ZAHID THREATENING MAHATHIR? ‘I AM GOOD WITH ANWAR, ABANG JO, SHAFIE & EVEN GUAN ENG’ – EX-DPM FORSEES HARAPAN IMPLOSION, UMNO RETURN TO POWER

AHMAD Zahid Hamidi is confident Umno will return to Putrajaya soon and without the hassle of having to go through a general election.

The acting Umno president said the Pakatan Harapan government was unstable and will collapse in the near future.

“We know that they (PH) are shaky everywhere. We have the most number of MPs. Elect me and I will know what to do  ,” Zahid told Umno Federal Territory delegates during a closed-door briefing at the Putra World Trade Centre today.

Umno currently has 53 seats in parliament.

The former deputy prime minister’s speech to the delegates were also carried on speakers in the hall outside the room.

During the meeting, Zahid said he had friendly ties with almost everyone.

“I’m good with the one who just got out,” he said, in an apparent reference to PKR de factor leader Anwar Ibrahim, who was released from jail last month. 

“I have good ties with the ones in Sabah and Sarawak and even with the one formerly from Penang. Only with those from Amanah, I’m less friendly with,” he said.

Zahid had previously said that the Sarawak BN parties had left the BN coalition with his blessing and that they will all work together one day.

He also has a good relationship with Parti Warisan Sabah’s Shafie Apdal.

Zahid said that, based on the six weeks PH has held federal power, it did not appear to be able to govern the country well, citing its recent “proposal” to ban foreigners from working in restaurants.

“It still has the opposition mindset,” he said.

Zahid is one of five candidates vying for the president’s post in Umno’s party polls. His main rivals are veteran politician Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and former Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

More than 100,000 delegates will vote simultaneously for the main office bearers and supreme council members this Saturday.

THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT

AN UNMISTAKABLE WARNING TO ABANG JO & GPS: YOU DON’T HAVE TO JOIN HARAPAN BUT OTHERS IN SARAWAK WILL – ‘BERSATU TO FOLLOW PKR, AMANAH, DAP INTO SARAWAK POLITICAL SCENE’

PETALING JAYA — Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) plans to make its presence felt in Sarawak, a move that could strain ties with local parties already weary of and resistant to peninsula interference.

Prime Minister and PPBM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced the decision after chairing the party’s supreme council earlier this evening.

“Since other Pakatan Harapan (PH) parties like PKR, Amanah are already there we felt we should also be there,” he told a press conference held at the party’s headquarters here.

Acknowledging that the move may not sit well with some of the mainstay Sarawak parties, Dr Mahathir said an alliance with Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) was not necessary.

“They don’t have to join us if they don’t want to,” he said.

“But since Pakatan Harapan component parties are also there then we feel that we should also be there.”

GPS comprises Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) — control 19 federal seats and over two-thirds of the state’s 82-seat assembly.

Sarawak was widely viewed as a “safe deposit” for then ruling Barisan Nasional (BN), owing to the strength of its local component members, which have remained in power since Malaysia was formed in 1963.

The four parties announced its departure from BN just a month after the coalition was defeated at the May 9 polls, a move analysts said was meant to safeguard their own political survival.

An independent coalition made of Sarawak parties will give its leaders more freedom to pursue local issues without complications that would have risen from ties with peninsula parties.

Sarawak is the only state in the country where Umno has no presence, even during the time when Dr Mahathir led the BN anchor party.

That could change now that PPBM plans to spread its influence there, and Dr Mahathir hinting that it was not too concern about straining ties with GPS.

Dr Mahathir had indicated this when he revealed that PPBM will not be going to Sabah, a decision made in deference to its allies, Parti Warisan Sabah.

“We won’t go to Sabah because there we have Warisan, who we deem as friends,” he said.

MALAY MAIL

1Malaysia clinics to be revamped, says Dzulkefly

Health minister says the clinics will be encouraged to conduct more early detection of medical conditions.

Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad wants greater involvement of private healthcare players to ease the burden of public hospitals. (Bernama pic)

SHAH ALAM: Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has pledged to strengthen primary healthcare by revamping the government’s 1Malaysia clinics introduced under the former Barisan Nasional (BN) administration.

He said besides treating patients, the clinics needed to be empowered in all relevant areas of healthcare, including prevention of ailments through the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and environment.

“Many diseases develop because of lack of primary healthcare… It has been proven that with adequate preventive care, about 70% of stroke cases can be prevented,” he said.

Stressing the importance of encouraging early detection of diseases, he said the clinics could also be used to allow doctors to be trained to become specialists in family medicine.

He said his ministry would also encourage greater involvement of private healthcare players to ease the burden of public hospitals.

“I would like to take this opportunity to utilise the general practitioners, and work out a way where both government and private medical sectors can work together,” he told a forum at the Sinar Harian headquarters here today.

He said the rising cost of living had led to the private practitioners seeing reduced numbers of patients as more people opted for treatment at government facilities.

