PM: Government will not tolerate anyone making racist remarks

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has warned the people against spreading “half-truths” on racial issues and said the Government has zero tolerance of racist remarks.

“We are aware of some SMSes that have been going around, (in which the content) is not accurate and is intended to raise (racial) sentiments,” he said.

Najib emphasised that action would be taken against those who made remarks that were racist in nature and unlawful, and also against those who vandalised places of worship such as churches or surau.

“Let’s not have people who spin the issue racially, as if we practise selective prosecution,” he said after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting at PWTC here yesterday evening.

Earlier in the day, Najib said the Government had zero tolerance for racist remarks by anyone.

“Our stand is not to tolerate racist remarks by anyone. Unity is very important as part of our nation building,” Najib said during a dialogue session with youths at the Barisan Nasional Youth Lab programme here.

Najib, however, added that alleged racist remarks must first be investigated before action was taken.

He was responding to concerns from the floor of recent racially-based remarks made by two school principals against the Chinese and Indian communities.

Barisan Youth chairman Khairy Jamaluddin presented the Youth Lab report. More than 7,500 youths had been engaged in formulating the ideas since March.

On calls to amend the Internal Security Act (ISA) to ensure it was not abused, Najib said the days of “scare politics” or using the ISA to wield power and show that one was in full control were gone.

He also agreed to the lab’s suggestion for a special 1Malaysia Fund to support youth programmes that encouraged inter-racial relationships and also supported the idea of having have minimum wage for certain sectors.

To a question on press freedom, Najib said the media had more latitude today and was given more space.

But he said they must be very careful in their reports to ensure the truth was not twisted and racial flames were not ignited.

On his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Najib said some were out to “divide” them although they were “one government.”

PM calling Malaysian residing in overseas to come back.

After tasted a wonderful and comfortable life which is stress free, discrimination free in overseas for many years, I guess nobody will come back to Malaysia to re-experience sufferings, pain and grief. before calling those who are having such a wonderful life in overseas, PM should ammend many policies and administration system of Malaysia which wont happen at all with this current trend. Can we change our education to English? Can we abolish qouta system in the University. Can non-malay become as IGP? Can we have more non-malay holding higher level position in the public service. Those born in this country should have equal right in everything. we shouldnt use some guidelines to ignore the right of the citizen. we shouldnt use the word "Pendatang" anymore. everyone belong to this country..we have to share this country..if we cant share this country among those born here..then forget it...nobody will come back. As a muslim I always try to be nice to everyone regardless of their race,culture or ethnic..My parents thought me good things and wanted me to be a good muslim by loving and care for each and every Allah's creation. For me all same..

Govt does away with 30% bumi equity requirement

KUALA LUMPUR: The 30% bumiputra quota requirement for companies seeking to list on the Bursa Malaysia has been done away with under an overhaul of the Government’s economic policies.

In his most important announcement since taking office on April 3, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said there was a need for a new economic model.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announcing the need for a new economic model at the Invest Malaysia 2009 conference at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur Tuesday. — NORAFIFI EHSAN / The Star

He said the Foreign Investment Committee (FIC) would effectively “no longer exist” as it had failed to achieve its objectives.

Saying that the emphasis now was on participation instead of equity, Najib also announced the setting up of Ekutinas (Ekuiti Nasional Bhd), a private equity fund to make strategic investments for bumiputras, especially in companies with high-growth potential.

The other announcements, which are to take effect immediately, were:

* All property transactions, except for those involving a dilution of government or bumiputra interests for property valued at RM20mil and above, would no longer require FIC approval;

* All Malaysian companies seeking listing would have to offer 50% of their public offering to bumiputra investors, which would work out to 12.5% of the total stake;

* A 100% ownership would be allowed for qualified and leading fund management companies to set up operations in Malaysia;

* Foreign equity in existing stockbroking companies would be increased to 70% from 49%;

* All transactions on mergers and takeovers by local or foreign companies will no longer need FIC approval; and

* All listed companies need not maintain 30% bumiputra equity as required previously.

MB pay in malaysia

i didn't know the Exco are well paid, memories of PM paid was like less then 10k..

from malaysiakini..
Jumlah tersebut termasuk gaji bulanan RM15,000, elauan percutian (RM20,000), sebuah kereta berserta pemandu, elaun bayaran bil bulanan (RM1,000), elaun pakaian bulanan (RM3,500) dan lesen untuk memiliki senjatapi....

elaun pakaian bulanan Rm3500, so all the exco need to wear all the brand jacket like ck, amarni etc..and all the rakyat can only wear t-shirt some even don't have the t-shirt.

