: Razaleigh
(New Sabah Times) - Gua Musang member of parliament Tengku Tan Sri Razaleigh Hamzah said he offered to play a role in restoring Umno for the sake of the Malay race and the party’s own survival.
He said he was not in any way taking advantage of the situation following the Barisan Nasional (BN) dismal performance in the March 8 general election.
The former finance minister said his suggestion that a special Umno assembly be convened to evaluate the poor performance in the election,and his offer to contest the president’s post,was made to enable to party to get back on its feet and not stumbled further.
“I stated my readiness to lift the spirit of Umno members which has been weakened after the Barisan Nasional’s (BN) defeat in four states and the failure to wrest Kelantan from PAS in the general election.It’s my sincere wish to see the party regain its strength.
“I feel that I’ve been called forth to help restore the party,” he told Bernama at his residence here Sunday night.
earlier he met several grassroot leaders from Johor who came to see him to get further clarification about his suggestion that a special Umno meeting be held to discuss the BN’s defeat in Penang,Kedah,Selangor,Perak and Kelantan.
Tengku Razaleigh said the special assembly was appropriate so that grassroot leaders of Umno can voice out their views about the poll results.
He said Umno members wanted to see the party remained the umbrella for the Malays,whom he said were feeling disheartened because certain party members were only fighting for personal gain.
He said he was not in any way taking advantage of the situation following the Barisan Nasional (BN) dismal performance in the March 8 general election.
The former finance minister said his suggestion that a special Umno assembly be convened to evaluate the poor performance in the election,and his offer to contest the president’s post,was made to enable to party to get back on its feet and not stumbled further.
“I stated my readiness to lift the spirit of Umno members which has been weakened after the Barisan Nasional’s (BN) defeat in four states and the failure to wrest Kelantan from PAS in the general election.It’s my sincere wish to see the party regain its strength.
“I feel that I’ve been called forth to help restore the party,” he told Bernama at his residence here Sunday night.
earlier he met several grassroot leaders from Johor who came to see him to get further clarification about his suggestion that a special Umno meeting be held to discuss the BN’s defeat in Penang,Kedah,Selangor,Perak and Kelantan.
Tengku Razaleigh said the special assembly was appropriate so that grassroot leaders of Umno can voice out their views about the poll results.
He said Umno members wanted to see the party remained the umbrella for the Malays,whom he said were feeling disheartened because certain party members were only fighting for personal gain.
Ku Li Dan Anwar Memburu Mangsa Yang Sama
Sekiranya Ku Li berjaya menyita Abdullah Disember hadapan atau sebelumnya, peluang Anwar untuk menumbangkan BN agak sukar dan sekaligus impian Anwar untuk menjadi PM pudar. Apabila Ku Li menjadi presiden Umno dan BN, sudah tentu kedudukan gabungan BN dan parti Umno semakin mantap semula.
Oleh Mohd Sayuti Omar
JIKA Abdullah Ahmad Badawi kini dianggap sebagai rusa yang kesakitan akibat mengalami luka-luka teruk hampir-hampir menumpaskannya dalam satu perlawanan beliau kini sedang diburu oleh dua pemangsa yang ganas dan tidak tahu erti simpati. Kedua mangsa itu kini sedang menjejaki Abdullah untuk menerkam dan menggulingkannya.
Sudah menjadi fitrah dalam dunia political animal, pemangsa akan mencari mangsa yang lemah untuk dijadikan habuan.
Kedua pemangsa politik Abdullah itu ialah Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Ku Li) dan Anwar Ibrahim. Kedua mereka sedang menanti peluang terbaik untuk menerkam Abdullah dan menggulingkannya. Kalaupun ada bezanya niat antara satu sama lain.
Berusaha menggomol
Bekas Menteri Kewangan itu akan berusaha menggomol Abdullah untuk menyelamatkan keadaan Umno yang terumbang ambing kini dan memerlukan seorang superman bagi memastikan Umno terus hidup bagi menjadi payung kepada orang Melayu.
Manakala Anwar Ibrahim pula yang kini berada di luar Umno dan sudah serit dengan segala kancah dan bauan kurang menyenangkan dalam parti berkenaan sejak beliau dibuang, 1998 akan menerkam Abbdullah dan sekaligus menumbangkan kerajaan BN yang sudah bertakhta selama lebih setengah abad.
Posisi atau tempat mereka melakukan serangan juga berbeza. Ku Li menyerang Abdullah dari dalam sesuai dengan statusnya sebagai ahli Umno. Manakala Anwar menyerang Abdullah dari luar sesuai dengan kedudukannya bukan ahli Umno dan kini diberi kepercayaan oleh pembangkang untuk menjadi pemimpin utama mereka.
Kedua mereka mempunyai kemahiran serang hendap dan pengalaman memburu tersendiri. Keduanya mempunyai track record sebagai pemimpin yang ulung. Keduanya memiliki keistimewaan yang sukar untuk ditolak banding antara satu sama lain. Keduanya pernah memegang menteri kewangan. Ku Li adalah seorang veteran Umno yang banyak jasa kepada Umno. Memiliki semangat nasionalisme tulen dan terkenal sebagai seorang pemain politik yang berperaturan dan tidak tahu berdendam dengan orang-orang yang mengkhianatinya.
Kalau boleh disebut, Dr Mahathir Mohamad pernah memungkiri janji kepadanya untuk menyerahkan jawatan Perdana Menteri, namun hingga ke hari ini Ku Li masih menerima Dr Mahathir sebagai sahabatnya. Beliau tidak pernah mencampurkan antara nilai sahabat yang baik dengan nilai ahli politik yang rencam terhadap seseorang yang dikenalinya.
Dalam masa dan keadaan tertentu demi bangsa dan negara mereka masih berhubung dan bertukar maklumat kalau pun tidak sampai merancang bersama!
Ku Li mempunyai intergriti dan digniti tinggi bukan saja kerana beliau anak raja, keturunan bangsawan namun itulah amalan hidupnya setiap hari. Memiliki kekayaan tetapi corak dan stail hidupnya seperti rakyat biasa. Dalam pergaulan tidak membezakan status dan kelas dan boleh duduk sama rendah dan berdiri sama tinggi dengan rakyat marhean.
Dalam persiapan untuk mencabar Abdullah untuk kerusi presiden, kita percaya Ku Li berbuat begitu bukan kerana tergilakan jawatan Presiden dan Perdana Menteri. Namun kepentingan bangsa dan masa depan Melayu adalah menjadi pendorong utamanya. Seorang Ku Li sudah cukup daripada apa yang dimilikinya selama ini. Masalah dan kelemahan yang menimpa Umno menyenak jiwanya sehingga memaksakan beliau tampil mengambil tanggungjawab.
Semakin rancak
Persiapan awal untuk menentang Abdullah pada pemilihan Disember hadapan nampaknya sudah pun diatur. Sudah ada majlis-majlis tertentu disusun. Ia semakin hari semakin rancak dan mendapat sambutan luar biasa.
Rumput-rumput dan daunan di perkarangan Rumah Puith di Langgak Golf, yang hijau dan subur selama ini juga sudah mulai runyai dan layu kerana diligam tayar kereta dan kaki manusia untuk ke istana Ku Li itu. Nampaknya kali ini hasrat Ku Li untuk beradu tenaga merebut jawatan Presiden kali kedua akan kesampaian.
Setiap hari khabarnya ada-ada sahaja ahli Umno pemimpin peringkat bawah hingga ke atas mengunjungi Rumah Putih di Langgak Golf itu untuk mendapat pandangan dan ulasan daripada beliau berhubung perkembangan politik tanah air. Para korporat, ahli perniagaan dari dalam dan luar negeri juga turut sama bertandang untuk mendapat maklumat perkara yang sama.
Berbeza dengan Anwar Ibrahim. Pemangsa politik ini akan menerkam Abdullah dari luar Umno. Kedudukannya sebagai bukan ahli Umno menyebabkan beliau tidak berpeluang untuk beradu kekuatan dari dalam Umno.
Anwar mempunyai sejarah dan kejayaan tersendiri bagaimanan beliau telah menyingkirkan mangsa politiknya semasa didalam Umno dulu. Peristiwa yang menimpa Ghafar Baba (Allahyarham) tahun 1993 menceritakan kehebatan dan kelicitan Anwar dalam politik. Ghafar yang ketika itu selaku Timbalan Presiden Umno terpaksa mengaku kalah kepada Anwar.
Dalam hal ini ada dua kaedah atau ‘teori’ bagaimana untuk Anwar menggulingkan Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Pertama ialah menerusi undi tidak percaya di parlimen. Kemungkinan ini boleh berlaku dengan syarat Anwar harus menjadi ahli Parlimen terlebih dahulu.
Buat masa ini Anwar masih belum dibenarkan bertanding dalam mana-mana pilihan raya. Tempoh perlepasannya akan valid pada hujung April ini. Apabila berlaku mana-mana kekosongan kerusi Parlimen, Anwar dikatakan akan menyertai pilihan raya yang akan diadakan. Barangkali kalau pada pilihan raya lalu Anwar dibenarkan bertanding mungkin kini Perdana Menteri Malaysia bukan lagi Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Popular dikatakan kerusi yang dikatakan akan diadakan pilihan raya semula ialah parlimen Bandar Baru – Kulim, apabila petisyen yang akan dikemukakan oleh BN bakal diterima oleh mahkamah. Apabila beliau menjadi MP beliau akan mengambil alih tempat isterinya Dr Wan Azizah Ismail sebagai Ketua Pembangkang dan sekaligus menjadi ketua kepada pakatan pembangkang – Barisan Rakyat (BR). Di sinilah pembangkang yang memerlukan 30 kerusi saja lagi untuk mengatasi kerusi BN bagi membentuk Kerajaan. Masa ini pembangkang mempunyai 82 kerusi.
Kaedah kedua ialah menerusi pilihan raya. Anwar akan menumbangkan Abdullah dan BN sekaligus dalam pilihan raya akan datang. Pilihan raya akan datang pada tahun 2012. Bagaimana pun tempoh itu terlalu lama bagi Anwar. Justeru, kemungkinan teori kedua itulah paling popular dan akan diusahakan. Anwar harus menggunakan keadah pertama tadi untuk mencapai dan merealisasaikan cita-citanya.
Seperti dikatakan tadi memandangkan Ku Li juga sedang bergerak untuk menggulingkan Abdullah pada Disember hadapan, maka Anwar perlu mempercepatkan langkahan buruannya. Beliau harus pastikan Abdullah akan digulingkan sebelum Abdulah terbungkus di dalam rangkulan Ku Li.
Semakin mantap
Sekiranya Ku Li berjaya menyita Abdullah Disember hadapan atau sebelumnya, peluang Anwar untuk menumbangkan BN agak sukar dan sekaligus impian Anwar untuk menjadi PM pudar. Apabila Ku Li menjadi presiden Umno dan BN, sudah tentu kedudukan gabungan BN dan parti Umno semakin mantap semula.
Manakala bagi Ku Li pula sekiranya Anwar berjaya memerangkap Abdullah sebelum berlangsung pemilihan Umno, ini menjadikan impian Ku Li untuk memperbetulkan dan memperkasakan semula Umno sudah terlepas. Sekaligus juga cita-cita Ku Li untuk menjadi PM turut sama terburai.
Persoalan sekarang ini siapa antara kedua mereka dapat menangkap mangsa (Abdullah), ia akan bergantung kepada siapa yang cekap dan pintar. Mereka yang cekap orang itulah akan berjaya. Kecekapan ini pula bergantung kepada sejauh mana isu-isu dan alasan yang dibangkitkan oleh kedua pemangsa politik itu dipercayai dan diyakini oleh orang ramai. Ia ditambah siapa lebih diperlukan kepada Malaysia untuk mengharungi era globalisasi yang kian mencabar ini.
Manakala orang ramai dalam hal ini bolehlah disifatkan sebagai pukat atau jaring yang akan bertindak menjerut Abdullah atas gesaan dan ajakan mereka.
Senario hari ini menjelaskan kedudukan Abdullah amat meruncing. Beliau sangat keletihan kerana terpaksa melepaskan buruan dari dua pemangsa serentak. Yang pastinya sekiranya kedua pemangsa itu boleh sepakat dan tidak berebut untuk membaham Abdullah, sudah tentu Abdullah akan terjelapak di tangan mereka dalam tempoh tidak sampai enam bulan dari sekarang!
Oleh Mohd Sayuti Omar
JIKA Abdullah Ahmad Badawi kini dianggap sebagai rusa yang kesakitan akibat mengalami luka-luka teruk hampir-hampir menumpaskannya dalam satu perlawanan beliau kini sedang diburu oleh dua pemangsa yang ganas dan tidak tahu erti simpati. Kedua mangsa itu kini sedang menjejaki Abdullah untuk menerkam dan menggulingkannya.
Sudah menjadi fitrah dalam dunia political animal, pemangsa akan mencari mangsa yang lemah untuk dijadikan habuan.
Kedua pemangsa politik Abdullah itu ialah Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Ku Li) dan Anwar Ibrahim. Kedua mereka sedang menanti peluang terbaik untuk menerkam Abdullah dan menggulingkannya. Kalaupun ada bezanya niat antara satu sama lain.
Berusaha menggomol
Bekas Menteri Kewangan itu akan berusaha menggomol Abdullah untuk menyelamatkan keadaan Umno yang terumbang ambing kini dan memerlukan seorang superman bagi memastikan Umno terus hidup bagi menjadi payung kepada orang Melayu.
Manakala Anwar Ibrahim pula yang kini berada di luar Umno dan sudah serit dengan segala kancah dan bauan kurang menyenangkan dalam parti berkenaan sejak beliau dibuang, 1998 akan menerkam Abbdullah dan sekaligus menumbangkan kerajaan BN yang sudah bertakhta selama lebih setengah abad.
Posisi atau tempat mereka melakukan serangan juga berbeza. Ku Li menyerang Abdullah dari dalam sesuai dengan statusnya sebagai ahli Umno. Manakala Anwar menyerang Abdullah dari luar sesuai dengan kedudukannya bukan ahli Umno dan kini diberi kepercayaan oleh pembangkang untuk menjadi pemimpin utama mereka.
Kedua mereka mempunyai kemahiran serang hendap dan pengalaman memburu tersendiri. Keduanya mempunyai track record sebagai pemimpin yang ulung. Keduanya memiliki keistimewaan yang sukar untuk ditolak banding antara satu sama lain. Keduanya pernah memegang menteri kewangan. Ku Li adalah seorang veteran Umno yang banyak jasa kepada Umno. Memiliki semangat nasionalisme tulen dan terkenal sebagai seorang pemain politik yang berperaturan dan tidak tahu berdendam dengan orang-orang yang mengkhianatinya.
Kalau boleh disebut, Dr Mahathir Mohamad pernah memungkiri janji kepadanya untuk menyerahkan jawatan Perdana Menteri, namun hingga ke hari ini Ku Li masih menerima Dr Mahathir sebagai sahabatnya. Beliau tidak pernah mencampurkan antara nilai sahabat yang baik dengan nilai ahli politik yang rencam terhadap seseorang yang dikenalinya.
Dalam masa dan keadaan tertentu demi bangsa dan negara mereka masih berhubung dan bertukar maklumat kalau pun tidak sampai merancang bersama!
Ku Li mempunyai intergriti dan digniti tinggi bukan saja kerana beliau anak raja, keturunan bangsawan namun itulah amalan hidupnya setiap hari. Memiliki kekayaan tetapi corak dan stail hidupnya seperti rakyat biasa. Dalam pergaulan tidak membezakan status dan kelas dan boleh duduk sama rendah dan berdiri sama tinggi dengan rakyat marhean.
Dalam persiapan untuk mencabar Abdullah untuk kerusi presiden, kita percaya Ku Li berbuat begitu bukan kerana tergilakan jawatan Presiden dan Perdana Menteri. Namun kepentingan bangsa dan masa depan Melayu adalah menjadi pendorong utamanya. Seorang Ku Li sudah cukup daripada apa yang dimilikinya selama ini. Masalah dan kelemahan yang menimpa Umno menyenak jiwanya sehingga memaksakan beliau tampil mengambil tanggungjawab.
Semakin rancak
Persiapan awal untuk menentang Abdullah pada pemilihan Disember hadapan nampaknya sudah pun diatur. Sudah ada majlis-majlis tertentu disusun. Ia semakin hari semakin rancak dan mendapat sambutan luar biasa.
Rumput-rumput dan daunan di perkarangan Rumah Puith di Langgak Golf, yang hijau dan subur selama ini juga sudah mulai runyai dan layu kerana diligam tayar kereta dan kaki manusia untuk ke istana Ku Li itu. Nampaknya kali ini hasrat Ku Li untuk beradu tenaga merebut jawatan Presiden kali kedua akan kesampaian.
Setiap hari khabarnya ada-ada sahaja ahli Umno pemimpin peringkat bawah hingga ke atas mengunjungi Rumah Putih di Langgak Golf itu untuk mendapat pandangan dan ulasan daripada beliau berhubung perkembangan politik tanah air. Para korporat, ahli perniagaan dari dalam dan luar negeri juga turut sama bertandang untuk mendapat maklumat perkara yang sama.
Berbeza dengan Anwar Ibrahim. Pemangsa politik ini akan menerkam Abdullah dari luar Umno. Kedudukannya sebagai bukan ahli Umno menyebabkan beliau tidak berpeluang untuk beradu kekuatan dari dalam Umno.
Anwar mempunyai sejarah dan kejayaan tersendiri bagaimanan beliau telah menyingkirkan mangsa politiknya semasa didalam Umno dulu. Peristiwa yang menimpa Ghafar Baba (Allahyarham) tahun 1993 menceritakan kehebatan dan kelicitan Anwar dalam politik. Ghafar yang ketika itu selaku Timbalan Presiden Umno terpaksa mengaku kalah kepada Anwar.
Dalam hal ini ada dua kaedah atau ‘teori’ bagaimana untuk Anwar menggulingkan Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Pertama ialah menerusi undi tidak percaya di parlimen. Kemungkinan ini boleh berlaku dengan syarat Anwar harus menjadi ahli Parlimen terlebih dahulu.
