Sabah PKR beats Anwar in naming candidates

This is a test of whether the party leadership is sincere in its promise to give us autonomy, says Ansari Abdullah.

PKR Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah PKR, pre-empting any likely ‘hijacking’ by Kuala Lumpur, hurriedly announced its seven candidates for the state’s west coast region.

Tuaran PKR chief Ansari Abdullah said Sabah PKR had “taken the liberty” of making the announcement based on an earlier promise by Pakatan Rakyat leaders, including Anwar Ibrahim, of giving “autonomy” for the state coalition’s decisions.

He said the candidates were himself for Tuaran constituency and surgeon-activist-author Dr Chong Eng Leong for Sepanggar.

Others were Mazhry Nasir (Putatan), Anthony Mandiau (Kota Marudu), Mursalim Tanjul (Kudat), Saidil Semoi (Kota Belud) and Johanathan Yassin (Ranau).

When unveiling the list late yesterday in Sabah PKR headquarters in Penampang, Ansari said: “We have taken the liberty to release the names of the seven candidates that have been picked by the respective divisions.

“This is a test of whether the party leadership is sincere in its promise to give us autonomy. We are very confident that the party will pass this test.

“We are very confident that Anwar and the party leaderships of PAS and DAP will honour their commitment that matters involving Sabah will be decided by Sabahans.

Also present were the seven ‘proposed’ candidates and other PKR divisional chiefs.

According to Ansari, the candidates had been identified as far back as two years ago, and their backgrounds had been “thoroughly vetted.”

He added that the candidates’ respective divisions had also endorsed them.

Widespread resentment

On possible disputes arising with Pakatan partners PAS and DAP over the candidates, Ansari said the seven divisions had taken a common stand and passed a resolution that “other Pakatan components and allies” should not contest in any of these seven constituencies.

The consensus is seen as a direct response to seat demands by Pakatan’s new local allies Wilfred Bumburing’s APS Sabah and Lajim Ukin’s PPS. Both Bumburing and Lajim are former Barisan Nasional MPs who defected in July last year in support for Anwar.

Anwar’s partiality towards them has triggered widespread resentment with the state’s original party members. Party members look at both Bumburing and Lajim with distrust and believe that they are the reasons why Pakatan has dismissed other local players.

Said Ansari: “Wilfred said during the launch of APS, the purpose was not to fight for candidacy but to help the Pakatan. He also said APS will not take away PKR members…

“Wilfred is my friend, he is an honourable man and I am sure he is a man of his words,” said Ansari.

He said as far as PAS and DAP were concerned, it was a crystal clear situation.
“PAS did not contest any of these seven constituencies as such they have no right to contest.

“DAP obtained lesser votes in Sepangar and Putatan; they even lost to PKR candidates.

“Neither did they contest in any of the other five constituencies, so DAP should not also lodge any claim on these seven constituencies in the West Coast North Zone.

“Therefore, all the seats should go to PKR. This is our stand,” he said adding that he was convinced that the Pakatan leadership was sincere and committed to their promise and collective pledge to honour political autonomy in Sabah.

Not final list

But Sabah PKR chief Ahmad Thamrin however has dismissed Ansari’s announcement saying that the final list of Sabah candidates will only be known next week.

“PKR Sabah confirms receiving Haji Ansari Abdullah’s proposals with reference to the proposed seats and candidates list.

“It was forwarded much earlier on to the presidential council for  final stage of screening, negotiations and discussion.

“The final phase of seat negotiations among Pakatan Rakyat Parties – PKR, DAP & PAS is still ongoing at the Presidential Council level and will be concluded by this weekend.

“Once the seat negotiations are settled, then the next phase will be short listing of candidates to be concluded by the respective parties in Pakatan Rakyat.

“In the case of Sabah, the final announcement (of candidates) will be made possibly on the 12 Apr 2013 in Sandakan,”  he said in a statement this evening.

Thamrin’s statement follows that of deputy PKR president Azmin Ali, who earlier this afternoon, dismissed Ansari’s candidates list as “mere suggestions”.

Azmin’s dismissal of the list highlights the growing discontent between the party’s national leadership and the Sabah leaders.

FOCUS SABAH: RM7.8b power boost planned

RM7.8b power boost planned

The State Government will be investing more than RM7.85 billion in building five power stations to meet the rapid development taking place in Sabah.

However, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman said most of the projects were still at the planning stage. When completed and commissioned the power stations are expected to produce a total of 1,215 megawatts to meet power supply needs in 10 to 15 years.

