Anwar tamak mahu rampas kerusi Kuala Besut, kata Shabery

Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek mengatakan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sebagai seorang yang tamak kerana bersikap tergesa-gesa mahu merampas kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kuala Besut yang kosong selepas Dr A. Rahman Mokhtar meninggal dunia.

Menteri Komunikasi dan Multimedia itu berkata sikap pemimpin pembangkang tersebut sebagai tidak menghormati keluarga Dr. A. Rahman yang masih bersedih dan bukannya hanya memikirkan tentang politik.

"Saya rasa Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim perlu sabar dahulu kerana bagi kami perlu hormati keluarga arwah yang masih sedih atas pemergian.

"Inilah sikap orang politik, baginya ia adalah perkara yang menggembirakan... Kemudiaan tunjuk sikap tamak untuk terkam kerusi disitu," kata ahli Parlimen Kemaman itu dalam sidang media di Hotel One World, merujuk kepada ketua pembangkang semasa merasmikan majlis perkhidmatan penyimpanan jalur lebar Awan HeiTech pagi ini.

Menurut Ahmad Shabery, calon bagi kerusi tersebut hanya akan diputuskan selepas keadaan reda bagi menghormati keluarga arwah.

"Bagi saya, ini masih waktu bersedih untuk kami," katanya lagi.

Beliau  menegaskan sebarang perbincangan tentang nama calon tidak wajar dilakukan sekarang memandangkan pihak keluarga masih bersedih dan perlu menunggu notis daripada Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) mengenai kekosongan kerusi tersebut.

"Kami belum fikir pasal calon, ia terlalu awal untuk kami... Kami masih menunggu notis daripada SPR," tambah beliau.

Apabila ditanya tentang peluang Barisan Nasional (BN) dalam mempertahankan kerusi Kuala Besut, Ahmad Shabery berkeyakinan gabungan pemerintah tersebut berkemampuan untuk menang memandangkan penyokong pembangkang sendiri telah merasai diri mereka tertipu kerana mengangkat sumpah di Dewan Rakyat walaupun mendakwa terdapat penipuan dalam pilihan raya 5 Mei lalu.

"Kami mempunyai keyakinan mempertahankannya... malahan penyokong pembangkang sendiri rasa diri mereka tertipu dan tersinggung dengan kononnya PRU lepas adalah satu bentuk penipuan.

"Disaat mereka berhimpun di luar Parlimen, pemimpin pembangkang mengangkat sumpah di dalam," ujarnya lagi.

Pada pilihan raya umum ke-13 (PRU13) 5 Mei lepas, A. Rahman mempertahankan kerusi yang disandangnya sejak 2008 dengan majoriti 2,434 undi mengatasi calon PAS Napisah Ismail.

Kerusi DUN Kuala Besut kosong apabila penyandangnya A. Rahman, 55, meninggal dunia di Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah (HSNZ) Terengganu akibat, akibat kanser paru-paru.

Pengarah SPR negeri Fakhrul Razi Ab Wahab hari ini berkata pilihan raya kecil DUN Kuala Besut boleh diadakan selewat-lewatnya pada 27 Ogos depan. - 27 Jun,2013.

 

 

Menteri Sumber Manusia Richard Riot nafi dakwaan ijazah palsu

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 Jun Menteri Sumber Manusia Datuk Richard Riot Jaem telah menafikan dakwaan beberapa anggota Parlimen pembangkang bahawa beliau memiliki ijazah palsu.

Beliau berkata ijazah dan sarjana miliknya, kedua-duanya dalam bidang sumber manusia, diperolehi daripada University of Hertfordshire.

Riot berkata beliau akan menyerahkan kepada peguamnya untuk menentukan tindakan susulan.

"Saya mengambil ini sebagai tuduhan serius terhadap saya. Saya biar peguam saya mengendalikan hal ini. Sebagai menteri bertanggungjawab, saya mesti mempunyai pengetahuan baik dengan apa yang saya lakukan untuk berkhidmat untuk negara," katanya kepada pemberita di luar persidangan Dewan Rakyat di sini hari ini.

Terdahulu, pada sidang media bersama, Anggota Parlimen Serdang Dr Ong Kian Ming, Zairil Khir Johari (Bukit Bendera) dan Anggota Parlimen Stampin Julian Tan menuduh Riot dan Menteri Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi, Dr Ewon Ebin memiliki ''ijazah tak boleh dipercayai''.

