Malaysia Not In Recession, not now !

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Malaysia is not facing a recession now despite the global financial meltdown that has badly hit the United States and Europe.

"We are not in recession now," he said.

"We are not having too much problem in the fourth quarter. Even the growth at two percent in the quarter, it would give us an average of more than five percent,"

"Definitely more than five percent," Abdullah said in responding to comments from former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah that the Malaysian economy was bad.

"I don't think that's right. Maybe he doesn't have all the information that we have. If it is really that bad, we would have be in recession by now," he said.

"For next year, we all know we are going to face hard times. We have to place ourselves to face all these. The RM7 billion stimulus package, which has been set aside, has gone down partially for immediate implementation," he added.

The government has projected the gross domestic product (GDP) for last year at five percent and this year at 3.5 percent.

The Malaysian economy expanded by 4.7 percent in the third quarter of 2008.

"That (package) will save us. That will prevent us from facing the threat that may come. It will also help us to continue with economic activities," Abdullah said, adding that the basic economy must be improved while real economy must not be affected.

"So far, our real economy is not affected (and) the stimulus package will help us," he said.

Asked whether the government would revise the 2009 Budget, Abdullah said that no revision was planned at the moment, "except for what has been announced".

"But we are on the lookout. If we need to make adjustments... we will make adjustments," he said.

"We have to be realistic. We cannot afford to be sitting down and in denial. This is not the time to bluff the rakyat. It is not the time to just say things to make the rakyat feel happy. If we say it is okay... it is okay. If we say it is under control... it is true that it is under control," he added.

Abdullah said that the government could not afford to say "a wrong thing and lie to the rakyat".

"We can't do that. We are a responsible government," he said.

The Prime Minister also said that at the moment the government has a serious responsibility to ensure that the country's economy remained resilient despite the current critical situation.

"As much as we can predict, we can look after the economy," he said.

On the possibility of a second stimulus package, Abdullah said that he could not give details at the moment.

"That (second stimulus package) is only indication that was given by Datuk (Seri) Najib (Tun Razak). That if necessary he (Najib) said there may be a second stimulus package," he said.

Najib, who is the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, said recently that a second stimulus package would be introduced if needed.


-- BERNAMA

NEP No Longer In Existence ?

Pak Lah's strengths and weaknesses have unexpectedly contributed to the rise of Pakatan Rakyat. He believes that Umno can change and BN is able to win back support. However, he didn't sound convincing. He feels like optimistic.

He believes that BN and UMNO will recover before the next general elections, but as how they will perform in the elections, he said that will have to depend on DPM Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who will take over as the prime minister soon.

On what makes him think BN and UMNO will recover, Abdullah said, "We have already captured quite many seats now!"

When asked to comment on the trend that many non-Malays are now leaning towards the opposition, he said BN component parties must work together closely and contribute their individual strengths towards BN.

"UMNO, BN, Gerakan, MIC and other component parties must work together. We must share our respective strengths. All component parties must trust BN, or it won't be able to operate at all."

He said MCA and Gerakan Rakyat must work harder to recoup the support of non-Malays

Perhaps, he does not get the needed support from within the party like he does among the public. If he fails to control Umno, he can change nothing; if Umno remains unchanged, nothing can be done.

During an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily at his private residence in Kuala Lumpur, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also emphasized that the New Economic Policy is no longer in existence today.

"The NEP is a policy which is no longer in existence. The objective of this policy has been to eradicate poverty, as you all know."

The way the NEP was implemented had triggered the dissatisfaction among many people, including some Malays, adding that Malaysians needed a more transparent policy and open market.

He said, according to the UN Millennium Development Report, Malaysia is one of the countries that have drastically reduced the poverty rates. Nevertheless, the media have hardly reported on the country's success in reducing poverty.

"If you want to show the country's poverty in order to overthrow the government, or make the people very angry with the government, you can always show this kind of pictures on the TV every day. You can show the pictures of people lacking food supply, but that will be very unfair to the government, for the country's overall poverty rate has dropped!"

Abdullah under attack again !

From Chedet

ABDULLAH'S MARCH


1. When Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that he would be stepping down in March 2009 he said he needed the extra three months to complete certain missions he had set out to do.

2. These initiatives, he said, are needed "to regain the country's competitiveness, to face the challenges that the world has in store for us".

3. Among the initiatives are the reform of the judiciary, the setting up of an Anti-Corruption Commission, Special Complaints Commission, equitable distribution of the fruits of growth, strengthening and enlarging the social safety net, development of corridor initiatives etc etc.

4. It is now December 2008. So far we have seen no progress at all in any of these glorious initiatives. Instead the Prime Minister is busy visiting foreign countries with his family in the beatiful, big and new Airbus A320.

5. After announcing that there is no money to build the second Penang Bridge, the contract was signed during the PM's China visit to build the bridge after all. There is a lot of money involved here.

6. In Uzbekistan, Petronas is to invest a few hundred million Ringgit. Trips are also scheduled for Iran and Turkmenistan. No doubt more contracts and more money would be involved. Some contractors will benefit.

7. After failing to implement any of the promises made in the 2004 or 2008 elections, it looks like nothing is being done either with regards to the promise to carry out a variety of so-called reforms as mentioned in the press statement on why the PM would step down in March 2009 - three months after the scheduled UMNO General Assembly.

8. But the visits to foreign countries to sign contracts which were not mentioned in the statement are being assiduously carried out.

9. I wonder why.

10. On the political front Abdullah has been busy campaigning for his chosen candidates for the posts of Deputy President, Wanita chief and Pemuda chief and other posts which will lead to appointments as Ministers.

