SAUDARA Adlan Benan Omar meninggal dunia jam 3.45 petang tadi. Jenazahnya kini di No. 31 Jalan Putra Bistari 2/4D Putra Heights Subang Jaya. Allahyarham merupakan bekas setiausaha pemuda Parti Keadilan Nasional (Keadilan) dan juga bekas MPT parti itu.
Masih jauh berkedipan
bintang-bintang di cakrawala
walau tangan hampir menggapai
satu sinaran yang menyimbah
lembah hijau yang kontang.
Sayangnya singgahmu sebentar
mewarnai kehebatan cendiakawan
melebar seribu harapan tertuntas
biar sukar untuk tumbuh subur
lanskap kepahlawanan minda.
Terus menjadi rentetan ilusi
dalam penantian yang bersambung
kembali menapak bintang-bintang kejauhan
adalah kamu yang masih merentas doa
sebagai bebayang yang bercahaya
di hati kami!
F-30 at Dh 2.20 million with a reserve price of Dh 270,000.
F-80 at Dh 1.69 million with a reserve price of Dh 270,000.
F-70 at Dh 1.68 million with a reserve price of Dh 270,000.
E-21 at Dh 1.75 million with a reserve price of Dh 250,000.
E-31 at Dh 1.60 million with a reserve price of Dh 250,000.
For most of us, keep dreaming.....yes, one day.
New DIFC court judges take oath before Dubai ruler
Dubai: The Dubai International Financial Centre Courts (DIFC Courts) on Monday announced the appointment of six new judges to interpret laws and issue orders for the enforcement of laws at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
The judges are David A.R. Williams QC; Sir Anthony Colman; Tan Seri Dato Siti Norma Yaakob; Sir John Chadwick; Omar Juma Mohammad Saif Al Fajeer Al Muhairi; and Ali Shamis Mohammad Shamis Al Madhani.
They took the oath before His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Monday.
They will offer their expertise in all facets of the Court, with particular importance for the Court of Appeal, bringing with them a wealth of international expertise and impressive legal track records.
Furthermore, it was a landmark occasion, with the welcoming of the first female judge to join the DIFC Courts.
"As the fastest growing financial centre in the world, the DIFC has undergone immense expansion. In line with this rapid growth, the DIFC Courts offer the highest possible standards in legal dispute resolution with a judicial system based on international best practices.
"As such, it is with great pleasure that we welcome six highly distinguished judges onto the DIFC Courts' panel to work with us and maintain these high standards.
"In addition, we are proud to welcome to the DIFC the first two Emirati judges to become common law international judges," Dr Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor of the DIFC.
The crossing will be the world’s longest arch bridge and will cover a distance of 1.6 kilometres, linking Al Jaddaf in Bur Dubai with a road separating The Lagoon and Dubai Festival City The design has been endorsed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The bridge, with a 205m-high, 607-metre long arch, will be able to carry more than 20,000 vehicles per hour in each direction. The Green Line of Dubai Metro will run across the centre of the upcoming bridge and a Metro and water transport station will also be constructed on the crossing.
The contract for the project was awarded to American firm FXFOWLE. It won the tender following an open invitation. Construction begins in March and the project will be completed in six different phases over four years. It includes the construction of a 12km road networks and 22 intersections leading on and off of the span.
Freej is the title of my current favourite Arabic 3D animated series which is aired on Dubai TV since Ramadhan 2006. Freej means 'Neighbourhood' in the Khaleeji dialect and would tell the comic story of four old ladies living in a small traditional neighbourhood in the outskirts of the city of Dubai.
The creator of Freej, Mohammed Harib majored in General Arts and Animation at North Eastern University in Boston, M.A, USA. He was employed at Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone until he took a one year leave earlier in 2006 to dedicate all his time to the creation of Freej through his newly created production company Lammtara Pictures.
In addition to being the managing director of Lammtara Pictures and the director of Freej, Mohammed is also a professional photographer, web designer, cartoonist and had also made several attempts at writing poetry and literature in addition to modeling as well. His portfolio includes the creationg of the brand identity of Dubai International Film Festival.
Freej would be a unique adventure to the audience as it brings forth the cultural national identity back to the screen, the success of Freej should also set an example to other artists and creators to take their little dreams more seriously as we now witness what we hope to be the rise of the Arabic animation industry.
(Muhaimin in the middle)
It was nil-nil againts Dubai Royal School
Tentunya mereka yang sedang dalam senarai dipilih semula, dibuang atau dimasukkan sebagai calun juga sedang sibuk melobi untuk memastikan nama tidak tercicir. Dikatakan sudah ada yang sah akan bertanding dan ada yang sah akan digugurkan.
Turut sibuk ialah para penyokong yang mengharapkan durian runtuh sekiranya bos terpilih dan menang. Juga para bomoh dan dukun yang bekerja keras untuk memastikan nama-nama tertentu naik seperti nombor ekor. Tidak lupa tentunya pihak anggota keselamatan dan SPR yang mungkin memastikan bukan sahaja pelancaran pilihanraya malah segala strategi yang diatur tidak mengundang bala buat kepimpinan.
Sheikh Mohammad Al Maktoum dengan dua puteranya.
Buat kami yang tinggal di Dubai, memang terasa demam, bukan sahaja cuaca yang terus dingin sehingga suhu turun kebawah 10 darjah. Mungkin dua kali demam. Dengan demam pilihanraya dan demam perlantikan putera mahkota Dubai dan Naib Emir Dubai yang baru.
Sheikh Hamdan, Putera Mahkota Dubai
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Naib President and Perdana Menteri UAE merangkap Emir Dubai, pada 3 Februari 2008 telah melantik dua anaknya, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, 26 tahun sebagai Putera Mahkota Dubai and Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, 25 tahun sebagai naib Emir Dubai.
Sheikh Maktoum, Naib Emir Dubai yang baru
Selain mengekalkan abangnya sendiri, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum sebagai seorang lagi naib Emir Dubai.
Perlantikan dua anak muda yang masih dua puluhan ini memang sudah dijangkakan.
Apakah senario yang sama berlaku di Malaysia dalam pilihanraya kali ini?
Apakah mereka yang berusia 30han akan menguasai senarai calun dan ramai yang veteran akan jadi sekadar catatan sejarah? Selepas ini kita melihat barisan kabinet orang muda?
Begitupun perlantikan kedua anak Sheikh Mohammad ini diikuti dengan pembebasan seramai 216 banduan dari penjara Dubai sebagai kesyukuran. Tentunya menjadi hadiah bernilai buat banduan dan keluarga yang bertuah.
Tidak mungkin senario ini berlaku di Malaysia, saya pasti tidak mungkin PM yang menang besar akan membebaskan tahanan ISA yang malang kerana terus ditahan sebagai mangsa politik tanpa dibicarakan di mahkamah terbuka!Ustaz Hasrizal who was on transit in Dubai before flying off to Doha. The four day workshop was compressed into about 3 hours.
I strongly recommend Ustaz Hasrizal for your next 'kem motivasi'. He is not only young and talented but also has a very good understanding of the current Muslim issues, as individuals in this modern age.
Knowlegde, Expertise, Attitude and Information
Ladies and children
Photos are from Lensa FND's Public Gallery
The title reminds me of someone far away who was some time ago dubbed as Mr Clean. He ain't a cleaner and even though he lives in a government house like Raja Anand who lives in a flat, the house is actually a palace. And definitely his salary is not AED800 per month to start with.
With three ministries and other perks not to mention his son's and son-in-law's wealth, Mr Clean is said to have been cleaning a lot of treasures from the nation's Khazanah under the banner of Hadhori.
That Mr Clean won his first election at helm with sweeping victory. That Mr Clean had promised the whole nation a lot of things like to clean up his government from pestiferous rats, snakes and other pests in corridors of power.
Yet 4 years later, even his own mouthpiece and propaganda machine, the mainstream media hardly calls him Mr Clean. Is it because he is no longer clean to carry the 'clean' surname?