"I was made to understand that the demand for electricity supply in Sabah and Labuan is more than 700 megawatts with annual average growth of 7.7 per cent for the past five years.

Meanwhile, the forecasted demand for is expected to increase at 8 per cent a year and double up reaching to 1,500 megawatts by 2018.

"This rising percentage is also in tandem with the encouraging growth of economy and development in the State, including the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC), that will definitely need full support from our system of power supply," Musa said.

The five projects are:

- An Independent Power Plant (IPP) Ranhill Powertron II worth RM750 million with capacity of 190 megawatts expected to completed by the end of 2009;

- IPP Petronas Kimanis worth RM2 billion with capacity of 300 megawatts expected to completed end of 2012/2013;

- IPP SPR Energy (M) Sdn Bhd in Kimanis with capacity of 100 megawatts MW worth RM450 million, which is still at planning stage, to be completed by 2013;

- A Hdyro Upper Padas project with capacity of 150 megawatts with estimated cost of RM1.25 billion, now at planning stage, expected to be completed end 2014/2015; and

- A Hydro Liwagu project with estimated capacity of 175 megawatts worth RM1.8 billion, still at planning stage, to be completed by the end of 2017.

Musa's speech at the opening of the "Energy Efficiency Convention and the Electricity Supply Application Handbook" (ESAH) at a hotel, Monday, was deliverd by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah.

The convention is the first here in conjunction with the launching of Energy Month in Kuala Lumpur on Nov. 10 with the aim of educating and creating public awareness on the importance of saving energy and use of electricity wisely and productively.

The launching of ESAH is an initiative of Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) to enhance its level of service for the customers and to be used as guidance by the developers, consultants and contractors.

The handbook provides information on the process and procedures in applying for power supply that is more transparent, standardised and more organised for all quarters when dealing with SESB.

Among those present were SESB Managing Director Baharin Din and the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry's Smart Energy Division secretary Badariyah Abdul Malek.

Musa said once the five projects are completed, the supply not only would strengthen the electricity supply system but also replace all small and outdated generators still used in the State.

"While we are aware of the constraints and challenges, a paradigm shift is needed by making a positive change and habit among the consumers when using electricity like adopt good practice of conserving energy."

"In this respect, the State Government welcomed the SESB's initiative to organise the convention as an early step towards adopting energy efficiency practice as a way of life," he said.

Musa further said the public also needs to be aware that wasting electricity does not only bring losses to the users through paying more but also affect national economic development.

Hence, he urged all quarters to practise energy efficiency in their respective operations and activities.

Tan, in particular, urged housewives to adopt and practice energy efficiency at home as they were the ones handling household matters, including the electricity and water.

"The housewives should minimise power consumption and encourage their family members to use electricity wisely and prudently," he said.

RM7.8b power boost planned
Daily Express, Malaysia

SAPP: Ada ancaman untuk teruskan "undi tidak percaya"

SAPP alleges threats after no-confidence push

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - A member party of Malaysia's ruling coalition, which has campaigned for a no-confidence vote against the prime minister, said yesterday its lawmakers had been threatened and bullied.

The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) dropped a bombshell last week when it called for the vote against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in a move analysts said could unleash defections to the opposition.

Its two lawmakers were absent from Parliament when it resumed yesterday. The party said they had been recalled to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah state on Borneo Island to discuss their safety and that of their families and offices.

"Events in the last 24 hours have taken a disturbing turn. Among others, we have received reports of intimidating and bullying tactics," the president of the Chinese-based party Yong Teck Lee said in a statement.

He said there had been text messages and phone calls "implying threats" to the two members of parliament (MP) and their aides, and that at a gathering of the ruling party United Malay National Organisation "aggressive words touching on racial incitement were used".

"In view of this disturbing turn of events, SAPP has taken extra caution for the safety of the MPs by calling them back to the party headquarters in Kota Kinabalu for consultations on the next course of action," he said.
The Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance has said it is reluctant to mount a no-confidence vote, but would use a parliamentary debate yesterday on an unpopular fuel price hike as a test of confidence in the embattled government.

"The Pakatan Rakyat are trying to highlight the problems with the Government policies, and our opposition to today's motion shows the people's lack of confidence in Abdullah," said Azmin Ali, vice-president of the Keadilan party, which heads the alliance.

"This is something which we can use to send a message to the Government. The present leadership, especially the prime minister and the entire Cabinet, are incompetent to manage the economy and the future of Abdullah to lead this country is untenable," he told AFP.

