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Transformasi apakah yang sedang Najib katakan apabila beliau tidak mampu membuatkan Perhimpunan Agung UMNO untuk menyokong dasar 1Malaysia beliau setelah empat tahun menjadi Perdana Menteri dan Presiden UMNO?

Di dalam wawancaranya bersama Malay Mail semalam, ketika ditanya berkenaan “kumpulan yang skeptik dengan 1Malaysia di dalam UMNO sendiri”, Perdana Menteri, Datu Seri Najib Razak mengatakan adalah sengaja beliau tidak mentakrifkan konsep itu sejelas-jelasnya kerana “sepatutnya ada unsur kekaburan makna yang strategik supaya apabila anda perkenalkan konsep seperti itu, apabila masa berlalu, takrifannya dapat ditakrifkan dengan menerima pandangan orang lain sepanjang kita bergerak”.

Beliau bagaimanapun mendakwa “konsep 1Malaysia kini difahami dengan jelas”!

Ini merupakan dakwaan yang Najib sendiri mungkin tidak menyakininya.

Malah, rakyat Malaysia berhak untuk bertanya transformasi apakah yang sedang Najib katakan apabila beliau tidak mampu membuatkan Perhimpunan Agung UMNO menyokong dasar 1Malaysia beliau setelah empat tahun menjadi Perdana Menteri dan Presiden UMNO, sedangkan Dasar 1Malaysia merupakan asas kepada semua program “transformasi” beliau, baik kerajaan, ekonomi atau politik, contohnya GTP, ETP, PTP dan lain-lain.

Rakyat Malaysia terkejut selepas hampir empat tahun, Najib mengatakan beliau sengaja membiarkan konsep 1Malaysia kabur dan samar-samar, sedangkan itu bukan apa yang beliau katakan pada tahun pertama sebagai Perdana Menteri.
Continue reading “Transformasi apakah yang sedang Najib katakan apabila beliau tidak mampu membuatkan Perhimpunan Agung UMNO untuk menyokong dasar 1Malaysia beliau setelah empat tahun menjadi Perdana Menteri dan Presiden UMNO?”

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Najib’s Farcical Presidential Speech

M. Bakri Musa
10 Dec 2012

That Prime Minister Najib Razak is oratorically-challenged is patently obvious, and a severe understatement. The pathetic part is that Najib is determined to delude himself that he is otherwise. His presidential speech at the recently-concluded UMNO General Assembly was only the latest example.

He confuses ponderousness with deliberateness, equates yelling as emphasizing, and thinks that furrowing his forehead as being in profound thought. In the hands of a gifted actor, those could be great comedic acts. Alas, Najib is also far from being that.

I learned early in high school at Kuala Pilah that if I did not know what to do with my hands when delivering a speech, to keep them in my pockets or behind my back. Do not gesticulate wildly as that would only distract the audience. Worse, I risked looking like a monkey on speed. Najib apparently did not learn that at his expensive British school. Continue reading “Najib’s Farcical Presidential Speech”

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Nonsensical Najib must be very nervous!

By Martin Jalleh
9 Dec 2012

The General Elections beckons and it looks as though the Prime Minister (PM) has gone berserk. He is making comments most bizarre! He blurts out statements beyond human logic!

Soon after the last General Elections he had warned his political party that either it changes or the government that it so dominates will be changed by the people.

He now surprisingly admits that Umno needs to change (The Malaysian Insider, 7 Dec., 2012). In other words, his party has not changed – which in fact clearly contradicts what he and his cohorts have been saying! Continue reading “Nonsensical Najib must be very nervous!”

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What transformation is Najib talking about when he could not even get UMNO GA to endorse his 1Malaysia policy nearly four years as PM and UMNO President?

In his interview with Malay Mail yesterday, when asked about “factions that were skeptical of 1Malaysia in UMNO itself”, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that it was by design that he did not define the concept very clearly as “there should be an element of strategic ambiguity so that once you introduce the concept like that, as time goes by, the definition could be defined by taking on board the views of people as we go along”.

He claimed however that “the concept of 1Malaysia is now clearly understood”!

This is indeed a tall claim which Najib could not possibly believe himself.

In fact, Malaysians are entitled to ask what transformation is Najib talking about when he could not even get the UMNO General Assembly to endorse his signature 1Malaysia policy nearly four years since becoming Prime Minister and UMNO President, when the 1Malaysia Policy represents the very basis of all his “transformation” programmes, whether government, economic or political, i.e. GTP, ETP, PTP, etc.

