RM1 Billion allocation to Sabah

 Will this do for Sabah..? The threat of defections from BN and unhappiness of the MPs from Sabah is under control for the time being. At the mercy of Sabahans the Prime minister announced a RM1 billion allocation from the  prime minister’s special allocation to be distributed according to development requirements in  Sabah. Full report:- http://themalaysianinsider.com/mni/sabah-federal-development- department-scrappedh.html Are you all satisfied? Who benefits? Is this enough……………? 

Sabah crossovers?

Our report Storm Brewing in Sabah? http://audie61.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/storm-brewing-in-sabah/. It has however quieten down now. I interviewed the immediate family of a former Chief Minister Tun Fuad Stephans (the 1st Chief Minister of the state of Sabah in Malaysia) on what he thinks? He simply said we know what Jeffrey is like and to expect leaders just to hop/crossover its not so simple. The goodies that the PM brings will not be known to the people/cronies or for that matter journalists. It certainly reminded me of the “Godfathers” meeting of Junior Chamber International  where discussion was held from 12midnight and you have to wait for your turn.  Teresa Alberto a former personal aide to Dr.Jeffrey Kitingan said that his former boss is very persistent and there is a lot of negotiating still to be done and its a lot of Money/Power Talk.

A Kadazandusun leader with PBS said that the Prime Minister is scheduled to officiate tonight the national-level Pesta Kaamatan Open House in Padang Merdeka in Kota Kinabalu. But its been raining heavily today and this is unusual for this time of the year. He even went on to say their God (Kinoigan) does not seem Happy.

Latest at 5pm..UPKO Youth ..As the Kadazandusun celebrations of Pesta Kaamatan reaches its finale tonight the heavens open up.Some read it as the God is shedding tears for the peoples situation. Some of them still live in the rural areas where development is at a bare minumum scarcity. Some of them dont even have “Identity Cards”  and have not even voted in the General elections. Many felt that Sabah will be left behind from the rests of Malaysia. Sure the PM brings goodies to Sabah but announcing is easy but delivery is another thing. What a shame!! The illegal immigrants are treated better than Sabahans he said.!! 

The ADUNS/MPs are happy. Are the people happy? Their pockets are filled while we have to work hard to fill our stomachs. Sabahans of Kadazandusun origin are in a holiday mood now with the Kaamatan Harvest festival but what will happen after the festivities/merry making is anyone’s guess?  Watch this space…

 

Ku Li: Bring ex-leaders back into Umno

Malaysiakini news carried this report:- http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/83722

Tengku Razaleigh also refuted the allegations of certain quarters that he would not contest the post of Umno president if Abdullah stepped down as Umno president and prime minister soon.

“That’s not correct. I am offering myself (to contest the post of president) to help rejuvenate an unsettled situation in the country, not because Pak Lah (Abdullah) wants to step down or otherwise.

“Whatever it is, I would want to wait until December,” he said. The Umno elections are scheduled for December when the party holds its general assembly.
Earlier extration from Malaysiakini :-  http://audie61.wordpress.com/2008/05/19/tengku-razaleigh-to-remain/

What SPDP-PRS Merger?Grassroots Consulted?

The Inside sources. (The merger talk started as early as July 2005. It must be noted that earlier PRS Supreme Council Meetings the issue was just touched on and nothing came of it and mosts of the time it was just brushed aside. The council members concentrated on the of setting up Bureaus,Divisions and going on Membership drive as the agenda from the 1st-8th Supreme Council meetings  

Sequence of Events:-February 25th 2006  9th PRS Supreme Council Meeting.We shall see if we are to merge was the signal from the meeting.( CM’s office has already sent signals to merge to be BN3)

May 25th 2006 PRS Crisis starts- 2 Camps

March 10th 2007 SPDP President Mawan said PRS leadership problem makes pursuing possibility of merger of coalition partners impossible.

November 9th 2007 Dato Sri Dr James Jemut Masing is in no hurry to hold a merger talk with SPDP.

May 8th 2008 We said The walls are starting to Shake!!.  Drama at its bests… Two Multi- racial BN parties merging as one entity.

May 9th 2008 The merged SPDP and PRS will become the second largest party in Sarawak going by the number of its elected representatives. 

May 17th 2008 Merger easy at the top uncertainty at grassroots.

May 29th 2008 PRS-SPDP in the right mood to merge.

Latest :-Masing said while it was important for the leaders of both parties to work together towards the merger, it was even more important to get approval of the members on the ground.

May 30th 2008. This prompted a Youth leader Leon Jimat Donald aligned to Larry Sng to come out and query Masing. When did you consult the grassroots? Are the 19 Divisions which are with Larry consulted? He even asked Masing to refer to read the article of April 10th 2008 that they still do not recognise Masing as President of PRS. The 19 divisions still reminded Masing not to manufacture overlapping and illegal divisions. The ROS has not up till today the 30th of May 2008 replied to the ” legal lists of office bearers”.

