End the bickering, Malay leaders told

Hawkeye

 | June 1, 2013

Penang Malay Congress rues lack of attention to the marginalised.

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Malay Congress today urged Malay leaders to stop their political bickering, saying it was distracting them from carrying out their responsibility of raising the economic status of the community.

Congress president Rahmad Isahak said these leaders had no choice but to bury their differences if they were sincere about improving the lot of the Malays.

He said the Malays of Penang were especially in need of good leadership.

“The Penang Malays may have the numbers, but they lack the economic as well as the political clout to turn the fate of their community around,” he told FMT. “Many are still stuck in the lower middle income group. Our rich are few and far between.”

It would be hard to improve the situation until Malay leaders decided to place their responsibility to the community above their personal political ambitions, he added.

Rahmad criticised Umno for what he said was “rampant infighting” within the party, but he was also harsh with PAS and PKR, saying they were using so much energy fighting Umno that they had little left to benefit the marginalised Malays.

“This why there is a surge in the growth of Malay-dominant civic groups,” he added.

“The community is pleading with the Malay leaders to perform instead of just bickering all the time.”

Rahmad disclosed that he had invited Malay leaders from PKR, PAS and Umno as well as Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng of DAP to his son’s wedding feast next week in Bukit Mertajam.

He said part of his intention was to bring together the various stakeholders in the effort to lift the poor Malays of Penang out of their misery.

“I hope it will be the start of sincere cooperation in the interest of marginalised Malays.”

Earn stripes as a YB first’

Hawkeye

 | May 27, 2013

Penang Malay Congress criticises proposal to increase salaries of Penang elected reps, saying they should first learn to serve.

GEORGE TOWN: The DAP-led Penang state government should focus on improving the quality of life among the people instead of proposing a salary raise for its elected or appointed representatives.

Penang Malay Congress president Rahmad Isahak said the salary hike proposal gives the wrong impression that the state wants to reward elected representatives first before they perform or earn their stripes as a “YB”.

Hardly a month after the 13th general election, the DAP is already mooting a salary hike for its state executive councillors, the 45 state assemblymen and appointed local councillors. The call was made by Chow Kon Yeow, the state exco and Penang DAP chief last week.

“The reward should be about earning the people’s right to serve and to make Penang a better state. It is not about monetary gain, which the state is about to gift to the elected representatives. The state is sending the wrong message if this proposal is true.”

First, the timing is all wrong and second, the state government has just received a fresh mandate from the people to serve, not to seek for a salary hike.

The election is barely over and Pakatan Rakyat is still disputing it, yet in the middle of it all, the state wants to hike the salaries of the same persons in Penang who the rakyat fought hard to re-elect despite a strong campaign to unseat them by Barisan Nasional, Rahmad said.

Penang has become the second state after Sarawak to announce plans to revise the salaries of elected representatives upwards.

Rahmad said although the DAP-led Pakatan won with a bigger mandate compared to the 2008 general election, this does not give them the licence to seek salary increments, especially when the state’s economy is not faring well.

Asia is sandwiched between the recession in Europe and the sluggish American economy, so whatever growth here is at best, moderate rather than impressive, said Rahmad.

“If the global economy continues to crawl at this level, it is bound to affect Penang in the long-term because its economy is export-driven and services-orientated.”

Pakatan leaders must discuss proposal

Rahmad added the state should aspire to perform better first, such as ensuring that the first brick is laid for an affordable housing unit, redraw the traffic flow to contain the escalating congestion, fight crime with the police.

“It should also draw more investors, especially in the areas of transfer of technology as this can create jobs, reduce polarisation levels, have more healthy activities for the young as well as curbing the rise in healthcare costs due to the influx of foreign patients.

“Aspire to achieve something which the people can call tangible before seeking to increase salaries as ultimately, such costs will be borne by the taxpayers.The undersea tunnel between the island and mainland is also yet to be built,” he said.

Rahmad, however, supported the proposal to increase the municipal councillor’s basic allowance of RM700 as it is pittance in today’s world where the living costs is high.

Bukit Bendara PKR division head, Jason Ong Khan Lee, said he was inclined to agree with some of the points raised by Rahmad.

Ong, who is the former Kebun Bunga assemblyman, said the state should achieve something first before they allow themselves to be rewarded with a salary hike.

“If you do so, I am sure the people will not mind if there is a 20% to 30% hike in salaries. But it must be earned. Nothing is free nowadays.”

Ong said the state must concentrate on issues of governance and management to ensure productivity is at the optimum for both the public and private sectors.

“When the people begin to reap the benefits of good governance, it is fine to seek a hike,” said Ong, adding that the matter should be discussed among the top Pakatan leadership .

Umno must initiate talks with PAS’

Hawkeye

 | May 7, 2013

It is imperative for these two parties to come together and lead the way towards restoring race harmony in the country, says Penang Malay Congress.

GEORGE TOWN: A Malay NGO has come out in support of a proposal by a Kelantan Umno leader that the nationalist Malay party initiates goodwill talks with PAS.

