Najib vows BN comeback

LIMA (Peru): Mass defections of MPs from the Barisan Nasional as threatened by the Opposition now appear remote, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

As such, he said the Barisan should be in power until the next general election.

“Unless there is a mass defection which appears to be remote, we should be in power until the next general election when we have to face the public,” he said during an exclusive interview with AFP on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit here.

Najib said the Barisan was also determined to do well in the next elections, which must be held by 2013.

“We’ll try to recapture our two-thirds majority that we have traditionally enjoyed, God willing.” he said. During a press conference with the Malaysian media on Sunday, Najib said that Umno would come up with more measures to combat money politics. He said political will and commitment were needed to combat the scourge.

Najib was asked about comments by former Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who said that money politics would continue to “haunt” Umno even after Najib takes over the party presidency in March.

“However, we have to be realistic that it will take some time to get rid of this practice in Umno.

“We must realise that fighting this problem will require a comprehensive programme.

“All this will take time. Even when Dr Mahathir was the party president, he tried to rid the party of corruption but it is still continuing until today,” he said.-The Star

Nine anti-ISA protesters freed on bail

PETALING JAYA: Police have released nine demonstrators detained on Sunday for taking part in an anti-ISA gathering in Ampang Jaya.

Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said they were released on police bail.

“I just cannot understand why they do not want to hold such gatherings indoor or in enclosed areas for their own comfort.

“They don’t even apply for a permit. I urge all political parties and NGOs to obtain permits first before holding any gatherings,” he said, adding that it was vital that such gatherings be held in a peaceful manner without posing a threat to public safety.

In a related incident, Petaling Jaya deputy police Chief Supt Muhamad Shukor Sulong said police had withdrawn the police bail of 23 demonstrators who took part in a candlelight vigil for the same reason on Nov 9.

Among those arrested during the demonstration held near the Amcorp mall were state exco member Ronnie Liu and PJ Utara MP Tony Pua.

Abdullah to intervene in tussle

TASHKENT (Uzbekistan): Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will meet Wanita Umno leaders upon returning from his working trip abroad to find an immediate solution to the power transition plan in the women’s wing.

The Umno president, who returns on Friday, expressed concern that there might be a split in the wing if its top post was contested.

He said he had been told that Wanita Umno was facing problems with a leadership transition issue and seemed to be in a dilemma because there were many members apparently unhappy that there would be a contest for the wing’s presidency.

“I do not want to see infighting in the wing. I do not want to see a divided Wanita Umno,” he told Malaysian reporters on Monday at the sidelines of his three-day official working visit to Uzbekistan.

Abdullah, who is also Prime Minister, was asked to comment on the leadership transition plan mooted by Wanita chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, who said she would hand the top post over to her deputy Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil in June next year, three months after the party’s annual general assembly.

But the wing’s executive committee member Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim announced her bid for the post of deputy after qualifying for it.

Kamilia had said there was no provision in Umno’s constitution for leadership transitions and neither was it a party practice.

On Sunday, Shahrizat made an about turn when she urged Rafidah to hand over power in March.

The wing’s executive council rejected this and urged Shahrizat to stick to the earlier plan.

Abdullah said he was not throwing his support behind any candidate.

“I do not want members to speculate that I am supporting a particular candidate. I am doing this because I want the wing to remain united,” he said.

Abdullah said he was also saddened by what was happening in the wing and hoped to find an amicable solution quickly.

He said that initially he did not wish to get involved in the power transition issue and hoped that the wing’s members would solve matters on their own but that did not happen.

On other matters, Abdullah said he had asked AirAsia chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes to look into the viability of providing a direct air link between Kuala Lumpur and Tashkent.

“I told him of the opportunities here and he said AirAsia would study this immediately.

“It will be good if a Malaysian carrier can also provide air services to this part of the world,” he said.

The only direct link between both capitals is provided by Uzbekistan Airways, which has been flying the route twice weekly since 1996.

