Get-Out-The-Voters exercise in Bayan Baru a success

Dato’ Mustafa Kamal, Director of Elections for PKR Pulau Pinang successfully gathered about 500 election workers at several meeting points all around the Bayan Baru (P52) parliamentary district last Sunday. Dato’ Mansor Othman, the Deputy Chief Minister addressed the 300-strong crowd at its main site at Dewan JKKK Taman Pekaka, Batu Uban, together with several other personalities like YB Sim Tze Tzin (ADUN Pantai Jerejak), Dato’ Malik Kassim (ADUN Batu Maung) and YB Raveen (ADUN Batu Uban).

The air of excitement was further enhanced when a motorcycle convoy of about 30 bikes arrived at Taman Pekaka along with a decorated trailer behind blasting the Parti Keadilan song. After a short briefing, all volunteers participated in a house-to-house exercise to meet the voters in the three state constituencies in Bayan Baru.

When the crowd were asked: “Are you ready for Pakatan Rakyat?” the crowd replied in a very spirited ‘Yes!’

The overall response from the ground was very encouraging with all the election directors in Bayan Baru providing similar reports. Bayan Baru aims to secure all three state seats and one parliamentary seat under Keadilan, a feat which was achieved in 2008 but tainted by an MP who decided to become an independent in 2010.

“I think we have a very strong and coordinated force with only one goal, which is to maintain the results of 2008,” said Tan Seng Keat, the Election Director for Bayan Baru.

65% support in Batu Maung (N37)

About 100-odd people thronged parts of Batu Maung to survey the area and give out goodie bags which includes informational leaflets and newsletters, a free note pad and a magazine.

“We are confident to have a minimum of 65% support from our voters,” claimed Azrizal Tahir, the Election Director of Batu Maung.

The incumbent, Dato’ Malik Kassim won the Batu Maung seat in 2008 with a majority of 3169 votes against Norlan Dahalan from UMNO. However, according to reports there are more than 9000 new voters registered for the upcoming elections.

As the only Malay majority area in Bayan Baru, the rejection of UMNO is obvious as many of the programmes implemented in the area are all well received by the community.

Chinese voters not a problem in Batu Uban (N35)

The Batu Uban team targeted 10 blocks of flats around the Taman Bukit Jambul area to get feedback from the ground. At the same time another team led by YB Raveen made their rounds in the constituency to greet the people.

“Many people kept on asking about the candidate,” mentioned Cheah Kah Peng, the Strategic Director for Keadilan Penang.

“It should be taken into consideration that informed people cast their votes based on the choice of candidate fielded,” he added.

Cheah Peng Guan, the Election Director for Batu Uban is certain that the Chinese votes were ‘not a problem’ in the area. Batu Uban is a Chinese majority area with about 60% Chinese voters.

YB Raveen, the current Keadilan state assemblyman had garnered a majority of 611 votes in 2008 ousting local favourite Goh Kheng Sneah from Gerakan who is expected to contest again in GE-13.

All set in Pantai Jerejak (N36)

More than 100 volunteers attended the meet-the-voters exercise at Pantai Jerejak. Election Director Idriss Hassan is pleased with the turnout.

Similarly, he echoes a favourable 60% secured vote from Pantai Jerejak.

YB Sim Tze Tzin won the Pantai Jerejak in 2008 with a majority of 1258 votes against Wong Mun Hoe from Gerakan.

YB Sim and municipal councillor Hj. Rashid bin Hasnon recently co-organized a Chinese New Year open house in Pantai Jerejak which included a ‘Chinese-Muslim’ presentation among its activities.

“The momentum of Keadilan Bayan Baru is very good. Our machinery is ready for GE-13,” Idriss said.

Ini kalilah.

Press Statement by Abdul Malik on Queensbay Hawkers

KENYATAAN MEDIA

16 MAC 2011



PENIAGA PESISIR PANTAI QUEENSBAY AKAN DIBANTU, TIDAK AKAN DIANIAYA

Sebagai sebuah kerajaan berjiwa rakyat, adil untuk semua kaum, kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang akan membantu mana-mana pihak tanpa mengira kaum dan fahaman politik. Tiada dalam kamus kerajaan negeri untuk menganiaya mana-mana pihak, kerana itu bertentangan dengan prinsip pentadbiran kerajaan negeri Pakatan Rakyat Pulau Pinang.

Namun, terdapat pihak-pihak tertentu mengambil kesempatan memutarbelit fakta, menabur fitnah dan memainkan isu perkauman sempit bertujuan memburukkan imej kerajaan negeri. Kejadian yang berlaku kepada peniaga dan penjaja van bergerak sekitar Pantai Queensbay, Bayan Baru, pada 15 Mac lalu sebagai contohnya .

