No Big Deal, BN Government Can Go It Alone !

The Barisan Nasional (BN) government has the capacity to continue administering the country even without the formation of the proposed unity government, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said .

The prime minister said the BN government was strong and had the capability to implement its development programmes.

As such, the question of the BN government being weak so much so that there was a need for a unity government did not arise.

He said the government had merely responded positively to a proposal by PAS for a unity government.

Meanwhile, PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said PAS will hold talks on the “unity government” with Umno only if DAP and PKR are included in the process.

He said PAS would not leave its Pakatan Rakyat allies behind as it was un-Islamic to break a promise.

“If the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) wants to hold talks on government unity with PAS, he must include DAP and PKR.

“Otherwise, there will be no talks,’’

Umno vice president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal wants PAS to forget about the past and look to the country’s future.

He believes that Malay unity will bring stability to the country’s economy and political scene, and also benefit other communities in the country.

“Who does not want a stable political scene? I think everyone wants a more stable country and government. We have seen a lot of countries that have descended into chaos. Iran is a good example, where there are many casualties. Do we want to be like them? It will lead to situations like that if we do not take any action,” he said.

Shafie stressed that the unity talks is not just for PAS and Umno but for the sake of the Malay community.

“We must unite. We have seen how Malays are disunited,” he added.

That's the two Malay political parties battling each other to convince us that each is better than the other in advancing the “Malay agenda.”.

In a clumsy if not desperate attempt for new moves they concocted a “vision” for a “unity” government based on the two parties! Left unstated is the question: Unity for what and against whom?

Umno and PAS are so used to fighting each other that they have forgotten what it is they are fighting for.

Following the Barisan election rout of March 8, 2008, the fear that the coalition, specifically Umno, would lose power at the national level was palpable.

This desperation led misguided souls in Umno to seek those in PAS who had been longing for power. This quest for a “unity government” was nothing more than Umno securing an insurance policy for its continuing hold on power; for PAS, it was a seductive teasing on the taste of power.

It is ironic that the pursuit of a “unity government” resulted only in sowing distrust within the existing coalitions. In pursuing PAS, Umno succeeded only in straining relations with its long-time Barisan partners. PAS meanwhile managed only to poison its still frail Pakatan Rakyat coalition with PKR and DAP. Worse, as we are now seeing, it also threatens the unity of PAS.

The proponents for this “unity government” have obviously not done their due diligence or any downstream analysis. Those Umno warlords would not take kindly to sharing their bounty with their new kopiah-clad upstart colleagues. Far from “purifying” Umno, PAS would end up being just as corrupt as Umno.

This “unity government” scheme is nothing more than a crude and greedy power-grab by the Umno and PAS pair.

So far PAS wants Malays not to learn English and to ban Sisters in Islam. Well, that is an advancement of sorts; at least they are not harping on hudud. As for Umno leaders, they cannot even decide whether to continue teaching science and mathematics in English.

Malay leaders should not be deluding the masses with half-baked ideas of “Malay unity.” These leaders succeed only in deluding themselves.

Dr M calls Umno Youth corrupt for electing Khairy

Dr M, written on his blog post, said that he did not attend the opening of the Umno general assembly because Umno Youth openly sanctioned money politics by electing Khairy.

"They picked as their leader someone who was found guilty of using money and other inducements in his effort to get elected as the head of Umno Youth…Never before has a person who has been acknowledged as corrupt by the party disciplinary board, by the party and the public being elected and hailed as the leader.

"Pemuda has sullied the image of the party and the Malays. It appears that money is more important than one's race and country, '' said the former party president, who wondered whether the rest of Malaysia would accept a leader like Khairy.

Dr Mahathir also added an element of conspiracy into the youth elections, questioning why it took six hours to count 790 votes.

"Didn't they know how to count? Or was there an attempt to ensure victory for the son-in-law of the Prime Minister?


