MB Selangor akan cari jalan terbaik kepada warga Setinggan

Wan Nordin Wan Yaacob Sat | Mar 29, 08 | 10:22:34 am MYT

SEREMBAN, 29 Mac (Hrkh) - Angkatan Muda Keadilan Malaysia (AMK) menyokong kenyataan Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim untuk Selangor mencapai matlamat setinggan sifar seperti yang disiarkan dalam temubual oleh portal internet Malaysiakini. Namun AMK kesal dengan kenyataan beberapa pihak yang mengandaikan bahawa Kerajaan Negeri Selangor yang dipimpin keADILan akan bertindak dengan cara yang sama seperti tindakan tidak berperikemanusiaan semasa Selangor di bawah Dato� Seri Mohd Khir Toyo, kata Setiausaha AMK, Ahmad Zaki Yamani bin Zainon. "Adalah zalim untuk menganggap bahawa peneroka bandar perlu dibiarkan dalam keadaan mereka sekarang tanpa sebarang usaha untuk mengiktiraf hak dan pegangan mereka secara sah ke atas tanah yang didiami atau ke atas tanah lain yang bersesuaian dengan keperluan kehidupan mereka. "Persoalan pampasan, peluang pekerjaan dan sebagainya perlu diberikan perhatian utama di dalam sebarang usaha pembangunan." ujarnya dalam satu kenyataanya semalam. AMK percaya Menteri Besar Selangor akan mencari jalan terbaik yang adil dan manusiawi untuk memastikan para peneroka bandar dapat keluar daripada status 'setinggan' mereka. Setiap rakyat Selangor perlu diberi peluang yang adil untuk memiliki hartanah dan pada masa yang sama hak pemilik tanah dihormati dan diberi peluang untuk membangunkan hartanah mereka, ujarnya. "Ini 'keseimbangan' yang perlu dicari seperti yang dinyatakan oleh Tan Sri Abdul Khalid. "Kerajaan perlu memainkan peranan utama dengan bertanggungjawab dan penyayang. Pada masa yang sama, syarikat-syarikat perlu berperanan sebagai warga korporat yang prihatin. "Malah sebelum ini Tan Sri Abdul Khalid telah pernah mengemukakan idea-idea inovatif untuk memastikan rakyat termiskin sekalipun mampu memiliki hartanah, termasuk melalui skim pembiayaan jangka panjang inter-generasi sehingga 60 tahun," katanya. AMK percaya Menteri Besar Selangor dan kerajaan negeri akan mengemukakan pelan komprehensif untuk mencapai matlamat setinggan sifar yang akan dilaksanakan. Sebarang cadangan dan komen sekarang sudah tentu akan membantu, namun ia perlu dikemukakan melalui saluran yang betul dan membina, tegasnya.

Asset declaration: 'Include past records'

A proper asset declaration exercise involving public office bearers must include past financial records as well, said the Democracy and Anti-Corruption Movement (Gerak). Gerak chairperson Ezam Mohd Noor said a current public asset declaration alone does not guarantee accuracy. "It is easy to transfer assets before a declaration. It takes just one day to close an account. All one has to do is maintain one account and make a deflated declaration," he explained when contacted yesterday. A way around this, according to Ezam, is to compel public office bearers to furnish their income tax returns for the past one or two years on top of their current declaration. "The purpose is not to dig into their past but to use the information as a barometer," he added. Ezam also suggested that asset declarations be made annually, with the first and final declaration exercise in one term being the most important. "We want to know what they have at the beginning and the end of their term. If a person suddenly becomes richer by a few million, then of course something is wrong," he said. No compromise In an unprecedented move, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced on March 17 that he would be compelling cabinet ministers and their deputies to publicly declare their assets. Ezam also raised a suggestion made by the late Harun Hashim, the country’s first Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) director, on ways to limit the circulation of asset declaration data. According to Ezam, Harun had told a conference in 1997 that a way to lessen the exposure of the data was to charge a nominal fee for the documents. "Some individuals might have a problem of making their assets ‘too public’. Thus, this mechanism will limit the data to people who are really serious about scrutinising the data," he said. On the newly formed Selangor government, Ezam hoped that the new state leadership would be a pioneer in publicly declaring their assets. "Gerak really hopes that they would do so on the basis of good governance and transparency. To any government committed to good governance, there should be no compromise," he said. In a recent interview with Malaysiakini, Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim said that some state exco members have reservations about publicly declaring their wealth.