Media Utusan Malaysia, menggambarkan berlaku penganiayaan kepada peniaga berkenaan, apabila pihak Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) melarang mereka menjalankan aktiviti perniagaan di sepanjang jalan pesisir pantai Queensbay.

Hakikatnya, selepas mendapat beberapa aduan daripada pengurusan Queensbay Mall dan orang ramai, mengenai kesesakan yang teruk berlaku di sepanjang jalan pesisir pantai Queens Bay, antara lain disebabkan oleh kebanjiran peniaga van bergerak, pihak MPPP telah menempatkan 10 anggota penguatkuasanya setiap hari bermula 1 Mac lalu.

Bukan bertujuan untuk menyaman atau merampas barangan peniaga, tetapi bagi memastikan kelicinan lalu lintas, di samping menjaga kebersihan persekitaran. Pihak berkuasa sememangnya tidak membenarkan sebarang bentuk perniagaan di sepanjang pesisir jalan berkenaan. Lebih-lebih lagi musim cuti sekolah di mana Pulau Pinang dibanjiri pelancong dari dalam dan luar negara yang akan menyumbang kesesakan yang sedia ada.

Saya difahamkan pada 2009, pihak MPPP telah mengedarkan borang kaji selidik kepada para peniaga terbabit, bertujuan untuk menempatkan mereka di sebuah kawasan tertentu, tetapi tidak mendapat maklum balas positif daripada peniaga.

Namun, sebelum kejadian 15 Mac lalu, saya bersama ADUN Pantai Jerjak YB Sim Tze Tze sedang mengadakan perbincangan dengan pihak tertentu untuk membantu menyelesaikan masalah para peniaga tersebut. Setakat ini, perbincangan masih berjalan dengan beberapa alternatif sedang diperhalusi.

Berhubung kenyataan fitnah oleh Aminah Abdullah terhadap saya, dalam Utusan Malaysia 16 Mac 2011, saya mengakui ada menerima panggilan telefon daripada beliau mengenai perkara itu. Sebelum itupun saya telah dimaklumkan oleh salah seorang pegawai saya . Ekoran itu, saya telah menghubungi Setiausaha MPPP, Ir Ang Aing Thye meminta pihaknya menangani perkara itu secara berhemah dan seperti biasa menasihati para peniaga di situ.

Saya menafikan sekeras-sekerasnya, fitnah oleh Aminah yang kononnya saya mengarahkan para peniaga hadir ke Bahagian Pelesenan MPPP semalam ( 15 Mac 2011) untuk menyelesaikan masalah mereka. Saya mempunyai pegawai yang komited dengan tugas membantu rakyat, dan tidak memerlukan seseorang seperti Aminah yang cuba berlagak menjadi hero rakyat, tapi sebenarnya hanyalah seorang yang ‘bancrupt’ politik.

Sebagai sebuah kerajaan berjiwa rakyat, kerajaan negeri tidak akan menganiaya rakyat. Saya akan membantu para peniaga tersebut, dan akan mengadakan pertemuan dengan mereka dalam masa yang terdekat. Ini janji saya dan tekad saya sebagai hamba rakyat Pulau Pinang.

Hj Abdul Malik Kassim

Dr. Joyce Lee's Response to Show Cause Letter

8 March 2011



Dear Disciplinary Committee Chairman Dato’ Dr. Tan Kee Kwong



RE: Response to Show Cause Letter



Your Ref: SUA2011/SKR/JKD/0356



In response to your show cause letter dated 7 March 2011 about the alleged statements I made on Facebook that hurt the image of Party, Ketua Umum, Deputy President and Central Leadership Council (MPP).



Facebook



First of all, Facebook is a social network site for friendship, common interest, beliefs, knowledge sharing, and Facebook friends are by invitation only. The conversations I had on my Facebook wall with families and friends are similar to the private conversations I had at my house. Is it logic for PKR to ask all its members to officially explain every private conversation they had at their houses eavesdropping by someone outside the window? In which eavesdropper seldom hear anything good of themselves.



Statements I made on Facebook



“Azmin is anak angkat Mahatir, he has never stayed away from UMNO in terms of connections, so to enjoy “money” dropping from the sky…”



This is a fact that Azmin Ali is the adopted son of Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali (the wife of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad), and there is closed tie between the family of Azmin’s father and the family of Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali. Can Azmin Ali explain his imported car business which is still in operation till now, in which APs are only given to the selected few in UMNO? Why there is no one (even UMNO) makes noise about Azmin to continue enjoying APs and to continue with his imported car business?



“90% of MPP are without credibility that won because of jumped on the dirty bandwagon of Azmin. Anwar could turn 2010 PKR election as a milestone in the Malaysian political history, but he choose to make it an universal laughing stock because of Azmin. Big price to pay!”



