Senarai anggota lembaga dan panel pencegahan rasuah SPRM

KUALA LUMPUR: Bekas Ketua Hakim Negara, Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad, adalah antara anggota Lembaga Penasihat Pencegahan Rasuah, Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) yang diumumkan di sini hari ini.

Turut dilantik, Pengerusi Institut Akhbar Malaysia yang juga Penasihat Editorial Bernama, Datuk Seri Azman Ujang, sebagai anggota Panel Perundingan dan Pencegahan Rasuah,SPRM.

Pengumuman dan penerimaan pelantikan berlangsung selepas majlis pelancaran SPRM oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, di Pusat DaganganDunia Putra (PWTC) di sini, pagi ini.

SPRM wujud mulai 1 Januari tahun ini bagi menggantikan Badan Pencegah Rasuah(BPR). Tujuan utamanya adalah untuk membasmi semua bentuk rasuah, salah guna kuasa dan dan penyelewengan.



Berikut ialah senarai penuh pelantikan yang diumum hari ini:

Lembaga Penasihat Pencegahan Rasuah

1. Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad (Bekas Ketua Hakim Negara)

2. Tan Sri Hamid Bugo (Bekas Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Sarawak)

3. Prof Tan Sri Dr Mohd Kamal Hassan (UIAM)

4. Tan Sri Mohamed Jawhar Hassan (Pengerusi ISIS Malaysia)

5. Tan Sri Simon Sipaun (Pesuruhjaya Suhakam)

6. Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas (Presiden, Institut Tadbir Urus Korporat Malaysia)

7. Puan Sri Zaiton Zawiyah Puteh (Bekas Peguam Cara, Pejabat Peguam Negara)

8. Datuk Rashpal Singh

9. Tan Sri Yong Poh Kon (Pengarah Urusan Royal Selangor International Sdn Bhd)

10. Datuk Anwar Fazal (Pengarah, Right Livelihood College, USM)

11. Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim (UM)

12. R Chelvarajah (Peguam dengan Sault & Co, Melaka)



Panel Perundingan Dan Pencegahan Rasuah

1. Datuk Seri Azman Ujang (Pengerusi Institut Akhbar Malaysia)

2. Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam (Presiden Transparency International Malaysia)

3. Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Embong (IKMAS)

4. Dr Zainal Abidin Abdul Majid (Business Ethics Institute of Malaysia)

5. Datuk David Chua (Pengarah Urusan DC&A Group Sdn Bhd)

6. Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai (Ketua Pengarang Star Publication)

7. Datuk Kamaruddin Zakaria

8. Tan Sri Nordin Kardi (Naib Canselor UUM)

9. Datuk Prof Dr Ishak Tambi Kechik (Bekas Naib Canselor USM)

10. Anis Yusal Yusoff (Fellow Utama KITA,UKM)

11. Tan Sri Robert Phang Miow Sin (Exco, Yayasan Pencegahan Jenayah Malaysia)



Panel Penilaian Operasi

1. Tan Sri Dr Hadenan Abdul Jalil (Pengerusi Takaful M''sia Berhad)

2. Datuk Cecil Abraham (Konsultan di Zul Rafique & Partners)

3. Nik Mohd Hasyudeen Yusoff (Presiden Malaysian Institute of Accountants)

4. Walter Sandosam (Presiden The Institute of Internal Auditors Malaysia)

5. Datin Aminah Pit Abdul Raman (Amanah Raya Berhad)

6. Datuk Md Hamzah Md Kassim (CEO IA Group)

7. Prof Dr Syed Noh Syed Ahmad (UiTM)



Jawatankuasa Aduan

1. Datuk Mohd Nor Abdullah (Bekas Hakim Mahkamah Rayuan)

2. Datuk Muhammad Mohd Noor (Bekas Timbalan Ketua Setiausaha Kanan, Jabatan Perdana Menteri)

3. Datuk Wan Abdul Wahab Abdullah (Bekas Ketua Pengarah Biro Pengaduan Awam)

4. Chooi Mun Sau (Peguam bela & Peguam cara)

5. Ravindran V.Muthu (Peguam bela & Peguam cara)



Jawatankuasa Khas Mengenai Rasuah

1. Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad (Anggota Parlimen Kangar)

