Sunday, January 25, 2009

'Disqualify those giving cash for votes'-


"Take this and vote for me k or ok..."

....."Our officers will carry out investigations even after the elections. As long as there is information of corrupt practices, even though the contenders have won, they will have to face the consequences. There are no two ways about this."..Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan, The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Boss...
.
Kiranya ini satu kenyataan yang bersungguh dan benar, para perwakilan sesungguhnya tahu ramai yang terpaksa mengosongkan posisi, malah calon-calon yang kalahpun terpaksa disingkir dari parti. Tidak kurang yang menyedari hakikat ini dan sebenarnya kita tidak serius. Lalu kita sebenarnya "menghalalkan perbuatan ini"...

Dari NST.
Comment and read more....

Saturday, January 24, 2009

SELEPAS PERMATANG PAUH DAN KUALA TERENGGANU, PENSIANGAN: MILIK SIAPA?

(SEKIRANYA PILIHANRAYA KECIL PARLIMEN AKAN DIADAKAN)

Pilihanraya kecil Permatang Pauh dan Kuala Terengganau telah berlalu. Kedua-dua kawasan dimenangi masing-masing oleh PKR dan PAS. Kedua-dua kawasan itu sememangnya BUKAN kubu Barisan Nasional. Kerusi Kuala Terengganu pernah disandang oleh Dr. Syed Azman Ahmad Nawawi dari PAS dan semua tahu bahawa Permatang Pauh adalah kubu tradisi Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Semasa PBS menentang BERJAYA, rekod menunjukkan bahawa semua kawasan Pedalaman Atas termasuklah kawasan Parliment Pensiangan telah disapu bersih oleh PBS. Pada masa itu PBS menentang kerajaan, BERJAYA.
Apakah senario pengundi di Pensiangan kini bersikap menentang kerajaan dan sama seperti pengundi Permatang Pauh dan Kuala Terengganu?

Parlimen Pensiangan meliputi dua DUN iaitu kawasan DUN N.37-Sook dan N.38-Nabawan. Rekod PRU12-2008 adalah seperti rajah di atas. Rekod pilihanraya yang lalu adalah seperti berikut:-

PRU 1994
DUN N41-Sook (kini N.37)
1. Joseph Kurup (PBS) Mendapat undi sebanyak 7629
2. Taiming Lumaing (BN) mendapat undi sebanyak 3565
(Menang: Joseph Kurup (PBS)...Majoriti 4064 undi)

DUN N42-Nabawan (Kini N.38)
1. Adot Sigoh (Allahyarham) (PBS) mendapat undi sebanyak 2370
2. Ahwar bin Rassam (BN) mendapat undi sebanyak 1747
(Menang: Adot Sigoh (Allahyarham) (PBS)...Majoriti 632


Datuk Dr Jeffery Kitingan dan Tan Sri Joseph Kurup.
Apakah Pensiangan akan menjadi gelanggang pertarungan semula mereka?

PRU 1999
DUN Nabawan dan Sook dimansuhkan dan kawasan DUN Bingkor dan DUN Pensiangan diwujudkan. Dalam pilihanraya umum 1999, DUN Bingkor menjadi pertarungan pertama antara Datuk Dr. Jeffery Kitingan dengan Tan Sri Joseph Kurup. Dalam piliharaya ini Dr. Jeffery (PBS) telah menewaskan TS Joseph Kurup yang bertanding atas tiket BN-PBRS. Ramai mengatakan bahawa kemenangan Dr. Jeffery adalah atas sentiment dan pengaruh PBS.

Bagaimanapun, dalam PRU11-2004 Kerusi DUN Sook diwujudkan semula. Pada pilihanraya itu, sekali lagi Dr. Jeffery bertembung dengan TS Joseph Kurup. Kali ini, TS Joseph Kurup yang Bertanding atas tiket BN telah mendapat 3973 undi sekaligus menebus kekalahannya dengan menewaskan Dr. Jeffery yang bertanding atas tiket BEBAS yang mendapat undi sebanyak 3578 undi. Seorang lagi calon BEBAS, En. Yapilin Nawawi hanya berjaya meraih 252 undi.

(Menang: Joseph Kurup (BN). Majoriti: 395 undi).