Buat masa ini Anwar masih belum dibenarkan bertanding dalam mana-mana pilihan raya. Tempoh perlepasannya akan valid pada hujung April ini. Apabila berlaku mana-mana kekosongan kerusi Parlimen, Anwar dikatakan akan menyertai pilihan raya yang akan diadakan. Barangkali kalau pada pilihan raya lalu Anwar dibenarkan bertanding mungkin kini Perdana Menteri Malaysia bukan lagi Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Popular dikatakan kerusi yang dikatakan akan diadakan pilihan raya semula ialah parlimen Bandar Baru – Kulim, apabila petisyen yang akan dikemukakan oleh BN bakal diterima oleh mahkamah. Apabila beliau menjadi MP beliau akan mengambil alih tempat isterinya Dr Wan Azizah Ismail sebagai Ketua Pembangkang dan sekaligus menjadi ketua kepada pakatan pembangkang – Barisan Rakyat (BR). Di sinilah pembangkang yang memerlukan 30 kerusi saja lagi untuk mengatasi kerusi BN bagi membentuk Kerajaan. Masa ini pembangkang mempunyai 82 kerusi.
Kaedah kedua ialah menerusi pilihan raya. Anwar akan menumbangkan Abdullah dan BN sekaligus dalam pilihan raya akan datang. Pilihan raya akan datang pada tahun 2012. Bagaimana pun tempoh itu terlalu lama bagi Anwar. Justeru, kemungkinan teori kedua itulah paling popular dan akan diusahakan. Anwar harus menggunakan keadah pertama tadi untuk mencapai dan merealisasaikan cita-citanya.
Seperti dikatakan tadi memandangkan Ku Li juga sedang bergerak untuk menggulingkan Abdullah pada Disember hadapan, maka Anwar perlu mempercepatkan langkahan buruannya. Beliau harus pastikan Abdullah akan digulingkan sebelum Abdulah terbungkus di dalam rangkulan Ku Li.
Semakin mantap
Sekiranya Ku Li berjaya menyita Abdullah Disember hadapan atau sebelumnya, peluang Anwar untuk menumbangkan BN agak sukar dan sekaligus impian Anwar untuk menjadi PM pudar. Apabila Ku Li menjadi presiden Umno dan BN, sudah tentu kedudukan gabungan BN dan parti Umno semakin mantap semula.
Manakala bagi Ku Li pula sekiranya Anwar berjaya memerangkap Abdullah sebelum berlangsung pemilihan Umno, ini menjadikan impian Ku Li untuk memperbetulkan dan memperkasakan semula Umno sudah terlepas. Sekaligus juga cita-cita Ku Li untuk menjadi PM turut sama terburai.
Persoalan sekarang ini siapa antara kedua mereka dapat menangkap mangsa (Abdullah), ia akan bergantung kepada siapa yang cekap dan pintar. Mereka yang cekap orang itulah akan berjaya. Kecekapan ini pula bergantung kepada sejauh mana isu-isu dan alasan yang dibangkitkan oleh kedua pemangsa politik itu dipercayai dan diyakini oleh orang ramai. Ia ditambah siapa lebih diperlukan kepada Malaysia untuk mengharungi era globalisasi yang kian mencabar ini.
Manakala orang ramai dalam hal ini bolehlah disifatkan sebagai pukat atau jaring yang akan bertindak menjerut Abdullah atas gesaan dan ajakan mereka.
Senario hari ini menjelaskan kedudukan Abdullah amat meruncing. Beliau sangat keletihan kerana terpaksa melepaskan buruan dari dua pemangsa serentak. Yang pastinya sekiranya kedua pemangsa itu boleh sepakat dan tidak berebut untuk membaham Abdullah, sudah tentu Abdullah akan terjelapak di tangan mereka dalam tempoh tidak sampai enam bulan dari sekarang!
Ku Li mula temui ketua bahagian
Malaysiakini) - Sebagai persiapan kempen awalnya, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah mengadakan pertemuan dengan lebih 10 ketua bahagian di kediamannya di Kuala Lumpur.
Mereka yang dilaporkan hadir, antaranya, bekas menteri penerangan Datuk Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir (ketua bahagian Kulim/Bandar Baharu), Datuk Dr Ibrahim Saad (Batu Kawan) dan Datuk Malek Hanafiah (Taiping).
Tengku Razaleigh kini berkempen agar Umno mengadakan perhimpunan khas bagi membincangkan kekalahan teruk Umno dan BN dalam pilihanraya umum 8 Mac.
Beliau, yang mesra dipanggil Ku Li, memerlukan sokongan 50 peratus daripada 193 bahagian untuk memanggil mesyuarat agung luar biasa (EGM).
Ahli parlimen Gua Musang itu juga mengisytiharkan hasratnya untuk mencabar jawatan presiden, kini disandang Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Menurut sumber, pertemuan yang diadakan selama beberapa jam bermula tengah hari tadi dan ia yang pertama dianjurkan sejak Ku Li menulis surat kepada semua ahli jawatankuasa bahagian dan cawangan untuk mengusulkan idea EGM.
Pertemuan tidak rasmi umumnya membincangkan isu-isu dalam Umno, khususnya perhimpunan khas, kata sumber.
Isu-isu dan tokoh-tokoh lain yang berbangkit tidak dijelaskan.
Ku Li dijangka mengadakan pertemuan-pertemuan seumpama itu pada masa akan datang. Bagaimanapun tarikhnya belum ditetapkan.
Mereka yang dilaporkan hadir, antaranya, bekas menteri penerangan Datuk Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir (ketua bahagian Kulim/Bandar Baharu), Datuk Dr Ibrahim Saad (Batu Kawan) dan Datuk Malek Hanafiah (Taiping).
Tengku Razaleigh kini berkempen agar Umno mengadakan perhimpunan khas bagi membincangkan kekalahan teruk Umno dan BN dalam pilihanraya umum 8 Mac.
Beliau, yang mesra dipanggil Ku Li, memerlukan sokongan 50 peratus daripada 193 bahagian untuk memanggil mesyuarat agung luar biasa (EGM).
Ahli parlimen Gua Musang itu juga mengisytiharkan hasratnya untuk mencabar jawatan presiden, kini disandang Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Menurut sumber, pertemuan yang diadakan selama beberapa jam bermula tengah hari tadi dan ia yang pertama dianjurkan sejak Ku Li menulis surat kepada semua ahli jawatankuasa bahagian dan cawangan untuk mengusulkan idea EGM.
Pertemuan tidak rasmi umumnya membincangkan isu-isu dalam Umno, khususnya perhimpunan khas, kata sumber.
Isu-isu dan tokoh-tokoh lain yang berbangkit tidak dijelaskan.
Ku Li dijangka mengadakan pertemuan-pertemuan seumpama itu pada masa akan datang. Bagaimanapun tarikhnya belum ditetapkan.
Ku Li boleh dapat cukup pencalonan
(Malaysiakini) - Bekas menteri kewangan Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah dijangka memperolehi jumlah pencalonan yang mencukupi untuk mencabar Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi bagi jawatan presiden Umno.
Ahli parlimen Gua Musang itu memerlukan 30 peratus iaitu 58 pencalonan daripada 193 bahagian Umno di seluruh negara.
Kemungkinan ini susulan hebatnya desakan para pemimpin di peringkat akar umbi supaya dipulihkan kekuatan Umno, sebagai parti terbesar orang Melayu yang menjadi tunggak utama kerajaan BN.
Sehubungan itu, mereka turut membantah cadangan supaya pemilihan parti ditangguhkan hingga tahun depan.
Berikutan itu, dalam mesyuaratnnya semalam, Majlis Tertinggi memutuskan pemilihan pucuk pimpinan Umno diadakan tahun ini juga pada 16 hingga 20 Disember depan.
Manakala pemilihan di peringkat cawangan akan bermula pada 17 Julai-24 Ogos, dan bahagian pada 9 Oktober-19 November.
Cipta sejarah
Malah presiden Umno Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sendiri dapat merasainya.
Dalam sidang akhbarnya semalam, beliau mengakui: "Saya terpaksa menghadapinya... saya tidak boleh lari (daripada berdepan dengan cabaran)."
Ekoran itu, Tengku Razaleigh yang lebih dikenali sebagai Ku Li dijangka bakal mencipta sejarah kali kedua mencabar penyandang jawatan tersebut.
Kali pertama Ku Li mencabar jawatan tersebut ialah pada 1987 apabila beliau menentang Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, tetapi tewas dengan 47 undi.
Ketika itu belum ada sistem kuota pencalonan - ia hanya diperkenalkan ketika penubuhan Umno baru pimpinan Dr Mahathir selepas Umno lama diharamkan pada 1988 akibat perpecahan besar dua kem, antara beliau dengan Ku Li.
Pada 2004, Ku Li gagal mendapat pencalonan yang mencukupi apabila bahagiannya sahaja mencalonkan beliau bertanding jawatan presiden.
Menurut sumber-sumber yang rapat dengan Umno, Ku Li dijangka mendapat pencalonan daripada bahagian-bahagian yang tidak berpuas hati terhadap Abdullah apabila pemimpin utama mereka tidak dipilih atau digugurkan dari senarai calon BN pada pilihanraya umum 8 Mac.
"Jumlah bahagian terbabit ramai... boleh dikatakan 40 peratus nama dalam calon yang dikemukakan oleh hampir semua Umno negeri, telah digugurkan dan digantikan dengan muka baru, yang sebahagiannya tidak ada pun jawatan di peringkat bahagian," kata sumber-sumber itu lagi.
Peluang cerah
Di samping itu, katanya, mereka juga beranggapan bahawa barisan pucuk pimpinan Umno sekarang tidak berkesan kerana mereka sibuk dengan jawatan yang disandang dalam kerajaan.
"Ekoran itu, ada bahagian-bahagian yang dijangka mengemukakan usul supaya pemegang jawatan tinggi dalam parti, tidak dilantik menganggotai kerajaan, supaya mereka dapat menumpukan kepada usaha memulihkan kekuatan Umno," katanya lagi.
Lagi pula, tegasnya, senario politik sekarang berbeza dengan 1987 dan ini mencerahkan harapan Ku Li untuk mendapat pencalonan yang mencukupi bagi bertanding jawatan presiden.
"Pada tahun 1987, wujud dua puak - Team A dan Team B. Kali ini tidak wujud puak seumpama itu tetapi rata-rata ahli dan pemimpin Umno, khususnya di peringkat akar umbi, sependapat bahawa Umno tidak sekuat dahulu kerana pucuk pimpinannya lemah.
"Maka tindakan drastik perlu diambil untuk memulihkan kekuatan Umno. Ini bermakna peluang Ku Li lebih cerah kali ini untuk mencipta sejarah menewaskan presiden Umno dalam pemilihan parti Disember ini," katanya
Ahli parlimen Gua Musang itu memerlukan 30 peratus iaitu 58 pencalonan daripada 193 bahagian Umno di seluruh negara.
Kemungkinan ini susulan hebatnya desakan para pemimpin di peringkat akar umbi supaya dipulihkan kekuatan Umno, sebagai parti terbesar orang Melayu yang menjadi tunggak utama kerajaan BN.
Sehubungan itu, mereka turut membantah cadangan supaya pemilihan parti ditangguhkan hingga tahun depan.
Berikutan itu, dalam mesyuaratnnya semalam, Majlis Tertinggi memutuskan pemilihan pucuk pimpinan Umno diadakan tahun ini juga pada 16 hingga 20 Disember depan.
Manakala pemilihan di peringkat cawangan akan bermula pada 17 Julai-24 Ogos, dan bahagian pada 9 Oktober-19 November.
Cipta sejarah
Malah presiden Umno Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sendiri dapat merasainya.
Dalam sidang akhbarnya semalam, beliau mengakui: "Saya terpaksa menghadapinya... saya tidak boleh lari (daripada berdepan dengan cabaran)."
Ekoran itu, Tengku Razaleigh yang lebih dikenali sebagai Ku Li dijangka bakal mencipta sejarah kali kedua mencabar penyandang jawatan tersebut.
Kali pertama Ku Li mencabar jawatan tersebut ialah pada 1987 apabila beliau menentang Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, tetapi tewas dengan 47 undi.
Ketika itu belum ada sistem kuota pencalonan - ia hanya diperkenalkan ketika penubuhan Umno baru pimpinan Dr Mahathir selepas Umno lama diharamkan pada 1988 akibat perpecahan besar dua kem, antara beliau dengan Ku Li.
Pada 2004, Ku Li gagal mendapat pencalonan yang mencukupi apabila bahagiannya sahaja mencalonkan beliau bertanding jawatan presiden.
Menurut sumber-sumber yang rapat dengan Umno, Ku Li dijangka mendapat pencalonan daripada bahagian-bahagian yang tidak berpuas hati terhadap Abdullah apabila pemimpin utama mereka tidak dipilih atau digugurkan dari senarai calon BN pada pilihanraya umum 8 Mac.
"Jumlah bahagian terbabit ramai... boleh dikatakan 40 peratus nama dalam calon yang dikemukakan oleh hampir semua Umno negeri, telah digugurkan dan digantikan dengan muka baru, yang sebahagiannya tidak ada pun jawatan di peringkat bahagian," kata sumber-sumber itu lagi.
Peluang cerah
Di samping itu, katanya, mereka juga beranggapan bahawa barisan pucuk pimpinan Umno sekarang tidak berkesan kerana mereka sibuk dengan jawatan yang disandang dalam kerajaan.
"Ekoran itu, ada bahagian-bahagian yang dijangka mengemukakan usul supaya pemegang jawatan tinggi dalam parti, tidak dilantik menganggotai kerajaan, supaya mereka dapat menumpukan kepada usaha memulihkan kekuatan Umno," katanya lagi.
Lagi pula, tegasnya, senario politik sekarang berbeza dengan 1987 dan ini mencerahkan harapan Ku Li untuk mendapat pencalonan yang mencukupi bagi bertanding jawatan presiden.
"Pada tahun 1987, wujud dua puak - Team A dan Team B. Kali ini tidak wujud puak seumpama itu tetapi rata-rata ahli dan pemimpin Umno, khususnya di peringkat akar umbi, sependapat bahawa Umno tidak sekuat dahulu kerana pucuk pimpinannya lemah.
"Maka tindakan drastik perlu diambil untuk memulihkan kekuatan Umno. Ini bermakna peluang Ku Li lebih cerah kali ini untuk mencipta sejarah menewaskan presiden Umno dalam pemilihan parti Disember ini," katanya
Thursday, March 27, 2008
KEMASKINI: Kadir, Malek Hanafiah, Ibrahim Saad antara ketua bahagian jumpa Ku Li
KIRA-KIRA 100 orang ahli UMNO di rumahnya di Jalan Langgak Golf,Kuala Lumpur dari jam 12 tengahari hingga jam 3 petang Khamis.
Bekas Menteri Kewangan dan Ketua UMNO Bahagian Gua Musang itu telah menyampaikan ucapan kepada para hadirin.Antara Ketua UMNO bahagian yang hadir ialah Datuk Kadir Sheikh Fadzir (Kulim Bandar Baru),Datuk Malek Hanafiah (Taiping) dan Datuk Ibrahim Saad (Batu Kawan).
Pertemuan itu antara lain bertujuan untuk buat post-mortem keputusan pilihanraya 8 Mac. Disamping Tengku Razaleigh ada juga beberapa orang hadirin bangunan berucap.Kalangan mereka mendesak
Tengku Razaleigh jangan berganjak dan tetap bertanding jawatan Presiden UMNO.Mereka juga mahu agar pucuk pimpinan mengadakan Perhimpunan Agung Khas UMNO (EGM) untuk membolehkan para perwakilan dari seluruh negara bercakap mengenai isu semasa dalam parti.
Pertemuan itu juga merancang untuk mengadakan roadshow ke negeri-negeri untuk menilai keputusan pilihanraya.
BERITA SEBELUM INI
Ada apa di White House Malaysia hari ini?
KECOH, ramai yang hendak tahu majlis apa yang diadakan di banglo besar berwarna putih di Jalan Langgak Golf, Jalan Ampang tempat kediaman rasmi anak raja dari Kelantan.
Pagi-pagi KLpos.com diberitahu bahawa tenggahhari ini ada perjumpaan Ketua-Ketua Bahagian Umno di rumah Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
Menurut maklumat tersebut, pertemuan tidak rasmi itu dianjurkan oleh Ku Li atas permintaan Ketua-Ketua Bahagian Umno terbabit.
Bagaimanapun, KLpos yang menghubungi orang kanan Ku Li diberitahu bahawa pertemuan terbabit memang diadakan.
"Ia antara ahli Umno dengan Ku Li, mungkin ada di antara mereka Ketua Bahagian, tetapi mereka hadir atas kapasiti ahli Umno, bukan atas jawatan masing-masing," kata orang kanan Ku Li terbabit.
Bekas Menteri Kewangan dan Ketua UMNO Bahagian Gua Musang itu telah menyampaikan ucapan kepada para hadirin.Antara Ketua UMNO bahagian yang hadir ialah Datuk Kadir Sheikh Fadzir (Kulim Bandar Baru),Datuk Malek Hanafiah (Taiping) dan Datuk Ibrahim Saad (Batu Kawan).
Pertemuan itu antara lain bertujuan untuk buat post-mortem keputusan pilihanraya 8 Mac. Disamping Tengku Razaleigh ada juga beberapa orang hadirin bangunan berucap.Kalangan mereka mendesak
Tengku Razaleigh jangan berganjak dan tetap bertanding jawatan Presiden UMNO.Mereka juga mahu agar pucuk pimpinan mengadakan Perhimpunan Agung Khas UMNO (EGM) untuk membolehkan para perwakilan dari seluruh negara bercakap mengenai isu semasa dalam parti.
Pertemuan itu juga merancang untuk mengadakan roadshow ke negeri-negeri untuk menilai keputusan pilihanraya.
BERITA SEBELUM INI
Ada apa di White House Malaysia hari ini?
KECOH, ramai yang hendak tahu majlis apa yang diadakan di banglo besar berwarna putih di Jalan Langgak Golf, Jalan Ampang tempat kediaman rasmi anak raja dari Kelantan.
Pagi-pagi KLpos.com diberitahu bahawa tenggahhari ini ada perjumpaan Ketua-Ketua Bahagian Umno di rumah Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
Menurut maklumat tersebut, pertemuan tidak rasmi itu dianjurkan oleh Ku Li atas permintaan Ketua-Ketua Bahagian Umno terbabit.
Bagaimanapun, KLpos yang menghubungi orang kanan Ku Li diberitahu bahawa pertemuan terbabit memang diadakan.
"Ia antara ahli Umno dengan Ku Li, mungkin ada di antara mereka Ketua Bahagian, tetapi mereka hadir atas kapasiti ahli Umno, bukan atas jawatan masing-masing," kata orang kanan Ku Li terbabit.