Leon said that It seems that the MARRIAGE of SPDP-PRS is an exercise of convenience for the leaders and not the grassroots. The divisional leaders are not even consulted and no official statements are forthcoming from the PRS Headquarters. 

The PRS Constitution clearly states in Article XX  and reads as 1. The Party shall not be dissolved/merged except by:-a) A resolution passed at the triennial Delegates Conference attended by not less 3/5s of the delegates eligible to attend under the provisions of article V11 Clause 1(a) of this constitution b) a 2/3rds majority of votes of the members present at such TDC as provided under clause 1(a) of this article.

2. notice of the dissolution/merger shall be submitted to the registrar of Societies within 14 days from the date of dissolution having been passed under clause 19a) and (b) of this article.

Is it so simple? Yes if all parties and the constitution is followed in total. The present scenario with the government of the day being under great surveillance and scrutiny it is not merely asimple tasks. Questions will be asked and if answers are not forthcoming especiallyt in Parliament there will be Uproars.

Our View stays:- Its already nearly two and three quarters years of talks and consultations from  July 2005 till now. Let the merger take its natural course and until there are concrete and detail plans it will remain still a “QUESTION MARK” and also maintain the momentum and prove me wrong……

Wishing all members and supporters of Party Rakyat Sarawak and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party ”Selamat Hari Gawai” “Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai” Happy Merging…….  

Supp denied Kuching South mayorship

Malaysiakini Correspondent from Sarawak Tony Thien writes:-In a further indictment of the Sarawak United People’s Party’s (Supp) weakening position, Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud has rejected their candidate for mayor of Kuching City South. http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/83692

Our full report:- New Kuching City Mayor-not from SUPP http://audie61.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/new-kuching-city-mayor-not-from-supp/ 

Reactions

Meanwhile a Senior Branch leader from SUPP in Kuching was quick to point up that its a bitter blow to SUPP and we might be the next “Gerakan” in the next elections and we might be wiped out. There is a lot of unhappiness and the grassroots are saying that the leaders are not good enough and some even are so angry and suggested that pulling out of the coalition might be a better deal.

Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Michael Manyin told reporters “I think if SUPP (Sarawak United People’s Party) wants its candidate as mayor, it better work hard to regain the four seats in Kuching so as to have stronger and better bargaining power,” 

A Divisional branch leader from Sungai Teku and a Sibu Municipal councillor was quick to support his President’s unhappy stance and that the party would have to work hard to regain the mayor’s post by building up the trust and confidence of the electorate in Kuching. He further added that though SUPP losts 4 out of 5 seats in Kuching the “Component Party Leader”should not have uttered such a statement. We have losts and if a coalition partner have losts we will not pull a Knife and aim for the heart. In other words the PBB leader should choose the right words for the Press consumption after all we are partners in the coalition.

Another Branch Secretary from SUPP a councillor from MBKS was indeed happy for the appointment of James Chan as the new Mayor but was not so compromising with the Ministers attack on the Party President. Why we lost?  He said we losts the seats as we know we did not see to the peoples needs. Our governments policy in regards to the land issue is not up to what the people requests and the voters have made their voices heard in the ballot polls in the State and Parliamentary Elections.

A SUPP political Secretary to the Chief Minister congratulated James Chan on his appointment and he hopes that he will perform his duties to the bests of his abilities. This should not be an issue anymore and we should look after the rakyats needs as the appointment has already been made.

SUPP will need to address this issue positively or else there will be more misery for the party.

Storm Brewing In Sabah?

There was a hive of activity in Sabah today and a lot of cars were seen making their way to Musa Aman’s house. Is there a storm? There are also indications that SAPP are moving a gear forward.  In an earlier report on 24th of May Jeffrey who is also Sabah PKR deputy chief, said that the first batch of Barisan MPs to join Pakatan will take place either at the end of May or early next month. Abdullah will be in KK today and all eyes will be on Sabah. Happy Kaamatan(harvest) festival to all Kadazandusuns of Sabah.  

Foreign Storms hold up Cabinet reshuffle.

The need to have a calm political climate in Sarawak is the most probable reason why Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud is putting on hold the much anticipated minor reshuffle of the state cabinet.

Taib gave an indication of this yesterday when asked by reporters about the reshuffle.

“Sarawak is a very calm, nice place. (But) I see some foreign storms trying to be very funny, so you know we’ve got to keep our calm,” he said after chairing a cabinet meeting at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here.

Taib, who is also the state BN chairman, did not explain what he meant by ‘foreign storms’, so reporters could only deduce that he was referring to the political developments happening outside Sarawak.

