YB Azmin Ali Jejak Kaki ke Rumah Azwan Selepas 9 Tahun

dari ChangkatNingkeBTP

p/s - Mana Ummi Hafilda? Tak nampak pun?

DI muka pintu rumah personaliti Azwan Ali, wajah ibu tercinta Mak Tom menunggu dengan penuh debaran kelibat anak tersayang, YB Azmin Ali.



Kedatangan Azmin, Ahli Parlimen Gombak, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Bukit Antarabangsa dan Naib Presiden PKR, ke rumah adiknya Azwan petang itu amat bermakna sekali bagi mereka anak beranak.

Manakan tidak, sudah 9 tahun kasih terputus dan jalinan tali persaudaraan yang bertaut kembali pada petang itu bagaikan sebuah episod jejak kasih.

Debaran menanti "tetamu istimewa" Azmin menjadi lebih syahdu apabila Mak Tom memecah kesunyian dengan berkata, "Ini yang makcik tunggu-tunggu selama ini. Alhamdulillah tuhan kabulkan doa makcik.

"Siang malam, makcik tak henti-henti berdoa terutama pada bulan Ramadan yang baru ini. Makcik minta tuhan satukan anak-anak makcik sebelum makcik tutup mata...," jelas Mak Tom, 74 tahun dengan nada yang separuh sebak.
Walau apa pun sengketa yang pernah berlaku, air cincang tidak akan putus...



Meskipun Mak Tom tidak berapa sihat, ibu tua yang penyayang ini bertungkus lumus di dapur bersama beberapa orang pembantu Azwan, menyiapkan juadah untuk semua anak-anaknya.

"Azmin kata dia akan datang....kejap lagi sampailah tu," jelas Mak Tom dengan penuh harapan. Tidak beberapa lama kemudian, kelibat abang tersayang, yang disapa dengan panggilan 'Pak Teh' berjalan masuk ke rumah Azwan.

Azwan terus mencium tangan abangnya sambil diperhatikan Mak Tom dengan mata yang berkaca.

Azmin, 45, yang datang dengan isterinya Shamsidar Taharin serta lima orang anaknya petang itu, disambut mesra seolah masa yang memisahkan mereka seperti tidak pernah berlaku.
Kemeriahan di rumah Azwan tatkala menerima kedatangan Azmin jelas membayangkan bunga-bunga sebuah keluarga bahagia

Seorang lagi abang yang tua, Azman Ali, 46, seorang ahli perniagaan, muncul sejurus kemudian dengan keluarganya. Bertambah meriah suasana di rumah banglo berkembar dua tingkat milik Azwan yang terletak di Taman Andaman, Ukay Perdana petang tadi.

Nasi minyak istimewa dari air tangan Mak Tom bersama rendang tok dan dendeng berlada menanti di meja makan. Azwan pula tidak menang tangan melayan anak-anak buah yang berlari riang di dalam rumah.

Biarpun sudah besar panjang dan mempunyai keluarga masing-masing, baik Azmin, Azwan dan Azman tetap dilayan dengan manja oleh Mak Tom.

Sebagai hos yang terkenal dengan aksi riuh rendahnya, Azwan berjaya mencuit hati Azmin. Mungkin juga beliau rindu melihat gelagat begitu selama ini.

Sesekali, Azwan meminta izin abangnya untuk bergambar bersama.Dan setiap kali lensa kamera di arah ke wajahnya sambil Azwan berposing di sebelahnya, Azmin yang kelihatan agak kekok pada mulanya, hanya tersenyum.
Azwan menyajikan nasi mintak untuk abangnya Azmin dan isterinya, Shamsidar

"Saya tak biasa....," tuturnya lembut.

Ketika ditanya tentang karier Azwan, Azmin berkata adiknya itu sememang dilahirkan untuk menjadi anak seni.

"Dari kecil lagi, Azwan suka menjadi pengacara. Waktu sekolah dulu, kayu di belakang rumah akan dijadikan mikrofon dan dia akan beraksi seolah-olah dia seorang pengacara.

"Saya sokong apa jua karier pilihannya cuma saya tidak berapa minat hiburan. Jarang saya membaca ruangan hiburan. Bukan tidak mengikuti karier Azwan tapi saya terlalu sibuk," jelas Azmin.

Katanya lagi, "Apa pun yang kita buat, mesti ada kesederhanaan (There must be moderation in everything)."



Azmin melahirkan rasa syukurnya dengan pertemuan hari ini sambil mengimbau apa yang pernah berlaku satu ketika dulu.