KENAPA SAYA TIDAK HADIR


1. Ramai kenalan saya yang fikir saya tidak hadir pembukaan mesyuarat Perhimpunan Agung UMNO kerana anak saya Mukhriz kalah pertandingan Ketua Pemuda.

2. Memanglah saya terasa sedih kerananya.

3. Tetapi sebab yang sebenar saya tidak hadir ialah oleh kerana Pemuda UMNO secara langsung dan terbuka merestui politik rasuah.

4. Mereka memilih sebagai ketua mereka seorang yang telah didapati bersalah menggunakan wang dan sogokan dalam usahanya untuk dipilih sebagai Ketua Pemuda. Samada dia dibenar bertanding atau tidak, tidak menidakkan dianya adalah perasuah.

5. Hukuman yang dijatuhkan kepada orang ini tidak setimpal dan adil kerana orang lain yang didapati bersalah sama sepertinya tidak dibenar bertanding.

6. Tidak pernah terjadi orang yang dikenali dan diakui umum sebagai perasuah oleh Lembaga Disiplin, oleh parti dan oleh orang ramai dipilih dan dijunjung tinggi sebagai ketua. Tetapi inilah yang dilakukan oleh Pemuda UMNO yang dahulu terkenal sebagai barisan hadapan dalam perjuangan UMNO.

7. Pemuda telah merosakkan imej UMNO dan imej orang Melayu sendiri. Rupa-rupanya duit lebih utama daripada bangsa dan negara. Apakah rakyat akan terima dipimpin oleh tokoh rasuah yang terkenal? Perbuatan merestui rasuah adalah satu pengkhianatan kepada bangsa Melayu dan negara Malaysia.

8. Juga saya hairan kenapa untuk mengira hanya 790 undi mengambil masa lebih dari enam jam?

9. Apakah pengira undi tidak tahu kira? Atau apakah sesuatu sudah diusahakan untuk menjayakan menantu Perdana Menteri. Ini menjadi soalan bukan daripada saya seorang tetapi oleh semua orang ramai. Tak usahlah Perdana Menteri bercakap berkenaan dengan menolak rasuah kerana menantu yang perasuah diberi keistimewaan luar biasa.

10. Ini juga menghakiskan lagi kepercayaan rakyat kepada UMNO.

11. Inilah sebab-sebabnya saya tidak hadir. Saya rasa diri saya akan tercemar jika saya berada dalam majlis yang disertai oleh orang yang mendukung amalan rasuah.


- Dr M


Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he is happy with Khairy Jamaluddin's election as the new Umno Youth chief, saying the Rembau member of Parliament had worked hard for the victory.

"He (Khairy) worked very hard, he really worked very hard, that is the truth, I know... because when I went to see my grandchildren and asked Nori (Abdullah's daughter) where is Khairy, she said he had gone campaigning and meeting the Umno Youth.

"So I said, he must be working very hard and she herself agreed that he did work hard... everyday going around.

"I think he deserves it after working so hard,"

On the other hand, Khairy Jamaluddin, the Son in law is no stranger to controversy and has become used to it. And now that he has been elected to Umno Youth's highest position, the detractors are making sure he is kept on his toes.

He has much to do to clear his name over the money politics controversy surrounding the contest for the wing’s top post.

After all, the disciplinary board found him guilty of involvement in money politics by association, but decided to just issue him a warning.

Asked to comment on allegations of money politics being leveled against him, Khairy said: "It’s just the usual stuff, usual expression of views during the debates."

"I’m used to it, this is my ….I can’t remember how many general assemblies I have been to," he said.

"It does not unfazed me at all; it’s something I have to deal with. I’ve been having to deal with this for quite a while now, so I just continue with my work and continue with the by-elections that are coming up where I can reach out to more party members and the public as well."

He who laughs last, laughs best !

Abdullah Badawi, the supreme leader that Dr Mahathir hammered and Umno openly discarded, may start to have his last laughs.

Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil unseated Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz easily while Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin won the Youth chief’s post, defeating two other strongmen.

Shahrizat got 507 votes compared to Rafidah’s 280.

