NUFFNANG

Wednesday 22 July 2020

Sabah DAP rep claims approached with cash offer by rival ‘agents’, one visit caught on camera

Sabah DAP rep claims 

approached with cash 

offer by rival ‘agents’, one 

visit caught on camera

Lasimbang (second from right) said that the men also visited her sister, Moyog assemblyman Jenifer (second from left), at the latter’s office. — Picture by Julia Chan
Lasimbang (second from right) said that the men also visited her sister, Moyog assemblyman Jenifer (second from left), at the latter’s office. — Picture by Julia Chan
KOTA KINABALU, July 22 — Kapayan assemblyman Jannie Lasimbang alleged two men, allegedly “agents” representing the Sabah Opposition, tried to solicit her defection with offers of cash and a state minister position.
Lasimbang said that the men also visited her sister, Moyog assemblyman Jenifer Lasimbang, at the latter’s office and the incident was captured on the site’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance system.
“Yes, the same agents. I didn’t even let them finish what they have to say after they introduced themselves as agents of (a politician’s son), I immediately said I was not interested. I was offended they came to my house with such a proposition. I cursed them and their evil intentions.
“DAP assemblymen and MPs are doing a press conference later at the DAP headquarters to talk about it,” she said when contacted.
Lasimbang said that she believed the two men claiming to represent the son of a prominent Sabah politician were tasked with getting government-aligned elected representatives to defect.
The incident came after rumours emerged that a possible collapse of the Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal’s state administration was being engineered through defections.
Shafie’s party leads the administration with the support of Pakatan Harapan and Upko lawmakers.
Yesterday, The Star reported that former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman and other Perikatan Nasional leaders were renewing the campaign after recent attempts failed.
The report purported that they had either “secured” or were “close to” securing a simple majority in the 65-seat state assembly.
Perikatan Nasional in Sabah — consisting of Sabah Umno, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Sabah STAR, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and three independent assemblymen — will need about 15 defections to claim a simple majority.