Anwar or Ku Li? The race is on
Yes, it is certainly going to be a close race. Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah will make his move on 4 April while Anwar Ibrahim can make his only after 14 April. Then, Anwar can make his second move after 7 May while Tengku Razaleigh will make his on 11 May.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
TAWAU, March 27 (Bernama) -- Kalabakan Member of Parliament Datuk Ghapur Salleh relinquished his post as Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister effective yesterday. He told Bernama today that he submitted his resignation letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Putrajaya last night. Dismissing talk that he would hop over to the opposition, which is said to be trying to lure several MPs from Sabah and Sarawak, Ghapur, who won the seat unopposed in the March 8 general election, said he would continue to be an elected representative and Kalabakan Umno division head. He is the second MP from Sabah and the third person to resign as a federal deputy minister since the election.
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Umno elections could be postponed
Needing time to 'regroup' after GE, party may defer polls till next March
By S JAYASANKARAN, Business Times, 26 March 2008
ELECTIONS in the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), Malaysia's dominant political party that leads the ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition, are likely to be postponed because of the political uncertainty gripping the country. Umno officials say this was the impression they got after meeting Umno president and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Monday. Mr Abdullah also told them the party needs to stamp out 'money politics' because that would only make the people angrier.
On March 8, the Barisan Nasional (BN) was given a hiding at a general election, losing control of five states and its two-thirds majority in Parliament. Originally, Umno was supposed to hold its elections in August. The party's constitution stipulates elections every three years for all posts from the president down, but also allows for deferment. In this case, elections must be held by March next year. Umno officials openly admit they never expected such a drubbing at the GE, at which voters from all the country's races, including the majority Malays, rebuffed the BN.
'The feeling now is that we have to unite and avoid any in-fighting because that could split the party,' an official told BT. 'For that, we need to time to regroup.' Whether this will happen is uncertain. Waiting in the wings is Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, 71, who is offering himself as an alternative to Mr Abdullah as leader of Umno and the government.
Tengku Razaleigh is a prince from Kelantan, founder-president of national oil corporation Petronas and a former finance minister under two prime ministers - Hussein Onn and Mahathir Mohamad. In 1987, he challenged Dr Mahathir for the Umno presidency and lost by a narrow 43 votes. Ironically, at the time, Mr Abdullah was on the Tengku's side and was one of the few on his team who made the cut as one of Umno's three vice-presidents.
Whether the Tengku will be allowed to challenge Mr Abdullah is the big question. After the 1987 elections, the rules were changed to make a presidential bid against the incumbent all but impossible. The rules now demand that a presidential challenger obtain nominations from 30 per cent of Umno's divisions - or 58 nominations. Asked recently about Tengku Razaleigh's chances, Dr Mahathir said he did not think there would be divisions 'brave' enough to support him openly against an incumbent prime minister. But in the present climate, Dr Mahathir could be wrong.
Political analysts say it would take only a few brave souls to speak up for a stampede to begin. And a trickle of support has begun. Over the weekend, 80 Umno branches in Muar, Johor, spoke up in support of the Tengku, who has asked for an extraordinary meeting of Umno to be convened to discuss the election debacle. Indeed, the postponement of the Umno polls could help the Tengku's cause, giving him time to canvass divisions across the country. That would help get his message directly to his audience, given his inaccessibility to the mainstream media which is resolutely pro-Mr Abdullah.
The Tengku could also be helped by repeated mis-steps on Mr Abdullah's part that suggest weak leadership. For example, the impasse over the Terengganu crisis could be resolved soon, but only with damage inflicted on Mr Abdullah.
Last Saturday, the state's Sultan (who is also Malaysia's King) appointed Umno assemblyman Ahmad Said as chief minister over Idris Jusoh, Mr Abdullah's nominee, who was also supported by 22 other state assemblymen. The appointment triggered a constitutional crisis. If Mr Abdullah's numbers were right, the Sultan acted unconstitutionally - a word Mr Abdullah himself used.
Yesterday, however, Mr Abdullah seemed to back down. He said he was seeking an audience with the King. And at a news conference, Mr Idris apologised to the King for 'everything' that had angered him. While Mr Idris maintained that Mr Ahmad does not deserve the chief minister's position, he seemed to throw in the towel, saying he would accept any position given to him.
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Ghapur Salleh actually wanted to resign from Umno Sabah just before the 8 March 2008 general elections so that he could contest the election on a PKR ticket. Anwar Ibrahim, however, would not allow him to do so. Ghapur grumbled to his friends that all Anwar needed to do was to give the word and he, plus a few other close associates in Umno Sabah, would cross-over and contest the election under the PKR banner. Anwar, of course, had his reasons. He wanted Sabah and Sarawak to be the 'reserve team' in the event the opposition wins enough seats to form the federal government.
As it now stands, the opposition has won 82 seats in Parliament and all it needs is another 30 to give it a two-seat majority over Barisan Nasional. 30 seats would make the score 112:110, all that is needed for His Majesty to do what the Federal Constitution of Malaysia requires him to do. And what His Majesty the Agong would have to do would be to appoint a new Prime Minister from amongst any of the 222 Members of the House who, in His Majesty's opinion, commands the confidence of the majority of the Member of the House. It is certainly very 'loose' though clearly worded but the way it has been written gives enormous powers to His Majesty the Agong to interpret 'opinion', 'commands' and 'confidence' the way His Majesty sees it. Most important of all, though, is that His Majesty need not 'seek advice from the Prime Minister' but instead can exercise his 'own discretion' in arriving at 'his opinion'.
Isn't the English language just lovely? And that is what it all boils down to, so the legal eagles can just stay out of this whole thing and allow the English teachers to step in to help properly interpret what the Federal Constitution of Malaysia says -- which is written in the Queen's English anyway. And 'Queen' here refers to Elizabeth II and not Freddie Mercury who died of AIDS.
So, does Anwar have 30 Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament safely tucked away? No, he does not have 30. Instead, he has thus far 38, the majority from Sabah and Sarawak. Did you not notice Anwar flying off to Sarawak the morning of 9 March and to Sabah the following day? And rest assured it was not to buy some Iban or Dayak hats. It was to conference with the Barisan Nasional leaders from these two East Malaysian states.
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi knew all this of course, as did his advisers on the fourth floor. However, instead of trying to win the hearts and minds of the East Malaysians, he antagonised them further when he offered the East Malaysian warlords just five Deputy Minister posts, and in very unimportant ministries on top of that.
Sabah and Sarawak brought in 54 Parliament seats to match the 86 from Peninsular Malaysia. Without these 54 Parliament seats from Sabah and Sarawak, Barisan Nasional would be having a mere four-seat majority over the opposition coalition of PKR, DAP and PAS -- while the popular votes garnered by Barisan Nasional would be less than half. It became slightly over half only when the Sabah and Sarawak votes were included.
20 of the 30 Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament from Sarawak have agreed to cross-over to the opposition while 16 of the 24 from Sabah will follow suit if Sarawak first takes the plunge. To start the ball rolling, Anifah Aman, brother to the Sabah Chief Minister, rejected the offer for the post of Deputy Minister and with about half a dozen or so other Sabah warlords flew off to Melbourne to meet the other warlords from Sarawak. They have been there since last week; planning, plotting and scheming their moves, which they will make when the time is right. Rest assured Anifah would not act without the consent of his brother, Musa Aman.
They will of course not make their move now. They are waiting for May 2008. By midnight of 14 April 2008, Anwar will be eligible to contest the elections and probably Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim will resign his Bandar Tun Razak seat or Zulkilfi Nordin his Kulim seat. A by-election will then be called and Anwar will of course be that PKR candidate to contest the by-election. On 5 May 2008, Parliament will be convened with Anwar now a Member of Parliament. From 7 May 2008 onwards, 82 opposition Members of Parliament will be able to table a motion of no confidence against Abdullah, supported by no less than 38 Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament, as it now stands. The 38 Members of Parliament from Barisan Nasional is of course the latest tally taken this morning. 7 May 2008 is still more than a month away and one day is a long time in politics, what more 40 days. So expect this 38 to grow further and it should not come as a surprise if the final tally is no longer just a simple majority but a resounding two-thirds majority. Will we see, therefore, Anwar finally taking office as the Sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia?
Nevertheless, while all this is going on, another candidate for the post of the Sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia is also moving very rapidly in the background. And this man is the resident of that very imposing White House-like abode along Langgak Golf.
Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has not been sleeping. He has been aggressively meeting hundreds of people from all over Malaysia. Even as you read this Tengku Razaleigh is hosting more than 100 Umno division and branch leaders to a sumptuous feast in his office cum home behind the United States Embassy.
Tengku Razaleigh is going a slightly different route though. While Anwar is working on a 'no confidence' vote in Parliament, Tengku Razaleigh is working on the 193 Umno divisions. And he, thus far, has 74 Umno divisions with him. He needs at least 58 nominations to be able to contest against the party President cum Prime Minister. But that is only if he wishes to contest the August 2008 party elections, which Abdullah is trying to postpone till 2009.
August 2008 is too late. 2009 even later. By then Anwar may already be Prime Minister. So Tengku Razaleigh can't afford to wait till August. He must move now. And, on 4 April 2008, Tengku Razaleigh is organising a rally at his home base in Gua Musang. If he can get more than 100 Umno divisions to attend his rally, then he can push for an EGM on 11 May 2008 whereby the party constitution can be amended to allow the 'normal' two-nomination-only to contest, just like what it is for all the other positions -- plus he probably can get a vote of no confidence against the party president passed as well.
Yes, it is certainly going to be a close race. Tengku Razaleigh will make his move on 4 April while Anwar can make his only after 14 April. Then, Anwar can make his second move after 7 May while Tengku Razaleigh will make his on 11 May.
It will be a photo-finish and a win by the nose. But whose nose will it be that will cross the finishing line first? Hey, I can't reveal all just yet. Khairy Jamaluddin and his boys are reading this too, you know. Let's first of all see if they succeed in postponing the August 2008 Umno party elections to 2009. If they fail, then Tengku Razaleigh is well-poised to become the next Prime Minister. If they succeed in postponing the party elections, well, then I suppose my money will have to be on Anwar. Did I not tell you that Malaysia is an exciting country?
Oh, and one more thing, observe what the Rulers have been doing these last three weeks since 8 March 2008 and what they will be doing these next few weeks. That should give you a good hint as to what's in store for us. In the meantime, read the following piece by Mathias Chang, which also gives us an insight into what's in store for us in the not too distant future.
************************************
Barisan Nasional is finished if Pak Lah is not replaced by end April 2008
Matthias Chang
I just could not believe my eyes, when I read in the New Strait Times newspaper, business section – Business Times – that Bank Negara projects 5.6 pc growth this year. Bank Negara Governor, Tan Sri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz was quoted as saying:
“We have done several simulations of different packages which can be implemented in the event of any significant slowdown, which we do not see on the horizon at this point in time.”
I am sure that the “simulations were all done and tested prior to the 12th General Elections of March 8, 2008. So they are no longer valid as they failed to take into account the post-election reality.
Bank Negara must be wearing blinkers or under directions from Pak Lah and his spin-doctors to spin a story that all is well and good. The observation that no significant slowdown can be seen on the horizon at this point of time can be tested by reviewing some independent observations.
Spiegel reported on Wednesday, March 26 2008 that:
“Germany and other industrialised countries are desperately trying to brace themselves against the threat of a collapse of the global financial system. The crisis has now taken its toll on the German economy, where the weak dollar is putting jobs in jeopardy and the credit crunch is paralyzing many businesses.”
Why is the Governor of Bank Negara playing down this acknowledged global financial meltdown – the financial tsunami? Is there a conspiracy of silence among the world’s central bankers?
Spiegel has let the cat out of the bag when it reported further that:
“For some time, there has been a tacit agreement among central bankers and the financial ministers of key economies not to allow any bank large enough to jeopardise the system to go under – no matter what the cost. But on Sunday, the question arose whether this agreement should be formalised and made public. The central bankers decided against the idea, reasoning that it would practically be an invitation to speculators and large hedge funds to take advantage of this government guarantee. Everyone involved knows how explosive the agreement is. It essentially means that while the profits of banks are privatised, society bears the costs of their losses. In a world in which the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer, that is political dynamite.”
There you have it - the global conspiracy of silence by central bankers and finance ministers. Yet, it is I that has been accused of being a conspiracy theorist.
The Malaysian Ticking Time Bomb
Besides the impending global financial tsunami hitting our shores in the very near future, Malaysia is waiting for a ticking time bomb to explode that will leave our country totally defenceless.
No one has even given a thought to this time bomb. What is this time bomb? It is the total dislocation and disruption of the entire 9th Malaysian Plan.
How can this be? Simple! The informal Barisan Rakyat has captured four critical states, more precisely the four critical economic states of Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kedah (part of the rice bowl of Malaysia) and retained Kelantan. There used to be a MIMALAND (Mini Malaysia) in Gombak. But that was a mere tourist attraction. These five states is the real deal, the Real Mini Malaysia, without which the BN government is useless, a toothless tiger.
The 9th Malaysia Plan (and all previous Five Year Plans) envisages that a substantial portion of the RM200 billion budget spread over five years will be allocated to the “state economic engines” of the Malaysian economy, namely Selangor and Penang – the crown jewels. When combined with Perak and Kedah, these states provide the crucial infrastructure, human resources and more importantly the critical mass for the massive investments needed to prepare the economy to meet the impending threat of the global tsunami and at the minimum, to enable the country to float just above the water till the tsunami rolls back to deeper waters.
Just a few days ago, Pak Lah acknowledged this stark reality and conceded that some of the mega-projects will have to be scaled back. Pak Lah and the corrupt and greedy politicians of the Barisan Nasional cannot bear the thought that they will not be in control of these massive investments in the states of Selangor, Perak, Penang and Kedah.
The 9th Malaysian Plan cannot be implemented successfully without the close cooperation between the central Federal Authority and the state counter-parts. This is a given the BN state partners-in-crime to loot the national treasury is absent. Pak Lah and his family have the money but the same cannot be diverted to the coffers of cronies at the state level, when they are no longer in power and control of the state governments.
The nightmare for the Barisan Nasional is not that they lost their 2/3 majority in Parliament and the massive reduction in the popular votes, but that they can no longer enrich themselves as before.
The whole system of patronage that confers absolute power to the President of UMNO and Prime Minister has been rendered ineffective and the rewards for a subservient power hierarchy cannot be guaranteed. Pak Lah and his goons will no longer be able to wield the threat that should the leaders of the political multi-level organisation fail to toe the line, the gravy train will not stop at their stations.
The gravy train stations are now in control of Barisan Rakyat!
So long as Pak Lah and his family are control of the levers of power and the treasury, the economy will be in a grid lock and the entire system will come to a standstill. Checkmate! There are enough reasons to remove Pak Lah as demanded by the electorate in the just concluded elections. But the nail that hammers in the lid of the coffin is the consequences of this stark economic reality.
The Prime Minister who replaces Pak Lah must be one who is without controversy, baggage and more importantly must be acceptable to the leaders of the Barisan Rakyat. This will provide the minimum basis for cooperation between the two “Barisans”. And such a leader will then be able to reform the present system and save the economy from dislocation and disruption and the unimaginable consequences that will assuredly flow from the present gridlock.
Time is against us.
Pak Lah must be removed when Parliament convenes, if the Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament have the interest of the country at heart and not their warped interest for power and self-enrichment.
No one to date has the guts and the convictions to take on Pak Lah and his goons except Tengku Razaleigh. He has offered to serve the country. He should be given a chance.
Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has also called for Pak Lah’s removal. Members of Barisan Nasional must heed their call to remove Pak Lah. The nation must ensure that the momentum generated by the results of the General Election must gather speed and force to sweep away the political debris of Pak Lah, his family and his goons!
And God help us and Malaysia should we fail!
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
TAWAU, March 27 (Bernama) -- Kalabakan Member of Parliament Datuk Ghapur Salleh relinquished his post as Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister effective yesterday. He told Bernama today that he submitted his resignation letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Putrajaya last night. Dismissing talk that he would hop over to the opposition, which is said to be trying to lure several MPs from Sabah and Sarawak, Ghapur, who won the seat unopposed in the March 8 general election, said he would continue to be an elected representative and Kalabakan Umno division head. He is the second MP from Sabah and the third person to resign as a federal deputy minister since the election.
*************************
Umno elections could be postponed
Needing time to 'regroup' after GE, party may defer polls till next March
By S JAYASANKARAN, Business Times, 26 March 2008
ELECTIONS in the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), Malaysia's dominant political party that leads the ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition, are likely to be postponed because of the political uncertainty gripping the country. Umno officials say this was the impression they got after meeting Umno president and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Monday. Mr Abdullah also told them the party needs to stamp out 'money politics' because that would only make the people angrier.
On March 8, the Barisan Nasional (BN) was given a hiding at a general election, losing control of five states and its two-thirds majority in Parliament. Originally, Umno was supposed to hold its elections in August. The party's constitution stipulates elections every three years for all posts from the president down, but also allows for deferment. In this case, elections must be held by March next year. Umno officials openly admit they never expected such a drubbing at the GE, at which voters from all the country's races, including the majority Malays, rebuffed the BN.
'The feeling now is that we have to unite and avoid any in-fighting because that could split the party,' an official told BT. 'For that, we need to time to regroup.' Whether this will happen is uncertain. Waiting in the wings is Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, 71, who is offering himself as an alternative to Mr Abdullah as leader of Umno and the government.
Tengku Razaleigh is a prince from Kelantan, founder-president of national oil corporation Petronas and a former finance minister under two prime ministers - Hussein Onn and Mahathir Mohamad. In 1987, he challenged Dr Mahathir for the Umno presidency and lost by a narrow 43 votes. Ironically, at the time, Mr Abdullah was on the Tengku's side and was one of the few on his team who made the cut as one of Umno's three vice-presidents.
Whether the Tengku will be allowed to challenge Mr Abdullah is the big question. After the 1987 elections, the rules were changed to make a presidential bid against the incumbent all but impossible. The rules now demand that a presidential challenger obtain nominations from 30 per cent of Umno's divisions - or 58 nominations. Asked recently about Tengku Razaleigh's chances, Dr Mahathir said he did not think there would be divisions 'brave' enough to support him openly against an incumbent prime minister. But in the present climate, Dr Mahathir could be wrong.
Political analysts say it would take only a few brave souls to speak up for a stampede to begin. And a trickle of support has begun. Over the weekend, 80 Umno branches in Muar, Johor, spoke up in support of the Tengku, who has asked for an extraordinary meeting of Umno to be convened to discuss the election debacle. Indeed, the postponement of the Umno polls could help the Tengku's cause, giving him time to canvass divisions across the country. That would help get his message directly to his audience, given his inaccessibility to the mainstream media which is resolutely pro-Mr Abdullah.
The Tengku could also be helped by repeated mis-steps on Mr Abdullah's part that suggest weak leadership. For example, the impasse over the Terengganu crisis could be resolved soon, but only with damage inflicted on Mr Abdullah.