N37-SOOK
ELLRON BIN ANGIN (BN) 5,496
SIDUM BIN MANJIN (BERSEKUTU) 124
SUAIDIN @ SHUHAIDDIN BIN LANGKAB @ LANGAB (BEBAS) 202
PAUL BUNSU BIN GINTANG @ PAUL GITANG (PKR) 3,365
(Menang: Ellron bin Angin (BN) MAJORITI : 2,131)
N.38 - NABAWAN
BOBBEY AH FANG BIN SUAN (BN) 3,414
GABRIEL UWING BIN AGUNSUNG PKR 1,327
ALEXSIUS BIN MANGKA BERSEKUTU 96
(Menang: Bobbey Ah Fang bin Suan (BN) MAJORITI : 2,087

KEPUTUSAN PRU 12-2008

Dari rekod dan stastistik yang ada, siapakah yang bakal memenangi Pensiangan? Apakah gelombang Permatang Pauh dan Kuala Terengganu akan melanda Sabah di Pensiangan?
Read also...

Friday, January 16, 2009

DEMONSTRASI DI TAWAU, SABAH MENGUTUK KEZALIMAN ISRAEL DI GAZA


Selepas menunaikan sembahyang Fardhu Jumaat, sebilangan para jamaah telah mengadakan tunjuk perasaan di ruang masuk-keluar Mesjid Daerah Tawau. Lebih jelas kelihatan ialah Bendera PAS, Bendera Negeri Sabah dan Jalur Gemilang. Tunjuk Perasaan ini disertai lebih kurang 100 orang yang kebanyakannya adalah pembawa bendera Parti PAS. Turut serta dalam tunjuk perasaan itu ialah En. Jimmy Wong ADUN (DAP). Para penunjuk perasaan melaungkan kutukan mereka ke atas Isreal dan Amerika.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

OBAMA 'TO SHUT GUANTANAMO IN DAYS'


Obama has acknowledged it will be "a challenge" to shut the jail in his first 100 days in office [Reuters]

Barack Obama will issue an executive order to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, probably in his first week as US president, two of his transition team advisers have said. The prison is unlikely to be shut until a solution is found on where to house its inmates, but a presidential order would start the process of deciding what to do with the estimated 250 detainees remaining there, most of whom have never been charged with a crime.

Obama said repeatedly during his presidential campaign that the prison for al-Qaeda suspects had to go, but the US president-elect said at the weekend it would be "a challenge" to close it even within the first 100 days of his administration. The Guantanamo directive would be one of a series of executive orders Obama is planning to issue shortly after he takes office on January 20, according to the advisers, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Thorny issue

They said the order would direct the new administration to look at each Guantanamo case to see if the detainee can be released or if he should still be held, and if so, wher

Guantanamo protester speaks about fast

Many of the detainees at the prison in Cuba are cleared for release, and others could be sent back to their native countries to beheld there. But many nations have resisted Bush administration efforts to repatriate the prisoners.

The Obama advisers said it was hoped that nations that had initially resisted taking back the detainees would be more willing to do so after dealing with the new administration. What remains the thorniest issue, the advisers said, is what to do with the rest of the prisoners, including at least 15 so-called "high value detainees". If the detainees were transferred to US soil they would have legal rights they were not entitled to while imprisoned in Cuba. It is also not clear if they would face trial through the current military tribunal system or in federal civilian courts and concerns have been raised about where they would be imprisoned.

More hunger strikes

The news of Obama's reported imminent order to shut Guantanamo comes as the US military said the number of inmates on hunger strike there had risen by eight to 42. But Gitanjali Gutierrez, a lawyer for human rights group Centre for Constitutional Rights said that based on interviews with prisoners and letters the menhave sent to lawyers, more than 70 inmates were not eating in protest against their continued confinement.

More Guantanamo prisoners are on hunger strike than at any time since the spring of 2006. Navy Commander Pauline Storum, a spokesperson for the prison, said no detainee was in danger but 31 inmates were being force-fed, which happens after a detainee either had gone three weeks without a meal, had fallen below 85 per cent of his ideal body weight, or if a doctor has recommended it as a medical necessity to preserve a his life. Officials gave varying possible reasons for the spike in the number of inmates refusing to eat, including Obama's forthcoming inauguration and the anniversary of the arrival of inmates at the facility.
Detainees were first brought to Guantanamo on January 11, 2002.
From Al Jazerra

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Perbicaraan Kah Kiat saman kerajaan Sabah ditangguh esok‏


From: MSG (saa751r@streamyx.com)
Sent: Monday, 12 Jan, 2009 10: 03 AM
To: (kibinhajisamad@hotmail.com)
12/01/2009 2:35pm
KOTA KINABALU 12 Jan. – Mahkamah Tinggi di sini hari ini menangguhkan perbicaraan kes saman bekas Ketua Menteri, Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat, terhadap kerajaan Sabah berikutan pembatalan kelulusan pembinaan patung Ma Tzu di Kudat, pada 2007.