Raja Anand, Fujairah's Mr Clean may or may not sleep during his work, but he is only a cleaner. He was not elected to helm a country and has not promised the sky to million of disillusioned people. He lives within his means and does not have to proclaim:-
"It is God's will that I become the Prime Minister of Malaysia and I am very conscious that I have to serve the people although I personally do not benefit even one sen because of this." [...]
"Some of you can say that I'm not good, you can say whatever. But don't say that I don't work."
"I work very hard. I really mean it and you know it.''
But we never know since the body which is supposed to conduct fair and free election, SPR is just another tool to ensure the ruling regime is back into power, by hook or by crook.
The election is already in the air, the circus is back in town. The clowns are here to stay with vangeance to celebrate year of the rats.
With more rats and other pests marauding in carridors of power with everything to lose to keep the bounty for another term, we need year of the cat!
Delivering a speech during a felicitation at the Free University of Berlin where he was honoured with a gold medal for his support and promotion of cultural exchanges between peoples of the two countries, Shaikh Mohammed received several rounds of applause from the gathering as he provided an insight into the UAE’s work culture and ethics.
The audience listened in rapt attention as Shaikh Mohammed, speaking in English, explained his philosophy of economics and how the UAE is today one of the world’s fastest developing nations. Shaikh Mohammed, on the second day of his two-day state visit to Germany, was received at the Free Berlin University by former German Chancellor and Chairman of the Arab-German Friendship Association Gerhard Schroeder, Chancellor of the University and staff.
“I like a challenge. When there is no challenge I feel sad,” he said explaining how the UAE managed to overcome hurdles and build up the infrastructure that is now the focus of world attention. Many people, he said, were sceptical when initial plans of what the UAE wanted to build and do were known. But later these people realised the wise economic decisions of the country.
Regarding democratic values in Arab society, Shaikh Mohammed told the audience that the “majlis” has been a central point in decision-making since times immemorial. He said this in the context of modern democracy. All decisions that affect society, he added, were taken after due consultations.
But what drew resounding praise from the gathering was when Shaikh Mohammed informed the audience about the UAE’s multicultured set-up where more nationalities live under one roof than in any other country.
He said: “In the UAE all nationalities live in peace. And if the UAE can do it then why not other countries.”
Shaikh Mohammed told the audience about the challenges which began early with his ancestors from Baniyas tribe, facing tough challenges, while looking for water to quench their thirst, and for grazing to their cattle. “It was a great challenge due to severity of the desert and lack of the natural resources,” Shaikh Mohammed said.
Elaborating on the challenges faced by the UAE after its inception and its subsequent growth and prosperity, Shaikh Mohammad said: “We built a modern and peaceful society in the middle of the desert, with giant projects of international status ...
By K.KASTURI DEWI and ANDREA FILMER
PENANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he works very hard to carry out his responsibility to all Malaysians.
“Some of you can say that I’m not good, you can say whatever. But don’t say that I don’t work.
“I work very hard. I really mean it and you know it,” he said to applause from those who attended the Chinese Assembly Hall’s Chinese New Year open house yesterday .
Abdullah said that as a Muslim, he had an obligation to fulfil his responsibility.
“I have a very heavy responsibility and I have to carry it out,” he said.
He also urged Malaysians to make full use of the opportunities available to do well in life and to serve the people.
“It is God’s will that I become the Prime Minister of Malaysia and I am very conscious that I have to serve the people although I personally do not benefit even one bit because of this,” he said.
He said in fulfilling his responsibility, he has to be fair to all Malaysians, irrespective of their ethnic background.
“However, each of us has to strive towards the creation of a Malaysian community that is happy, prosperous, united, harmonious and respected.
“As Malaysians, no matter where we are and even though we are just a minority group, we should feel comfortable and happy when attending a function.
“We should feel at home and that we are in the company of friends and fellow Malaysians,” he said.
I am horrified to learn that some of our Malay brothers and sisters working in a Malaysian interior contracting public listed company and Malaysian registered design company in Dubai have not got their residency visa done by these respective companies and have been working here on visit visas.
The numbers are quite significant and alarming and I was told only the Malays seemed to be marginalized. In some cases some of them had been working here for more than 1 and 1/2year. I was told of a few incidents where they had to run from being caught when raids were conducted and when returning from Malaysia were queried as to why there were so many exits stamps to Oman on their passports.
My worry is that if and when our Malaysian brothers and sisters are caught not only will they land in jail before being deported back but they will also be banned for life all for a few'taiko' that wish to make a quick buck at the expense of our brothers and sisters.
Malaysia good name in the UAE that had been carefully preserved before by pioneers like yourself will be tarnished once these are out in the open.
There are THREE issues here.
This is an important and alarming current issue concerning our fellow Malaysians (hundreds if not thousands and increasing by day) who are brought to the Gulf by certain Malaysian firms either as permanent or contractual staff.
Some of these firms are as reported, awarded billion worth of projects especially in construction sector across the Gulf. We are proud of their achievements to carry Malaysia flag in this increasingly competitive, cut-throat but growing and expanding market.
Unfortunately, in deliberate moves to minimise their operating costs and capital expenditures, some of these major firms are conveniently flouting labour law. For example, in UAE's Labour Law:-
Non-Nationals may not be employed in the United Arab Emirates without the prior approval of the Labour Department and before first obtaining an employment permit in accordance with the procedures and regulations laid down by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Such permit shall not be granted unless the following conditions are fulfilled:
(a) That the worker possesses professional competence or educational qualification the country is in need of.
(b) That the worker has lawfully entered the country and satisfied the conditions
prescribed in the residence regulations in force.
Malaysia pasport holders are among 30+ foreign nationals who are given free visit visa upon arrival up to 60 days in UAE. This leeway has been abused by these errant Malaysian firms to avoid paying immigration fees and other deposits imposed for residency visa to the employers in legalising their workforce.
One common way to get around the law as also a common modus operandi by other errant firms is by exiting UAE every two months, before expiry date of visit visa. The most popular destination is Oman which can be reached by land and much cheaper compared to other destinations with half-a-day day return trip.
Under the UAE law, expatriates working illegally face up to 10 years in jail followed by deportation. Employers of illegal workers could be imprisoned for one month and face a fine of Dh50,000.
However, The Ministry of Labour has started granting short term work permits for six months from January 2. Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi, Minister of Labour, had issued a new ministerial decision that allows companies in all sectors to apply for mission work permits for their employees who are in probation period or who are in the country for a short term job.
This shall be heeded by these errant firms if they care about their staff well-being.
"Implementing the mission work permit will help solve the problem of people working on visit visa and it will give greater flexibility in the relationship between the employer and employee," said Al Ka'abi.
People working on a visit visa are illegal and are thus not protected by the Labour Law. "Contract that protects the worker's right will be issued together with mission work permit and a bank warranty, which is taken for each worker, will be liquidated in case of non payment of salary," said Al Ka'abi.
Brigadier Mohammad Al Merri, Director General of Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department, said the new type of work permit hopes to limit the misuse of visit visas.
"In the next period we expect to reduce the number of visit visas issued as companies will bring their workers on the mission work permit," said Al Merri.
Humaid Bin Deemas, assistant undersecretary at the ministry, said the three-year work permits created a dilemma between the employer and employee, which mission work permits can eliminate.
"Mission work permits will give an opportunity to both companies and employees to test each other before making a long term commitment," said Bin Deemas.
No six-month ban will be applied for workers on mission work permit if they decide to discontinue their work during the probation period, as per the new rule."Earlier only the employer had the right to terminate a contract during the probation period, but the new rule also allows the worker to discontinue their work during the probation without facing a year's ban," said Bin Deemas.
Mission work permits will be processed electronically and companies will be notified online. Companies with less than 500 workers can initially get as much as 50 per cent of their total labour force as quota for the mission work permit, while companies with more than 500 workers can get 100 per cent of their total staff as quota.
Newly established companies with no employees will be given five workers as quota after they pay a bank warranty of Dh24,000.
Latest news READ HERE
Cost of legal work/residency permit for 6 months.
Hopefully, these errant firms will be able to find the best solution by legalising their workforce before some innocent Malaysians detained, jailed, sentenced and barred for good from entering workforce in this lucrative region.
