Sayap-Sayap UMNO

Saya ingin mengulas cadangan YTM Tengku Tan Sri Rithauddeen yang menyarankan sayap sayap dalam UMNO yakni Wanita, Pemuda dan Puteri termasuk Putera di mansuhkan. Saya menghormati YTM Tengku sebagai orang yang berpengalaman dan lama di dalam bidang ini. Namun saya juga terpanggil untuk mengulas mengenai cadanga beliau.

Pertamanya biar saya betulkan tanggapan salah dari ramai orang termasuk YTM Tengku sendiri. Putera adalah satu Biro di bawah Pemuda UMNO. Ianya bukanlah satu sayap tersendiri.

Penubuhan sayap-sayap UMNO telah dibuat dengan satu tujuan utama, yakni menyediakan platform khusus kepada golongan-golongan fokus dalam minat dan semangat mereka untuk membantu parti dan rakyat. Pergerakan Wanita, yang dulunya dikenali sebagai pergerakan kaum ibu, telah berjaya membantu berjuta masyarakat wanita melalui platform UMNO dan BN sejaka dari awal lagi. Begitu juga pergerakan Pemuda dalam membantu kaum belia serta puteri yang ditubuhkan baru-baru ini untuk membantu dan mendampingi kaum wanita muda dalam lingkungan 18 tahun hingga ke 35 tahun.

Pada masa yang sama, ramai daripada pemuda dan wanita muda ini mendapat pendedahan dan tunjukajar pentadbiran politik awal. Ini telah membawa kepada kematangan politik awal. Proses ini sebenarnya telah memberi kesan yang amat positif dari segi menyediakan lapisan kepimpinan muda yang matang dari segi pentadbiran dan pemikiran politik serta pentadbiran. Proses ini juga kita kenali sebagai satu proses peremajaan parti dan kerajaan.

Pada masa yang sama, penubuhan puteri dan biro putera telah memberi satu platform untuk golongan muda menjadi aktif didalam politik. Kita harus akui, pemimpin –pemimpin politik yang telah menjangkaui usia 50an, 40an atau 40 sekalipun, mungkin dan susah untuk memahami cara pemikiran dan budaya golongan mereka di antara 18 hingga 25 tahun. Aktiviti-aktiviti mereka, pendekatan, pemikiran, apa yang mereka suka dan tidak suka – ini semua amat berlainan dengan seorang yang telah berumur 40 tahun atau lebih. Jikalau anak-anak muda ini tidak didampingi serta diberikan ruang dan peluang melalui satu platform yang sah, mereka mungkin akan memesong kea rah aktiviti-aktiviti yang tidak sihat serta bermasalah seperti bohsia,mat rempit, jenayah dan sebagainya.

Kerana dua sebab inilah kenapa Puteri dan Biro Putera di bawah Pemuda UMNO di tubuhkan.

Alasan yang telah diberikan YTM Tengku bahawa pemansuhan sayap-sayap akan mengurangkan rasuah harus kita teliti dengan mendalam. Adakah kerana kewujudan sayap-sayap ini rasuah timbul? Atau adakah kerana beberapa individu yang kebetulan bertanding di dalam sayap-sayap ini yang mengamalkan rasuah yang menjadi masalah. Adakah dengan pemansuhan sayap-sayap ini secara langsung dan berkesan menghapuskan rasuah?

Jawapannya adalah kewujudan sayap-sayap tidak membawa kepada rasuah. Ini adalah masalah individu dan pemansuhan sayap-sayap tidak akan menghapuskan rasuah.

Jikalau individu-induvidu berasuah ini ini tidak dikenali sebagai wanita atau pemuda atau puteri sebagai contohnya, mereka masih lagi ahli UMNO, dan mungkin mereka akan bertanding di peringkat tertinggi UMNO. Dan jikalau seseorang itu memang mempunyai personaliti dan pemikiran rasuah, tidak kira beliau berada di wanita, pemuda, puteri atau induk sekalipun, beliau akan terus membeli undi untuk meraih sokongan.