Khairy obtained 304 votes while former Selangor mentri besar Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo got 254 and Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir trailed behind with 232.

Party insiders say the results showed that delegates also voted in those aligned to the new chiefs.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad has not show up for the opening of the Umno general assembly despite saying earlier he would.

His aide Sufi Yusoff was quoted as saying that he has decided to skip the function.

Mahathir's snub has probably got to do with the defeat of his son, Mukhriz, last night. Despite being regarded as a front runner, Mukhriz finished third in the Umno Youth contest.

He lost to Khairy Jamaluddin and Khir Toyo. Some Mukhriz's supporters took the defeat badly, staging a noisy protest at the PWTC but Mukhriz said he accepted the defeat, saying in all contests, there would be winners and defeats.

Malaysia's longtime ruling party is meeting to select a new crop of leaders after a series of electoral setbacks. But it faces a stiff challenge to reverse a rapid slide in popularity at a time when Malaysia's trade-dependent economy is sinking into recession.

At stake is the stability of a political order that has guided the multiracial country for five decades. The United Malays National Organization (UMNO) leads a coalition government that has delivered economic development but appears unable to tackle increasing racial tensions and calls for greater freedom.

At the four-day convention, which began Tuesday, UMNO officials have hammered a message of reform and renewal in order to win back voters. But a scandal over delegate vote-buying, which led to the disqualification of several candidates, has only added to the public perception of an organization that is mired in graft and out of touch with ordinary voters.

Seizing on this weakness, opponents are turning up the heat on Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is due to replace outgoing Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi next week.

Highlight of Abdullah speech :"The Future and Survival of the Party”


On need for change

Sadly, there are still those who feel we do not need to pursue reforms. They believe that Umno will regain its glory if we revert to the old ways -- the old order, by restricting the freedom of our citizens and by silencing their criticism. They are of the view that Umno can continue to be in power if they safeguard the interests of certain individuals and give in to the demands of certain groups. Reverting to the old path would only take the party to regression and decay and hasten its demise.

On being leaders for all

Umno should not turn its back on its responsibility towards safeguarding the position of the Malays and the Bumiputras. At the same time, it must never adopt racial and religious positions that are extremist. It must never practice discrimination to the extent that non-Malays view it as a racist party. The rights of all citizens must always be protected, guaranteed and respected.
On Najib

I pledge to give my undivided support to the new President of Umno – to the new Prime Minister of Malaysia. The responsibilities that come with the job are immense. There are times when a decision creates controversy; when a decision will not receive the support of all. Despite any reservations we may have, our leader should be given the trust and stability of mind to allow him to continue to remain rational and objective. If we choose to attack him and assassinate his character, we would be responsible for weakening our party and toppling our leader who sits in the Prime Minister’s chair.


On making mistakes

In my years of public service, there have been times when I have erred. I too had not been able to fulfill all my promises. I acknowledge that the weaknesses and imperfections are my own; and today, I seek your forgiveness for those weaknesses and imperfections. I have tried to carry out my responsibilities with sincerity and honesty.

On the Barisan Nasional formula

We must re-emphasise the formula of power-sharing. Recently, the Malays have begun to feel threatened by demands which are seen to be extreme and unreasonable by non-Malays upholding the Malaysian Malaysia slogan. At the same time, non-Malays – including our friends in the BN – feel compelled to speak out more stridently, feeling themselves marginalized and sidelined as a result of slippage in the implementation of certain government policies. Both parties are harbouring mistrust and doubt. If we allow this to continue, it will erode the spirit of cooperation and destroy the unity that we have built. We must rediscover the cooperation that formed the basis of our national unity.

Hishammuddin vows to fight agent provocateur

In his last speech as Umno Youth chief, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein went on the offensive against a power-crazy agent provocateur, saying the movement will fight to the end to defeat his dirty and cruel politicking.

Without naming the person, the outgoing Youth chief said this person was willing to “sow the seeds of hatred, collude with the enemy, insult the nation in various world forums, deny the rights of his own race, and mock the institution of rulers”.