Permit: Breakup of charges
Fees for issuing mission work permit:
Application fee: Dh100
Work Permit for 90 days: Dh500
Renewing the work permit for another additional 90 days: Dh500
Bank warranty for each work permit: Dh3,000 (Companies who have paid the maximum amount for bank warranty will be exempted)
Interior Ministry to issue mission visa: Dh600
Medical Test: Dh600
Fines imposed in case of delays If a work permit is not renewed within
seven days from the expiry date if the worker is still in duty: Dh500
If a work permit has not been used and not been cancelled within 90 days of the issuing date: Dh500
If a labour card has not been issued after 30 days from the date the worker entered the country: Dh500 for every five days till the worker leaves
Last ramadhan, we had a Malaysian citizen detained for dishonoured (UMNO-linked) company cheque.
Operating costs in UAE are high especially to arrange staff accommodation near to the offices or sites. The normal practice in saving on this significant cost is by renting a villa or apartment and putting more than comfortable number of staff to share. The staff has to squeeze, cramp, sacrifice their own space by living in minimum bearable condition. I was informed that a Malaysian firm had put 20 staff up in an apartment, another firm had put about 40 up in a villa.
In parallel, some of these Malaysian firms had already extended their working hours to the maximum allowable under the laws, a few even had managed to exceed the limits under certain clauses in new contract. There are complaints on the unbearable workloads with illogical deadlines but the firms, in trying desperately to make more profits at the same time trying their best to minimise the workforce as well. They are slave drivers alright!
Recently, one landscaping company, linked to a big name in Malaysia has been few times behind in salary payments. It is not a first time and the last one.
Not surprisingly, one of the main players related to earlier staff detention had already announced to close shop due to financial difficulties and non-performance.
This is a bit sensitive issue however it is something that has been happening rampantly in the Gulf. If we can check further on these errant companies, even those which listed at KLSE with Malay chairmen and directors (as per regulations) to make up the list, it is not a myth that Malay staff is being marginalised as a common practice.
Reality is, majority of staff who are working illegally by abusing visit visa under employers' instructions or procedures are Malays. It could not be accidental since non-Malays with the same levels and positions are almost all on valid residency visas and other separate perks.
If Ministry of Labour squad teams raid one of these errant firms, those who will likely be detained, jailed and sentenced are mainly these innocent Malays. Maybe this is part of Barisan Nasional spirit since these errant companies are linked in a way or another with politicians.
The salary and package variation and disparity are also obvious between Malay and non-Malay staff in the same firms. I have personally received a lot of CVs from these fellow Malaysians hoping to get away from the errant firms or hoping for better remunerations with the current prevailing market condition. I managed to assist some of them from this predicament.
These differences are clear as the blue sky when CVs are compared to each other. I feel very sad over this phenomenon in Malaysia context. Is this due to meritocracy or plain racism? I can still bear my frustration if these firms are not owned by fellow Malaysians. Can we blame this to the 'I work very hard' PM?
Some may argue that the Malaysian government, agencies, GLCs and bumi companies have similar practices towards the non-Malays, so semuanya OK. My point here is, irrespective of the race-based organisations, whatever WRONG is WRONG and two wrongs do not make a right.
But then again, those Malays who are chairmen and directors of these firms may be blinded by the monetary compensations as pathetic Ali Babas. They may not care less on the blatant discriminations inflicted on their own race under their own noses. Welcome to reality my countrymen!
We do not want to see our MALAYSIAN brothers and sisters have to pay with their freedoms for these illegal practices of hiring staff without valid visa by our own Malaysian firms.
It was some time ago, when Emaar launched its first project, The Greens Apartment that I heard about hundreds of hopeful buyers had to queue few days before the launching day. They were literally camping out to grab the early units of Middle East's first ever development open for sale to foreigners.
On the morning itself, due to unavailability of mortgage options as the banks were still alien to mortgage concepts for non-nationals, a lot of these expatriates carried cash to pay for the bookings and even total sum of the price. Beyond expectation, every unit offered was sold out in few hours. History breaking feat that was a big headline for few days.
No, it was not a made-up story. I saw it happened back home in Malaysia during the booming days. Speculators, err, investors were and are still there and everywhere, including in Dubai. Most new launches sold within hours and now you can see those for sale advertisements in newspapers.
The bubble wil be burst....you heard it loud from sceptics.
The property developers and agents are now also increased in number with new laws gazetted to curb malpractices. Among the actions to safeguard the home buyers from manipulated, conned and cheated by unscrupulous agents and developers, the government established Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) which in turn, introduced escrow account system and other measures like licensing the agents.
Giants like Emaar, Nakheel, Tatweer, Dubai Properties, Damac, Al Qudra, Surouh, Al Dar, Al Reem, RAK Properties, National Properties, to name a few are now established names in property development sector within a short span of time. More projects were and to be launched.
The total development has reached USD trillions and more to come.
For example, with the demand keeps increasing, the current values for apartment units in the Greens are appreciated multiple times over from the original prices and all of these fortunate buyers, if they were not millionaires before, are now millionaires on their own rights.
A villa on the Palm Jumeira in 2002 was sold at AED3 million, about 4,000 units were sold out, and the same villa now already fetching AED12 millions.
Most rich people make their fortunes through property business. The famous one, Trump is also building his real estate business here on the Palm.
And fastforward to today, different time but the same scenario repeated. Who says Dubai's bubble is about to burst anytime? The property market is still alive and kicking, the bubble stays afloat and those doomsayers have to keep shifting the dates, again, now 2010 will be the doomsday. Or is it 2012? 2015?
This time, year 2008, Emaar did it again and again. As reported, supposedly there were all millionaires who were queueing up armed with cheque books and passports to grab apartments on sale.
Hundreds queue all night for Burj Dubai units
More than 300 people spent Friday night queuing up outside Emaar Properties' Burj Dubai sales centre, desperate to grab several new units in the developer's flagship project. In unprecedented scenes, some buyers are thought to have paid nearly 8 million dirhams ($2.18 million) for one bedroom apartments in the Burj itself, and over 2 million dirhams for one bedroom apartments in Downtown Burj Dubai.Emaar announced on Thursday it would be hosting a sales event for an "exclusive collection" of high-end homes drawn from various residential projects in Downtown Burj Dubai.
Residential projects included The Old Town, The Residences, South Ridge, Burj Dubai Lake Hotel & Serviced Apartments and The Dubai Mall Hotel & Serviced Apartments, some of which are ready to move into immediately.
The units officially went on sale at 9am on Saturday morning. However, by 3am queues had already built up, with many eager buyers bringing blankets, food and drink with them. Many were armed with cheque books and passports, keen to snap up anything they could.
"It got busy very early. The rumours have been going around of units going for 3,000 dirhams per square foot, which is very high but most people still think the price is going to rise a lot more as the Burj Dubai nears completion," said Robert Macnair, branch manager of property consultants Sherwoods.
"Many of these properties have gone up 25% in value within the last three months alone.”Downtown Burj Dubai is being marketed as "a city within a city", and will include 30,000 homes, nine hotels, 6.2 acres of parkland, 19 residential towers, the Dubai Mall, and a 30-acre manmade lake.
The Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world, will be the centrepiece of the $20 billion development.The circus comes to town.
The circus brings a lot of clowns.
These clowns are here to entertain the crowd with their performances.
Everyone loves clowns. Clowns love the crowd.
You can laugh, you can cheer, you can boo and you can ignore them.
Some clowns are paid, some are available for free
and you never now, some may be pretenders for something sinisters.
There are a lot of clowns around any time of the year,
not only in the mainstream media, parliament and (political) parties but also on the streets.
With the circus in town, suddenly there are more clowns than advertised in the posters.
Out of nowhere, Chief Clown who suddenly appears everywhere and claims he is working very very hard to cheer us up with a lot of new humourous corridors and variety of goodies.His son-in-law-clown is also working very very hardto entertain more clowns, soon-to-be-clowns,clowns-of-the-day, clowns-to-be and clowns-to-be-not-to-be.The new clown team is indeed in the making.
