PKR name ordinary member Manikumar for Bukit Selabau by-election

S. Manikumar, 35, an ordinary PKR member from Sungai Petani, has been picked as the party’s candidate for the Bukit Selambau by-election.

S. Manikumar

PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made the announcement, however, the announcement was greeted by howls of protest from some PKR supporters. These supporters - numbering about 20 - were from the Merbok division, which had previously backed its division committee member, K. Masilamani.

The question arises: Is it wise to nominate the candidate that is so unpopular?

It was reported that they are unhappy with Manikumar’s nomination as he is an unknown and was not a local born but was born in Alor Star. Before the announcement, Masilamani, a Sungai Petani municipal councillor, was among three front runners to be the party’s candidate .

The other two were Sungai Petani PKR division member Dr R Krishnamoorthy and the division’s committee member S Sritharan. Manikumar Subramaniam, a multi-lingual entrepreneur, has a tourism management degree and an MBA from Universiti Utara Malaysia, joined PKR two years ago and is a first time election candidate.

He is married to a secondary school teacher and they have a six-year-old daughter. The native of Alor Setar, who speaks Spanish and is fluent with local dialects, had previously worked as a marketing consultant for companies in Thailand and Tanzania.

Zaid urges King not to make Najib PM is political motivated

A person is innocent until proven guilty in the court. In the case of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, what is raised is merely a high-level political plot.

Speculation, rumors and allegations cannot influence the reality and the decision made has to be based on strong evidence against an individual.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak

The impassioned plea made by the former de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim is thus an unusually scathing attack and seems to be politically motivated.

The accusations toward Datuk Seri Najib Razak are baseless, political motivated and unjustified as a person is innocent until proven guilty in the court.

The former de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has made an impassioned plea to the King to not appoint Datuk Seri Najib Razak as prime minister, and instead appoint someone else from Umno "to bring us back from the brink."

Ironically, Malaysia goes by the constitutional monarchy and democratic parliamentary system modeled after the Westminster in the United Kingdom.

The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is formally appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, and is invariably the leader of the largest party in the House of Representatives, the elected lower house of Parliament.

Prime Minister is a member of the Dewan Rakyat who commands authority over the majority members of the House.

In choosing the Prime Minister, the King of Malaysia appoints the choice of the political party with a majority in the state legislature in accordance to Article 40(2) of the Federal Constitution.

Undeniably, the monarchy has mainly giving its consent to decisions made by the government although the choice of the Prime Minister of Malaysia is at the sole discretion of the King and not to be disputed. The leader of Barisan Nasional has been choosing to administer the country since independence.

It is the largest component party of the National Front formerly known as the Alliance Party until the 1969 general election.

By and large, Datuk Seri Najib Razak should be the next Prime Minister.

Ali Rustam barred from contesting deputy president's post

The decision to bar Ali Rustam from contesting for the deputy president's post in the upcoming party polls seem that the impending reforms in Umno is on the way and the process is taking place in a firm and just manner to form not only a clean party but society as well.


Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam

The Umno disciplinary board chairperson Tengku Tan Sri Ahmad Rithaudeen announced that Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam has been barred from contesting for the deputy president's post in the upcoming party polls.

Umno Youth chief aspirant Khairy Jamaluddin was given a warning, while Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo was found not guilty of any election misdeed.

Rithaudeen said three of Ali’s agents were also found guilty of money politics and hence Ali was presumed guilty. Earlier, he was under investigation by the board for breaking election rules.

Ali, 59, was involved in a three-cornered fight for Umno's deputy president's post. The other two contestants for the post - which will likely result in the winner being made deputy prime minister - are Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib.

Ali, who is also Malacca Chief Minister, garnered 46 nominations to contest the post, compared to Muhyiddin's 91 and Muhammad's 46.

The board was independent and not even the party's supreme council could interfere with its decisions. The independence of the board is to ensure the good name of Umno.

Gobind Singh Deo : Answer me, you murderer!

A good Member of Parliament is to search for the truth, nothing but the truth for the public interest. He should also look for common ground among diverse views and without inflames the controversial issue in parliament to get press coverage.


Gobind Singh Deo

He should convince with those who agree and disagree with him, simply shouted: “Answer me, you murderer!” not only rude, arrogant, irresponsible but also insightful.

The questions arise: What is the most important quality lacking in today's opposition political leaders? What kind of person do we want and need as Member of Parliament?

The punishment for DAP’s Gobind Singh Deo for the accusation made against the deputy prime minister and for insulting the deputy house speaker was thus appropriate, necessary and justified.

The Dewan Rakyat today suspended DAP’s Gobind Singh Deo for one year for calling Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak a murderer and insulting the House Deputy Speaker last week.