"Pada tahun 2000, waktu saya melakukan umrah buat pertama kalinya, saya memohon agar Tuhan satukan kembali kami adik beradik. Alhamdulillah setelah 9 tahun, doa saya dikabulkan. Saya rasa sungguh gembira dengan pertemuan ini.

"Sekarang kami seperti satu keluarga bahagia ...one happy family again. I miss this for some years. Sememangnya ini yang saya harapkan setelah insiden tahun 2000 itu... supaya keluarga saya jadi kuat dan bersatu," katanya dengan penuh makna.

Kata Azmin lagi, "Saya hargai pertemuan seperti ini sebab itu saya tolak undangan open house yang lain untuk hadir ke rumah adik saya. Saya ada 17 jemputan 'open house' hari ini. Saya terpaksa menolak undangan beberapa rumah kerana ingin datang juga ke rumah Azwan."

Ternyata pertemuan adik beradik petang itu yang disaksikan Mak Tom, membawa lembaran tersendiri yang cukup indah dan bermakna.

Menurut Azmin, kesibukannya sebagai ahli politik, selalu menjadi momen begini terlalu sukar.

"Tapi insyaAllah kalau ada kesempatan lain, saya akan datang lagi. Saya cukup menghargai kesempatan seperti ini," jelas Azmin, anak keempat dari 6 beradik./MStar Online

Liverpool 2 - 0 Manchester United ( Man Who?)

dari ChangkatNingkeBTP

Liverpool's David Ngog struck six minutes into injury time to clinch a vital 2-0 win over Manchester United at Anfield, adding to Fernando Torres' earlier strike. Both sides finished a dramatic tie with ten men after Nemanja Vidic and Javier Mascherano were dismissed.

Liverpool fans (yours truly included :->) will dream again now... until the next crisis.

Fernando Torres and substitute David Ngog left Manchester United reeling as Liverpool brilliantly halted their four-game losing streak.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez had said prior to the game that one win would change everything, and what a result his team delivered to ease the pressure on the Spaniard. The champions were eventually beaten after a stunning performance of defiance that followed days of the worst crisis Liverpool have suffered in decades.

If the critics were to be believed, boss Benitez was for the chop, Liverpool were all washed up and facing financial ruin. Well not after this cracking Premier League battle. Liverpool restored their pride with a victory over, for them, the best victims possible.

Torres forced his injured frame through the game and grabbed his ninth goal of the campaign midway through the second half to get Liverpool really firing.

Ngog hit the second in stoppage-time, with the match at boiling point. United had by that stage lost defender Nemanja Vidic to his third red card in successive matches against Liverpool.

Javier Mascherano saw red too, but it was Liverpool who inflicted the second league defeat of the season on United to restore faith among their worried fans.

As expected, Steven Gerrard missed the match with a groin problem, but Wayne Rooney recovered from a calf injury to play for the champions. Liverpool had Torres and Glen Johnson back after both missed the Champions League defeat to Lyon on Tuesday, while United also had Ryan Giggs, Patrice Evra and Michael Carrick back in their starting line-up. Michael Owen, facing his former club, started on the bench and on his introduction received a punishing reception from the fans who once worshipped him.

United's supporters made the most of Liverpool's recent misfortune. Beach balls, Eric Cantona masks and insulting banners were smuggled into the away section.

The banner that hurt most, no doubt, was "You told us to come back when we'd won 18 titles...well, we're back''. Watching on were co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, sitting side by side in the directors' box, but not in the exposed front row.

The atmosphere was electric, the noise deafening, as Liverpool set about trying to restore their battered reputation. Evra was booked after two trips on Torres in as many minutes, and from the free-kick Fabio Aurelio sent in a curled effort that Edwin van der Sar clawed away. It went straight to Dirk Kuyt, whose follow-up was also saved by his Dutch countryman. Then Lucas robbed Paul Scholes and gave Kuyt another chance, this one guided wide of the far post.

Rooney, who had seen one effort disallowed for offside, rose to met an Antonio Valencia cross, but his header was held low to his right by Jose Reina.

United had better possession and hit Liverpool with pace and slick movement, but Van der Sar was again needed to plunge to his right to keep out an Aurelio header from Yossi Benayoun's cross. Then Dimitar Berbatov was booked for a trip on Lucas, with the game finely balanced as the half ended.

Kuyt should have scored early in the second period when he was played in by Johnson, but he chose to pass rather than blast an angled effort, and the chance was lost. Then Benayoun's touch sent Torres away on the right, but his lack of genuine pace following his groin problem did not see him shake off Rio Ferdinand, and again the opening went begging.

