Sabah MPs reject loyalty pledge

KOTA KINABALU: Many of the 24 Sabah Barisan Nasional MPs are rejecting a move to get them to sign a loyalty pledge to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

State Barisan Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Anifah Aman said the move proposed by Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal was an insult to the Sabah MPs. He added that the pledge should instead be signed by all Barisan MPs nationwide.

He said various Sabah MPs including himself had repeatedly voiced their loyalty to the Barisan leadership and pledged that they had no intention of crossing over to join the opposition.

“We did this during the Permatang Pauh campaign, on television and again in Kota Kinabalu. Is the frequency of denial equivalent to our loyalty?” said Anifah, the Kimanis MP and Kimanis Umno chief.

He said many Sabah Barisan backbenchers had called him asking about the pledge and some had said they felt that they were being treated like “cattle.”

Anifah questioned Shafie's real intentions for proposing the loyalty pledge and wondered whether it was aimed at scoring “political points” in his bid for the Umno vice-president's post in the party polls.

On Thursday, Shafie had said that Sabah and Sarawak MPs would be submitting a pledge declaring their loyalty to the Prime Minister by Friday or Saturday. He had said the MPs from both states would never quit the coalition despite the various rumours about them.

Kalabakan MP Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh said the loyalty pledge seemed to infer that Sabah MPs could not be trusted.

Saying he would not be signing any such pledge, Ghapur, the Kalabakan Umno chief, said the Sabah MPs had been vocal about issues affecting the state as they felt that these problems had to be resolved.

“But this should never be misconstrued as us being disloyal to the leadership,” he added.
Karambunai MP Datuk Eric Majimbun, the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) deputy president, said neither he nor fellow SAPP MP Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui of Tawau would be signing such a pledge.

“What is the point of such a pledge? This so-called pledge doesn't make sense,” he said.

By RUBEN SARIO, THE STAR

Kimma Youth chief, 850 members quit party

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (Kimma) National Youth chief Datuk Thajudeen Mohideen and 850 youth members quit the party following a disagreement with top party leaders who wanted to withdraw support for Barisan Nasional.

"We want to continue supporting Barisan," Thajudeen told reporters at a news conference here on Saturday.

He said the move was made after Kimma president Muhammed Ali Naina Mohd said the party should stop supporting Barisan and join Pakatan Rakyat.

Thajudeen claimed Muhammad Ali made the statement to 23 members of the Kimma supreme council at a two-hour meeting at the party headquarters here on Aug 2.

"On that night, 13 of the 23 supreme council members were adamant in not joining Pakatan," he said.

Thajudeen said a new political party would be formed soon for Malaysian Indian Muslims. -- Bernama

BARISAN NASIONAL - A FAST-SINKING SHIP

BARISAN NASIONAL - A FAST-SINKING SHIP
With the ‘conscience of Barisan Nasional’ Datuk Dr. Toh Kin Woon resigning from Gerakan, many Gerakan members with conscience are expected to follow his food-steps before September 16 - the dead-line set for the change of the present federal government with cross-over of at least 30 MP’s from the government bench.

That reminds me of the incident when I abstained from voting in the Penang State Assembly over DAP’s motion on the Penang Outer Ring Road Project and being described by certain media as ‘conscience of BN’, BN leaders criticised it by saying ‘as if BN has no conscience’!

Anyhow, Gerakan grassroots are now frustrated and furious over the party’s impotence to change the present government policies and to restrain UMNO’s excessivness in making racial remarks and advances. UMNO’s narrow appeals to the Malay community has been intensified after 308 in the cloak of preserving Malay hegemony or ‘ketuanan Melayu’.

But, with vested interests so entrenched in the present system, the top Gerakan leadership have to buy time and attempt to calm down their members by using the excuse that ’it is not time yet’ to leave the BN.

This sounds as if they would also agree for the party to leave BN eventually but not now. Well, these people are buying insurance in the event that BN, the sinking ship after 308 political Tsunami, is sinking further after the Permatang Pauh by-election.

BN appears to be incapable of taking discipline actions against its own components now. The Sabah’s SAPP openly reiterated its intention until this very day to move a vote of no confidence in Parliament upon the Prime Minister Pak Lah . But even after an official reply was made by SAPP to BN, no action was dared to be made by the latter.

Lately, Tan Lean Hoe, the Gerakan Wanita Chief and more importantly, a BN Deputy Minister of Information openly expressed the Gerakan grassroots’ feelings to leave BN, yet again the BN accepted her explanation.

BN components are fully aware that BN is not formulating government policies and, in fact, making decisions through genuine consultation. It is all UMNO’s hegemony which rendered people like Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting does not even like to return to the Cabinet, or, in fact, to continue to serve as the MCA President any longer, though he may choose to offer another version of his political docility and reluctance.

Some unrepentant BN leaders accused those who choose to defect to Pakatan Rakyat as immoral, as if only they possess morality of the highest order. But the rakyat would like to question these people, is it not immoral to serve a regime that is repressive, undemocratic, unfair and unjust. If taking side in the interests of the people is ‘immoral’, then must well let it be!