Gov't rejects calls to release detained state legislator

Mar 28, 08 6:17pm

Home Affairs Minister Syed Hamid Albar today rejected opposition calls for the release of an ISA-detained state legislator, citing the need to uphold public security. "We must react to the country's internal security and public order," Syed Hamid was quoted saying by the state Bernama news agency. The opposition parties last week pressed for five ethnic Indian activists, including lawyer M Manoharan who won a seat in recent elections, to be freed from the Internal Security Act, which allows for indefinite detention without trial. Manoharan, standing for the DAP, was elected from his detention centre - soundly beating the government incumbent in the Kota Alam Shah state seat in the March 8 general elections. Syed Hamid said Manoharan will be forced to sit out of the newly formed state assembly when it convenes. "You definitely can't be at two places at the same time," he said. The five are leaders of rights group Hindraf who were detained last December for organising an unprecedented mass rally claiming discrimination against ethnic Indians. Police used tear gas, water cannon and baton charges to break up the November protest, which drew at least 8,000 people. The opposition, which now controls more than a third of parliamentary seats, has said it will seek to repeal the ISA - which dates back to the British colonial era when it was used against communist insurgents. It is currently being used to hold more than 100 people, including about 80 alleged Islamic militants.

One room enough for me: Guan Eng

by Regina William
PENANG (March 21, 2008): He could have lived comfortably and with maximum security at Rumah Tetamu on Macalister Road, the official residence of the chief minister.

However, told it would cost the state government at least RM300,000 to repair it and make it fit for a VIP, Lim Guan Eng decided to forgo the idea, bearing in mind that he had asked Penangites to join him in an austerity drive, which is the hallmark of the DAP-PKR state government.

He told theSun in a phone interview he would rather spend the money for a better cause.

"I found out that if I were to move into Rumah Tetamu, the leaking roof problem will have to be repaired at a cost of at least RM300,000, or even more for other works. The police also wanted me to move in for security reasons, so that I will be safe.

"We have a RM35.6 million deficit budget for this year, and this administration does not intend to spend money unnecessarily. Just for me, one man, spending that much money (the repair cost) is not worth it."

Lim is content staying at his father Kit Siang's corner-lot house at Island Park. "One room is enough for me, I don't want to waste funds unnecessarily," he said.

The austerity drive is evident in this new administration. Gone are the days when press conferences and meetings would see free-flowing coffee and tea, including at least two pieces of kuih for each attendee. Now, mineral water in cups are passed around, with no food in sight. Even the monthly civil servants gathering on Monday saw a drastic change. The 2,500-odd civil servants were surprised there was no makan on the table.

On Wednesday, after his first executive council meeting, Lim appealed to Penangites to help the state in its drive to minimise and reduce unnecessary expenditure, so the money could be used to help the less fortunate.

He also urged the people to tighten their belts, especially after the new state exco reviewed the state's financial status with the deficit budget.

He said savings from these efforts can be channelled back to the state government for other much needy causes.

Former chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon also did not stay in Rumah Tetamu. He stayed in his own house in Tanjung Bungah.

Rumah Tetamu was last occupied for about two years from 2001 by Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas when his official residence, Seri Mutiara, was being refurbished.
http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=21132

T'ganu MB: Palace appoints Ahmad Said, boycott looms K Kabilan | Mar 22, 08 7:42pm