Abdullah has been fighting for his political survival since March elections that saw the Opposition make unprecedented gains, netting a third of parliamentary seats and control of five states.
A 41 per cent petrol price hike imposed earlier this month, which has triggered widespread outrage and public protests, has made Abdullah's position even more tenuous.

Little things on Sabah and Abdullah as in Ron's

Berita dari gunung said...
Dato Ron, diharap sihat...Tidak ramai orang politik begitu noble sifat dan perjuangannya. Bila Abdullah kerap turun ke Sabah, kepada rakyat dimaklumkan janji-janji untuk membangun Sabah.Sejak bila orang politik begitu tinggi perjuangan untuk buminya.

Saya cuma menjangka ada lagi yang ditawarkan untuk orang sana. Yang tercatat orang sudah tahu, Yang tidak tercatat mana orang tahu.Itulah harga mengekalkan Abdullah sebagai Perdana Menteri. Sangat mahal, sedang kualitinya adalah gred beras hancur. Bersyukur kerana masih boleh makan, namun semua diajak untuk berkorban demi orang Sabah.

Pegangan politik adalah komoditi yang boleh "trade-in" dan lelong. Bidder yang tertinggi akan berjaya. Shahrir sangat faham erti trade-in dalam politik, yang mana sekarang beliau cuba memahami senario trading petrol. Sabah biar kekal begitu, meningkat biar perlahan, sebarang kemajuan jangan bersifat quantum leap. Nanti rosak semuanya. To understand sabah culture is to visualise 5 layered filter before rain can touch the earth. The filters are all very dirty. Hutan pun sudah mau lenyap.

Pairin juga faham erti trade-in dan lelong. Kita tidak heran. Memang, mengekalkan Abdullah sebagai PM adalah mahal kosnya. Semua rakyat berkorban dan jadi peminta sedekah dipejabat pos.Terimakasih.

12:06 PM

Baca entry asal dalam Ron: POLITIK SABAH BERGEGAR HARI INI?

Can they prevent coalition defections?

June 19, 2008 As more talk swirls about possible defections from the national coalition, Barisan Nasional (BN) big guns are now in Sabah to head off what could become a revolutionary change in the political landscape, reported Malaysia's The Sun.
Apart from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who flew into the state on Tuesday, Khairy Jamaluddin (United Malays National Organisation youth vice-chief) has been in Kota Kinabalu for days, and Tengku Adnan (BN secretary-general) arrived in the state on Monday.
Also in the state are Rural and Regional Development Minister Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.
They are are apparently there to contain the situation and prevent a domino effect should BN component parties start quitting the coalition.
THREE PARTIES TO DEFECT?
Word that three BN component parties, and not just one, as hinted by Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, from the state may abandon ship have put Umno leaders on high alert.
According to a report in Oriental Daily News, aside from the Datuk Yong Teck Lee-led Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), speculation is rife that Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), which is headed by Kadazandusun paramount leader Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitinggan, and Tan Sri Bernard Dompok's Upko (United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation) may also leave the coalition.
Upko has four MPs, whereas PBS and SAPP have three and two MPs respectively.
BN controls all 25 parliamentary seats in the state except Kota Kinabalu which went to the Democratic Action Party in the 8 March general election.
If the three parties indeed leave the coalition but opt not to join the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR), BN will still have 131 MPs (49 more than PR's) and will not be under any threat of being toppled. However, such a development will still boost the opposition's morale at the crucial time and allow PR to up the ante against BN.
A Sabah Umno man told the daily that Sabahans know the rules of the game well as far as party-hopping is concerned.
'(In Sabah) you've to try your best to be both the 'peg' and the 'hole' and you don't rule out any possibility.'
Apart from the rumoured rendezvous with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in HongKong and the Philippines, some leaders of Sabah BN component parties are said to have met Tengku Razaleigh, who is eying the Umno No 1 post, for possible cooperation should the Umno veteran win in the party election.
Mr Anwar, being the one-time Umno leader tasked with Sabah affairs, knows Sabah politics thoroughly, and with the help of PKR state chief, he can create a political storm in the state. The BN top leadership is trying its best to keep the situation under control.
DEMANDS
It is understood that Sabah parties are asking for the 5 per cent oil royalty to be increased to 20 per cent and want a solution to the problem of illegal immigrants in the state.
Sources told the daily that although several BN component parties in the state are considering quitting the coalition, they have no intention of joining PR yet.
This is seen as a tactical move to keep their bargaining power.
But this will no doubt lend credence to PR's plan to take control of the federal government by 16 Sep, or Malaysia Day.
A poll by SAPP showed 42 per cent of the respondents believe the party should leave the BN, 47 per cent say it should join PR and only 9 per cent want it to remain with the coalition. source:
Can they prevent coalition defections? Electric New Paper, Singapore

Abdullah,Musa - awareness???