source : malaymail

Jangan `main kayu tiga’ – Ku Li

Jangan `main kayu tiga’ – Ku Li

KUALA LUMPUR, 16 Julai 2020 - Pengerusi Jemaah Penasihat Umno, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah ketika ditemubual Utusan Malaysia di kediamannya di sini hari ini. Gambar FAUZI BAHARUDIN Pemberita Zulkifli Jalil / Zaain Zain
  • Oleh Zabry Mohamad Madzlan
  • 22 Julai 2020, 10:04 am
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MUKADIMAH
PENGERUSI Jemaah Penasihat UMNO, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah dalam pertemuan eksklusif dengan Utusan Malaysia Khamis lepas banyak menekankan soal keikhlasan. Berulangkali Ahli Parlimen Gua Musang selama lapan penggal itu menyebutnya ketika bercakap soal hubungan UMNO dan Pas dalam Muafakat Nasional (M).
Begitupun dalam satu dua soalan yang diajukan wartawan ZULKIFLI JALIL dan ZAAIN ZIN pasal Perikatan Nasional (PN) kurang menarik minat dan tumpuan pemimpin veteran UMNO itu. Biarpun tampak keletihan kerana baru selesai menghadiri sidang Parlimen, perbualan dengan Ku Li, 83 – panggilannya dalam dunia politik – bertukar rancak apabila berterus-terang mengenai survival UMNO-Pas yang berdepan kemungkinan pilihan raya umum ke-15 dalam waktu terdekat.
Apa syor-syor Ku Li? Setujukah beliau jika UMNO-Pas masuk gelanggang PRU bersekali dengan Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) ? Dan `kebetulan’ malam tadi di ibu negara dikatakan berlangsung satu pertemuan antara pemimpin UMNO, Pas dan Bersatu membincangkan soal pengagihan kerusi.
Ikuti sedutan wawancara satu jam setengah di kediaman Ku Li di Jalan Langgak Golf, Kuala Lumpur yang turut dihadiri jurugambar FAUZI BAHARUDIN.
 UMNO kini dan dulu
UTUSAN: Jun lalu, genap dua tahun Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi memimpin UMNO. Bagaimana prestasi beliau dalam mentransformasikan UMNO?
TENGKU RAZALEIGH: Kalau cakap pasal transformasi, ia memakan masa yang lama sebab sudah menjadi budaya dalam UMNO cara parti mengendalikan aktiviti politik. Mustahil nak pulih, ubah keadaan yang sudah jadi budaya dalam sesuatu pertubuhan apatah lagi dalam UMNO. UMNO sudah berada di situ sejak 1946 dengan good and bad habit.
Apatah lagi apabila dipilih pemimpin baharu seperti Zahid. Dia berdepan kaedah yang berlainan daripada sebelum ini iaitu kita pernah menang dengan cemerlang, berkuasa dan sebagainya. Tiba-tiba berhadapan bukan sahaja masalah kita kalah, semangat pun boleh dikatakan hampir separuh hilang dan keupayaan nak bangunkan UMNO semula pun bukan mudah, dengan akaun bank dibeku, dengan pelbagai tuduhan. Jadi kaedahnya agak menyukarkan siapa-siapa juga yang ambil alih.
Bukan saya nak mempertahankan Ahmad Zahid, tetapi bukan terpulang kepada beliau seorang, banyak pihak yang mesti memikul tanggungjawab itu. Kalau nak transformasi pun, mesti bekerjasama. Ini bukan kerja seorang manusia tetapi dia kena beri kepimpinanlah yang boleh beri kesan kepada apa jua perubahan yang hendak dilakukan. Tetapi dia (Ahmad Zahid) pun bermasalah juga, kita semua tahu, dia ada masalah peribadi yang mesti dihadapi dan kita harap sebagaimana dia kata, dia tak bersalah, kita harap begitulah. Kita berdoa kenyataan (itu) akan memihak kepada dia.
Walaupun banyak pihak kata UMNO tak boleh mengaku dia mewakili Melayu, tetapi suka tak suka, sebagai sebuah parti Melayu terbesar, UMNO ini mewakili orang Melayu. Banyak orang Melayu menyandar harapan kepada UMNO sebab sejarah membuktikan UMNO telah berjasa.
Kalau ada perubahan walau sedikitpun adalah sentuhan daripada UMNO kerana dasarnya telah menjalar ke seluruh pelosok tanah air dan menyentuh kehidupan rakyat tak kira Melayu, Cina, semua pihak telah dapat merasai perubahan yang dibawa UMNO menerusi program dan dasar yang tidak memilih bulu pun.
Kalau buat jalan, bukan untuk orang Melayu dan ahli UMNO sahaja tetapi untuk kegunaan semua pihak bagi membangunkan ekonomi negara. Begitu juga kalau buat sekolah bukan untuk ahli UMNO sahaja terbuka kepada semua, maknanya sentuhan itu terkena kepada semua pihak.

Masa depan UMNO dengan PAS
UTUSAN: Selaku Pengerusi Jemaah Penasihat UMNO, sejauh mana Ku merestui keputusan UMNO menjalin kerjasama dengan Pas (Muafakat Nasional) dan membentuk Perikatan Nasional (PN) dengan Bersatu?
TENGKU RAZALEIGH: Ia bergantung kepada keikhlasan. Saya mempunyai hubungan dengan Pas lama jugalah, sifat sebagai orang UMNO kerana Kelantan itu boleh dikatakan lubuk Pas. Hubungan saya dengan pemimpin-pemimpin Pas begitu lama, dari 1962 lagi, saya kenal semua mereka, bahkan rapat dengan mereka.
Muafakat Nasional diwujudkan tahun lepas memberi kesan mendalam kepada perpaduan Melayu dan orang Islam di negara ini tetapi kalaulah pakatan ini tidak didirikan di atas keikhlasan kedua-dua pihak, saya rasa akan menjadi lebih buruk sebab akan berkecai perpaduan nak diwujudkan, kerana hampanya rakyat.
UTUSAN: Kenapa seperti ada kebimbangan menghantui fikiran Ku apabila bercakap soal keikhlasan ini?
TENGKU RAZALEIGH: Ini politik , saya bukan bimbang, sebab sudah pernah berlaku. Kita dah berpakat, semua tandatangan perjanjian membahagi kerusi sana sini, tiba-tiba dicalonkan orang yang kita rasa tak patut dicalonkan daripada parti yang tak sepatutnya bertanding di tempat yang kita telah setuju itu, yang dikhaskan kepada orang lain. Kekecewaan ini walaupun berlaku di satu tempat akan memberi kesan menyeluruh dan menandakan tiada keikhlasan.