The talks can be held under the name of the national reconciliation proposed initiative by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, said Penang Malay Congress president Rahmad Isahak.

“This is something which should be pursued as it is clear from the results of the 13th general election that the non-Malays have rejected Umno and to a degree PAS,” said Rahmad.

PAS may not be have been rejected outright because it contested under the Pakatan banner, but the non-Malays are uneasy over its struggle for an Islamic state.

However, it is clear that after evaluating the outcome of the election, Umno is struggling with the non-Malay vote, said Rahmad.

MCA and Gerakan, the main Chinese components parties of Umno-led Barisan Nasional, were almost wiped out in the polls.

Rahmad said it is no longer a consideration but a must for PAS and Umno to come together and study the option of pursuing goodwill arrangement between the two parties.

For two decades, since the expulsion of Anwar Ibrahim from Umno, the Malay political voice has nosedived in certain states and because their leaders are at loggerheads, he added.

“This must change if the Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s mooted idea of national reconciliation is to take place,” Rahmad.

Malays rejected by their own community

In Penang for example, the Malay ground continues to side with Umno despite the presence of PKR and PAS as alternatives.

“Racial ties are polarised. Malays are hestitant participants in a DAP-led state government while Pakatan’s Malay leaders have been rejected by their own community,” said Rahmad.

Umno won 10 state and three parliament seats in Penang, an almost stalemate result to the 2008 electoral performance.

Rahmad said the goodwill talks between Umno and PAS, can pave the way towards healing the ties with other races in the country.

Once the Malay ground is united, they will not feel insecure over the ties with non-Malays, said Rahmad.

He said although the urbanised voters may have rejected ethnic-centric issues, they did not bother to offer proposals on how to address the rootcause of it – polarisation.

“The onus is on the biggest political parties – PAS and Umno to lead the way towards restoring race harmony in the country,” said Rahmad.

Earlier, he had lauded Kelantan Umno secretary Md Alwi Che Ahmad, who proposed that his party initiates goodwill talks with PAS.

Alwi said that such talks can become the premise towards reconciliation and in the higher interest of all disputes, which is to be patriotic towards the interests of all Malaysians.

Stop ‘dreaming of a united front’, Umno

Hawkeye

 | April 21, 2013

If the Malay vote becomes diluted in Penang, there is a possibility that the community will not have a strong political voice, says Penang Malay Congress president Rahmad Ishak.

GEORGE TOWN: The two representatives of the Penang Malay Congress, who are standing in the general election as Independents believe that voters will vote for the candidate who sincerely wants to help the Malays emerge from the rut that they are in now.

Congress president Rahmad Ishak said Umno’s argument of championing unity among the Malay politicians is a short-cut theory.

“We should stop dreaming about a united front. We are not fighting for Independence, but rather who can best lead us forward. For state seats, it is on who can best address the localise issues,” he said.

According to Rahmad, the Malay electorate is now divided into four blocs, the traditional ones with BN, one with PKR, another with PAS and lastly, his group – the non partisan – who believe they can form the third alternative political front here.

He said if  the Malay vote becomes diluted in Penang, there is a possibility that the community will not have a strong political voice.

“The time has come to select good candidates rather than the parties that they belong to, as ultimately, the voters want a person, who can serve, and not just candidates from strong parties,” Rahmad said.

Rahmad is contesting the Batu Maung state seat in a three-cornered fight against state PKR vice-chairman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim and Barisan Nasional (BN)’s candidate Mansor Musa.

The congress’ secretary Mohd Noor Sirajajudeen Mohd Abdul Kader, meanwhile, is contesting the Batu Uban state seat, which is a five-cornered fight.

Mohd Noor is a former deputy public prosecutor.

The other contestants are Baratharajan Narayansamy Pillai, an independent, Goh Kheng Sneah from BN, Dr T Jayabalan from PKR, and A Rajendra, another independent.

Plight of Penang Malays

Rahmad said he and Mohd Noor’s campaign revolved around raising the plight of Malays on the island.

This he said was not because the Malays were backward, but that there is a sizeable number, who are struggling to survive due to the unabated rise in living costs.

“It’s the same with the other races, but since Malays represent 51% of the population-base in the state, it is only fair that more attention be accorded to their cause,” said Rahmad.

He said it is the duty of whoever elected to find ways to off-set the rising costs of living on the island. This could be done by finding better paying jobs, reducing wastage,  corruption, bureaucracy and alleviating the intense traffic jams which affect productivity and resolving the skyrocketing property prices here.

Rahmad is fully aware that it will be a uphill battle contesting as an Independent but he believes that the Malaysian voter psyche has changed since the 2008 general election.

“The outcome of the 2008 GE gave birth to a two-party system, but in 2013, it will unleash the emergence of strong candidates, who can give the third front a strong voice, “ he said.