The fact that there is fraud renders the whole election process a sham. MPP Christina Liew mentioned the irregularities in the polls in several Sabah divisions (Malaysiakini dated 12 November 2010, http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/147996). Press conferences were hold and memorandums were submitted by Mustaffa Kamil Ayub, Chegubard (Badrul Hisham Shaharin) and Dato’ Zaid Ibrahim (Malaysiakini dated 12 November 2010, http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/147995), in which President Dato’ Seri Dr. Wan Azizah promised malpractices in the party elections conduct would be thoroughly probed (Malaysiakini dated 12 November 2010, http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/148083). Even Ketua Umum Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim admitted flaws in polls and vowed sweeping probe (Malaysiakini dated 28 November 2010, http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/149361). During the PKR congress in November 2010, Secretary-General Saifuddin Nasution said that the report on the investigations on the allegations would be made two weeks after the congress (The Sun Daily dated 27 December 2010, http://www.thesundaily.com/articlePrint.cfm?id=55605), in which we’re still waiting for the report.



“Why should PKR members bother about their KPIs? Seeing the fact that PKR Deputy President “menang by tipu”, PKR Election Director, PKR Parliamentarian Whip, ADUN Bukit Antarabangsa, MP Gombak, Ketua Cabang Gombak cum PPN Selangor didn’t even pass his KPIs.”



How can someone like Azmin Ali who flunked his own KPIs, accused of being aloof and lacking the grassroots’ touch be effective in constituency service and grassroots rapport, as well as be leadership by example? (Free Malaysia Today dated 21 February 2011, http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/02/21/azmin-and-six-others-flunk-kpi-test/). PKR has a pool of qualified leaders. We need rational explanation from top leader why non-performing Azmin is appointed with so many important party posts? Also, please study the feedback of many blog news readers, PKR members and Azmin’s constituents about the bad public perception he has.



Deterioration of Party Image



I would like to stress that as a member of ADIL since its inception, what I said/say is purely due to the love for our Party and Country, as well as the passion to bring about real change for the betterment of Malaysian politics. I am not against the Party, but I indignantly denounce the selfish and wicked individuals/leaders that damaged the party’s image and wrecked the Hope of the People. Can MPP make impartial and appropriate group decision when it contains so many individuals who played tag together each other in obtaining the MPP posts by fraudulent means during the party election? Therefore, the quality and credibility of the existing MPP and the so-called collective party leadership are seriously in doubt. This will definitely have a detrimental effect on PKR/PR, because we can’t expect the majority one-sided MPP to field vetted and credible candidates for GE13, especially if there is no proper implementation of Candidates Selection Criteria and KPI ratings. We can’t see the leadership lineup formed after the notorious party election can help to clean our Party’s name in producing many frogs and non-performing YBs.



To say again, the Facebook comment is similar to private conversation with friends, and my opinion was not targeting the general public. It should not, therefore be considered an offence as it would be if I gave a press conference, appeared on TV or wrote to a mainstream newspaper. So, on what ground I am accused to deliberately damage the image of Party?



Culprits who actually damaged the Image of Party and the unity of Members:



1) Zuraida Kamaruddin



Talking about Facebook, what action has been taken on Women Chief Zuraida Kamaruddin so far (she used MCMC, an UMNO agency to oppress our own PKR member by curbing freedom of expression on Facebook)? Ketua Umum Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his email reply dated 3 December 2010 suggested Zuraida to be referred to Disciplinary Committee (please find the attached copy of the email communication).



Also, what is the disciplinary action taken on Zuraida for instructing her agents to unethically “misplace” many MATWC Meeting Minutes and MPWP 2010-2013 candidates’ nomination forms (please find the attached complaint letter of Wanita Cabang Batu Kawan to Central Elections Committee Head Dr. Molly Cheah, c.c. Secretary-General Saifuddin Nasution dated 14 October 2010)? Further to that, did Disciplinary Committee take action on Zuraida for openly sabotaging a free and fair party election and her blatant lies to the media that she won the Women Chief post without contest on 15 October 2010 (attached herewith copy of Nanyang Siang Pau) before the nomination dateline 16 October 2010? In actual fact there were four qualified Women Chief candidates and a 3-corner-fight for the top Women Wing post.



2) Azmin Ali



Azmin Ali has vowed to start his witch-hunt instead of calling all party members to close rank right after “winning” deputy presidency unofficially (Malaysiakini dated 22 November 2011, http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/148818). What is the disciplinary action taken on Azmin for going to the media to openly damage the image of Party, as well as to demoralize and disunite the party members?