Pesuruhjaya Kehakiman, Ye Jen Kie menetapkan esok, selepas membenarkan permohonan peguam Kah Kiat, Ansari Abdullah berikutan defendan pertama, Ketua Menteri, Datuk Seri Musa Aman dan defendan kedua, Datuk K.Y Mustafa tidak hadir dan berada di luar Sabah.
- Utusan

Friday, January 9, 2009

War and Natural Gas: The Israeli Invasion and Gaza's Offshore Gas

War and Natural Gas: The Israeli Invasion and Gaza's Offshore Gas Fields. CRG E-Newsletter‏-By Michel Chossudovsky
From: Globalresearch.ca (crgeditor@yahoo.com)
Sent: Thursday, 8 Jan, 2009 11: 56 AM
To: kibinhajisamad@hotmail.com

URL of this article: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001yDKcZRME7bmTO19tZwZjacEpkyuFKp6zC24I67FsSz5spTIAqaT974xyQ-NXRj_PFUjSZgdXskLLW30qUBH_mnAVROfTZZOSSXnewGUPAj3HNXTUA4S9Grdj-oXfY_WQEm2FxGe4V549GK_LQD7p2m2K7eLtU2eXdmGIVleWStk=
Global Research, January 8, 2009

The military invasion of the Gaza Strip by Israeli Forces bears a direct relation to the control and ownership of strategic offshore gas reserves. This is a war of conquest. Discovered in 2000, there are extensive gas reserves off the Gaza coastline.

British Gas (BG Group) and its partner, the Athens based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC) owned by Lebanon's Sabbagh and Koury families, were granted oil and gas exploration rights in a 25 year agreement signed in November 1999 with the Palestinian Authority. The rights to the offshore gas field are respectively British Gas (60 percent); Consolidated Contractors (CCC) (30 percent); and the Investment Fund of the Palestinian Authority (10 percent). (Haaretz, October 21, 2007). The PA-BG-CCC agreement includes field development and the construction of a gas pipeline.(Middle East Economic Digest, Jan 5, 2001).
The BG licence covers the entire Gazan offshore marine area, which is contiguous to several Israeli offshore gas facilities. (See Map below). It should be noted that 60 percent of the gas reserves along the Gaza-Israel coastline belong to Palestine.

The BG Group drilled two wells in 2000: Gaza Marine-1 and Gaza Marine-2. Reserves are estimated by British Gas to be of the order of 1.4 trillion cubic feet, valued at approximately 4 billion dollars. These are the figures made public by British Gas. The size of Palestine's gas reserves could be much larger.
Map 1

Map 2

Who Owns the Gas Fields

The issue of sovereignty over Gaza's gas fields is crucial. From a legal standpoint, the gas reserves belong to Palestine. The death of Yasser Arafat, the election of the Hamas government and the ruin of the Palestinian Authority have enabled Israel to establish de facto control over Gaza's offshore gas reserves. British Gas (BG Group) has been dealing with the Tel Aviv government. In turn, the Hamas government has been bypassed in regards to exploration and development rights over the gas fields.

The election of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 2001 was a major turning point. Palestine's sovereignty over the offshore gas fields was challenged in the Israeli Supreme Court. Sharon stated unequivocally that "Israel would never buy gas from Palestine" intimating that Gaza's offshore gas reserves belong to Israel.

In 2003, Ariel Sharon, vetoed an initial deal, which would allow British Gas to supply Israel with natural gas from Gaza's offshore wells. (The Independent, August 19, 2003) The election victory of Hamas in 2006 was conducive to the demise of the Palestinian Authority, which became confined to the West Bank, under the proxy regime of Mahmoud Abbas.

In 2006, British Gas "was close to signing a deal to pump the gas to Egypt." (Times, May, 23, 2007). According to reports, British Prime Minister Tony Blair intervened on behalf of Israel with a view to shunting the agreement with Egypt. The following year, in May 2007, the Israeli Cabinet approved a proposal by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert "to buy gas from the Palestinian Authority." The proposed contract was for $4 billion, with profits of the order of $2 billion of which one billion was to go the Palestinians.

