'Anwar will do all it takes to become MB'

'Anwar will do all it takes to become MB'

'Anwar will do all it takes to become MB'

Posted: 01 Mar 2014 08:01 AM PST

02 March 2014| last updated at 01:19AM

He said the PKR adviser was even willing to ask party member Lee Chin Cheh to step down as assemblyman of Kajang to realise his ambition.

"Anwar thinks that if he cannot be PM, becoming MB would suffice.

"He has a personality problem, please save Selangor from Anwar," he said after launching an anti-Aedes programme organised by the Putrajaya Health Department in Precinct 11 here yesterday.

Present were Health director-general Dr Noorhisham Abdullah and Putrajaya Corporation president Tan Sri Dr Aseh Che Mat.

"Anwar harboured ambitions of becoming PM even when he was in Umno and now, through PKR. However, he did not make any headway in the (general) election," Tengku Adnan said.

Lee vacated the seat on Jan 27 to make way for Anwar, who is also the member of parliament for Permatang Pauh.

Nomination has been set for March 11 and polling on March 23.

Barisan Nasional had named MCA vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun as its candidate.

Tengku Adnan, who is also Federal Territories minister, lauded Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government to restructure the water industry in the state.

"He is aware that water supply problems in the Klang Valley impacted the lives of the people, unlike some opposition leaders who only think about politics."

The MoU was signed on Wednesday. Bernama

Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor showing a model of a mosquito to children at an anti-Aedes programme in Precinct 11, Putrajaya, yesterday. Pic by Mohd Fadli Hamzah


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Taib sworn in as seventh Yang di-Pertua Negeri

Posted: 01 Mar 2014 08:01 AM PST

02 March 2014| last updated at 01:27AM
By GOH PEI PEI | news@nst.com.my

KUCHING: TAN Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, formerly the longest-serving chief minister in Malaysia, eased into the next phase of his career when he was sworn in as the seventh Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak yesterday.

Taib, 78, succeeded Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng, whose term ended on Friday.

The ceremony, held at the state Legislative Assembly Complex here, began with the reading of the instrument of appointment by new Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem.

Taib took his oath of office before signing the proclamation letter, witnessed by Adenan as well as Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum.

Present were Taib's wife, Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib, and the chief minister's wife, Puan Sri Jamilah Anu.

Taib had received his instrument of appointment from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah at Istana Negara on Friday.

Earlier, Taib and his wife arrived at the complex at 10.10am and were greeted by Adenan and speaker Datuk Amar Asfia Awang Nassar, after which Taib inspected a guard of honour comprising 105 men from the Royal Malaysian Police.

Present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani, as well as federal ministers and state cabinet ministers.

On Feb 12, Taib had announced that he was stepping down as chief minister after 33 years and named Adenan as his successor.

Last week, Taib also announced that he would vacate his Balingian state seat.

His first foray into politics was on July 22, 1963, when, at 27, he was sworn in as a state minister, making him the youngest man to be appointed to such a position in Sarawak.

He served as federal minister in various ministries for 13 years before he was sworn in as Sarawak's fourth chief minister on March 26, 1981.

He has been credited with uniting Sarawak's 47 ethnic groups and fostering a stable political climate for the state's development.

Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud taking his oath of office in Kuching yesterday. Looking on is Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem (left). Bernama pic

Khalid: Water deal is irrevocable and binding

Posted: 01 Mar 2014 08:01 AM PST

PUTRAJAYA: THE legitimacy of the deal inked between the Federal Government and Selangor  government on the restructuring of the state's water industry should not be questioned, said Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

He said the deal, which was signed on Wednesday, was timely as the people were experiencing a serious water shortage.

Tengku Adnan said the legality of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) should not be questioned as it was signed by the Selangor menteri besar and the energy, water and green technology minister.

"How can the opposition say that it is not legally binding when it was signed by (Tan Sri) Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and (Datuk Seri) Dr Maximus Ongkili?

"They are just twisting and turning their words," he said responding to criticisms by several quarters in the opposition that the MoU signed was not binding.