After days of uncertainty, the Terengganu palace has defied the prime minister and announced that Kijal state assemblyperson Ahmad Said, 51, has been appointed the new menteri besar of the state. He would be replacing the prime minister-backed Idris Jusoh. The office of the Sultan of Terengganu said that the swearing-in ceremony will take place tomorrow morning at Istana Tamu in Kuala Terengganu. Terengganu is the only state left without a menteri besar after the March 8 polls. In an immediate reaction, all 22 BN state assemblypersons who backed Jertih state representative and incumbent menteri besar Idris (photo) are believed to be toying with the idea of boycotting the ceremony. At the same time, Ajil state representative and senior Umno leader Rasol Wahid said that the BN state assemblypersons will also be sending a protest note to the palace on Ahmad’s appointment. In addition, Ahmad has warned by the party to decline the appointment as mentri besar. Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said that disciplinary action would be taken against Ahmad should he decide to go ahead with the swearing-in. Tengku Adnan urged Ahmad to put the party before himself. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has issued the appointment letter to Idris but this is being ignore by the sultan. The protracted delay in the appointment of the menteri besar was seen by many observers as a silent conflict between the Terengganu palace and the prime minister. Immediately after the general election, Abdullah had supported Idris to continue being the menteri besar. Idris also had the support of 22 of his fellow state assemblypersons, excluding Ahmad. However, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu - who is serving as the Agong - was keen on replacing Idris with Ahmad, who is also the Kemaman Umno division chief. In the elections, BN retained the state comfortably by winning 24 out of 32 state seats. PAS won the rest. The fallout with the sultan The sultan was apparently not happy with Idris over the Batu Buruk riot on Sept 8 last year as well as the incident on polling day when the police used strong measures to disperse PAS supporters in Rusila, Marang. It is also believed that the sultan was also unhappy with the “apparent cockiness” shown by Idris during his tenure as menteri besar. On the ground, Idris also faced pressure from Umno members and leaders over his choice of election candidates. Sources told Malaysiakini today that the pressure on Idris from state Umno leaders and fellow state representatives were still apparent but they continue to support him for the menteri besar post to toe the party line. “It is simply because they don’t want to be seen as going against prime minister Abdullah’s choice,” said a source close to the state party leadership. “Furthermore, Idris is also the state Umno leader. It would not be sending a right signal if the state representatives leave him isolated, especially when the present political climate is so favourable to the opposition,” he added. The source said that the conflict could have been avoided if Abdullah had “given his consent to Ahmad to lead the state”. As it stands, the source fears that the boycott plan by the 22 BN state representatives will draw a wider wedge between the palace and Umno. “And it is unfortunate that Ahmad is caught in the middle of all this. His role will surely be affected as a result of this,” added the source. The source said that the first task for Ahmad would be to gain the support of the 22 state assemblypersons, who had submitted a memorandum to Abdullah on Friday, seeking for Idris to be retained. Idris was originally slated to be sworn in on March 10 at Istana Maziah but that ceremony was postponed at the eleventh hour to a date that was to be determined later. It’s the sultan’s prerogative Constitutional law expert Prof Abdul Aziz Bari said that it was important for the state to have the menteri besar sworn in as soon as possible. “As far as I know, 14 days (to appoint a menteri besar after the general election) is certainly unreasonable. By now the state has set a new record, certainly in Malaysia,” he told Malaysiakini. “Apart from the fact that the government of the day must have a valid popular mandate, the head of state must have a government to advise him. “Which is why it has been said that the government must be appointed as soon as possible after the results are out,” he added. Abdul Aziz also said that it was the sultan’s prerogative to appoint Ahmad to the post. “Given the law, namely that it is the ruler's judgment and satisfaction, there is nothing Idris or the prime minister can do about it. Legally the prime minister has got no business here as it is a matter for the sultan to decide,” he added. However, Abdul Aziz said that the sultan must make his position clear by stating why he took the present position. “It has been claimed that the sultan was unhappy about the Batu Buruk tragedy and the commotion in Marang during the polling day. “This is indeed a valid reason for the sultan has a duty to protect the constitution and to ensure that process has been conducted in a fair manner. “He may ask Idris to tell the truth; perhaps for him to declare that he has got nothing to do with those two incidents,” he said. Abdul Aziz also ruled out any possible claims that the sultan had acted beyond his powers in appointing Ahmad. “I believe he has got all the information pertaining to what has taken place in the state. And, like what has been done by the rulers of Perak, Perlis and Selangor, he has a duty to appoint a government that is stable and has the necessary support,” he said.