He said whatever this person did or say will be forever etched in history as the work of a peson who wears different masks and is full of pretense and who is a liar and manipulator.

Hishammuddin said the movement would defend the rule of law, the rights and privileges of the Malays and bumiputera, the sanctity of Islam and the institution of the Malay rulers.

"We will not allow these pillars to be uprooted in this beloved homeland of ours," he told the 793 delegates to the Youth General Assembly here.

Hishammuddin is not defending his post as the movement's chief but is vying for a vice-president’s post at the main assembly.

At the opening of the assembly, Hishammuddin continued the tradition of carrying the keris called Panca Warisan into the Tun Hussein Onn Hall. He unsheated and kissed it and put it back in its case, avoiding the act of holding it aloft with an outstretched arm which had invited criticism.

The keris was later presented to him at the end of his speech. Hishammuddin was seen in tears as he was loudly cheered by delegates.

His 50-minute-long speech also reminded opposition parties not to abuse freedom of expression to stoke the fire of racism as this could destroy the nation.

"To these irresponsible people, don't ever attempt to take advantage of the situation to show off courage and to ramble under the immunity provided by the Dewan Rakyat and make wild allegations."

He said the opposition was engaging in organised attempts to undermine the country's pillars, which formed the basis of the nation's sovereignty.

"They are questioning the social contract and the special position of the Malays and bumiputera in a very arrogant manner. The social contract is deliberatly misinterpreted to fan racial sentiment," he said.

Hishammuddin also said he had never betrayed the Malays throughout his 11-year tenure as the movement's chief.

"I'm aware that there are all sorts of text messages and poison-pen letters being circulated to attack my character but I leave it to God to judge.

"I will never betray the struggle which we inherited from my grandfather (Datuk Onn Jaafar) and father (Tun Hussein Onn). I will never betray the Malay struggle," he said.

He called on the new Umno Youth leadership to woo the young to join the party and to get closer to the people. He also told the delegates to choose leaders who are honest and sincere and able to chart the movement's future.

- Sun2surf


Meanwhile, Permodalan Negri Selangor Berhad (PNSB) chief executive officer Datin Khairiyah Abu Hassan testified before the legislature today that the state subsidiary was ‘instructed” to pick up the cost to Melbourne for the wife of former menteri besar Datin Zahrah Kechik to visit their son who was studying there.

Khairiyah told the Special Select Committee for Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) that she received the instructions directly from Zahrah and was “told” to accompany her on the three day visit, in 2007.

Over RM14,000 was spent to purchase return business class and economy class tickets sometime in December 2007.

Khairiyah says she remembers travelling in business class with Zahrah but could not explain the discrepancies in the invoices for travel which was provided to the committee.

She admitted that the trip was not an official visit and Zahrah used the time to visit her son and to buy souvenirs.

Selangor Speaker Teng Chang Khim, who is heading Selcat’s probe into the now defunct Wives of Selangor Elected Representatives Charity Organization (Balkis), remarked that the trip may have not been official but the cost was.

However Khairiyah said Zahrah paid for the hotel accommodation while in Australia.

The startling revelations could not come at a worse time for Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, who is contesting the Umno Youth chief’s in the party’s general assembly.

Speak up against attempts to silence opposing voices !

Former de facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has hit out at the suspension of two opposition party publications and said that Malaysians should denounce attempts to silence opposing voices.

Zaid said that he was not surprised by the suspension of opposition party owned newspapers Suara Keadilan and Harakah and added that the only way to prevent more such attempts was if more people would stand up and criticise the move.

"We're all vulnerable," he said. "Those who think they are safe are mistaken. No matter how much you try to play safe, you are never safe. If more and more people stand up, then the people in power will probably think twice."

The suspension of Harakah and Suara Keadilan is not part of a crackdown on Opposition political parties because of the coming by-elections, said Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung.