Instead, he said, Khalid should be congratulated for taking the initiative to settle a problem that had been delayed for years and which had affected millions of Klang Valley residents who are now experiencing serious water shortage.

"He (Khalid) is aware that if the agreement is not signed, it will have a huge impact on the people."

Meanwhile, Khalid said the government would proceed with the construction of the Langat 2 water treatment plant despite criticism from party members on the restructuring exercise.

"The MoU between the federal and state government is irrevocable and binding on both parties. We adhere to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's call for the MoU to be respected and regarded as a commitment.

"We are committed to deliver the best value for money services and are working towards realising our goal to end the state's water crisis," he said after launching the state Silat Fair here yesterday.

"We made a commitment and have reached an understanding (with the Federal Government) that the state government will allow for the construction of the Langat 2 water treatment plant in return for the restructuring exercise."

Khalid said the federal and state governments had stated their stand on the water restructuring exercise, adding the state government was given the assurance that it would be involved in the final decision-making of the exercise.

He was responding to criticism by certain PKR leaders who said they were not informed about the MoU between the state and federal governments.

PKR Strategic director Rafizi Ramli had questioned the legitimacy of the MoU and claimed that he had no prior knowledge of the collaboration between the state and federal governments.

He had said Khalid had failed to inform the party about the MoU.

Khalid said the state government's plan to offer shares in the water industry to the people of Selangor would proceed after the restructuring exercise was completed.

"A promise is a promise and we will deliver on it when the time is right.

"For now, I cannot give an estimated time because we are in the initial process of restructuring."

Under the MoU, the state government will take over Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd, Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas), Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor Sdn Bhd and Konsortium ABBAS Sdn Bhd for RM9.65 billion.

In return, the state government will issue a development order for the construction of the Langat 2 water treatment plant and its distribution system and ensure all approvals and authorisation for the project are approved within 30 days.

Veteran lawyer Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman said the contract signed between the two governments could not be revoked by either party as it would be tantamount to a breach of contract.

He said the Federal Government could sue if a new menteri besar nullified the agreement upon taking over the state government.

"The contract was made between two governments that are two big entities, not individuals.

"Therefore, it doesn't give anyone the right to cancel the agreement once it becomes a contract, without facing a legal charge," he said yesterday.

Meanwhile, Puncak Niaga executive chairman Tan Sri Rozali Ismail welcomed the signing of the MoU, saying it was a smart way to address chronic water supply woes in the Klang Valley.

"The Federal Government is committed to finding the best way out and help the people.

"This (water shortage) problem has to be solved as soon as possible so that the people can enjoy the best water supply," he said after speaking at the Superbike Basic Safety Course programme at Dataran Puncak Alam here yesterday. Additional reporting by Syafiq Aznan and Firdaous Fadzil.

Abdul Rashid Sariff, 69, filling up bottles with water in Banting, Kuala Langat, Selangor, yesterday. Pic by Rosdan Wahid

'Simply the best' fireworks show

Posted: 01 Mar 2014 08:01 AM PST

02 March 2014| last updated at 01:31AM

With more than 28,000 shots exploding in the air last night, the fireworks were synchronised along to the 1980s hit, Simply the Best, and left the thousands of people present awestruck.

Themed "The Great Panorama", the fireworks were placed along a 2km stretch on the bridge, spanning from the landing point in Batu Maung on Penang Island to its navigational span.

Deric Tham, who is the pyrotechnics engineer for the opening ceremony, said the planning for the fireworks display took two months and involved a 24-member team.

"We have done big projects before, involving nearly 20kg to 30kg of explosives. But this is something else.

"I cannot reveal the amount used for the opening ceremony, but it is mammoth in proportions."

Tham said the explosives were placed along the motorcycle lane on the Batu Kawan-bound stretch of the bridge and a few along the Batu Maung coast.

"We had 24 men working for the past two months to plan and execute the fireworks.