Maka membakar kelambu untuk membunuh nyamuk bukanlah jawapannya. Kita harus mencari individu-individu ini dan mendisiplinkan mereka. Kita harus menjalankan tugas kita tanpa mengira pangkat ataupun bulu.

Saya juga beranggapan bahawa jikalau ada kelemahan di dalam sayap-sayap ini, maka menjadi tanggungjawab kita bersama untuk membetulkan dan membentuk budaya yang sihat untuk mereka ini , lebih-lebih lagi di dlaam pemuda, puteri dan biro putera. Bagaikan kata pepatah melentuh buluh biarlah dari aurnya.

Saya difahamkan bahawa masalah beli undi in bukan sahaja berlaku di dalam UMNO tetapi saya dimaklumkan ianya juga berlaku di dalam parti-parti lain, baik dalam Barisan Nasional mahupun Pakatan Rakyat.

Janganlah kerana nila setitik, susu sebelanga habis dibuang. Janganlah kerana seorang dua yang membuat salah, habis satu kampung dibakar.

Sekadar pandangan seorang ahli muda.

Quick Note

Just a quick note on the late S Kugan's case. I am happy that the Attorney General is taking a serious view on this case by re classifying it to a murder case and also sending back the initial investigation papers to the police for further and more thorough investigation.

I want to see the the cops who beat S Kugan (and it does not matter if the beatings were the cause of death) be brought to face justice. More so if the beatings were the cause of his death.

I am happy to see the AG, the IGP and Deputy IGP getting fully involved in the investigation and ensuring no stones remain unturned. Whilst we respect and appreciate the duties and resposibilities of the police force, these few errant cops must not be allowed to continue in their wrong ways. These few cops must think they are in Guantanamo Bay detention camp!

At the same time, I am sad that there are individuals out there who are taking advantage of the situation. Please do not politicise the issue and please do not turn this into a racial issue. The demonstration at the USJ 8 police station was uncalled for. Neither was the fracas at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre until 6 got detained. We are a civilised society, not barbarians. Let's solve issues properly and not create havoc.

I hope cool and calm heads will prevail. Please allow the Attorney General and the police to do their investigation. Let's wait for the second post mortem report. The AG had said he wants to see the report. And whether or not the alleged beatings caused the late S Kugan's death, action should be taken on the cops who allegedly beat him up.

I will not demonise the whole police force just because of a few bad hats. But if the powers that be do not take action on these people, then from the IGP right down to the normal police, I hold you in contempt of justice.

Gong Xi Fa Cai

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy New Year. May the year of the Ox give us strength, happiness, health, patience and prosperity to our loved one and ourselves. May we also take this opportunity to strengthen our family ties and friendship.

For those who travel, and I know you guys are tired of listening to this, drive safely and carefully. Do stop when you are sleepy. Better safe than sorry.

Let us also embrace and cherish the unique and wonderful multiracialism and multiculturalism in our country that many other places do not have. It is a strength and for us to continue cultivate this spirit together, for our nation and for our children.

Hope to see all of you renewed in vigour and spirit, ready to tackle everything and anything together as a nation for our Malaysia. We are the children of Malaysia and we will chart the fortunes of this nation, our home together.

Take care all…

BN- THE DINOSAUR ?

What happened in the Kuala Terengganu by-election was not a wake up call as many had said it. We had our wake-up call, and woken up rudely as many would say, at the 12th General Election last March. And I believe, regardless whether one supports BN or PR, the whole nation was surprised by the outcome of the March General Elections.

And BN is trying to change. Calls for transformation reverberated not only in UMNO branch and divisional meetings, but also in MCA, MIC, Gerakan and so on. BN meetings chaired by YAB Pak Lah have also recognized this need and have been talking about the same thing. YAB Pak Lah and the gang have been trying to change. The MACC bill is one, along with issues like appointment of judges, mega projects shelved, rakyat centric projects given the priority and a host of other things. Even the thought process now is different within the BN party.