11. Najib is going to be surrounded by Abdullah's people and through these people Abdullah will control the Government of Najib.

12. Najib has already abandoned Muhyiddin, the fierce critic of Abdullah. He does not want to incur the displeasure of his boss. Would he refuse to appoint Abdullah's nominees? Would he dare go against them?

(Source: " ABDULLAH'S MARCH ")

Abdullah not leaving office because he wants to,.but because he has to.

Abdullah Badawi said he had not been forced out.

Malaysia's fifth prime minister is not leaving office in March 2009 because he wants to. He is leaving because he has to.

There are still a few months to go but the epitaph will not be kind.

"He was weak, he was reluctant to do things which he should've done," says Chandra Muzaffar, a political analyst and academic.

"There is, I think, a personality factor at play - the reluctance on his part to antagonise people, to do things which a reform-minded prime minister will have to," he says.

Najib Razak, the man who is almost certain to succeed him has been groomed for the job from the day he was born.

Najib Razak is the son of Malaysia's second prime minister. He has been in parliament since his early 20s.

He comes from a family of political aristocrats that produced two of the country's last five leaders.

Respected for his sharp intellect and unflappable demeanor, Najib was always expected to take power someday. But he will do so sooner than predicted in an effort to restore the ruling coalition's fortunes after a calamitous performance in March general elections.

"He's a natural successor. ... Najib has moved up the political ladder. He has the experience, faced the challenges. He is a very polished politician, well-trained, well-exposed," said Mohamad Mustafa Ishak, a political analyst at Universiti Utara Malaysia.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim told the BBC:

"People expect him to be tougher,"

"The government under Najib will be ruthless."

He believes that little will change come next year when the handover takes place.

"Nothing is resolved, he is surrendering to a person who is badly tarnished," he told BBC.

That is a reference to sensational claims that the deputy prime minister was involved in the murder of a woman.

His close associate, Abdul Razak Baginda, was arrested and charged in 2006 with abetting the murder of a Mongolian woman after having an affair with her. Two policemen were charged with killing her and destroying her body with explosives.

Najib Razak has strongly denied the allegation.

In a recent survey of 1,000 people polled in telephone interviews by the independent Merdeka Center research group, only 40% believed that Najib would make a good prime minister, while 44% disagreed and the others were undecided. The center said the margin of error was 3%.

With an invigorated opposition threatening to take power, the prime minister and his government resorted to desperate acts.

An opposition member of parliament, a journalist and a prominent blogger were arrested and detained under strict security laws. They were deemed a threat to national security.

Anwar Ibrahim is facing a trail for sodomy, an accusation many believe is fabricated and politically motivated.

But the cracks are showing. Malaysia has never had a government this unpopular. Abdullah has said that he will leave office early but he refuses to resign. Najib Tun Razak, his deputy, is congenial enough but he is no leader. And then there's Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar is offering himself as head of an alternative government, but he is proving to be politically incompetent. He announced that the Government would fall on September 16, because by then he thought he'd have the numbers — enough MPs prepared to leave the Government and join the Opposition. The day came and nothing happened. The golden rule of politics? Don't telegraph your punches, just punch.

Anwar has a lot of baggage too, so, at a time when Malaysia needs clever leadership more than ever, the sad choice is between who stinks less.

Malaysia is at a "historic crossroads" the prime minister said as he announced his departure.

"We must reform and mature," he added.

Now that responsibility will fall to someone else. The era of the man known affectionately as Pak Lah, meaning Uncle, is almost over.


Press Release from YAB Prime Minister of Malaysia

1. I have been in public service for over 45 years. I have served this country as a civil servant, and as an elected representative of the people. I have served as a member of government and feel blessed to serve in the highest office in the land. I have seen this country grow from a small, poor nation into the modern, prosperous Malaysia that we live in today.

2. Despite our successful track record, for the past few years I have firmly believed that our nation is standing at an historic crossroads. We must reform some elements of our nation, we must evolve and mature, or we risk losing all that we have gained in over 50 years. Throughout this time of reform and transformation, we Malaysians need to be united now more than ever before.

3. In all my years of service, I have always been guided by my conscience. I have always placed the interests of the nation above all else. It is with this in mind that I announce I will not stand for the Presidency of UMNO. I do not want a divided party and governing coalition, but one that is united and harmonious. A united Barisan Nasional is vital in order for the country to face the global challenges ahead and for Malaysia to become a fully developed nation, with prosperity and fairness for all.

4. My current term as President of UMNO ends in March next year. There are several initiatives I intend to see through before I leave office. These initiatives are important because they are necessary to move our country forward. These initiatives are needed to regain our country's competitiveness. They are necessary to enable our nation and our society to face the challenges that the world has in store for us. I ask all Malaysians to unite and join me in working towards making Malaysia a better place.

5. First, our institutions need to be reformed and strengthened.

i) The judiciary needs to enhance its stature and credibility in the eyes of the public. Before I end my term, I will table a Parliamentary Bill to establish a Judicial Appointments Commission. Such a Commission will propose judicial appointments in a transparent and merit-based manner.

ii) We also need a strong and effective anti-corruption body that can combat the cancer of corruption without fear or favour. Before the end of the year, I will table a Parliamentary Bill to establish the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, with greater powers of investigation and enforcement. The Commission's oversight structure has been modelled after the successful ICAC in Hong Kong.

iii) I also intend to complete the establishment of a Special Complaints Commission to enhance the integrity and effectiveness of enforcement agencies.