However, it is widely perceived as a move to stifle the reach of opposition parties and bolster the chances of the ruling party in three critical by-elections next month.

In another move that is seen as an attempt to tighten its grip on the media landscape, Umno, the party that forms the backbone of the government, also barred six internet based media from covering its annual general assembly this week, including Malaysiakini, as it is not friendly to UMNO.



Anwar Ibrahim: Najib…’unleashes his brutality and violence on the people’

A phase of repression descended on Malaysia as Najib Razak seizes control of the reins of power, even before officially taking over as Prime Minister, and unleashes his brutality and violence on the people.

Last night, a rally of about 10,000 people from all races was mercilessly attacked by the police with tear gas and acid-laced water cannon minutes after I began my speech in Bukit Selambau. Scores of people were arrested including my chief of staff, MPs, and senior aides to the Chief Minister of Kedah.

To justify their iron hand tactics and blatant violation of the people’s fundamental liberties, the police have claimed that the rally was illegal. These are baseless claims as the event took place on private property and adhered to the rules.

Last night’s show of brute force is but the latest in a series of harsh and dictatorial action by the government under Najib against the people. Also yesterday Suara Keadilan and Harakah were banned by the Home Ministry without any justification. These events only too starkly remind us of the cruel and authoritarian style of leadership under which Malaysians suffered for many years. The police force has become a band of marauders. The press is muzzled and those who speak the truth about the abuses carried out by the ruling clique are arrested, beaten and bullied.

The institutions of governance serve the interests of an elite clique which will exceed all boundaries of the law to retain power. A return to that era would be a disaster for this country and people of conscience around the world should condemn these unscrupulous actions.

It is quite clear that despite his superficial offers for cooperation and bipartisanship, the olive branch which Najib Razak extended to the opposition early this month is really a dagger in disguise.

In two weeks Malaysians will once again return to the polls in three important by-elections. Once again all forms of trickery, cheating and bribery will be employed by the UMNO led BN government in order to defeat the opposition. But we are confident that Malaysians will register a referendum, much like they already have done in Kuala Terengganu and in Permatang Pauh, against the brutal and inhumane policies of the government. The movement for change and reform in Malaysia will push forward and will succeed.

ANWAR IBRAHIM
(VIA)

Umno corrupt: survey

SINGAPORE: Umno (United Malays National Organisation) has received a slap in the face just ahead of its key annual meeting, with many voters polled in a survey seeing Malaysia's biggest political party as corrupt and out of touch with the ground.

Respondents to the survey also said that International Trade Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was the best choice for the deputy prime minister's position, a contrast from Umno pundits, who expect another leader to emerge as the new No. 2.

The 1,031 respondents also felt that the views of ordinary Malaysians should be considered while picking leaders in internal Umno polls, going against the conventional political wisdom that the leaders are picked only by party members.

The party's chiefs are currently elected by about 2,500 top Umno cadres in elections that are held every three years.

The survey was conducted last month by independent pollster Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research.

Respondents comprised 57% Malays, 31% Chinese and 12% Indians based on random sampling.

The survey showed that a year after the watershed general election that empowered the opposition, voters were clamouring for a bigger say in how the country's leaders were picked.

"This survey indicates the Malaysian public's keen interest in Umno's election," Merdeka Centre chief Ibrahim Suffian said in a statement.

"They also have strong views about the problems affecting the party while at the same time harbour high hopes that those elected...will be able to fulfil their wishes."

From 24 to 28 March, Umno will hold its annual assembly, which incorporates the triennial party polls.

Its president and deputy president traditionally become the prime minister and deputy prime minister respectively, and many of its top leaders are Cabinet ministers.

The survey found that 79% of the voters polled wanted Umno delegates to "take into consideration the views of ordinary Malaysians in determining Umno leadership line-up as it influences national politics", the Merdeka Centre said.

"Why should the power to appoint the leaders who will rule 27 million people be in the hands of such a select few?" asked 43-year-old housewife Connie Wong.

