Gombak MP

Azmin: No need for apologies

Oct 10th, 2012
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Azmin: No need for apologies

KUALA LUMPUR : Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Azmin Ali said there was no need to apologise to the Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim  over his (Azmin’s) statement on the position of the latter.

 

“The Mentri Besar himself had already said that I don’t need to apologise to him,’’ Azmin told The Mole.

 

“Why should you listen to others when the person himself (Khalid) has made a positive remark.’’

 

A blogger Penyokong Pas wrote recently that, Azmin should apologise to Khalid and should stop going against the Selangor Mentri Besar and his political secretary, Faekah Husin because they are doing a good job.  

 

The blogger is concerned about Selangor and thinks that the internal problem in PKR may have a negative effect on the state the next general election.

 

Meanwhile, Khalid in a news report on Friday said there was  no need for Azmin to apologise for his statement over the former’s position as it was only a misunderstanding.

 

“To me, there’s no need for Azmin to apologise. I cannot blame him as there’s a good thing about the statement, because it means people can accept me at the state and federal level.”

 

Previously, Azmin who is Gombak MP, reportedly said the Mentri Besar will be given a ministerial post at federal level should the opposition coalition win in the 13th general elections.

 

He however denied making the statement claiming it was taken out of context by Sinar Harian.

 

The daily’s editorial executive advisor Datuk Abdul Jalil Ali refuted claims by Azmin that the newspaper had misinterpreted the PKR leader’s statement.

 

Despite all the reports pertaining the matter, Azmin today said that the Selangor government will prosper under Khalid.

 

“The state’s performance under Khalid will assist us (Pakatan Rakyat) to capture Putrajaya,’’ he stated.

 

“Certainly, this is again the contribution of Khalid together with the coalition policies contained in the Buku Jingga (Orange Book).’’

 

“I highly regard him (Khalid) as a senior corporate figure with a clear vision of PR (Pakatan Rakyat) policies,” he added.

 

He also said there is no issue here and has enjoyed working with the Mentri Besar over the last four years since Pakatan formed the state government in Selangor.

 

This came after Azmin had been pressured by several quarters within the opposition coalition demanding him to clarify his statement and apologise to Khalid.

 

DAP chairman Karpal Singh reminded Azmin that he was not in any position to unilaterally announce anything affecting the coalition, including on who should be the Selangor Mentri Besar if the coalition retained power in the state.

 

Khalid’s political secretary Faekah Husin had come to his defence in condemning Azmin’s statement stating it was not politically smart and he must consider the implication of his statement.

 

Faekah had previously told The Mole: “His statement seems to suggest that the rakyat of Selangor may be denied a good MB (Mentri Besar) whose popularity rate is amongst the highest between Pakatan leaders.’’

 

A blog post in Badut Rakyat stated that the feud between Azmin and Khalid is not only worsening but is becoming a cultural norm within opposition leaders.

 

The blogger wrote : “The critical point was obvious when Azmin, a number two person in the party stated that Khalid may not hold on to his position as Mentri Besar if Pakatan forms the government.’’

 

 

 

Source: MOLE

Proton electric car coming in 2014

Sep 28th, 2012
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Proton electric car coming in 2014

Proton will be selling electric vehicles by 2014, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed told Parliament yesterday. The national car company is currently collaborating with UK-based Frazer-Nash Research to develop its own EV. 

 

In a reply to Gombak MP Azmin Ali, the MITI minister said that Proton had allocated RM500 million for research and development in green technology and is expected to gain profits after commercialising EVs in 2014, The Star reported. 

 

The PKR man asked MITI to state the rationale of investment by Proton through Frazer-Nash, to which Mustapa replied that Proton’s RD spend is much smaller than other car manufacturers. 

 

It was pointed out that GM invested about US$1.2 billion to develop its Chevrolet Volt while Nissan-Renault has allocated US$5.6 billion for the same purpose. Allegations that Proton spent some RM270 million to test 30 cars and each cost about RM9 million were untrue, Mustapa said.

 

Read more HERE.

Source: MOLE

Ambiga: Bersih welcomes Pakatan's support

Jun 21st, 2012
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Ambiga: Bersih welcomes Pakatan’s support

KUALA LUMPUR: Bersih chairperson Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan has denied speculations that she wants to sever ties with Parti Keadilan Rakyat leaders Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Azmin Ali.

 

A blog post in Stop the Lies claimed Ambiga had been fuming over Bersih 3.0 and inwardly blames Anwar and Azmin for allegedly instigating the crowd to break down barriers and forcefully enter the cordoned Dataran Merdeka.

 

The blogger wrote that Ambiga has decided to have nothing to do with the duo and felt betrayed by Pakatan Rakyat.

 

Ambiga who replied to The Mole via text messages said: “Pakatan supports and continues to support Bersih’s cause and we welcome that.’’

 

“Am I expected to respond to all blog postings? I do not think so.”

 

On a query as to whether she was angry with Anwar and Azmin, Ambiga’s reply was: “I have always claimed there was more going on at the barrier than meets the eye and the Suhakam should determine the truth.”