6. Second, I have long spoken about the need to ensure that the fruits of growth are more equitably distributed. In the recent Budget, I explained the government's commitment to strengthening and enlarging the Social Safety Net.

We will speed up work on this front to help poor and disadvantaged Malaysians, regardless of background, race or religion.

I will also work to ensure that tangible results can begin to be enjoyed in Iskandar, as well as the development corridor initiatives around the country.

7. Third, I would like to see the Government and Barisan renew their commitment towards building a united and harmonious nation.

Society has seen an alarming decline in inter-racial and inter-religious relations. Various issues have cropped up which threaten to tear the very fabric of Malaysian life.

We need to tackle these issues head-on, through dialogue; deal with the issues constructively and even-handedly; ensure greater clarity and certainty for the people; and focus on the points that unite us, rather than the points that divide us.

For this reason, I will convene a BN Convention early next year. This is a long-term effort that I hope to kick-start and continue to contribute towards.

I fully intend to see through my mission, and I am sure that my successor will carry on this agenda.

I want to hand over to my successor a Malaysia that is capable of weathering the challenges of a dangerous global economy, a Malaysia not of rich and poor, of young and old or of the city or the kampung (village), not of south and north, and not of one religion or another but of unity and harmony.

This is not the time for infighting and narrow politics but for greatness, unity and cooperation.

A magnanimous gesture by PM ?

Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who has been very critical of the transition plan has fully supported the party president’s latest move for an early transition calling it a magnanimous gesture.

“I express my high regard and respect for the president. Pak Lah has magnanimously taken everything into consideration.

“We can see that he has given priority to the party and to the members who have voiced various views.

“He looks like a leader who puts the party’s interests before other interests,” he said Friday after the special Umno supreme council meeting.

Umno has decided to postpone its elections amid growing speculations that embattled Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will resign within months.

Abdullah said that the party will hold its elections in March instead of December as scheduled.

But Abdullah declined to say whether he would quit on that date or run in the party poll. The premier had already said he would quit before the next election, which must be held by 2013, saying he would cede power to his deputy Najib Razak in 2010.

"He's buying time, but I don't think he will be able to push for reforms in the meantime," said one diplomat based in Kuala Lumpur who spoke on condition of anonymity. "UMNO won't allow him to do that."

He this was to 'facilitate an early transition,' but declined to elaborate. Abdullah has said he is likely to resign before June 2010 and hand power over to his deputy Najib Razak. Traditionally, the UMNO president becomes the prime minister.

Abdullah has been claiming that he wants to quit only after his efforts at reforms in the economy, judiciary and administration bear fruit. However, critics have said little progress has been seen since he became premier in 2003.

Malaysia's economic growth is slowing, inflation is at a 27-year high and much-needed reforms promised by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi have not been done.

Abdullah told reporters that he would announce his decision to contest or not at the party's polls before October 9, when the party's district officials start meeting to nominate candidates for the elections.

"It will be my decision whether to contest or not. You can go on guessing, but the decision will be mine," Abdullah said.

"We have taken cognizance of the views of the party members. I think there is a lot of wisdom in today's decision," Najib told reporters.

By postponing the elections three months, UMNO's top leaders appear to have struck a compromise that would allow the 69-year-old Abdullah to exit gracefully.

Abdullah, however, denied he was facing pressure from UMNO leaders, saying only "two or three" of them felt he should step down sooner.

He also said he has no plans to go on leave until March, saying he has much work to do. Abdullah has been claiming that he wants to quit only after completing his program of reforms in the economy, judiciary and administration -- goals that have made little progress in the five years he has been in office.

The postponement of the party election would "calm the situation which has been heating up. It will protect the party and protect its dignity," said UMNO information chief Muhammad Muhammad Taib.

The urgency to boot out Abdullah is also partly due to concerns that he may be incapable of dealing with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who is threatening to engineer enough defections from the ruling party to bring down the government.

The pressure from Anwar has coincided with turbulence in global financial markets caused by the U.S. banking crisis.

Data released on Tuesday showed 24 billion ringgit ($7.04 billion) of portfolio money flowed out of the country in the second quarter of 2008 -- after the March election -- compared with a 21.1 billion ringgit inflow in the first quarter. At the

Abdullah, 68, has failed to implement key pledges such as ending corruption and boosting the independence of the judiciary. The policy drift, along with rising racial tensions, has unsettled both party activists and investors.

The budget deficit is set to balloon to 4.8 percent of gross domestic product this year. Inflation has surged to 27-year highs and his government has flip-flopped on key issues like petrol subsidies, first raising and then cutting prices.

Abdullah is expected to announce that he will not defend his party president's position, possibly just after the Hari Raya holidays.

He will then stay on as party president and prime minister until March 2009. Presumably he will be given some time to complete some of the reforms he promised Malaysians and then be given a grand send off at the party assembly.

A day earlier, Najib told Abdullah that the party assembly and elections would be pushed back to June.

This morning, the two men met privately just before the Supreme Council meeting, and it became March.

Even though no words to the effect were uttered by the council, it is clear that they want Abdullah out sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, Najib, 55, has an impeccable political heritage. He is the son of Malaysia's second prime minister and the nephew of its third. He also holds the powerful finance ministry portfolio.

Recently however he has been dogged by allegations he had a sexual relationship with a murdered Mongolian woman. Najib has firmly denied the allegations.

If and when he does assume power, he may prove as incapable as Abdullah in staunching Barisan's losses, analysts said.

Why doesn't Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi just quit ?