The survey showed that a high percentage of voters have a negative image of the 3.2 million strong party.

A total of 61% of those polled viewed corruption as Umno's most serious problem, while 13% said its second most serious problem was being "out of touch" with the public.

Voters were also worried the party had "weak leaders" and that it was a "weak manager of the economy".

In a startling reflection of the Chinese voters' rejection of the Malay party, which leads a multiracial coalition, the poll showed that just 1% of Chinese respondents hoped Umno would "continue to lead the country".

Three per cent of Indian respondents hoped the same for Umno. In contrast, 19% of Malays wanted the party to continue leading the country.

A similar 1% of Chinese respondents said they had hope for Umno to develop the country, yet none expected Umno to "perform well and keep the promises".

As for the qualities they desired in Umno leaders, 21% of the respondents ranked "being just to the people" or being "close to the people" (11%) as among the most important.

Deputy prime minister Najib Razak is slated to take over as Umno president and Malaysian prime minister by early next month.

But the Umno deputy president's post, and hence the deputy prime minister's post, will be decided by the party from among three men.

Umno pundits are saying that Malacca Chief Minister Ali Rustam is leading in the unofficial count, followed by Tan Sri Muhyiddin and Rural Development Minister Muhammad Muhammad Taib.

But if Malaysian voters were allowed to make their pick, Muhyiddin would be the outright winner. (By HAZLIN HASSAN/ The Straits Times/ANN)

Umno never bullies Barisan partners ?

Umno has never bullied its Barisan Nasional partners and it is the Opposition that has been drumming up such claims to undermine the coalition, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, sure ?

Please read RPK: "It’s in the arithmetic, stupid"

In an Umno Johor Convention a couple of months ago, they spoke about how they regret giving citizenship to the immigrants on 31 August 1957. Now that these immigrants have been granted citizenship, they have demonstrated ingratitude by voting for the opposition. These immigrants should never have been given citizenship, argued speaker after speaker. And Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah were guests of honour in this Convention.

You could see Tengku Razaleigh cringe, as if in great pain, on hearing this. He knew that Barisan Nasional suffered its most humiliating performance on 8 March 2008 because of exactly this. Such statements are not going to help. It will just make matters worse.

Umno played the race card to the hilt in the run-up to the recent general election. And it is still doing so until now, as the Umno Bukit Bendera Division Chief has shown. They still refer to Malaysian-born Chinese and Indians as immigrants. They still call the Chinese and Indians ungrateful squatters. They still ask the Chinese and Indians to go back to China and India, though all these people were born in Malaysia and not in any other country.

In a PPP Convention in Melaka, held before the 8 March 2008 general election, the Umno Vice-President and Chief Minister told the 1,000 or so Indians that Umno does not need the non-Malays. They do not even need Sabah and Sarawak, said Ali Rustam. Umno has ruled Malaysia for 50 years without the non-Malays, or the people from Sabah and Sarawak, and they can continue to do so another 50.

Ali Rustam was not asked to apologise. Neither was the Umno Bukit Bendera Umno Chief, who Abdullah Badawi said did not really mean what he said. But if I were to say something like that, the police would be in front of my house the very next day and I would be hauled into court and charged for sedition within 24 hours. That would be how swift the police would act in the event I said even 10% of what the Umno leaders say.


The Media Statement By Uncle Kit dated 15/11/2006 :"Is Hishammuddin warning that Umno Youth will block Koh Tsu Koon and Ong Tee Kiat from becoming Federal Ministers?" :

Excerpts:

I pointed out the newspaper front-page headlines today on speeches at the Umno Youth General Assembly yesterday about “Don’t play racial card”, but this had not prevented the playing of the racial card at the Umno Youth general assembly yesterday, with Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon and Datuk Ong Tee Kiat openly named as “opportunist politicians” in Barisan Nasional and with Umno Youth leader and Education Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein – again wielding the kris - issuing the specific warning:

“We know who they are. We know where they are and what they are saying. Umno Youth is ready to face these opportunist politicians.