$25M to cross over – there no recession here

$1M is a lot of money, to say the least $25M. It is highly unlikely this is correct or that the money will come from UMNO of the government.

It is most probably an estimate value of expected benefit this person will likely to get out of his position as a person who gets things done for the PM. This person has the PM's ear and that will bring in enormous financial benefits. It is most probably a number being thrown around to entice any sucker fish to take the bait.

The PM office did not give the money directly to this person. The PM only reward him with 5 minutes of his time just to "listen" or maybe kopi time with him. That is good enough to get the message out to businesses who wants the PM ear. Here is a person who has it but businesses have to bid for the 5 minutes. Is this corruption, I do not think so, it is lobbying.

Charge the PM with corruption for having kopi time? It will be a big ask. Maybe we should introduce a new level of corruption “core and non core corruption”

Beware of Mukhriz Intention

Mukhriz Mahathir reason for closing down vernacular school tottaly irrational. Look around our neighbour like Thailand, Phillipines and Indonesia. Despite their so called 'one system', their unity level can't be proud of.. Southern Thailand in choas, religiuos fighting in Indonesia and Phillipines.

There are others way to create unity in Malaysia.

Closing down vernacular school in Malaysia purely Mukhriz strategy to win UMNO youth post.

Beware of Mukhriz Intention

Mukhriz Mahathir reason for closing down vernacular school tottaly irrational. Look around our neighbour like Thailand, Phillipines and Indonesia. Despite their so called 'one system', their unity level can't be proud of.. Southern Thailand in choas, religiuos fighting in Indonesia and Phillipines.

There are others way to create unity in Malaysia.

Closing down vernacular school in Malaysia purely Mukhriz strategy to win UMNO youth post.

NEP

by DPM "Liberalisation of the NEP will only be implemented when the bumiputras feel more confident and competent."

When will it ever be the right time?

To MCA, this topic is top on your agenda. You were brazened with your words. Now where is the action? Wait another 51 years? Let me assure you, this time the cows won't come home!

Mediocre and Senseless

Basically and finally PM has bowed to the internal pressures of the Mahathirs clique and severals others in the Umno.

This basically shown, the senseless bunch on of so-called VP's and delegates from UMNO has as leaders. Ultimately, these guys has confirmed to the norm mindsets, that they know nuts in economies, administration and public relations.

All they know is confrontational, narrow and egoistics style to run their systems of cronies.

The PM, may not be best we have, but at least he is far better than the so-called successor. In which the successor has been successfully being very much tainted with conspiracy and scandalous incidents.

At least, the current PM never had such issues.

The successor, is also remembered for mentioning people's blood will soak in his keris. More or less tells us, he is not truly multi-racial mindset. In fact during Ahmad Ismail speeches, he did not reprimand him on the spot. Instead after all the hulabaloo then, he apologizes on behalf half heartedly.

Secondly, along his tenure in administration, he was never known to be great statemens with good international relationship to the West. Maybe to Russian and Mongolia in defence contracts discussion only.

A PM needs to be good architect of foreign policies in order to secure international confirmance in economies or many thing else.

Maybe you call me a hypocrite, be in my 2 cents, I could not imagine what more worse still Malaysia will be the kind of group leading our nation.

May all the gods, angels, deities and saints help Malaysia.

PM: Govt may review fuel prices next month

The government may again review petrol prices in October, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today.

He said if global crude oil prices stabilise at US$109 per barrel until the year end, the government may reduce pump fuel prices.

“Now, the global crude oil price is at US$109 per barrel. If it stays at that level, then of course I will be very happy to reduce it by 15 sen than the current RM2.55 (fuel pump) price,” he told reporters after chairing the Finance Council Meeting here today.

“Pray that it (crude oil price) does not go up, and that it will go down more. We are monitoring all the time,” said Abdullah, who is also Fiance Minister.

On Aug 23, fuel price was reduced by 15 sen to RM2.55 a litre from RM2.70.

HOPE it can soon be reduced to the said estimated amount of RM2.40(-0.15cent)

Fuel Price hike - malaysia solution

Don't Treat Us Like MORON

Fuel price hike 41% was announced 7 hours before its implementation. We had no time to adjust ourselves.