Below are some excerpts from Chedet:

* Where before all parties avoided raising sensitive issues in public, now in the name of democracy and liberalism sensitive issues are brought up in which the component parties of the BN make known the differences in their view. The result is to widen the divide separating the BN component parties.

Why doesn't Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi just quit?

* When Ahmad Ismail made unpalatable remarks about the Chinese, it was made out that it was the view of UMNO itself. Far from denying it, the UMNO leadership accepted the blame and apologised. This solved nothing as the Chinese parties refused to accept the apology but demanded the culprit himself should apologise.

Why doesn't Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi just quit?

* He refused and UMNO whose president heads the Government suspended Ahmad for three years. This may satisfy some Chinese but almost immediately the Government arrested a Chinese MP under ISA. The effects of Ahmad's suspension have been nullified.

Why doesn't Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi just quit?


* Threats to leave the BN are made by the Chinese parties, not just because of Ahmad's refusal to apologise but also because of the impression that they are subservient to UMNO. They believe that the failure of Chinese voters to vote for them was due to this junior position they hold in BN. To correct this impression they found it necessary to take pot shots at UMNO and defy the BN leadership.

Why doesn't Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi just quit?

* Privately UMNO, MCA Gerakan and MIC express their dislike of Dato Seri Abdullah and his Premiership. But none seem willing to acknowledge that it was dislike for Abdullah which caused the BN to lose the support of the people. Instead they picked on the parties and blame each other.

Why doesn't Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi just quit?

* The stability of this country has been undermined by the weakness and incompetence of the current Government and the harsh bickering between the Government parties. A Government by the Opposition is not going to be any better and probably would be worse.

Why doesn't Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi just quit?

* In the past, the BN Government had managed to keep Malaysia stable and to develop the country as well. If it seems not to be able to do so now it is not because the BN as a party is no longer suitable for this country. It is simply due to very poor and incompetent leadership.

Why doesn't Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi just quit?

* The component parties of the BN should not think that their best hope is to see the demise of the BN. Rather they should all come together to resuscitate it. If it is necessary to dump the leader than they should do so. But destroying the BN will neither be good for the component parties nor for the nation.

Why doesn't Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi just quit?



* I believe that for this multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural country with extreme economic disparities, the BN is still the best political solution provider. It is still the best way for the different races to cooperate to govern this country.

* The BN is still relevant. It is still the ideal coalition for Malaysia's multi-racial population.

Malaysia Sucks !

He is the PRIME MINISTER of Malaysia? ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz !!!!!




Can you imagine what the world thinks of us? That we are a nation led by….. this?

“It will be good to have a good mandate from the people so that the Government can go ahead with its development programmes,” said the Prime Minister when responding to a question in an interview on CNN’s World News Asia on why he would call for an early election.

Abdullah said the possible involvement of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the next elections was not a factor on his mind.

"We will call for the election when I think everything is all right and at the moment I think people are ready for the election,"

Race, religion still divisive issues in Malaysia

Fifty years after independence, race and religion remain divisive issues in Malaysia, with the nation at times coming "close to the brink of disaster," Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

"We have been solving one racial issue after another. That is a fact," Abdullah told a meeting of the mainly Chinese-backed Gerakan party, a component of the ruling coalition.

"I do not want to pretend that everything is great and there are no problems, no weaknesses and no flaws. I do not want to be in a state of denial," he said.

“People tell me ‘it’s nothing. Don’t worry, Pak Lah. Everything’s okay.’ But the more people tell me not to worry, the more I worry. Because some people just say that to reassure me.

“But I say ‘tell the truth even if it’s painful’,” he added.

He said the country was now facing a “disappointing” mindset and attitude with regards to racial and religious issues.

“It is regretful how readily and very quickly we respond to what we see as a racial or religious issue or what is done by others who do not like us, which is turned into an (ethnic) issue,” he added.

Abdullah said it was not only political parties that behaved this way but also the public.

Touching on last year’s Umno general assembly which was televised live, and during which some speakers took a racial tone and caused concern among the other races, Abdullah stressed that they were in the minority and numbered not more than five.

As a Prime Minister with “big ears,” Abdullah said even at other Barisan Nasional component parties’ assemblies, there were speakers making religious or racial slants to play to their respective galleries.

“Let me just say when you make speeches like that, don’t go to the extent of trying to sideline the interest or cast aside the aspirations of other races,” he said.

Press freedom: Talk is cheap, Pak Lah!

clipped from thestar.com.my Pak Lah thanks media KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian media has been responsible and co-operative with the Government in reporting events that could threaten the country’s peace and unity, the Prime Minister said. Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the media had been conscientious when reporting racially and religiously sensitive issues because it had an understanding with the Government on the greater need to protect the peace and stability the people enjoyed. Abdullah, who said the complementary role was vital, added that the media had helped create a stable environment, boost patriotism and forge unity in the country especially during crises and problems.

“Sometimes, the media has anxiety in deciding what it should do but I believe they wonder how the Government, or specifically Pak Lah or the Internal Security Ministry, would react (to a news item).

“But some people also think ‘Pak Lah is tolerant so let’s try and see how tolerant he is’,” he said.

He also reminded the media that there were laws that governed them.

“Whether we use them depends on the situation. Even if we don’t use them, we leave it there. When we discipline our children we don’t throw away the cane even if we don’t use it but hang it up as a reminder to them,” Abdullah said.


Quote from Malaysiakini :

The prime minister has yet to take real steps towards freeing up the media, says his sternest critic Lim Kit Siang.