Kuala Besut bakal saksi pilihan raya kecil pertama selepas PRU

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 Jun Kematian anggota Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) kawasan Kuala Besut di Terengganu Dr A. Rahman Mokhtar akibat kanser paru-paru hari ini mewujudkan kekosongan kerusi yang pertama selepas pilihan raya umum diadakan 5 Mei lepas.

Kawasan itu bakal menjadi tumpuan sekiranya pilihan raya kecil diadakan, kemungkinan pada bulan Ramadan, memandangkan Barisan Nasional (BN) membentuk kerajaan negeri Terengganu dengan majoriti mudah apabila menguasai 17 kerusi berbanding 14 kerusi dimenangi PAS dan satu lagi oleh PKR.

A. Rahman, 55, meninggal dunia di Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah (HSNZ) Terengganu hari ini, akibat kanser paru-paru. Pada pilihan raya umum lepas, Allahyarham mempertahankan kerusi itu setelah mengalahkan calon PAS Napisah Ismail dengan majoriti 2,434 undi.

Timbalan Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar berkata mesyuarat khas akan diadakan untuk menetapkan tarikh pilihan raya kecil Kuala Besut selepas menerima pemakluman rasmi berhubung kekosongan kerusi itu daripada Speaker DUN.

Katanya mengikut Undang-undang Tubuh Negeri dan Perlembagaan Persekutuan, pilihan raya kecil perlu diadakan dalam tempoh 60 hari daripada tarikh kekosongan.

Fasal 30(1) Undang-Undang Tubuh Negeri menyatakan sekiranya seseorang ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri mati atau menjadi tidak layak untuk menjadi ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri itu maka hendaklah tempatnya itu menjadi kosong.

Menteri Besar Terengganu Datuk Seri Ahmad Said berkata pilihan raya kecil akan diadakan berikutan kematian itu dan menyerahkan kepada SPR untuk menentukan tarikhnya.

Jika SPR mengadakan mesyuarat dalam masa terdekat, kemungkinan besar pilihan raya itu diadakan pada bulan Ramadan memandangkan umat Islam dijangka mula berpuasa pada 10 Julai dan Syawal dijangka disambut pada 8 atau 9 Ogos.

Sementara itu, Timbalan Menteri Kewangan Datuk Ahmad Maslan yang ditemui pemberita di Terengganu, menafikan wujud peruntukan yang kononnya pilihan raya kecil tidak perlu diadakan jika kematian anggota DUN dalam tempoh 60 hari selepas pilihan raya umum, dan boleh digantikan dengan calon daripada parti anggota yang meninggal dengan kuasa melantik terletak kepada menteri besar.

Ahmad berkata peruntukan sedemikian tidak wujud dan beliau sendiri telah mengesahkan dengan pihak Peguam Negara.

"(Peruntukan) Akta yang digembar-gemburkan itu tidak wujud seperti yang tersebar luas dalam media soial. Terserah kepada SPR untuk tentukan tarikh pilihan raya," katanya.

Indelible ink was actually food colouring, Shahidan tells MP

 Food colouring, not chemicals, was in the indelible ink used in the general election, the Election Commission (EC) admitted today in the Dewan Rakyat.

"No chemical was used in the ink but it was instead replaced with permitted food colouring," said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim in his reply to Segambut Member of Parliament Lim Lip Eng.

His statement was in stark contrast with the EC's claim that it used silver nitrate in the ink. He said the absence of the required chemical was the reason the ink was easily washed off.

Shahidan also said that the expiry date of the ink was four months from the date it was issued but blamed voters for purposely trying to wash off the ink as the reason why it was not permanent.

"How long the ink remains depends on the individual and the efforts put in to wash it off."

In a written response, Shahidan also told the Dewan Rakyat that RM6.9 million had been spent on the ink, with an additional RM200,000 spent on transportation, packaging and storage, bringing the total expenditure to RM7.1 million.

He added that the EC did not plan to release information related to the suppliers for security reasons.

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had urged voters to lodge police reports on polling day after many of them showed how easily the ink could be washed off their fingers.

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof also announced the formation of a special task force to investigate the reasons why it could be easily washed off.

Barisan Nasional won 133 parliamentary seats in the May 5 polls, 21 seats more than the 112 required to form a simple majority government.

However, this was BN's smallest win since the country achieved independence in 1957. Pakatan Rakyat continues to refuse to accept the results and point to the fact that it had won 51% of the popular vote compared with BN's 48 %.