Last Saturday, the state's Sultan (who is also Malaysia's King) appointed Umno assemblyman Ahmad Said as chief minister over Idris Jusoh, Mr Abdullah's nominee, who was also supported by 22 other state assemblymen. The appointment triggered a constitutional crisis. If Mr Abdullah's numbers were right, the Sultan acted unconstitutionally - a word Mr Abdullah himself used.
Yesterday, however, Mr Abdullah seemed to back down. He said he was seeking an audience with the King. And at a news conference, Mr Idris apologised to the King for 'everything' that had angered him. While Mr Idris maintained that Mr Ahmad does not deserve the chief minister's position, he seemed to throw in the towel, saying he would accept any position given to him.
*************************
Ghapur Salleh actually wanted to resign from Umno Sabah just before the 8 March 2008 general elections so that he could contest the election on a PKR ticket. Anwar Ibrahim, however, would not allow him to do so. Ghapur grumbled to his friends that all Anwar needed to do was to give the word and he, plus a few other close associates in Umno Sabah, would cross-over and contest the election under the PKR banner. Anwar, of course, had his reasons. He wanted Sabah and Sarawak to be the 'reserve team' in the event the opposition wins enough seats to form the federal government.
As it now stands, the opposition has won 82 seats in Parliament and all it needs is another 30 to give it a two-seat majority over Barisan Nasional. 30 seats would make the score 112:110, all that is needed for His Majesty to do what the Federal Constitution of Malaysia requires him to do. And what His Majesty the Agong would have to do would be to appoint a new Prime Minister from amongst any of the 222 Members of the House who, in His Majesty's opinion, commands the confidence of the majority of the Member of the House. It is certainly very 'loose' though clearly worded but the way it has been written gives enormous powers to His Majesty the Agong to interpret 'opinion', 'commands' and 'confidence' the way His Majesty sees it. Most important of all, though, is that His Majesty need not 'seek advice from the Prime Minister' but instead can exercise his 'own discretion' in arriving at 'his opinion'.
Isn't the English language just lovely? And that is what it all boils down to, so the legal eagles can just stay out of this whole thing and allow the English teachers to step in to help properly interpret what the Federal Constitution of Malaysia says -- which is written in the Queen's English anyway. And 'Queen' here refers to Elizabeth II and not Freddie Mercury who died of AIDS.
So, does Anwar have 30 Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament safely tucked away? No, he does not have 30. Instead, he has thus far 38, the majority from Sabah and Sarawak. Did you not notice Anwar flying off to Sarawak the morning of 9 March and to Sabah the following day? And rest assured it was not to buy some Iban or Dayak hats. It was to conference with the Barisan Nasional leaders from these two East Malaysian states.
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi knew all this of course, as did his advisers on the fourth floor. However, instead of trying to win the hearts and minds of the East Malaysians, he antagonised them further when he offered the East Malaysian warlords just five Deputy Minister posts, and in very unimportant ministries on top of that.
Sabah and Sarawak brought in 54 Parliament seats to match the 86 from Peninsular Malaysia. Without these 54 Parliament seats from Sabah and Sarawak, Barisan Nasional would be having a mere four-seat majority over the opposition coalition of PKR, DAP and PAS -- while the popular votes garnered by Barisan Nasional would be less than half. It became slightly over half only when the Sabah and Sarawak votes were included.
20 of the 30 Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament from Sarawak have agreed to cross-over to the opposition while 16 of the 24 from Sabah will follow suit if Sarawak first takes the plunge. To start the ball rolling, Anifah Aman, brother to the Sabah Chief Minister, rejected the offer for the post of Deputy Minister and with about half a dozen or so other Sabah warlords flew off to Melbourne to meet the other warlords from Sarawak. They have been there since last week; planning, plotting and scheming their moves, which they will make when the time is right. Rest assured Anifah would not act without the consent of his brother, Musa Aman.
They will of course not make their move now. They are waiting for May 2008. By midnight of 14 April 2008, Anwar will be eligible to contest the elections and probably Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim will resign his Bandar Tun Razak seat or Zulkilfi Nordin his Kulim seat. A by-election will then be called and Anwar will of course be that PKR candidate to contest the by-election. On 5 May 2008, Parliament will be convened with Anwar now a Member of Parliament. From 7 May 2008 onwards, 82 opposition Members of Parliament will be able to table a motion of no confidence against Abdullah, supported by no less than 38 Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament, as it now stands. The 38 Members of Parliament from Barisan Nasional is of course the latest tally taken this morning. 7 May 2008 is still more than a month away and one day is a long time in politics, what more 40 days. So expect this 38 to grow further and it should not come as a surprise if the final tally is no longer just a simple majority but a resounding two-thirds majority. Will we see, therefore, Anwar finally taking office as the Sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia?
Nevertheless, while all this is going on, another candidate for the post of the Sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia is also moving very rapidly in the background. And this man is the resident of that very imposing White House-like abode along Langgak Golf.
Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has not been sleeping. He has been aggressively meeting hundreds of people from all over Malaysia. Even as you read this Tengku Razaleigh is hosting more than 100 Umno division and branch leaders to a sumptuous feast in his office cum home behind the United States Embassy.
Tengku Razaleigh is going a slightly different route though. While Anwar is working on a 'no confidence' vote in Parliament, Tengku Razaleigh is working on the 193 Umno divisions. And he, thus far, has 74 Umno divisions with him. He needs at least 58 nominations to be able to contest against the party President cum Prime Minister. But that is only if he wishes to contest the August 2008 party elections, which Abdullah is trying to postpone till 2009.
August 2008 is too late. 2009 even later. By then Anwar may already be Prime Minister. So Tengku Razaleigh can't afford to wait till August. He must move now. And, on 4 April 2008, Tengku Razaleigh is organising a rally at his home base in Gua Musang. If he can get more than 100 Umno divisions to attend his rally, then he can push for an EGM on 11 May 2008 whereby the party constitution can be amended to allow the 'normal' two-nomination-only to contest, just like what it is for all the other positions -- plus he probably can get a vote of no confidence against the party president passed as well.
Yes, it is certainly going to be a close race. Tengku Razaleigh will make his move on 4 April while Anwar can make his only after 14 April. Then, Anwar can make his second move after 7 May while Tengku Razaleigh will make his on 11 May.
It will be a photo-finish and a win by the nose. But whose nose will it be that will cross the finishing line first? Hey, I can't reveal all just yet. Khairy Jamaluddin and his boys are reading this too, you know. Let's first of all see if they succeed in postponing the August 2008 Umno party elections to 2009. If they fail, then Tengku Razaleigh is well-poised to become the next Prime Minister. If they succeed in postponing the party elections, well, then I suppose my money will have to be on Anwar. Did I not tell you that Malaysia is an exciting country?
Oh, and one more thing, observe what the Rulers have been doing these last three weeks since 8 March 2008 and what they will be doing these next few weeks. That should give you a good hint as to what's in store for us. In the meantime, read the following piece by Mathias Chang, which also gives us an insight into what's in store for us in the not too distant future.
************************************
Barisan Nasional is finished if Pak Lah is not replaced by end April 2008
Matthias Chang
I just could not believe my eyes, when I read in the New Strait Times newspaper, business section – Business Times – that Bank Negara projects 5.6 pc growth this year. Bank Negara Governor, Tan Sri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz was quoted as saying:
“We have done several simulations of different packages which can be implemented in the event of any significant slowdown, which we do not see on the horizon at this point in time.”
I am sure that the “simulations were all done and tested prior to the 12th General Elections of March 8, 2008. So they are no longer valid as they failed to take into account the post-election reality.
Bank Negara must be wearing blinkers or under directions from Pak Lah and his spin-doctors to spin a story that all is well and good. The observation that no significant slowdown can be seen on the horizon at this point of time can be tested by reviewing some independent observations.
Spiegel reported on Wednesday, March 26 2008 that:
“Germany and other industrialised countries are desperately trying to brace themselves against the threat of a collapse of the global financial system. The crisis has now taken its toll on the German economy, where the weak dollar is putting jobs in jeopardy and the credit crunch is paralyzing many businesses.”
Why is the Governor of Bank Negara playing down this acknowledged global financial meltdown – the financial tsunami? Is there a conspiracy of silence among the world’s central bankers?
Spiegel has let the cat out of the bag when it reported further that:
“For some time, there has been a tacit agreement among central bankers and the financial ministers of key economies not to allow any bank large enough to jeopardise the system to go under – no matter what the cost. But on Sunday, the question arose whether this agreement should be formalised and made public. The central bankers decided against the idea, reasoning that it would practically be an invitation to speculators and large hedge funds to take advantage of this government guarantee. Everyone involved knows how explosive the agreement is. It essentially means that while the profits of banks are privatised, society bears the costs of their losses. In a world in which the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer, that is political dynamite.”
There you have it - the global conspiracy of silence by central bankers and finance ministers. Yet, it is I that has been accused of being a conspiracy theorist.
The Malaysian Ticking Time Bomb
Besides the impending global financial tsunami hitting our shores in the very near future, Malaysia is waiting for a ticking time bomb to explode that will leave our country totally defenceless.
No one has even given a thought to this time bomb. What is this time bomb? It is the total dislocation and disruption of the entire 9th Malaysian Plan.
How can this be? Simple! The informal Barisan Rakyat has captured four critical states, more precisely the four critical economic states of Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kedah (part of the rice bowl of Malaysia) and retained Kelantan. There used to be a MIMALAND (Mini Malaysia) in Gombak. But that was a mere tourist attraction. These five states is the real deal, the Real Mini Malaysia, without which the BN government is useless, a toothless tiger.
The 9th Malaysia Plan (and all previous Five Year Plans) envisages that a substantial portion of the RM200 billion budget spread over five years will be allocated to the “state economic engines” of the Malaysian economy, namely Selangor and Penang – the crown jewels. When combined with Perak and Kedah, these states provide the crucial infrastructure, human resources and more importantly the critical mass for the massive investments needed to prepare the economy to meet the impending threat of the global tsunami and at the minimum, to enable the country to float just above the water till the tsunami rolls back to deeper waters.
Just a few days ago, Pak Lah acknowledged this stark reality and conceded that some of the mega-projects will have to be scaled back. Pak Lah and the corrupt and greedy politicians of the Barisan Nasional cannot bear the thought that they will not be in control of these massive investments in the states of Selangor, Perak, Penang and Kedah.
The 9th Malaysian Plan cannot be implemented successfully without the close cooperation between the central Federal Authority and the state counter-parts. This is a given the BN state partners-in-crime to loot the national treasury is absent. Pak Lah and his family have the money but the same cannot be diverted to the coffers of cronies at the state level, when they are no longer in power and control of the state governments.
The nightmare for the Barisan Nasional is not that they lost their 2/3 majority in Parliament and the massive reduction in the popular votes, but that they can no longer enrich themselves as before.
The whole system of patronage that confers absolute power to the President of UMNO and Prime Minister has been rendered ineffective and the rewards for a subservient power hierarchy cannot be guaranteed. Pak Lah and his goons will no longer be able to wield the threat that should the leaders of the political multi-level organisation fail to toe the line, the gravy train will not stop at their stations.
The gravy train stations are now in control of Barisan Rakyat!
So long as Pak Lah and his family are control of the levers of power and the treasury, the economy will be in a grid lock and the entire system will come to a standstill. Checkmate! There are enough reasons to remove Pak Lah as demanded by the electorate in the just concluded elections. But the nail that hammers in the lid of the coffin is the consequences of this stark economic reality.
The Prime Minister who replaces Pak Lah must be one who is without controversy, baggage and more importantly must be acceptable to the leaders of the Barisan Rakyat. This will provide the minimum basis for cooperation between the two “Barisans”. And such a leader will then be able to reform the present system and save the economy from dislocation and disruption and the unimaginable consequences that will assuredly flow from the present gridlock.
Time is against us.
Pak Lah must be removed when Parliament convenes, if the Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament have the interest of the country at heart and not their warped interest for power and self-enrichment.
No one to date has the guts and the convictions to take on Pak Lah and his goons except Tengku Razaleigh. He has offered to serve the country. He should be given a chance.
Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has also called for Pak Lah’s removal. Members of Barisan Nasional must heed their call to remove Pak Lah. The nation must ensure that the momentum generated by the results of the General Election must gather speed and force to sweep away the political debris of Pak Lah, his family and his goons!
And God help us and Malaysia should we fail!
Umno division heads lunch with Ku Li, urge him to contest Abdullah
Posted by kasee
Thursday, 27 March 2008
(The Malaysian Insider) KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 – Several Umno division chiefs had a lunch with Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah this afternoon and during that lunch they urged him to challenge Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi for the Number 1 position in the Umno hierarchy. Traditionally, the party chief becomes the Prime Minister.
They also told former finance minister and party elder Razaleigh they would move to throw out the rule that no fewer than 60 divisions must nominate any contender to the Umno president’s post. This would remove perhaps the main obstacle to Razaleigh, also known as Ku Li, mounting a challenge for the presidency, which he has already said he would do.
Among those who were at the lunch were the former Penang deputy chief minister Datuk Dr Ibrahim Saad and former Tourism Minister Datuk Kadir Sheikh Fadzir.
Thursday, 27 March 2008
(The Malaysian Insider) KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 – Several Umno division chiefs had a lunch with Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah this afternoon and during that lunch they urged him to challenge Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi for the Number 1 position in the Umno hierarchy. Traditionally, the party chief becomes the Prime Minister.
They also told former finance minister and party elder Razaleigh they would move to throw out the rule that no fewer than 60 divisions must nominate any contender to the Umno president’s post. This would remove perhaps the main obstacle to Razaleigh, also known as Ku Li, mounting a challenge for the presidency, which he has already said he would do.
Among those who were at the lunch were the former Penang deputy chief minister Datuk Dr Ibrahim Saad and former Tourism Minister Datuk Kadir Sheikh Fadzir.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Rais bersuara: "Ku Li berhak bertanding Presiden Umno"
Oleh Utusan
Selasa, 25 Mac 2008
KL: Ahli Majlis Tertinggi UMNO, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim berkata, sebagai ahli parti, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah berhak untuk bertanding merebut jawatan Presiden.
Beliau berkata, ia boleh dilakukan dengan syarat mematuhi Pasal 9(5) Perlembagaan UMNO iaitu setiap individu yang akan bertanding perlu mendapat sokongan daripada 30 peratus bahagian di seluruh negara.
Tambah Rais, budaya cuba menakutkan mana-mana pihak daripada membuat perubahan dalam UMNO adalah tidak wajar kerana ia bertentangan dengan sikap masyarakat yang mahu berubah.
Rais merupakan Timbalan Presiden Semangat 46 sebelum ia dibubarkan.
Selasa, 25 Mac 2008
KL: Ahli Majlis Tertinggi UMNO, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim berkata, sebagai ahli parti, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah berhak untuk bertanding merebut jawatan Presiden.
Beliau berkata, ia boleh dilakukan dengan syarat mematuhi Pasal 9(5) Perlembagaan UMNO iaitu setiap individu yang akan bertanding perlu mendapat sokongan daripada 30 peratus bahagian di seluruh negara.
Tambah Rais, budaya cuba menakutkan mana-mana pihak daripada membuat perubahan dalam UMNO adalah tidak wajar kerana ia bertentangan dengan sikap masyarakat yang mahu berubah.
Rais merupakan Timbalan Presiden Semangat 46 sebelum ia dibubarkan.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Razaleigh: Give Ahmad test of confidence
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
PETALING JAYA: The Terengganu state assembly should be allowed to be convened properly and give Datuk Ahmad Said a test of confidence in due course, Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said.
He said petitions, threats, coercion or declaration of support for the Prime Minister and his candidate Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh had no bearing on the legality of Sultan of Terengganu’s appointment of his own Mentri Besar.
Tengku Razaleigh said the situation in Terengganu was a crisis of government, not Constitution.
“The Sultan acted within his powers in appointing the person, who in his judgment, was likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the state assembly.
“Ahmad Said’s appointment is effective and he’s now the Mentri Besar. Perhaps we have forgotten what it is like to conduct ourselves with good manners and due respect for the Constitution and the sovereignty of the Ruler,” he said. - STAR
PETALING JAYA: The Terengganu state assembly should be allowed to be convened properly and give Datuk Ahmad Said a test of confidence in due course, Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said.
He said petitions, threats, coercion or declaration of support for the Prime Minister and his candidate Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh had no bearing on the legality of Sultan of Terengganu’s appointment of his own Mentri Besar.
Tengku Razaleigh said the situation in Terengganu was a crisis of government, not Constitution.
“The Sultan acted within his powers in appointing the person, who in his judgment, was likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the state assembly.
“Ahmad Said’s appointment is effective and he’s now the Mentri Besar. Perhaps we have forgotten what it is like to conduct ourselves with good manners and due respect for the Constitution and the sovereignty of the Ruler,” he said. - STAR
Lantik Ahmad sah, Abdullah salah - Ku Li
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
(Harakah) - Kenyataan Perdana Menteri yang dituntut berundur, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi bahawa perlantikan sesiapa sahaja selain Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh sebagai Menteri Besar Terengganu bercanggah dengan perlembagaan adalah salah, kata Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
"Seperti dalam krisis di Perlis baru-baru ini, tindakan-tindakan Perdana Menteri menunjukkan ketidakcekapan yang memeranjatkan di dalam mengendalikan hubungan fundamental dan fungsi kerajaan yang begitu jelas," kata bekas Menteri Kewangan yang menawarkan diri sebagai calon Presiden Umno itu.
Apa yang berlaku di Terengganu, katanya, adalah krisis kerajaan dan bukannya krisis perlembagaan.
"Sultan telah bertindak dalam bidang kuasa baginda untuk melantik seseorang yang dipercayai mempunyai dukungan majoriti ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN)," kata Ahli Parlimen Gua Musang itu dalam kenyaataanya yang dianggap keras mengenai kelemahan Abdullah.
Menurut beliau, perlantikan Datuk Ahmad Said oleh Majlis Penasihat Pemangku Raja (MPPR) Terengganu adalah sah dan Adun itu sekarang adalah MB Terengganu.
"Terserahlah kepada persidangan DUN nanti untuk memberikan usul percaya kepadanya (Ahmad)," tambahnya.
Semua petisyen, ancaman, paksaan dan deklarasi menyokong Perdana Menteri dan Idris tidak mempunyai kekuatan di sisi undang-undang untuk mencabar perlantikan yang dibuat oleh Sultan itu kerana ia adalah sah di sisi undang-undang, katanya.