 Read our earlier report :-http://audie61.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/sarawak-cabinet-re-shuffle-new-blood/

New Kuching City Mayor-Not from SUPP

James Chan Khay Syn (picture)is the new mayor of Kuching City South Council (MBKS). It was decided at yesterdays cabinet meeting the seat which was vacant since August 23rd 2007 following the untimely demise of the former mayor. 

Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Michael Manyin told reporters after the meeting that the cabinet had decided to appoint a non-politician due to the “political circumstances”.

“I think if SUPP (Sarawak United People’s Party) wants its candidate as mayor, it better work hard to regain the four seats in Kuching so as to have stronger and better bargaining power,” he said.

He pointed out that SUPP had made its case before the cabinet arrived at its decision, but at the moment, the cabinet feels it is better to have a non-politician to run the city to avoid controversy.

Reporters waited more than three hours in Wisma Bapa Malaysia’s lobby to ask Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud if the cabinet had appointed the new mayor, but when he stepped out of the lift, he told them to direct their questions at Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan, who is also SUPP president.

However, Dr Chan, when met at his office on the building’s 20th floor, told the reporters to ask Manyin, the minister in charge of local government. Incidentally, Manyin happened to be with him at that time.

It seems that SUPP had it coming for them again this time.  

Grand Saga EGM-Solutions..

Khalid: Grand Saga EGM in 2 weeks (From MalaysiaKini)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/83641

Excerpts from the report:-The Selangor government – through its state-owned company – will call for an emergency general meeting of toll operator Grand Saga within the next two weeks to settle the on-going Cheras toll saga.

Selangor CPO Deputy Comm Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar who visited the spot, told the residents that he had advised Grand Saga to stop any construction of barricades in the area and said that the public would be inconvenienced each time the barricade is erected.

DCP Khalid also urged the Malaysian Highway Authority and the Public Works Department to settle the matter and come up with an amicable solution. There should also be a stop to further politicised the situation by any legislative or electied representative.

The barricades has caused much displeasure to the 38000 residents of Bandar Mahkoto Cheras.We feel that there are ways in dealing with problems and nobody should resort to any violence just to have it their way.Solutions solve problems and Violence only instigates more hatred. We do feel sorry for the residents but any grievances should be tackled and aired through the proper channels. Do you have any other solutions….?

PM’s anti-graft agenda won Ezam over. Whats next?

Malaysiakini In the follow up on the subject of Ezam joining back to UMNO Syed Jaymal Zahiid and Soon Li Tsin reported that the anti-corruption agenda was the main attraction for former PKR leader Ezam Mohd Nor to rejoin the party that once expelled him for being overly critical. Ezam also mentioned that the Prime Minister has given him the mandate to pursue his reform agenda as long as it benefitted the country. The full report can be read in Malaysikini http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/83623.

Meanwhile seven former PKR Youth leaders have submitted their applications to join Umno to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. They are Annuar Shaari (former PKR Youth chief for Permatang Pauh and private secretary to party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim), SD Johari Mohd Yasin (former Selangor PKR Youth chief), Mohd Nazmi Rosli (former Selangor PKR Youth secretary), Ahmad Daud Che Ghani (former PKR Perlis Youth chief), Azwan Din Hamzah (former PKR Youth executive council member), Khairul Annuar Ramli (former PKR Kedah Youth chief) and Abdul Ghani Haron (former PKR Youth executive councillor member).

It is understandable that with the latest developments there would be more changes in the political landscape. The situation on the ground remains volatile and the “FEEL“ of the people has not been helped by the switching of parties of elected representatives,change of government and the impending realities of “Snap Federal Elections.“  Raja Petra  Kamarudin wrote on Wednesday: http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/8082/84/

What is next? Food and oil prices are increasing and this has also not helped the mood of the people. A number of political party members when interviewed from PRS,PBB,SAPP,Gerakan,UMNO,Keadilan,MIC and DAP agreed that it would indeed help to restore the countrys foreign investors to Malaysia if it was called. This will also help our lacklustre economy.This is in the only way forward as the talk of the pendulum swinging would be put at rests and the Government of the day can carry on administrating the country without anymore hindrance or fear. If Thailand,Taiwan or Japan can do that it why can’t we? Even if it is history to be created it doesn’t matter.

History is after all analysis of past events of importance to the human race. Of course Abdullah would be the creator of this historical Snap Elections if it was called but it will remain unclear who will come up tops. The people will have time to weigh the options of the Political Parties open to them and it is up to the aspiring candidates/incumbents to prove their worth to the people. Abdullah is the most powerful and influential man in the country and he has the rare oppurtunity to prove all his critics wrong. The talk of Crossovers/Hopping would be a thing of the past and to me it will be History. Read my earlier article “Midstream Political changes http://audie61.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/mid-stream-political-changes/ The ball has already been rolled…..