Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia's "Father of Independence" was a man who was proud of the multi-racial community he nurtured and did everything in his power to ensure harmony and prosperity for the nation.
On Monday, some 200 people attended the 'Legasi Bapa Kemerdekaan – Tunku Abdul Rahman' forum, in conjunction with his 111th birth anniversary, at the New Era College in Kajang.
Matters concerning the Selangor Mentri Besar post should be discussed and decided by Pakatan Rakyat's Supreme Council, said PAS Youth chief Suhaizan Kayat.
He said Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hinting that he would take up the post if he (Anwar) won in the upcoming Kajang by-election, was not right.
"Anwar is not showing respect to the current mentri besar. Put yourself in (current) Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's shoes. How would you feel if suddenly someone comes around and says that he will soon be the mentri besar (replacing Abdul Khalid).
Extremists can never understate the role of the Chinese and Indians in making Malaysia a better country, said an MCA central delegate from Bukit Mertajam.
Gui Guat Lye said Malaysians should not forget the sacrifices made by their ancestors in contributing to the country’s development.
“Extremists could ask us to return to China all they want but they cannot deny the role of our forefathers,” he said when debating the resolutions at the party’s 60th annual general meeting.
Two major Sabah Barisan Nasional components are voicing reservations over a proposed fundamental shift in the decision making process of the ruling coalition.
The United Pasok Momogun Kadazanmurut Organisation (Upko) and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) said Barisan's proposed switch from consensus to a simple majority in decision making should be made after thorough deliberations by the coalition's supreme council.
PBS secretary general Datuk Johnny Mositun said such an important shift should require an input from all senior component party chiefs.
Barisan Nasional Opposition members staged a walkout from the state legislative assembly led by state Opposition leader Datuk Jahara Hamid over a series of repeated disruption during her speech in the assembly.
During the proceedings, the annoyed Jahara said before walking out, "I am sick and bored of the attitude of this assembly."
She said the walk out was necessary as it had became impossible for her to talk.
"I'm not given a fair chance to talk.
"My every sentence was met with objections.
The success of Barisan Nasional’s approach to politics in Malaysia’s plural society is rooted in its principle of moderation, said Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said the approach worked because the Barisan government listened to the people and tried to meet their rising expectations.
“We have liberalised our political system, getting rid of laws which allow detention without trial and we now allow university students to be involved in politics,” said Khairy at the Umno International Forum held ahead of the party’s general assembly on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the transformation process in Umno should take into account the need for the party to move in tandem with the reality of new politics which now coloured the country’s political landscape.
Najib, who is also Umno president, said the party’s success thus far was not a guarantee for future success.
“To remain relevant, Umno has to be willing to carry out transformation that will reflect it as a party which is capable of assuring the future of the Malays and the country,” he said.
The Barisan Nasional component parties must resolve internal crises before implementing transformation to boost support of the people whom they represent, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The Prime Minister said he was certain that all the Umno “friends” clearly understood that the fate of their parties depended on the extent of their capability to implement transformation.
“It is only with political will that we can come up with a party that is accepted by the public,” he said in an interview at his office in Parliament House yesterday.
Bersih 2.0 is organising a petition campaign calling for all Election Commission (EC) members to step down, claiming they had failed to conduct a free and fair general election.
Newly-minted steering committee chairman Maria Chin Abdullah said they are targeting January to send the petition to the King.
She claimed the EC had failed to clean up the electoral roll despite clear evidence of irregularities and had failed to act impartially.
The PKR elected representatives in Selangor have agreed to donate either RM1, 000 or 20% of their newly revised salary to an education fund for the poor.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Saturday that Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim was receptive to his idea.
He added that he has yet to put forth the idea to elected representatives of PAS and DAP in the state.
Anwar said as the plan is tentative, the mechanics of the donation have yet to be worked out.
Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat are in discussions over a possible "global settlement" on 19 election petition appeals that are pending at the Federal Court for determination.
Global settlement refers to an agreement between the parties after they address or compromise on the matter accordingly.
Barisan's lawyer Datuk Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin said the political parties were in discussions whether the matter could be resolved amicably.
Barisan Nasional (BN) has failed to wrest control of Sungai Limau despite an unprecedented show of power and money as well as the presence of its big guns throughout the campaign period for the by-election.
The Barisan Nasional government will continue to assist Chinese and Tamil schools for as long as there is the sun and the moon, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.
The Deputy Prime Minister said it was not true that the coalition was giving allocations to vernacular schools only when there was a general election or a by-election.
He said allocations announced ahead of the Sungai Limau by-election on Nov 4 were approved earlier and were not just “goodies” to entice Chinese voters, who number more than 1,800 here.
PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has been returned unopposed as the party president for a sixth consecutive term.
Hadi, who assumed the post following the death of Datuk Fadzil Mohd Noor in 2002, had never been challenged in the biennial party elections.
He would have faced his first challenger this year had the party’s election committee not rejected the candidacy of Padang Serai chief Fauzi Tahir.
PAS has came under fire for making false allegations that Barisan Nasional will pay money to voters in a desperate bid to win in Sungai Limau.
Former Jerai Wanita chief Khalijah Arshad said it was unbecoming of a party that claims to uphold Islamic principles to make such baseless allegations.
“Even party workers who go down to the ground to campaign get only RM30 each.
Sungai Limau may see a battle between an architect and an ustaz as Barisan Nasional devises an out-of-the box strategy to wrest control of the state seat from PAS.
Barisan will likely give architect Datuk Fadzillah Mohd Ali a second chance to win the seat, while PAS will possibly opt for fresh face Azam Samad, who is Jerai PAS Youth chief.
Both Barisan and PAS will name their candidates today for the Nov 4 by-election.
Barisan Nasional components should look at new approaches and strategies to keep abreast with the demands of the younger generation, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.
The Prime Minister said these were measures that Barisan members could take in adapting to the new political landscape while strengthening the ruling coalition.
Umno has enhanced its image after the party’s constitution was amended in 2009 to allow for more grassroots voices to be heard, says party vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
He said the number of delegates voting, which had been increased from 2,500 to 146,000 under the new election system, was meant to make the polls more transparent and democratic.
Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir wants all state Umno wings to choose leaders who are “strong” enough to defend the Barisan Nasional Government’s policies.
He urged delegates from the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings to also choose leaders who can face the challenges coming from the Opposition and help to ensure Barisan wins the next general election.
“We must have leaders who are able to hold their own when debating with the Opposition and defend the Government’s policies,” he said after introducing Umno candidates in Alor Setar yesterday.