PM unaware of Sabah MPs forming own bloc
Malaysia Star, Malaysia - 2 hours ago
KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is unaware of any move by Sabah MPs forming an independent bloc. “No, I have not been told,” he replied to
...PM Says Not Aware Of Any Party Leaving BN Bernama
'No reason to quit BN' Daily Express
Musa unaware of any component leaving BN Daily Express

ABDULLAH MULLS GREATER ROLE FOR SABAH, SARAWAK

8th April, 2008.. Sabah Times

KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he will consider the request from Sabah and Sarawak Barisan Nasional to increase the number of ministers from the two states in Federal Cabinet.

“They want more ministers and I said to them I am studying their requests but it may take some time. The fact is that it (request) is being looked into,” he told a press conference after an eight-hour marathon meeting of Sabah Umno and BN leaders here yesterday. Abdullah who is also BN chairman said the participation of Sabah elected representatives in politics and administration at the federal level was the ‘dominant issue’ at the meeting.

Abdullah also said as the development in Sabah would be further intensified it was appropriate to give Sabah leaders a bigger role at the federal level. Asked on the possibility of setting up a special ministry for Sabah affairs, he said it was also discussed “but we have not put it into specifics yet”. “This has to be studied as it could duplicate the functions of other ministries like the Education Ministry, Rural Development Ministry and Works Ministry,” he explained.

“I have to study carefully whether we need a ministry for Sabah affairs. If we have a ministry for Sabah affairs, it would become too general,” he explained. On whether he had decided to fill the two vacant posts of Deputy Minister, Abdullah said there was no decision yet and that he would discuss the matter with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman.

The two posts (Deputy Transport Minister and Deputy Human Resource Development Minister) fell vacant after Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman declined to accept the appointment and following the recent resignation of Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh. Abdullah also said he received the full support of the Sabah leaders to lead the BN.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister met Sabah Umno leaders before individually meeting with the presidents of Parti Bersatu Sabah (Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan), Sabah Progressive Party (Datuk Yong Teck Lee),UPKO (Tan Sri Bernard Dompok), Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (Tan Sri Joseph Kurup) and Liberal Democratic Party (Datuk VK Liew).

He also met Sabah MCA chief Datuk Edward Khoo, Sabah MIC chief Datuk V. Jothi and Sabah Gerakan chief Datuk Robin Loh

BERITADARIGUNUNG: 

Abdullah Badawi di Sabah 7/4/2008

Difahamkan kira-kira 1,500 orang menunggu di Lapangan terbang Kota Kinabalu

Antara yang hadir:-

Mohamad Khir Toyo,
Mahdzir Khalid - you NEXT!
Idris Jusoh.
Musa Aman,
Yahaya Hussein,
Muhammad Muhd Taib.
Nazri Aziz, - YOU!
Shahidan Kassim
Tajuddin Abdul Rahman,
Saufi Deraman,
Syed Ali Alhabshee,
Musa Aziz.
Rosli Mat Hassan
Md alwi Che Amat,
Rahman Palil.

Antara yang tidak hadir:-

Shafei Afdal,
Mohd Salleh Said Keruak,
Abdul Ghafur Salleh
Pandikar Amin Mulia.
Badaruddin Amiruddin

BERITADARIGUNUNG

SALLEH: It’s just a normal meeting with the PM

KOTA KINABALU, TUES:

Former Chief Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said said the meeting with the prime minister, attended by him and five Sabah Umno leaders last Saturday, was merely to convey their views on various current issues.

He said the issue of whether they represented Sabah Umno or Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) did not arise as they came to meet Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in their personal capacity.

“What is important is that we’ve aired our views on various matters, including on the question of having a bigger role for Sabah leaders at the federal level,” he said.

Salleh was commenting on a statement by Sabah Umno secretary Datuk Yahya Hussin in the local media today that the six, who met the prime minister in Putrajaya on Saturday, were neither representing Sabah BN nor Sabah Umno. - nst

BERITADARIGUNG:
Salleh Said - Former Chief Minister of Sabah
Yahya Hussin - Sabah Umno secretary

go here: Keruak news

Sabah minister Datuk Conrad Mojuntin

Former Sabah minister Datuk Conrad Mojuntin, 61, has been freed of a criminal intimidation charge connected to the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old youth in Penampang near here about three years ago