"We used a software called 'Fire1' to execute the fireworks wirelessly."

Tham, who is also the executive director of Pyro-Tec, has 20 years of expertise in the field.

He was recently tasked with the fireworks display at Qatar's national day.

(From left) Teng Sue Wan, Nurul Aina Mahmod Ghazali and K. Kavitah holding a copy of a 'New Straits Times' pullout that has a picture of the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Bridge. Pic by Mohamad Mikail Ong

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak showing a picture taken on his handphone to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at the opening ceremony in Batu Maung. Bernama pic

A view of the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Bridge. Pic by Rosli Ahmad

'Community use zone' for natives

Posted: 01 Mar 2014 08:01 AM PST

TENOM: A BURDEN was  lifted off the shoulders of natives who live in two villages here  in the Crocker Range National Park which spans  eight districts.

Sabah Parks board of trustees has agreed to allow communities at Ulu Senegang and Mongool Baru to continue living in the protected area that they have called home for four decades.

A programme called "Community Use Zone" was formalised between the park management and representatives of the two villages that will allow the villagers to grow crops and acquire resources from the forests for their own use.

The concept, which is the first of its kind in the country, aims to strike a balance between conservation work and the needs of the indigenous people who call the park home.

Ulu Senegang village head Lasil Lotos, 45, said there were about 40 houses within a 403 ha area that had a population of 349. About 60 per cent of the villagers were Muruts, while the rest were Lundayehs and Kadazandusuns.

"There was a time we felt like outcasts as we are living in the park. However, we had to stand our ground because our elders settled here long before it was gazetted as a national park.

"Our patience was tested when enforcement officers came to evict us. We refused to move and the formulation of this concept is a result of our perseverance."

The Crocker Range Park was gazetted in 1984 and measures 1,399 sq km, about twice the size of Singapore.

It stretches from Sipitang south of west Sabah up to the northern district of Kota Marudu.

According to the villagers of Ulu Senegang and Mongool Baru, their elders first came to the area, located on the foothills on the Crocker Range here and about 30km from Keningau, in the mid 1970s.

For Lasil, his grandfather Andawai Suab who was originally from Tahol in Pensiangan, was among the first to resettle in Ulu Senegang.

The government allowed them to live in the area, which was then part of a forest reserve.

"The verbal approval was given to us by the then chief minister Datuk (now Tan Sri) Harris Salleh."

Their predicament began when the area, which is one of the biggest biodiversity sources, was gazetted as a national park to protect it as a catchment area and to maintain its ecosystem for recreational, tourism, education and research purposes.

"When park officials began work to survey and mark the boundaries, we started feeling the pressure because we were not able to plant our crops or gather resources from the forests for subsistence.

"We felt like criminals even when we were just trying to put food on our table."

The park authorities listened to the pleas of the villagers and came up with the zone concept.

Through a series of dialogues over the years, the idea was fine-tuned and the concept was born.

"We are thankful for the additional land as we are now free to grow our own vegetables and other crops to survive.

"Our only other source of income is making handicraft, but this is a competitive industry."

With the "burden off their shoulders", the community now hopes to set up homestays to attract visitors to the park.

"There is a rock here which has a mystical legend to it as our elders told us it was once a skull."

Sabah Parks board of trustees chairman Tengku Datuk Zainal Adlin said the concept was part of the main Crocker Range National Park's management plan, a blueprint to further protect the mega-biodiversity site and the communities who live in it.

"It also comes under the Bornean Biodiversity and Ecosystem for Conservation programme, an initiative that has all round support in the state, country and even from Japan.

"Numerous scientific studies were made over the years before we finally came up with the concept of the zone.

"Settlements and communal activities have caused social conflicts and affected efforts to protect the park.

"This is why the concept was formalised to mediate all the issues."

Assistant Agriculture and Food Industry Assistant Minister Datuk Sairin Karno signing a plaque to launch the Community Use Zone in Ulu Senegang-Mongool Baru recently.