It then needed a block from Johnson on the far post to keep out Rooney's header from Giggs' free-kick. But Liverpool were growing in confidence and they grabbed the lead after 65 minutes. Benayoun's pass sent Torres beyond Ferdinand, onside only by inches.

The Spaniard was not going to be denied this time. He held off the England centre back and lashed a shot into the roof of the net. The roof almost came off Anfield too.

Mascherano was booked for a foul on Evra before Anfield had its first sight of Owen in a United shirt as he came on for Berbatov and Nani replaced Scholes after 74 minutes. Owen's arrival was greeted with jeers and chants of "Where were you in Istanbul?" as well as "Once a Manc, never a Red".

Vidic was booked for a foul on Torres, and then after 80 minutes Torres could run no more and Ngog took his place.

Valencia saw a cross-shot clip the Liverpool bar and Owen was searching for any inch of space. He almost had a chance when he chased a through-ball, only to be hauled down by his good friend Jamie Carragher. The Liverpool skipper was booked.

With just a minute of normal time left, Vidic pulled down Kuyt as the Dutchman raced into an empty half. Red followed a second yellow, and the Serbian was sent off for the third successive game against Liverpool.

Three minutes into added time Mascherano was also sent off for a challenge on Van der Sar, the Argentinian's second yellow-card offence.

Then came the killer blow to United. Liverpool broke from deep defence, Lucas delayed his pass to sent Ngog away on his own and the striker slid the second past Van der Sar. Anfield, and Benitez, could finally celebrate.

BPL : Play 9 Lost 5 ... Now What RB? even a beach ball can score against LFC

dari ChangkatNingkeBTP

Mendan writes on LFC :

Sunderland + beach ball 1 Poor Poor Livrpool 0. Sunderland don't need a striker to score. Even beach ball can patner Darren Bent and still score a goal (punt intended). Worst still, LFC got 7 extra minutes and still couldn't score.

What next? Try to win cups? Since the League title have to wait for another painful year and MAN U can still grab their 19th title, RB surely had to win a cup or two. Based on the situation, its not a good one. League Cup against the free scoring Arsenal. Even their reserves managed the trounced LFC two seasons ago. Two games against rejuvenated Lyon in Champions League also mean that its a daunting tasks. Maybe LFC can aim for Europa League after eliminaton from the CL. FA Cup? 3rd round match against Man U is possible. What about against Villa, Chelsea or Sunderland?

Now back to the game against Steve Bruce's Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Its obvious that LFC squad is smaller than Villa. Spearing and Lucas in the midfield spells disaster. How on earth can you put a youngster in a big away game like that? Remember, Sunderland never lost at home this season. Lucas for Alonso? Since when a jogger can be considered as a direct replacement for a world class playmaker. Rafa tried to offload him the previous summer (to replaced with Barry) and LFC had to pay the consequences. Voronin and Ngog are not producing goals and this is embarrasing since evn the beach ball scored in that game! There's no urgency from LFC in that game. There's no leder, no proven goalscorer, not even a winger to cross the ball and worst, no idea at all. Even Maradona's Argentina far better can score goals in the last minutes.

Worrying still, Benayoun is said to be on the radar of super rich Man City. The dissatisfied Mascherano could go as well. How on earth a world class midfielder and the captain of his country could be asked by RB to perform in order to get a payrise? With weekly wage of 30k for a world class, you don't need a human resource manager to teach you the Maslow theory of Motivation. And ... I'm not talking about the captain of Malaysia, he is the captain of Argentina for heaven sake.

On the broader aspect, RB should stop blaming th US owners for the lack of funds. Its a fact that LFC was the third highest spender this season wich includes the purchase of an injured Italian for f20m. Why on earth you refused to sign Owen for f20m less?

RB, are you GERRARD HOULIER in disguise?

Give promotions to the deserving, please

dari ChangkatNingkeBTP

from The Star Online dated 15th October 2009.

*******************************************************************************

ONE of the most pressing issues that need to be addressed under the 1Malaysia concept is over the issue of deserving people being sidelined where promotions are concerned.

Every promotion is a recognition of those who can perform well and who would be doing more and better in the higher hierarchy of administration.

I believe the cry of the many people like Disillusioned of Ipoh is very real “Trauma of being sidelined’ (The Star, Oct 13).

I venture to say that cases like this is not isolated. It is rampant in the government service to the point that people who excel in their job scope get frustrated and disillusioned all too often.