Malaysians are surprised that after nearly four years, Najib is saying that he had deliberately left the 1Malaysia concept vague and nebulous, which was not what he said in his first year as Prime Minister. Continue reading “What transformation is Najib talking about when he could not even get UMNO GA to endorse his 1Malaysia policy nearly four years as PM and UMNO President?”

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I will deliver what I’ve promised, declares PM

The Malay Mail/Malaysiakini
Dec 7, 2012

Agent for change

Exclusive interview with Terence Fernandez, Zakiah Koya and Azril Annuar of Malay Mail

The Malay Mail: After the Umno general assembly, are you more confident today that you have managed to consolidate the party in time for the elections, you know, all the various ‘factions’?

Najib: I believe Umno is a much more reinvigorated party. The clarion call I made about four years ago that we need to do a process of self-analysis, self-criticism to know what we need to do to overcome the weaknesses and shortcomings that led to the political tsunami of 2008.

And also for us to consolidate ourselves and work on a plan to strengthen and revive Umno. And I see that coming to a head, so to speak. All the work we’ve done over the last four years have come to fruition at this assembly because I see Umno with renewed vigor and a much more united Umno.

Of course we still need to look at some of the internal challenges we have. But that goes with every political party, there will always be differences of opinion. But by and large, people want to work together to achieve a big victory for Umno and Barisan Nasional. Continue reading “I will deliver what I’ve promised, declares PM”

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PR mesti menumpukan untuk memenangi lebih empat juta undi “atas pagar” sekiranya mahu berjaya dalam pertembungan menawan Putrajaya pada PRU13

Perhimpunan Agung UMNO ke-66 selama lima hari, yang mana pengkritik meggambarkannya sebagai “Lima hari pesta liar bingit dan berang” berakhir dengan kepimpinan UMNO merasa yakin bahawa UMNO/BN akan mencapai “kemenangan besar pilihan raya” – memenangi semula dua pertiga majoriti di Parlimen juga negeri-negeri Pakatan seperti Kelantan, Pulau Pinang, Selangor dan Kedah pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 dan mempertahankan kuasa yang tidak sah dan tidak mengikut perlembahaan di Perak.

Bagaimanapun, ucapan kempimpinan UMNO selepas Perhimpunan Agung UMNO, terutamanya “tok dalang” UMNO, Tun Dr Mahathir tidak menampakkan keyakinan itu.

Sungguhpun begitu, pertembungan merebut Putrajaya pada PRU13 akan menjadi sangat sengit dan sesiapa yang memenangi majoriti empat juta pengundi “atas pagar” akan mendapat kelebihan.

Pakatan Rakyat sepatutnya menumpukan pada memenangi empat juta pengundi “atas pagar” sekiranya mahu berjaya dalam pertembungan menawan Putrajaya pada PRU13.

Untuk PRU13, daftar pemilih telah meningkat lebih daripada 13 juta pengundi. Terdapat lebih kurang 3 juta pengundi baru di dalam daftar pemilih, 60% adalah di bawah usia 30 tahun. 25% daripada daftar pemilih pilihan raya umum akan datang terdiri daripada pengundi baru.
Continue reading “PR mesti menumpukan untuk memenangi lebih empat juta undi “atas pagar” sekiranya mahu berjaya dalam pertembungan menawan Putrajaya pada PRU13”

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PR must focus on winning over the four million “middle ground” votes if we are to succeed in the battle to Putrajaya in 13GE

The five-day 66th UMNO General Assembly, which a critic has described as “A five-day orgy of sound and fury”, ended with the UMNO leaders breathing confidence that UMNO/BN are headed to “a resounding electoral victory” – winning back the two-thirds majority in Parliament as well as state power in the Pakatan states of Kelantan, Penang, Selangor and Kedah in the 13 General Election and retaining illegal and unconstitutional power in Perak.

However, the speeches of UMNO leaders after the UMNO General Assembly, particularly the UMNO “eminence grise”, Tun Dr. Mahathir do not bear out this confidence.

Be that as it may, the battle for Putrajaya in the 13GE is going to be a very close one and whoever wins the majority of the four million “middle ground” voters will have the upper hand.

Pakatan Rakyat should focus on winning the over four million “middle ground” voters if we are to succeed in the battle for Putrajaya in 13GE.