The government has yet to take concrete steps to freeing up the media despite a glowing tribute to journalists from Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. (Read more here)


From Lim Kit Siang's blog :

The speech by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to the Mass Media Conference 2007 last Friday is more significant for what he omitted than what he said.

Eight years ago, when he was first appointed Home Minister, some 600 journalists in Malaysia which in the subsequent year grew to over 1,000 journalists, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on May 3 presented a memorandum to him calling for the repeal of the Printing Presses and Publications Act and other repressive laws fettering the development of a free and responsible press.

Abdullah had given a solemn undertaking to the Malaysian journalists that he would give their memorandum serious consideration.

Eight years have passed and Abdullah has still to respond directly to the 1999 memorandum on press freedom which has the support of over 1,000 journalists.

The Mass Media Conference 2007 on Friday is most disturbing for more reasons than one. In particular, the conference was organized by the Internal Security Ministry which seems to reflect an increasingly intrusive and invasive government role in the sphere of mass media.

In his eight years first as Home Minister and later Internal Security Minister with direct responsibility over the media, the arsenal of repressive instruments and laws fettering media freedom had been left intact, whether Printing Presses and Publications Act, the Official Secrets Act, the Sedition Act, the Internal Security Act or the Police Act.

At any time, these repressive instruments and laws could be resorted to and re-activated. There has been no move whatsoever towards new legislation to create an environment which fosters greater openness, accountability and transparency like the Freedom of Information Act and Whistleblowers Protection Act.

What is very disturbing is that there are more and more signs of government obstruction of the development of a free and responsible press, as for instance, in the latest government directive to expand the blackout of the Opposition from government television and radio stations to private stations.

Is Abdullah’s speech on mass media last Friday a final answer after eight years rejecting the memorandum by over 1,000 Malaysian journalists to him when he first became Home Minister calling for the repeal of the Printing Presses and Publications Act and other repressive laws fettering the development of a free and responsible press?

Air Asia really Sucks !

How ? Why ? Find out here.

CONGRATS! PAK LAH & JEANNE

(Video clip taken from YouTube posted by travelling84)

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was married to Jeanne Abdullah yesterday in a private ceremony attended by their families.

The akad nikah, conducted by Putrajaya Mosque imam Abd Manaf Mat, at 2.50pm, was witnessed by Abdullah’s son, Datuk Kamaluddin Abdullah, and son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin, according to a statement issued by the prime minister’s family to Bernama.

Abdullah declared his marriage vows at the surau of his official residence, Seri Perdana.

Guests said that after having been formally pronounced as Jeanne’s husband, Abdullah slipped a solitaire diamond ring on his wife’s left ring finger before kissing her on the cheek.

Jeanne then slipped a wedding band on Abdullah’s finger before taking his hands together into hers and kissing them.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah will attend the royal wedding reception of Sultan Brunei's daughter Anak Puteri Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bulqiah with Pengiran Khairul Khalil Pengiran Syed Haji Jaafar on Monday.

An official source here said Abdullah and his wife are expected to arrive here at about 5.15pm on a government executive jet to attend the reception of the couple who were married on Thursday.

Abdullah and his wife would be attending the reception of Anak Puteri Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bulqiah, the fourth daughter of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, at Istana Nurul Iman on the invitation of the Brunei government.

It will be the first official function to be attended by Abdullah and Jeanne Abdullah after their marriage today.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - has his wish of having a low-key wedding granted. But his decision to keep the ceremony low-key was also, understandably, baffling to some.

A “Settled” Abdullah

A Whole New World
(from Aladdin)

I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering, splendid
Tell me, princess, now when did
You last let your heart decide?

I can open your eyes
Take you wonder by wonder
Over, sideways and under
On a magic carpet ride

A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us no
Or where to go
Or say we're only dreaming

A whole new world
A dazzling place I never knew
But when I'm way up here
It's crystal clear
That now I'm in a whole new world with you
Now I'm in a whole new world with you

Unbelievable sights
Indescribable feeling
Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling
Through an endless diamond sky

A whole new world
Don't you dare close your eyes
A hundred thousand things to see
Hold your breath - it gets better
I'm like a shooting star
I've come so far
I can't go back to where I used to be

A whole new world
Every turn a surprise
With new horizons to pursue
Every moment red-letter
I'll chase them anywhere
There's time to spare
Let me share this whole new world with you

A whole new world
That's where we'll be
A thrilling chase
A wondrous place
For you and me

The marriage between Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah was solemnised at Prime Minister's official residence in "Seri Perdana" here today, Saturday.

The akad nikah ceremony was solemnised by the Imam of the Putrajaya Mosque, Haji Abd Manaf Mat, at 2.50pm. It was witnessed by the prime minister's son, Datuk Kamaluddin Abdullah, and son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin.

The ceremony was attended by close relatives, according to a statement issued by the prime minister's family to Bernama at 3.40pm.

"The prime minister and his wife would like to thank the people for their good wishes for a happy marriage," the statement added.

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad Friday extended congratulations to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on his marriage tomorrow to Jeanne Abdullah.

Dr Mahathir said he hoped that Abdullah and Jeanne would have a happy married life together.

"As he (Abdullah) has lost his wife, it is `harus' (allowable in Islam) for him to get married again and I wish to congratulate him and pray for him to have a happy married life," .

I am thrilled that he has found his new lifelong companion. Jeanne will be a great asset to him, his family, and our country. I have heard nothing but positive feedback on her character and personality. She has excellent people skills, and is comfortable with people from all walks of life. Her personality complements his. She is well organized and has modest taste, a marked contrast to Abdullah. She will be an elegant and competent hostess at Seri Perdana.