2. Datuk Razali Ibrahim (Anggota Parlimen Muar)

3. Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan (Anggota Parlimen Kota Belud)

4. Dr Tan Seng Giaw (Anggota Parlimen Kepong)

5. Salahuddin Ayub (Anggota Parlimen Kubang Kerian)

6. Senator Zamri Yusuf (Kedah)

7. Senator Datuk Armani Mahirudin (Sabah)



- Bernama

Pesakit kronik perlu simpati , perhatian dan belaian kasih : Dr Ednin Hamzah

Damba belaian: Pesakit kronik perlukan simpati penjagaan penuh sayang anggota masyarakat bagi meneruskan saki-baki kehidupan

BELAIAN, perhatian dan penjagaan. Inilah perkara asas diperlukan pesakit kronik, tetapi malangnya sukar diperoleh akibat sikap anggota keluarga mahu pun petugas yang merawatnya.

Ibarat pepatah berat mata memandang, berat lagi bahu yang memikul, sukar sebenarnya menyelami isi hati pesakit ini yang diselubungi keresahan selepas mengetahui penyakit dialami serta pelbagai proses rawatan susulan. Lebih sukar, bagaimana menempuh hari mendatang serta penerimaan anggota keluarga sendiri dan masyarakat sekeliling.

"Pelbagai persoalan yang bermain dalam kotak fikiran mereka sebenarnya. Malangnya, ramai yang salah tanggapan terhadap pesakit ini yang menganggap usaha memberi ubat serta rawatan saja sudah memadai.

"Tidak ramai yang mengendahkan aspek yang tidak kurang pentingnya iaitu soal hati dan perasaan mereka. Pada peringkat ini, aspek simpati, belaian, perhatian dan penjagaan daripada orang tersayang serta petugas kesihatan boleh memberi kekuatan kepada mereka berdepan hari-hari mendatang," kata Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Hospis, Dr Ednin Hamzah.

Katanya, pesakit yang dirujuk kepada Hospis Malaysia lazimnya berada dalam keadaan yang terlalu tenat dan tiada harapan sembuh. Lebih sedih lagi, ada anggota keluarga yang tidak tahu apa perlu dilakukan.Berita Harian

JANGAN JADIKAN RAKAN DALAM PARTI SEBAGAI ANCAMAN: MOHAMAD HASAN

SEREMBAN: Ahli Majlis Tertinggi Umno, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, hari ini menasihatkan anggota parti supaya jangan menjadikan rakan dalam parti sebagai ancaman dan musuh dalam berkempen untuk pemilihan parti Mac ini.

Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan, berkata, pemilihan parti diadakan bertujuan untuk memilih pemimpin terbaik daripada yang terbaik untuk memastikan Umno tidak ketandusan pemimpin.

"Dalam pertandingan (pemilihan pucuk pimpinan), yang pentingnya parti jangan berpecah-belah. Selepas pertandingan, parti mesti bertaup semula (bersatu) kerana pertandingan ialah untuk memilih pemimpin," katanya selepas melancarkan program kempen 'Cintai Sungai Kita' peringkat negeri di Mambau di sini, hari ini.

Pada pemilihan Umno dari 24 hingga 28 Mac ini, Mohamad akan bertanding jawatan MT.Berita Harian

RMT: Saya amat bersetuju dengan saranan yang diberikan oleh MB Negeri Sembilan ini demi perpaduan bangsa. Umno lah satu-satu parti Melayu yang terkuat di Malaysia pada hari ini yang mampu mempertahankan agama dan bangsa. Di harap mereka-mereka yang bertanding termasuk penyokong-penyokong tidak bertindak "overboard". Ini adalah pertandingan antara rakan-rakan dalam sebuah parti. Pemimpin-pemimpin ini akan terus berada dalam parti walauapapun keputusan pemilihan nanti. Jadi diharap semua nya dan juga penyokong mereka bertindak sebagai "gentleman" dalam tindak tanduk mereka. Kita tidak mahu berulang seperti tahun 1981 dan 1984 semasa pertandingan jawatan Timbalan Presiden antara Musa Hitam dengan Tengku Razaleigh. Juga bila Mahathir di tentang oleh Tengku Razaleigh/Musa Hitam pada tahun 1987. Parti menjadi lemah bila adanya puak-puak dalam Umno. Diharap ahli Umno sekarang lebih matang politik mereka dan semua pemimpin akan bertaut semula selepas 23 Mac nanti. Sama-sama lah kita berdoa.