Survival Perikatan Nasional (PN)
UTUSAN: Bagaimana kedudukan UMNO dalam PN?
TENGKU RAZALEIGH: Ada perbezaan besar antara BN dengan MN dan PN. PN belum pun didaftarkan lagi. Cuma pakatan itu wujud oleh kerana Bersatu berpecah sesudah Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad meletak jawatan sebagai Pengerusi Pakatan Harapan. Apabila Bersatu tidak lagi memberi kepercayaan kepada kepimpinannya, dia letak jawatan, Bersatu berpecah dan (Tan Sri) Muhyiddin (Yassin) telah mengambil kesempatan untuk mengumpul orang dengan kerjasama orang lain maksud saya (Datuk Seri) Azmin (Ali) supaya dia mempunyai bilangan cukup untuk menubuhkan kerajaan menggantikan apa ditinggal Dr. Mahathir.
Kita di sini bukan ambil kesempatan kerana kita daripada masa Tuanku Yang di-Pertuan Agong jemput kita, nak bertanya khabar apakah sikap kita terhadap kerajaan baharu sesudah Dr. Mahathir letak jawatan, maka kita bersikap kita mahu mandat itu diserah balik kepada rakyat. Sebab itu UMNO baik, Pas baik, MCA baik MIC baik tidak menyerah nama kepada Tuanku Agong sebagai calon untuk dipertimbang bagi pihak kita kerana kita hendak supaya Pilihan Raya Umum (PRU) diadakan. Itu kita punya keputusan, jadi apabila Muhyiddin menjelma sebagai calon pihak sebelah sana, tak ada nama pun pada ketika itu, jadi kita ambil kesempatan menyokong dia, kerana nak jaga kestabilan negara kita.
Cukuplah kita berkrisis kerana rakyat berdepan banyak masalah. Lebih-lebih lagi muda-mudi kita yang tidak ada pekerjaan, jadi kita rasa apa guna kita terus berkrisis. Atas dasar itulah kita menyokong kumpulan Muhyiddin. Kita tidak memihak kepada sesiapa. Kita nak supaya distabilkan keadaan dan tidak lagi berpanjang krisis politik itu. Atas mauduk itu kita bersama, tetapi walaupun begitu kita harap akan ada kesempatan kita untuk mengukuh kedudukan kita, sebab kita parti politik. Tetapi sungguhpun begitu, belum lagi ditentu apakah jaminan untuk kita dalam kerajaan baharu atau perlukah kita wujudkan satu perjanjian supaya mengukuhkan ikatan ini.
Cuma pada ketika itu, terpaksa kita menghadap Yang di-Pertuan Agong dan menyembah keadaan baharu ini kepada baginda sebagai penyelesaian krisis, maka inilah dia.
Tapi sehingga sekarang belum ada lagi persetujuan mengadakan pendaftaran PN tetapi kita sudah ada BN, kita kekalkan simbol bersama MCA dan MIC dan sudah kita isytiharkan juga MN bersama Pas. Itu sebagai notis kepada rakyat bahawa kita nak kepada perpaduan terutama di kalangan Melayu dan orang Islam apatah lagi kita lihat pimpinan PH sudah gagal menjaga kepentingan rakyat majoriti iaitu Melayu dan orang Islam sehingga berlaku ketidaktentuan.
UTUSAN: Berbalik kepada soal PN, adakah PN ini akhirnya akan dipersetujui semua pihak terbabit?
TENGKU RAZALEIGH: Saya rasa mereka tak bersetuju, Nampaknya ramai orang tidak bersetuju. Jangan kata kita di sini, Sabah dan Sarawak juga tidak bersetuju, Saya tak tahu sebab apa. Itu kena tanya mereka (di Sabah dan Sarawak) tetapi kita UMNO tak setuju kerana kerusi yang sekarang ini diwakili sesetengah mereka dalam Bersatu, adalah kerusi UMNO. Dia lompat lari daripada kita dan ini bagi orang UMNO di peringkat bahagian, mereka marah betul. Mereka bekerja bermati-matian menolong calon parti UMNO, tiba-tiba dia cabut lari. Orang UMNO tempatan marah. Jadi, kalau kita bertindak memihak kepada apa dituntut oleh Bersatu, saya rasa kita semua akan dihalau oleh orang UMNO. Orang UMNO kecil hati, ada yang saya dapat tahu wakil rakyat dari kawasan yang melompat lari ini cuba bersalam ketika solat Jumaat di masjid, orang tak nak bersalam dengan dia. Sampai begitu sekali kecewa akar umbi ini.
UTUSAN: Jadi, apa formula terbaik pembahagian kerusi melibatkan UMNO, Pas dan Bersatu bagi PRU-15?
TENGKU RAZALEIGH: Tak ada (formula), tidak timbul kita dengan Bersatu. Tak ada perjanjian apa-apa. Sekarang ini kita tolong hentikan krisis, itu sahaja. Macam Menteri-menteri kita yang berada dalam kerajaan PN sekarang ini, mereka bukan mewakili UMNO. Cuma kebetulan mereka orang UMNO.
UTUSAN: Ada Ku berikan sebarang nasihat atau pandangan kepada Presiden UMNO baru-baru ini?
TENGKU RAZALEIGH: Saya nasihatkan kepada MT baru-baru ini apa yang saya dengar daripada bawah. Pegawai kerajaan, tentera dan polis yang sudah bersara serta pihak universiti. Mereka datang bertemu saya dan melahirkan harapan supaya UMNO berkuasa balik. Begitu tingginya harapan mereka kepada UMNO. Jadi, kita bukan sahaja mesti bertindak melayan tuntutan ahli UMNO, tetapi orang Melayu seluruhnya termasuk di luar UMNO. Sebab nak harapkan ahli UMNO sahaja, 3.5 juta orang tak cukup kita nak menang pilihan raya.
UTUSAN: Bagaimana kedudukan kerusi-kerusi Bersatu yang asalnya kerusi UMNO ini?
TENGKU RAZALEIGH: Itu terpulang kepada mereka tetapi kita perlu letak calon kita. Bahagian-bahagian sudah tentu nak letak calon mereka dan kita kena hormati kehendak bahagian UMNO ini. Kalau tidak, pimpinan pun akan ditolak oleh mereka. Bukan sedikit, jumlahnya besar yang bersifat khianat kepada perjuangan orang kita di bawah sana. Jangan difikirkan tentang pemimpin sahaja tetapi tengok orang bawah. Kena fikir apa sikap dan kehendak mereka?