However, it is painfully obvious to me that whatever changes the Government has done so far are not enough. Sometimes this is because for whatever good that we do like the MACC bill and so on, suddenly the public gets shocked by one or two bad decisions or proposals coming from individuals or companies linked to the Government. A case in point is Sime Darby’s announcement that it proposed to takeover IJN. And when that failed, the recent and ongoing proposal to build the LCCT terminal for AirAsia in Labu. Because of things like these, whatever good the Government had done throughout the last couple of months and the goodwill credited, have all gone down the drain.

To digress a bit. Sime Darby’s action have got me wondering. Sime Darby seems to be so impatient and in a hurry to do all these deals. Why?

Another issue I would like to point out is the KT by – election. Many thought the battle between PAS and BN was lost not during polling day, but the day BN announced the candidate. Many said that BN had not learned their lesson by putting the particular candidate because he is detached from the grassroots. Whilst I wish to remain neutral on this issue, that is the perception of the public and voters in KT and like it or not BN has to be mindful of all these factors in the future. Voters are what we need to win the election (or in this case by-election). In fact a friend of mine from KT told me, the candidate is a capable man and the right choice but at the wrong time and place.

So, when will BN really change and make impactful changes that will convince the rakyat? I can’t say for the other component parties but I believe for UMNO, real changes will start in March. And the first real change is the selfless sacrifice by YAB Pak Lah to step down as UMNO President, BN Chairman and Prime Minister soon after that to allow the election of YAB DS Najib to these posts.

Second would be the election of a whole new team comprising the old and new to the Supreme Council that would bring fresh mandate for them to act and initiate changes. This would be complemented by the Pemuda. Wanita and Puteri wings also. For the first time in so many years, all these three wings will have contests for their heads which mean a fresh mandate for all.

These changes must also be impactful. BN cannot effect changes just for the sake of changing, without knowing heads or tails what it is changing, why it is changing and the effects of the changes. These changes must also be real and to the core, not superficial or just scratching the surface. And more importantly, all the changes must be thought out properly and must be for the rakyat. Changes made must not only have a positive effect to the older generation but must be felt and appreciated by the younger generation.

These changes must be more than just rebranding or repackaging. I do not want new clothes or new wrappings but the same old core. It must be a transformation. It must be a paradigm shift in the mindset and approach. In short, UMNO, MCA, MIC, Gerakan,PPP and others must sweat blood to win back the rakyat’s trust and belief.

What I have written here for BN is by no means exhaustive. The list of changes and our hopes for BN are endless. But I have high hopes for DS Najib and several individuals I know who have realized UMNO and BN need to change with times for the Rakyat. Should these individuals manage to secure the posts they are campaigning for in the party elections, it will be enough to give them the platform to effect the changes needed, realistically, pragmatically and effectively.

To those in UMNO and BN who still refuse to change, and I admit there are some though minority in numbers, continue being the dinosaurs you are. Sooner rather than later, you will be extinct.

I am confident that changes and transformation will come. I am confident DSNR will be able to do it. Together, the new team will chart the fortunes of UMNO and with our friends, fortunes of BN. Give us a chance to correct our wrongs. And correct them, we will.

Labu Airport

I totally agree with YA Bhg Tun's article on the proposed Labu airport. Do not get carried away by Air Asia's so called grand plans and so-called success. Yes, it has done very well but I don't want the country to waste our resources.

I was also told that Air Asia owes the government about RM100 million or something. I think Air asia should think about paying this back too.