Prove the legality of the suspension order, says Zambry

PANGKOR: Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir has challenged State Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar to prove that his suspension order is legal.

“He (Sivakumar) should check whether it had been right for him to do that,” Dr Zambry told reporters after attending a programme with fishermen, livestock breeders and farmers yesterday.

The Mentri Besar accused Sivakumar, who heads the state’s Rights and Privileges Committee, of misusing his powers and acting beyond his jurisdiction.

On Sivakumar’s statement that he had failed to give any explanation to the inquiry by the committee, Dr Zambry replied: “That is a total lie.”

Asked if he would lodge a police report as advised by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Dr Zambry replied they would definitely act according to the rule of law, not according to whims and fancies.

On Sivakumar saying Dr Zambry and his exco members would be removed if they attended the next assembly sitting, the Mentri Besar again reiterated they would act according to the rule of law.

To another question whether he would move a motion during the assembly sitting, he said: “Do not anticipate anything right now.

“My main concern now is to work for the people as the Mentri Besar.”

Earlier, Dr Zambry told reporters at the state secretariat in Ipoh that the latest twist was all a game by Pakatan Rakyat, adding the necessary action would be taken against Sivakumar.

He stressed he had attended the two-day inquiry out of respect to the Speaker, and urged the people not to worry as the Government remained stable and intact.

Meanwhile, attempts to contact state legal adviser Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid were futile.The Star

RMT: There are rules and orders of the State Assembly to be followed. But logically these rules cannot be used by the Speaker (Sivakumar) to question the powers of the Sultan of Perak in appointing Zambry as MB after his majesty was convinced that BN has the majority of support in the Perak State Assembly. By his decision Sivakumar is challenging the powers of the Sultan to appoint MB and hence is unconstitutional.

Ibrahim Hussein: Kampung boy who painted to international fame

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 -- "To me, painting is like praying. When I paint, I am dealing with my heart, my work and God."

These words of Malaysia's legendary painter Datuk Ibrahim Hussein are found in the web page of the Ibrahim Hussein Musuem and Cultural Foundation.

Better known as Ib, -- the man who was once nearly jailed for his art work -- began his love for arts at a young age.

He pursued his studies at the Nanyang Academy of Arts in Singapore in 1956. Three years later, he continued his studies at London's Byam Shaw School of Drawing and Painting for four years before pursuing a three-year stint at London's Royal Academy School.

Born to a poor family at Sungai Limau in Yan, Kedah, 72 years ago, Ibrahim worked hard to achieve his dream to become a professional artist, especially in London, where he had to work as postman, movie extra and whatever job that he could lay his hands on -- just to stay afloat.

"In fact, I did everything except wash dishes to survive! It was a really, really hard time...a time that I will never forget," he said in an interview in 2002.

While studying in London, he was given a travelling scholarship, 'Award of Merit' which enabled him to travel to France and Italy. In 1964, he won the Griffin Prize.

Among his myriad of international accolades included the Japan Foundation Award (1988), Order of Andres Bello from the Venezuelan Government (1993), Hugo Boss Hall of Distinction (1994) and Chile's highest award for a foreigner, the Comendador of the 'Order de Benardo O'Higgins' (1996) and World Economic Forum's Crystal Award (1997).

In 2007, Ibrahim was awarded the 'Tokoh Melayu Terbilang' award in conjunction with Umno 61st anniversary.

When he was a much younger man, he had indeed, taken the international world of painting by storm.

In 1963, he did his first one-man exhibition at the John Whibley Gallery in London. He followed it up, two years later, at the Gallerie Internationale, New York and from there to Kuwait (1977), Germany (1983) Japan (1989), Chile (1991) and Switzerland (1994).

Internationally renowned, Ibrahim's works were very much influenced by his surroundings and environment, and since opening up the Ibrahim Hussein Museum and Cultural Foundation in Langkawi, he began working in timber and rock "as these are my immediate natural surroundings".

His main medium is 'printage' which he created by mixing printing and collage.

Ibrahim, who died today of heart failure, is survived by widow Sim Hussein and daughter Alia.