The fault is people of questionable integrity are placed in positions of decision making. They act unjustly to favour one and deprive another out of a poor understanding of what promotion is all about and who should be elevated.

This is causing trauma not only for the individual concerned but to the whole service which is plagued by the unjust way employees are selected for promotion. The service will ultimately suffer when the selection is not based on performance.

The nation needs to rise up, to recognise and reward those who excel on the basis of excellence, nothing else.

The call to remove race from all government forms is to remove any prejudice against any race in any application.

The time is now ripe and let us not push the nation backwards and retard our progress as a nation. Cases of being sidelined due to one’s racial origin should be a thing of the past.

If the 1Malaysia initiative cannot address this issue, all hopes pinned on our Prime Minister’s noble idea will just a mere dream.

TENG,
Batu Pahat.

Masalah Kenaikan Pangkat Dalam Organisasi

dari ChangkatNingkeBTP

SATU daripada masalah yang paling mendesak yang perlu ditangani dalam pengurusan sumber manusia di Malaysia adalah mengenai masalah orang-orang yang layak sering tersisihkan bila masa tiba untuk kenaikkan pangkat atau yang bersangkutan.

Setiap kenaikkan adalah pengiktirafan kepada mereka yang boleh melakukan tugas dengan baik dan biasanya siapa yang akan terbukti menyumbang dengan cemerlang akan dinaikkan ke hieraki yang lebih tinggi pentadbiran.

Saya berani mengatakan bahawa kes-kes ketidakadilan dalam kenaikkan pangkat bukan satu kes terpencil atau bersendirian. Hal ini berleluasa dalam kerajaan dan organisasi milik kerajaan hingga ke tahap membawa kepada keadaan kecewa dan frustrasi di kalangan para pekerja.

Masalah ini akan kerap terjadi sekiranya pembuat keputusan terdiri dari orang-orang yang diragui integriti dan pengalaman mereka. Mereka bertindak secara tidak adil dan sambil leka tanpa menilai secara mendalam tentang apa yang patut dinilai.

Ini menyebabkan trauma tidak hanya bagi individu yang bersangkutan, tetapi untuk seluruh perkhidmatan yang tergendala dan terjejas kerana cara yang tidak adil dalam menaikkan pekerja . Seluruh organisasi akan terjejas dan akhirnya akan memberi impak negatif kepada negara secara holistik.

PAS, you need to find your way back fast!

dari ChangkatNingkeBTP

Satu artikel yang sangant menarik dan telus oleh TohKongMosjid, seorang pemuda bukan Islam yang meminati PAS.


TohkongMosjid
Mon | Oct 12, 09 | 8:08:48 pm MYT
ANALYSIS

5435! 5435 from 2333, an increase of 133% in majority votes. Yes, I hope PAS was humbled by that number, and this loss is worst than UMNO's loss in Permatang Pasir (4551 votes).


Honestly PAS, don't you feel sad? After spending over 50 years in Malaysia being attacked by UMNO/BN day-in-day-out as the extremist Islamic party; to being able to overcome that perception on March 2008; only to lose it all 19 months later in Bagan Pinang? You were supposed to be on your way to replace UMNO as the biggest party in Malaysia. Have you asked yourself, what has gone so wrong?

1. Stop the blaming game. Take it as it is, and find the answers from within

Don't blame the voters.
Don't try to blame it Tan Sri Isa's popularity either.

The fact that you lost with a bigger majority to a tainted candidate like him, regardless whether Bagan Pinang was his stronghold or not, there must be something VERY wrong about you.

Why did 75% voters in Bagan Pinang voted against you? Ok, perhaps you wanted to say they had 4600 postal votes in hand. Fine, let's take out the 4600 votes then. Yet you still lost by 3413 votes to 2,578 votes.

So, don't even try to pin it on postal votes as well.

Image But the question remains, why did 57% of ground voters in Bagan Pinang voted against you across all races?

How come voters in Bagan Pinang viewed PAS's candidate in such low quality, that he was not even given the chance to beat Rohaizat's (the disbarred lawyer) score? To voters, by hook or by crook, whether it was a crook or a hook, they had to choose one before 5pm, and PAS certainly failed miserably to provide them with enough reasons to at least show some support for PAS's candidate.

So, what went wrong? Was it due to a campaign strategy gone wrong? Or was it due to the dented image of PAS caused by controversial statements from its own leaders?