Tel Aviv, however, had no intention on sharing the revenues with Palestine. An Israeli team of negotiators was set up by the Israeli Cabinet to thrash out a deal with the BG Group, bypassing both the Hamas government and the Palestinian Authority: "Israeli defence authorities want the Palestinians to be paid in goods and services and insist that no money go to the Hamas-controlled Government." (Ibid, emphasis added)

The objective was essentially to nullify the contract signed in 1999 between the BG Group and the Palestinian Authority under Yasser Arafat. Under the proposed 2007 agreement with BG, Palestinian gas from Gaza's offshore wells was to be channeled by an undersea pipeline to the Israeli seaport of Ashkelon, thereby transferring control over the sale of the natural gas to Israel.
The deal fell through.
.
The negotiations were suspended:

"Mossad Chief Meir Dagan opposed the transaction on security grounds, that the proceeds would fund terror". (Member of Knesset Gilad Erdan, Address to the Knesset on "The Intention of Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to Purchase Gas from the Palestinians When Payment Will Serve Hamas," March 1, 2006, quoted in Lt. Gen. (ret.) Moshe Yaalon, Does the Prospective Purchase of British Gas from Gaza's Coastal Waters Threaten Israel's National Security? Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, October 2007)

Israel's intent was to foreclose the possibility that royalties be paid to the Palestinians. In December 2007, The BG Group withdrew from the negotiations with Israel and in January 2008 they closed their office in Israel.(BG website).

Invasion Plan on The Drawing Board

The invasion plan of the Gaza Strip under "Operation Cast Lead" was set in motion in June 2008, according to Israeli military sources:
"Sources in the defense establishment said Defense Minister Ehud Barak instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare for the operation over six months ago [June or before June] , even as Israel was beginning to negotiate a ceasefire agreement with Hamas."(Barak Ravid, Operation "Cast Lead": Israeli Air Force strike followed months of planning, Haaretz, December 27, 2008) That very same month, the Israeli authorities contacted British Gas, with a view to resuming crucial negotiations pertaining to the purchase of Gaza's natural gas: "Both Ministry of Finance director general Yarom Ariav and Ministry of National Infrastructures director general Hezi Kugler agreed to inform BG of Israel's wish to renew the talks.

The sources added that BG has not yet officially responded to Israel's request, but that company executives would probably come to Israel in a few weeks to hold talks with government officials." (Globes online- Israel's Business Arena, June 23, 2008)

The decision to speed up negotiations with British Gas (BG Group) coincided, chronologically, with the planning of the invasion of Gaza initiated in June. It would appear that Israel was anxious to reach an agreement with the BG Group prior to the invasion, which was already in an advanced planning stage.

Moreover, these negotiations with British Gas were conducted by the Ehud Olmert government with the knowledge that a military invasion was on the drawing board and that a new political-territorial arrangement for Gaza strip was being contemplated by Israel.

In fact, negotiations between British Gas and Israeli officials were ongoing in October 2008, 2-3 months prior to the commencement of the bombings on December 27th.

In November 2008, the Israeli Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of National Infrastructures instructed Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) to enter into negotiations with British Gas, on the purchase of natural gas from the BG's offshore concession in Gaza. (Globes, November 13, 2008)
"Ministry of Finance director general Yarom Ariav and Ministry of National Infrastructures director general Hezi Kugler wrote to IEC CEO Amos Lasker recently, informing him of the government's decision to allow negotiations to go forward, in line with the framework proposal it approved earlier this year.

The IEC board, headed by chairman Moti Friedman, approved the principles of the framework proposal a few weeks ago. The talks with BG Group will begin once the board approves the exemption from a tender." (Globes Nov. 13, 2008) Gaza and Energy Geopolitics The military occupation of Gaza is intent upon transferring the sovereignty of the gas fields to Israel in violation of international law.

What can we expect in the wake of the invasion?
What is the intent of Israel with regard to Palestine's Natural Gas reserves?
A new territorial arrangement, with the stationing of Israeli and/or "peacekeeping" troops?
The militarization of the entire Gaza coastline, which is strategic for Israel?
The outright confiscation of Palestinian gas fields and the unilateral declaration of Israeli sovereignty over Gaza's maritime areas?

If this were to occur, the Gaza gas fields would be integrated into Israel's offshore installations, which are contiguous to those of the Gaza Strip. (See Map 1 above). These various offshore installations are also linked up to Israel's energy transport corridor, extending from the port of Eilat, which is an oil pipeline terminal, on the Red Sea to the seaport - pipeline terminal at Ashkelon, and northwards to Haifa, and eventually linking up through a proposed Israeli-Turkish pipeline with the Turkish port of Ceyhan.