PRU-15 dan calon PM
UTUSAN: Ku yakin kerjasama UMNO dan Pas menerusi MN boleh berjaya dalam PRU-15?
TENGKU RAZALEIGH: Kalau kita ikhlas antara satu sama lain, saya rasa kita boleh menang semua kerusi Melayu. PRU-15 ini harapannya adalah Pas dan UMNO sepakat. Jangan ada main kayu tiga saat-saat akhir, ini tak boleh. Kita kalau sudah putuskan ini kerusi UMNO, ini kerusi Pas, maka kita terima dan hadapi pihak lawan bersama. Dan ketika itu, jangan kira UMNO atau Pas lagi. Sebaliknya ini adalah Muafakat Nasional.  Calon PM itu akan ditentukan kemudian. PM akan diputus daripada orang dari kumpulan majoriti yang menang. Itulah nama yang akan dipersembah kepada Seri Paduka Baginda. Kalau dia tidak majoriti, tetapi tiba-tiba dia kata dia patut jadi calon PM, itu tidak menepati kehendak perlembagaan. Menurut Perlembagaan Negara, PM itu seseorang yang pada hemat Tuanku mempunyai keyakinan majoriti ahli Dewan Rakyat. (Syarat) Itu tak boleh lari.

ESOK Tengku Razaleigh bercakap mengenai Pengorbanan, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan Lompat Parti

source : utusan

Friday 17 July 2020

[PANASSS!!...]...Walau ada peluang, Tun M enggan jadi PM kepada gabungan politik 'tidak suci'

Walau ada peluang, Tun M enggan jadi 

PM kepada gabungan politik 'tidak suci'

Walau ada peluang, Tun M enggan jadi PM kepada gabungan politik 'tidak suci'
Jika terima tawaran itu, Dr Mahathir berkata, ia bermaksud mengkhianati kepercayaan majoriti rakyat yang diterima pada PRU lepas.