2. Campaign strategy of exposing Isa Samad's bad records.

Attacking Isa Samad's past record as a MB was a very unintelligent move. Come on lar, for 22 years he was the MB, there must be so much that he had done right, compared to his wrongs, right? If his money politics scandal did not deter people from nominating him, what makes you think people will hate him for his past failed projects? Even for a very successful corporate leader, there must be some broken projects under his belt along the way.

You cannot underestimate the number of voters in Bagan Pinang that Isa Samad had helped directly and indirectly during his tenure as MB. Your actions of exposing Isa's failed projects as a MB would certainly piss them off and set off a chain reaction of disgust.

Mind you, 22 years was a very long tenure, even the baby that was born on Isa's 1st year as a MB has turned into a eligible voter in Bagan Pinang today! Most of the people grew up into eligible voters under Tan Sri Isa's leadership.

PAS's campaign strategists forgot about those young voters who benefited from MB Isa while their parents were struggling to send them to schools or universities in the past 22 years.

Image How would those parents of these young voters feel when they see PAS puts up so many posters about Isa Samad's past which to them, were not comparable to the good deeds he had done as a MB? I believe they would have told their children (the young voters) something like this: "PAS was no where to be seen when your father or mother was struggling to feed you. MB Isa helped us before. Don't vote for PAS because they had smeared Isa's name as MB."

Instead of attacking Isa's past, PAS should have adopt the psychology attack strategy in wooing the young ones in Bagan Pinang by increasing their political awareness. By playing the sentiments over Isa's candicacy against their morale barometer and religion beliefs would have driven more young voters over to PAS.

The young voters (in the age of internet) were way easier to convince compared to their parents. Once we were able to convince the young ones, they could have go back and shared with their parents about the country's future if they were to vote for BN. They could have convinced their parents that a vote for BN is a vote to endorse their corruption practice and their super lousy way of governing the country. They could have set off a chain reaction to make people accept PAS and PR as the better party for Malaysia.

This wrong strategy by PAS had drove an extra 1,551 votes to BN instead of reducing the majority. There's a valuable lesson to be learnt here by PAS's think-tank and election strategists.

3. Confusing Signals from PAS

Fortunately for PAS, you need not to look far, as the answers were staring right in your face. The answers were so clear that there's something wrong with PAS when Zulkefly Omar could not answer these questions (below) posted by TheNutGraph (on 7 Oct 2009 http://www.thenutgraph.com/zulkefly-omars-dilemma):

a. What is his stand on concert banning, as called for by central PAS Youth against both Danish soft-rock band Michael Learns to Rock and US R&B diva Beyonce Knowles.? b. What is his stand on the open sale of alcohol? c. What is his position on the whipping sentence dropped on Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarnor?

Have you give it a thought on why Zulkefly Omar (ZO) refused or could not offer any answers to the 3 questions above? Was it his fault to not able to answer those questions?

Perhaps....

i. 1st possibility - ZO did not know what was the real party's stand on those 3 issues.

Whenever PAS-DAP-PKR met and came out with the statement "the matters were solved" at then end of the meeting, he did not know exactly what they really meant by the word "solved" because PR never explained how the matter was solved. PAS did not explain what was their final stand on those issues. If ZO was confused about his party's stand, I believed the voters were even more confused.

Image Whenever there's a controversial statement made by a certain PAS leaders, PAS top leaderships never responded quickly enough to counter those statements.

More often than not, they let those controversial statements to float around until enough damage was done before stepping in. Most of the time, they would tell everyone that 'The matter is now closed' without telling us exactly what's their final stand was. In the end, the people are left alone to judge PAS's stand on their own, and this is bad for the party.

ii. 2nd possibility - ZO had the answers to the above questions, but he knew his answers were going to piss off Pakatan Rakyat leaders or the non-Muslim voters so he decided to stay mum.

But can you blame ZO for not answering? Who dug up those holes for him to walk in? PAS itself dug the hole subconsciously for playing the rat race with UMNO to prove who is more Islamic between them.

For instance, in the beer fiasco, PAS Selangor was probably trying to prove themselves they are the real protector of Islam instead of UMNO. It was just a mind game without strategy to prove a useless point using the wrong way.

Why PAS's top leadership never thought of using the signboards "Judi adalah haram di sisi agama Islam" hanging in the 4D gambling shops as an example to do some real study? If those signboards cannot deter a Muslim from betting, does it really matter if those beers are sold in the Muslim-majority area?

Is there a need to prove PAS is more Islamic than UMNO by playing such high-stakes game? Is there a need to be caught up in this game while getting yourself being cornered politically?

