霹州变天, 宪法所许

Constitutional expert professor Abdul Aziz Bari said, hopping is legal and constitutional.

宪法专家 Abdul Aziz Bari 教授说, 跳槽不违法, 为宪法所许。

“政治青蛙” 跳槽, 难免涉及宪法, 选民尽管有被愚弄之感，跳槽却不违法, 为宪法所许。

霹雳民联手持三位州议员辞职信要求选委会悬空议席补选，其后又要求解散州议 会重选，等等应变步骤，一一宣告落败；即使扣除其中客观因素，预签辞职信已再次被证明是废纸一张。

州议员预签却未志期的辞职信，预签文件是无效的。因为，最高法院早于90年代已裁决“预先签署辞职信不合法并无效”；法院1991年亦对吉兰丹一宗跳槽案, 援引赋予 “人民结社自由权利” 的联邦宪法第10条文，判决制止议员跳槽之举违宪。

沙巴团结党领导人拜林吉丁岸1986年曾中招被挖角而深知其害；跳槽为“失信于民”,议员动辄跳槽, 玩弄选民委托, 为选民所不齿, 却为宪法所许。

霹州变天, 是如法的。

Karpal Singh calling on Anwar Ibrahim to step down

DAP national chairman Karpal Singh calling on Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of being unfit to lead Pakatan Rakyat and demanded the PKR supremo step down.

Anwar Ibrahim

Karpal Singh criticised PKR chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, his DAP boss Lim Kit Siang and even Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for what he deemed as their "inconsistent stand" on party hopping. He claimed that their stance had caused the whole Pakatan Rakyat to be in disarray.

Karpal Singh

Blaming Anwar, also PKR advisor and de facto leader, for creating trouble in the opposition alliance, he said Pakatan needed a new leader.

“He (Anwar) has created enough trouble and it is time for him to bertaubat (repent). I wonder if he is fit to be the leader of Pakatan Rakyat. In fact I think Pakatan Rakyat requires another leader, a good leader. Not someone who believes in immorality, even accepting crossovers," he said.

“It’s time Pakatan got itself another leader,” he told a press conference at his office here Sunday.

Karpal Singh said members of PKR and DAP had fallen sway to the rhetoric of Anwar, who had supported the cross-over of elected representatives.

Karpal also warned his party leaders not to push him too far. "I have been patient all this while. Don't let matters come to a head in the interest of Pakatan Rakyat and also DAP. In fact, I have even proposed that DAP leave Pakatan Rakyat on the issue of hudud law but no one supported me, neither Kit Siang nor Guan Eng. It is a shame and they should also bertaubat (repent)."

Anwar is widely credited with knitting the different parties in Pakatan -- PKR, DAP and PAS -- into the coherent opposition that swept five states from under Barisan Nasional’s feet in the 12th general election last March.

The question remains: Can Karpal Singh replace Anwar Ibrahim?

Ahmad Ismail didn’t mean it, Abdullah says

Bukit Bendera UMNO division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail was reported to have allegedly uttered the remarks in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak during a ceramah in Permatang Pauh in Aug 25 that “the Chinese were mere squatters or temporary residents of the nation and therefore, it was impossible to achieve equal rights amongst races in the country,”

In addressing the issues, Malaysia Prime minister and UMNO President Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he will personally see to it that Bukit Bendera UMNO chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail does not repeat his remarks about the Chinese.

“I will tell him not to do it again. You know in a campaign all sorts of things can come up. I don’t think he meant it. I’ll make sure to tell him not to use it again,” the Prime Minister said after chairing the Bertam UMNO division meeting yesterday.

Gerakan, a component of the Barisan Nasional (BN), has called for stern action against Bukit Bendera UMNO division head Datuk Ahmad Ismail over his recent “seditious” remarks on the Chinese community.

Gerakan secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye in a statement said, “Many Malaysians are disappointed with the mild statement by Prime Minister and UMNO resident Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when commenting on the seditious statement by Datuk Ahmad Ismail.”

“They (Malaysians) had expected a strong rebuke, especially on Aug 31, a day all Malaysians celebrated the country’s independence. After 51 years of independence, any further doubt of loyalty of any Malaysian of any ethnic origin and the questioning of citizenship is beyond the understanding of all Malaysians.”

“Ahmad’s statement was outdated and racially provocative, adding that any sign of the Barisan Nasional tolerating any out rightly racist and provocative views would give the wrong signal to the people.”

“Ahmad Ismail should not only retract what he uttered and also apologize to all Malaysians but also be disciplined so as to prevent such divisive statement or action from being repeated. Such archaic views can further divide a multi-ethnic country like Malaysia,”

Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan urged UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership to review its stance against Ahmad. He called on the police to investigate the matter as the MCA and Gerakan Youth had lodged a police report against Ahmad.

Penang Gerakan Youth committee member Dr Thor Teong Gee lambasted Ahmad and charged that UMNO was still using racial ideology to achieve its own personal political agenda. Bukit Mertajam MCA division chairman Lau Chiek Tuan called for disciplinary action against Ahmad.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s political secretary Ng Wei Aik also called on Ahmad to immediately retract his statement and apologize to the community.

Meanwhile, Tanjung Gerakan Youth division chief H’ng Khoon Leng lodged a police report at the district police headquarters in Patani Road over Ahmad’s alleged remarks.

MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said there was no reason for Ahmad to stir racial feelings with his remarks.

“This is the Merdeka month and such a racist remark should not have been made,” he added.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said UMNO leaders should stop using racial sentiment to seek support from the people.

Former UiTM students protest against quota at UiTM be opened

About 5,000 UiTM students assembled in front of the state government administration building, Bangunan Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (SAAS) to protest against the suggestion by Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim is suggesting that 10 per cent of the current student quota at UiTM be opened to non-Bumiputeras and foreign students.

He had said that the suggestion could raise the quality of education and spirit of competition among students at the institution.

The suggestion to open up the university was to improve the quality of education and competency amongst its students as the university is currently only open to Bumiputeras.

He proposed to sit in a special meeting with some state executive councillors and the university's student representatives to come up with ideas to further advance the achievements of higher learning.

In responding, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, however, said Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has no power to make a proposal that the student quota for Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) be opened to the non-Bumiputeras too.


He said those who had the rights to decide on the enrolment policy were those who had links to the educational institution.

“It is not within his jurisdiction of power. Matters pertaining to the intake (of students) lie with the educational institution concerned.”

The suggestion, however, were met with opposition from former UiTM students who described it as illogical and did not deserve any consideration.