Nevertheless, the legendary painter's brilliant works and masterpieces will live on.

Legends, they say, do not die. They just fade away.

-- BERNAMA

The late Ibrahim Hussein is a legend and had made his mark on the Malaysian and International Art World . Please join me to recite the Al Fatihah prayers to him. May Allah put his soul among those that He bless. Amin

Pas mahu Elizabeth dikenakan tindakan

SHAH ALAM 18 Feb. - Pas meminta supaya pucuk pimpinan tertinggi Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) mengambil tindakan terhadap Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Bukit Lanjan, Elizabeth Wong berhubung penyebaran gambar bogelnya menerusi Internet.

Menurut kenyataan Sekretariat Media, Badan Perhubungan Pas Selangor di sini semalam, tindakan ke atas ADUN berkenaan perlu dilakukan bagi menjaga integriti dan nama baik pakatan pembangkang dan kerajaan negeri itu.

Kenyataan itu menegaskan, Pas menganggap seorang pemimpin perlu memiliki akhlak serta keperibadian yang baik supaya ia dapat dicontohi dan menjadi ikutan oleh rakyat.

Kenyataan itu turut menyeru semua ADUN dan ahli Parlimen negeri itu agar dapat menjaga akhlak dan tingkah laku mereka daripada krisis moral yang menjejaskan kestabilan kerajaan campuran PKR, DAP dan Pas.UTUSAN

Komen saya: Adakah PAS mengambil ketetapan tersebut sebagai taktik tidak mahu dibebani oleh isu contoversi gambar bogel Elizabeth Wong dalam menghadapi PRK Bukit Gantang. Apa pula reaksi PKR ? Sanggup kah Eli dikorbankan demi kepentingan PAS ? Sama-samalah kita tunggu dan lihat.

Offer of resignation a moral act, says Husam

KOTA BAHARU, Feb 17 -- PAS believes that the offer by Elizabeth Wong to resign from her post as Selangor State Executive Councillor and vacating the Bukit Lanjan State Assembly seat following the posting of her nude photograph on the internet as an act of a highly principled person.

PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa said it was also a moral act by Wong after her integrity was tainted by the posting of the photograph."Pakatan Rakyat has its own moral standard which must be adhered to and I consider the move by the Bukit Lanjan assemblywoman as a principled and moral act," he told reporters at his office, here today.

It was reported that Wong, 37, who is the chairman of the Selangor State Committee on Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment, would discuss her resignation with Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.Commenting on the issue, Husam said PAS sympathised with Wong and described the individual who had posted her photograph on the internet as someone who was immoral.Asked whether the issue would affect PAS and the coalition between the party, DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Husam said it would have no effect at all on the coalition as what transpired was something unexpected.He said the efforts by certain elements to discredit the coalition was also something positive as it enabled the coalition to correct whatever weaknesses they had.-- BERNAMA

My comment: It is significant that Husam used the words 'principled and moral act' to describe Elizabeth Wong's offer to resign as Selangor Exco and Bukit Lanjan state assemblyman.

Gambar "bogel" Exco Selangor di sebar, mangsa bekas kekasih ?

MB: PKR dan Exco Negeri bincang Rabu ini


Oleh G. MANIMARAN dan ZANARIAH ABD. MUTALIB


[DIKEMAS KINI, 2 PETANG] PETALING JAYA: Kerajaan negeri Selangor pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat pula dilanda masalah dengan tersebarnya gambar berkeadaan "bogel" Elizabeth Wong, salah seorang exco negeri itu.


Malam tadi, Wong yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri kerusi Bukit Lanjan telah membuat laporan di Balai Polis Damansara berhubung gambar-gambar "bogelnya" yang kini disebarkan menerusi internet dan MMS.


Maklumat-maklumat awal menunjukkan gambar-gambar beliau berada dalam keadaan "berbogel" - ketika sedang tidur di atas sofa, diambil tanpa pengetahuannya.


Difahamkan gambar itu diambil menggunakan telefon bimbit sebelum pilihan raya umum ke-12, 8 Mac lalu.



KOMEN MB SELANGOR


Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim berkata, pihaknya akan membincangkan isu itu di peringkat parti dan mesyuarat exco negeri, Rabu ini.