KUALA LUMPUR: Bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad hari ini
mengakui beliau pernah menerima tawaran untuk kekalkan jawatan sebagai Perdana
Menteri, tetapi dengan syarat harus menerajui kerajaan gabungan UMNO, PAS dan
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

Namun, Ahli Parlimen Langkawi itu berkata, penerimaan tawaran itu membawa
maksud beliau harus bekerjasama dengan sekumpulan individu yang beliau bekerja
keras untuk tewaskan pada Pilihan Raya Umum (PRU) yang lepas. 

Selain itu, katanya lagi, ia juga membawa maksud beliau akan mengkhianati
kepercayaan majoriti rakyat yang menyokongnya pada PRU lepas, serta memungkiri
janji kepada parti komponen lain dalam Pakatan Harapan (PH).

“Saya tidak boleh terima cadangan untuk menjadi Perdana Menteri pada gabungan
politik yang 'tidak suci' ini. Dan ketika Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin terima kerjasama
itu, saya meninggalkan kumpulannya,” katanya dalam catatan terbaharu di blog
beliau, hari ini.

Di awal catatannya, beliau berkata, kerajaan Perikatan Nasional hari ini mempunyai
majoriti yang paling tipis, iaitu perbezaan dua kerusi sahaja.

Menerangkan mengapa keadaan itu berlaku, Dr Mahathir berkata, bekas Perdana
Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak selepas tewas pada PRU lepas tahu beliau
akan dipenjarakan atas kesalahan yang dilakukan.

“Jadi dia (Najib) telah mencadangkan kepada PAS untuk menubuhkan kerajaan
perpaduan Melayu Muslim. Tetapi mereka masih belum cukup sokongan untuk
menubuhkan kerajaan. Dia perlukan lebih banyak sokongan Melayu.

“Dia kemudian mendakwa kerajaan PH didominasi DAP, dan DAP akan
menghancurkan Melayu. Untuk menjatuhkan DAP, PH perlu dijatuhkan. Dan
untuk itu, Bersatu perlu meninggalkan PH, kemudian menyertai UMNO dan PAS
untuk tubuhkan kerajaan baharu,” tulis Dr Mahathir lagi.

Beliau berkata, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin kemudian cuba mendapatkan ahli
UMNO untuk menyokongnya selepas beliau ditawarkan untuk menjadi Perdana
Menteri bagi gabungan baharu itu, termasuk sokongan Najib sendiri.

“Saya menentang gerakan ini. Tetapi Muhyiddin menyokong pula idea ini, dan
majoriti ahli Bersatu bersetuju dengan beliau.

“Apabila Bersatu tinggalkan PH, maka PH tidak lagi boleh menjadi kerajaan.
Ini bermaksud kesemua Menteri kehilangan kedudukan mereka dalam Kabinet.
Dan saya juga termasuk sekali. Saya sudah kehilangan kedudukan saya sebagai
Perdana Menteri. Peletakan jawatan hanyalah formality,” katanya lagi.

Atas sebab prinsip, Dr Mahathir berkata, beliau bertegas tidak akan menerima
tawaran jadi Perdana Menteri bagi gabungan itu.

“Hari ini, keahlian saya dalam Bersatu dan kedudukan sebagai Pengerusi Bersatu
telah dilucutkan. Saya telah bawa perkara ini ke Mahkamah untuk mencabar
pelucutan saya,” katanya lagi.

source : astroawani

[TUN DR MAHATHIR...] ...MY RESIGNATION

MY RESIGNATION 1

1. Today we have a Government with the slimmest majority – just 2.

2. How did this happen?

3. When Najib lost the 14th General Election (GE), he knew he would be jailed for the crimes he committed.

4. So, immediately he proposed to PAS to set up a Malay Muslim Government.

5. But they did not have enough to form a Government. He needed more Malay support.

6. He claimed the PH Government was dominated by DAP and DAP would destroy the Malays.

7. To oust DAP, the PH Government must be overthrown. For this Bersatu had to leave PH. It should then join UMNO and PAS to form a new Government.