For the 13GE, the electorate has increased to slightly more than 13 million voters. There are approximately 3 million new voters in the electorate, 60% of whom are under the age of 30. New voters will comprise 25% of the electorate in the next general election.
Continue reading “PR must focus on winning over the four million “middle ground” votes if we are to succeed in the battle to Putrajaya in 13GE”

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For Malaysia’s Governing Party,’ Defining Point’ Is Near

By LIZ GOOCH
New York Times
December 3, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR — Bathed in a sea of the party’s signature red, the headquarters of the United Malays National Organization swarmed with thousands of party faithful last week, eager to hear from their leader as the clock ticked toward Malaysia’s next election.

UMNO, the largest party in the National Front coalition, which has governed Malaysia for more than half a century, is preparing to contest what many analysts predict is likely to be its toughest election yet.

Vowing that the government would fight for every vote, Najib Razak, the prime minister of Malaysia and president of the party, said Thursday that it would be “no ordinary election.”

“It will be the defining point for the destiny of the people and country,” he said during a spirited speech to flag-waving party members at the UMNO General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur.

With the wounds inflicted by the opposition during the last elections still fresh in the minds of party members, the next election, which must be held by June, will mark the first time Mr. Najib will seek a mandate from voters.

Observers say he will confront an influx of unpredictable young voters and a stronger opposition, setting the stage for a tight race. Continue reading “For Malaysia’s Governing Party,’ Defining Point’ Is Near”

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A 5-day orgy of sound and fury

Stanley Koh | December 6, 2012
Free Malaysia Today

Nothing substantive came out of the recent Umno assembly.

COMMENT

Many followers of the news must be relieved now that the silliest season of the year is over.

Umno delegates spent five days at their annual meeting straining their throats with meaningless rhetoric, noisy battle cries and hilarious claims about their party’s importance in the life of the nation.

They even risked blasphemy. An unwritten resolution of the meeting is that the morally challenged party is God’s own. Umno’s founding fathers must have turned in their graves.

Some of us might have excused the criminal waste of time, newsprint and airwave if only a fraction of the delegates had made some intelligent observations about the current state of Malaysian democracy or questioned how far Umno had gone in president Najib Tun Razak’s transformation programme.

But this is what we have come to expect from Umno since it became Umno Baru in 1988. And it has only gotten worse with time.

Can Umno continue to survive in the rapidly changing Malaysian political landscape, where even schoolchildren can see through the hollowness of its rhetoric? Can this self-proclaimed protector of the Malay race and religion withstand the demands of a generation awakening to the call for justice, human rights and the rule of law? Continue reading “A 5-day orgy of sound and fury”

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Discourage rather than encourage a repetition of May 13

by Koon Yew Yin
7th December 2012

The biggest losers will be the Malays

As the countdown to the elections begins to take place in earnest, we are getting more and more calls from desperate and irresponsible politicians drawing attention to the possibility of a repetition of the infamous May 13 violence if the election results should go against the expectations of various political parties and interests.

The fact that these calls are directed towards the Bumiputra component of our population, are expressed in the national language, and are widely carried in the Malay mass media and internet world makes me suspicious of the intentions of these politicians who claim that they are simply doing Malaysians a favour by warning of the backlash should the election outcome not bring about a continuation of the present power structure.

To my mind, these politicians are not only applying crude pressure on the Malay electorate to vote for them but they are also blatantly revealing their trump card – that violence, chaos and political instability will automatically erupt in the event that the opposition parties win the elections.

This blackmailing of our electorate as well as incitement of disruptive and hooligan elements in our society is totally unacceptable. Various groups such as academicians and individual politicians from the opposition have spoken up against such fear mongering in the recent past. However, not enough has been done by members of the business community and other professional organizations to speak out against these warnings and threats although they will be the main losers should another May 13 episode takes place.

Much more needs to be done by key stakeholders to condemn the individuals and organizations making these threats as the risk of them becoming self-fulfilling prophesies increases by the day. Continue reading “Discourage rather than encourage a repetition of May 13”

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Can BN Lose Sabah? Boleh Bah Kalau …

By Kee Thuan Chye
Malaysian Digest
6th December 2012

Three men in a coffeeshop with nothing much to do.

DOGOL: Hey, Ragang, you think Sabah will fall to the Opposition this coming GE?

RAGANG: I don’t know.

LUNCHAI: You don’t know? You Sabahan and you don’t know?

RAGANG: I not God.

DOGOL: Umno is now praying to God to win the GE. Najib told the members at their general assembly last week, better pray hard!

LUNCHAI: As if God will side any political party.

DOGOL: God does not take sides, so to call on God to help Umno and BN win is itself ungodly.