He said PKR had been given a chance in 2008 to administer Penang, but remains a weak link although it is the birthplace of the party’s de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

“We gave PKR a chance to administer the state, especially to address the plight of the poor Malays but they failed miserably because of poor leadership.

“Power corrupts! Look at what happened to Pakatan Rakyat. PAS and PKR are fighting among themselves to contest in seats here,” he said adding that in Malaysia, the voters have many politicians who are clever to talk and preach, but lack the finesse to act on their promises.

‘Field only credible Malay candidates’

Hawkeye

 | April 6, 2013

This is vital if Penang DAP wants to appease the Malays in the state, says the Penang Malay Congress.

GEORGE TOWN: DAP must field credible Malay candidates in the upcoming 13th general election if it wants to appease the Malays, Penang Malay Congress president Rahmad Isahak.

He said the selection of such candidates in Penang is important because the electoral battle ahead is likely to be a tough fight between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat.

Rahmad advised the DAP against picking candidates favoured by the leadership only, but who lack rapport with the people.

“Remember in Penang, one cannot only be well liked by one community. It is a state with a diverse ethnic base, so any candidate must be well received by all,” he said in an interview.

DAP is seen as a Chinese-centric party because its membership is predominantly of one race and the party is mostly championing Chinese issues.

Therefore, political observers said it will be an achievement if its Malay candidates can win some seats in Penang.

The only Malay DAP candidate to ever win was the late Ahmad Nor, a labour unionist who won in the Bayan Baru parliamentary seat in 1990.

Rahmad said the selection of candidates in Penang is important because the Malay ground has become restless, owing to the lack of leadership from PKR and PAS, which are supposed to be looking after the community’s interests.

Therefore, he said it is DAP’s task to impress upon the Malays that their interests will be well addressed after the 13th general election, should Pakatan Rakyat retain the state.

According to Rahmad, the issues that are unsettling the Malays are the lack of affordable housing, quality jobs, traffic congestion as well as the high cost of living.

Thus, Malay candidates selected by DAP to contest in Penang will be viewed favourably if they are willing to fight for such issues, he said.

It is learnt that the state DAP has interviewed five possible Malay candidates; among them were Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s political secretary Zairil Khir Johari, academician Senator Dr Ariffin Omar and DAP veteran Zulkifli Mohd Noor.

However, Penang DAP under the tutelage of Tanjung MP Chow Kon Yeow is believed to likely only recommend two seats for the Malay candidates here.

This is because it is difficult to find them seats to contest as most of the 19 state seats allocated to DAP, have high Chinese voter composition.

At the parliamentary level, the four seats held by the DAP here also have a strong Chinese base.

Rahmad reminded candidates that their job is to serve the voters, so they must have long-term commitments to the electorate.

Check NG0s with political leanings’

Hawkeye

 | March 27, 2013

The new NGOs in Penang have broken from the traditional mould and are seen as lackeys of political parties.

GEORGE TOWN: The chances are that if you throw a stone in Penang you are most likely to hit an NGO. In the last five years, the island has seen a mushrooming of non-governmental organisations.

The traditional NGOs champion causes like the disabled, environment and other social ills. But the new ones have dubious leaders and most of them are shadows of political parties.

One man who is very concerned with the unwanted rise of NGOs is Penang Malay Congress president Rahmad Isahak.

He wants the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to probe the rise of several NGOs here since 2008.

Rahmad said many of the new NGOs seem to be involved in the political and socio-economic issues in the state.

He said that the formation of new NGOs is healthy as it shows an acceptance of civil society and democracy here.

But at the same time, the issues and individuals behind such groups are seen as dubious at best, Rahmad claimed in an interview.

The new NGOs seemed to be championing political issues rather than the conventional norms such as the rights of the disabled or protecting the environment.

They seem to have exploited the loopholes in the ROS guidelines to form and name organisations, without any clear reference to how many members they have, submission of accounts and other criteria imposed by our watchdog of societies.

Dubious names

Therefore, the congress is encouraging ROS to investigate such organisations to ascertain if they are sincere and genuine, he added.

He said dubious organisational names have appeared in media reports together with individuals, who were previously unheard of in the local NGO scene here.

The new NGOs have organised protests – some turning violent, lodging police reports for all kinds of issues and in some instances, have tried to intimidate politicians such as the recent vandalism of a vehicle carrying PKR vice-president Tian Chua in Penang, Rahmad said.

“This is an undesirable attitude for those claiming to be NGOs. Such groups form the focus of a civil society where dialogues and forums are seen as the best platform to champion their struggle or objectives.”

Since Independence, Penang has been the home to an active collection of NGOs and civil societies with the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) as the leading light.

In the last decade, some NGOs in Penang have gone on to form the Penang Forum platform which meets on certain occasions to discuss issues dear to them.

Rahmad said the congress is appreciative of the contributions made by the likes of CAP and other NGOs such as the environmental group, SAM, but he is distrustful of the newer NGOs which seemed to be more interested in politics.

Confusing the people

These NGOs are aggressive and champion sensitive issues such as race and religion, he said.