(Harakah) - Kenyataan Perdana Menteri yang dituntut berundur, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi bahawa perlantikan sesiapa sahaja selain Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh sebagai Menteri Besar Terengganu bercanggah dengan perlembagaan adalah salah, kata Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
"Seperti dalam krisis di Perlis baru-baru ini, tindakan-tindakan Perdana Menteri menunjukkan ketidakcekapan yang memeranjatkan di dalam mengendalikan hubungan fundamental dan fungsi kerajaan yang begitu jelas," kata bekas Menteri Kewangan yang menawarkan diri sebagai calon Presiden Umno itu.
Apa yang berlaku di Terengganu, katanya, adalah krisis kerajaan dan bukannya krisis perlembagaan.
"Sultan telah bertindak dalam bidang kuasa baginda untuk melantik seseorang yang dipercayai mempunyai dukungan majoriti ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN)," kata Ahli Parlimen Gua Musang itu dalam kenyaataanya yang dianggap keras mengenai kelemahan Abdullah.
Menurut beliau, perlantikan Datuk Ahmad Said oleh Majlis Penasihat Pemangku Raja (MPPR) Terengganu adalah sah dan Adun itu sekarang adalah MB Terengganu.
"Terserahlah kepada persidangan DUN nanti untuk memberikan usul percaya kepadanya (Ahmad)," tambahnya.
Semua petisyen, ancaman, paksaan dan deklarasi menyokong Perdana Menteri dan Idris tidak mempunyai kekuatan di sisi undang-undang untuk mencabar perlantikan yang dibuat oleh Sultan itu kerana ia adalah sah di sisi undang-undang, katanya.
Umno Muar tuntut Abdullah undur
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
(Harakah) - Sokongan terus terang kepada Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah untuk mencabar Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi sebagai Presiden Umno sudah bermula.
Di Muar, sebuah akhbar tempatan melaporkan 80 ketua cawangan mendesak pemimpin mereka mengadakan mesyuarat agung khas bahagian itu untuk menuntut Abdullah berundur.
Kumpulan itu, termasuk jawatankuasa, Pemuda dan Wanita bahagian berkenaan berkumpul di rumah Datuk Kadar Shah Tun Sulaiman untuk mendapatkan pandangannya sebelum membuat keputusan mereka.
Mereka kecewa apabila Ketua Bahagian Muar, Datuk Mohd Ismail Mohd kehilangan kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Maharani dalam pilihan raya umum 8 Mac lalu.
Adun Maharani kini ialah Dr Mohamad Taslim dari PAS yang mendapat 8,154 undi dalam pilihan raya baru-baru ini berbanding 7,996 yang diperolehi Mohd Ismail.
Mereka yakin sudah sampai masanya Umno dipulihkan.
Jurucakap mereka, Zakariah Mahadi menyatakan, kepimpinan Umno mestilah bertanggungjawab atas keputusan pilihan raya baru-baru ini dan meletak jawatan.
Zakariah, bekas Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Sungai Balang menyatakan, ramai ahli Umno di bahagian itu yang sedih dengan kekalahan Barisan Nasional (BN).
"Kami juga mengambil keputusan untuk memberikan sokongan kepada usaha Ahli Parlimen Gua Musang Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah untuk memulihkan maruah Umno," akhbar tersebut memetik beliau berkata selepas perhimpunan itu.
Menurut beliau, ahli-ahli di bahagian itu sedih kerana para pemimpin Umno gagal melihat angin perubahan yang melanda negara.
Sementara itu, Kadar yang dikatakan mempunyai hubungan rapat dengan Tengku Razaleigh berkata, Abdullah sepatutnya mendengar desakan akar umbi yang mahu beliau berundur.
Rakyat, katanya, sudah tidak tahan lagi dengan rasuah, kronisme, nepotisme dan penyalahgunaan kuasa.
(Harakah) - Sokongan terus terang kepada Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah untuk mencabar Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi sebagai Presiden Umno sudah bermula.
Di Muar, sebuah akhbar tempatan melaporkan 80 ketua cawangan mendesak pemimpin mereka mengadakan mesyuarat agung khas bahagian itu untuk menuntut Abdullah berundur.
Kumpulan itu, termasuk jawatankuasa, Pemuda dan Wanita bahagian berkenaan berkumpul di rumah Datuk Kadar Shah Tun Sulaiman untuk mendapatkan pandangannya sebelum membuat keputusan mereka.
Mereka kecewa apabila Ketua Bahagian Muar, Datuk Mohd Ismail Mohd kehilangan kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Maharani dalam pilihan raya umum 8 Mac lalu.
Adun Maharani kini ialah Dr Mohamad Taslim dari PAS yang mendapat 8,154 undi dalam pilihan raya baru-baru ini berbanding 7,996 yang diperolehi Mohd Ismail.
Mereka yakin sudah sampai masanya Umno dipulihkan.
Jurucakap mereka, Zakariah Mahadi menyatakan, kepimpinan Umno mestilah bertanggungjawab atas keputusan pilihan raya baru-baru ini dan meletak jawatan.
Zakariah, bekas Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Sungai Balang menyatakan, ramai ahli Umno di bahagian itu yang sedih dengan kekalahan Barisan Nasional (BN).
"Kami juga mengambil keputusan untuk memberikan sokongan kepada usaha Ahli Parlimen Gua Musang Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah untuk memulihkan maruah Umno," akhbar tersebut memetik beliau berkata selepas perhimpunan itu.
Menurut beliau, ahli-ahli di bahagian itu sedih kerana para pemimpin Umno gagal melihat angin perubahan yang melanda negara.
Sementara itu, Kadar yang dikatakan mempunyai hubungan rapat dengan Tengku Razaleigh berkata, Abdullah sepatutnya mendengar desakan akar umbi yang mahu beliau berundur.
Rakyat, katanya, sudah tidak tahan lagi dengan rasuah, kronisme, nepotisme dan penyalahgunaan kuasa.
On the crisis over the appointment of the Chief Minister of Terengganu
Monday, 24 March 2008
On the crisis over the appointment of the Chief Minister of Terengganu
The situation in Terengganu is a crisis of government, not of the Constitution. The Sultan acted within his powers in appointing the person who, in his judgment, is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the State Assembly. Ahmad Said's appointment is effective and he is now the Chief Minister of Terengganu. It is up to the properly convened State Assembly to test him with a vote of confidence in due course. Petitions, threats, coercion and declarations of support for the Prime Minister and his candidate have no bearing on the legality of the Sultan of Terengganu's appointment of his own Chief Minister. Perhaps we have forgotten what it is like to conduct ourselves with good manners and due respect for the Constitution and the sovereignty of the Ruler.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's statement yesterday that "the appointment of anyone but Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh as Terengganu Menteri Besar is unconstitutional" is wrong. As in the recent crisis in Perlis, the Prime Minister’s actions suggest stunning ineptness in managing fundamental relationships and straightforward functions of government.
This storm in Terengganu is just the latest in a series of crises brought on by an apparent failure to understand how State powers work relative to Federal ones. This is alarming because the Barisan government now has five Opposition-controlled states to contend with out of the nine in Peninsular Malaysia. The mis-handling of chief ministerial appointments in Perlis, and now in Terengganu, mean that our leadership in two other states is now in jeopardy.
After fifty years of independence, I am sure we should be capable of resolving our issues in a efficient and respectful manner.
On the crisis over the appointment of the Chief Minister of Terengganu
The situation in Terengganu is a crisis of government, not of the Constitution. The Sultan acted within his powers in appointing the person who, in his judgment, is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the State Assembly. Ahmad Said's appointment is effective and he is now the Chief Minister of Terengganu. It is up to the properly convened State Assembly to test him with a vote of confidence in due course. Petitions, threats, coercion and declarations of support for the Prime Minister and his candidate have no bearing on the legality of the Sultan of Terengganu's appointment of his own Chief Minister. Perhaps we have forgotten what it is like to conduct ourselves with good manners and due respect for the Constitution and the sovereignty of the Ruler.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's statement yesterday that "the appointment of anyone but Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh as Terengganu Menteri Besar is unconstitutional" is wrong. As in the recent crisis in Perlis, the Prime Minister’s actions suggest stunning ineptness in managing fundamental relationships and straightforward functions of government.
This storm in Terengganu is just the latest in a series of crises brought on by an apparent failure to understand how State powers work relative to Federal ones. This is alarming because the Barisan government now has five Opposition-controlled states to contend with out of the nine in Peninsular Malaysia. The mis-handling of chief ministerial appointments in Perlis, and now in Terengganu, mean that our leadership in two other states is now in jeopardy.
After fifty years of independence, I am sure we should be capable of resolving our issues in a efficient and respectful manner.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Ku Li: It's Only A Tremor Not Yet An Eartquake - 21 March
http://hantulautan.blogspot.com/
It was just a tremor when Ku Li throws the gauntlet that he would challenge Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for the UMNO Presidency. There were disquiet among Abdullah's aides and his faithfuls in UMNO of this open challenge to his leadership. The earthquake will come later.
Tengku Razaleigh or popularly know as Ku Li said the results of the just concluded elections are the worst ever for UMNO.The party is on the brink of losing its undivided and unequivocal supports of the Malays that it has enjoyed for half a century. A sizable portion of the Malay community have thrown their supports behind PAS and PKR. In the urban belt the Malay bourgeois have voted DAP where PKR and PAS didn't contest due to the pact they have.
The politically incarcerated Ku Li has also questioned the hijacking of the NEP by elitist groups in UMNO. The monopolistic control of the gravy train has resulted in inequitable distributions of the nation's wealth.Not only are there poor Indians in the country, there are probably more poor Malays as they formed the majority of the races in the country. The gravy train not only rewards the macais and those in power but has also astonishingly produced some extremely successful children of almost all the prime ministers with big businesses under their control. A Malay friend once lamented " Do you honestly think every prime minister of this country has a son who has great business acumen and a hotshot entrepreneur".
Embattled Prime Minister Abdullah besets with endless problems has denied that he has lost support of the people, instead said he has the support of the majority and that he is still in charge, trying to dispel rumours that his Oxford trained son-in-law has undue influence over many of his decisions. Many Malaysians have the impression that Abdullah has another cabinet, a kitchen cabinet at home where major political decisions are made. It could well be perceptions only but it has done a lot of damage to his credibility.
Razaleigh who challenged Mahathir for the UMNO presidency in 1987 but lost by the skin of his teeth attributed it to Najib's division last minute shift to Mahathir's camp. He left UMNO and started a breakaway party called Semangat 46 which didn't do well.He rejoined UMNO and was in the doldrums for yonks until Abdullah's stumbles at the recent elections.He ran the gauntlet on Abdullah and roared in disgust from his lair at Gua Musang.
Ku Li had made two attempts at the presidency but failed.First, against Mahathir in 1987 which almost got him the coveted title and the second in 2004 against Abdullah but failed to get sufficient nominations to stand as candidate.
The substantial rejections at the polls will need delicate and pragmatic approaches in order to pacify angry voters and rekindle their interests to return to the fold. The present leadership don't have the credibility to convince the people that they will change for the better.Ku Li is probably the only suitable candidate at the moment to heal the wounded pride and to try recover lost ground.
With the sword of Damocles hanging over Abdullah's head, it wouldn't be long before an earthquake will occur that will snap the string that hold the sword. Razaleigh call for an EGM will not succeed.His only chance to challenge Abdullah is at the forthcoming assembly.
It will be another five months before the UMNO Assembly, will Razaleigh find enough nominations to get him to challenge Abdullah ? He will and have the best fighting chance to win if Najib don't upset the applecart. Najib should stay as deputy and let Razaleigh lead the party for at least one term to regain the lost confidence and reassemble its lost supports.
There is little altruism in UMNO nowadays, that's why it suffered a massive dose of rejections. The Malay voters have found alternatives in the form of PKR and PAS.The rule of the games has changed and Malays are now more politically matured and gone are the days when ketuananMelayu was the rallying call to the Malays to close ranks and make sure UMNO stays in power.
It was just a tremor when Ku Li throws the gauntlet that he would challenge Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for the UMNO Presidency. There were disquiet among Abdullah's aides and his faithfuls in UMNO of this open challenge to his leadership. The earthquake will come later.
Tengku Razaleigh or popularly know as Ku Li said the results of the just concluded elections are the worst ever for UMNO.The party is on the brink of losing its undivided and unequivocal supports of the Malays that it has enjoyed for half a century. A sizable portion of the Malay community have thrown their supports behind PAS and PKR. In the urban belt the Malay bourgeois have voted DAP where PKR and PAS didn't contest due to the pact they have.
The politically incarcerated Ku Li has also questioned the hijacking of the NEP by elitist groups in UMNO. The monopolistic control of the gravy train has resulted in inequitable distributions of the nation's wealth.Not only are there poor Indians in the country, there are probably more poor Malays as they formed the majority of the races in the country. The gravy train not only rewards the macais and those in power but has also astonishingly produced some extremely successful children of almost all the prime ministers with big businesses under their control. A Malay friend once lamented " Do you honestly think every prime minister of this country has a son who has great business acumen and a hotshot entrepreneur".
Embattled Prime Minister Abdullah besets with endless problems has denied that he has lost support of the people, instead said he has the support of the majority and that he is still in charge, trying to dispel rumours that his Oxford trained son-in-law has undue influence over many of his decisions. Many Malaysians have the impression that Abdullah has another cabinet, a kitchen cabinet at home where major political decisions are made. It could well be perceptions only but it has done a lot of damage to his credibility.
Razaleigh who challenged Mahathir for the UMNO presidency in 1987 but lost by the skin of his teeth attributed it to Najib's division last minute shift to Mahathir's camp. He left UMNO and started a breakaway party called Semangat 46 which didn't do well.He rejoined UMNO and was in the doldrums for yonks until Abdullah's stumbles at the recent elections.He ran the gauntlet on Abdullah and roared in disgust from his lair at Gua Musang.
Ku Li had made two attempts at the presidency but failed.First, against Mahathir in 1987 which almost got him the coveted title and the second in 2004 against Abdullah but failed to get sufficient nominations to stand as candidate.
The substantial rejections at the polls will need delicate and pragmatic approaches in order to pacify angry voters and rekindle their interests to return to the fold. The present leadership don't have the credibility to convince the people that they will change for the better.Ku Li is probably the only suitable candidate at the moment to heal the wounded pride and to try recover lost ground.
With the sword of Damocles hanging over Abdullah's head, it wouldn't be long before an earthquake will occur that will snap the string that hold the sword. Razaleigh call for an EGM will not succeed.His only chance to challenge Abdullah is at the forthcoming assembly.
It will be another five months before the UMNO Assembly, will Razaleigh find enough nominations to get him to challenge Abdullah ? He will and have the best fighting chance to win if Najib don't upset the applecart. Najib should stay as deputy and let Razaleigh lead the party for at least one term to regain the lost confidence and reassemble its lost supports.
There is little altruism in UMNO nowadays, that's why it suffered a massive dose of rejections. The Malay voters have found alternatives in the form of PKR and PAS.The rule of the games has changed and Malays are now more politically matured and gone are the days when ketuananMelayu was the rallying call to the Malays to close ranks and make sure UMNO stays in power.
Muncul Sesudah Gerhana?
http://kuda-kepang.blogspot.com 20 Mac 2008
Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah menyatakan di Kota Bharu semalam bahawa beliau sedia “menerajui dan merawat UMNO bagi memastikan parti itu tidak hilang kekuasaan dan Melayu terus dibela.”
Berikutan kenyataan ini, saya rasa terpanggil untuk menyiarkan semula empat siri posting saya mengenai Razaleigh dalam blog ini pada Jun 2007. Siri pertama ini yang pernah disiarkan dalam blog ini pada Isnin, 11 Jun 2007, adalah seperti berikut:
Hujung minggu baru-baru ini fikiran saya cukup bercelaru. Bukannya pasal apa-apa yang peribadi. Tetapi perihal tanahair tercinta yang kini dikatakan sedang di ambang gerhana.
Sama ada gerhana bulan, gerhana suria, gerhana siasah atau gerhana iktisad, saya tidak tahu. Saya hanya mendapat maklumat bahawa satu episod gerhana akan mnjelma di Malaysia. Jadi, harap anda semua bersabar, tunggu dan lihat, sama ada gerhana itu benar-benar berlaku.
Bagaimanapun, dalam kecelaruan ini, saya pun baca semula buku Apa Agenda Anwar Ibrahim Dengan Khairy Jamaluddin karya sahabat saya, Saudara Yahya Ismail atau Pak Ya. Kalau apa yang dinukilkan oleh Pak Ya di dalam buku itu adalah hakikat, kata suara hati saya, ke manakah akhirnya kita semua?
Pak Ya juga memaparkan banyak gambar pemimpin UMNO dari semua lapisan di dalam buku tersebut. Tetapi, saya sendiri tidak tahu, mengapakah perhatian saya terpaku kepada foto yang dipaparkan di muka surat 266 di mana Pak Ya memaparkan wajah Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Ahli Parlimen BN Gua Musang, Kelantan, dengan caption seperti berikut:
Kalau beliau (Tengku Razaleigh) menumpaskan Mahathir pada tahun 1987, jawatan PM akan disandang oleh beliau. Malangnya, dia gagal. Tapi beliau tidak mudah berputus asa dalam perjuangan dan tidak pernah kalah dalam setiap pilihan raya yang disertainya hingga sekarang. Beliau mempunyai pengaruh, dihormati rakyat dan seorang tokoh politik yang berpengalaman, berwibawa dan boleh menjadi bakal PM. Kalau Tun Mahathir dan Ku Li berkerjasama, besar kemungkinan scenario politik UMNO dan negara akan berubah tidak lama lagi.
Begitulah kata-kata Pak Ya dalam bukunya yang diterbitkan pada Ogos 2006. Saya tidak pasti mengapa Pak Ya memilih caption di atas untuk gambar Tengku Razaleigh yang berpakaian casual. Tetapi, dalam gambar itu, Tengku Razaleigh jelas memberikan satu renungan yang tajam dan penuh bermakna.
Soalnya di sini, mengapakah sewaktu menghadapi kecelaruan ini saya memetik caption Pak Ya mengenai Tengku Razaleigh?
Adakah kerana saya tertawan dengan kata-kata Pak Ya bahawa Tengku Razaleigh “mempunyai pengaruh, dihormati rakyat dan seorang tokoh politik yang berpengalaman, berwibawa dan boleh menjadi bakal PM.”?
Atau, adakah kerana Pak Ya mengatakan bahawa “kalau Tun Mahathir dan Ku Li berkerjasama, besar kemungkinan scenario politik UMNO dan negara akan berubah tidak lama lagi.”?
Saya tidak dapat menjawab persoalan di atas kerana soalan itu menjelma dalam kecelaruan fikiran saya terhadap tanahair.