So much is the moral bankruptcy of the BN- a fast-sinking ship. If the passengers of this ship are not wise to make a decision by jumping or saving themselves in one way or another, then they could choose to remain on board and be prepared for the eventuality.

http://limboochang.com/?p=327

Lagi Pemimpin Parti Gerakan: Menyertai Kempen DSAI di Permatang Pauh

22 August 2008
Lagi Pemimpin Parti Gerakan: Menyertai Kempen DSAI di Permatang Pauh
oleh permatangpauh.com

PERMATANG PAUH, Yayasan Aman 22 OGOS - Seorang lagi pemimpin Parti Gerakan Rakyat (Gerakan-BN), Dr. Tan Kee Kwang merupakan Pengerusi Gerakan Wilayah Persekutuan kini menyertai kempen pilihanraya menyokong perjuangan DSAI terhadap ekonomi negera.

Beliau yang kini berada di Pulau Pinang secara terbuka menyifatkan DSAI sepatutnya meneraju negara dan meminta rakyat memberikan sokongan padu kepada Anwar.

Berikutan itu beliau telah digantung keahliannya, bersedia menerima keputusan pecat oleh Barisan Nasional.

Sebelum itu, pimpinan tertinggi parti itu juag, Dato' Dr. Toh Kin Woon juga menyatakan sokongan terbuka beliau secara sendiri dan melepaskan jawatan tersebut kelmarin.

Pemimpin Parti Gerakan telah menyatakan ketidak percayaan anggotanya kepada BN, menunjukan BN semakin khusut untuk di pulihkan lagi.

Jeffrey Claims 13 Sabah MPs To Join Pakatan Rakyat If Anwar Wins By-Election

Jeffrey Claims 13 Sabah MPs To Join Pakatan Rakyat If Anwar Wins By-Election


BUKIT MERTAJAM, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has claimed that 13 Sabah members of parliament will cross over to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) if PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wins the Permatang Pauh by-election next Tuesday.

He also claimed that the 13 MPs had met with him and expressed their support for Anwar.

"We speak the truth. I am talking about the 13 MPs who will join Pakatan Rakyat after Anwar wins this (Permatang Pauh) by-election ... they are just waiting (to cross over)," he told reporters after delivering a talk in Jalan Berapit here last night.

Jeffrey said two of the MPs were from the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and the rest from Umno.

The PR needs at least 30 more MPs to be able to form the federal government. Sabah has 24 Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs.

Anwar is involved in a three-corner fight for the Permatang Pauh seat, vacated on July 31 by his wife and PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to enable Anwar become an MP. The BN has fielded Seberang Jaya state assemblyman Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah. The third candidate is Hanafi Mamat of Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia (Akim).

Former MIC division chief and supporters join DAP

Former MIC division chief and supporters join DAP
Sun 17 Aug 2008 18:33

BERNAMA

KLANG, Sun: Alex Thiagarasan, the former MIC Klang Division chief who was sacked from the party early last month, today joined the DAP with about 1,500 of his supporters.

He handed over the membership application forms to DAP central executive committee member Ronnie Liu at a brief ceremony at the Dewan Hamzah here.

“I am proud to have joined the DAP and will continue to serve the local community. I am thankful to the DAP for having accepted me and my friends.

“I invite people who need my services to see me at the service centre in Jalan Teluk Pulai here,” he said.

Liu, who is Selangor Local Government and Research Committee chairman, welcomed Thiagarasan and his supporters and reminded them to adhere to the party culture and rules.

Thiagarasan was expelled from the MIC on July 7 after he lodged reports with the police and Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) against MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu over alleged misappropriation of funds meant for the Indian community.

Samy Vellu has filed a RM10-million suit against Thiagarasan and has obtained an injunction prohibiting him from making any statement on the issue.
============================================================
Monday, August 18, 2008
Alex joins DAP
Only about five hundred supporters turned up for a brief ceremony at the Dewan Hamzah in Klang this morning to watch my friend Alex Thiagarasan (photo, left) hand over membership application forms to DAP leader Ronnie Liu (photo, center), the Selangor state Local Government and Research Committee chairman and also ADUN for Pandamaran.


Former MIC Klang division chief Alex was expecting at least a thousand Klang MIC members to join him en bloc today but claims that SMS messages went out late last night to inform members that the ceremony has been postponed to a later date after the Permatang Pauh by-election. Alex vows to find out the culprits behind the hoax and to organise a bigger turnout at a future date.

Alex is undeterred after being expelled from MIC recently. He is also facing a RM10 million defamation suit by Samy Vellu after he had lodged reports with the police and ACA alleging that the MIC boss had misappropriated huge funds meant for the Indian community. Samy has also obtained an injunction barring him from making any statements relating to the issue.