4. Something is terribly wrong with the people perception of PAS lately.

Subconsciously, after a series of victory in Peninsular by-elections, PAS has lost track on its real focus. They did not realize they had started playing with empty rhetoric, meaningless slogans while trying hard to label UMNO as a corrupted party. During these times, PAS did not do anything to improve itself, instead they are actually regressing to the old PAS.

Since March 08, PAS has stopped putting in more effort into turning 'PAS for ALL' slogan into actions. They hallucinated that the non-Muslims votes are going to stay with them as long as 'PAS for ALL' slogan is chanted everyday like the 1Malaysia slogan. They forgot about the 'value of the people believing' in 'PAS for ALL' slogan was the recipe why people across racial divides decided to vote for them in all previous by-elections.

PAS's internal bickering since the unity government fiasco had sent a variety of confusing signals about PAS's real identity to the rakyat. 'The benefit of the doubts' that the rakyat gave to PAS on the past few by-elections are now gone for good.

Image PAS has to restart to brand themselves all over again. Rhetoric and slogans can only last so long as they refused or ignorant to learn from current UMNO's predicament.

5. Who are the real you, PAS?

If you happened to forget who you are, PAS, allow me to remind you.

PAS is a multi racial party who fights for Islam. You are not a Malay party like UMNO, but you are just a party dominated by Malays.

So, now how does PAS want to show its Islamic side to be accepted by all MALAY-sians?

The rakyat knows that PAS and Islam is inseparable. Therefore, fighting for Islam is completely acceptable to non-Muslims. The only problem is that lately it seemed very evident to the non-Muslims that PAS put more focus on petty issues rather than the big picture in their fight for Islam, which is to emphasis on fighting corruption, "kebajikan awam", fairness and transparency in all PR state's government.

PAS, you need to find your way back fast! Remember "PAS for ALL" was your best selling slogan, now you just have to focus to put it into actions. It is just that simple!

You paid a very cheap price in Bagan Pinang to realise that something has gone wrong in your struggle and focus. You should be glad that "Status-quo" is the cheapest price to lose an election for a good wake-up call!

(Penulis adalah seorang Pemuda bukan Muslim yang sangat suka kepada PAS tetapi kadang-kadang mempunyai pandangan tersendiri terhadap parti Islam ini)

Appointing ‘outsiders’: Wrong move by PKR

dari ChangkatNingkeBTP


Paul Sir's article should be seriously considered by the top guns of KEADILAN. Lots of interesting points to be pondered upon. Even KEADILAN is also having a problem of leadership in Selangor with a local as the leader.


Paul Sir
Monday, 12 October 2009 12:49

OPINION For the sake of giving an honest view of this subject, allow me as a Sarawakian to call a spade a spade.

While I can readily call myself a Malaysian, at times not with much pride (for obvious reasons), I will also consider those from Peninsular Malaysia ‘outsiders’. By that, I mean they are not Sarawakians but “Orang Malaya”.

I’m sorry but I have to say this. Because of the ways so many events have been played out in our nation, I have yet to fully grasp the 1Malaysia Concept espoused by our prime minister. To me, Najib Abdul Razak’s slogan is also nothing new. We have been talking about one Malaysia since Independence.

The term ‘outsider’ can be considered quite ‘undiplomatic’. It connotes an unwanted presence – as ‘outsiders’ mean those not from within but, as its name implies, outside.

However, I have no qualms about using the word when discussing politics. It’s all part of straight talking as politics is also about the art of courageously using the ‘wrong’ word (deliberately even) at the correct time when situations warrant it.

anwar-srwak-sbah2.jpgLet me try to give a clearer explanation by reviewing the situation of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in Sarawak and Sabah today.

In March this year, PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim took over as state PKR chairman in Sarawak and Sabah. To party members in the two East Malaysian states, Anwar is considered an ‘outsider’. He is not a resident from either state.

Anwar an 'acceptable' outsider

Well, the PKR boss may have valid reasons for doing so. Previous chairmen of the party’s state liaison committees in the two states might not have lived up to his expectation. So in a move to revamp and improve the set-up of his party in Sabah and Sarawak, Anwar took over as its chair.

So far, there were no complaints from party leaders and members in the two states. If there were any, it did not enter the public domain. So we can assume all was okay.

Anwar also has the clout and stature even though he is an outsider. We can conclude that he was an acceptable outsider to PKR members in Sabah and Sarawak.

Two months later, however, Anwar gave up the posts citing heavy commitments at home and abroad. He just could not give much of his time nor attention to party affairs in Sarawak and Sabah.

He appointed two persons to replace him. Party vice-president Mustaffa Kamil Ayub took over the Sarawak chair while another veep, Azmin Ali, the Sabah side.