Tetapi, mungkinkah saya memetik kata-kata Pak Ya mengenai Tengku Razaleigh kerana naluri saya yang sedang dalam kecelaruan ini didorong oleh satu persepsi bahawa Tengku Razaleigh memang tokoh terbaik untuk mengembalikan semula cahaya ria yang akan ditenggelamkan oleh gerhana yang mungkin tiba?
Mungkinkah kini sampai giliran Tengku Razaleigh, putera raja berjiwa rakyat, untuk mewarnakan semula landskap siasah Malaysia selepas gerhana muncul di tanahair tercinta ini tidak lama lagi? – Ruhanie Ahmad, 11 Jun 2007.
Nota: Saya harap kita semua renungkan posting di atas yang sudah hampir sembilan bulan usianya. Fikir-fikirkanlah sama ada cetusan hati saya ketika itu jadi tambah relevan kepada scenario siasah mutakhir ini? Siri kedua akan menyusul esok. – Ruhanie Ahmad
Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah menyatakan di Kota Bharu semalam bahawa beliau sedia “menerajui dan merawat UMNO bagi memastikan parti itu tidak hilang kekuasaan dan Melayu terus dibela.”
Berikutan kenyataan ini, saya rasa terpanggil untuk menyiarkan semula empat siri posting saya mengenai Razaleigh dalam blog ini pada Jun 2007. Siri pertama ini yang pernah disiarkan dalam blog ini pada Isnin, 11 Jun 2007, adalah seperti berikut:
Hujung minggu baru-baru ini fikiran saya cukup bercelaru. Bukannya pasal apa-apa yang peribadi. Tetapi perihal tanahair tercinta yang kini dikatakan sedang di ambang gerhana.
Sama ada gerhana bulan, gerhana suria, gerhana siasah atau gerhana iktisad, saya tidak tahu. Saya hanya mendapat maklumat bahawa satu episod gerhana akan mnjelma di Malaysia. Jadi, harap anda semua bersabar, tunggu dan lihat, sama ada gerhana itu benar-benar berlaku.
Bagaimanapun, dalam kecelaruan ini, saya pun baca semula buku Apa Agenda Anwar Ibrahim Dengan Khairy Jamaluddin karya sahabat saya, Saudara Yahya Ismail atau Pak Ya. Kalau apa yang dinukilkan oleh Pak Ya di dalam buku itu adalah hakikat, kata suara hati saya, ke manakah akhirnya kita semua?
Pak Ya juga memaparkan banyak gambar pemimpin UMNO dari semua lapisan di dalam buku tersebut. Tetapi, saya sendiri tidak tahu, mengapakah perhatian saya terpaku kepada foto yang dipaparkan di muka surat 266 di mana Pak Ya memaparkan wajah Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Ahli Parlimen BN Gua Musang, Kelantan, dengan caption seperti berikut:
Kalau beliau (Tengku Razaleigh) menumpaskan Mahathir pada tahun 1987, jawatan PM akan disandang oleh beliau. Malangnya, dia gagal. Tapi beliau tidak mudah berputus asa dalam perjuangan dan tidak pernah kalah dalam setiap pilihan raya yang disertainya hingga sekarang. Beliau mempunyai pengaruh, dihormati rakyat dan seorang tokoh politik yang berpengalaman, berwibawa dan boleh menjadi bakal PM. Kalau Tun Mahathir dan Ku Li berkerjasama, besar kemungkinan scenario politik UMNO dan negara akan berubah tidak lama lagi.
Begitulah kata-kata Pak Ya dalam bukunya yang diterbitkan pada Ogos 2006. Saya tidak pasti mengapa Pak Ya memilih caption di atas untuk gambar Tengku Razaleigh yang berpakaian casual. Tetapi, dalam gambar itu, Tengku Razaleigh jelas memberikan satu renungan yang tajam dan penuh bermakna.
Soalnya di sini, mengapakah sewaktu menghadapi kecelaruan ini saya memetik caption Pak Ya mengenai Tengku Razaleigh?
Adakah kerana saya tertawan dengan kata-kata Pak Ya bahawa Tengku Razaleigh “mempunyai pengaruh, dihormati rakyat dan seorang tokoh politik yang berpengalaman, berwibawa dan boleh menjadi bakal PM.”?
Atau, adakah kerana Pak Ya mengatakan bahawa “kalau Tun Mahathir dan Ku Li berkerjasama, besar kemungkinan scenario politik UMNO dan negara akan berubah tidak lama lagi.”?
Saya tidak dapat menjawab persoalan di atas kerana soalan itu menjelma dalam kecelaruan fikiran saya terhadap tanahair.
Tetapi, mungkinkah saya memetik kata-kata Pak Ya mengenai Tengku Razaleigh kerana naluri saya yang sedang dalam kecelaruan ini didorong oleh satu persepsi bahawa Tengku Razaleigh memang tokoh terbaik untuk mengembalikan semula cahaya ria yang akan ditenggelamkan oleh gerhana yang mungkin tiba?
Mungkinkah kini sampai giliran Tengku Razaleigh, putera raja berjiwa rakyat, untuk mewarnakan semula landskap siasah Malaysia selepas gerhana muncul di tanahair tercinta ini tidak lama lagi? – Ruhanie Ahmad, 11 Jun 2007.
Nota: Saya harap kita semua renungkan posting di atas yang sudah hampir sembilan bulan usianya. Fikir-fikirkanlah sama ada cetusan hati saya ketika itu jadi tambah relevan kepada scenario siasah mutakhir ini? Siri kedua akan menyusul esok. – Ruhanie Ahmad
UMNO Saviour? from http://my.opera.com/abdaziz/blog/
Tengku Razaleigh started by saying Tun Abdul Razak was a very visionary man and his thoughts were much ahead of his time. At a time where the nation was still lack of so many essential services and basic needs, he had slowly crafted a solution to bring the nation forward.
According to Tengku Razaleigh, the British had a very cunning “Divide and Rule” manner, where different ethnic group were treated and managed with different set of policies and pace, regardless by design or default. The most glaring policy differences that were planned and implemented were on developmental economics and education.
Developmental economics then, can be called as “segregation economics”. The were serious disparity between the ethnic groups, their economic standing and progress and productivity, were at different level. The rural areas, where generally the Malays live, were left undeveloped where as the industries and commercial activities were carried out specifically in the urban areas; where the British placed the Chinese. The Indians were mostly in the estates.
Therefore, there is a serious poverty and under development issues amongst the Malays, who were the majority of the people in Malaya, being shunned away from the basic needs, essential services and infrastructure. The employment and vocation patterns shows further disparity. The Malays were only allowed subsistence economy status. The Chinese, however, were encouraged working the tin mines, then opening businesses and do trading. The Indians worked as estates and railroad / public work labourers. Some Indians, from the British experience in India, were allowed to practice technical and professional services.
The economic cake needs to expanded so that the Malays can play in the game by not taking from the non Malays existing portions. An extension to the economic cake is to provide the 30% requirements of the Malays.
A consultation between all the parties were called (with the exception of DAP, which refused!) and they came to a consensus. The New Economic Policy (NEP) was born in August 1971.
Tengku Razaleigh explained that NEP was not against free market principles. NEP is a tool just to adapt and allow the Malays into the free market game. He also explained the NEP is a structured social re-engineering package and it is actually a National Agenda (not a Malay Agenda). It is necessary to form national integrity.
Tengku Razaleigh further said even the developed West also adopt ‘Affirmative Social Actions’. President Bill Clinton adopted this policy to narrow the widening gap suffered by the Black Americans.
Another important topic which Tengku Razaleigh touched is National Culture Policy (NCP). NCP is about a tool of national integration and unity. NCP main components are:
1. The indigenous peoples’ culture is the core basis of the National Culture
2. Other cultural elements which are suitable and able to be assimilated into the National Culture will be allowed
3. Islam is the very important aspect in the development of the National Culture
Tengku Razaleigh explained that the NCP does not intend to ‘Malay-nised’ the culture or ‘Islamize’ the faith of the non Malays. NCP will be the model the foster common national values. In short, NCP is a ‘social re-engineering’ plan to integrate Malaysians, crafted by Tun Abdul Razak.
Tun Razak also wanted the Malays to shed off the “rural mindset” and start to adopt “urbanization thinking”. Tengku Razaleigh then went on to tell about his long, close working relationship with Tun Razak, beginning in 1962 till the latter’s demise in 1976. Tun Razak had asked Tengku Razaleigh to start and develop landmark agencies such as Bank Bumiputra, PERNAS and Petronas.
Tengku Razaleigh reminded that its not Government’s duty to go into business. The one of the responsibility of the Government is to induce investments from abroad, to generate economic activities. The Government, however, has moral duty to protect the country’s sovereignty not allow the land within these borders be economical assets of powers from elsewhere.
Tengku Razaleigh ended his lecture by asking everyone to go back to Tun Razak’s thinking and policies, for the betterment of the Malays and the others, as well as the nation.
Amongst those in the audience was former Prime Minister and UMNO President Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Tun Dr. Mahathir was then invited by the organizing Chairman, Tan Sri Arshad Ayub, to off-the-cuff address the seminar.
Tun Dr. Mahathir took the rostrum and talked how he was given a second chance by Tun Razak and appointed as the Education Minister in 1974, after being sacked from UMNO earlier by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra. He also explained that Tun Razak was instrumental to ensure that Dato’ Hussein Onn appointed him as his Deputy.
Tun Dr. Mahathir sportingly said that he had differences with Tengku Razaleigh once. However, he went on saying that he allowed many people who went against him to comeback to the fold for the sake of Perjuangan, even appointed some of them as Cabinet Ministers, including the current Prime Minister. Tun Dr. Mahathir coyly joked that he almost took Tengku Razaleigh back into the Cabinet one time but after an article appeared in Far Eastern Economic Review, the former had to “review” the appointment. This two men’s sportsmanship drew laughter from the audience.
Tun Dr. Mahathir last word was he considers himself to be a Tun Razak man as well. However, he has his own interpretations to Tun Razak’s social re-engineering package plan and consider this a ‘norm’, although some people might interpret the variations as “differences”.
Although the weather was terrible, it was indeed a very good afternoon to have the two best Malay minds, on the same platform.
However,these two great Statesmen has no longer any political ambition to speak of.
thus their sincerity is no longer in question.They were the policy makers closest to the Generation of Tun Razak ,who understood the poverty of people in thre rural areas at that time.
Sadly the poverty still exist rearing its ugly head refusing to go…its easy for present leaders of UMNO to be lulled into believing that we have eradicated poverty in rural masses.The criteria used and reminded upon the kg folks again and again is how fortunate of them to have water and electricity supply ,a nice school for their children to go to or perhaps a better road system to ride on.Isnt it just the right of every citizen and responsibility of any Goverment to provide such facilities?
How much capable are poor Malays rural youth in dealing with Globalization?They are ill equip with skills and education would soon be asked to compete with better train foreigners who offered their skills at cheaper cost. Without the advantage of reasonable minimal wage,the companies would continue hiring forigners thus sidelining bigger and bigger no of ‘unemployable’ youths. With low qualities graduate churned out by Universities finding it difficult to get jobs,what chance is there for these youth to gain asses to mainstream economy of the country?They would only be hired to work in fastfood joints,as security guards or any lowpaying jobs.Even that we influx of cheaper labours from Indonesia,Pakistan and Nepals the employers tend to shun them away too.
UMNO at kg levels are filled with ‘yesman’ committe members who themself lulled into believing that their rentseeking business is the business models able to stand the onslought of globalization.Their business saviness is so ‘paperthin’solid ,yet they yelp a loudest bark.Parading their new found material wealth in the form of luxury cars attesting to their business saviness for everyone to see.
Wake-up call to the BN: PBS official - Daily Express 22 March
Saturday, 22 March 2008
The statement by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah on the need for changes in the Umno leadership is a crude wake up call for the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to buck up, said Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Supreme Council member Dr Chong Eng Leong.
He said since members of the Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties look up to Umno, as the thrust of the coalition, it was important for the party to remain strong.
"This is not meddling into Umno internal affairs. We need a strong Umno so that BN can continue to survive. But apparently the Umno leadership has yet to wake up," he said, Friday.
Dr Chong said BN component leaders in Sabah had been begging for assistance from the Federal to solve the longstanding problems of illegal immigrants and associated with it the issue of fake ICs and gaining genuine ICs through the backdoor.
"We are not being anti-Federal here, we are making the call for the sake of Sabah's sovereignty in Malaysia but the Federal leaders never wake up.
"So much so that even the move by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity chaired by Tan Sri Bernard Dompok to call up the National Registration Department Director-General to get explanation on the matter was blatantly ignored," he said.
A long time advocate of the illegal immigrants and dubious ICs issues in Sabah, Dr Chong said that for this reason, Dompok who is also President of Upko, decided to resign from the committee.
"With Razaleigh now offering his service to lead Umno, hopefully he will be able to look into solving these issues in Sabah as well. After all the BN election manifesto never touched on the issues that are at the very centre of Sabahans' hearts," he said.
Dr Chong said Razaleigh is an experienced politician whom he believed is the best person to make the changes in Umno and not only restore the party's image following the dismal results in the recent general elections but also issues that other component parties had been calling to be addressed.
"Sabah and Sarawak contributed 40 per cent of the Parliamentary seats following the BN poor election results in Semenanjung but this was not reflected in the representations from East Malaysia in the new Federal Cabinet," he said.
Razaleigh, who is Gua Musang MP and Gua Musang Umno Chief, said in a report Friday that he was prepared to shoulder a huge responsibility, including contesting the Umno President's post.
He was quoted as saying that "to begin immediately the process of restoring ourselves, the leadership team must wake from its slumber, face the truth and accept full responsibility for this debacle". - DAILY EXPRESS
The statement by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah on the need for changes in the Umno leadership is a crude wake up call for the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to buck up, said Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Supreme Council member Dr Chong Eng Leong.
He said since members of the Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties look up to Umno, as the thrust of the coalition, it was important for the party to remain strong.
"This is not meddling into Umno internal affairs. We need a strong Umno so that BN can continue to survive. But apparently the Umno leadership has yet to wake up," he said, Friday.
Dr Chong said BN component leaders in Sabah had been begging for assistance from the Federal to solve the longstanding problems of illegal immigrants and associated with it the issue of fake ICs and gaining genuine ICs through the backdoor.
"We are not being anti-Federal here, we are making the call for the sake of Sabah's sovereignty in Malaysia but the Federal leaders never wake up.
"So much so that even the move by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity chaired by Tan Sri Bernard Dompok to call up the National Registration Department Director-General to get explanation on the matter was blatantly ignored," he said.
A long time advocate of the illegal immigrants and dubious ICs issues in Sabah, Dr Chong said that for this reason, Dompok who is also President of Upko, decided to resign from the committee.
"With Razaleigh now offering his service to lead Umno, hopefully he will be able to look into solving these issues in Sabah as well. After all the BN election manifesto never touched on the issues that are at the very centre of Sabahans' hearts," he said.
Dr Chong said Razaleigh is an experienced politician whom he believed is the best person to make the changes in Umno and not only restore the party's image following the dismal results in the recent general elections but also issues that other component parties had been calling to be addressed.
"Sabah and Sarawak contributed 40 per cent of the Parliamentary seats following the BN poor election results in Semenanjung but this was not reflected in the representations from East Malaysia in the new Federal Cabinet," he said.
Razaleigh, who is Gua Musang MP and Gua Musang Umno Chief, said in a report Friday that he was prepared to shoulder a huge responsibility, including contesting the Umno President's post.
He was quoted as saying that "to begin immediately the process of restoring ourselves, the leadership team must wake from its slumber, face the truth and accept full responsibility for this debacle". - DAILY EXPRESS
Friday, March 21, 2008
Mahathir throws weight behind Ku Li - Malaysian Insider 22 Mac
KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 -- Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday he supports the proposal by Gua Musang Member of Parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah that Umno calls for an extraordinary general meeting on May 11.
He said the EGM was necessary to discuss the reasons that the Barisan Nasional (BN) led by Umno had lost the two-third majority and its defeat in 5 states in the recent general election.
He claimed that many people, including Umno members, had voted for the Opposition not because they supported the Opposition, but because they did not like the Umno leadersip.
"But they are afraid to voice their opinion," he told reporters after launching the book entitled "Management Astray: Resuscitating Ailing Organisations" written by the late Tan Sri Basir Ismail, here.
Asked whether he supported Tengku Razaleigh's intention to contest the Umno presidency to rehabilitate the party, Dr Mahathir said the question of who was going to contest should be discussed after the EGM. -- Bernama
Uphill task for Ku Li
He may be saying what many Umno members are feeling right now but it will be tough for Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to get half the 210 Umno divisions to push for a special meeting on May 11 to discuss the party’s electoral performance.
The reason: Many of the state liaison chiefs are either in the cabinet, Mentris Besar or still in the power structure. These are the men who can influence how the divisions and branches vote on any issue. There is nothing for them to gain by rocking the ship at this point, even though some of them also share Ku Li’s belief that blame for Barisan Nasional’s reverses on March 8 should be laid at the door of the Prime Minister.
By allowing the special meeting to take place, they know that they may be giving Ku Li the momentum to challenge for the president’s position, and unwittingly give him the backdoor to the top of the Umno pole – a scenario which does not benefit many of the current political players.
Terengganu Umno chief Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said today that he did not think that the special meeting on May 11 was necessary. “Let us wait for the Umno general assembly. I believe that with the confidence placed in the prime minister by his deputy, Datuk Seri Najib, there will be no tussle for power in Umno,” he said.
He believed that the next Umno general assembly would endorse the leadership of Abdullah.
Even Wanita Umno chief Datuk Rafidah Aziz, though smarting from her relegation from the Cabinet, was in no mood to join forces with Ku Li. She said that the focus must be on making the party stronger. Now was not the time for anyone to take advantage of the situation, she said after chairing the Wanita Umno exco meeting today.
Ku Li is also not likely to get the support of Sabah’s Musa Aman, Selangor’s Muhammad Muhammad Taib, Johor’s Ghani Othman, Pahang’s Adnan Yaacob, Malacca’s Ali Rustam and Negeri Sembilan’s Mohammed Hassan.
This leaves him with the difficult task of persuading the rank and file of the party in each state to go against their masters and patrons.
He said the EGM was necessary to discuss the reasons that the Barisan Nasional (BN) led by Umno had lost the two-third majority and its defeat in 5 states in the recent general election.
He claimed that many people, including Umno members, had voted for the Opposition not because they supported the Opposition, but because they did not like the Umno leadersip.
"But they are afraid to voice their opinion," he told reporters after launching the book entitled "Management Astray: Resuscitating Ailing Organisations" written by the late Tan Sri Basir Ismail, here.