Entertainment allowance slashed up to 10% (out of mostly over RM10k) - announced 29 days before implementation. They still have plenty of time to enjoy the over RM10k worth of monthly entertainment!

"Entertainment" allowance of at least RM6k. Wow...

If you think 10% cut from your "entertainment" is harsh enough, think about how many people in Malaysia who live on less than 10% of your monthly "entertainment" allowance. Even if there are 1000 ministers in this country, 10% cut from all your 'enjoyment' allowance is not even enough to help 1% of the poor in the country.

Blog by EX PM - Dr Mahathir

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the fourth and longest serving Prime Minister of Malaysia, has also started his own personal blog on May 1st this month.

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's blog, simply called "Dr. Mahathir Mohamad", is registered under domain name www.chedet.com

For the uninitiated, "Che Det" was Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's pseudonym when he used to contribute to the The Straits Times during his student days.

Those interested in Malaysian politics may find Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's blog an interesting read.

Who will be the next Prime Minister

Is it RAHMAN or ANWAR ?

Are Malaysians caught up in the past and the future, forgetting the present ? Are Malaysians caught in a time warp ?

Dr. Mahathir Mohammad, Malaysia's 4th Prime Minister, whether we like it or not, represents Malaysia's past. All his deeds, or to some, his misdeeds, when he was prime minister, were all done in the past. Although he is indeed an icon of Malaysia's public life, he does not represent the present or the future. Just like whatever benefits derived from his leadership is enjoyed in the present, anything he has done that must to be corrected must also be done in the present.

Abdullah Badawi, Malaysian's 5th Prime Minister, represents Malaysia's present. We may not know how long this will be, but he is still the current prime minister - he must deal with the present.

But instead of focusing on the present, Malaysians like dwelling on the past and speculating on the future - who will be the next prime minister. This has been going on since Dr. Mahathir Mohammad's tenure - then, Malaysians were guessing as to who will succeed Dr. Mahathir Mohammad. Whilst many names were suggested, Tengku Razaleigh and Anwar Ibrahim were the favorites. But then, unexpectedly, Abdullah Badawi succeeded Dr. Mahathir Mohammad.

In attempting to predict the future, Malaysians like to device theories, not based on political analysis, but on myths.

For the simple minded, the classic RAHMAN theory, named after the country's first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, became very popular. The theory simply states that RAHMAN is an acronym for the names of the prime minsters of Malaysia:
R - Tunku Abdul Rahman
A- Abdul Razak
H - Hussein Onn
M - Mahathir Mohammad
A- Abdullah Badawi
N - ?

Thus, following the RAHMAN theory the next person in line should be a person who's name starts with the letter "N". Those who believe this theory will quickly say that the next in line should be Najib Tun Razak, the current deputy prime minster. However, some people joked that the "N" stands for Nurul Izzah, Anwar Ibrahim's 27 year-old daughter who recently won the Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat.

When Dr. Mahathir Mohammad was prime minister, many Malaysians believed that the letter "A" after the letter "M" in RAHMAN, represented Anwar Ibrahim, who was then the deputy prime minister. Well, now we know that was not meant to be, then.

Now, as Anwar Ibrahim's Pakatan Rakyat has won a very convincing victory in the recent general election, he is seen as the prime minister in waiting and people have conceived another acronym to represent the prime ministers of Malaysia - ANWAR:

A - Abdullah Badawi
N - Najib Tun Razak
W -Wan Azizah (Anwar Ibrahim's wife and current official leader of Pakatan Rakyat)
A - Anwar Ibrahim
R - (Tengku) Razaleigh Hamzah ? Dr. Rais Yatim ?

Some people even suggest that the "R" stands for Raja Petra Kamarudin, a political analyst whose political blog Malaysia Today, played a significant role in the outcome of the recent general election.

Ok guys, what do you think? RAHMAN or ANWAR? or post your own acronym theory...
Please post your comments let us know what you think.

Malaysia - PM Fires Back

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi went on the offensive against his critics yesterday, signalling he would fight back to keep Umno and the government together. Speaking after a special presidential briefing to Umno members, the prime minister and Umno president acknowledged that while his predecessor had influence, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had misused it to the disadvantage of Umno.

"In 2004, when we won, he said we were too powerful and this was not proper and that we should have some opposition.

