EZAM'S DECISION REFUSES TUN'S ALLEGATIONS

Yesterday, I got an SMS from by friend telling me the confirmation of the rumours over Ezam's intention to rejoin UMNO. I'm very shocked but not too sad with his decision as well as Tun Dr. Mahathir's action previously because he has his own view and opinion on how to implement his agenda as a politician and pro-reform struggler.

In fact, the decision actually was refusing all the allegations which has been made by Tun Dr. Mahathir to the government and the present Prime Minister, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi over the corruption issues.

However the question is why he doesn't choose PAS or orther parties as a platform to make a change? Why he still make a same choice? Was he forgot for what had happened to him on April 2001 when he and his friends were jailed under the Internal Security Act (ISA)? Actually, this question is quite difficult to answer. I don't know how can he survives alone by himself to change the party and the government comprehensively?

However, this is his stand and way to reform the government. To me, we have to accept and respect it. Whatever decision has been made, Ezam is still Ezam!!! and I believe he can afford to do something for the sake of country.

GOOD LUCK EZAM!!!

SHAHRIR SAMAD : PREPARE FOR ANOTHER GANERAL ELECTION

TUN DR. MAHATHIR QUITS UMNO

Former UMNO President, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad today announced that he was quitting the party with immediate effect and urged other members to emulate him. He told the audience after giving a talk at a forum entitled Malays’ future after the 12th general election at the Star City Hotel in Alor Star.

He exlpained that he will only rejoin the party after the current leadership particularly the present UMNO President, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi steps down from his post. However, he advised those who do quit not to join any opposition party, but still in a position with him to pressure the leadership.

To me, this is the best way to show his dissatisfaction to the leadership. However,there are some question that he has to answer first before blaming others. How about his leadership? Has he done very well to develop the country and againt the corruption? How about his action to Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim on September 1998? How about the royal commission of inquiry into the VK Lingam tape? Who is the Prime Minister on that time?

Meanwhile, according to the political analys , his action to quit the party is showing that the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, which Umno is the largest component party, will be changed as soon as possible.

However, we have to wait first in order to know how true the speculation is.

This is the following of his political cereer

1946: Joined United Malays National Organisation (Umno).

1947: While a medical student, he wrote extensive anti-colonial commentaries in Malay newspapers under the pen-name "Che Det".

1957: Resigned from government service as a doctor. Starts private practice.

1964: Entered active politics as Kota Star Selatan MP.

1965-1969: Member, Umno Supreme Council.

Sept 1969: Expelled from Umno for disciplinary reasons. Re-admitted on March 7, 1972.

June 1972: Elected a member of the Umno Supreme Council with the highest number of votes. Lost in the election for an Umno Vice-President post.

Dec 1972: Appointed a Senator by the Kedah State Legislative Assembly.

1974-2004: MP for Kubang Pasu, Kedah.

Sept 1974: Education Minister.

June 1975: Umno Vice-President.

March 1976: Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Education.

1977: Acting Chairman, Umno Liaison Committee, Malacca.

Jan 1978: Deputy Prime Minister & Trade and Industry Minister.

May 1978: Chairman, Perak Umno Liaison Committee.

Sept 1978: Umno Deputy President.

June 1981: Barisan Nasional Chairman.

June 1981: Umno President.

July 16 1981: Fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Minister of Defence (until 1986) and Minister of Home Affairs (until 1999).

July 17 1987: Umno Political Bureau Chairman.

Feb 16 1988: Pro-tem President of Umno Baru. Umno was declared an illegal society on Feb 4, 1988.

Dec 1993: Kelantan Umno Chairman. Chairman, Politics and Constitution Committees of the Supreme Council.

Sept 1998-Jan 1999: Finance Minister. June 2001 - Finance Minister.

June 22 2002: Announced his intention to resign from all political and government posts at the final day of the 56th Umno assembly. Appeals from Umno Supreme Council members.

Oct 31 2003: Retired as PM and Umno president after 22 years.

Sept 2006: Fails in bid to be an Umno delegate for the Umno general assembly coming in ninth out of 15 contestants in the Kubang Pasu division.

May 19 2008: Quits Umno

GOVERNMENT IN WAITING: IS IT TRUE?

Recently, we have seen on the maintreem media such as televison, newspaper, megazine and so on about the controversy statements made by Sabah Barisan Nasional politicians in Parliament to show their dissatisfaction regarding Federal Government’s action brush them aside.

Hence, they became the focus of attention previously as they continued to claim that the Federal Government is not giving enough attention to the state. Their statements come in light of speculation that some of their numbers are being courted by Pakatan Rakyat.