“The B40 group ((bottom 40% household income group) especially can no longer afford to visit private clinics and thus there is congestion in government hospitals,” he said.

Dzulkefly also said he was committed to working towards increasing the allocation for the ministry.

“According to data by the World Health Organisation (WHO), we are underspending (in health),” he said.

“I will make it my target to increase funds for the ministry. Should I fail, I will use all my connections to raise these allocations.

“In fact, I have already identified those who are able to contribute in this matter,” he said. - FMT

Don’t be stupid, Art Harun schools Guan Eng on constitution

The vocal lawyer says there is a limit to the 'new Malaysia' and that the finance minister is 'really pushing it'.

Lawyer Azhar Harun says Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng is giving the wrong signals in the matter of using Mandarin in official statements. (File pic)

PETALING JAYA: Vocal lawyer Azhar Harun has become the latest to join the chorus of criticism against Lim Guan Eng, after the finance minister defended his action of issuing official ministerial statements in Mandarin.

Azhar, popularly known by his pen name Art Harun, said Lim’s argument that he had the constitutional right to use languages other than Malay and English reeked of arrogance.

“Quite to the contrary, dear minister,” he wrote on his Facebook. “Under the Federal Constitution, the official language is Bahasa Malaysia.”

He also questioned Lim for using Mandarin instead of Malay as the national language when discharging official duties.

“Don’t be arrogant and dismissive of this. You are really pushing it. There is a limit to the ‘new Malaysia’,” he said.

Lim was accused of undermining the national language after he issued several ministerial statements written only in Mandarin.

But the DAP secretary-general dismissed his critics and vowed to continue using Mandarin besides Malay and English, saying it was a reflection of the government’s recognition of multilingualism and globalisation.

“The new Malaysia is an inclusive, respectful and diverse country. While safeguarding the status of Malay as an official language, we also need to master the use of other languages in order to increase our competitiveness,” he said.

His statement received praise as well as flak on Facebook, including from retail tycoon Ameer Ali Mydin, who owns the Mydin hypermarket chain.

Lim was also criticised by PPBM Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, who said Section 2 of the National Language Act stated that the national language should be used as the official language.

“This means it has been agreed that Bahasa Malaysia should be used for official government business including official statements in the government’s capacity.

“It is also consistent with Article 152(1) of the Federal Constitution which states that Bahasa Melayu is the national language,” he said.

In a statement, Syed Saddiq said it was important to coordinate the use of Malay in all official government business to prevent public confusion over the government’s communications.

He added that official statements could be translated into English and any other language if necessary, but that priority should be given to the use of Malay in initial statements.

Azhar, meanwhile, said his criticism of Lim should not be construed as racial.

“I am not racist. And I am not talking about Malay rights or the proverbial ‘mertabatkan Bahasa Melayu’ and stuff.

“But please do your job as a minister as you should be (doing). After all, you were the one who so proudly proclaimed ‘I am not Chinese, I am Malaysian’. You are showing the wrong signal. The wrong attitude.

“What Malaysian OFFICIAL will issue statements in Mandarin when the official language is Bahasa Malaysia (you see, I am not even calling it Bahasa Melayu),” he added.

“Please lah. Don’t be stupid!” -FMT

DAP Needs To Abolish The Monarchy First

There may be some resistance from Umno and/or the Raja-Raja Melayu and that will be when Mahathir will say both Umno and the monarchy need to go. So, no, Guan Eng is not stupid, arrogant or has a death wish. This is all planned. And the plan was to see what happens when Guan Eng announces that Mandarin will now be at par with Bahasa Malaysia. Next, all other religions will be at par with Islam and non-Malays will be equal to Malays and no more special position for Malays. Then Mahathir’s ‘unfinished business’ will be finished.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah a.k.a. Ku Li had already warned the Malays about this 30 years ago back in 1988. Ku Li said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been trying to abolish the monarchy and will not stop trying as long as he is in power.

Mahathir said he needs to become Prime Minister again because he has ‘unfinished business’ and he plans to stay as Prime Minister for only two years. However, he many stay longer than two years if he cannot complete his work within two years or the people want him to stay longer.

And that unfinished business is to abolish the monarchy and turn Malaysia into a republic.

In 1988, Ku Li said Malays cannot allow Mahathir to abolish the monarchy and turn Malaysia into a republic because the Raja-Raja Melayu are the protectors and defenders of Malay privileges, Islam, and Bahasa Melayu as the National Language. Once the monarchy is abolished, then Malay privileges, Islam, and Bahasa Melayu as the National Language would be under threat.

Mahathir asked Guan Eng to test the waters to see what will happen

Lim Guan Eng came out with an official ministerial statement in Chinese and said he will continue to do so and he urged all other ministries, agencies and government departments to do the same. He also asked the government officers to get used to using Chinese or Mandarin.

Some say Guan Eng is stupid. Some say he is arrogant. Some say he must have a death wish. The truth is Guan Eng is merely testing the waters.