Clowns nowadays have different masks to disguise themselves for different crowds. Sometimes, these clowns have their own mysterious identities even though they have different masks to move around with ease.
At the end of the day, these colourful or sometime bland clowns with not-so-funny characters and antics are the potraits of our choice in life!
When the circus is over, we may become them as we were sold by the grand pathetic show and they, these elected clowns with or without masks have the last LAUGH.
Soon the prime time clowns will laugh all the way to the banks with your hard-earned money and bleak future!
Until the next circus, if ever, comes to town!
But NO news in BERNAMA or other major papers on the visit so far.
The news can still be watched here, make sure 13 Feb version.
What time was the departure of the King from Kuala Lumpur? The flight is normally 6 to 7 hours and Kuala Lumpur is 4 hours ahead of Abu Dhabi. The clip showed the arrival was still during daylight (now maghrib is 6.15pm or so).
As reported,The Yang diPertuan Agong has given his consent to dissolve Parliament on Feb 13 itself, paving the way for the 12th General Elections to be held within 60 days from the date of dissolution.
Malaysian king arrives in UAE
WAMPublished: February 14, 2008, 00:45
Abu Dhabi: Malaysian King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin arrived here yesterday on a visit to the UAE.
The Malaysian monarch was received upon arrival by Deputy
Prime Minister Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
We cannot imagine to lose him in our life. If he is no longer erected, we may lose a lot of foreign investments and slip further in the World Competitiveness Report. Worse, we will lose a top-notch clown that can be a real butt of jokes in the whole world. We may not have a good entertainment to laugh and to make fun anymore.
Yes, ZAM's erection is vital for vision 2020 or 2050.
Return BN To Power For Continued Development - Zam
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional (BN)
government has helped add value to the people's quality of life and they should reciprocate by returning it to power, Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin said today.
He said that previous prime ministers had never handed over an impoverished government to their predecessors but had left a properous nation which had suceededed in eradicating poverty.
"The people must resolve to return the mandate to the BN to hold the reins and Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to continue to be the prime minister," he said when addressing the ministry's monthly assembly here.
Zainuddin said the people should help BN harness its strength and the
"Although we are now a caretaker government after the dissolution of
Parliament yesterday, I'm confident that BN will be returned to power," he said.
Zainuddin said he was confident that the PAS-led Kelantan state government would be toppled in the general election because the people would no longer submit to the orthodox mindset while Terengganu would continue to be governed by BN.
"We have been living in a state of certainty over the past 50 years of our
independence because basic essentials such as food were adequate," he
Polling has been fixed for March 8 and nominations for Feb 24.
Zainuddin also reminded the ministry's personnel to continue to work hard and provide excellent service to the people and not regard their duties as burden.
"The mindset of the personnel should be sharpened towards lasting
commitment to their duties," he said.
Present were the ministry's secretary-general, Datuk Kamaruddin Siaraf, Bernama general manager Datuk Azman Ujang, and Bernama editor-in-chief Yong Soo Heong.-- BERNAMA
DANA BOLEH DI HULUR KEPADA ZULKIFLI NOORDINMELALUI AKAUN MAYBANK 164593029443.BIODATA
Nama : ZULKIFLI BIN NOORDIN
T/ lahir : Juma'at 12 Sya'ban 1381 bersamaan 19 Februari 1962
Tempat Lahir : Kg.. Carok Bemban, Batu 42, Baling, Kedah
Profesion : Peguambela & Peguamcara / Peguam Syarie
Kelulusan : Ijazah Undang-Undang, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
Rendah : Ashby Road (English) Primary School, Ipoh
Menengah : Anderson School Ipoh; King Edward VII Taiping
Pra Universiti : Maktab Tentera Di Raja, Sungai Besi
A – Level : Pakuranga College, Bucklands Beach, Auckland, New Zealand
Universiti : Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand (1982-1986)
1. Ahli EXCO Majlis Peguam Malaysia (sessi 2006-2007)
2. Ahli Jawatankuasa Perundangan Syariah, Majlis Peguam Malaysia (sessi 2008-2009)
3. Ahli EXCO Pertubuhan Peguam Pembela Islam (PPI)
4. Pengerusi, Madrasah To' Din (MTD), Baling, Kedah
5. Penasihat Undang-Undang, Masjid Jame' Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur
6. Penceramah di masjid, surau dan forum-forum yang bersesuaian di peringkat nasional dan antarabangsa.
1. Panel peguam kes pemecatan YAA Tun Salleh Abbas, Ketua Hakim Negara
2. Peguam mewakili Kerajaan Negeri Kelantan dalam kes Nordin Salleh –lwn- Dewan Undangan Negeri Kelantan (kes lompat parti ADUN S. 46 ke UMNO)
3. Mewakili Kumpulan Darul Arqam mencabar fatwa Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan
4. Mewakili Puan Pendek Ahmad & Norhayati Mohd. Yusof didalam kes berkaitan skandal seks Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik dengan gadis bawah umur)
5. Mewakili Al Fadhil Ustadz Kamal Asha'ari melawan Dato' Abdul Hamid Othman & Pusat Islam dalam kes fitnah terhadap Ustadz Kamal Asha'ari
6. Mengendalikan kes pemecatan YAB Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Timbalan Perdana Menteri
7. Mengendalikan kes-kes murtad termasuk kes Nor 'Aishah binti Bukhori
8. Ditahan dibawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) pada 29 September 1998 bersama-sama YAB Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan 16 yang lain.
9. Mengendalikan kes Lina Joy –v- Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan & Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara mewakili Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia
10. Mengendalikan kes Pendakwaraya –v- Kumpulan Al Maunah yang didakwa atas pertuduhan mememrangi Yang Di Pertuan Agong dibawah Seksyen 121 Kanun Keseksaan;
11. Menyampaikan ucapan dan pidato di University Columbia New York, London School of Economic, Cambridge University, UNESCO di Paris dan lain-lain.
12. Menyampaikan ucapan, pidato dan ceramah di UM, UiTM, UIA, UNITEN, UKM, KUSZA, Masjid-masjid, surau-surau, syarikat, bank, institusi-institusi dan lain-lain.
Opposition leaders court
Malaysian expatriates in UAE
By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
Published: February 15, 2008, 21:22
Dubai: Opposition leaders are courting overseas Malaysians,
who they see as a political asset in the country's general election next month.
The election comes at a time when many Malaysians are dissatisfied with the leadership.
Supporters showed up at the home of a Malaysian political advocate for a tele-conference with leaders of Parti Se-Islam Malaysia (PAS), the strongest out of the three opposition parties in the country, and discussed the three parties' electoral strategy against the ruling coalition, National Front.
"We know the National Front will probably win, but we want to decrease the majority," said one supporter.
Husam Mousa, vice-president of PAS, said the opposition was cooperating to avoid a three-corner fight. To court more support, he also promised a 'toning down' of the Islamic state issue, which PAS had long sought to establish in Malaysia.
Bagi mereka yang mengikuti perkembangan politik tanahair di UAE, sememangnya kedatangan pilihanraya kali ini menjadi satu klimaks yang mendebarkan. Sememangnya buat majoriti yang sudah bosan dan meluat dengan kepimpinan negara, bukan sekadar empat tahun lalu, perubahan memang menjadi agenda yang terus menyemarakkan semangat.
Rakyat Malaysia yang berada di UAE dikatakan sudah mencecah 5 ribu orang yang berniaga dan bekerja dalam pelbagai bidang. Dengan kepesatan pembangunan negara di bawah Perdana Menteri UAE yang cemerlang, gemilang dan terbilang, Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, rezeki buat kami dan keluarga memang masih melimpah.
Memang banyak perbedaan ketara antara dua Perdana Menteri dari negara yang bermajoritikan Islam walaupun dari sistem 'demokrasi yang berbeda'. Tetapi buat kami yang berada di UAE, terlalu sedih dengan PM sendiri di tanahair yang bukan sahaja menjadi bahan kutukan dan jenaka, malah menjadi ikon apa yang dikatakan sebagai simbol tersergam apa yang tidak kena di Malaysia.