Abdullah said Malaysia was also prepared to take in more students from Uzbekistan for tertiary education. At present, there are some 70 students from here studying in Malaysia.

WANITA UMNO TRANSITION WOES: Solution lies with Kamilia, Rafidah

JOHOR BAHARU, JOHOR, TUES:

The solution to avoid a contest for the Wanita Umno leadership post in the coming March party elections lies in the hands of movement leader Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz and executive council member Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim.

Johor Wanita Umno deputy chief Senator Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain said either Rafidah or Kamilia would have to sacrifice to resolve the leadership controversy facing the movement.

“I don’t see why (vice-chief Datuk Seri) Shahrizat (Abdul Jalil) should be the one to sacrifice in this matter,” she told Bernama here today.

She hoped Rafidah and Kamilia could discuss the matter and work out a compromise.

“Both are from Kuala Kangsar. So, there is not much of a problem for them to discuss,” she added.

The ketua pemuda race.

Strangely, the current ketua pemuda, Hishamudin Hussein (HH) has not displayed his hands. Who does he prefer to succeed him? His Sembrong Pemuda division of course nominated KJ. If KJ’s people insist that nominations do not necessarily translate into actual votes, we will likewise, hold our judgment on the nomination by Sembrong.

HH may have instructed his Pemuda to nominate KJ. That was a most civil thing to do. How can you not support your own deputy? Possibly it was just a face saving gesture. HH could not afford to be seen to backstab KJ when he must grudgingly acknowledged the young man has slaved and slogged for Pemuda during the 4 years as deputy Pemuda Chief. Where KJ was here, there and everywhere, HH, like the male lion in the pride, sauntered in to grace the finishing touches. No big deal.

Can KJ trust HH? Sakmongkol thinks not. Better not. HH’s preference for KJ is proportionate to the tenure of Pak Lah. While Pak Lah stays in power, HH will play the poodle lapping up everything that Pak Lah says.
KJ must face the reality, that HH will seek the first chance to settle old scores. What old scores? Whether one likes it or not, for the 4 years deputising for HH, KJ has overshadowed the ever grinning Pemuda chief Jock. Measure it any way you want- articulation, mental capacity, bravado, fighting spirit- KJ outshines HH in every department. Now that Pak Lah is leaving on a jet plane and wont be back again, HH will play, see no evil, here no evil routine. By refusing to endorse an open debate, would have reveal a few things to KJ. He cannot count on HH.

Who will win the race? If it was a sprint, maybe Muhriz could have been the winner. Now that the race has turned into a marathon, winning requires different set of skills and techniques. You cant sprint in a marathon. You will drop off dead. A marathon man requires stamina. Now, stamina is a generic term. It can mean physical stamina. Khir Toyo can consume a lot of tempereputed to be high in protein from which he can develop muscles and cardio vascular strength. Muhkriz can rely on his own source of strength, that will include his fortune of not holding any public office before and therefore relatively immune from criticisms. KJ can do likewise. He has a track record as deputy, but he is also burdened with a perception of unofficially holding public office and therefore susceptible to more criticisms. Of course, as will be obvious in the coming months, lots of money will be involved.

Sakmongkol can put it in other terms. Mukhriz who has no record of holding public office is an angel we don’t know. KT and KJ had official and unofficial public offices and are therefore the devil we know. Who do you trust? Sakmongkol will want to trust the devil we know. On these terms, the race will actually be between KT and KJ, notwithstanding the number of nominations received by MM.

Can we make anything of the number of nominations? The rate of their increase? Perhaps, the number of nominations as they say in statistics and econometrics, are spurious. The nominations received by KJ so far have been steady, growing at a rate around 30-32% and capturing similar magnitude of 27-29% share of nominations. Statistically, the nominations by Mukhriz appeared to be troubling because they suffer from random disturbances- experiencing volatile variations. His nominations grew at the rate of 43% and suddenly dropped to 10% in the 3rd week. His initial burst in speed would fit very well, if the race were a sprint. KT’s nominations on the other hand, started at a slower pace in the initial stages and then escalated in the later stages. . .