8. Hamzah Zainuddin worked to get UMNO members to support me, as I was to be the Prime Minister in this new coalition. He got even Najib to sign.

9. I opposed this move. But Muhyiddin supported the idea. Majority in Bersatu supported Muhyiddin.

10. Strictly speaking when Bersatu left PH, the PH ceased to be the Government. This meant that all members of the cabinet lost their ministerial positions. This included me. I had lost my position as Prime Minister. Resigning was only a formality.

11. I refused to be PM of the UMNO/PAS/Bersatu Government because it meant I would be working with UMNO and Najib, the people I had condemned and defeated in the 14th GE. I would actually be resuscitating UMNO and make it a part of the Government. I would be betraying the people who supported me in the election. I would also be reneging on my promises to the other parties in the PH coalition.

12. I just could not accept the suggestion that I should be the Prime Minister of this unholy coalition.

13. As Muhyiddin was willing, I broke away from his group.

14. Today I have been stripped of my membership of Bersatu and its Chairman. I have gone to court to dispute the validity of my dismissal.

source : chedet

Dr M claims Pakatan's administration ended the moment Bersatu left coalition

Dr M claims Pakatan's 

administration ended the 

moment Bersatu left 

coalition

Mahathir implied that the end of the PH administration was the brainchild of Datuk Seri Najib Razak. — Picture by Miera Zulyana
Mahathir implied that the end of the PH administration was the brainchild of Datuk Seri Najib Razak. — Picture by Miera Zulyana
KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 — Langkawi MP Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad claimed that his resignation as prime minister was only a “formality” as the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition had ceased to be the government the moment Bersatu abandoned them.
In his blog today titled My Resignation, the former premier said that this automatically triggered the end of the PH Cabinet.
“Strictly speaking, when Bersatu left PH, PH ceased to be the Government. This meant that all members of the Cabinet lost their ministerial positions. This included me. I had lost my position as prime minister. Resigning was only a formality,” said Dr Mahathir.
The 95-year-old politician implied that the end of the PH administration was the brainchild of his former protégé turned nemesis Pekan MP and former Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak who had also proposed to set up a Malay-Muslim administration with PAS.
For this plan to succeed, Najib needed more Malay support and for Bersatu to leave PH while allying itself with PAS and Umno.
Dr Mahathir then accused Bersatu secretary-general and Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin of being part of the conspiracy to oust DAP and overthrow the PH administration.
Apparently, Hamzah’s role was to obtain Umno support for Bersatu and Dr Mahathir, who was supposed to lead the “unholy coalition”, which he refused.
“Hamzah Zainuddin worked to get Umno members to support me, as I was to be the prime minister in this new coalition. He got even Najib to sign. I opposed this move. But Muhyiddin supported the idea. Majority in Bersatu supported Muhyiddin.
“I refused to be PM of the Umno/PAS/Bersatu government because it meant I would be working with Umno and Najib, the people I had condemned and defeated in the 14th GE. I would actually be resuscitating Umno and make it a part of the government.
“I would be betraying the people who supported me in the election. I would also be reneging on my promises to the other parties in the PH coalition. I just could not accept the suggestion that I should be the prime minister of this unholy coalition,” said Dr Mahathir.
He then added that Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was willing to accept the cooperation with Umno and PAS, hence he decided to leave the group.

source : malaymail

Thursday 16 July 2020

Speaker’s removal doesn’t mean PM enjoys majority support, says lawyer

Speaker’s removal doesn’t mean PM enjoys majority support, says lawyer

V Anbalagan


a group of people sitting at a desk: Lawyers say the motion of no confidence against the prime minister should be prioritised to determine if he enjoys majority support in the Dewan Rakyat.















© Provided by Free Malaysia Today
 

Lawyers say the motion of no confidence against the prime minister should be prioritised to determine if he enjoys majority support in the Dewan Rakyat. 

PETALING JAYA: A lawyer has cautioned against taking Muhyiddin Yassin’s success in removing Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof as Dewan Rakyat speaker as a sure sign that the prime minister enjoys the confidence of the house.