Mahathir wants to see how far he can push the envelope so he asked Guan Eng to do this stunt. Mahathir wants to see how the Malays are going to react. He also wants to see which of the three Umno President hopefuls will come out to oppose this.

Mahathir wants to abolish Malay privileges, racial quotas, the NEP, and so on. He also needs to propagate the idea that Malaysia is a secular state and not an Islamic state. Plus, he needs to make English the first language and Bahasa Melayu the second language, which is actually not a bad idea. But for that to happen he first needs to abolish the monarchy and turn Malaysia into a republic.

Ku Li had warned about this 30 years ago in 1988

So, the shot from Guan Eng is the first shot across the bow. Mahathir wants to see what happens. Then they will work on JAKIM and the Shariah courts and ‘reform’ the education system and abolish the NEP in favour of meritocracy and much more.

There may be some resistance from Umno and/or the Raja-Raja Melayu and that will be when Mahathir will say both Umno and the monarchy need to go. So, no, Guan Eng is not stupid, arrogant or has a death wish. This is all planned. And the plan was to see what happens when Guan Eng announces that Mandarin will now be at par with Bahasa Malaysia. Next, all other religions will be at par with Islam and non-Malays will be equal to Malays and no more special position for Malays. Then Mahathir’s ‘unfinished business’ will be finished.

THIEVES FIGHT? ZAHID PRACTICALLY ACCUSES RIVAL FOR UMNO NO.1 POST KHAIRY OF STEALING HIS IDEAS

UMNO presidential hopeful Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today said one of his rivals had “stolen” his ideas to reform the party and made it his.

At a meeting with delegates from Umno Federal Territory at the party’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today, Zahid said the person was tasked with coming up with reforms for Barisan Nasional and Umno within 100 days.

“He came up with the outline in 30 days.

“But now, in his campaign, he says he will do this and that when he becomes president,” Zahid said at the closed-door meeting. His speech, however, was played through the speakers in the hall outside the room.

Zahid, 65, also promised that, should he be party chief, he would not be an autocratic leader.

“We don’t want an autocratic president. If I win, I will consult the deputy president, the vice-presidents and the supreme council about reforms needed and forward them to delegates at a meeting or general assembly,” he said.

After the meeting, Zahid was asked whether the leader he was referring to was Khairy Jamaluddin.

“I will let him use whatever he would like to use  ,” was all Zahid said before leaving.

This year’s Umno polls is set to be one of the closest contests in years. The last time Umno delegates voted for its president was in 1987, when Dr Mahathir Mohamad contested against Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

 This year’s five-way contest is between Zahid, Khairy, Tengku Razaleigh, Mohamed Iqbal Maricair and Mohd Yusof Musa@Jamaluddin.

More than 100,000 delegates will vote for the main office bearers and supreme council members on Saturday.

THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT

Guan Eng denies undermining national language

The finance minister says the press statement in Mandarin was issued without the ministry’s official letterhead.

Lim Guan Eng says statements would be translated to Mandarin once in a while if there is a need, especially in matters involving technical terms. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng has refuted claims that he has failed to uphold Bahasa Malaysia as the official language, saying his “occasional” use of Mandarin has been twisted out of context.

He said official statements would be made in Malay and translated to English for the international media, and only translated to Mandarin once in a while if there was a need.

He said the Mandarin version would be sent to the Chinese press or uploaded on social media, and would not be used on the ministry’s web portal.

Lim said a statement he issued in Mandarin on June 24 did not carry the ministry’s official letterhead.

Lim, who is DAP secretary-general, was accused of undermining the national language after he had issued the ministerial statement written only in Mandarin.

“The allegation that Mandarin has replaced Bahasa Malaysia as the official language of the finance ministry is not true, and this can be proven by the ministry’s official website,” he said.

“The finance ministry has always prioritised the use of Bahasa Malaysia as the language medium,” he said in a statement today.

“I wish to emphasise that all statements in my official media communiques under the ministry are indeed in Bahasa Malaysia and only translated to other languages if there is a need,” he said.

He said the stand was based on Article 152 of the Federal Constitution that the national language shall be Bahasa Malaysia

“However, I will use other languages in my social media account and also Mandarin in my communication with the Chinese press,” he said, adding that this would especially be for matters involving technical terms.

Lim said he did not understand why the issue had been “twisted” to such an extent that he was accused of having replaced the official language with Mandarin.

In another statement earlier today, Lim had said using the language was a reflection of the current government’s recognition of multilingualism and globalisation.

“Under the Federal Constitution, no one is prevented from speaking, teaching, or learning other languages. In the spirit of the constitution, what is wrong with issuing a translated press release in Chinese or other languages?” asked Lim.

Adding that his critics were making “racist accusations”, he said he would not bow to them.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said this evening that Lim had made a mistake.

“He made a mistake. It’s a minor one that I do not wish to make an issue of. It was an accident. Sometimes people make a mistake.” -FMT