What can we deduce from these trends? Mukhriz has not been able to sustain his consistency. Why? His initial bursts may be attributed to the fact the early nominations came from Mukhriz-friendly bahagians. Therefore his nominations cannot be treated as conclusive. Contrast Mukhriz’s performance to that of KT, the former Selangor MB. Khir enjoyed spectacular increase in the later stages precisely when MM’s fortunes were tapering down.

How do we account for this reversal of fortunes of the two men? Let us introduce the factor of MONEY. How can we use money to explain the fall and the rise of Mukhriz and KT respectively? People! Please remember, sakmomngkol is using a hypothetical variable here- MONEY.

Assume the law of economics is working here. Supply increases directly to increases in price. Convert the nominations received by both MM and KT as positions of the upward sloping supply curves. Then, the lower location of MM on the upward sloping supply curve would suggest, that the supply of nominations he received, were compatible with lower prices. Or in simple terms, less money is offered and so supply of nominations is correspondingly slowed.

On the other hand, KT appears to occupy a higher location on the upward supply curve, over the same period. This would then suggest, the higher supply of nominations KT received can only be induced by higher prices. Which means, more money is offered.

KJ on the other hand, seems to occupy a more or less stationary position on the supply curve. Which means, the price associated with the supply of nominations accruing to him, remains consistent.
Which means what? Assuming money is used by all 3 contestants, we can make the following observations- not empirically verified of course.

1. In the initial stages, MM used more money than all the other contenders.
2. In the later stages, KT used more money than MM and was able to overtake MM’s rate of increase in supply of nominations
3. KJ used money too- but his usage, over the period in question, is not as much as the other two contestants.

The above hypotheses, would solve the mystery of who actually used more money in the race. The more important observation will be, a marathon race favours consistency. MM and KT’s nominations exhibited erratic behaviours while KJ’s showing is steady and consistent. Like Sakmongkol says, a marathon race is usually won by a consistent pacer who speeds towards the end.

But people, supporters of Mukhriz, Khir Toyo and KJ, don’t read too much into Sakmongkol’s flight of fancy.

Source: Sakmongkol

PM: Islamic Finance looks promising

KUALA LUMPUR: There are many opportunities for Islamic Finance to lead the financial fraternity into a new growth era, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said Islamic Finance needed to quickly integrate itself with the international financial system and prove itself a viable alternative to the conventional financial system practised in most parts of the world.

“Many observers are increasingly considering the Islamic Financial system with renewed respect and admiration, as such, Islamic Finance must be prepared to take on a new dimension to meet the changing demands of business in an increasingly globalised environment,” he said at the launch of Standard Char–tered Saadiq Berhad yesterday.

Abdullah said Malaysia was prepared to lead any attempt to reform the global financial system by infusing concepts and themes borrowed from Islamic Finance.

The recent global financial meltdown illustrated a desperate need for a system based on the principle of profit-sharing, where both parties in the contract are subjected to potential losses and returns.

“It is a system that is both fair and equitable as both parties are presented with a win-win situation where losses would not burden one party only,” he said.

He said by transforming into an essential element of global finance, Islamic Finance would surely end its perceived position as a niche or boutique financial service.-NST

By Ng Cheng Yee

Kamilia spoils Wanita transition plan

KUALA LUMPUR:

The transition plan in Wanita Umno has been thrown into doubt barely 24 hours after its executive council reaffirmed there would be no contests for the top two posts.

Today, Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim, who has been nominated for the No. 2 post, announced she would go against the decision. This would be her second attempt after losing to Tan Sri Napsiah Omar in the 1996 party elections.

In another development, current deputy head Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said she would decide soon whether to defend her post or move up by contesting against Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz.

Kamilia said she was contesting the post next March in line with the grassroots’ wishes. She was nominated by 55 divisions for the deputy head’s post.