Terimakasih kepada pengkritik Abdullah Badawi yang bernama Dr. Mahathir kerana beliaulah yang telah memilih Abdullah Badawi sebagai pengganti dan mungkin Dr. Mahathir akan membawa penyesalan ke liang lahad. Lebih malang lagi buat rakyat yang tidak memilih Abdullah Badawi sebagai PM.
Begitupun, boleh dikatakan salah satu legasi Dr. Mahathir ialah berhasilnya beliau menakut-nakutkan rakyat dalam kebebasan bersuara dan melahirkan pendapat berbeda. Pelbagai ancaman, tekanan dan kongkongan dengan berjenis akta dan sekatan sepanjang 22 tahun menjadi PM yang menghampiri diktator, Dr Mahathir melahirkan generasi yang sentiasa dibayangi oleh ketakutan.
Sehingga walau berada di luar negara, ramai rakyat Malaysia yang masih takut untuk kelihatan sebagai pengkritik atau pembangkang. Apalagi konon-kononnya ada dua tiga ekor SB yang dikatakan dihantar menyusup dikalangan rakyat di UAE sebagai pemerhati aktiviti kami di sini.
Pada SB-SB yang ada itu, kalau memang mereka SB, jangan lupa ada SB di kiri kanan bahu kamu yang sama memerhati dan mencatat aktiviti kamu yang lebih hebat lagi.
Buat kami yang sudah tidak heran dengan ugutan dan ancaman, meneruskan usaha untuk kearah Malaysia yang lebih baik tidak terhenti biarpun jauh dari tanahair. Mencari rezeki di perantauan pun adalah kerana mahukan perubahan keadaan, menyampah dengan gelagat elit UMNO yang semakin tamak haloba, serta memberikan ruang untuk lebih bebas dari persekitaran yang semakin bobrok dengan jenayah, rasuah, penyelewengan, ketidaktentuan ekonomi (biar bertambah koridor) dan arah hala negara disamping bimbang dengan masa depan anak-anak yang tidak terjamin.
Sebagai salah satu aktiviti dalam mendapatkan dana pilihanraya buat Barisan Alternatif, pihak kami mengadakan 'ceramah dan dialog' secara teleconferencing dengan YB Menteri Besar Kelantan, Tuan Guru Nik Aziz.
Bermula dengan tazkirah Tuan Guru, memang terasa terlepas kerinduan mendengar suara dan isi yang cukup bernas mengenai demokrasi dari sudut Islam. Memang sukar untuk mencari ganti kepada Tuan Guru yang bukan sahaja memberi impak kepada rakyat Kelantan, tetapi juga ramai yang dapat membedakan kehidupan antara seorang Menteri Besar dari PAS dan semua Menteri Besar lain dari BN.
Juga memang ketara perbedaan antara Tuan Guru Nik Aziz dengan Tuan Guru Imam Besar Hadhari yang kini semakin bergaya disamping permaisuri baru.
Sememangnya setiap manusia mempunyai kekuatan dan kelemahan masing-masing. Buat kami, Tuan Guru merupakan ikon dalam kehidupan yang serba mementingkan materialisme dan survival berlandaskan sekuralisme. Kelau berbanding kelemahan Tuan Guru dengan MB dari BN atau menteri atau PM sendiri, tidak ternampak kelemahan itu, kerana terlalu kecil.
Sesi Dialog di isi dengan pelbagai soalan yang kebanyakannya mahu kepastian dari apa yang dibaca melalui blog. Tuan Guru mengingatkan kami yang jangan sekali melibatkan persoalan peribadi kerana ada isu yang lebih besar untuk diketengahkan.
Antara soalan cepu mas ialah mengenai kedudukan Ibrahim Ali yang dikatakan akan bertanding di Parlimen Pasir Mas.
Apakah Ibrahim Ali akan bertanding mewakili PAS? Tuan Guru memberikan jawaban berterus-terang. Ya, Ibrahim Ali akan bertanding........penjelasan selanjutnya? Tunggu dan lihat.
Begitu juga dengan harapan PAS dalam menahan serangan GILA dari UMNO untuk menjadikan Kelantan mangsa mereka yang seterusnya dalam kempen 'pembangunan' dulu, kini dan selamanya.
Saya tertarik dengan kata-kata Tuan Guru yang BN pastinya mencurahkan wang untuk menarik undi. Seolah-olah pengundi dan rakyat adalah beruk, bukan manusia yang mempunyai akal fikiran untuk menilai. Seolah-oleh wang itu segala-galanya. Strategi ini boleh menikam diri mereka sendiri.
Tuan Guru beberapa kali memberi komen yang melucukan mengenai spekulasi dan ramalan. Pertanyaan dan saranan yang khusus mengenai DUN dan Parlimen tertentu turut dilontarkan untuk perhatian Tuan Guru. Kebetulan ramai juga rakyat Malaysia yang berasal dari Kelantan berada di UAE. Ada yang tidak berpuas hati dengan prestasi ADUN dan calun PAS tertentu.
Antara soalan yang melucukan ialah, "Berapa bajet pilihanraya PAS untuk Kelantan?"
Seolah-olah yang bertanya sudah bersiap dengan cek untuk menaja keseluruhan bajet yang ada.
Jawab Tuan Guru, "Hantar sajalah berapa guni duit yang ada....!"
Sesi bersama Tuan Guru adalah peluang yang terbaik untuk kami bersama memberi sokongan padu kepada Barisan Alternatif disamping menghulurkan dana untuk membantu kempen yang bakal menjadi 'kempen terkotor oleh BN'.
Satu jihad untuk menentang pendukung politik yang sudah biasa dengan matlamat menghalalkan cara, tidak kisah halal haram, dosa pahala, asalkan survival dan perut sendiri dipertahankan selagi nyawa dikanudng badan, tentunya, semua jentera dan harta kerajaan akan disalahgunakan untuk memastikan mereka kembali merompak khazanah negara.
Sesi bersama Tuan Guru diikuti dengan sesi bersama Husam.Jom kita spin dan tunggang-terbalikkan kempen Najib (foto dalam Berita Harian di atas nampak melucukan! Muka bawah tekanan....penuh masalah) yang menyalahgunakan jentera, bangunan dan pejabat kerajaan sepenuhnya.Itulah pemimpin yang bakal menjadi sekadar mantan Timbalan Perdana Menteri kalau tersilap langkah. Kerusi di Pekan mungkin masih selamat tetapi kerusi dalam kandang mahkamah juga sedang menanti.Cuba kita tukar BN kepada BA, Pas kepada BN, Kelantan kepada Malaysia. Mungkin itulah yang dimaksudkan oleh Najib.Dari Berita Harian:
KOTA BHARU: Barisan Alternatif (BA), mahu menawan Malaysia pada pilihan raya kali umum kali ini untuk menjadikan 2008 sebagai 'Tahun Merawat Malaysia' daripada segala kepincangan serta kegagalan pemerintahan BN sejak 50 tahun lalu.
Bakal mantan Timbalan Pengerusi BN, berkata langkah itu penting bagi menyembuhkan keadaan ekonomi dan sosial Malaysia secara menyeluruh, sekali gus memajukannya setanding negara lain di dunia.
"Kalau (Kerajaan BN) Malaysia mengisytiharkan 2007 sebagai Tahun Melawat Malaysia, jom isytiharkan tahun ini Tahun Merawat Malaysia kerana banyak kepincangan sosial dan ekonomi negeri ini perlu dirawat demi kesejahteraan rakyatnya.
"Bila sebut merawat Malaysia, tentu ramai yang menggambarkan merawat dalam konteks kesihatan tetapi hakikatnya usaha yang akan kita buat ini membawa pengertian lebih luas serta perspektif lebih besar.
"Merawat di sini bererti memulihkan keadaan daripada kurang jadi banyak; lemah menjadi kuat; dan ketinggalan menjadi terus maju."
Dari Utusan Malaysia.
KOTA BHARU 15 Feb. – Barisan Alternatif (BA) mengisytiharkan 2008 sebagai ‘Tahun Merawat Malaysia’ iaitu respons kepada perisytiharan ‘Tahun Melawat Malaysia 2007’ yang dibuat oleh kerajaan Barisan Nasional.