They are confusing the people here, as on the one hand, they are NGOs, which are supposed to be impartial at best, but then they are constantly attacking Pakatan Rakyat leaders such as Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Guan Eng, Rahmad said.

Admitting that the congress is also new here, he said that it was formed based on the guidelines under ROS four years ago and it advocates impartiality.

“We criticised without fear or favour, either Barisan Nasional or Pakatan as one can determine by our media statements and reports.”

Rahmad said while the congress was formed to protect the interests of Malays in Penang, particularly on the island, they feel that other NGOs were being unfair to Lim because he has only been the Penang chief minister for one term.

Rightly, Lim has flaws and may have made mistakes, but the violent manner of how the NGOs reacted to it, is being unfair to him, he said.

The constant demonstrations and personal attacks against him should stop.

He said Lim was already made aware of the need to pay attention to the plight of the Malays, who are lagging behind others under the socio-economic scope here.

Now, the onus is for him to prove that he can deliver for the Malays and he must try harder, Rahmad said.

Field Malay candidates in Penang, DAP told

Hawkeye

 | February 21, 2013

The Penang Malay Congress suggests that the eight Malay DAP leaders, who contested in the last central executive committee election, should be given state or parliament seats.

GEORGE TOWN: DAP should come out with a candidates’ line-up which appeals to all Malaysians and not just the Chinese, said the Penang Malay Congress president Rahmad Isahak.

It should not be preoccupied with just winning in the general election but focus on how to govern in its aftermath.

“Everybody wants to win in this modern age, but we should also see beyond winning. We have to ensure that after winning, we must learn to manage our victories, otherwise the moment would be shortlived.”

Therefore, the line-up unveiled by DAP should mirror its Malaysian-Malaysia slogan and consist of a rich blend of Chinese, Indians and Malay candidates, Rahmad said in an interview.

He said this was an important consideration in view that DAP’s alliance – Pakatan Rakyat wants to capture Putrajaya in the election.

DAP should also bear in mind that the three Pakatan components are not on equal footing throughout the country, he claimed.

“PAS is strong in the Malay heartland (Kedah) and the east coast, but not readily accepted in states such as Penang whereas PKR is only strong in highly urbanised areas like Selangor.”

Sabah and Sarawak are different stories altogether, he added.

DAP should come up with a line-up which can forsee the possibilities that PAS and PKR candidates may not be accepted in states like Penang, which is DAP’s bastion now, Rahmad said.

Therefore, Rahmad is appealing to DAP supremos Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng and Karpal Singh to ensure that the party fields Malay candidates, particularly in Penang.

This would safeguard DAP in an event that the Malay candidates in PKR and PAS are overwhelmed by the onslaught of Barisan Nasional.

He also suggested that the eight Malay DAP leaders, who contested in the last central executive committee election, should be given state or parliament seats.

They are Ahmad Ton, Harun Ahmad, Syed Solaiman Syed Ibrahim, Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji, Lt. Col Roseli Abd. Ghani, Zulkifli Mohd. Noor, Zairil Khir Johari and Dr Arifin Omar.

Do not underestimate BN

He said although BN is largely seen as rundown and out of sync here, Pakatan should not underestimate the coalition, which boast of over 10 parties with a membership of over three million politicians.

“Do not think that the brains are with Pakatan only. BN has its fair share of technocrats and talent.”

He said the congress is of the view that DAP is here to stay in Penang for sometime because the voters here are simply fed up of BN and they subscribe to the belief of ABU (Anything But Umno).

So, any candidate using the DAP symbol including the Malays have a chance, and the latter is important in view that Pakatan needs to form a balanced state government, which consists of all major races.

But having all races in the state government, is also inadequate, as proven in the last election of 2008.

It is not about filling the government here with Malay faces, they must be capable leaders in their own right, and individuals who would stand-up to persons with dictatorial tendancies, Rahmad said.

He believes that PAS and PKR have failed the Malays in Penang, thus many are rebounding back to BN or namely Umno.

But there is a chance for Malays in Penang to warm back up to Pakatan, if they see a shift in DAP’s stance from its Chinese-centric policies to one which is more “encompassing,” Rahmad said.

On reports that Umno may field more “ulama” (Islamic clerics) candidates, Rahmad dismissed it, as having no impact here.

The Penang (islander) Malays are more concerned about “bread and butter” issues, as many are living in settlements, which are under-pressure to cave-in to the thirst for redevelopment.

There are many developers out there, who want to make money as the island is a prime area for a luxurious form of living, he added.

Many Malays have become squatters while some are relocated to high-rise buildings, which eventually also become urban slums on the island, he said, citing Jelutong as an example.

Malay Congress calls for fresh DAP polls

Hawkeye

 | January 6, 2013

To avoid any unnecessary legal entanglement, DAP should move ahead to quash all anxieties and hold fresh polls since last month's one was tainted with iiregularities, says Rahmad Isahak.