“I do not acknowledge the transition plan scheduled for next June. Such a thing is not mentioned in the party constitution and it is not Umno’s practice.”-NST

By : Sajahan Abdul Waheed

Wanita Umno leadership transition: Wing’s number 2 turns spoiler

KUALA LUMPUR: The transition plan in Wanita Umno has been thrown into doubt barely 24 hours after its executive council reaffirmed there would be no contests for the top two posts.

Yesterday, Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim, who has been nominated for the No. 2 post, announced she would go against the decision. This would be her second attempt after losing to Tan Sri Napsiah Omar in 1996.

And in another development, current deputy head Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said she would decide soon whether to defend her post or move up by contesting against Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz.

Kamilia said she was contesting the post next March in line with the grassroots’ wishes. She was nominated by 55 divisions for the deputy head’s post.

“I do not acknowledge the transition plan scheduled for next June. Such a thing is not mentioned in the party constitution and it is not Umno’s practice.”

Rafidah had mooted the transition plan in August whereby she would hand over the Wanita Umno leadership to Shahrizat in June, three months after the March party elections.

The plan was supported by Shahrizat who repeatedly said she would not challenge Rafidah. Despite this, 73 divisions nominated her as Wanita head compared with Rafidah’s 117.

On Sunday, Shahrizat issued a statement asking for the change in leadership in March.

In response to this, Rafidah said on Monday after chairing the executive council meeting that the June date was not negotiable.

Shahrizat said she accepted the plan in line with the council’s decision.

Kamilia, who is the Kuala Kangsar Wanita Umno head, said it was not for the executive council to decide who should lead the movement.

“It is the right of members to elect their leaders,” said Kamilia, who has been in Wanita Umno for some 25 years.

Kamilia, a Wanita Umno executive council member, said she did not attend its meeting on Monday to signal her opposition to the transition plan.

“It is a clear indication that I object to the plan. It is just not proper.”

Asked whether she had informed Rafidah or Shahrizat of her decision, Kamilia said: “I think they are well aware of it. I do not have to tell them.

“I do not mind contesting against Shahrizat. I will not withdraw.”

On whether she had been contacted by either Rafidah or Shahrizat to discuss the executive council’s decision, Kamilia said: “No, and I do not see the need to meet any one of them as my decision is final.”

Shahrizat said that she would make a decision soon on whether to defend her post or to go against Rafidah.

“This is not a question of me changing my mind. That does not arise.

“I have listened to what was expressed by the grassroots during the divisional meetings. I have also heard what Rafidah and the executive council had to say on Monday.”

Shahrizat said yesterday she must make her own decision after careful thought.

“I do not want to set a time frame on this. It would be a major decision so I have to take all facts into consideration.

“The views of the grassroots will be important in whatever decision I make.”

She said the political scenario had changed since the transition plan was proposed last August, including the bringing forward to next March of the handover from party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

In a statement yesterday, Shahrizat said she was still of the view that Wanita Umno should follow the elections in Umno, Umno Youth and Puteri Umno.

“If we continue with our transition plan next June, it would result in the elected Wanita Umno head only serving for three months.

“Her deputy would only be the movement’s acting head and there would not be any No. 2. This is a loss for Wanita Umno’s leadership.”

Focus on contest for No. 2 post

KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time in Umno’s 62-year history, a three-cornered fight is on for the deputy presidency.

The post last saw a contest in 1987 when incumbent Tun Musa Hitam lost by 40 votes to Tun Ghafar Baba, then a vice-president.

Yesterday, party information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib secured his ticket to contest the number two post after receiving 45 nominations, exceeding the 39 required for him to qualify.

At press time, Muhammad, who is Selangor Umno liaison head, was nominated by nine divisions including four in his home state — Ampang, Kelana Jaya, Hulu Selangor and Tanjung Karang. The others are Tenggara, Lipis, Sungai Siput, Bayan Baru and Kota Marudu.

Vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is leading with 92 nominations, including seven he received yesterday from Arau, Libaran, Batu Kawan, Penggerang, Temerloh, Putatan and Putrajaya.

Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam now also has 46, including six more yesterday from Rembau, Ipoh Timur, Bukit Bendera, Lembah Pantai, Kudat and Bati Sapi.

Datuk Shahrir Samad was nominated for the deputy presidency by Gua Musang last week. However, he has declined to contest for the post and is only defending his supreme council seat.

Ali, who qualified on Saturday, and Muhammad had taken the whole duration of the month-long divisional elections, which began on Oct 9, to make the cut.

Their qualification ended speculation that Muhyiddin, who obtained his minimum nominations on Oct 19, would win unopposed.

Yesterday’s nominations saw Muhyiddin being snubbed by Tenggara, the fourth division in his home state of Johor after Kota Tinggi, Air Hitam and Johor Baru.

The contest for the party deputy presidency, and by BN convention, the post of deputy prime minister, is surely the highlight of the March elections.

An intense battle is also looming for the three vice-presidents’ posts, for which eight candidates will be vying. The latest two to qualify with a minimum of 20 nominations are supreme council members Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis and Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

The first four to exceed the minimum required were Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal and Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Their qualification led to talk that Umno members preferred a batch of new leaders below the age of 55 to occupy the vice-president’s posts.

But when veterans Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and incumbent Tan Sri Isa Samad joined them later, it was perhaps an indication that the party wanted a mix of new and experienced leaders.

Another hopeful — supreme council member Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik — has to keep his fingers crossed, hoping that the few divisions which have to reconvene their meetings would opt for him. Rahim now has 16 nominations, which is four short.

A surprise last-minute inclusion in the list was Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob who was nominated by Lipis yesterday.

Negri Sembilan’s Rembau division yesterday nominated Isa and Rais, indicating that division head and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan was backing candidates from his own state despite their rumoured differences.

As for the party presidency, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who won the post unopposed last Sunday, was nominated by all the 22 divisions which met yesterday.

They are Arau, Ampang, Bukit Bendera, Tenggara, Putrajaya, Lipis, Lembah Pantai, Libaran, Batu Kawan, Penggerang, Rembau, Kelana Jaya, Hulu Selangor, Temerloh, Putatan, Ipoh Timur, Tanjung Karang, Sungai Siput, Kudat, Bayan Baru, Kota Marudu and Batu Sapi.

Najib’s victory with 183 nominations has shut the door on party veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who was only nominated by his own Gua Musang division — a repeat of his tally in the 2004 party elections.

Outgoing president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s division, Kepala Batas, did not make any nominations.

This is in line with the supreme council’s directive for it and Najib’s division, Pekan, to remain neutral.

With yesterday’s nominations, the month-long period for Umno’s 191 divisions to hold their meetings has come to an end.

However, five divisions — Tenom, Seremban, Pengkalan Chepa, Tanah Merah and Larut — have been instructed to reconvene their meetings later due to irregularities in the earlier meetings.

Of the 191 Umno divisions, two elected women as heads. In Penggerang, vice-head Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said was elected unopposed to the top post. In Tenggara, Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique, now in her second term, was also returned unopposed- NST

Sajahan Waheed and Azura Abas

Umno panel: We know who is corrupt or abusing power

KUALA LUMPUR: The monitoring committee set up by the Umno disciplinary board has identified candidates for the March 2009 party elections who are involved in money politics and abuse of power, the board’s chairman Tengku Tan Sri Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail said.

He said the board was now in the process of gathering evidence and witnesses to facilitate investigations.

“If in the end they are found guilty, they will lose the eligibility to contest or, if they won, their victory can be nullified,” he said in a statement.

He said the board found that, of late, several candidates had been using a large number of campaign managers, lobby agents and vote canvassers to obtain nominations.

“With members of the monitoring committee all over the country, we have identified candidates who are involved in political corruption,” he said.

“There are still 49 divisions yet to conduct their meetings this weekend … so I am issuing a stern warning to stop the practice for the sake of Umno,” he said.

Delegate meetings for the 191 Umno divisions, which started on Oct 9, are scheduled to end on Sunday. — Bernama

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