LUNCHAI: Hahaha! You’re right! Continue reading “Can BN Lose Sabah? Boleh Bah Kalau …”

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From now on, it’s a Malay vs Malay contest

― Ooi Kee Beng
The Malaysian Insider
Dec 05, 2012

DEC 5 ― As Umno general assemblies go, the one held last week was rather tame in its rhetoric. It was certainly memorable for its lack of vitriolic language.

And it was expectedly so ― therein lies its significance.

Things were quite different back in the days before 2008, when ethnocentric exhortations were run of the mill, and Umno Youth was the amplifier of racial extremist voices. This year, showing party unity was the order of the day.

Much of the credit must go to the fact that Malaysia today has a surprisingly stable two-party system in place. As we know, such a competitive structure has a strong moderating effect on extremist voices, be they racial or religious. After all, gaining the middle ground is how electoral victories are won. Continue reading “From now on, it’s a Malay vs Malay contest”

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UMNO tidak mampu untuk berubah melainkan mereka dihantar ke bangku Pembangkang pada PRU13

Perhimpunan Agung UMNO ke-66 yang melabuhkan tirainya baru-baru ini hanya menggariskan satu hakikat yang tidak dapat dielakkan tentang politik Malaysia – bahawa UMNO tidak mampu untuk berubah melainkan mereka dihantar ke bangku Pembangkang pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13.

Pegundi Malaysia akan memberikan UMNO dan negara bantuan yang sangat besar dengan menghantar UMNO ke bangku Pembangkang kerana itu bukan sahaja akan mencipta keadaan yang sesuai sebelum sebarang proses “transformasi” dapat berjalan di dalam UMNO, tetapi juga akan mewujudkan asas yang lebih kukuh dan kuat untuk proses demokrasi berpalimen yang lebuh matang dengan menginstitusikan sistem dua perikatan dan peralihan kuasa yang aman melalui proses demokratik.

Tanpa “batu asas” ini, Malaysia tidak langsung dapat bercakap tentang menjadi “demokrasi terbaik dunia” sepertimana yang telah didakwa oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Dalam ucapan dasar presiden, Najib berkata:

“Pilihanraya inilah yang akan mencorakkan rupawajah Malaysia hari esok untuk ditinggalkan pada anak-anak kita. Antara sebuah Malaysia yang maju berteraskan nilai serta matlamat dikongsi bersama, atau, Malaysia yang mundur terpisah oleh tembok ghaib dipalit rasa prasangka dan prejudis.”
Continue reading “UMNO tidak mampu untuk berubah melainkan mereka dihantar ke bangku Pembangkang pada PRU13”

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Apabila Najib mengatakan mengundi DAP bermakna mengundi penindasan orang Melayu, sementara Chua Soi Lek mengisytiharkan yang undi itu adalah bagi penindasan orang Cina, sudah tiba masanya untuk menyelamatkan Malaysia daripada kerajaan /UMNO/BN yang tidak jujur, penuh tipu daya, tidak berprinsip dan tidak bermoral

Presiden UMNO dan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak di dalam ucapan penggulungannya pada Perhimpunan Agung UMNO ke-66 menyeru ahli UMNO untuk berkerja lebih keras bagi meyakinkan rakyat untuk menyokong Barisan Nasional kerana undi untuk DAP bermakna mengundi penindasan orang Melayu.

Akan tetapi ini sangat bercanggahan dengan apa yang pemimpin MCA seperti Presiden MCA Datuk Dr. Chua Soi Lek katakan kepada orang cina seantero negara, bahawa undi untuk DAP bermakna mengundi untuk penindasan orang Cina.

Jelas apabila Najib mengatakan mengundi DAP adalah mengundi penindasan orang Melayu sementara Chua Soi Lek mengisytiharkan mengundi DAP mengmengundi penindasan orang Cina, bermakna telah tiba masanya untuk menyelamatkan daripada kerajaan /UMNO/BN yang tidak jujur, penuh tipu daya, tidak berprinsip dan tidak bermoral.

Wibawa dan legitimasi apakah yang dimiliki perikatan seperti Barisan Nasional yang sanggup membuat tipu daya dan ketidakjujuran, menanam penipuan dan pembohongan bagia memastikan mereka kekal berkuasa, tetapi mengakui bahawa mereka mempunyai kelayakan dan moral untuk memerintah Malaysia yang berbilang kaum, berbilang bahasa, berbilang agama dan berbilang budaya walhal sebenarnya mereka giat memecahbelahkan kaum dan agama di Malaysia?
Continue reading “Apabila Najib mengatakan mengundi DAP bermakna mengundi penindasan orang Melayu, sementara Chua Soi Lek mengisytiharkan yang undi itu adalah bagi penindasan orang Cina, sudah tiba masanya untuk menyelamatkan Malaysia daripada kerajaan /UMNO/BN yang tidak jujur, penuh tipu daya, tidak berprinsip dan tidak bermoral”

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UMNO is incapable of change unless it is sent to the Opposition benches in the 13GE

The recently concluded and highly-choreographed 66th UMNO General Assembly has only served to underline one inescapable fact of Malaysian political life – that UMNO is incapable of change unless it is sent to the Opposition benches in the 13th General Elections.