"When the opposition gained ground, we thought he was going to celebrate but instead he hit out at us," Abdullah said.

"We can't win big and we can't win little. So what can we do?" he said when asked whether continued criticism by Dr Mahathir would damage the party.
Dr Mahathir has been saying that Umno was in fear of Abdullah, to which he riposted: "In my time there is no freedom but it is also said that I am soft. Are they afraid of this softie?"

Asked whether his replies meant a change in his stance towards Dr Mahathir, the usually reticent Abdullah said: "I have to say what needs to be said.

"If there is no need to say anything, then I would not say it. There is no other intention."

He also asked why Dr Mahathir was questioning his handling of the mainstream press when the former premier himself had a tight grip on the media.

"I know that editors were called when Dr Mahathir took over as prime minister. They were told not to write nor carry pictures of Tun Hussein Onn," he said.

Dr Mahathir had also been responsible for "Operasi Lallang", a crackdown which saw the detention of 106 people under the Internal Security Act.

Asked whether he would call for an investigation into Dr Mahathir on his past actions, Abdullah said that would be left to the government agencies.

"If the matter needs to be investigated then it will be done."

On Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who is making a bid to challenge him for the party presidency, Abdullah said the Kelantan Umno leader should look at himself for an explanation of why Kelantan remained in Pas hands.

"Ku Li needs to look at himself. He was the reason (in 1990, through Semangat 46) why we (Barisan Nasional) lost and Kelantan fell to Pas," he said.

He also asked whether Tengku Razaleigh had made any effort to help restore the Barisan Nasional as the state government.

Abdullah said he was informed that the Gua Musang MP did not assist the Kelantan BN in the 12th general election.

On the claims that 30 BN elected representatives were looking at defecting to the opposition, Abdullah said such an act would be despicable.

"They do not realise and recognise that the seat won was due to the rakyat. They do not care about the rakyat. What they want is power. All they are interested in is their leader becoming the prime minister.

"This is a form of corruption," said Abdullah.

He said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who had claimed to be actively persuading BN MPs to cross over to the opposition, was impatient to become prime minister.

"He considers himself the leader-in-waiting. Let him wait. I am the prime minister now."

On the move to reform the judiciary, Abdullah stressed that its troubles did not originate from his administration.

"Confidence, including from business circles, in our judiciary is low," he said.

Abdullah said the corporate sector preferred to refer contractual disputes to countries other than Malaysia.

"They do not have confidence (in the Malaysian judiciary). This is bad," he said.

Abdullah said the government had to do something about the negative views of the judiciary.

"The people have high hopes that the judiciary will be reformed."

Dr. M to Blame Too

I refer to the recent report in the Star, entitled, 'Zam: Dr M to blame, too'. I think this is not right. The article was written with regards to the matters that Dr. M had said leading to the election. It was alleged that this had also contributed to the less than favourable election results.

That may be true to a certain extent. For all things said, Dr. M is entitled to say what he thinks. It is easy to blame someone else for one's own failures.

However, I can't recall anybody in BN, be in Umno, MCA, MIC etc., that had really said to Dr. M, 'Thank you very much for leading us repeatedly to victory' during those earlier days when BN had a bigger share of the election constituencies. Only when things did not really work out well, it seems that the blame culture start to set in.

Bear in mind, he is no longer the PM. Let's be fair. There are things that Dr. M did that are not so good, and there are things that he did that are good. Not all are bad, and, neither is everything good. He is only human. Nobody is perfect.

On the whole, he has contributed immensely to the development and well-being of this nation, both directly or indirectly. He was an example to others and also to the leaders of other nations. Now, just because he is an old man who may have made mistakes in the past and has (allegedly) make mistakes in the present, we forget his past achievements and condemn him?

Let us ask the person or persons who blames Dr. M for contributing to the recent BN poor election, what has he done for the nation or BN for that matter? Famous US Kennedy era saying, "Ask not what your country (or party) can do for you. Ask what can you do for your country (or party)."

Prime Minister Promise

"The result of the elections was a strong message that i have not moved fast enough in pushing promised to undertake. . . i thank the Malaysian people for this message." said PM

MAIN THRUST OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S REFORM PROGRAMME TO HELP LOW-INCOME EARNERS:

• Curb rising prices and limit waste caused by subsidies.
• Spread economic gains to the neediest.
• Narrow income gaps between and within ethnic groups.

Hope these promises can be fulfilled.