And I believe this is when problems started to arise within PKR in the two East Malaysian states. And this is where the term ‘outsiders’ has a very negative connotation.

Right from the time when their appointments were announced, many local PKR leaders in Sarawak and Sabah already did not take it too kindly.

With due respect to the two gentlemen, Mustaffa and Azmin just do not possess the Anwar charisma nor stature to lead the party in the two states. In short, they were ‘unacceptable outsiders’.

I think I am able to appreciate and understand local sentiments. If I were a PKR member (which I am not) I would find it difficult to accept Mustaffa as my top leader in Sarawak.

Think of the reversed situation

Why? Simple. I don’t even know him. I wonder how many PKR leaders and members in Sarawak know who he is.

He may be a good and able leader but that’s not the point. The issue is why a local Sarawakian or Sabahan not appointed to head the party in their own states. Why appoint ‘outsiders’?

gabriel adit.jpgPut it this way. Try appointing Gabriel Adit (right) to head Selangor PKR or Dominique Ng to lead Penang PKR and see whether they could be accepted by party leaders and members in those two states.

Local sentiments will make it difficult for them to function effectively there because Adit and Ng are considered outsiders in Selangor and Penang.

Similarly, I doubt PKR people in Malacca or Negri Sembilan would be able to accept Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, a Sabahan, as their state chief. Why? Because Jeffrey is an outsider.

Anwar Ibrahim had said that the appointments of Mustaffa and Azmin were only temporary but a mistake has been made, even if it is only a temporary mistake. Damage has been done.

Anwar should have allowed senior PKR leaders to elect an acceptable local leader from among themselves. In Sarawak, don’t tell me that people like Nicholas Bawin, Baru Bian, Jewah Gerang, Adit, Dominique and others are not qualified nor suitable to lead the party in the state.

Granted, they may have differences among themselves (but isn’t that normal in politics) but a local leader, and not an outsider, would still be the more preferred and acceptable choice.

DAP has done very well in this aspect. All their leaders in Sabah and Sarawak are locals. PKR can learn a thing or two from their ally in Pakatan Rakyat.

It’s the same situation in Sabah. Why were Jeffrey Kitingan, Ansari Abdullah or Kong Hong Ming not appointed to head Sabah PKR?

Why was Azmin Ali appointed instead? What is so right about Azmin that is so wrong with Jeffrey, Ansari or Kong Hong Ming.

As far as I know, these three are very senior politicians and Azmin can be considered very junior in comparison.

In Sarawak, Gabriel Adit is a five-term state assemblyman and Jewah Gerang is a veteran MP. Mustaffa is nowhere near Adit or Jewah in terms of experience and seniority in politics. So how can you expect these veterans to accept a junior as their boss.

jeffrey-kitingan.jpgAnd let’s not forget that most politicians have very big ego.

The notion of finding a ‘neutral’ man to lead in Sabah and Sarawak does not hold in this case. Local sentiments is paramount. It’s a pity Anwar did not pay much attention to this…or did he?

Trouble brewing

Last week, we begin to see tension and disillusionment within the ranks of PKR in Sarawak and Sabah. I believe it has a lot to do with the ‘outsider’ issue.

azmin ali.jpgGabriel Adit is on the way to form a new party, speculated to be named Pakatan Rakyat Sarawak. His party is scheduled to be launched on Oct 15. Ten months ago, he was given a rousing welcome when he joined PKR.

Where did Adit or PKR go wrong? We can continue to speculate but at the end of it all, Adit must have realized that PKR may not be the political platform he was looking for.

Over in Sabah, a group of division chiefs have expressed no confidence in the leadership of recently appointed state chief Azmin Ali. They wanted Azmin removed and proposed Jeffrey Kitingan to take over.

Azmin had since responded that he was prepared to give up the Sabah chair and would notify Anwar of his decision.

It is clear in the case of Sabah that the PKR leadership was wrong to have appointed an ‘outsider’ to head the party in the state.

Anwar Ibrahim will have some soul-searching to do and must act quickly as trouble is already brewing within his party in Sabah and Sarawak where he is, unfortunately, also an ‘outsider’.

(This article first appeared in The Borneo Post but has been updated. Comments can reach the writer at paulsir99@hotmail.com)

Status Quo di N31 Bagan Pinang

dari ChangkatNingkeBTP

Calon Barisan Nasional Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad mengekalkan kerusi BN-UMNO di Bagan Pinang dengan majoriti undi 5,435. Beliau menndapat undi sebanyak 8,013 manakala calon PAS-PR Zulkefly Mohamad Omar mendapat 2,578.