Bakal Mantan Timbalan Perdana Menteri memuji kempen itu yang bertujuan memulihkan semula keadaan negara ini yang ‘sakit’.
Beliau mengakui, kelemahan kerajaan BN yang memerintah negara ini, terutama selepas 2004 menyebabkan Malaysia semakin mundur dalam semua aspek fizikal, kemanusiaan dan modal insan.
‘‘Istilah merawat dalam kesihatan boleh bawa erti kalau dulu ada kencing manis, darah tinggi, obesiti, boleh kita pulihkan melalui usaha dan program kesihatan terbaik yang dapat kita lakukan untuk rakyat.
‘‘Dalam konteks negara Malaysia, ia membawa maksud memulihkan keadaan daripada kurang kepada banyak, lemah menjadi kuat dan ketinggalan dipacu untuk melangkah maju.
‘‘Insya-Allah sekiranya BA mendapat mandat pada pilihan raya 8 Mac depan, maka akan berlakulah sesi rawatan besar-besaran kepada Malaysia,’’ katanya.
Menurut Najib, BA ikhlas untuk membantu rakyat Malaysia.
‘Sikap itu jelas membuktikan keikhlasan BA untuk membantu negara supaya tidak tertinggal berbanding negara maju lain, mahupun negara jiran dan menepati prinsip pembangunan seimbang, adil dan saksama,” katanya.
Bagaimanapun, Timbalan Perdana Menteri menegaskan, keikhlasan tersebut akan menjadi sia-sia jika tiada gandingan yang sepatutnya di peringkat kerajaan pusat.
‘‘Kalau ada gandingan antara Kerajaan Pusat dan kerajaan negeri maka tidak syak lagi akan berlaku lonjakan pembangunan dan pembaharuan mega di seluruh negara,” katanya.
Najib juga berjanji sekiranya BA mendapat mandat, masalah kemiskinan tegar akan dihapuskan terus dari bumi Malaysia.
Sementara itu, Najib berkata, BA juga akan lebih memakmurkan masjid termasuk memberi peruntukan baik pulih kepada semua masjid yang memerlukan.
Mengenai konsep negara kebajikan yang menjadi bahan kempen BA menjelang pilihan raya umum 8 Mac ini , Najib memuji modal politik BA itu.
Menurut beliau, dasar itu tidak pernah dibuat oleh mana-mana negara di dunia termasuk Amerika Syarikat.
‘‘Di Amerika Syarikat, untuk mendapat rawatan rakyat perlu mempunyai insurans kesihatan dan pada masa ini terdapat kira-kira 50 juta penduduknya tidak mempunyai insurans itu".
Mantan PM yang kini menjadi pengkritik keras kepada PM hari ini, pernah bersajak mengenai perjuangan yang belum selesai. Manakala PM yang baru sepenggal juga bersajak untuk mencari damai di hati, termasuk mencari Ghazali dan Shafie.
Sajak memang boleh menyentuh emosi. Tetapi realitinya, mereka bersajak lebih sebagai propaganda politik. Walau ada yang tersebak dan menitiskan airmata terutama buat mereka yang mahu mengampu, tiada kesan yang menusuk apabila dilihat siapa mereka yang bersajak itu.
Sebagai manusia biasa, kedua yang menjadi PM mempunyai kekuatan dan kelemahan. Semasa dalam pemerintahan, dengan manipulasi media dan jentera kerajaan, serta spin doctors, terserlah kekuatan.
Kelamahan yang menjadikan rakyat terus bimbang terutama mengenai kehidupan harian yang semakin mencabar. Tidak begitu signifikan buat mereka yang berkedudukan tinggi. Jurang antara yang kaya raya dan papa kedana semakin ketara walaupun statistik kerajaan memaparkan penurunan kemiskinan tegar. Siapa percaya pada statistik rasmi yang lebih kepada kosmetik?
Walau apapun kemeriahan di dunia siber, sukar untuk menyentuh mereka yang jauh dari corridors of power, yang ketika ini akan menjadi raja dengan umpanan pelbagai janji manifesto serta, ugutan dalam pelbagai bentuk propaganda. Prioriti adalah perjuangan harian untuk mencari sesuap nasi tidak akan selesai.
Jutaan di luar sana, sama ada mengundi atau tidak, sama ada akan diwakili oleh pengundi hantu atau membuang undi rosak, tidak banyak perubahan akan berlaku.
Tidak mungkin berubah sekelip mata dengan koridor ekonomi yang mencecah trilion dilancarkan di merata kawasan. Menenggelamkan pelbagai projek mega zaman Mahathir, serta RMK9 yang seolah-olah tidak ujud lagi.
Saya tersentuh membaca luahan bakal calun Parlimen P8 Kulim-Bandar Baharu, Zulkifli Noordin melalui blog Zul4kulim.
It looks tough..it sounds tough..(peh..macam bunyi Lingam pulak.. it sounds like me..looks like me..but it is not me..). But I find it very encouraging bila jumpa orang-orang kampong ni.
Ada satu nyonya penjual buah potong-potong dekat rumah persinggahan saya di Kulim. Tiap kali saya lalu dia hulur sebungkus buah pada saya..you know sebungkus dia hantar margin profit dia drop tau..
Di satu tempat di sebuah estet, satu orang aci jumpa saya masa buat lawatan. Dia pegang saya nala punya kuat..saya ingat dia nak ambik saya buat menantu. Tapi dia kata dia nak tolong saya..dia kata dia tahu saya takkan menang tapi dia mahu
saya bawa suara orang kampong ke Parlimen. Dia buka dompet kecil dia..saya
ingat dia nak hulur sireh. Tau tau dia bagi saya 30sen..itu sahaja yang dia mampu.
Kalian tahu, nak menangis saya dibuatnya.. here one old Indian lady sacrificing her lunch money for me. It may not be a lot for most of you..but I tell you.. if you see their living condition..it is big sacrifice on her part to give me that 30 sen. You can see into her eyes..the eyes of hope..hoping that their little voices are heard.
Dan itulah perjuangan saya untuk membawa suara rakyat bawahan..suara marhaen..tangisan pak tani..rintihan aci, keluhan nyonya..biar suara-suara kerdil itu menggegar jiwa rakus di Parlimen sana..biar suara keramat marhaen merentas bumi.
Suara rakyat bawahan, tidak kira bangsa dan agama serta kawasan, sudah lama sepi di Parlimen sejak dikuasai sepenuhnya oleh segolongan elit. Isu-isu yang ditimbulkan lebih remeh-temeh dan mengarut. Sebab itu tiada siaran langsung kerana PM yang memegang tiga kementerian sendiri mempunyai rekod kehadiran terburuk. Lebih banyak masa berada dalam kapalterbang dari dalam parlimen.
Buat kita yang bukan dari golongan elit dan berkuasa.... perjuangan tidak pernah selesai, kalah atau menang.
The list is not exhaustive, please continue.
- Election Commission of Malaysia is an unofficial component of Barisan Nasional
- The chairman of Election Commission of Malaysia is an UMNO member
- The current chairmanship of Election Commission of Malaysia had expired but was extended under Constitutional Amendment Bill. It was so obviously being rushed through to keep him the job as to insult to both the Constitution and Parliament.
- The main functions of Election Commission are to follow any orders from Barisan Nasional chairman and to ensure Barisan Nasional win by hook or by crook
- The policy of the Election Commission is to safeguard, supervise and maintain the undemocratic process of the country through not free and unfair elections
- Election Commission will spend RM200 million for the election, deploying 149,000 staff and 50,000 casual staff including helicopter pilots and boat navigators on behalf of Barisan Nasional.
- The election date is always based on feng shui and wet dreams of Prime Minister
- Malaysia’s population is now around 26 million. About 15 million Malaysians are eligible to vote but only 10,701,054 voters are registered either by themselves or somebody else
- Not all of these 10,701,054 registered voters will cast their votes on polling day
- Not all of these 10,701,054 registered voters are alive any time on polling day
- Not all of these 10,701,054 registered voters know they are in the registration list and their constituencies
- Some of these 10,701,054 registered voters can be transferred any where without their knowlegde any time of the year
- The electoral rolls is deliberately contaminated by Election Commission with the names of the dead, non-citizens, multiple registrations and the under-aged, to ensure election outcomes are determined by phantoms rather than citizens as per instructions of Barisan Nasional.