Gerakan Leader Endorses Anwar

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

17 Aug 08
Gerakan Leader Endorses Anwar
Malaysiakini.com

Beh Lih Yi | Aug 17, 08 9:40pm

At a time when most of the BN top brass are expressing great confidence in winning the Permatang Pauh by-election, one top level Gerakan leader today risked party and BN irk by giving his stamp of approval for PKR’s Anwar Ibrahim.

That support came from Gerakan’s Penang-based leader Dr Toh Kin Woon, an outspoken former state executive councillor when Penang was ruled by Gerakan-led BN before the March general election.

Toh not just expressed his support for Anwar, he also visited a PKR election operation room in Permatang Pasir, one of three state constituencies in Permatang Pauh, this evening.


Accompanied by a friend, Toh was welcomed to the operation room by several top level Pakatan Rakyat leaders, including Penang deputy chief minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, Penang exco Law Choo Kiang, PKR vice-president Dr Lee Boon Chye and information chief Tian Chua. Anwar was however not present.

A banner stating ‘let us reform Malaysia together’ was also placed at the room during Toh’s brief visit.

When met later, Toh said his visit was to show his support for Anwar in the by-election.

“I am not speaking for my party, I am speaking for myself as an individual - I do support Anwar Ibrahim in this by-election. I am not actually supporting him too much as an individual but more on the movement that he leads.

“I feel if Anwar (is elected to) Parliament, the voices of the opposition will be stronger and the chances of strengthening the democracy and widening the democratic space will be better. For these reason, I support him,” said the academician-turned-politician.

‘He has been very consistent’


The vocal politician stressed that he was not supporting Anwar-led PKR as a party but the movement and the cause which the PKR politician has been fighting for.

“He is leading the movement for transformation, greater democracy, equality and more openness in the society.

“I think he has been very consistent and courageous, (and) I support the movement that he leads,” Toh added.

The Gerakan leader was however coy when asked on the chances of BN candidate Arif Shah Omar Shah in the Aug 26 by-election.

“No comment. I’m just here to say why I’m here and the reason why I’m here is to support Anwar. Arif was my colleague in the state assembly,” he said in referring to the BN man who is also a two-term Seberang Jaya state assemblyperson.

Asked on whether he feared of disciplinary action which could be taken against him for openly pledging support to the rival candidate, he replied: “When we decide to take individual action, we have to be prepared. Whatever that comes, we will face it.”

He denied he has any immediate plans to quit Gerakan to join PKR, saying that “I will see how it goes”.

Rakyat supremacy


Toh also noted that he has retired from electoral politics and would like to join civil society. He said he has been consistent in supporting movements that will strengthen the civil society.

“(These movements must) strengthen the voices of moderation, against racism, for political freedom, a more just and equal society. Anwar has articulated all this,” stressed Toh.

Meanwhile, Fairus - who is also PKR’s Penanti state assemblyperson - welcomed Toh’s support.

“We are pleased with this visit and hope it will inspire the rest in BN to look at the current political development that has to be based on the ‘rakyat supremacy’ and not racial politics,” the Penang deputy chief minister said.

Tan Yee Kew and 1,700 others join PKR

Tan Yee Kew and 1,700 others join PKR

Tan Yee Kew (Photo credit: Mysinchew)
Just heard from a KL journalist:

At a ceremony from 10.30am to noon today, Anwar Ibrahim accepted a stack of PKR membership forms from former MCA senior central committee member Tan Yee Kew and 1,700 others described as former BN supporters.

Some 1,500 people packed a convention hall at the Klang Executive Club to witness the handover.

PKR had received over 2,000 application forms from the constituencies of Kapar, Shah Alam and Klang but was able to process only 1,700.

Tan, who was also International Trade and Industry Ministry parliamentary secretary, quit the MCA on 17 July. She said she shared the people’s disenchantment over the widening gap between the rich and the poor, racial discrimination, rampant corruption and abuse of power.


Anwar would of course be familiar with the old “crossover” tactics that the BN traditionally employs ahead of elections. It’s all part of the psy-war to show rising support for the party that uses this tactic. In the past, I would often take such BN “crossover” figures with a big pinch of salt.

So I am not sure how accurate the PKR figure is. But what I can say is that there has been a certain swing away from the BN in the light of the sodomy allegations (which appear to have backfired - no pun intended!), the Altantuya revelations, the oil price hike, and the fall in PM Abdullah’s approval ratings.

The action now shifts to Permatang Pauh tonight for another big ceramah featuring Anwar.

Blog reader Kenny Gan sends us this report:

I was at the PKR event at Klang Executive Club. The hall was packed and the attendees were majority Chinese, some Indians and a sprinkling of Malays. Their ages span a wide range, but most of them were young Chinese, under 30.

Chinese no longer believe in MCA representing them. MCA is definitely on a decline but they seem to carry on sucking up to Umno as if that is the most natural thing to do.

There were 2079 new members for PKR and 1700 attendees. I looked at the fresh, enthusiastic faces of the young Chinese there and I knew MCA is doomed.

http://anilnetto.com/malaysian-elections/tan-yee-kew-and-1700-mca-members-cross-over-to-pkr/