Ceyhan is the terminal of the Baku, Tblisi Ceyhan Trans Caspian pipeline. "What is envisaged is to link the BTC pipeline to the Trans-Israel Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline, also known as Israel's Tipline."
(See Michel Chossudovsky, The War on Lebanon and the Battle for Oil, Global Research, July 23, 2006)
Map 3
© Copyright 2005-2007 GlobalResearch.caWeb site engine by Polygraphx Multimedia © Copyright 2005-2007

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Unconventional Weapons against The People of Gaza


Unconventional Weapons against The People of Gaza

From: Globalresearch.ca (crgeditor@yahoo.com)
Sent: Tuesday, 6 Jan, 2009 1: 51 PM
To: kibinhajisamad@hotmail.com

Interview of Dr. Mads Gilbert
By Akram al-Sattari
URL of this article: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001S9bzPMok6E6-QQdf27Sa8wwvooB2oKiNsiiYUCRSuuAUl1vpmPN0zHV5wmb-nE4eR8zBX8uZJdUlEvrqJ7XCVnmrFzfypmvBGtxKgEzq7EeWHBCwkzS_f2Q-bn4phaMxpdcYcNdZWB3KbwteMOAse4HEY4mbSxsMXmYJq9F6KeY=
Global Research,

January 6, 2009
Press TV

This report confirms that these attacks are quite deliberately directed against civilians, using new unconventional weapons. This is a carefully planned humanitarian catastrophe. How can anybody in their right mind support the actions of the Israeli government.Read this interview with a distinguished and courageous Norwegian doctor. Dr. Mads GilbertHere are some of the highlights.

"The Israelis are using a new type of very high explosive weapons which are called Dense Inert Metal Explosive (DIME) and are made out of a tungsten alloy. These weapons have an enormous power to explode."

"these weapons will have a cancer effect on those who survive. They will develop cancer we suspect.""All that is happening in Gaza here now is against international law, it is against humanity" "Almost all of the patients we have received have these sever amputations. They seem to have been affected by this kind of weapon. Of course, we have many fragment injuries and burns but those who have got their limbs cut off, constitutes quite a large proportion.

You know we have a lot to do. Palestinian doctors, nurses and paramedics do an incredibly heroic job to save their people. Doctor Eric and I are just a small drip in the ocean, but we learn from them." And then decide where do you stand. We stand with the people of Palestine whose lives are being destroyed. We stand in solidarity with their struggle. We stand for humanity against the US-Israeli war criminals.
Michel Chossudovsky, Global Research, January 5, 2009

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Pertarungan 3 Penjuru Di Kuala Terangganu.



CALON Barisan Nasional, Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh (tengah) bersama calon Pas, Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut dan calon Bebas, Azharudin Mamat ketika pengumuman calon bertanding pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Kuala Terengganu di Stadium Tertutup Negeri Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, hari ini.
REKOD PILIHANRAYA 2008 (KE 12)


P36 KUALA TERENGGANU
Jumlah Pengundi: 80,325
Peratusan Kaum: M: 88.14% C: 10.94% I: 0.65% B/Sab: % B/Swk: % L: 0.27%1. Datuk Razali Ismail (BN) (32,562)2. Maimun Yusuf (Bebas) (685)3. Mohamad Sabu (Pas) (31,934) Majoriti: 628 Jumlah undi: 66,112 Peratus mengundi: 82.31%Undi rosak: 931
Penyandang: Datuk Razali Ismail (Allahyarham) (BN)(Majoriti: 1,933 undi)
Kawasan P.36 KUALA TERENGGANU meliputi 4 kawasan DUN iaitu:-