 

“I am fuming with the police over Bersih 3.0. Not all of them but those who went on rampage,’’ she added.

 

The blog post in Stop the Lies also alleged Ambiga felt betrayed and let down by those in Pakatan and she should have known better than to trust politicians especially ones like Anwar.

 

Asked if she felt that she was being used by Anwar into fulfilling his political ambition, Ambiga’s reply in her text message was: “No”.


Prior to this, Ambiga in a news report on April 29 urged Suhakam (Human Rights Commission of Malaysia) to probe into the violence that occurred at the April 28 rally.

 

During the rally, a video footage alleging Anwar and Azmin instigating and urging Bersih protestors to breach police barricades at Dataran Merdeka had gone viral via social networking sites such as Youtube, Facebook and Twitter.

 

On April 30, both Anwar who is Permatang Pauh MP and Azmin who is Gombak MP denied instigating protestors to break the barricades.

 

Anwar said he was actually signalling to Azmin to negotiate with the police and instructed the crowd to move away from Dataran but claimed the crowd had become uncontrollable.

 

Source: MOLE

‘PSC recommendations 80 percent done’

Mar 27th, 2012
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The parliamentary select committee (PSC) for electoral reform is nearly done with its list of recommendations to fix and improve the Malaysian polls system.

“Tomorrow is the final meeting as there are some things that we need to think about tonight, but I can say that 80 percent of the recommendations, we have already agreed on,” its chairperson Kota Marudu MP Maximus Ongkili told reporters after chairing the PSC’s meeting today.

However, he refused to disclose details of the recommendations, saying that it can only be disclosed after the PSC report is tabled to Parliament come April 2.

NONE“But I am satisfied with the committee, they spoke their mind and worked to better and improve the electoral system. I think you are going to be happy with the recommendations,” added Maximus (left).

PKR’s representative in the PSC, Gombak MP Azmin Ali, told reporters when approached earlier that some of the unresolved matters included the issue of the voter roll, which Pakatan members on the committee said are still problematic.

He described the many hearings and meetings with the Election Commission on the matter which had still to date remained unfruitful.

Today was supposed to be the last meeting of the committee. However, it has been suspended until tomorrow to allow for the contentious issues to be resolved.

The PSC was formed after tremendous public pressure was brought to bear to push for electoral reforms following a government crackdown on the Bersih 2.0 electoral reform rally last year.

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‘PSC recommendations 80 percent done’

Mar 27th, 2012
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The parliamentary select committee (PSC) for electoral reform is nearly done with its list of recommendations to fix and improve the Malaysian polls system.

“Tomorrow is the final meeting as there are some things that we need to think about tonight, but I can say that 80 percent of the recommendations, we have already agreed on,” its chairperson Kota Marudu MP Maximus Ongkili told reporters after chairing the PSC’s meeting today.

However, he refused to disclose details of the recommendations, saying that it can only be disclosed after the PSC report is tabled to Parliament come April 2.

NONE“But I am satisfied with the committee, they spoke their mind and worked to better and improve the electoral system. I think you are going to be happy with the recommendations,” added Maximus (left).

PKR’s representative in the PSC, Gombak MP Azmin Ali, told reporters when approached earlier that some of the unresolved matters included the issue of the voter roll, which Pakatan members on the committee said are still problematic.

He described the many hearings and meetings with the Election Commission on the matter which had still to date remained unfruitful.

Today was supposed to be the last meeting of the committee. However, it has been suspended until tomorrow to allow for the contentious issues to be resolved.

The PSC was formed after tremendous public pressure was brought to bear to push for electoral reforms following a government crackdown on the Bersih 2.0 electoral reform rally last year.

Short URL: http://www.freemalaysiakini2.com/?p=22289







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Civil society: Dzaiddin’s report on assembly ignored

Nov 22nd, 2011
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Civil society groups are holding up the 2004 Royal Commission on Police and the Suhakam inquiry report into the bloody Kesas Highway protest reports to show that the Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011 tabled in Parliament today is no step forward.

Calling the new Bill “a huge disappointment”, Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan said the commission had already concluded that restrictions to assemblies were “unconstitutional”.

ambiga question by police over seksualiti merdeka 071111 1In a statement today, Ambiga said the commission led by former Chief Justice Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah found Section 27 of the Police Act to restrict the right to assembly.

“In short, the new Bill is repugnant to the federal constitution, our presence on the United Nations Human Rights Council, the recommendation of the Royal Commission on the Police, international best practices and the aim of being the best democracy in the world,” Ambiga said.

The Royal Commission said that Section 27 of the Police Act 1964, which is to be repealed once the Peaceful Assembly Bill becomes law, “may be challenged” as to its constitutionality.

This is because the right to assemble “is one of the most basic and indispensable of the fundamental freedoms necessary for the functioning of a democratic society and is provided for in the Federal Constitution”.