“We will not compromise or give in when it comes to matters involving the future of the country. We will make sure that these sort of leaders have no place in Barisan Nasional.”

Or, perhaps, it was Dr Mahathir who "create changes, anger and hatred ", not UMNO, the "toadies" ?

“Who is he? He has left Umno but he still issues orders to members of Umno. The party does not need to take orders from anyone who is no longer a member of the party. He is trying to create a rift and incite anger and hatred. What is wrong with people who work with me? He is trying to teach people to hate one another."

Umno is no bully ?

Malaysiakini reported that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has dismissed suggestions that Umno has over-dominated the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition at the expense of other component parties.

Umno has never bullied its Barisan Nasional partners and it is the Opposition that came up with the claim to undermine the coalition, says the Prime Minister.

The complaint that Umno was a bully was not even started by the component parties but initiated and harped on by the Opposition to make people perceive the Barisan parties were weak and hence hate and reject them.

Rebutting the claim, he said the Barisan co-operation was still very much intact.

“People say Umno is a party that likes to bully. I actually do not know how to bully people. There is no such thing as bully; we are all friends. Ask our friends (party leaders) in front.

“If bullying is our way, I believe many of the parties would want to leave Barisan because they wouldn’t want to put up with Umno bullying all the time,” he said.

" The accusation against Umno was started by the Opposition."

“Their intention is to ridicule and make MCA, Gerakan look bad so that people will not like the parties and their leaders. Similarly, this is being done by Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Force) whose attitude is to ridicule MIC and its chief (Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu),” he said.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi must be suffering from amnesia.

That is the most charitable conclusion to draw after he said today that the perception of Umno being a bully in the Barisan Nasional was off the mark.

Wasn’t it only a month ago that Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail exhibited supreme arrogance when he showed no remorse for calling Malaysian Chinese immigrants at a rally in the run-up to the Permatang Pauh by-election.

And when Gerakan stood up to him, he behaved just like a schoolyard bully.

He asked for Gerakan to be kicked out of the BN.

He and the party’s supreme council members only took disciplinary action against the Bukit Bendera politician after being pushed into a corner. Even then, it was half-hearted attempt to apply balm on the raw feelings of the non-Malays.

Is this PM so out of touch with reality that he does not understand how frustrated BN leaders have become in dealing with arrogant Umno politicians.

Before he stepped down as a minister, Ong had to speak in hushed tones if he wanted allocation for Chinese schools from the Education Ministry. Speak too loud and the minister may be offended.

Koh had to stomach all the excesses of Penang Umno for years and had to be careful not to antagonise them even when they complained about the lack of opportunities in the state for Malays.

The arrogance and bullying did not stop there. And it hurt the MCA and other component parties in many ways.

Abdullah still was prepared to defend a political party that has bullied him since the general election; that refused to back his reform agenda and is now making final preparations for his humiliating send-off.

Malaysians should save their sympathy and goodwill for another leader. This man deserves the bullying treatment he is getting from his party faithful.

For UMNO the next four years would be crucial. If whoever becomes the new President fails to revive the party, it would be the end of the road for this longest surviving fighter for national independence. If this were to happen then the incoming leadership of UMNO will go down in history as the betrayers of this once glorious and powerful political machine.

UMNO had adopted the democratic system apparently to ensure that betrayers of the party would be removed and replaced by better men. But clearly UMNO democracy has not always worked. Many have reached the top through false pretences. Once there they make use of their position of power to prevent democracy from safeguarding the party. By dishing out lucrative jobs and titles, by abusing the authority conferred on them, by threats of all kinds, these pretenders have been able to stop attempts at their removal, at least for quite some time.

Thus in the March 2008 Elections the Barisan Nasional Party and UMNO suffered heavy losses. The leadership refused to accept responsibility for this debacle, even claiming victory because they have enough seats to form the central Government.