Asked whether he supported Tengku Razaleigh's intention to contest the Umno presidency to rehabilitate the party, Dr Mahathir said the question of who was going to contest should be discussed after the EGM. -- Bernama
Uphill task for Ku Li
He may be saying what many Umno members are feeling right now but it will be tough for Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to get half the 210 Umno divisions to push for a special meeting on May 11 to discuss the party’s electoral performance.
The reason: Many of the state liaison chiefs are either in the cabinet, Mentris Besar or still in the power structure. These are the men who can influence how the divisions and branches vote on any issue. There is nothing for them to gain by rocking the ship at this point, even though some of them also share Ku Li’s belief that blame for Barisan Nasional’s reverses on March 8 should be laid at the door of the Prime Minister.
By allowing the special meeting to take place, they know that they may be giving Ku Li the momentum to challenge for the president’s position, and unwittingly give him the backdoor to the top of the Umno pole – a scenario which does not benefit many of the current political players.
Terengganu Umno chief Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said today that he did not think that the special meeting on May 11 was necessary. “Let us wait for the Umno general assembly. I believe that with the confidence placed in the prime minister by his deputy, Datuk Seri Najib, there will be no tussle for power in Umno,” he said.
He believed that the next Umno general assembly would endorse the leadership of Abdullah.
Even Wanita Umno chief Datuk Rafidah Aziz, though smarting from her relegation from the Cabinet, was in no mood to join forces with Ku Li. She said that the focus must be on making the party stronger. Now was not the time for anyone to take advantage of the situation, she said after chairing the Wanita Umno exco meeting today.
Ku Li is also not likely to get the support of Sabah’s Musa Aman, Selangor’s Muhammad Muhammad Taib, Johor’s Ghani Othman, Pahang’s Adnan Yaacob, Malacca’s Ali Rustam and Negeri Sembilan’s Mohammed Hassan.
This leaves him with the difficult task of persuading the rank and file of the party in each state to go against their masters and patrons.
Artikel daripada Datuk Kamal Amir di Malaysia Today
GELANG BESI & MAHKAMAH RAKYAT
Kehadiran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah adalah untuk merawat Umno yang dilihat semakin nazak. Beliau menawarkan dirinya kerana Umno sudah terlalu jauh menyimpang dari landasan perjuangannya.
KAMAL AMIR MENULIS
ORANG kaya Muhamad Hj. Mohd Taib yang dipungut kembali oleh kaki pembohong dan munafik tersohor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sebagai sidang wazirnya kembali berkokok dengan begitu lantang membelasah Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah kerana menawarkan diri bertanding jawatan Presiden Umno di musim pemilihan parti itu hujung tahun ini.
Laman Marhain mencatatkan kelmarin “Dalam kenyataan bersumpahnya Muhamad Hj. Mohd Taib mengistiharkan dia memiliki jumlah harta bernilai RM30,831,306.15. Harta pegangan beliau sebenarnya melebihi 74,500,000.00 juta ringgit tidak termasuk tanah dan saham di mana kekayaan tersebut bukan merupakan harta turun-temurun keluarga tetapi terjana melalui kedudukannya.”
Dan setelah kembali menjadi sidang wazir kerajaan Abdullah Ahmad Badawi @ Kerajaan Tiga Beranak, dia bertindak menjadi panglima tersohor agar Imam besar Mahzhab Hadhari yang terjelepuk dibaham ombak Tsunami Suara Rakyat Kuasa Keramat untuk kekal bertapa di anjung kuasa Seri Perdana.
Pemimpin yang melarikan Puteri Sultan Selangor untuk dinikahi di Sempadan Siam dan terpaksa membayar gantirugi berjuta-juta ringgit sebagai penyelesaian perceraiannya dengan Puteri tersebut serta diberkas oleh pihak berkuasa Australia kerana gagal mengisytiharkan pegangan tunai melebihi 1,000,000.00 wang campuran mata wang asing itu, begitu bersungguh sungguh mahu menyekat kemaraan Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah menentang Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Alasan yang didengungkan oleh Muhamad Hj. Mohd Taib adalah demi mahu menyelamatkan Umno agar tidak berlaku perpecahan kesan pertandingan merebut jawatan Presiden. Malahan pemimpin yang kawin lari ke sempadan Siam itu turut menyatakan kononnya kehadiran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah boleh mengusutkan keadaan saat parti tersebut masih belum stabil kesan pilihanraya ke 12 tiga minggu lalu.
Lucu dan cukup melucukan apabila Muhamad Hj. Mohd Taib yang mampu memikul sejumlah 1 juta ringgit untuk diusung ke Australia tanpa diketahui dari mana hasil sebenar wang tersebut diperolehi boleh menzahirkan kenyataan sebegitu dangkal. Sedarkah olehnya kenazakkan serta terhuyung hayangnya bahtera Umno dirempuh badai Tsunami gelombang Suara Rakyat Kuasa Keramat tempoh hari adalah disebabkan oleh meluat, benci, sakit hati serta bosannya rakyat melihat kebobrokkan dikalangan pemimpin Umno melakukan korupsi serta merampok kantung negara.
Umno dibenci kerana pemimpinnya kaki pembohong. Umno ditolak oleh rakyat disebabkan pemimpinnya terjebak dalam pelbagai skandal serba menjijikkan, keyakinan terhadap parti tersebut terhakis kesan bocah dan serakahnya nafsu pimpinan tertinggi untuk merelakan kehadiran pengkhianat negara menjilat telapak kaki kuasa asing serta melacurkan kedaulatan bangsa dan negara.
Rakyat meluat melihat perangai pimpinan Umno seperti Muhamad Hj. Mohd Taib yang bersekongkol dengan imam besar Mazahab Hadhari mempamerkan sikap munafik, pembohong serta memperkosa semahu-mahunya yakin rakyat untuk dijadikan modal utama mereka bernama pemimpin mengaut tanpa sempadan kekayaan negara ketembolok sendiri.
Kebencian rakyat menolak Umno bukan kerana parti itu tidak baik, malahan semua warga bangsa tetap mengenang jasanya menjelmakan aroma kemerdekaan. Namun sikap pemimpin yang rakus, bernafsu besar, beraja di mata bersultan di hati, membenarkan budaya sempang peranang, kaki ampu dan kaki bodek begitu berleluasa sehinggakan kepincangan pemimpin sudah tiada lagi berani ditegur mengakibatkannya di lihat sebagai ancaman terhadap bangsa sendiri.
Kalaulah Umno di pimpin oleh mereka yang berhemah, berjiwa rakyat, tidak munafik dan bukan pembohong, bersih jiwanya, bebas ditegur, faham serta perihatin terhadap untung nasib rakyat, memerintah secara berhemah, mengamalkan aroma demokrasi tanpa mengongkong ahlinya untuk bersuara dan bertanding, sudah tentu Putera Istana Kelantan itu tidak akan menawarkan dirinya bertanding jawatan Presiden.
Muhamad Hj. Mohd Taib perlu sedar, punca sebenar Tengku Razaleigh menawarkan dirinya bertanding jawatan Presiden Umno kerana mahu memulihkan serta membersihkan parti tersebut dari anai-anai dan parasit politik seperti Muhamad Hj. Mohd Taib sendiri yang penuh bersalut noda-noda cukup menjijikkan.
Kehadiran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah adalah untuk merawat Umno yang dilihat semakin nazak. Beliau menawarkan dirinya kerana Umno sudah terlalu jauh menyimpang dari landasan perjuangannya. Bahtera Umno sudah kehilangan arah,a pimpinannya penuh bersalut budaya korupsi serta menjadi pengkhianat bangsa.
Demi masa depan generasi merdeka untuk tidak kembali terjajah, demi untuk tidak mahu melihat korupsi menjadi semakin parah, jenayah merampok harta rakyat kian mengugat, akhirnya Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah bersedia menerima sebarang risiko menghadapi sebarang tomahan dan fitnah yang pastinya akan dilemparkan terhadapnya seperti yang pernah dialami satu ketika dahulu sewaktu menentang Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.
Hanya mereka yang takut diburu bayang-bayang, pembodek nombor satu Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yang terbukti kaki pembohong tersohor sahaja tidak mungkin bersedia menerima kehadiran Tengku Razaleigih Hamzah.
Penyapu buruk yang begitu banyak menjadi anai-anai dan parasit politik dirumah Umno tidak mungkin merelakan kehadiran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah kerana diburu mimpi ngeri akan tersingkir serta kemungkinan besar terpaksa pula memakai gelang besi dan diburu mahkamah pengadilan rakyat kesan penglibatan dalam jenayah cukup menjijikkan merampok harta rakyat.
Rakyat yang cinta damai, benci terhadap korupsi dan pengkayaan kroni pastinya akan berdiri teguh di belakang Putera Istana Kelantan itu dalam mencetuskan gelombang Tsunami kedua di rumah Umno. Malahan sudah sekian lama rakyat menanti kemunculan pemimpin menerajui Umno untuk sentiasa bersih dari amalan cukup menjijikkan.
Untuk pengetahuan Muhamad Hj.Mohd Taib yang begitu celupar mulut menentang kehadiran Tengku Razaleigh, sebahagian besar ahli Umno sudah cukup meluat, jelek dan menyampah dengan amalan budaya politik wang, ampu mengampu, bodek membodek serta menjadikan jawatan dalam Umno sebagai lesen besar merampok kantung negara.
Hanya kalangan pimpinan seperti Muhamad Hj. Mohd Taib, Tengku Adnan Mansori yang memperolehi gelaran setelah bernikah dengan kerabat di raja Pahang serta Hishamuddin si keris bacul dan yang semazhab dengan pemimpin munafik sahaja akan berusaha menolak kehadiran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah dianjung kuasa parti tersebut. Angin perubahan sudah melanda bukan sahaja dihati rakyat, malahan ahli Umno sendiri untuk turut mencetuskan gelombang Tsunami kedua segera menyingkirkan kaki penipu, penyamun tarbus atau parasit politik.
Ledakan perubahan sebegini pastinya bakal memulihkan rumah Umno dari pelbagai kebejatan politik pemimpin bersalut dosa dan noda korupsi, kezaliman, munafik, perampok harta rakyat, penipu, lidah bercabang serta pengkhianat bangsa agar kembali ke landasan betul. Sesungguhnya Umno tidak bersalah tetapi setiap kebobrokkan pemimpinnya menjadikan rakyat merasakan bagai menyimpan duri dalam daging .... fikir-fikirkanlah.
Kehadiran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah adalah untuk merawat Umno yang dilihat semakin nazak. Beliau menawarkan dirinya kerana Umno sudah terlalu jauh menyimpang dari landasan perjuangannya.
KAMAL AMIR MENULIS
ORANG kaya Muhamad Hj. Mohd Taib yang dipungut kembali oleh kaki pembohong dan munafik tersohor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sebagai sidang wazirnya kembali berkokok dengan begitu lantang membelasah Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah kerana menawarkan diri bertanding jawatan Presiden Umno di musim pemilihan parti itu hujung tahun ini.
Laman Marhain mencatatkan kelmarin “Dalam kenyataan bersumpahnya Muhamad Hj. Mohd Taib mengistiharkan dia memiliki jumlah harta bernilai RM30,831,306.15. Harta pegangan beliau sebenarnya melebihi 74,500,000.00 juta ringgit tidak termasuk tanah dan saham di mana kekayaan tersebut bukan merupakan harta turun-temurun keluarga tetapi terjana melalui kedudukannya.”
Dan setelah kembali menjadi sidang wazir kerajaan Abdullah Ahmad Badawi @ Kerajaan Tiga Beranak, dia bertindak menjadi panglima tersohor agar Imam besar Mahzhab Hadhari yang terjelepuk dibaham ombak Tsunami Suara Rakyat Kuasa Keramat untuk kekal bertapa di anjung kuasa Seri Perdana.
Pemimpin yang melarikan Puteri Sultan Selangor untuk dinikahi di Sempadan Siam dan terpaksa membayar gantirugi berjuta-juta ringgit sebagai penyelesaian perceraiannya dengan Puteri tersebut serta diberkas oleh pihak berkuasa Australia kerana gagal mengisytiharkan pegangan tunai melebihi 1,000,000.00 wang campuran mata wang asing itu, begitu bersungguh sungguh mahu menyekat kemaraan Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah menentang Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Alasan yang didengungkan oleh Muhamad Hj. Mohd Taib adalah demi mahu menyelamatkan Umno agar tidak berlaku perpecahan kesan pertandingan merebut jawatan Presiden. Malahan pemimpin yang kawin lari ke sempadan Siam itu turut menyatakan kononnya kehadiran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah boleh mengusutkan keadaan saat parti tersebut masih belum stabil kesan pilihanraya ke 12 tiga minggu lalu.
Lucu dan cukup melucukan apabila Muhamad Hj. Mohd Taib yang mampu memikul sejumlah 1 juta ringgit untuk diusung ke Australia tanpa diketahui dari mana hasil sebenar wang tersebut diperolehi boleh menzahirkan kenyataan sebegitu dangkal. Sedarkah olehnya kenazakkan serta terhuyung hayangnya bahtera Umno dirempuh badai Tsunami gelombang Suara Rakyat Kuasa Keramat tempoh hari adalah disebabkan oleh meluat, benci, sakit hati serta bosannya rakyat melihat kebobrokkan dikalangan pemimpin Umno melakukan korupsi serta merampok kantung negara.
Umno dibenci kerana pemimpinnya kaki pembohong. Umno ditolak oleh rakyat disebabkan pemimpinnya terjebak dalam pelbagai skandal serba menjijikkan, keyakinan terhadap parti tersebut terhakis kesan bocah dan serakahnya nafsu pimpinan tertinggi untuk merelakan kehadiran pengkhianat negara menjilat telapak kaki kuasa asing serta melacurkan kedaulatan bangsa dan negara.
Rakyat meluat melihat perangai pimpinan Umno seperti Muhamad Hj. Mohd Taib yang bersekongkol dengan imam besar Mazahab Hadhari mempamerkan sikap munafik, pembohong serta memperkosa semahu-mahunya yakin rakyat untuk dijadikan modal utama mereka bernama pemimpin mengaut tanpa sempadan kekayaan negara ketembolok sendiri.
Kebencian rakyat menolak Umno bukan kerana parti itu tidak baik, malahan semua warga bangsa tetap mengenang jasanya menjelmakan aroma kemerdekaan. Namun sikap pemimpin yang rakus, bernafsu besar, beraja di mata bersultan di hati, membenarkan budaya sempang peranang, kaki ampu dan kaki bodek begitu berleluasa sehinggakan kepincangan pemimpin sudah tiada lagi berani ditegur mengakibatkannya di lihat sebagai ancaman terhadap bangsa sendiri.
Kalaulah Umno di pimpin oleh mereka yang berhemah, berjiwa rakyat, tidak munafik dan bukan pembohong, bersih jiwanya, bebas ditegur, faham serta perihatin terhadap untung nasib rakyat, memerintah secara berhemah, mengamalkan aroma demokrasi tanpa mengongkong ahlinya untuk bersuara dan bertanding, sudah tentu Putera Istana Kelantan itu tidak akan menawarkan dirinya bertanding jawatan Presiden.
Muhamad Hj. Mohd Taib perlu sedar, punca sebenar Tengku Razaleigh menawarkan dirinya bertanding jawatan Presiden Umno kerana mahu memulihkan serta membersihkan parti tersebut dari anai-anai dan parasit politik seperti Muhamad Hj. Mohd Taib sendiri yang penuh bersalut noda-noda cukup menjijikkan.
Kehadiran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah adalah untuk merawat Umno yang dilihat semakin nazak. Beliau menawarkan dirinya kerana Umno sudah terlalu jauh menyimpang dari landasan perjuangannya. Bahtera Umno sudah kehilangan arah,a pimpinannya penuh bersalut budaya korupsi serta menjadi pengkhianat bangsa.
Demi masa depan generasi merdeka untuk tidak kembali terjajah, demi untuk tidak mahu melihat korupsi menjadi semakin parah, jenayah merampok harta rakyat kian mengugat, akhirnya Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah bersedia menerima sebarang risiko menghadapi sebarang tomahan dan fitnah yang pastinya akan dilemparkan terhadapnya seperti yang pernah dialami satu ketika dahulu sewaktu menentang Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.
Hanya mereka yang takut diburu bayang-bayang, pembodek nombor satu Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yang terbukti kaki pembohong tersohor sahaja tidak mungkin bersedia menerima kehadiran Tengku Razaleigih Hamzah.
Penyapu buruk yang begitu banyak menjadi anai-anai dan parasit politik dirumah Umno tidak mungkin merelakan kehadiran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah kerana diburu mimpi ngeri akan tersingkir serta kemungkinan besar terpaksa pula memakai gelang besi dan diburu mahkamah pengadilan rakyat kesan penglibatan dalam jenayah cukup menjijikkan merampok harta rakyat.
Rakyat yang cinta damai, benci terhadap korupsi dan pengkayaan kroni pastinya akan berdiri teguh di belakang Putera Istana Kelantan itu dalam mencetuskan gelombang Tsunami kedua di rumah Umno. Malahan sudah sekian lama rakyat menanti kemunculan pemimpin menerajui Umno untuk sentiasa bersih dari amalan cukup menjijikkan.
Untuk pengetahuan Muhamad Hj.Mohd Taib yang begitu celupar mulut menentang kehadiran Tengku Razaleigh, sebahagian besar ahli Umno sudah cukup meluat, jelek dan menyampah dengan amalan budaya politik wang, ampu mengampu, bodek membodek serta menjadikan jawatan dalam Umno sebagai lesen besar merampok kantung negara.
Hanya kalangan pimpinan seperti Muhamad Hj. Mohd Taib, Tengku Adnan Mansori yang memperolehi gelaran setelah bernikah dengan kerabat di raja Pahang serta Hishamuddin si keris bacul dan yang semazhab dengan pemimpin munafik sahaja akan berusaha menolak kehadiran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah dianjung kuasa parti tersebut. Angin perubahan sudah melanda bukan sahaja dihati rakyat, malahan ahli Umno sendiri untuk turut mencetuskan gelombang Tsunami kedua segera menyingkirkan kaki penipu, penyamun tarbus atau parasit politik.
Ledakan perubahan sebegini pastinya bakal memulihkan rumah Umno dari pelbagai kebejatan politik pemimpin bersalut dosa dan noda korupsi, kezaliman, munafik, perampok harta rakyat, penipu, lidah bercabang serta pengkhianat bangsa agar kembali ke landasan betul. Sesungguhnya Umno tidak bersalah tetapi setiap kebobrokkan pemimpinnya menjadikan rakyat merasakan bagai menyimpan duri dalam daging .... fikir-fikirkanlah.