Ambiga said the new Bill also reflected the “authoritarian style of this government” and showed how difficult it would be to break free of an “authoritarian mindset”.

“Does the government really think that by outlawing street protests, these will not happen? That forcing people to shut up is the way to handle dissent?” she asked.

Agreeing with Ambiga, human rights organisation Suaram said the government should also recall the recommendations of the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) in its 2001 report.

Follow Kesas Highway recommendations

The report followed Suhakam’s inquiry into the bloody protests at the Kesas Highway by local residents.

Among others, Suhakam recommended that the authorities “allow the use of public places…f or gatherings organised by all sectors of society, without any discrimination”.

It also calls for “restraint” by police while dispersing crowds.

NONEAccording to Suaram coordinator E Nalini (right), the Bill does not just replace Section 27, but is in fact “worse than before”.

Nalini said new law on assembly proposed is discriminative against non-citizens and those under 21 years old and gives “wide powers to police to restrict assembly” and to ministers who can determine which places are prohibited places for assembly.

The requirement for notification within 30 days is also “too long and the details of the requirements are defeatist in nature”.

“In a nutshell, the objective of the Bill is to restrict and legitimise the powers of the police to restrict and control constitutional rights,” Nalini said.

 Tighter leash

For PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, the Bill falls short of Najib’s announcement for wider democratic space.

“There are no major changes and in fact, they are trying to tighten it (and make it) more stringent than before,” said the Gombak MP.

“(Najib) promised to give more freedom to assemble and more freedom of expression in terms of having a peaceful assembly.

“But the Bill is not a reflection of what was said. We will, however, take part in the debate to air our concerns. It must reflect the spirit of civil liberty and freedom of expression.”

PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub felt that the initiative was generally a “positive” one but said he preferred to hold his opinion until the debate begins in Parliament next week.

“I don’t want this to be like the announcement of the (abolition of the) ISA (which was followed by detentions),” said the Kubang Kerian MP.

The matter would be raised at Pakatan’s weekly presidential council meeting tomorrow and the coalition’s view will be announced then, Salahuddin added.

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PSC chief slammed over Bersih snub

Oct 6th, 2011
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Parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reform chairperson Maximus Johnity Ongkili’s arbitrary announcement that the banned Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) is not welcome to make recommendations to the PSC has earned the wrath of Pakatan Rakyat MPs.

NONESlamming Ongkili (left) for his statement, Pakatan’s PSC members Dr Hatta Ramli (PAS-Kuala Krai) and Anthony Loke (DAP-Rasah), said Ongkili should perhaps handle everything himself if he was going to make such decisions on his own.

“Although Ongkili is a minister, he is just like any of us on this committee,” said Hatta, adding that the science, technology and innovation minister should have consulted the entire nine-member panel before speaking at the press conference yesterday.

Ongkili had said that since Bersih had been an declared illegal under the Societies Act prior to the July 9 rally, its members could partake in the discussions as individuals, not as representatives of the coalition.

“Bersih is not a registered organisation. They have to come as individuals… of course (Bersih 2.0 chairperson S Ambiga can come as a member of the (Malaysian) Bar Council or as Datuk Ambiga (herself),” Ongkili had said.

The PSC on electoral reform, which was set up on Monday, comprises five BN parliamentarians, three from Pakatan Rakyat and an Independent. The panel’s first meeting is scheduled to be held on Oct 12.

pas muktamar 130610 hatta ramli 2Hatta said: “He rejected Bersih as a stakeholder in this matter… it is not a big matter but the decision was made by him alone. The first meeting hasn’t even convened, and it is in that meeting where we will decide on the regulations we want to set and other matters.

“He may be a minister, but in this capacity as PSC chairperson, he is on the same level as the rest of us. Who is Maximus Ongkili to make that decision without consulting the rest of us?”

Hatta said Ongkili’s unilateral decision was “very unbecoming” of the minister.

He also said Ongkili’s position as a minister and as the chair of the PSC was one of the main concerns expressed by civil society groups when Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced its formation last month.

“We are worried that they will behave like the ministers in their ministries, the way they order their officers around. If he is going to make such decisions on his own, maybe he should handle (everything) himself,” Hatta added.

‘We are not a rubber stamp committee’

azlanLoke said Ongkili’s comment that there will be six public hearings was another decision taken without the committee’s approval.

“We need to make the decisions together, in a meeting. He cannot make such unilateral decisions,” Loke said, adding that the work of the panel had started off on the “wrong-footing”.

Besides Ongkili, the other four BN representatives on the PSC are Kapit MP Alexander Nanta Linggi (PBB), Kangar MP Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad (Umno), Alor Gajah MP Fong Chan Onn (MCA) and Hulu Selangor MP P Kamalanathan (MIC).

Other than Hatta and Loke, the third Pakatan representative on the panel is Gombak MP Azmin Ali of PKR, while Independent Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong is its ninth member.

“I would like to remind Ongkili that this is a bipartisan committee. Not a rubber stamp committee to agree with every decision he makes. Every decision made must be based on consensus,” Loke said.







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