Please find below the article YABhg Tun Mahathir wrote on the proposed Labu airport:-

By Dr. Mahathir Mohamad on January 17, 2009 3:48 PM in his Blog Chedet.com

1. Air Asia has done well to explain the justification for the so-called KLIA-East in Labu.

2. Not having the facilities and personnel I can only give my very unprofessional view on the justification:


a) Passenger Capacity

I must congratulate Air Asia on its very remarkable success. By 2014 it will handle 26 million passengers. Present terminal at KLIA is handling about 25 million passengers.

KLIA is planned to handle 125 million passengers. It has 25,000 acres of land to build another terminal and four satellites. It can even duplicate these terminals and satellites. But Air Asia wants low-cost terminals with no aero-bridge, no luxury interiors. This is not a problem for KLIA.

There is enough space in the 25,000 acres of reserved land to build the low-cost terminal to accommodate the 60 million Air Asia passengers in the distant future. MAHB (Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad) can do this. (Incidentally Putrajaya has only 10,000 acres of land). However, by 2014 the total number of Air Asia passengers would only be 27 million. Accommodating this number should be no big deal for MAHB.

b) Runway capacity

By 2014 Air Asia will have 77 aircrafts. LCCT capacity will still be for 33 aircrafts. Does Air Asia expect all its aircrafts to be on the ground in LCCT all the time?

Usually some would be in the air and many would be at other airports. Expanding the parking area would not be too difficult. There would still be enough land at KLIA.

As for the runways Times Online reports that Heathrow will now build its third runway to be completed in 2020. Presently Heathrow has only two runways and it still handles almost 70 million passengers.

As stated above, KLIA can build another three runways to handle 125 million passengers. If passengers and aircrafts increase to more than presently handled by Heathrow, a third runway can quickly be built.

If KLIA LCCT is not connected by rail and bus, the thing to do is to provide all these. Extension to the Express Rail Link line can be built. Terrain is no problem. We have sliced through higher hills to build roads.

If the waiting time for taxis has increased due to the huge airport layout (I don't understand this), whatever solution for this problem is proposed for Labu, the same solution can also be applied to KLIA LCCT.

c) Number of Gates

Since Air Asia will not be using the main terminal why should the small number of gates there be of concern to Air Asia?

If Air Asia will be putting more than 55 Gates at Labu to cater for its large number of aircrafts and movements, why cannot LCCT at KLIA be expanded to have maybe 100 Gates to avoid any shortages? Will Labu be provided with 100 Gates? If so, when? Again, why be bothered about KLIA Terminal being equipped with aero-bridges etc when Air Asia does not want to use it?

3. The comparison with Dubai and Jackson Atlanta International Airport is misleading.

4. The picture shows four runways (no indication which airport). Multiple runways is common but they are operated by one airport with one control tower. The picture and the layout does not suggest separate towers for different runways. You cannot have multiple runways close to each other but controlled by different towers.

5. Perhaps Air Asia can show documents that separations between different airport runways of 2km are permissible. Is there any example of two major airports operating separately but located 2km from each other? I don't know. Please enlighten me.

6. The problem prompting the idea of a new airport is the allegedly high charges by MAHB for the use of LCCT by Air Asia. MAHB is owned by Khazanah and it is believed Khazanah has a stake in Air Asia. Both are therefore GLCs. The Government can tell them to negotiate fair charges. Or is it the Government that wants this airport at Labu for reasons other than need?

7. Or is it that Sime Darby now wants to go into airport business?

NSTP Fund for GAZA

I am happy and am extremely proud of us Malaysians. As at today, the NSTP fund for Gaza stands at RM2.4m. This does not include other initiatives and funds set up for the same purpose. All in all, I am sure the amount is substantial and can provide an impactful relief to the Palestinians in Gaza.

I am also happy the the initatives taken and sponsors / donations that came in were from everyone, irregardless of religion, race, status or even political belief. And we Malaysians gave to all those in suffering irregardless of creed, political belief or religion. Mind you, not all Palestinians are Muslims. There are many others including Christians too. And this war between Israel and Palestine is more of land / territorial issue than it is a religious issue. Thus, we are giving humanitarian aid to those suffering irregardless of (trivial) considerations given the circumstances.