With her modern outlook and background as a career woman, Jeanne will be very comfortable accompanying the Prime Minister on his overseas visits. She will hold her own among the wives of other heads of states and royalty.

My hope is that some of Jeanne’s organizational and time management skills will rub off on her new husband. God knows, Abdullah needs them! An injection of self-discipline will also do him good. She has to, otherwise he will continue to be bogged down with useless official trivia, with no time left for her. Alternatively. he may devote so much attention to his new wife to the detriment of his official duties.

I hope she would be successful in imparting to him this central message: Deeds speak louder than words. This is the message you, Raja Petra and others have not been successful in imparting on Abdullah. She needs to bring a much-needed dose of realism to his life. We have had enough of that put-on “feel good” sentiment. We demand results now, nearly four years into his leadership.

Like many, I am torn between in wanting to believe that he can lead, now that he is a “new” man. The reality however, points toward nothing but hot air and NATO (No action, talk only).

Like others, I hope that with Jeanne by his side, Abdullah would now settle down and pay attention to the many problems facing our nation, like making it less corrupt and fixing the economy. In short, I hope she will inspire him not only to be a “new man” but also a “new” leader.

We Malaysians are a forgiving lot; we are willing to give him yet another chance to prove his leadership. I do not know why, as there is nothing in his track record to support our contention. Nonetheless I always have faith that we humans are capable of learning, adapting, changing our mindset, and renewing ourselves. I am going against my better judgment here, but it is my hope that with Jeanne beside him, he would have inner peace and be a leader worthy of our great nation.


Din Merican

*************************************

There is nothing more heartwarming than to see two people in love declaring their commitment to each other, and sharing that joyous news with us all. Love is always beautiful and precious, no matter how many times around.

The only sour note to an otherwise sweet occasion was when the Prime Minister’s office ordered the mainstream editors to tow the line on what and what not to report. They of course willingly obliged; the force of habit.

We cannot lay the blame solely on the control freaks of the Fourth Floor; they have too many enablers in the editorial floors of our newspapers, radio and television stations. If this is how the boys on the Fourth Floor handle the good news, imagine what they would do when the news is bad!

The last occasion when citizens were engrossed with details of their leader’s love life was the time when President Clinton was busy with that infamous intern in the closet of the Oval Office.

At his age, it is unlikely that Abdullah would have any hitherto hidden talent remaining untapped. The chance of a “late bloom” is remote.

God knows, many sharp minds in Malaysia were taken in by Abdullah! Just ask Mahathir! The difference between Chauncy the gardener and Abdullah the Prime Minister is that Chauncy had no advisors. What he uttered were his own words; he was his own true self. Fool on those who wanted to read or give something more to the simple gardening wisdom he uttered.

Abdullah’s advisors insulate him. Even if he were to be transformed by his new love, his advisors would remain the same, and so would their advice to him.

While the country has no choice but to tolerate his “No action, talk only” stance, Jeanne would definitely not be satisfied with Abdullah’s NATO, husband-wise!

My fear is that with Abdullah totally consumed with his newfound love, his advisors would now become even more emboldened. Abdullah would not be there, at least mentally, to restrain them.

- Dr M. Bakri Musa

True Rumour !

Me married? Just rumours, says PM. Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi laughed off talk that he has got married, dismissing it as mere rumours.

Speculation that Abdullah had remarried or was about to do so has been rife after recent postings on the Net, especially after one blogger published a fictionalised movie poster with a picture of the Prime Minister posing with a woman.

Subsequently, the blogger posted his “wholehearted apology” which stated, among other things: “At this particular instant, I can only assume that the speculation is true until it is proven beyond reasonable doubt, fictitious.”

“Harap Datuk Seri tak marah. Rumour dalam Internet mengatakan Datuk Seri akan berkahwin (Hopefully, Datuk Seri will not be angry. There are rumours in the Internet saying that Datuk Seri is getting married),” said the reporter.

Abdullah drew laughter from the floor by replying : “You kata ini nak bagi I marah? That’s why you say harap I tak marah? Itu rumours, rumours, rumourslah. (Are you saying this to make me angry? That’s why you say ... hopefully I won’t be angry. They are rumours)

Pressed further on whether he was planning to get married in the near future, Abdullah said laughingly : “Rumours, rumours.”

The exchange of questions ended with the Prime Minister saying once again: “Rumour-lah” with a grin before asking to move on to another topic.

“Ada lagi soalan lain? Siapa lagi nak kahwin? (Any other questions? Who else wants to get married),” he said in jest. (Star March 7th 2007)

Barely three months ago !! And now, "Confirmed! Pak Lah to re-marry"






Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who lost his wife to breast cancer, will remarry this Saturday, the premier's office said in a statement Wednesday.

The announcement comes amid rumours of Abdullah's recent romance with his future wife, Jeanne Abdullah. The premier had in the past refused to comment on the relationship.

The wedding on Saturday is scheduled to take place at the official residence of the prime minister and will be attended by close relatives only, the statement said.

Jeanne was born in Kuala Lumpur on July 29 1953 and is the eldest of four siblings.

She was educated at Sekolah Menengah Assunta and has wide experience in administration and hotel management and has worked as supervisor of the official residence of the deputy prime minister and manager of the Seri Perdana Complex.

Jeanne has two daughters, Nadiah and Nadene.

Khairy Jamaluddin, the son-in-law of the prime minister, says Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's marriage to Jeanne Abdullah is an event that will bring lots of meaning to the family.

Khairy, popularly known as KJ, said he was very happy with the news.