N13 WAKAF MEMPELAM
Jumlah Pengundi: 20,573Peratusan Kaum: M: 99.33% C: 0.43% I: 0.07% B/Sab: % B/Swk: % L: 0.15%
1. Mohd. Abdul Wahid Endut (Pas) (9,645)
2. Othman Awang (BN) (7,452)
Majoriti: 2,193: Jumlah undi: 17,253: Peratus mengundi: 83.86%. Undi rosak: 156
Penyandang: Mohd. Abdul Wahid Endut (Pas) (Majoriti: 1,888 undi)
N14 BANDAR
Jumlah Pengundi: 18,953 Peratusan Kaum: M: 60.4% C: 38.02% I: 1.23% B/Sab: % B/Swk: % L: 0.31%
1. Toh Chin Yaw (BN) (7,831)
2. Dr. Abdul Manaf Che Mat (PKR) (6,689) Majoriti: 1,142
Jumlah undi: 14,751 Peratus mengundi: 77.83% Undi rosak: 231. Penyandang: Toh Chin Yaw (BN) (Majoriti: 1,612 undi)
N15 LADANG
Jumlah Pengundi: 16,777 Peratusan Kaum: M: 91.5% C: 6.86% I: 1.12% B/Sab: % B/Swk: % L: 0.43%
1. Datuk Tengku Hassan Tengku Omar (Pas) (6,723)
2. Datuk Wan Hisham Wan Salleh (BN) (6,692)
Majoriti: 31 Jumlah undi: 13,700Peratus mengundi: 81.66%Undi rosak: 285. Penyandang: Datuk Wan Hisham Wan Salleh (BN). (Majoriti: 1,041 undi)
N16 BATU BURUK
Jumlah Pengundi: 24,022. Peratusan Kaum: M: 98.02% C: 1.41% I: 0.35 % B/Sab: % B/Swk: % L: 0.20%
1. Dr. Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi (Pas) (10,672)
2. Senator Nordiana Shafie (BN) (9,511)
Majoriti: 1,161 Jumlah undi: 20,395 Peratus mengundi: 84.9% Undi rosak: 212. Penyandang: Wan Abd. Mutalib Embong (Pas). (Majoriti: 140 undi)

Malaysia heads into critical by-election



KUALA TERENGGANU, Malaysia (AFP) — Campaigning kicked off Tuesday in a critical by-election seen as a test of the Malaysian government's popularity since disastrous losses in national polls last year.

"We must ensure we win this election. We must regain our political strength and influence," said Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is leading the campaign for the January 17 vote in northeastern Terengganu state. The government is hoping to show it has clawed back support with promises of reform and leadership changes after losing five states and a third of parliamentary seats in the March 2008 general elections.

For the opposition alliance, it is a chance to show its support is holding up and that it is working effectively, despite government claims that the partnership of three very different parties is already cracking up. The by-election is the first major test for Najib, who is due to take over the top job next March. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was forced to agree to step aside in the fallout from the national elections.
Read More....
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h8l5icAx65UDenPfFqE1Q5-Z5cKg

Monday, January 5, 2009

Sabah gets set to run Sipadan


Pulau Sipadan has one of the best diving spots in the world.

KOTA KINABALU: Winds of change are blowing over Pulau Sipadan with the imminent handover of the island to the state government.

The National Security Council in the Prime Minister's Department is now in the final process of handing over the administration of the world-famous diving spot."This has always been the plan. The island was handed over to the Federal Government in 2002 by the International Court of Justice in a territorial dispute with Indonesia. "Now that things are settled, the island will be returned to the Sabah government," said state Tourism, Environment and Culture Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun. The state government will form a small panel headed by an assistant minister to tackle the various issues brought up by tourists and dive operators, and Sabah Parks will handle the day-to-day running of the island.

"There will be less red tape and we will be able to manage it more efficiently," said Masidi.One of the first issues to be tackled is the limit of 120 divers per day on the island. It was put into place several years ago to protect Sipadan's delicate ecosystem.But as the island's fame spread, more dive operators set up shop, and the complex distribution of the diving permits often leaves tourists, who have travelled thousands of kilometres to get there, disappointed.

A proposal is being looked into to modify the limitation and allow 120 divers in the morning, and another 120 in the afternoon each day."This will allow more divers to experience the underwater splendours of Sipadan without overburdening the island." Environmental studies are being conducted to assess the island's sustainability, and whether increasing the number of divers will damage the ecosystem.

"What's important is that we leave the island as pristine as possible."The island, off the east coast of Sabah, has hit the headlines several times, but not always for its reputation as a premier dive spot.In 2000, gun-toting Abu Sayyaf terrorists stormed the island and kidnapped 21 divers and resort workers, and held them hostage. All were eventually released.In 2004, all dive operators on Sipadan were told to move their structures from the island to conserve its ecosystem and corals. The move created much scepticism and controversy.In 2006, a barge carrying tonnes of building material beached on the island, damaging a significant portion of reef. The materials were said to be for a million ringgit tourist facility with a rest house, toilets and scuba shop. The idea was scrapped due to widespread objections and a more modest project was proposed.
SOURCE.....

The Invasion of Gaza: Military-Intelligence Agenda.