'I am fighting for a cause'

Posted: 01 Mar 2014 08:01 AM PST

Question: You have been away from politics for quite some time after quitting your deputy minister and Wanita MCA chief posts in 2010. What has changed since then?

Answer: My feelings towards politics now are different compared with in 2008. After three years of rest and reflection, I think I have different views on politics. Now, I tell myself that as long as I'm doing something right, why be so worried?

Just say and do what you think is right. At the end of the day, if you are too worried about what people think of you or how they look at you, then you might be compromised.

Question: How do you plan to appeal to the voters in Kajang, as well as your party comrades on the ground?

Answer: We need to be sincere. We need to tell our comrades and friends what we're feeling. What is needed is for us to serve the people without fear or favour. At the same time, we need to take care of the sensitivities of all the ethnic groups.

The truth is, everyone loves peace and everyone wants peace. Everybody wishes that we can live in harmony and respect each other.

Somehow, there are extremists who are doing and saying things that are damaging to the country's unity. We need to face it and find out how to address it. Therefore, I think dialogue among the races is very important.

Question: Political observers have labelled you as the "underdog". Many of them feel that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is going to win. What is your view on this?

Answer: Everyone thinks that about me. I do think I am the underdog but I believe anyone can do it if they are fighting for a cause and deliver their message clearly. With my proven track record and how I have served people in the past, the Kajang electorate may give me a chance.

Question: As Barisan Nasional's (BN) candidate and a senior MCA leader, how well have you been received by Kajang voters since you started making your rounds?

Answer: I have been here (Kajang) for many days now. I shifted here after I was selected as the BN candidate. I walked around and talked to people. Of course, I feel the difference compared with in 2008.

However, even though I found the situation quite encouraging, I will never take this support for granted. All my time was filled up with programmes; I even found it difficult to take two hours off.

Question: In the last general election, there were reports that many Kajang MCA members had voted for the opposition. Will this trend continue?

Answer: This round might be different. I met some of our members during my programmes and they told me that things are different now. They said: "We want to support our party and we want to see our party reform and transform."

And, I believe this is the sentiment of all our MCA members. There are more than 4,000 MCA members in Kajang.

If everybody votes for BN, we will do much better. In the last election, only 18.8 per cent of the Chinese community here voted for BN. Many of our members didn't vote for BN that time. But, now, they are with me.

Question: Tell us about your day-to-day activities.

Answer: In the mornings and afternoons, I go to coffeeshops to chat with local residents. In the evenings, I attend Chinese gatherings. From 9pm to midnight, I mingle with Malays and give ceramah. In fact, (Umno information chief) Datuk Ahmad Maslan comes here every night to assist me with my campaign.

My campaign methods are different from Anwar's. He sends (the party's information chief) Tian Chua to the ground. Do you want to vote for his assistant or the candidate himself?

Anwar takes the people's support for granted. He thinks the Chinese community will definitely support him.

That's why he engineered this by-election, which is unnecessary. He is just trying to solve his party's internal problems. I think the Chinese people here are not blind. If you ask me, they are more critical than anyone else, besides being pragmatic voters.

Question: Why do you think it is important for the voters to give BN a chance to wrest Kajang?

Answer: This is a multiracial country. Whether we're in BN or the opposition, we need to adopt a multiracial approach to politics. Currently, the opposition in Selangor does not reflect that.

And, all 12 BN state assemblymen are from Umno. There are also no female representatives. Therefore, the voters here need to give MCA and me a chance to represent them.

Question: What if the Chinese community in Selangor has decided to regard DAP as their sole representative?

Answer: Here, in Selangor, DAP is part of the ruling government. The Chinese may choose to have DAP as their only representative but that's provided DAP does not do anything wrong.

Currently, DAP can't even stop PKR from doing what it wants. One should not put all the eggs in a single basket. You need to split your risks when you make investments. It is the same in politics.

Question: How do you think your Chinese education background will help you win over the voters and safeguard their interests?