Umno ordered to pay RM218 mil - Malaysiakini

Breaking News:

As Umno braced itself for the tough Permatang Pauh by-election, the ruling party has been dealt with a fresh blow involving an election campaign scandal four years ago.
MCPX

In the March 2004 general election, Umno received campaign paraphernalia worth hundreds of millions ringgit including posters, badges, banners and caps, which it had refused to pay.
The poll merchandise supplier, Elegant Advisory Sdn Bhd, has since brought the dispute to court.

In a rare move, the Kuala Lumpur High Court had last month ordered Umno to pay a whopping RM218 million claimed by Kelana Jaya-based Elegant Advisory.

The amount is the highest-ever sum of money that the ruling party - which forms the backbone of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition - has been ordered to pay by a court of law.

The decision was a judgment in default delivered by High Court’s assistant registrar Ahmad Faizadh Yahaya on July 17 after Umno’s lawyers failed to appear in court.

A copy of the judgment, with other relevant court documents, was obtained by Malaysiakini.

The poll merchandise scandal was highlighted by Malaysiakini in a series of exclusive reports (see below) three months after the 2004 general elections, where BN won with a landslide victory.

‘Campaign materials secure BN’s victory’

In the suit, which was initiated by Elegant Advisory in June this year, the company has claimed a sum of RM218,013,475 as compensation from Umno for the supply of the election campaign materials.



According to the company, the materials include posters, banners, buntings, flags, souvenirs, mineral waters and other transportation costs.

The claim was made on the basis of Section 71 of the Contracts Act (see box to explain the section), in which Umno is obliged to pay the campaign materials to Elegant Advisory.

Umno’s treasurer Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi was named as the sole defendant on behalf of the party in the suit filed through Elegant Advisory’s counsel, Termizi & Co.

Umno meanwhile was represented by Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak. When contacted, the firm confirmed their lawyers are involved in the case.

The statement of claim stated that in March 2004, Elegant Advisory had supplied the campaign materials to Umno on its request and order as agreed between the both parties.

“The plaintiff has fulfilled the defendant’s request and order [...] in a huge quantity and in a short period by appointing third parties as printers for the posters, banners, bunting, flags and other necessary items for the 11th General Election and for Umno.

“The plaintiff also had appointed printers and suppliers for the mineral water and souvenir from China,” the court document stated.

These suppliers named by Elegant Advisory include Percetakan Rina Sdn Bhd, Setia Kawan Printers Sdn Bhd, Art Printing Works Sdn Bhd and NHK Transport & Warehouse Sdn Bhd





Elegant Advisory said Umno had acknowledged the receipt of the campaign materials by stamping the party’s official seal on all its delivery orders (see photo) and has not objected to the supply of the campaign materials.

It also pointed out that these materials were again used by Umno during the August 2004 Kuala Berang by-election in Terengganu, as spotted by Malaysiakini during the campaign.

“With the supply of these campaign materials to Umno, Umno has enjoyed the benefits from it when Umno (as a BN component party) won the 11th General Election with an overwhelming poll victory,” said the statement of claim.

‘No reasonable amount’ offered

Elegant Advisory said its invoices claiming for the cost of the campaign materials after the election were not entertained by the ruling party.

There were two invoices - one for RM170,843,475 and another for RM47,170,000.

Unhappy with the inaction, Elegant Advisory through a letter to Umno on May 2004 again demanded for the outstanding payment to be settled.

The company revealed Umno had tried to settle the matter once by requesting a meeting with Elegant Advisory in September 2006.

The effort however failed as “no reasonable amount” was offered.

Elegant Advisory said it has also tried to contact Umno numerous times later to settle the matter, including sending e-mails to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi through his website, but to no avail.

The company claimed as a result of the unsettled payment, it has suffered losses and jeopardised its business reputation among its suppliers.

With Umno’s failure to make an appearance in court, the High Court on July 17 ordered the ruling party to pay Elegant Advisory the entire sum, with interest, as demanded by the company.

Nevertheless, Umno is now making effort to set aside the judgment in default.

(Source)