This has always been the Malaysian brand - we give and we give generously. Remember Tsunami? We gave for our countrymen who were affected by the tsunami, and we also gave to other nations like Aceh in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and so on.

And to Malaysians, again we can pat ourselves on the back when it comes to helping others. This also shows that when push comes to shove or when the situation warrants it, we can unite and look above religion and race for a certain cause.

However, I am disgusted by a few individuals or companies trying to make a quick buck or cheap publicity by capitalising on this humanitarian initiatives / drives. I read it in a New Straits Times today about Hotel Bayview in Melaka. The article reported that the hotel management had introduced a campaign where the hotel will contribute RM1 towards Mercy Malaysia's Medical Aid to Gaza fund for every diner at the hotel's food and beverage outlets. The management will also place a donation box at the hotel's lobby. The campaign is to run until 9 February 2009 and aims to raise RM20,000 for its purpose.

Let me tell you why I am disgusted and angry. The hotel is quite a nice hotel after it completed all its renovations. I would rate it quite well. In fact, I had also stayed in that hotel last year. Quite an ok experience. And the prices at their F&B outlets are, like other hotels, pricey but within normal hotel limits. On average each diner might spend RM30 - RM40 and maybe the normal average margin per diner is 30%-40% (low guesstimate) on the outlet alone after deducting all overhead expenses at outlet level. That makes the average net profit at outlet level to be between RM9 - RM16 per diner.

The campaign period is going to be for about 25 days (until 9 February 2009). The hotel expects the donation to reach RM20,000. Just say from that total, about (RM12,500) is from direct donations from the public at the box placed at the lobby and the rest from the RM1 per diner campaign, then the hotel expects 7,500 diners over the period.

At 7,500 diners, the hotel can expect a huge profit of between RM67,500 to RM160,000 margin of RM9-RM16 per diner and I assume it could be more). So for such a huge profit, the hotel is forking out a paltry sum of RM7,500.

This is nothing more but a cheap publicity stunt aimed at making money for themselves, nothing more than that. Using the excuse of creating the donation drive to i. gain publicity ii. encourage people to go to their hotel.

I would like to tell the hotel management to just stop their so called campaign and keep all the money to themselves. It is sad that this management is using it for their own selfish reasons. The management should donate at least 50% of its proceeds (revenue) from the F&B outlets to the fund. Then, I would say they are doing it sincerely.

I hope no one or no other company / hotels will come up with such a harebrained scheme. And please , give sincerely, generously and out of our hearts in wanting to help people.

I love Malaysia. I am proud of Malaysia. And we can all be proud of our initiatives, help and assistance that we give sincerely to anyone and everyone who needs our help.

Kuala Terengganu by-election

I was in Kuala Terengganu for the by-election recently and am going again tomorrow. I have to say that this issue of charging exorbitant rates happens not only in Kuala Terengganu but also in any other places during the by-election. And everyone is affected, not just from a particular party or whatever.

This act of charging higher rates is not limited to hotel. There are people even willing to vacate their houses for the short campaigning period of two weeks just because they can charge and get very good returns. In Kuala Terengganu, my friends were telling me that they rented houses (for a period of two weeks) for RM3,000 , RM5,000 and even RM10,000, depending on size, location and amenities available. Normally these houses would most probably only fetch between RM500.00 – RM2,000 a month.

Food is definitely much more expensive. The minute the operators see us, the prices go up by 20% to 30% most probably. I guess all these outsiders have a label on their foreheads yelling out that says “HEY!WE ARE OUTSIDERS! CHARGE US!”.

So, the complaints to the Honourable Tourism Minister about hotel charges is actually true. I can vouch for that as I was also affected. The place where I stayed in would probably charge about RM120 to a maximum RM150 on a normal day. I was hit RM350.00 a night! Yup,that’s right, more than a 100% increase.