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Malay Congress wants the DAP to do the honourable thing in the face of mounting criticism on how it handled last month’s election of central executive committee members (CEC).

The honourable thing is to consider holding a fresh party election to convince people that the party is sincere in upholding democracy, congress president Rahmad Isahak said.

He added that DAP must make the correct and hard choices as a result of the cock-up in the tabulation of votes in the party polls, and this means holding fresh elections.

He said the party’s manner in mitigating the wrong tabulation of results would provide an opportunity for members to take the party to court, or the Registrar of Societies.

“To avoid any unnecessary legal entanglement, DAP should move ahead to quash all anxieties and hold fresh polls since last month’s one was tainted with iiregularities,” Rahmad said.

In the event the party decides against holding fresh polls, Rahmad then suggested that the right thing to do would be to appoint Zairil Khir Johari, who won a spot on the CEC through technical grounds, as one of the party’s vice-presidents as he was the sole Malay to be elected to the CEC.

Zairil is presently the party’s an assistant national publicity secretary.

Due to a technical “schoolboy” error, Zairil who initially received 305 votes in the contest for 20 elected positions in the CEC has now garnered 803 votes.

The latest count put him in the automatic 20th elected position of CEC, the DAP’s supreme decision-making body.

Vincent Wu Him Ven, who was initially elected to CEC at joint 5th position with 1,202 votes, has now only 669 votes and is in 26th position. But he has been re-appointed into the CEC as a co-opted member.

Token reward
Rahmad said that with the latest development placing Zairil as an elected Malay leader to the CEC, the current appointed Malay vice-president, Senator Dr Ariffin Omar, should consider relinquishing his post out of honour.

Rahmad said the Malay community has long made up their mind that the party was mostly driven by a Chinese agenda and to oppose anything related to Barisan Nasional.

“It is tough for a Malay to be entrenched in the DAP struggle as for long the party was only associated with the causes of other races.”

It is made worst with the manner Zairil was re-elected back to the CEC as the perception sowed raised more questions than answers about DAP’s sincerity towards the community.

The Malays, particularly in Penang, are of the perception that Zairil’s win was just a token reward by DAP to the community.

This did not change the need for the community to have better representation and a louder voice in the state government, since there is a widely held belief that PKR and PAS are unable to best represent the needs of the Malays in Penang, Rahmad said.

Also read:

DAP: Election fiasco an embarrassment

PAS, DAP must explain ‘repositioning’ to members

Hawkeye

 | January 2, 2013

Leaders from both PAS and DAP must tackle better with each other's respective aspirations.

KOTA BARU: PAS and DAP grassroots will need more time to digest and take heed of their top leaders’ wishes to make their respective parties more appealing to the people, a PAS intellectual said recently.

Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefly Ahmad said PAS and DAP, prior to the landmark outcome of the 2008 general election, were positioned as leftist organisations rather than a people-centric or rightist one.

This, he said, was unlike Barisan Nasional, which came into existence as an independence movement supposedly representing the aspiration of every stakeholder in the country.

He noted that with the revelations of poor governance amid allegations of corruption, nepotism, cronyism and abuse of power over the years, the people had in 2008 decided to give both PAS and DAP a chance.

Therefore, there is a gravity pull by the people for PAS and DAP to position themselves more as centrist parties now.

“…one which is comfortable with the essence of governing and opposing too,” Dzulkefly said.

In the past, PAS and DAP had built a reputation as able opposition partners, but now the people’s wishes have seen otherwise.

PAS was comfortable in its Islamist world and policies for decades while DAP was seen as the voice of the marginalised and poor through its socialism and fight for equality, Dzulkefly said.

This, he added, had changed dramatically post-2008 as both were given the mandate to rule – PAS earned additional states in Kedah and Perak (which was later wrested by BN in a reverse takeover) besides Kelantan, while DAP won Penang.

Hence, the expectations towards both parties have changed too.

“DAP and PAS became governments. No longer just political parties and the learning curve is on for their ordinary members,” Dzulkefly said.

Distracted by internal issues

He was referring to what some quarters have described as a “major letdown” after both PAS and DAP completed their annual national gatherings in the last two months.

PAS raised eyebrows when some delegates insisted that hardliner party president Abdul Hadi Awang be appointed as prime minister should Pakatan Rakyat win this year’s looming general election.

This was followed by the controversy generated by Kelantan PAS’ local government by-laws when it disallowed female workers from cutting the hair of the male customers in the hair saloons there.

DAP in turn did not vote any of its eight Malay candidates into its 20-member central executive committee – the party’s top decision-making body – during its polls last month.

Weighing these factors in, Dzulkefly insisted that while both PAS and DAP are on the right track, it will take time to convince its grassroots members of the need to change to meet the people’s higher than usual expectations.

“It is clear that some sections of the grassroots have yet to subscribe into the top leadership’s suggestions that both PAS and DAP become centrist in the new age of Malaysian politics.”

The conventional wisdom out there is for PAS to drop its Islamist tendencies and for DAP to reflect a multi-ethnic line-up if both sides are to convince the people that they are ready to step into the shoes of BN, come the next election.