- Most of the deads among 10,701,054 registered voters will return from their graves to cast their votes for Barisan Nasional on polling day
- Lingam or 'It looks like me, It sounds like me' Lingam may or may not cast his votes coincidentally with any of former chief justices at the same time
- Phantom voters are people with other persons' identities and original faked ICs from National Registration Department but can never be caught as long as they are voting for Barisan Nasional on polling day
- The phantom voters are here to stay as the government responded to the Likas verdict by changing the Election Act so that election outcome can no longer be challenged on the grounds of electoral roll validity
- The extent of irregularities and fraudulent registrations is part of the chairman's KPIs and quantum of bonus
- For years, elections have seen high number of missing ballots in many constituencies but Election Commission chairman always closes both eyes and ears but not his smelly mouth
- Spoilt votes are counted again and again to spoil the outcome if necessary
- There are always power breakdowns during ballots counting in certain critical areas
- Mal-apportionment and gerrymandering of constituencies have gone from bad to worse with the 2002 constituency re-delineation exercise but who cares as long as Barisan Nasional is the government
- There are 221,085 postal voters mainly military and police personnel whose votes normally casted by their superiors
- Only 4 categories of Malaysian Citizens who are overseas qualify to register as postal voters under Elections (Registration of Electors) Regulation, 2002 and they are all Barisan Nasional supporters only
- Postal voters do not necessarily cast their ballots by post or even exist at all
- Indelible Ink is not necessarily indelible for phantom voters
- Transparent ballot boxes are implemented to enrich certain cronies of Barisan Nasional
- Ballot papers without serial numbers would be used in this election but your votes are not necessarily secret
- Opposition parties can have access to the Government controlled print and broadcast media as long as they make fool of themselves
- There will be thousands of opposition supporters joining Barisan Nasional and all over the media before polling day
- Thousands of people will attend opposition rallies but they are not registered voters
- The opposition parties will be bickering and quarelling all over the media even before nomination day
- Nomination day is like a festival with a lot of drama and actions before both supporters kick each other and Barisan Nasional supporters are always the innocent victims
- This election is the same time for ZAM's erection
- There are a lot of cash, kain pelikat, kain batiks with Barisan Nasional stamp available for free during campaign period and on polling day than any other days of the year
- Mat Rempits with Barisan Nasional t-shirts and flags will be kings of the roads
- Barisan Nasional will return to power with more than 2/3 majority even with only 40 percent popular votes
You know but who cares that:-
- It is an offence to provide food, drinks or refreshments with a view to induce voters to either vote for a particular candidate or not vote at all.
- It is illegal to provide monetary rewards for voting for a certain candidate.
- It is an offence to threaten a person to vote for a candidate or not to vote. In 2004 this was extended to include "spiritual threats".
- It is an offence to obstruct passage to and from a voting centre. Setting up a location for any candidate within 50 yards (50 m) of the voting centre is an offence. Similarly, loitering in this zone is also an offence. Only voters are allowed in this zone on voting day.
- It is technically an offence to provide transportation to a voting centre. However, this is not normally enforced as all parties do this to some degree. It is a further offence to use a vehicle that is normally rented out (such as a taxi or hired bus) to provide such transportation. The only exception to this is that it is allowed to provide for the crossing of rivers. No passengers of any vehicle can be forced to alight within 50 yards of a candidate's booth on voting day.
- Each candidate is not allowed to spend more than RM 200,000 (parliamentary) or RM 100,000 (state) for campaigning under Section 19 of the Elections Offences Act, 1954. It has been alleged, however, that the governing Barisan Nasional coalition spent around RM1.5 billion in the 2004 general election, far more than the RM94,300,000 permitted under the regulations.
Di satu tempat di sebuah estet, satu orang aci jumpa saya masa buat lawatan. Dia
pegang saya nala punya kuat..saya ingat dia nak ambik saya buat menantu. Tapi
dia kata dia nak tolong saya..dia kata dia tahu saya takkan menang tapi dia mahu
saya bawa suara orang kampong ke Parlimen. Dia buka dompet kecil dia..saya ingat dia nak hulur sireh. Tau tau dia bagi saya 30sen..itu sahaja yang dia mampu.
Kalian tahu, nak menangis saya dibuatnya.. here one old Indian lady sacrificing her lunch money for me. It may not be a lot for most of you..but I tell you.. if you see their living condition..it is big sacrifice on her part to give me that 30 sen. You can see into her eyes..the eyes of hope..hoping that their little voices are heard.
- The chairman of Election Commission claims there are no phantom voters during past 11 elections. Of course he lies as always
- Phantom voters are legally registered by Election Commision even though in 2006, the Election Commission announced that in an effort to reduce instances of phantom voting, 180,000 dead voters would be purged from the electoral roll
- Phantom voters are comprised of the dead, non-citizens and voters with multiple registrations with the mission to vote for Barisan Nasional
- Some phantom voters cast their ballots using identification documents of deceased people
- Phantom voters carry myKad as other non-phantom voters, not necessarily their own identities and can be different identities at the same location
- "Looks like me, sounds like me' Lingam can be a phantom voter in Kelana Jaya
- Phantom voters can be uniformed servicemen such as police, army, navy and air force personnels may be made to vote twice at different places and different state
- Phantom voters are among voters registered as postal voters who are overseas
- Phantom voters can be those registered as voters without their knowledge, at any constituency which they have no idea where
- Phantom voters are among 20,643 people above the age 107 and 10,513 people above the age 108 that found in the electoral roll
- Phantom voters normally ferried in buses and cars stealthily during midnight or evening on the election day to polling stations
- Phantom voters can be a case of 'planted voters' arranged by EC
- Hundreds of phantom voters shared the same address that they never live
- Some phantom voters were registered with addresses of houses that have not yet been built
- Many phantom voters have never lived in a particular area, as they were not known to the local community
- In some other cases, phantom voters had successfully registered to vote using non-residential addresses and even false or unknown addresses
- Some phantom voters were registered at addresses without house numbers, even though they lived in proper flats or apartments
- Phantom voters can be anybody, alive or dead!
Huge Crowd At Lembah Pantai Ceramah Says It All For Pak Lah
Now, alternative one
Oleh msomelayu.blogspot. com
Selasa, 04 Mac 2008
SAYA BARU saja sampai di rumah dan terus menulis laporan ini - mengenai kedatangan Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ke Lembah Pantai jam 9:00 tadi untuk berkempen membantu calon BN di situ, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
Seperti dijanjikan saya akan cuba membuat analisa politik di Lembah Kalang dengan melihat sendiri perkembangan di Lembah Pantai. Pertarungan antara Puteri Reformasi, Nurul Izzah dengan Shahrizat menarik. Walaupun Shahrizat dalam merendahkan Nurul Izzah dengan menganggap (Nurul Izzah)sebagai anaknya, namun ternyata tentangan diberikan Nurul Izzah mengoncangkan kedudukan Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Kelaurga dan Masyarakat itu.
Kalau beliau tidak merasa panas punggung sudah pasti Abdullah tidak akan sampai ke Lembah Pantai malam ini.
Shahrizat tersalah sangka dalam kali ini. Benar kata orang kecil jangan disangka anak, besar jangan disangka ibu!
Bagaimana pun malam ini agak malang sedikit, suasana sebenarnya tidak dapat disaksi. Saya tidak mahu berbohong angka tepat mengenai kehadiran di perkarangan flat di Lembah Pantai malam. Angka tepat tidak dapat diberikan. Ini kerana dalam menanti ketibaan Abdullah, sebaik saja Abdullah tiba jam 9:25 malam, hujan turun dengan lebatnya.