Kemenagang ini menamatkan kemenangan berturut-turut PR dalam PRK di Semenanjung sejak PRU-12 2008. Ia juga membuktikan bahawa selain di PRK Parlimen Kuala Terengganu, tiada perubahan ketara dalam corak mengundi rakyat Malaysia. Semua PRK kecuali di KT sejak Mac 2008 menyaksikan parti penyandang mempertahankan kerusi masing-masing.

Walaubagaimanapun, sesuatu perlu dilakukan oleh PAS terutama jika diambilkira apa yang berlaku di PRK Manik Urai dan Bagan Pinang. Persoalan seperti menurunnya sokongan terhadap PAS bukan satu perkara yang boleh diambil ringan. Satu bentuk kajian perlu dilakukan segera bagi menilai semula kekalahan dan pengurangan undi di kedua-dua kawasan.

Rafa Oh Rafa ....

dari ChangkatNingkeBTP

mEnDan says ...

Something is not right with Liverpol FC (LFC) right now. The 0-2 defeat to Chelsea meant that LFC have now lost 3 games from 8. The 0-2 defeat to Fiorentona meant that LFC have lost 2 consensecutive games. What more with Dark October coming with games against the unpredictable Sunderland (A), The Old Enemy of Man U & Owen (H) (for heaven sake Rafa, please win that game)and followed by Murphy's inspired Fulham. In addition, the mighty Lyon (2 games) are waiting in the Champion's League. That's massive. Carragher & Skrtel should beware. The Defense have been very generous now. Ten goals already in the league.

It does not help with the conflict between Rafa and the co-owner, the psych war against Sir Alex. Does it works Rafa? Nope for sure. So, what now? The the Kops have enought patience? Sure for now. Its because of the passion. But, for how long? Remember Gerard Houlier? The one who was initially appointed along with Ronnie Evans as co-manager. After Evans left (remember Spice Boys of Fowler, Babb, McAteer etc?), GH won us 5 thropies in a row. The League Cup, The FA Cup, The UEFA Cup, The Charity Shield and the Super Cup (Do the last 2 thropies meant so much? I doubt). He was celebrated for sure. The worf the Reds Revivals were mentioned then. Unfortunately, it failed to materialized. Not only that, the famous youth academy factory that produced among others Fowler, Owen, McManaman, Carragher, Warnock, Thompson, Gerrard etc were almost destroyed by GH. There're no new Gerrard, Carragher or Owen for the past 8 years. Only a handful of fringe player could be named such as Patridge, Hobbs, Nemeth etc.

So Rafa, please rebuild the academy. Its have been to long the academy faled to produced stars. The youngsters should be thrust into the first time. Nemeth (now on-loan to Greece) is much better thah Voronin and Ngog. What about others? How on earth can Lucas be in the first XI? For sure there's somebody in the Reserve or Youth Squad than can be thrusted into the midfield.

Anoher main concern is the partner of F. Torres. Neither Ngog nor Voronin suits Torres. Look at other teams; Berbatov-Owen -Rooney of Man U, Anelka-Drogba of Chelsea, van Pierse-Ashavin of Arsenal, Bent-Jones of Sunderland, Agbonlahor-Carew of Villa, Keane-Crouch-Defoe-P'chenko of Spurs, Saha-Jo of Everton. Need I say more? Liverpol ? Torres - Voronin - Kyut or Babbel-Ngog? Does the LFC's list convincing? Remember old days? Rush-Aldridge, Rush - Dalglish - Beardsley- Barnes - Walsh. Even Collymore - Fowler is formidable. What about GH's English trio of Heskey-Owen-Fowler? What happen if Torres injured or off form. We canot rely solely on Gerrard. Do get a new world striker. Nor in the mould of Morientes please. David Villa fits just nice.

On the brighter side,Standard Chartered Bank will be replacing the danish brewery, Carlsberg as the shirt sponsor. Thank god for that. It is important to note that LFC have not won the league since 1990-2009 when Carlsberg became the main sponsor. Irony. Hopefully with the new sponsor, LFC will sober enough throughout next season to win its 19th league title. For this season? I'm not very sure. Furthermore, with the new sponsor, it's time for the Kops to visit Malaysia for a friendly or two. Maybe Lverpool VS Selangor ? I'll be waiting for that moment. As well waiting the Middle East investors, the F6 Group. Ahlan Wa Sahla Ila Liverpool.

YNWA