Dzulkefly also said that there is a need for leaders to deal better with the aspirations of the other parties, alluding to DAP chairman Karpal Singh’s frequent outbursts against PAS’ Islamist stance.

Distracted by internal issues

Meanwhile, outspoken Penang Malay Congress president Rahmad Isahak said both PAS and DAP are distracted by their own internal issues and have overlooked the fact that they are now entrusted to govern more than to oppose.

Rahmad said it was disheartening to see that both DAP and PAS cannot see eye-to-eye on fundamental policies such as hudud and the usage of the word Allah by non-Muslims.

“Let us hope that in 2013, our leaders gift us with a matured sense of leadership and focus on core issues gripping the country, such as the economy, our social policies such as affordable housing and dispensing justice fairly and swiftly.”

‘Free port’ just another BN gimmick

Athi Shankar

 | June 1, 2012

Why is the BN government talking about reinstating Penang's free port status now when previous Gerakan-helmed state government had 38 years to look into it?

GEORGE TOWN: A local NGO today dismissed a state Barisan Nasional proposal to revive Penang’s revoked free port status (FPS) as a mere political gimmick.

Penang Malay Congress (PMC) president Rahmad Isahak said the proposal made by its state chief Teng Chang Yeow was clear sign that BN was desperate to fish for votes to regain lost electorate ground.

“It’s a desperate proposal of desperate politics by a desperate BN.

“BN is bankrupt of ideas on how to win back the hearts and minds of Penangites,” he said in a statement today.

He called on Penangites not to forget that it was BN’s predecessor, the Alliance, which revoked Penang’s FPS back in 1969.

If Teng and company were sincere and honest to restore the FPS, he said BN should do it immediately without any condition.

He added that the FPS matter was under federal purview and not the state.

“Is BN blackmailing the people by telling us that the FPS would be restored only if BN is returned to power?” he asked.

By right, he said, the previous Alliance state government should not have allowed the removal of FPS in first place.

He said the previous Gerakan-helmed state BN government had 38 years between 1970 and 2008 to restore Penang’s FPS.

“But it failed. Why now?” asked Rahmad.

66 to fight for 20 DAP CEC positions

FMT Staff

 | November 23, 2012

The 20 CEC members elected will then pick among themselves the party's national office-bearers.

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 66 candidates would fight it out for 20 DAP central executive committee (CEC) positions at the party polls scheduled for mid-next month.

Party organising secretary Teresa Kok today said that at the close of nomination for the CEC positions, the party had received 103 nomination papers.

However, 37 candidates have pulled out from the contest and the remainder 66 candidates would fight it out for the 20 available CEC slots.

Kok, who is also the chairman of the 16th DAP congress which would be held in Penang on Dec 15 and 16, said the 20 CEC members elected will then pick among themselves the party’s national office-bearers.

The party’s constitution also allows for 10 members to be appointed to the CEC, she added.

Below is the list of 66 members nominated to contest the 20 CEC positions:

1.  Ahmad Ton
2.  Apalasamy Jataliah
3.  Arrifin S M Omar
4.  Boo Cheng Hau
5.  Chong Chieng Jen
6.  Chong Eng
7.  Choong Siew Onn
8.  Chow Kon Yeow
9.  Ean Yong Hian Wah
10. Er Teck Hwa
11. Fong Kui Lun
12. Ganabatirau Veraman
13. Gnanaguru Ganisan
14. Gobind Singh Deo
15. Harun Ahmad
16. Hiew King Cheu
17. Jagdeep Singh Deo
18. Jayabalan Valliappan
19  Kamache Doray Rajoo
21. Karpal Singh
22. Khoo Poay Tiong
23. (Teresa) Koh Suh Sim
24. Lee Guan Aik
25. Leon Jimat Donald
26. Leong Ngah Ngah
27. Letchimanan Thatharan
28. Liew Chin Tong
29. Lim Guan Eng
30. Lim Kit Siang
31. Lim Lip Eng
32. (Ronnie) Liu Tian Khiew
33. (Anthony) Loke Siew Fook
34. M. Kulasegaran
35. Manogaran Marimuthu
36. Manoharan Malayalam
37. Ng Chin Tsai
38. Ng Wei Aik
39. Nga Kor Mong
40. Ngeh Koo Ham
41. (Jeff) Ooi Chuan Aun
42. P Ramasamy
43. (Tony) Pua Kiam Wee
44. Sanisvara Nethaji Rayer Rajaji
45. Siow Kim Leong
46. Sivakumar Varatharaju
47. Sivanesan Achalingam
48. Sivasubramaniam Athinarayanan
49. Soh Boon Hong
50. Solaiman OP Syed Ibrahim
51. (Thomas) Su Keong Siong
52. Tan Kok Wai
53. (Nicole) Tan Lee Koon
54. Tan Seng Giaw
55. Tanasekharan Autherapady
56. Teh Yee Cheu
57. Teng Chang Khim
58. Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji
59. Teo Kok Seong
60. Teo Nie Ching
61. Wong Sai Hoong
62. Wong Sze Phin @ Jimmy
63. Vincent Wu Him Ven
64. Violet Yong Wui Wui
65. Zairil Khir Johari
66. Zulkifli Mohd Noor.