Khalid berkata, adalah penting untuk mendengar penjelasan daripada Wong berhubung isu tersebut dan membiarkan siasatan dijalankan terhadap laporan polis yang telah dibuat Wong semalam.


"Kita akan adakan perbincangan mengenainya dan saya rasa, adalah penting memberi mangsa (Wong) ruang untuk memberi penjelasan kepada kita./mstar.online

Komen
Ini macam kes Chua Soi Lek sahaja. Walaupun Cik Elizabeth Wong belum berkahwin gambar-gambar bogel ini telah menjejaskan pandangan masyarakat kepada nya. Ia bukan seorang filem star. Ia adalah wakil rakyat yang berinteraksi dengan rakyat. Apa akan jadi pada imeg beliau dan imeg Pakatan Rakyat bila gambar-gambar bogel beliau ini tersebar luas ?

Bagaimana sebagai seorang ahli Exco beliau akan mengadap Sultan Selangor pada majlis-majlis resmi negeri ?

Tidak saya mengatakan semua ahli politik semuanya bersih. Tapi bila ada gambar bogel begini jalan keluar Cik Wong hendaklah meletakkan jawatannya sebagai Exco dan kerusi DUNnya.

Sekiranya beliau tidak berbuat begitu krediliti kerajaan PR Selangor akan terjejas.

Nude pix scandal hits Selangor Pakatan Rakyat woman Exco member

PETALING JAYA: Outspoken Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Elizabeth Wong lodged a police report at the Damansara police station here Sunday night over nude pictures of her that have been circulating via MMS.

Early unconfirmed reports say that the pictures were taken without her consent.

OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed confirmed a report was lodged and that police were investigating.

The pictures are believed to have been taken using a handphone, possibly before the general election last March.

On Monday morning, Wong’s staff had locked the doors to her office at the state assembly building in Shah Alam.The Star

Comment:

Under the circumstances Elizabeth Wong has no other alternative but to resign. This is line with the high moral standard set by her leader Anwar Ibbrahim and the Pakatan Rakyat. Failure to do so will definitely affect not only the credibility of the PR government in Selangor but also Pakatan Rakyat itself. So the wise thing for her to do is to take responsibility for her conduct.

Nik Aziz sifatkan Karpal kini bersendirian dalam tindakannya

KOTA BHARU 15 Feb. — Mursyidul Am Pas, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat menyifatkan Karpal Singh kini bersendirian dalam tindakannya untuk menyaman Sultan Perak Sultan Azlan Shah.

“Tidak boleh diambil kira. Dia orang tua, malah di kalangan orang muda dalam DAP sendiri tidak pedulikan dia,” katanya kepada Bernama ketika ditemui di rumahnya di Pulau Melaka di sini, malam tadi.

Semua kenyataan Karpal Singh adalah pandangan peribadinya dan disebabkan itu segala tindak tanduk Pengerusi DAP itu dalam isu berkaitan tidak menjejaskan hubungan parti-parti dalam Pakatan Rakyat (PR), termasuk Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) dan Pas sendiri.

Komen

Apa akan jadi pada dua anak Karpal yang masih aktif dalam DAP. Adakah mereka akan keluar parti kerana bapa mereka diketepikan ?

Pemuda UMNO Selangor/NGO serah memo kepada Sultan

SHAH ALAM 15 Feb. — Lebih 500 anggota Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO Selangor dan lapan Pertubuhan Bukan Kerajaan (NGO) Melayu hari ini menyerahkan memorandum sokongan padu dan taat setia terhadap Sultan Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah dan institusi raja Melayu.

Memorandum tersebut diserahkan oleh Presiden Kesatuan Pelajar-Pelajar Melayu Selangor, Datuk Mat Yasir Ikhsan kepada Pegawai Pengiring Sultan Selangor, Komander Ahmad Ramli Kardi.

Ia antara lain menyokong sistem raja berperlembagaan yang diamalkan sejak turun temurun; menyatakan ikrar sumpah setia kepada Sultan Selangor; serta mendukung dan mempertahankan prinsip Rukun Negara iaitu ’Kesetiaan Kepada Raja dan Negara’. - Bernama

Tindakan ini tentunya mendapat sokongan seluruh rakyat Selangor dan Malaysia yang rasional yang berpegang teguh kepada konsep Raja Berpelembagaan. Daulat Tuanku!!