"I, my wife, Nori, my brother-in-law and his wife are happy with the news. We fully support his (Prime Minister's) decision for the marriage.

"We have known auntie Jeanne for a long time and we are very close.

"He (Prime Minister) consulted all of us and we have given our blessing. It is going to be a simple wedding among family members," the Umno Youth deputy chief, told reporters .

MY HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS !

Pak Lah pretending to be pious ?

Malaysia's Islamic opposition party unleashed an unusually scathing attack against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Friday, accusing him of pretending to be a pious Muslim leader and of ignoring corruption that besets the country.

The criticism by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party or PAS marked a new push in its campaign to prevent Abdullah's ruling coalition from achieving another landslide victory in national elections, widely expected by early 2008.

"It is shameful that even though he (Abdullah) is famed with his approach of Islam Hadhari (progressive Islam), which has been publicized all over the world, exposures of corruption are increasingly severe in his administration," PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang told the party's annual congress.

UMNO and PAS both vie for the support of ethnic Malay Muslims, who comprise nearly 60 percent of a population that also includes ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities who follow mainly Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism.

Abdul Hadi urged PAS members to prepare for national elections, noting there were signs _ such as a pay hike for government employees _ that indicate Abdullah will call a snap poll soon, even though his mandate only expires in 2009.

Datuk Seri Hadi then called on the party to gear up for snap polls 'The people, including civil servants, the armed forces, the police and others, are being baited...with pay hikes,' he said.

The question now, however, is whether PAS is strong enough to retain control of Kelantan.


Hadi Awang yesterday lashed out at Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, accusing him of, among other things, pretending to be a pious leader while ignoring alleged corruption in the country.

Datuk Seri Hadi alleged that the government had apparently denied, but failed to disprove, opposition allegations of graft, including claims that the country's Defence Ministry paid massive commissions to middlemen in deals to buy Russian aircraft and French submarines.

He was quoted as saying: '(Datuk Seri Abdullah) has not seen this, or perhaps he has fallen asleep.'

Report fails Pak Lah over human rights

Human rights have regressed and protective systems for such rights have collapsed under Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s administration in 2006, according to a Suaram report.

Human rights under the “Mr. Nice Guy” - Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s administration has regressed further in 2006 coupled with alarming collapse of the system and institutions for the protection of human rights, said Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), the leading human rights group during its annual human rights report launch today.

The Malaysia Human Rights Report 2006: Civil and Political Rights is an annual report released by SUARAM to take stock and analyse the human rights developments in Malaysia. The report was launched today at the Cititel Hotel, Kuala Lumpur by two communities who have won the 2006 Suaram's Human Rights Award, the Chin Refugee Committee and the Bukit Jelutong Plantation community.

According to the executive director of Suaram, Yap Swee Seng, the regression of human rights in 2006 are manifested in three regressive trends, namely the growing of the cultures of impunity, religious intolerance and vigilanteism. "If these trends are not checked, they will be detrimental to the protection and promotion of human rights in future," warned Yap.

"First and foremost, the culture of impunity is very prevalent in the law enforcement authorities, especially the police force and the immigration department, that they acted as if they are above the law and untouchable", said Yap Swee Seng, executive director of Suaram.

Yap cited the nine cases of custodial deaths that took place in 2006, a stark increase in comparison to the six cases in 2005. More alarmingly, none of the nine cases in 2006 have had an inquest conducted. There was also not a single policeman has been charged or disciplined for the excessive force and violence used in dispersing protesting crowds against the fuel price hike, toll hike and the forced evictions in Kampung Beremban.

Yap pointed out that systemic impunity continues in the indefinite detention without trial under the Internal Security Act (ISA), the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) and the Emergency Ordinance (EO). "Despite the call of the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahamd Badawi to the United States to grant the right to trial for the two Malaysians held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, we regret that he himself has continued to perpetuate impunity with more than 2,000 people remain incarcerated without trial indefinitely in our own backyards."

The growing of religious intolerance, both by state actors and non-state actors has been highlighted by Suaram as the second worrying regressive trend. Cases documented in Suaram's report, including the suggestion of prohibiting casual greeting of "Deeparaya", by Takaful Malaysia, the denial of the right for non-Muslim to seek redress in a civil court in cases involving both Muslim and non-Muslim such as the case of Moorthy and Subashini, the denial of the right to choose a person's own religion such as in the case of Lina Joy, the violent protests staged by certain groups in stopping a peaceful forum in Penang, and the most serious intolerance being the death threats issued against Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, a lawyer that acted in some of these cases defending the right to freedom of religion.

The third alarming regressive trend is the institutionalization of the culture of vigilante. This is especially evident and prevalent in the case of the recruitment of civilian into the People's Volunteer Corp (RELA) and the deployment of these untrained civilians in the hunting down of illegal immigrants in the country with bounty.

"Since the amendment in 2005 that gave powers to RELA to conduct raid on undocumented migrants, the government practically let loose the RELA to run wild with raids conducted almost on a weekly basis in 2006 and generated a stream of non-stop cases of RELA taking laws into their own hands in abusing not only the refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented migrant workers, but also the local residents and foreign tourists", said Yap.
(Read also Malaysiakini :"Rela chief: Give us more power")

"Underlying these three regressive trends is the alarming collapse of system and institutions that are designed to check abuses and protect human rights", said the Suaram executive director.

"For example, the internal investigation mechanism by police has failed miserably in bringing corrupted cops to book and addressing the problems of impunity. The failure of conducting inquest on each and every custodial death is the norm of the day rather than exceptions. In the case of religious intolerance, the civil court has generally abdicated from its duty in protecting the right to freedom of religion and leaving the victims in legal wilderness with no protection. In the case of vigilante culture, the government has repeatedly defended RELA despite large numbers of complaints against the RELA."