Doa against Umno: Will there be a fatwa?

November 21, 2012

The Penang Malay Congress seeks a fatwa on PAS prayer for the destruction of Umno and Barisan Nasional

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Malay Congress (PMC) today urged the National Fatwa Council to state its stand on the recent “doa” (prayer) conducted by PAS for the destruction of Umno and the Barisan Nasional.

PMC president Rahmad Isahak said Muslims in the country were awaiting an explanation from the council and a “fatwa” (edict) on the PAS action.

“Muslims were forbidden to participate in the ‘Bersih’ gatherings after a fatwa was issued, but that is a worldly issue. This ‘doa’ concerns the hereafter, and a ‘fatwa’ is necessary,” he told reporters.

Last Friday, PAS held a prayer for the destruction of Umno and the BN at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium in Kelantan in conjunction with its 58th general assembly.

-Bernama

‘DAP Malay candidate a safety cushion’

Hawkeye

 | October 24, 2012

No government can last in the state for fortnight if it does not have calibre Malay candidates, says Penang Malay Congress.

GEORGE TOWN: The fielding of Malays as DAP candidates in Penang is just a “safety deposit” for Pakatan Rakyat in the coming general election, said a Malay NGO.

Rahmad Isahak, the Penang Malay Congress chief, said PAS and PKR have failed to secure the Malay ground since 2008 although the opposition’s leader Anwar Ibrahim hails from the state.

“No government can last in Penang for two weeks if it does not have calibre Malay candidates to sit in the state government,” said Rahmad.

To avoid a scenerio where all of Pakatan’s non Malays win in the next polls while all of its Malay candidates lose in Penang, it is best to allow DAP to field Malay candidates to strategically leverage against such a possibility, he said.

Rahmad said that DAP had risen to become a prominent party here, and it is best that it reflects its ambition to be a truly multi-ethnic party under its ‘Malaysia Malaysian’ slogan.

“What better way to reflect its multi-ethnic leanings by parading a multi-racial candidates list in a state as diverse as Penang?” he asked.

Rahmad alleged that there was a fracture within PKR over the choice of candidates and seat allocations, while its leaders were suffering from an inferiority complex dealing with DAP.

For example, Rahmad said state PKR chairman Mansor Othman was allegedly quoted in a leaked taped recording, describing DAP secretary-general and chief minister Lim Guan Eng as arrogant.

“PAS is also dealing with its own “demons” as its former state youth wing head Mohammad Hafiz Noordin has been critical of the party of late,” said Rahmad.

“DAP Malay candidates may able to stave off a spirited challenge from BN, led by Umno and “hold the fort” in the event PAS and PKR candidates lose heavily in Penang,” he added.

Malays still struggling

Rahmad said his views were based on the present political realities confronting the Malays in Penang. He also rebuked another Malay NGO called PAJIM for suggesting that the congress is not the voice of the Malay community here.

PAJIM adviser Ahmad Mokhtar Muhammad said recently that the congress has less than 10 members, and it seen by the community to be more of a “puppet” of DAP in Penang.

Ahmad Mokhtar said the issues confronting the Malays in Penang have not changed since 2008, which is the community continues to lag behind others in many socio-economic facets.

“Being the second largest group in Penang, the Malays hold the dubious distinction of having the most number of residents who have fallen under the squatters catagory, even on the mainland and they are struggling to qualify for quality jobs, said Ahmad Mokhtar.

The DAP-led state government is seen as insensitive to the plight of the community, or unable to do much in addressing these deficits.

To this, Rahmad said the number of members are unimportant here, as what counts is the delivery of issues and to raise consistently the plight of Malays in Penang.

He agreed with Ahmad Mokhtar on the issues confronting the Malays such as affordable housing and good jobs, but stressed that whoever wants to “do anything” in Penang, must be willing to engage DAP.

“They have become the powerhouses here and in many urbanised electorates where there is a high presence of Chinese. The Malays need a “bridge” to DAP and likewise, they too need to cement better ties with the community,” said Rahmad.

The congress is the only NGO driven by the political realities in Penang, and not by self-interests, he claimed, adding that the long-term political standing of Malays in Penang will be shaped by the outcome of the next general election.

DAP’s Malay candidates a ‘gimmick’

Hawkeye

 | October 19, 2012

According to Penang Gerakan vice-chairman Wong Mun Hoe, the reality is that DAP is dominated by a bloc of Chinese leaders.

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Gerakan vice-chairman Wong Mun Hoe has dismissed the demands by a state DAP leader that the opposition party field Malay candidates here in the next general election as nothing more than a “publicity stunt.”