Malaysian voters will do UMNO and the country a great national service by dispatching UMNO to the Opposition benches for they will not only be creating the necessary conditions before any “transformation” can be effected in UMNO, but also laying a firmer and more solid basis for greater maturity of the parliamentary democratic process by institutionalizing the two-coalition system and the peaceful alternation and transition of power through the democratic process.

Without these “building blocks”, Malaysia cannot even talk about wanting to be the “world’s best democracy” as had been claimed by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Continue reading “UMNO is incapable of change unless it is sent to the Opposition benches in the 13GE”

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Perkara paling mengecewakan daripada Najib pada Perhimpunan Agung UMNO – kegagalan mengisytiharkan perang ke atas rasuah

Perhimpunan Agung ke-66 “perang” UMNO baru sahaja berakhir dengan penuh keyakinan dan tawa gembira, apabila Setiausaha Agung UMNO Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor dan pemimpin UMNO yang lain mengisytiharkan bahawa UMNO bukan sahaja bakal menang pada pilihan raya umum akan datang, tetapi akan memenangi kembali majoriti dua pertiga dan keempat-empat negeri Pakatan termasuklah Kelantan dan Pulau Pinang.

Walau bagaimanapun, manusia hanya merancang, Tuhan yang akan menentukan”.

Kemungkinan untuk Barisan Nasional mendapatkan kembali keempat-empat negeri Pakatan Rakyat iaitu Pulau Pinang, Kelantan, Selangor dan Kedah atau menyekat kemaraan Pakatan Rakyat untuk memenangi semula Kerajaan Negeri Perak tidak harus ditolak sepenuhnya. Continue reading “Perkara paling mengecewakan daripada Najib pada Perhimpunan Agung UMNO – kegagalan mengisytiharkan perang ke atas rasuah”

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Umno assembly – final chance for change missed

Dr Chris Anthony
Malaysiakini
Dec 3, 2012

The just concluded 66th Umno general assembly was the last opportunity for the party to convince the people of its willingness to change – a promise it made four years ago after its unprecedented losses at the March 8 election of 2008.

Unfortunately it appears that Umno had missed that opportunity going by the proceedings at the assembly, the last before 13th general election.

It was pathetic to see a party in power for 55 years, having led the fight for independence and developing the nation to a level to be admired by many, resorting to three misguided strategies to win the crucial 13th general election that is seen as a threat to unseat it.

They are:

1. Over-boasting of its experience in governance and achievements while failing to address all its glaring misdeeds.

2. Threatening of riots and unrest if it loses.

3. Opposition bashing and ridiculing the opposition as an unholy alliance, its inexperience in governing and unrealistic populist policies which will only lead the country to bankruptcy. Continue reading “Umno assembly – final chance for change missed”

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Umno’s Ponzi scheme

Mariam Mokhtar
Malaysiakini
Dec 3, 2012

Malaysians need not fear that we will become like Afghanistan because Afghanistan has learnt from us and has become like us.

A New York Times report headlined ‘Audit says Kabul Bank began as Ponzi scheme’ bears a striking resemblance to the way Umno runs this country.

Investigators have claimed that the Kabul Bank has been fraudulently obtaining hundreds of millions of dollars and siphoning it off to a few individuals connected to President Hamid Karzai (left).

The war-torn country is trying to get to grips with the concepts of western democracy and banking, but public trust and confidence in the government has been shattered by the revelations of crony capitalism and corruption on a massive scale.

Governments around the world are shocked at the Kabul Bank scandal but are turning a blind eye to similar events in Malaysia, where institutions routinely siphon off money to Umno and its cronies.

An audit by the Kroll investigative firm has revealed that the Kabul Bank’s financial duplicity was mired in controversy and cover up. There was a political conspiracy involving those at the very top of government to stall the investigations.

This is no different from Malaysia. Recent cases are the political interference concerning Tajuddin Ramli’s involvement in the Malaysia Airlines scandal, the Sabah Umno and Michael Chia fiasco and the National Feedlot Corporation case. Continue reading “Umno’s Ponzi scheme”