Answer: No doubt, I am from the Chinese-speaking circle because I attended Chinese school. I even studied for my degree in Taiwan and pursued my Master in Chinese Studies at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman.

So, I understand the feelings of the Malaysian Chinese. But, I do believe that we cannot live in our own bubble. We need to reach out to others. As leaders, we need to bridge the gap between the ethnic groups. We need to bring them out of their circles.

If we don't do that, we won't be able to have a good platform to talk to each other. If you look at Malaysia now, even though we are a multiracial country, many Malays are still living in villages, the Indians in the estates and the Chinese in new villages.

Question: You mention that BN adopts a multiracial approach to politics and that this is the correct formula to govern the country. However, Pakatan, in particular DAP, propagates the same ideology. How are the coalitions different?

Answer: We are different because even though BN has three large race-based parties, we are able to agree to the concept of power-sharing, but at the same time keep our ethnic identities. Officially, we represent our own race and safeguard their interests.

If you look at things this way, BN is actually a multiracial alliance. It means that we can work together but, at the same time, not forget our identity.

However, even though DAP claims it is a multiracial party, it is obviously Chinese-based. That is how different we are. MCA founder Tun Tan Cheng Lock had once said that although we are a race-based party, we are moving forward with other political parties in BN (then known as the Alliance). The same cannot be said about Pakatan.

For example, when Anwar said he was contesting the Kajang seat, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said he was not informed.

I want to win this election not only for MCA but also for BN. If MCA is weak, it won't be good for BN. We need to work together and bring everybody together. Everybody must progress.

Question: That said, how will you rate your chances of winning at this juncture?

Answer: This is a "mission impossible" but we are fighting for a win. Last time, when we had the same dire situation in Ampang Jaya in 1989, we still managed to win the seat there.

Question: Tell us why Kajang voters should give you their votes.

Answer: First of all, you will be voting in a proper representative, not his assistant. Second, you are strengthening the opposition in Selangor. Third, you will be electing a person who can bring a lot of progress to Kajang.

Remember, Putrajaya is just 15 minutes away from here. The development of Putrajaya will spill into its surrounding areas. Besides, the PKR-led Selangor government is beset with problems. Why push the blame on BN when the prices of goods increase?

They (PKR) cannot even rationalise why the state leaders' salaries are higher than the prime minister's. On one hand, you criticise your opponents, but at the same time, you do the same thing, hoping people will not complain.

Question: The so-called Chinese tsunami last year caused MCA to lose badly, leaving it with only seven parliamentary and 11 state seats. Will a win in Kajang prove that Chinese support is swinging back to BN?

Answer: First of all, last year's loss was largely because of an urban tsunami, and not just a Chinese one. And, it has only been eights months since the 13th General Election. Our (MCA) new leadership has been in office for less than four months.

If you use the results of this election as a yardstick, it won't be fair. But a win for MCA will mean a lot for the party as it will receive a much-needed morale boost to continue its transformation. If we win, the Chinese voters in Kajang are sending out this message: "Do your best and don't disappoint us again".

Question: How long do you think is needed for MCA to pick itself out of the doldrums?

Answer: I think we need at least five to 10 years. It is not easy as we are going through a massive transformation.

Actually, we have many young people and all we have to do is make sure they have a platform to perform. We need the support of the younger leaders if we are to get through this process of transformation.

Question: What would be your message to the voters in Kajang, especially those who feel that you are being used as BN's sacrificial lamb in this by-election?

Answer: People keep asking me, Mei Fun, why do you let yourself become the sacrificial lamb?

Well, I tell them, you don't have to worry about me. I was a normal party member, then I became a member of parliament, then I almost lost my life (in an accident), became deputy minister, and then quit everything. I led an ordinary life, came back as an MCA vice-president and now, I'm going up against a titan like Anwar Ibrahim.

I think I've been through quite a lot and I just want to go in knowing I'm fighting for a cause and doing what I think is right. You don't have to worry about me. After many years in politics, I've learned that there's no point stressing over winning or losing. Just let things be.