The Invasion of Gaza: Military-Intelligence Agenda. CRG E-Newsletter‏
From: Globalresearch.ca (crgeditor@yahoo.com)
Sent: Sunday, 4 Jan, 2009 1: 47 PM
To: kibinhajisamad@hotmail.com

By Michel Chossudovsky

Global Research, January 4, 2009
The aerial bombings and the ongoing ground invasion of Gaza by Israeli ground forces must be analysed in a historical context. Operation "Cast Lead" is a carefully planned undertaking, which is part of a broader military-intelligence agenda first formulated by the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 2001:

"Sources in the defense establishment said Defense Minister Ehud Barak instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare for the operation over six months ago, even as Israel was beginning to negotiate a ceasefire agreement with Hamas."(Barak Ravid, Operation "Cast Lead": Israeli Air Force strike followed months of planning, Haaretz, December 27, 2008)

It was Israel which broke the truce on the day of the US presidential elections, November 4:
"Israel used this distraction to break the ceasefire between itself and Hamas by bombing the Gaza strip. Israel claimed this violation of the ceasefire was to prevent Hamas from digging tunnels into Israeli territory.The very next day, Israel launched a terrorizing siege of Gaza, cutting off food, fuel, medical supplies and other necessities in an attempt to “subdue” the Palestinians while at the same time engaging in armed incursions.

In response, Hamas and others in Gaza again resorted to firing crude, homemade, and mainly inaccurate rockets into Israel. During the past seven years, these rockets have been responsible for the deaths of 17 Israelis. Over the same time span, Israeli Blitzkrieg assaults have killed thousands of Palestinians, drawing worldwide protest but falling on deaf ears at the UN." (Shamus Cooke, The Massacre in Palestine and the Threat of a Wider War, Global Research, December 2008)

Planned Humanitarian Disaster

On December 8, US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte was in Tel Aviv for discussions with his Israeli counterparts including the director of Mossad, Meir Dagan. "Operation Cast Lead" was initiated two days day after Christmas. It was coupled with a carefully designed international Public Relations campaign under the auspices of Israel's Foreign Ministry.

Hamas' military targets are not the main objective. Operation "Cast Lead" is intended, quite deliberately, to trigger civilian casualities. What we are dealing with is a "planned humanitarian disaster" in Gaza in a densly populated urban area. (See map below)

The longer term objective of this plan, as formulated by Israeli policy makers, is the expulsion of Palestinians from Palestinian lands:

"Terrorize the civilian population, assuring maximal destruction of property and cultural resources... [T]he daily life of the Palestinians must be rendered unbearable: They should be locked up in cities and towns, prevented from exercising normal economic life, cut off from workplaces, schools and hospitals, This will encourage emigration and weaken the resistance to future expulsions" Ur Shlonsky, quoted by Ghali Hassan, Gaza: The World’s Largest Prison, Global Research, 2005)

"Operation Justified Vengeance"

A turning point has been reached. Operation "Cast Lead" is part of the broader military-intelligence operation initiated at the outset the Ariel Sharon government in 2001. It was under Sharon's "Operation Justified Vengeance" that F-16 fighter planes were initially used to bomb Palestinian cities.

"Operation Justified Vengeance" was presented in July 2001 to the Israeli government of Ariel Sharon by IDF chief of staff Shaul Mofaz, under the title "The Destruction of the Palestinian Authority and Disarmament of All Armed Forces".

"A contingency plan, codenamed Operation Justified Vengeance, was drawn up last June [2001] to reoccupy all of the West Bank and possibly the Gaza Strip at a likely cost of "hundreds" of Israeli casualties." (Washington Times, 19 March 2002).
According to Jane's 'Foreign Report' (July 12, 2001) the Israeli army under Sharon had updated its plans for an "all-out assault to smash the Palestinian authority, force out leader Yasser Arafat and kill or detain its army".

"Bloodshed Justification"

The "Bloodshed Justification" was an essential component of the military-intelligence agenda. The killing of Palestinian civilians was justified on "humanitarian grounds." Israeli military operations were carefully timed to coincide with the suicide attacks:

The assault would be launched, at the government's discretion, after a big suicide bomb attack in Israel, causing widespread deaths and injuries, citing the bloodshed as justification. (Tanya Reinhart, Evil Unleashed, Israel's move to destroy the Palestinian Authority is a calculated plan, long in the making, Global Research, December 2001, emphasis added)