Speaker's summons strange , says Zambry

IPOH, Feb 15 (Bernama) -- Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir has described as strange the summons by State Legislative Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar on him and six executive councillors to appear before the assembly's Rights and Privileges Committee on Wednesday.

Normally, the committee would only act on people's representatives who did something wrong during the assembly sitting, he said today.

Nevertheless, he said, he would seek legal advice whether he had to appear before the committee.

Yesterday, Sivakumar said seven Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblyman -- Zambry (Pangkor), Hamidah Osman (Sungai Rapat), Datuk Ramly Zahari (Manong), Dr Mah Hang Soon (Chenderiang), Datuk Saarani Mohamad (Kota Tampan), Mohd Zahir Abdul Khalid (Kamunting) and Zainol Fadzi Paharudin (Sungai Manik) -- would be referred to the committee for contempt of the assembly following a complaint by Canning assemblyman Wong Kah Woh.

Sivakumar declined to reveal the contents of Wong's complaint but it was believed that it had something to do with Zambry's appointment as Menteri Besar by Sultan Azlan Shah and the swearing-in of the six executive councillors following the recent collapse of the Pakatan Rakyat government.

This is what happens when Pakatan Rakyat is desperate. It will do anything.

BNM the best promoter of Islamic Finance

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 --- Bank Negara Malaysia has won the Islamic Finance news Award for being the Best Central Bank in Promoting Islamic Finance in 2008.

Through a poll conducted by the Islamic Finance news publication in December last year, CIMB Islamic Bank also took the honour as Malaysia's Best Islamic Bank, while its chief executive officer, Badlisyah Abdul Ghani won the Best Individual Islamic Banker award.

"The 2008 poll received a record 2,491 votes, a 66 percent increase from 2007. This is not including the 979 votes that we eliminated following due diligence process," the managing director and publisher of Islamic Finance news, Andrew Morgan said.

He said a further 2,627 voters were cast for the Best Individual Islamic Banker category, making a total of 5,118 votes.

On the Deals of the Year Awards, he said this year also saw a record with a total of 81 deals being submitted.

Morgan said a total of 97 financial institutions were involved in these 27 deals, a jump of 14 percent from the previous year.

Amongst the winners for the Deals of the Year awards were AirAsia Bhd which took the award for Cross Border Deal and Ijarah Deal of the Year, Projek Lintasan Shah Alam (Malaysia Deal of the Year) and WCT Engineering (Most Innovative Deal of the Year).

-- BERNAMA

Karpal: Anwar should step down as leader of PR, DAP need to review membership in PR

DAP national chairman Karpal Singh ticks off DAP leaders for falling for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s theatrics on party-hopping.

GEORGE TOWN: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should step down as leader of Pakatan Rakyat for causing the opposition coalition to lose control of Perak, said DAP national chairman Karpal Singh.

Karpal did not mince words in blaming Anwar and even party supremo Lim Kit Siang and secretary-general Lim Guan Eng for causing the fall of the Pakatan state government because of their inconsistent stand on party-hopping.

In a fiery press conference, Karpal lambasted the DAP leaders for falling for Anwar's theatrics on party-hopping.

He said the inconsistent stand on party-hopping had caused disarray in Pakatan Rakyat.

The veteran politician said it was time DAP seriously reconsidered its membership in Pakatan Rakyat to show the party did not condone dishonesty of any kind, in particular treachery to the people through crossovers.
Calling on Anwar to repent, Karpal said the former deputy prime minister had created enough trouble for the country.

"I wonder if he is fit to be the leader of Pakatan Rakyat. In fact, I think Pakatan Rakyat requires another leader, a good leader.

"Not someone who believes in immorality, even accepting crossovers," he said at the press conference at his law firm here yesterday.

Karpal said he regretted that some members of Pakatan Rakyat and even from DAP had fallen to the temptation of supporting crossovers.

"Some of them have not said a word all this while and I regret that I did not get support from my own party leaders (on the crossover issue).

"Kit Siang and Guan Eng should support me instead of making statements supporting Anwar Ibrahim.

"I am the chairman of DAP and let me make it clear to the party leaders that I have the support of the rank and file."

Karpal then went on to issue a warning to his party leaders not to push him too far.