Another famous hotel I called told me all rooms are booked but if I were to call a certain event management company, then I would most probably be able to get a room in that particular hotel. The catch – it is more expensive (by about RM100.00 – RM150.00), no credit cards, no cheques and no Letter of Warranties. Only cash! Why you might ask…..the answer is the event management company had pre-paid all the rooms and are selling to people to make profits. I was shocked and disgusted! I can appreciate someone being industrious and wanting to make profit, but this act is appalling, what more it is done with the co-operation of the hotel. I was told a certain individual had to pay RM900.00 a night in that famous hotel for his Junior suite – easily two times the normal amount.

That is why I cannot fathom how the Terengganu Hotel Association can say that is not happening. And that there are still many rooms available. Probably the rooms available are far away from Kuala Terengganu coz I have just been told (as I write, mind you) that all hotels within the vicinity are fully booked for my coming trip.

Hmm……looks like I have to share a bunk somewhere this time around. Anyone want a snorer for the next couple of nights?

Local Councils

I remember during the run up to the recent General Elections, the opposition parties, especially PKR and DAP were religiously calling and demanding for local council elections, including the election for village heads. They said that all councilor positions and village heads should be elected by the people as these people work and serve the people. Transparency, accountability, integrity and responsibility were amongst the key phrases used by the Pakatan Rakyat to drill into the rakyat that local councilors and village heads should be elected, not appointed. They also said that politicians or supporters of one party should not be a criteria for the appointment of a local councilor / village head. One must be professional, objective and transparent.

In fact, I remember them saying that should they be elected into Government, they will ensure that the local council elections will be one of their priorities. I have to admit, some of the Pakatan Rakyat MPs in Wilayah tried to do that via some NGOs by calling for the Government to hold elections when it came to appointing the Mayor of KL.

So what happened now?

In Perak, State Government had announced that they will appoint all councilors again until “they get the system right”. Care to elaborate and be more transparent?

Then, we have some PKR assemblymen who decided on their own not to listen to the State Government and went ahead with the election process to appoint a village head. Of course, the election process was coordinated and managed by the local PKR machinery in that area and no prizes for guessing who won – the local PKR head! Hmm…..Integrity? Transparency? And I wonder what business or professional qualification the chap has?

In fact, Dr Lee Boon Chye, PKR’s Vice-President and Gopeng MP, said that by convention, PKR should be allowed to decide on the village head, as the assemblyman of the area was from the party. (N20 STAR, 2 January 2009). Again, this statement totally contradicted the party’s earlier stand of professionalism, transparency, objectivity and so on.

Next we have YB Kulasegaran who was allegedly extremely upset because he did not get the Deputy Mayor of Ipoh’s post. He considered being a ‘lowly’ Councilor was not enough. You can bargain and negotiate for the post? I thought the Pakatan Rakyat Government was going to hold elections for it. And make sure the posts are filled by those most professional and most qualified? Not saying YB Kula is not qualified, but where is the election? And I read in the papers, YB Kula was allegedly upset about not getting the post because YB Nga Kor Ming wanted to appoint his close buddy to that post. I read in the NST today(05 January 2009), that this close buddy is actually YB Nga's ex boss where he worked before contesting in the elections…..gratitude to his ex boss? I thought these kind of behaviour is non-existent and not tolerated in Pakatan Rakyat?

In Penang, I am told that the State Government is thinking about appointing a politician as the President of local councils. At present moment, this particular post in all local councils is filled by a civil servant. A case to point out is Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Prai (MPSP) where the State Government is mulling over that particular idea of appointing a politician as the President for the local council. (N14,STAR, 31 December 2008).

What are you guys doing DAP? PKR? Pakatan Rakyat? Don’t lie to the Rakyat!!!!! Don’t cheat us!!!!!!