Suaram said the check and balance systems and institutions must be strengthened if these regressive trends are to be reversed. It calls on the government to set up immediately the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to end the widespread impunity in the police force and the RELA to be disbanded in preventing the growth of the vigilante culture based on emergency law that has outlived its original purpose. Recommendations and result of public inquiries conducted by National Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) must be respected and enforced.

"The civil court should not shy away from religious freedom cases and must act to protect the rights of individual to freedom of religion, as entrusted to them under the Constitution," said Yap.

"Clearly, there is a need for a thorough reform of the system and institutions to halt these regressive trends and protect human rights. Abdullah Badawi's government must show greater political will in restoring public confidence in the system and institutions for the protection of human rights, failing which his own credibility would be seriously questioned and the people shall judge him in the coming general election."

More from Maslaysiakini here.

An early election.?

"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", I Can Tell you Christmas election Is Near !

Malaysia’s one million civil servants will receive a salary hike of up to 35 per cent from July 1, their first pay raise in 15 years, the prime minister announced Monday.

Their cost of living allowance will also increase by 100 per cent in one of the most generous incentives in recent times, which Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said will cost the government the equivalent of $2.58 billion annually.

About a half-million retired government servants will also see a hike in their pensions.

The announcement came amid speculation Abdullah will call early general elections, which are not due until 2009. Political circles are rife with speculation that Abdullah will hold elections either late this year or in early 2008.

Financial sops for government officials and the public are typical in the run-up to elections.

Former Deputy Prime Minister and advisor to the opposition Keadilan party, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, said the announcement indicated the Government was preparing for an early election.

"Clearly the whole intention and purpose of announcing it in this period shows that it is around the corner," Anwar told reporters, flagging an end-2007 date for the poll.

"It will ease a lot of problems faced by the common folks, particularly with the rising petrol prices and price hikes impacting negatively the welfare of the people. That means that election is very close," he said.

Anwar is barred from formal politics until April 2008 over a corruption conviction, and analysts have said a poll could be called as early as the end of 2007 to exclude him.


The record salary hike for civil servants announced by the prime minister on Monday will contribute 0.5 per cent to Malaysia's economic growth this year and at least another half per cent in 2008, Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said here Tuesday.

"Our initial calculation shows that for this year alone the effect on GDP will be up to 0.5 percentage point higher than what the growth rate would be without the salary increase. Next year it will be at least another half a percentage point," he said.

However, he said this will not necessarily mean that the economy will grow more than the projected six percent in 2007.

"We don't normally change forecast until September," he said.

He said the impact of the pay hike will be positive on the economy as it would benefit not only the 1.002 million civil servants but instead five million people after accounting for their dependents, he said.

"From past experience, government servants will spend every ringgit that is given out. This will lead to consumption-led growth and other spin-off effects which will lead to more business and to higher taxes," he told a specially-held briefing to wire agencies to explain the reasons for the 7.5-35 per cent salary increase announced by the Prime Minister on Monday.

Despite the additional spending power, he said inflation is expected to remain at the forecasted 2.5 per cent. He said that inflation only happens when there is capacity constraint and this is not happening now.

He also said that the government would not be borrowing from the market to fund the additional RM8 billion cost needed for the pay hike and a 100 per cent increase in Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) as it has sufficient funds.

This is because the Federal government's operating surplus for this year will surpass the forecasted RM21.8 billion which is more than sufficient to finance the pay hike, he said.


From Malaysiakini :

The substantial pay hike for government servants, the first of such increases since 1992, has underscored another major problem - our bloated civil service.

If the increase in pay is not accompanied by a corresponding increase in civil service productivity, the move will be a waste of public funds....more

Meanwhile, Prime minister on Tuesday accused Westerners of prejudice against the Islamic world and said Western support for Israel was the biggest reason fuelling Muslim hostility.

"Much of the prejudice against Islam in the West stems from a lack of understanding of the true nature of Islam as a religion professed by 1.4 billion people in the world," Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

"Westerners tend to view other peoples and other cultures only from the perspective of Western benchmarks and philosophy," he said as he received an honorary degree at Tokyo's Meiji University.

But Abdullah also denied that history was to blame for current tensions between Islamic and Western societies.

"Explanation is to be found in more recent times, which is the repeated use of force or other machinations by the powerful over the weak, to secure political, strategic or territorial gains," he said.

He said the most urgent problem was the Middle East and criticised Israel for its deadly air strikes, which the Jewish state launched last week on the Gaza Strip in response to rocket attacks on its territory.

The world "must accept the fact that a festering Palestinian problem, among all factors, is the single most important factor perpetuating the tension between the West in general and the Muslim world as a whole," he said.

"We must accept the fact that the plight of the Palestinians has come to epitomise everything that is unjust and unfair to the treatment of peoples," he said.

He said the Islamic world perceived Western nations as defending "Judeo-Christian tradition against the spread of radical militant Islam, thus legitimising all of Israel's actions no matter how brutal," he said.

"When you add to this the invasion of Afghanistan, the conquest of Iraq, the aggression against Lebanon, and the continuing occupation of the Golan Heights, the Muslim world sees a ... complicity," he said.

"The feeling of being humiliated," he said, "has transformed into hostility."

Abdullah is usually seen as more soft-spoken than his predecessor Mahathir Mohamad, who is known for his tirades against the West and Israel.