One of them is Umno’s Kalabakan MP Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh who called on the Prime Minister to reshuffle the Cabinet by the end of the year to include Sabah MPs in key ministerial posts. He said there would be serious implications in the next general election if nothing was done. He added the economic development between Peninsular and Sabah is seems like ‘earth and sky’ and still have some people there are not gaining basic infrastructure such as water and electricity. So, basic of this situation, we don’t mind if there are some effort and intention made by them to cross over to the Pakatan Rakyat.

Meanwhile, according to the PBS’ Batu Sapi MP Datuk Edmund Chong, he admitted that he and several others had been approached by PKR and that he felt as if he was in a pressure cooker. However, in my opinion, we haven’t to look this matter in one side only and ignoring the others. To me, if we want to make the ‘transparent judgment’ particularly regarding cross over issue, we need to get feedbacks from the other side such as BN Backbencher’s Club Deputy Chairman and Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Moktar Radin and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman who had expressed earlier that the MPs were not being disloyal to Barisan Nasional but were just raising the sentiments of the people.

So, how about Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) agenda? Is he claim that the new government will be form before Hari Malaysia true and acheivable? And what we are going to do if this speculatin is really happen and Anwar or his wife Datin Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will become the new Prime Minister?

No matter what the dicison have been made by them to step down the present Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi by the vote of no confidence or by any ways as long they can afford to fullfil their manifesto and promises to decrease the petrol’s price, eradicate the poverty and let the people get the similar rights regardless of life-background, race and religon.

SIDANG MEDIA DI LOBI PARLIMEN

MEMORANDUM GERAKAN MAHASISWA MANSUHKAN AUKU (GMMA) KEPADA AHLI PARLIMEN

Pada 8 Mei yang lalu, saya dan rakan-rakan berkesempatan menghadiri sidang media bersama wartawan untuk menyerahkan memorandum kepada anggota Parlimen daripada pelbagai parti politik bagi mendesak pemansuhan Akta Universiti & Kolej Universiti (AUKU) dan digantikan dengan Student's Act sepertimana yang telah digagaskan.

Gerakan Mahasiswa Mansuhkan AUKU (GMMA)dibentuk untuk memperjuangkan agenda mansuhkan Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universiti (AUKU). GMMA dianggotai oleh beberapa front gerakan mahasiswa iaitu Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM), Malaysia Youth and Students Democratic Movement(DEMA), Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam SeMalaysia (GAMIS), Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM), Kelab Rakan Islah Malaysia (KARISMA), Teras Keupayaan Melayu (TERAS), Barisan Bersatu Mahasiswa Negara (BBMN), Law Society IPTA dan Intervarcity Council (IVC).

GMMA melihat sejarah penggubalan AUKU disebabkan beberapa faktor, antaranya kerajaan ingin menyekat dan mengekang aktivisme mahasiswa. Kerajaan melihat gerakan mahasiswa perlu disekat dan dikekang supaya tidak memberi ancaman dan bahaya kepada kerajaan.

Peristiwa demonstrasi Anti Tunku oleh Persatuan Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya (PMUM) di Universiti Malaya pada 29 Ogos 1969 dan demonstrasi "Papan Tanda" pada 5 Oktober 1970 iaitu pertembungan PMUM dengan Persatuan Bahasa Melayu Universiti Malaya (PBMUM) telah membuka terlalu banyak kelemahan kerajaan khususnya dalam isu Bahasa Kebangsaan dan pendidikan. Kedua-dua demonstrasi ini dilihat memberi ancaman kepada kerajaan dan perlu ada satu undang-undang untuk menyekat kemaraan gerakan mahasiswa ini.

Setelah berakhirnya sesi sidang media dan dialog bersama beberapa anggota Parlimen, saya juga berkesempatan untuk melihat sendiri sesi perbahasan sidang Dewan Rakyat oleh ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat di ruang tetamu khas. Seterusnya, setelah tamat sesi perbahasan, saya juga sempat bergambar bersama ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat sebagai kenangan. Antaranya seperti YB Mahfuz Omar (Pokok Sena), YB Khairy Jamaluddin (Rembau), dan YB Roslan Shaharum (Bukit Gantang).

DISOAL SIASAT PEGAWAI POLIS DI IPD BRICKFIELDS

Semalam, saya dan saudara Mohd Hilman Bin Nordin yang juga merupakan Exco Kebajikan & Luar Kampus Majlis Perwakilan Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya (MPMUM) telah disoal siasat oleh beberapa orang pegawai polis dari bahagian Siasatan Jenayah dan Cawangan Khas Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.

Siasatan tersebut dijalankan bermula pada jam 8.00 malam dan berakhir kira-kira jam 11.00 malam. Menurut pegawai berkenaan, keterangan kami sangat diperlukan bagi membantu siasatan berhubung isu kebakaran Bangunan Peperiksaan (BP) dan Kompleks Perdana Siswa (KPS) baru-baru ini.