Wong said fielding Malay candidates does not make DAP a multi-ethnic party as every voter knows that it is dominated and led by a bloc of Chinese leaders.

In all fairness, the party is mostly led by one family (Lim Kit Siang’s family) for the past four decades, and not just Chinese leaders per se, Wong said in an interview.

“Fielding one or three Malay candidates does not make the party, a multi-racial one. Actually, it would be difficult in Penang since PKR and PAS also have their own political interests here.”

To change a widely held perception that DAP is a Chinese chauvinist party, he said, the party must start to behave like a multi-ethnic one.

DAP must reach out to the poor section of the Malay and Indian communities, but its actions since 2008 do not demonstrate this, Wong said, adding that seldom do they preach about protecting the poor squatters here and often they just blame the previous Barisan Nasional administration for the socio-economic issues here.

Therefore, Wong does not believe that DAP would field many Malay candidates in Penang.

At most, he expects the party to field one or two candidates as a “window dressing” to the Pakatan Rakyat line-up.

It is learnt that two names were touted as possible Malay DAP candidates; Zairil Khir Johari, the political secretary to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and veteran DAP member Zulkili Mohd Noor (photo)

The noise generated by Zulkili and the Penang Malay Congress over a need to field Malay candidates is seen as a publicity stunt and to just keep the issue in focus, Wong said.

In reality, he said, it would be tough for any DAP incumbents to make way for anyone in the next election.

DAP contested and handsomely won all 19 of the state seats, PKR has nine and PAS one before the three went on to officially form the Pakatan Rakyat alliance to administer Penang.

On the possibility that there would be more independent candidates standing in Penang due to the emergence of third voice aspirants, Wong said in a democracy, everybody is welcome to contest.

PKR must make way for DAP

In another development, the Penang Malay Congress’s outspoken president Rahmad Isahak said PKR should consider making way for DAP to contest in Bayan Baru, as it is considered the latter’s stronghold.

Rahmad is of the contention that the only way for Malays to champion their political interests, is through the DAP equation since the party has rose to become a dominant presencè in Penang.

It is difficult for the Malays to make any political inroads here since PAS and PKR are not representing the Malay interests effectively in the state government here, while Umno through Barisan Nasional are mostly in the opposition here, Rahmad concluded.

“Bayan Baru would be an ideal constituency for DAP to field Malay candidates,” he said.

Penang PKR liaision committee chairman Mansor Othman could not be reached for comments.

Offensive against Pak Lah a ‘distraction’

Hawkeye

 | October 9, 2012

Penang Umno claims Pakatan Rakyat is 'spinning' to distract voters from the real issues in the state.

BUTTERWORTH: Pakatan Rakyat is trying to distract voters here from the issues which are plaguing its administration in Penang, claimed state Umno Youth chief Sheikh Hussein Mydin.

He said this strategy was evident in view of the fact that the Pakatan partners – PAS, PKR and DAP – were riddled with disagreements over issues such as “hudud” to affordable housing and over a leaked recording where one leader allegedly called Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng “arrogant and cocky”.

And what better way to distract the people than by launching an offensive against Barisan Nasional, including on former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Penang, said Sheikh Hussein.

“For Pakatan, its policy is that attack is the best form of defence. It is often critical of BN. It has become too preoccupied with attacking us until it has forgotten how to govern the state. There are many examples here,” he said.

Sheikh Hussein was responding to a statement by the Penang Malay Congress president Rahmad Isahak that BN stands to lose the Kepala Batas parliamentary seat and two other state seats if Abdullah chooses to retire from active politics.

Rahmad based his prediction on the fact that Abdullah, who is better known as Pak Lah, is a stalwart in the constituency since 1978, and that his absence would create a vacuum which BN may not be able to fill in time for the next general election.

Rahmad expects PAS to benefit greatly if Pak Lah decides to retire, as the former has a chance to wrest Kepala Batas. PAS has been stepping up its presence in the area since 2008.

To this, Sheikh Hussein said Umno believes that the congress led by Rahmad is supporting DAP, although it has labelled itself as an apolitical entity here with a non-governmental organisation status.

He accused Rahmad of intentionally trying to shift the focus of attention towards Pak Lah when the issue should be about the performance of the present state government.

Pak Lah to retire?

According to Sheikh Hussein, Pakatan wants to force BN to focus on its traditional strongholds such as Tasek Gelugor and Kepala Batas, as it is worried that it will lose its current parliamentary seats in Batu Kawan and Balik Pulau.

He said Pakatan is working day and night to ensure that BN can successfully defend Tasek Gelugor and Kepala Batas from the anticipated onslaught by Pakatan.

In another development, Pak Lah remained tight-lipped to a question on whether he will be retiring from active politics.

When met at a function in a private college here on Sunday, Pak Lah smiled and said “he did not know if he would” continue to defend his Kepala Batas parliamentary seat.

Speculations about his political future have heightened since a report on an online news portal indicated that the former prime minister was mulling full retirement from politics.