Lawan Abdullah: Pengorbanan akhir Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah - Antara kita 20 Mac
Kekalahan pilihan raya ke-12 lebih merupakan indaktor dan bukti nyata mengenai kelemahan dan kehilangan pamor dalam Umno. Belum berlaku dalam sejarah Umno dan BN parti itu kehilangan empat buah negeri sekaligus dalam sesuatu pilihan raya.
ANTARA KITA
Oleh Mohd Sayuti Omar
Pengumuman Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Ku Li) yang bersedia untuk mencabar Abdullah Ahmad Badawi bagi merebut jawatan Presiden Umno pada perhimpunan agung akan datang perlu dilihat sesuatu yang penting dan patut diberikan fokus penuh rasional. Tindakan bekas Menteri Kewangan itu adalah pengorbanan besar yang tidak termampu dilakukan oleh orang lain.
Mungkin Ku Li telah befikir panjang sebelum mengejepkan tekad. Game yang beliau cuba ‘tagankan’ kini adalah merbahayakan dirinya. Namun kerana mungkin beliau memikirkan bahawa Umno dan Melayu perlu diselamat, maka beliau bersedia mengorbankan dirinya dan saggup menjadi lilin yang membakar diri di malam pegap.
Tengku Razaleigh arif dan tahu untuk berhadapan dengan Presiden Umno dalam keadaan sekarang ini bukan senang. Sistem kouta atau kawat duri yang melindungi penjawat jawatan presiden, timbalan presiden dan naib-naib presiden adalah kukuh dan bukan mudah untuk dirempuh.
Ku Li sangat arif soal kouta-kouta 30 persen itu. Untuk menentang presiden beliau memerlukan 53 bahagian yang mencalonkannya. Untuk mendapatkan pencalonan sebanyak itu bukan senang. Sekiranya beliau memperolehi lebih 50 pencalonan maka secara automatik Abdullah kerana berundur secara terhormat.
Bagaimnana pun itu bukan urusan mustahak bagi ahli-ahli di peringkat bawahan dan pemerhati. Ku Li mungkin ada mekanisme dan strateginya sendiri bagaimana untuk mendapat pencalonan itu. Apa yang penting dalam hal ini ialah melihat rasional dan di manakah logiknya serta keperluan Ku Li mencabar Abdullah.
Sehubungan itu beberapa kalangan Umno yang bergantung hidup dan mengharapkan nyawa politik kepada tokoh-tokoh berkuasa mula melahirkan rasa bimbang dan memperlecehkan hasrat Ku Li itu dan dalam masa sama menunjukkan kecenderungan kepada Abdullah. Yang sedihnya ada bersikap negatif kononnya tindakan Ku Li itu akan cuba memecah belahkan perpaduan Umno.
Alasan sebegini sering kali digunakan apabila setiap ada tokoh yang mahu mencuba mencabar seseorang berkedudukan penting. Politik sebeginilah dianggap penakut oleh Ku Li. Sekirnya Umno mengamalkan politik berani ia akan membuka pintu perlawanan kepada sesiapa saja dan membiarkan ahli yang menjadi penentu.
Minda tertutup ahli Umno ini menyedihkan. Cabaran (perebutan jawatan yang dihalalkan demokrasi) didalam Umno bukan dilihat sebagai usaha menyuburkan demokrasi tetapi dilihat sebagai pembawa masalah. Persepsi ini seharusnya dikikis daripada minda orang Umno parti yang sudah berusia lebih 50 tahun.
Dalam hal ini Umno seharusnya malu kepada rakannya Pas. Di dalam Pas sesiapa sahaja boleh beradu nasib merebut apa saja jawatan yang diingini. Ia tidak ada sistem kouta, cukup dua kawasan mencalonkan ia dikira sudah layak.
Kebebasan dan demokratik di dalam Pas inilah juga menjadi parti itu semakin diminati oleh golongan profesional dan pencinta politik di negara ini.
Biasanya mereka yang bimbang dan tidak rasional mengenai cabar mencabar ini ialah mereka yang bergantung hidup kepada tokoh-tokoh berkuasa tadi. Kalau Ku Li mempunyai kuasa kelak, mereka ini juga bersifat demikian, akan menyokong Ku Li mati-matian. Jenis ahli sebegini ialah yang oportunis.
Pun begitu itu itu bukannya hakikat dalam Umno, dan ia tidak melambangkan keseluruhan ahli Uno bersifat jumud begitu. Ahli-ahli Umno dan ketua bahagian yang sihat akal fikirannya masih merasakan tindakan Ku Li itu wajar dan kena pada tepatnya. Hasrat Ku Li itu haknya yang mutlak dihalalkan oleh parti yang mendokong demokrasi dan kebebasan.
Tawaran Ku Li itu juga relevan dan bertepatan dengan apa yang berlaku dalam Umno hari ini. Dalam Umno berkeadaan celaru dan parti itu hilang keyakinan ahli wajarlah kalau ia diperbetulkan. Inilah kesempatan yang diambil oleh Ku Li.
Ku Li memberi alasan dan hujah yang kemas serta munasabah mengapa beliau menawarkan diri untuk mencabar Abdullah. Jelas tawaran itu bukan bertolak daripada rasa tamak dan gilakan kuasa. Sebalik ianya dibuat berpandukan kepada situasi dalam Umno hari ini dan kedudukan politik orang Melayu akibat dari Umno sudah tampak semakin lemah.
Sebagai seorang nasionalis beliau obses mengenai hal ini dan tidak tergamak untuk melihat dan membiarkan keadaan berlalu begitu sahaja. Kalau beliau menyertai Umno untuk melihat sahaja beliau tidak akan melakukan tindakan kontroversi sejak mula lagi dan boleh akur dengan apa juga yang berlaku.
Semasa beliau menentang Dr Mahathir tahun 1987 untuk jawatan presiden, alasan dan hujah munasabah juga digunakan Ku Li. Beliau bukan sengaja dan bertindak atas rasa dendam kesumat. Ku Li juga seorang yang terbuka dan liberal serta dapat menerima hakikat. Apabila ahli Umno tidak menyebelahinya, beliau tidak melemparkan apa-apa tuduhan sebagai membela dirinya.
Begitu juga di dalam berlawan Ku Li tidak pernah menggunakan senjata-senjata yang dilarang dalam demokrasi. Beliau seorang yang akur kepada undang-undang dan mempercayai kepada kebenaran dan tidak suka kepada penyelewengan dan kemungkaran. Sebab itu dalam apa juga kempen-kempennya beliu tidak sentuh soal peribadi dan rela kalah daripada bermain politik secara kotor.
Apa yang dirasa Ku Li, perkembangan Umno selepas ditinggalkan Mahathir Umno berada dalam keadan lemah dan tidak fokus. Kelemahan itu juga menyebabkan ianya senang diperkotak katikkan oleh pihak lain dan Umno bukan lagi menjadi tunggak kepada perjuangan Melayu.
Kekalahan pilihan raya ke-12 lebih merupakan indaktor dan bukti nyata mengenai kelemahan dan kehilangan pamor dalam Umno. Belum berlaku dalam sejarah Umno dan BN parti itu kehilangan empat buah negeri sekaligus dalam sesuatu pilihan raya.
Gelombang atau tsunami inilah yang dilihat oleh Ku Li, Umno dan Melayu sedang berhadapan dengan badai besar di masa akan datang. Kelemahan ini baginya mungkin disebabkan kurang wibawanya pemimpin dan penerajui Umno hari ini dan ia perlu dirawat segera.
Penawaran diri oleh anak raja Kelantan itu untuk merawat Umno bukan iseng-isengan tetapi ia bertolak daripada kemampuan, pengalaman dan juga wisdom beliau sebagai seorang veteran Umno.
Ku Li juga adalah antara pemimpin veteran Umno yang tersisa yang masih menawarkan khidmat dan pengalamannya. Beliau juga telah menunjukkan sikap kecintaannya kepada perjuangan Melayu selama ini. Pengorbanannya untuk membubarkan Semangat 46 selepas merasai pemulihan dilakukan menerusi parti serpihan itu tidak berjaya menunjukkan kehebatan dan dignity beliau sebagai seorang pemimpin.
Kalau beliau mahu menjadi doktor untuk merawat Umno yang sakit seperti katanya, ia juga wajar dan sesuai. Ku Li dalam konteks ini bukan sebagai doktor biasa, tetapi merupakan seorang doktor pakar cukup berpengalaman.
Dengan kedudukan itu beliau boleh diterima dan diyakini. Ahli Umno tidak perlu merasa bimbang untuk menyerahkan pesakit (Umno) kepada Ku Li. Dr Mahathir sendiri juga patut memberi semangat dan sokongan. Kalau pun Dr Mahathir inginkan Mohd Najib Razak menjadi tukang rawat Umno namun beliau harus menerima hakikat pengalaman, keupayaan dan pengaruh yang ada kepada Ku Li dalam konteks perjuangan Melayu, Ku Li lebih hebat daripada Najib.
Kebolehan dan body language Najib tidak boleh diketepikan. Namun dalam suasana gelora seperti hari ini pesakit yang mengalami sakit kronik seperti Umno hadapi itu ia memerlukan pakar untuk merawatnya dan bukan boleh diserahkan kepada Najib. Jika diukur Najib dengan Ku Li, Najib adalah doktor pelatih yang sebenarnya sedang membuat housemanship di bawah kepakaran Ku Li.
Tawaran Ku Li ini juga dikira untuk terakhir kalinya. Sekiranya tawaran ini ditolak Ku Li tidak dapat berbuat apa-apa lagi seandainya sesutau tidak baik menimpa Umno melainkan hanya dengan menangisinya saja.
ANTARA KITA
Oleh Mohd Sayuti Omar
Pengumuman Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Ku Li) yang bersedia untuk mencabar Abdullah Ahmad Badawi bagi merebut jawatan Presiden Umno pada perhimpunan agung akan datang perlu dilihat sesuatu yang penting dan patut diberikan fokus penuh rasional. Tindakan bekas Menteri Kewangan itu adalah pengorbanan besar yang tidak termampu dilakukan oleh orang lain.
Mungkin Ku Li telah befikir panjang sebelum mengejepkan tekad. Game yang beliau cuba ‘tagankan’ kini adalah merbahayakan dirinya. Namun kerana mungkin beliau memikirkan bahawa Umno dan Melayu perlu diselamat, maka beliau bersedia mengorbankan dirinya dan saggup menjadi lilin yang membakar diri di malam pegap.
Tengku Razaleigh arif dan tahu untuk berhadapan dengan Presiden Umno dalam keadaan sekarang ini bukan senang. Sistem kouta atau kawat duri yang melindungi penjawat jawatan presiden, timbalan presiden dan naib-naib presiden adalah kukuh dan bukan mudah untuk dirempuh.
Ku Li sangat arif soal kouta-kouta 30 persen itu. Untuk menentang presiden beliau memerlukan 53 bahagian yang mencalonkannya. Untuk mendapatkan pencalonan sebanyak itu bukan senang. Sekiranya beliau memperolehi lebih 50 pencalonan maka secara automatik Abdullah kerana berundur secara terhormat.
Bagaimnana pun itu bukan urusan mustahak bagi ahli-ahli di peringkat bawahan dan pemerhati. Ku Li mungkin ada mekanisme dan strateginya sendiri bagaimana untuk mendapat pencalonan itu. Apa yang penting dalam hal ini ialah melihat rasional dan di manakah logiknya serta keperluan Ku Li mencabar Abdullah.
Sehubungan itu beberapa kalangan Umno yang bergantung hidup dan mengharapkan nyawa politik kepada tokoh-tokoh berkuasa mula melahirkan rasa bimbang dan memperlecehkan hasrat Ku Li itu dan dalam masa sama menunjukkan kecenderungan kepada Abdullah. Yang sedihnya ada bersikap negatif kononnya tindakan Ku Li itu akan cuba memecah belahkan perpaduan Umno.
Alasan sebegini sering kali digunakan apabila setiap ada tokoh yang mahu mencuba mencabar seseorang berkedudukan penting. Politik sebeginilah dianggap penakut oleh Ku Li. Sekirnya Umno mengamalkan politik berani ia akan membuka pintu perlawanan kepada sesiapa saja dan membiarkan ahli yang menjadi penentu.
Minda tertutup ahli Umno ini menyedihkan. Cabaran (perebutan jawatan yang dihalalkan demokrasi) didalam Umno bukan dilihat sebagai usaha menyuburkan demokrasi tetapi dilihat sebagai pembawa masalah. Persepsi ini seharusnya dikikis daripada minda orang Umno parti yang sudah berusia lebih 50 tahun.
Dalam hal ini Umno seharusnya malu kepada rakannya Pas. Di dalam Pas sesiapa sahaja boleh beradu nasib merebut apa saja jawatan yang diingini. Ia tidak ada sistem kouta, cukup dua kawasan mencalonkan ia dikira sudah layak.
Kebebasan dan demokratik di dalam Pas inilah juga menjadi parti itu semakin diminati oleh golongan profesional dan pencinta politik di negara ini.
Biasanya mereka yang bimbang dan tidak rasional mengenai cabar mencabar ini ialah mereka yang bergantung hidup kepada tokoh-tokoh berkuasa tadi. Kalau Ku Li mempunyai kuasa kelak, mereka ini juga bersifat demikian, akan menyokong Ku Li mati-matian. Jenis ahli sebegini ialah yang oportunis.
Pun begitu itu itu bukannya hakikat dalam Umno, dan ia tidak melambangkan keseluruhan ahli Uno bersifat jumud begitu. Ahli-ahli Umno dan ketua bahagian yang sihat akal fikirannya masih merasakan tindakan Ku Li itu wajar dan kena pada tepatnya. Hasrat Ku Li itu haknya yang mutlak dihalalkan oleh parti yang mendokong demokrasi dan kebebasan.
Tawaran Ku Li itu juga relevan dan bertepatan dengan apa yang berlaku dalam Umno hari ini. Dalam Umno berkeadaan celaru dan parti itu hilang keyakinan ahli wajarlah kalau ia diperbetulkan. Inilah kesempatan yang diambil oleh Ku Li.
Ku Li memberi alasan dan hujah yang kemas serta munasabah mengapa beliau menawarkan diri untuk mencabar Abdullah. Jelas tawaran itu bukan bertolak daripada rasa tamak dan gilakan kuasa. Sebalik ianya dibuat berpandukan kepada situasi dalam Umno hari ini dan kedudukan politik orang Melayu akibat dari Umno sudah tampak semakin lemah.
Sebagai seorang nasionalis beliau obses mengenai hal ini dan tidak tergamak untuk melihat dan membiarkan keadaan berlalu begitu sahaja. Kalau beliau menyertai Umno untuk melihat sahaja beliau tidak akan melakukan tindakan kontroversi sejak mula lagi dan boleh akur dengan apa juga yang berlaku.
Semasa beliau menentang Dr Mahathir tahun 1987 untuk jawatan presiden, alasan dan hujah munasabah juga digunakan Ku Li. Beliau bukan sengaja dan bertindak atas rasa dendam kesumat. Ku Li juga seorang yang terbuka dan liberal serta dapat menerima hakikat. Apabila ahli Umno tidak menyebelahinya, beliau tidak melemparkan apa-apa tuduhan sebagai membela dirinya.
Begitu juga di dalam berlawan Ku Li tidak pernah menggunakan senjata-senjata yang dilarang dalam demokrasi. Beliau seorang yang akur kepada undang-undang dan mempercayai kepada kebenaran dan tidak suka kepada penyelewengan dan kemungkaran. Sebab itu dalam apa juga kempen-kempennya beliu tidak sentuh soal peribadi dan rela kalah daripada bermain politik secara kotor.
Apa yang dirasa Ku Li, perkembangan Umno selepas ditinggalkan Mahathir Umno berada dalam keadan lemah dan tidak fokus. Kelemahan itu juga menyebabkan ianya senang diperkotak katikkan oleh pihak lain dan Umno bukan lagi menjadi tunggak kepada perjuangan Melayu.
Kekalahan pilihan raya ke-12 lebih merupakan indaktor dan bukti nyata mengenai kelemahan dan kehilangan pamor dalam Umno. Belum berlaku dalam sejarah Umno dan BN parti itu kehilangan empat buah negeri sekaligus dalam sesuatu pilihan raya.
Gelombang atau tsunami inilah yang dilihat oleh Ku Li, Umno dan Melayu sedang berhadapan dengan badai besar di masa akan datang. Kelemahan ini baginya mungkin disebabkan kurang wibawanya pemimpin dan penerajui Umno hari ini dan ia perlu dirawat segera.
Penawaran diri oleh anak raja Kelantan itu untuk merawat Umno bukan iseng-isengan tetapi ia bertolak daripada kemampuan, pengalaman dan juga wisdom beliau sebagai seorang veteran Umno.
Ku Li juga adalah antara pemimpin veteran Umno yang tersisa yang masih menawarkan khidmat dan pengalamannya. Beliau juga telah menunjukkan sikap kecintaannya kepada perjuangan Melayu selama ini. Pengorbanannya untuk membubarkan Semangat 46 selepas merasai pemulihan dilakukan menerusi parti serpihan itu tidak berjaya menunjukkan kehebatan dan dignity beliau sebagai seorang pemimpin.
Kalau beliau mahu menjadi doktor untuk merawat Umno yang sakit seperti katanya, ia juga wajar dan sesuai. Ku Li dalam konteks ini bukan sebagai doktor biasa, tetapi merupakan seorang doktor pakar cukup berpengalaman.
Dengan kedudukan itu beliau boleh diterima dan diyakini. Ahli Umno tidak perlu merasa bimbang untuk menyerahkan pesakit (Umno) kepada Ku Li. Dr Mahathir sendiri juga patut memberi semangat dan sokongan. Kalau pun Dr Mahathir inginkan Mohd Najib Razak menjadi tukang rawat Umno namun beliau harus menerima hakikat pengalaman, keupayaan dan pengaruh yang ada kepada Ku Li dalam konteks perjuangan Melayu, Ku Li lebih hebat daripada Najib.
Kebolehan dan body language Najib tidak boleh diketepikan. Namun dalam suasana gelora seperti hari ini pesakit yang mengalami sakit kronik seperti Umno hadapi itu ia memerlukan pakar untuk merawatnya dan bukan boleh diserahkan kepada Najib. Jika diukur Najib dengan Ku Li, Najib adalah doktor pelatih yang sebenarnya sedang membuat housemanship di bawah kepakaran Ku Li.
Tawaran Ku Li ini juga dikira untuk terakhir kalinya. Sekiranya tawaran ini ditolak Ku Li tidak dapat berbuat apa-apa lagi seandainya sesutau tidak baik menimpa Umno melainkan hanya dengan menangisinya saja.
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