Ini merupakan pengalaman kedua saya disoal siasat pegawai polis dari IPD yang sama. Kali pertama adalah berhubung isu pilihanraya kampus yang lalu, dan pada kali ini pula adalah berhubung isu kebakaran BP dan KPS. Walaubagaimanapun setakat ini tidak ada apa-apa perkara yang tidak diingini berlaku dan proses siasatan semalam berjalan lancar.

MAJLIS MAKAN MALAM BERSAMA MB

Pada 4 Mei yang lalu, saya dan rakan-rakan berkesempatan untuk menghadiri Majlis Makan Malam bersama Y.A.B Menteri Besar Perak Darul Ridzuan, Datuk Seri Ir. Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin di Silveritage Galleria, Medan Gopeng, Ipoh, Perak.

Majlis gilang gemilang tersebut telah dianjurkan oleh kerajaan negeri Perak bertujuan untuk mengeratkan lagi hubungan antara pemimpin negeri dan rakyat keseluruhannya. Pada Majlis tersebut juga, setiap hadirin berpeluang dan berkesempatan untuk berkongsi pandangan dan mengutarakan permasalahan yang berlaku.

Pada pilihanraya umum yang lalu, beliau yang bertanding atas tiket PAS - Pakatan Rakyat (PR) memenangi kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri Pasir Panjang selepas menewaskan calon dari Barisan Nasional (BN) dengan majoriti 4,474 undi.

PERTEMUAN RASMI BERSAMA YB

Baru-baru ini saya berkesempatan bertemu Ahli Parlimen Bukit Gantang, Perak,Yang Berhormat Haji Roslan Shaharum di kediamannya di Ipoh pada 3 Mei yang lalu sebaik sahaja tiba dari Kuala Lumpur pada pukul 9 malam. Pertemuan ini turut dihadiri wakil daripada badan-badan bukan kerajaan (NGO), pertubuhan penduduk tempatan dan student fronts termasuk wakil pimpinan Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM), saudara Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz yang juga merupakan Exco Pendidikan dan Penyelidikan pertubuhan terbabit.

Pada pertemuan tersebut, beberapa perkara dan masalah turut dibincangkan. Antaranya mengenai agenda perpaduan Melayu dan Nasional, pendirian wakil rakyat PAS dan Pakatan Rakyat (PR) berhubung isu-isu berbangkit di Negara khususnya di negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan serta persediaan PR memerintah negara.

Berkenaan isu penurunan harga minyak, harga barang dan pemberian biasiswa secara percuma kepada semua pelajar khususnya di peringkat pengajian tinggi, menurut beliau bidang kuasa tersebut terletak di bawah kuasa kerajaan Persekutuan dan bukan kerajaan Negeri. Walaubagaimanapun menurut beliau lagi setiap apa yang telah dijanjikan oleh Pakatan Rakyat pada pilihanraya umum yang lalu akan tetap dilaksanakan sekiranya berjaya membentuk Kerajaan Persekutuan kelak.

Pada pilihanraya umum yang lalu, beliau mewakili PAS - Pakatan Rakyat memperoleh undi sebanyak 20,015 menewaskan calon daripada UMNO - Barisan Nasional, Datuk Seri Abdul Azim Zabidi yang memperoleh undi sebanyak 18,449. Hal ini memberikan kemenangan kepada beliau dengan majoriti 1,566 undi.

APABILA PERANAN BLOG MULA DIIKTIRAF

Saya tertarik mengenai laporan utusan online semalam berkenaan blog Tun Dr. Mahathir yang baru sahaja dibuat(sila rujuk www.chedet.com). Nampaknya peranan blog sudah mula diakui dan diiktiraf setelah sekian lama dipandang remeh oleh sesetengah pihak. Masakan tidak, kehilangan majoriti 2/3 kerusi parlimen kerajaan baru-baru ini juga berpunca daripada media alternatif seperti blog dan website.

Namun, untuk menjadi seorang blogger yang terkenal bukanlah merupakan suatu perkara yang mudah. Sedangkan YB Jeff Ooi pun terpaksa mengambil masa yang lama sebelum membolehkan bidang penulisan ini berjaya membawa beliau ke Dewan Rakyat sebagai Yang Berhormat Jelutong. Mungkin Tun dan beberapa Blogger politician pasca pilihanraya umum yang lalu perlu belajar terlebih dahulu dengan ADUN Seri Setia, YB Nik Nazmi atau MP Balik Pulau, YB Yusmadi Yusof sebelum mampu pergi lebih jauh dalam bidang penulisan ini.

Walaubagaimanapun, tahniah diucapkan kepada Tun kerana berjaya mempunyai blog beliau sendiri. Sekurang-kurangnya, membolehkan orang ramai untuk mendapatkan respon dan pandangan beliau mengenai sesuatu isu yang berlaku. Semoga peranan yang dimainkan oleh blog ini akan digunakan sebaiknya sebagai medium menyampaikan pandangan dan pendirian terhadapap sesuatu perkara.