"I have been patient all this while. Don't let matters come to a head in the interests of Pakatan Rakyat and also DAP.

"In fact I had even proposed that DAP come out of Pakatan Rakyat on the issue of hudud but no one supported me, neither Kit Siang nor Guan Eng.

"It is a shame and they should also bertaubat (repent)."

Asked if he would call for an emergency party meeting to discuss DAP's future in the alliance, Karpal said he was already contemplating that.

"I have been silent for too long. I cannot fight the cause of DAP alone although I have been trying.

"What I am saying and am defending is nothing but the truth."

Karpal also slammed those who accused him of committing treason over his intention to file a suit against the Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah on the appointment of a new menteri besar for Perak.

"Those who have lodged reports against me are obviously ignorant of the law.

"I would like to make it clear to everyone that they had better not play with me.

"I have taken enough... if you want trouble then you have come to the right place," he said, adding he would not be cowed by anyone on the issue.

Karpal reiterated that he had done nothing unlawful or illegal in relation to the Sultan of Perak.

"I am just stating that the sultan is also subject to the due process of the law and he can be sued in his official capacity for dismissing the Pakatan Rakyat state government.

"It is my view that the sultan has acted ultra vires to the provisions of Article 16(6) of the constitution of Perak."

Zambry promises to return calm and harmony to Perak

IPOH, Feb 5 -- Perak Menteri Besar designate Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir has promised to return calm and harmony to the state.

Zambry, who thanked the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, for consenting the appointment and having the confidence in him to hold the post, regarded the new responsibility as a trust to be shouldered with good leadership.

"I will uphold the trust to the best of my ability. I also thank Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also the Perak Umno liaison chief, and my colleagues in Barisan Nasional (BN) for their support," he told reporters here on Thursday night.

Zambry, who is the Pangkor assemblyman, hoped his appointment as Menteri Besar would not become an issue or create a difficult situation in Perak.

Earlier in Kuala Lumpur, the prime minister announced that the Sultan of Perak had consented the appointment of Zambry as Perak's next Menteri Besar.

Abdullah also said that Zambry would be sworn in as the 11th Menteri Besar at Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar at 3.30pm on Friday.

Zambry's appointment was made after Sultan Azlan Shah ordered that Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and his state executive councillors to resign from their posts with immediate effect after the Sultan met with all the 28 BN state assemblymen and three Independent assemblymen who had declared their support for BN.

The Sultan was convinced that Mohammad Nizar had ceased to receive the support of the majority of the Perak state assemblymen.Bernama

Dato Dr Zambry is Perak's new MB

PETALING JAYA, Feb 5 -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today announced that Pangkor assemblyman Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir is the new Perak Menteri Besar. Bernama

Congratulations to Dr Zambry on your appointment as MB of Perak. With a consensus and good governance IsyaAllah Barisan Nasional will administer the state for a long time to come.

Party hopping is now poison to PR's ambition

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 -- If previously Pakatan Rakyat (PR) regarded party-hopping as an antidote to their struggle, it has now turned into poison which triggered political crisis in Perak, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said.

He said that PR was banking on defections to achieve its ambition of toppling the BN government but the very same method was now causing its downfall in Perak.

"This prove to be an enormous blow to PR that left the party dumbfounded," he told reporters after launching the Malaysia-Brunei photography exhibition at the KL Sentral station here.

It is worth remembering that it was the PR who started to entice BN MPs to join them. It also led to them chasing BN MPs to Taiwan when these MPs were on study tours. It was all part of a game to put BN on the defensive.

But now things does not happen as planned. Now PR cannot take the moral high ground and said that BN wants to take Perak by hook or crook. Do they forget about Anwar's dream to take over the federal government by 16 Sept 2008 by getting BN MPs to cross over.

If PR is in the same position in Perak they will do the same. Politics is about governing and power.

BN ready to form new government in Perak, says PM

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 4 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional (BN) is ready to form a new government in Perak following four assemblymen in the state quitting their parties to support the BN, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"We wish extend our thanks if they have taken the decision to state their support for the BN, the BN accepts and we say thank you," he told press conference here Wednesday.