The motion to suspend the Puchong MP for a year without Parliamentary pay and privileges was tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz this morning and was supported by all Barisan Nasional Backbenchers. It was passed via a vote of voice after a heated 45-minute debate.

On Thursday, Gobind was asked to leave the House by Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee after he shouted: “Answer me, you murderer!” to Najib as the latter was leaving the House.

BN names their best politicians for by-elections

The decision to pick the BN candidates were not easy with so many fighters enjoying good service record, but Ismail Saffian, S. Ganesan, Malcolm Mussen were the clear-cut choice based on their experiences and track records.

This pick for the forthcoming by-elections may seem a little unusual, but certainly they are the best.

The trios named are: Umno's Ismail Saffian for Bukit Gantang, MIC's S Ganesan for Bukit Selambau and PRS's Malcolm Mussen for Batang Ai.

Ismail Saffian

Ismail, 49, the former Bukit Gantang Umno division information chief, was chosen because he was a local and accepted by the grassroots and the Bukit Gantang Umno leadership.

The precondition was, however, imposed on Ismail is, he would not contest in the next divisional elections. In last year's divisional elections, Ismail lost to Trong state assemblyman Datuk Rosli Hu-sin in the contest for the Umno division chief post.

Datuk S. Ganesan

Datuk S. Ganesan, 49, Kedah MIC deputy chairman, a former lawyer and former Lunas assemblyman is Barisan Nasional’s candidate for the Bukit Selambau by-election even when more than 50% of the constituents are Malays because BN believe that bn should honour the agreement that has existed between Barisan component parties for over 50 years.

Sarawak Barisan Nasional has picked Malcolm Mussen anak Lamoh of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) to be its candidate for the Batang Ai by-election.


Malcolm Mussen anak Lamoh

Lamoh, a father of three, who turns 50 on April 30, is an engineer with the state Agriculture Department since 1984. Born in Danau, Engkilili, he graduated from Universiti Putra Malaysia in 1983 and obtained his Master degree in manufacturing systems engineering from University of Warwick, Coventry, UK in 1998.

Lamoh is the sole candidate recommended by Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), a component of the four-member state coalition.

Act now to save Bukit Gasing

Environment issues in everyday life has captured the attention of people and has inspired more debate and action by personal, political and corporate, but any research conducted on landscape, ecology, and global change affecting Bukit Gasing? If otherwise, what are the constructive measures taken to address the problems?

Bukit Gasing is a green lung at the boundary between the federal capital of Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya in Selangor. Covering an area of over 100 hectares, it offers a good jungle trekking, walk or stroll.

Undeniably, Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur are now left with only a small area of greenery. Residents living around these areas want a clean and a friendly environment for a better quality of life.

Those who love to be in the nature and trekking will be comfortable in Bukit Gasing. Of all the trekking destinations in this country, Bukit Gasing is one of the best of its kind especially in Klang Valley.

The attraction can’t be resisted and it attracted many people to Bukit Gasing especially week end and public holidays. The protection of ecological destruction being the first priority and the routine trekkers are asked to protect wildlife and the environment by obeying the rules and regulations such as bring back all rubbish, do not make noise and not to bring along the dogs.

There are hundreds of people to Bukit Gasing, especially on weekends. Some people leave rubbish in the forest and many bring their dogs together.

The heavy use of Bukit Gasing by hikers and visitors has caused deterioration of the forest and wildlife. It is believed that the flora and fauna have been greatly reduced in numbers since humans arrived for routine exercise.

It’s the law of the jungle when human go in the jungle, the monkey were frightened and go out to the housing areas near by. The residents were terribly frightened by the monkey's threat.

The question remains: Who should be responsible to save Bukit Gasing?

Emergency sitting is ultra vires Perak constitution

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the Perak state assembly speaker V. Sivakumar cannot call an emergency sitting of the assembly because the court has yet to make a decision on the status of the government in the state.

The Deputy Prime Minister said any decision to hold a state assembly sitting in Perak depended on the decision made by the court in relation to the case.

Zambry said Sivakumar's action was ultra vires the Perak constitution and the Standing Orders of the state's legislature.

The emergency meeting is being called to move a vote of confidence in Mohammad Nizar as the Menteri Besar of Perak.

It is clear that any emergency sitting of the Perak state assembly may not be made after a decision of the Court in respect of the case has been filed against the status of the BN government in Perak.

Ironically, establish the status of the Perak government in terms of the constitution is crucial. On Feb 13 former Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin initiated court action in the Kuala Lumpur High Court to get a declaration that he is the rightful menteri besar of Perak.

He also sought an injunction to prevent the new Menteri Besar, Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir from carrying out the Menteri Besar's duties and for a fresh election to be held in Perak.