PR has also filed 39 election petitions to challenge the results in 25 parliamentary and 14 state seats where BN won by small majorities.

Despite the protests against the outcome of the polls, the EC insisted that it had carried out the elections in a fair manner, pointing out that the highest ever voter attendance of 84.84% was evidence of confidence in the electoral process. - June 26, 2013.

KAWASAN IPU TINGGI MULAI HUJAN

KUALA LUMPUR, 25 Jun Hujan dilaporkan di beberapa kawasan yang

merekod Indeks Pencemaran Udara (IPU) tinggi termasuk di Shah Alam, Selangor

petang ini.

Jurucakap Jabatan Meteorologi berkata Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya dan

beberapa kawasan di Perak juga mengalami hujan petang ini dan ia dijangka

berterusan hingga malam.

Turut mengalami hujan ialah Muar, kawasan yang diisytihar darurat jerebu

Ahad lepas.

Pelabuhan Klang, Selangor dan Seri Manjung, Perak yang mencatat IPU

berbahaya dengan bacaan lebih 300 hari ini, diramal mengalami hujan lewat

petang ini.

Bagi Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, Kuala Lumpur dan Terengganu pula,

sesetengah tempat mulai hujan lewat petang ini, kata jurucakap itu ketika

dihubungi Bernama hari ini.

Tengah hari ini, ratusan jemaah menunaikan solat sunat "Istisqa" di Masjid

Negara bagi memohon hujan berikutan masalah jerebu dan cuaca panas yang sedang

melanda negara.

Dalam pada itu, Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia Che Gayah Ismail

ketika dihubungi berkata latihan operasi pembenihan awan akan diteruskan esok

bagi mencari kesesuaian awan, dengan bantuan Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia

(TUDM).

Dalam pada itu, sehingga 5 petang ini, Portal Kementerian Sumber Asli dan

Alam Sekitar melaporkan Pelabuhan Klang dan Seri Manjung masing-masing

mencatat bacaan IPU 464 dan 290.

Shah Alam dan dua kawasan di Perak iaitu SK Jalan Pegoh, Ipoh dan Seri

Manjung pula mencatat IPU sangat tidak sihat dengan bacaan lebih 200.

Sebanyak 20 kawasan mencatat IPU tidak sihat, 26 sederhana dan satu kawasan

iaitu di Tawau, Sabah adalah baik.

Bacaan IPU antara 0 dan 50 dikategorikan baik, 51 hingga 100 (sederhana),

101 ke 200 (tidak sihat), 201 hingga 300 (sangat tidak sihat) dan 300 ke atas

Najib confirms pact with Anwar unsigned, but committed to reconciliation

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has confirmed that he did not sign the now-infamous reconciliation agreement with Pakatan Rakyat brokered by former Indonesian vice-president Jusuf Kalla, saying that he had to obtain the approval of other Umno leaders and that involved a long process.

In an interview with Indonesian weekly Tempo, he said despite not having inked the deal which, among other things, called for Pakatan and Barisan Nasional to accept the May 5 poll results and ensure a peaceful transition of power had the Opposition won, he was committed to it.

Najib said that reconciliation was still possible but only if Anwar accepted the poll results. News of this agreement became public knowledge after its contents were leaked to a regional newspaper in the days after the hotly-contested elections which saw Barisan retain power but with a smaller majority and without the popular vote.

Anwar and Pakatan came under some pressure following the disclosure of the deal to move on and accept the results of the elections.

But the opposition leadear maintained that the agreement was null and void because there was widespread fraud in the polls and that Najib was not a signatory to it.

Tempo said that the idea of the reconciliation agreement came up around the end of April, before Malaysia held its 13th general election.  Anwar visited Kalla at his Jakarta residence and raised the possibility of a plan to end the post-election tension in Malaysia. Anwar asked Kalla to mediate with Najib. Tempo noted that Kalla and Najib are known to be close, due to their Bugis background.

At that time, Anwar was confident his opposition alliance of parties would win the elections. Tempo noted that the issue of reconciliation was in the air two weeks ago following separate meetings between Anwar and Najib with Kalla.

Below, are excerpts of Najib’s interview with the weekly while he was in Jakarta on a private visit.

Is the political climate in Malaysia so hot that you need to play golf in Jakarta?