Syed Iskandar Syed Jaafar al-Mahdzar said many factors would come into play when a vote of no confidence against Muhyiddin is put to debate.

“Those who supported the speaker’s removal may vote for the motion because they want a snap election,” he told FMT.

Adding that early polls would only happen if the motion of no confidence is carried, he said the prime minster would then have to ask for the dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat.

“If the king refuses to dissolve it, the prime minister will have to resign with his Cabinet.”

Ariff was removed as speaker on Monday by a narrow margin of two votes. Of the 222 MPs, 111 government MPs voted in support of the motion while 109 MPs from the opposition and the independent bloc were against it.

The two who did not vote were Maximus Ongkili (PN-Kota Marudu) and Rashid Hasnon (PN-Batu Pahat) who was in the speaker’s chair.

Syed Iskandar said some of the MPs who supported the government currently faced serious criminal charges.

“It is not in their political interest to keep the prime minister in power,” he added.

“They will want a prime minister who will instruct the attorney-general to withdraw their cases.”

He opined that if a critical floor vote had been taken, the result would have been different.

“Those who voted for the removal of the speaker might not have done so because if the motion failed, it would not have amounted to a no-confidence vote.”

He also spoke of the possibility that the prime minister would take disciplinary action against those who voted against the motion to remove the speaker.

Where a motion of no confidence succeeded, he said, the prime minister would not be in a position to impose political punishments.

Lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali meanwhile said newly installed speaker Azhar Harun should call for the no-confidence vote as Dr Mahathir Mohamad (independent-Langkawi) had filed a fresh motion on June 27.

Noting that the motion had been listed last on the order paper, he said it should be given priority in order to determine whether the prime minister enjoys the support of the majority.

He added that in a parliamentary democracy, a floor vote must be taken as the legitimacy of Muhyiddin’s government had been questioned since March 1.

Under Article 43 (2)(a) of the Federal Constitution, the king appoints a prime minister who in his judgment is likely to command the support of the majority of MPs.

Muhyiddin was sworn in as the eighth prime minister after a week of political turmoil following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government in February.

His coalition comprises PPBM, Barisan Nasional, PAS, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and those from Sabah.

source : fmt

Dr Mahathir: Govt bulldozing motions through Parliament while shutting out Opposition shows Perikatan’s disregard for rule of law

Dr Mahathir: Govt bulldozing 

motions through Parliament 

while shutting out Opposition 

shows Perikatan’s disregard 

for rule of law

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in a direct attack on the government’s removal of Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof as the Speaker, said it was the first time such a move has been done with the reasoning that there was another candidate. — Reuters pic
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in a direct attack on the government’s removal of Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof as the Speaker, said it was the first time such a move has been done with the reasoning that there was another candidate. — Reuters pic
KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 — The manner in which the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government removed and appointed a new Dewan Rakyat Speaker is an indication of the ruling coalition’s disregard for parliamentary regulations and the general rule of law, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Dr Mahathir, in a direct attack on the government’s removal of Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof as the Speaker, said it was the first time such a move has been done with the reasoning that there was another candidate.
He said the mere two-vote majority that the government later obtained to remove Mohamad Ariff was an indication that the change of Speaker was not a move everyone was in support of.
The former prime minister also lamented how the new Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun seemed to side with the government, by muting the microphones and not allowing input from the Opposition bloc when they opposed his appointment.
“Then came the replacement. There was no vote. He wore his robe and pretended to act as a Speaker.
“Members of Parliament were not given the right to choose. Not even given the right to speak.
“Within the Dewan Rakyat, the wishes of the government must be accepted by all MPs,” he wrote.
Dr Mahathir said that if this is the trend that is going to continue within Parliament, there might as well be no need for an Opposition bloc.
“If this is the way the Dewan convenes, the Opposition is not required. Whatever motions proposed by the government will still be accepted.
“What is the need for Parliament? The existence of the government would suffice, even if it is a backdoor government,” he wrote.
He went on to say that the formation of the PN government itself was done in total disregard of the electoral system, adding how governments should by right be voted into office by the people.
“The government under the leadership of Tan Sri Muhyiddin (Yassin) has clearly ignored the Malaysian electoral system.
“Now it can be seen that this government under Muhyiddin also does not respect the rules and regulations of the Dewan Rakyat,” he said.