It would be interesting to know the reactions of Dato Seri Anwar on the fall of PR government in Perak Darul Ridzuan. This is because Anwar was the one who had boasted that he has the number of MPs to take over the federal government by 16th September last year (2008). 16 Sept came and went without anything happening. I suppose it must be very painful for him and PR to lose governing a major state like Perak. It seems that Anwar's psy war has boomeranged back to him.

It would be a real body blow to Anwar and PR especially with their ambition of taking over Sarawak in the coming state elections. BN on the other hand will get a psychological booast after their defeats at Permatang Pauh and Kuala Trengganu.

BN has numbers to form government in Perak

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 4 Barisan Nasional (BN) has obtained a simple majority to take over the Perak state government following the move by four assemblymen from Pakatan Rakyat to leave their parties and support the BN, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Wednesday.

The four were Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang) and Mohd Osman Jailu (Changkat Jering), both of whom are from Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Hee Yit Foong (Jelapang) of the DAP and Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim (Bota), who recently joined PKR but returned to Umno today, the Deputy Prime Minister said.

"They have given me the mandate to nominate the menteri besar and an undertaking to support the menteri besar nominated by the BN," Najib, who is also the Perak BN chairman, told a news conference.

"In line with this development, I will seek an audience with the Sultan of Perak to officially inform him that the Perak Barisan Nasional has the support needed to form a new government in Perak," Najib said.Bernama


It is the wish of everybody that the new MB and his BN government will introduce policies and programmes that are acceptable to the majority of the rakyat in Perak. Otherwise there will be instability as what had happen during the one year tenure of PR government.

It's futile to challenge EC's decision, say lawyers

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 (Bernama) -- It would be futile to challenge the Election Commission's (EC) decision to maintain Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu as state assemblymen for Behrang and Changkat Jering respectively, in the court of law, DAP chairman Karpal Singh said today.

Karpal, who is also a senior lawyer, said it "would be a waste of effort and time" to challenge the EC's decision, announced today, as it was bound by the Federal Court's ruling in 1982 in a similar case.

In 1982, the Federal Court in the case of Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) member Datuk Ong Kee Hui versus the then party chief Sinyium anak Mutit ruled that the arrangement of submitting an undated resignation letter to the Speaker was contrary to public policy and therefore void.

"The EC's decision can be challenged and nobody can stop this matter to be brought up to the courts, but they will face an uphill task due to the precedent in 1982 by the Federal Court.

"In this case, I am sure that the EC was advised by the Attorney-General's office and other related agencies. It is a straightforward decision on the part of the EC, which is bound by the Federal Court's ruling," he told Bernama when contacted here.

Karpal's view, however, contradicts the stand of party veteran leader Lim Kit Siang, who in a statement today, said the EC had acted unconstitutionally outside its jurisdiction in refusing to recognise the decision of the Perak Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar on the vacancy of the Changkat Jering and Behrang state seats and to hold by-elections.

The EC's constitutional duty, he said, was to act on the Perak Speaker's official notification on the vacancy of the two state assembly seats and to call for by-elections to be held in the next 60 days.

"It is no business of the EC to act and usurp the jurisdiction of the courts to dispute the Speaker's decision, as any such legal challenge should come from Jamaluddin and Mohd Osman if they want to challenge the legality of their resignations from their respective state seats," Lim said.

Earlier today, EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof said the decision was made because both Jamaluddin and Mohd Osman had written a letter to the Perak Assembly Speaker to state that their resignations were invalid.

Meanwhile, another senior lawyer, Naran Singh, when contacted, said the Speaker should have verified the two letters since they were signed by elected representatives.

"The Speaker should have asked the two assemblymen if they had resigned from the party they represent or they had quit as state assemblymen. They too have a right to be heard," he added.

Naran said a by-election could not be called just based on a letter, sent by a third party, without any verification.

He also agreed with Karpal that the EC had the power to make a decision on the matter based on the 1982 Federal Court decision.

Another senior lawyer, Akbardin Abdul Kader, said the EC made the right decision and the issue of calling for fresh elections for the two state assembly seats did not arise as both the assemblymen had denied their resignation.

"Authenticity of the letters are also questionable, unless the EC wants to probe further by calling witnesses to prove if the letters are genuine.

"But this too may be a problem because the two state assemblymen are saying that they have not resigned. Anyway, it is not their jurisdiction to probe the matter," he added.