3) Mansor Othman



Vice President Mansor Othman told the media that PKR has started its spring cleaning to clear all the dissenting voices before the forthcoming general election (Nanyang Siang Pau dated 25 January 2011). Even my name and photo was published in the January’s paper suggesting I would be one of them to receive show-cause letter, in which I actually received it now in March. Is this the pre-planned witch-hunt as Azmin and gang vowed to? Also, it is another blatant example of going to the media to divide party members and to injure party’s image. Any stern action is taken on Mansor Othman?



All in all, it is no exaggeration for Party members to call Azmin and gang hypocrites and arrogant asses, after all the damages they have done to our beloved Party. Don’t tell us no action taken on the evildoers associated with the party election frauds, witch-hunt and disintegration of party forces before GE13 is a “deal” and an overture to push PKR/PR to electoral doom? I hope party leadership can also explain the alleged “deal” between PKR top leader with Prime Minister Najib Rajak to stand acquitted on the charge which is widely spreading now.



PS = I believe Dato’ Tan can understand the contents of Nanyang Siang Pau and can help to translate to the Disciplinary Committee Members.



Thank you.




Yours truly,



Dr. Joyce Lee Yueh Choo



c.c. Secretary-General Saifuddin Nasution

Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 16.2.2011

Penang State Government Establishes A New State Executive Council(EXCO) Portfolio For Non-Islamic Religious Affairs To Handle Religious Matters Relating To Buddhists, Christians, Sikhism, Taoism & Hinduism.

The Penang state government has established a new State Executive Council portfolio for non-Islamic Affairs to handle religious matters relating to Buddhists, Christians, Sikhism, Taoism & Hinduism. This is the first time that a state executive council portfolio has been formed in Penang and the EXCO member in charge will be the Chief Minister.



The State EXCO for Non-Islamic Religious Affairs was presented by Deputy Chief Minister II Professor Dr P. Ramasamy to the weekly state EXCO meeting and approved last week. Professor Dr P. Ramasamy will be the deputy in this non-Islamic Affairs EXCO portfolio.



The establishment of the non-Islamic Religious Affairs portfolio marks the celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week by the United Nations this week. Unlike the Federal Government’s Committee for the Promotion of Inter-religious Understanding and Harmony, this is not a committee but a full EXCO portfolio and reflects the state government’s genuine concerns on all religious matters.



Further as a George Town is a UNESCO World Heritage city, the formation of this EXCO portfolio is timely as it promotes diversity and positive human interaction on cultural, religious and social spheres. Despite our differences, we are united by our common aspirations for good practices and universal moral values of peace, justice, moderation and harmony. Co-operation not confrontation, mutual respect not tolerance, and understanding not ignorance will be the governing creed of this new Penang EXCO portfolio.



Penang is willing to work with the Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak’s who had expressed hopes at the United Nations’ 65th general assembly last year, during which he said he did not want any extremist or militant groups to threaten unity and security in Malaysia. The Penang state government is concerned at the existence of extremist groups who seeks to racialise every event for their own selfish interests. Penang has been under siege with attacks of being anti-Malay even if it only involves only 10% Malays or one Malay out of 10 affected parties.



The Penang state government calls on the people to embrace the future by embracing every Malay, Indian, Chinese, Kadazan and Iban, as Malaysian brothers and sisters, Malaysian sons and daughters.



Then only can we grow together, learn together and enjoy the success together.

LIM GUAN ENG

Press Statement by YB Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Selangor State EXCO and State Assemblyman for Seri Andalas

COMMITTEE FOR NON-MUSLIM AFFAIRS – SELANGOR & PENANG

I salute the move taken by YAB Lim Guan Eng and the Penang state government in forming an official portfolio for non-muslim affairs, it is an effort that is to be commended.

The central aim and objectives of the Committee for non-muslim affairs is to promote greater inter-faith understanding and build strong working relationships between all non-muslim religious bodies and the state governments.

For example, Selangor’s non-muslim committee is jointly chaired by myself, YB Teresa Kok and YB Ronnie Liew, along with four other ADUNs, 7 representatives of the main non-muslim religious bodies and various other government department representatives including reps from District Offices, JAIS, JKR, JPS and PTG.

The Barisan National government should welcome the initiatives taken by the Penang state government and not feel threatened. Furthermore, it was only 3 days ago that the “PM hailed the government’s interfaith sub-committee as key in creating a common understanding and having constructive dialogue among the different religious groups in the country.”(Malaysian Insider, 14, Feb 2011)

In light of his comments it is highly regrettable and irresponsible of the Government to allow the
Utusan to make such a racially provoking statement against the non-muslim portfolio established by a Pakatan Rakyat state.

It is the responsibility of everyone to promote greater comprehension and tolerance of all the different faiths in Malaysia. We must not resort to racial and religious politics in order to fulfill political aims.

Dr Xavier Jayakumar

17 February 2011