Well, I haven't had any rest since the elections. By chance, my wife had an event to attend over here, so I came along to relax and play golf, meet up with old friends and observe how things have developed. Relations with Indonesia is important and many issues can be resolved informally.

Is that why you met with Jusuf Kalla? Reportedly, you two played golf at Halim.

When I held the post of deputy prime minister, Jusuf Kalla was vice-president. We were counterparts and we have the same background. He is a Bugis and I am Bugis. Our wives are both Minang (people of West Sumatra). During many visits, mostly unofficial, we communicated. This time we played golf together.

Isn't Jusuf Kalla trying to mediate reconciliation between you and Anwar Ibrahim?

It was Anwar Ibrahim who asked Kalla to be a mediator.

What would be the limitations to this reconciliation?

First, the recent elections must be accepted. Anwar Ibrahim had signed the commitment letter in front of Kalla. But so far, Anwar has not officially accepted the results of the elections.

We heard you refused to sign the letter.

As party (United Malays National Organisation or Umno) chairman, I had to get the approval of the other party leaders before I could sign it. It was a long process, but I remained committed (to the agreement). At the time, Pak Jusuf Kalla said that as a Bugis, he must have integrity. Our word is our bond. That's the principle of the Bugis people.

Does this mean you are still for reconciliation?

They must first accept the election results. That is the main point of the agreement and Anwar Ibrahim himself signed it. We continue to monitor developments.

What do you see as the most important aspect of Malaysia-Indonesia relations in the future?

In general, we have discussed trade. We must develop a grade investment momentum. Trade between Indonesia-Malaysia has now reached US$18 billion (RM57.6 billion). We have determined that it should be US$30 billion by 2015.

Isn't that a little ambitious? It's only two years away.

Yes, it's quite ambitious, but we must try to reach the target.

How do you plan to do that?

The two countries must increase the role of the private sector. I want to see not just Malaysia investing in Indonesia, but also Indonesia investing in Malaysia. In principle, we agreed to work together to achieve mutual prosperity for the sake of prosperity. So there cannot be a Malaysia prospering but not Indonesia. Or the reverse, a prosperous Indonesia but not Malaysia.

Are you aware of increasing anti-Malaysia sentiments in Indonesia and vice versa recently?

There are two kinds. First, the sentiment about the cultural legacy of Malaysia and Indonesia. Secondly, sentiments which tend to be more nationalistic, especially in Indonesia, which is more apparent.

Will this prevent the collaboration between the two countries?

The two countries must look at it in a positive way. Sentiments should not disrupt stability, which can be a disadvantage for all. Malaysia and Indonesia are neighbours who must create productive relations. Otherwise, both countries will lose out. - June 26, 2013.

SINGAPURA DILANDA HUJAN BATU

SINGAPURA, 25 Jun Penduduk di Jurong di sini hari ini

mengalami hujan batu ketika hujan lebat dan ribut kencang melanda negara ini

petang ini.

Seorang penduduk di Jurong Timur Vanitha Subramaniam, yang pada masa itu

sedang bekerja, berkata beliau menerima panggilan daripada ibunya memberitahu

mengenai hujan batu itu.

"Ibu saya menggambarkan hujan lebat setengah jam itu seperti air batu jatuh

dari langit," katanya ketika dihubungi di sini.

Sementara itu, Straits Times (ST) melaporkan Agensi Alam Sekitar Nasional

(NEA) mengesahkan kejadian hujan batu yang dialami sesetengah penduduk terutama

yang tinggal di bahagian barat Singapura itu, bukan disebabkan pembenihan awan

di Indonesia.

Ditanya jika hujan batu itu berkaitan dengan jerebu, NEA hanya berkata ia

adalah satu kemungkinan tetapi tidak dapat mengesahkannya.

Bagaimanapun, NEA berkata hujan lebat petang ini bukan toksid.

Kali terakhir hujan batu berlaku di republik ini ialah pada 27 Mac 2008.

Sementara itu, NEA dalam kenyataannya berkata sehingga 9 malam, Indeks

Pencemaran Udara (IPU) tiga jam di republik ini ialah 59, manakala bacaan 24 jam

ialah dalam lingkungan 52 hingga 59.

Untuk tempoh satu atau dua hari akan datang, ia meramalkan angin akan

bertiup dari selatan atau tenggara menyebabkan sedikit jerebu.

Bacaan IPU 24 jam pada Rabu dijangka berada pada tahap sederhana iaitu

51-100.