Lagak hujan tidak ubah seperti pancutan air semasa tunjuk perasaan anti kerajaan diadakan. Akibatnya orang lari lintang pukang tanpa mempedulikan Abdullah. Abdullah sendiri juga tidak turun dari kereta dan terus masuk menghampiri pentas. Dalam keadaan bertempiran itu terdengar suara mengatakan; tak berkat Pak Lah ni, kalau berkat takkan hujan turun!
Berapa ramai yang berhimpun di hadapan pentas dan yang mengelilingi meja makan tidak dapat di hitung. Cuma apa yang dapat dihitung ialah kelompok yang menanti Abdullah di muka jalan. Jumlahnya tidak lebih 2,000 orang.
Kira-kira setengah jam hujan mulai reda. Mulanya saya ingat orang ramai yang berlindung di gerai-gerai makan berhampiran akan masuk menuju ke pentas untuk mengikuti ucapan Abdullah. Sebaliknya masing-masing membuka langkah meninggalkan majlis berkenaan.
Keadaan ini berbeza dengan apa yang berlaku di tempat ceramah Anwar Ibrahim. Orang ramai tidak akan pedulikan hujan dan tetap berdiri hatta kesejukan mendengar pidato Anwar. Salah seorang yang berlindungi di gerai makan merungut; "Tak perlu susah payah, duk sini lagi sedap," katanya sambil menghiru kopi O.
Seorang anak muda yang membawa bendera BN pula sambil melaung; tak padan upah RM50, demam kena hujan nak beli ubat pun tak cukup. Apa yang dapat diagakkan perakan motosikal yang mengiringi Abdullah itu diupah RM50 bagi sebuah motor.
Jam 10:30 ketika Abdullah dijangka akan memulakan ucapannya ramai yang membuka lengkah untuk pulang. Ditangan mereka yang pulang saya nampak mereka memegang beberapa buah booklet yang dibahagi-bahagikan.Menariknya kebanyakan mereka yang membuka langkah ini juga ditangan masing-masing tergenggam sekeping kertas yang digulung kemas. Ketika saya mengajukan kepada salah seorang dari mereka, (Mak Cik usia 60-an) mengenai kertas itu dia tanpa segan silu membuka dan menunjukkan ke arah saya.
Astagar.... rupa-rupa kertas poster Nurul Izzah.
masih angkuh berdiri dalam kecemasan
masih bongkak bercakap dalam pembohongan
menghidang racun dalam kemanisan
mengumpan karun dalam kekalutan
strategi drakonian memakan diri
perancangan semakin tidak menjadi
kerana yang bodoh itu bukan kami
yang pandai itu bukan kamu pencuri
telah terasa tewas sebelum berlawan
telah langkah terperangkap dalam impian
dan perdana menteri, lakukanlah apa saja
dunia ini kamu, anak, menantu dan kroni yang punya
demi kemenangan dua pertiga
demi serakah nafsu gila
biar tergadai satu negara
demi bobrok warisan dan lagenda!
KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 (Bernama) -- The outstanding leadership of Prime Minsiter Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has inspired Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing, the founder and chairman of Lim Kok Wing University of Creative Technology (LKWUCT), to compile a book on the leader.
Klik pada poster untuk lebih jelas
Menurut beliau, Rashid menyatakan kenaikan mendadak undi kepada Zulkifli ialah kerana hilangnya kepercayaan orang ramai kepada BN selepas SPR diarah menarik balik penggunaan dakwat kekal kepada pengundi. Ini ditambah lagi dengan kenyataan Dewan Perhimpunan Cina Selangor yang meminta pengundi Cina tidak mengundi calon BN, Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir yang pernah mengugut untuk membakar dewan itu.
Kerana itu, menurut sumber tersebut, mesyuarat tergempar semalam diadakan kerana Rashid ingin meminta nasihat dari Peguam Negara, Gani Patail untuk membatalkan kelayakan Zulkifli dari segi undang-undang kerana dikatakan tidak menjelaskan penyata kewangan pilihanraya sebelum ini. "Tanpa pembatalan ini, kerusi Kulim sudah tentu akan jatuh ke tangan
calon KeADILan," begitu keluh Rashid menurut sumber yang tidak mahu namanya disiarkan itu.
Apabila dihubungi, Zulkifli, seorang peguam menafikan beliau tidak mengemukakan penyata kewangan seperti yang didakwa. "Saya mempunyai bukti termasuk keterangan dari pengurus kempen saya untuk membuktikan penyata kewangan itu telah dikemukakan."
DAN MUTAKHIR DI SINI
Dear Raja Petra
Your malaysia-today is phenomenal in any way. For us living overseas, malaysia-today is our morning, afternoon and evening consumptions. It is no longer an alternative but already a mainstream media.
Most of us who cari makan overseas do not have privileges like 221,085 postal voters. Most of us could not go home to vote this election. Like I did for previous two elections. This time, rather than flying home, I transferred some funds for certain candidates, the best I could do to support for a better Malaysia, even though opposition may lose one vote.
From malaysia-today, like other overseas Malaysians, I have been browsing blogs and other alternative online papers to get the latest up-to-date, by the minute information on the ground.
Feeling hopeless, frustrated and dejected for not being able to be in the thick of actions. I could have been going rounds to campaign. I could have been knocking on doors or speaking on the stage to the crowd.
I could have been with thousands other Malaysians in rallies to listen to the opposition leaders. To show that we are no fools during government machinery is working over time and all out to potray BN's cemerlang, gemilang, terbilang, TEMBERANG.
We are all out for change. New hopes for our children.
Enough of years under one party rules. BN ruins our nation last 4 years. Enough of UMNO and BN's lies. Deny the crooks 2/3 majority in parliament. Let them fall and be penalised for years of lies.
It is already about decade after reformasi. An era that took me into the streets and political conscience. I lost my job immediately after 1999 election for standing up againts the injustice. I had no regret as I had duly served my country for democracy.
In the process I have gained more as a self-imposed exile, as an expatriate who competes with international talents. Do I need UMNO for that? NO.
Mahathir, the one I hated most had gone into semi-oblivion and his hand-picked successor is nothing but a fake Mr. Clean. Pak Lah is a fraud. His Hadhari is a sham. I blame Mahathir for the blunder which is costing our nation and future generation dearly.
But as we speak, I am very much thrilled and excited to read on the kebangkitan rakyat all over the country. They have spoken and hopefully will prove their commitments for a change in the 'transparent' ballot boxes on March 6.
Tomorrow would be another history. I pray for that.
Yes, there will be phantom voters roaming around critical constituencies. Yes, the swings will be like tsunami and BN has to take some desperate measures under SPR, Police and immigration scams. Yes, BN will definitely return to power with cheats, lies, scams and threats. Yes, most BN scumbags and crooks will return to parliament and state assemblies for another term.
Yes, I believe in God and I believe God has the best plan.
Then again, it will be sleepless in Dubai!
ALOR STAR: PKR's Zulkifli Nordin is free to contest the Kulim-Bandar Baharu parliamentary seat.
The Election Commission (EC) has ruled that the candidacy of Zulkifli, against whom a police report has been lodged, is not in question at this point of time.
Kulim-Bandar Baharu returning officer Mat Noh Ahmad had lodged a police report last Thursday, claiming that Zulkifli had failed to submit his statement of account for contesting the Kuala Langat parliamentary seat in Selangor in the 2004 general election.
A friend, ARD, emailed this message.
Just to warn you and other BN supporters that there are 4 dubious characters who took the trouble to buy imitation ink from Thailand to create havoc and sabotage BN’s plan in this election.
Just watch out for any suspicious looking character who asks for direction and then may smear ink on you finger as you point the direction, or anyone who asks you to dip your finger into a tin can or bottle, or anyone who comes up to you with a sob story that he needs to apply for a million ringgit loan and all he needs is a guarantor and your thumb print.
Do not fall for this ploy, this is just to disqualify you from voting and will cause BN to lose.
To really safeguard against any of this happening, may I suggest that BN supply a pair of ink proof gloves to all BN voters, I know a company call SCREWMI who could supply millions of these gloves upon a very short notice, but it will cost ye!
gemuruh yang merebah
satu demi satu
kita mulakan era baru
ke persada global!