source : malaymail

Wednesday 15 July 2020

Dr Mahathir: BNM governor ‘very independent’, refused my request to use reserves to pay 1MDB debts

Dr Mahathir: BNM governor 

‘very independent’, refused my 

request to use reserves to pay 

1MDB debts

BNM governor Datuk Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus speaks during a press conference on the BNM’s fourth-quarter 2019 gross domestic product (GDP) growthin Kuala Lumpur February 12, 2020. ― Bernama pic
BNM governor Datuk Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus speaks during a press conference on the BNM’s fourth-quarter 2019 gross domestic product (GDP) growthin Kuala Lumpur February 12, 2020. ― Bernama pic
KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 — Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Governor Datuk Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus is a very independent person who prioritises the country and will not bow down to anyone’s demands, even if the order comes from the prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.
The former prime minister was asked in an interview with Investvine, a business news portal from Hong Kong, to describe the independence of Malaysia’s institutions.
He vouched for BNM, and recounted an instance when Nor Shamsiah flatly rejected his request when he was still PM to use the central bank’s reserves to pay off the government’s debts incurred by 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
“It depends much upon the character of the people that we appoint. For example, the governor of BNM is very independent. She will not take any directive from the government. She has her own ideas. Even I could not influence her to help out with our loans.
“We had to pay a huge amount of debt incurred by Najib’s government, so the BNM had a huge reserve that can finance eight months of retaining retail imports, so I don’t think that it was necessary.
“So I said what the BNM earns actually belongs to the government, we wanted to use that money to pay off our debts. She just said, no,” Dr Mahathir said.
The Langkawi MP commended Nor Shamsiah for building Malaysia’s finances, saying she had helped ensure BNM has “some of the biggest reserves” compared to other central banks.
Dr Mahathir also praised former Petronas president and chief executive Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin as “a very good man who has done very well”, but said the latter was removed for not bowing down to government demands.
Wan Zulkiflee was reported to have resigned last month purportedly after a disagreement with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin over a plan to pay US$470 million (RM2 billion) in sales tax to Sarawak.
Petronas had been fighting Sarawak’s demand for the sales tax in court before the two parties announced a settlement last month — although Sarawak later said it would continue its legal action until an agreement is final.

source : malaymail

Anticipating snap polls, Dr Mahathir hints at forming new party

Anticipating snap polls, 

Dr Mahathir hints at forming 

new party


Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad speaks during a news conference in Putrajaya, May 18, 2020. — Reuters pic
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad speaks during a news conference in Putrajaya, May 18, 2020. — Reuters pic
KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 — Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who co-founded Bersatu ahead of GE14 has now indicated he may form another new party amid talks of a snap general election.
The Langkawi MP was asked by Investvine, a business news portal from Hong Kong, about his preparations for GE15, which is speculated may be called before the current mandate expires in 2023 due to the thin parliamentary majority of the ruling Perikatan Nasional (PN) government under the leadership of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Dr Mahathir who just turned 95 four days ago said he would be working on the “sidelines, perhaps helping others from my own parties to contest”.
“Hopefully we might be able to gain some seats, but my own party is now split into two.
“One part is with the government, and the other is with me. So they are trying their best to contest under the party’s name.
“So we are faced with the possibility of having to contest under a different name, maybe a new party. So the position at this moment is very uncertain,” Dr Mahathir said in the interview.
He said he needs to first gauge if Bersatu can even garner enough support to contest, saying that the Umno splinter party has lost the support of its previous coalition members.
“We want to know whether we can have enough support to contest, because obviously our own party, both the one in the government as well as outside the government, we have lost the support of our previous coalition, and we are not getting the support of Umno and the new coalition. So the performance will be very bad for the party,” he said.
Dr Mahathir is currently embroiled in a court challenge against his expulsion from Bersatu by its president Muhyiddin who is the sitting prime minister.
Dr Mahathir stepped down as prime minister in February, triggering the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition that came to power in Election 2018.
He initially sought a return to office if PH regains federal power, but later withdrew in favour of Sabah Chief Minister and Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal following an impasse with PKR which insists on its president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as their bloc’s prime ministerial candidate.

source : malaymail