The Dagan Plan

"Operation Justified Vengeance" was also referred to as the "Dagan Plan", named after General (ret.) Meir Dagan, who currently heads Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency.
Reserve General Meir Dagan was Sharon's national security adviser during the 2000 election campaign. The plan was apparently drawn up prior to Sharon’s election as Prime Minister in February 2001. "According to Alex Fishman writing in Yediot Aharonot, the Dagan Plan consisted in destroying the Palestinian authority and putting Yasser Arafat 'out of the game'." (Ellis Shulman, "Operation Justified Vengeance": a Secret Plan to Destroy the Palestinian Authority, March 2001):

"As reported in the Foreign Report [Jane] and disclosed locally by Maariv, Israel's invasion plan — reportedly dubbed Justified Vengeance — would be launched immediately following the next high-casualty suicide bombing, would last about a month and is expected to result in the death of hundreds of Israelis and thousands of Palestinians. (Ibid, emphasis added)

The "Dagan Plan" envisaged the so-called "cantonization" of the Palestinian territories whereby the West Bank and Gaza would be totally cut off from one other, with separate "governments" in each of the territories. Under this scenario, already envisaged in 2001, Israel would:

"negotiate separately with Palestinian forces that are dominant in each territory-Palestinian forces responsible for security, intelligence, and even for the Tanzim (Fatah)." The plan thus closely resembles the idea of "cantonization" of Palestinian territories, put forth by a number of ministers." Sylvain Cypel, The infamous 'Dagan Plan' Sharon's plan for getting rid of Arafat, Le Monde, December 17, 2001)

From Left to Right: Dagan, Sharon, Halevy

The Dagan Plan has established continuity in the military-intelligence agenda. In the wake of the 2000 elections, Meir Dagan was assigned a key role. "He became Sharon’s "go-between" in security issues with President’s Bush’s special envoys Zinni and Mitchell." He was subsequently appointed Director of the Mossad by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in August 2002. In the post-Sharon period, he remained head of Mossad. He was reconfirmed in his position as Director of Israeli Intelligence by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in June 2008.

Meir Dagan, in coordination with his US counterparts, has been in charge of various military-intelligence operations. It is worth noting that Meir Dagan as a young Colonel had worked closely with defense minister Ariel Sharon in the raids on Palestinian settlements in Beirut in 1982. The 2009 ground invasion of Gaza, in many regards, bear a canny resemblance to the 1982 military operation led by Sharon and Dagan.

Continuity: From Sharon to Olmert

Olmert and Sharon
It is important to focus on a number of key events which have led up to the killings in Gaza under "Operation Cast Lead":

1. The assassination in November 2004 of Yaser Arafat. This assassination had been on the drawing board since 1996 under "Operation Fields of Thorns". According to an October 2000 document "prepared by the security services, at the request of then Prime Minister Ehud Barak, stated that 'Arafat, the person, is a severe threat to the security of the state [of Israel] and the damage which will result from his disappearance is less than the damage caused by his existence'". (Tanya Reinhart, Evil Unleashed, Israel's move to destroy the Palestinian Authority is a calculated plan, long in the making, Global Research, December 2001. Details of the document were published in Ma'ariv, July 6, 2001.).

Arafat's assassination was ordered in 2003 by the Israeli cabinet. It was approved by the US which vetoed a United Nations Security Resolution condemning the 2003 Israeli Cabinet decision. Reacting to increased Palestinian attacks, in August 2003, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz declared "all out war" on the militants whom he vowed "marked for death."

"In mid September, Israel's government passed a law to get rid of Arafat. Israel's cabinet for political security affairs declared it "a decision to remove Arafat as an obstacle to peace." Mofaz threatened; "we will choose the right way and the right time to kill Arafat." Palestinian Minister Saeb Erekat told CNN he thought Arafat was the next target. CNN asked Sharon spokesman Ra'anan Gissan if the vote meant expulsion of Arafat. Gissan clarified; "It doesn't mean that. The Cabinet has today resolved to remove this obstacle. The time, the method, the ways by which this will take place will be decided separately, and the security services will monitor the situation and make the recommendation about proper action." (See Trish Shuh, Road Map for a Decease Plan, www.mehrnews.com November 9 2005

The assassination of Arafat was part of the 2001 Dagan Plan. In all likelihood, it was carried out by Israeli Intelligence. It was intended to destroy the Palestinian Authority, foment divisions within Fatah as well as between Fatah and Hamas. Mahmoud Abbas is a Palestinian quisling. He was installed as leader of Fatah, with the approval of Israel and the US, which finance the Palestinian Authority's paramilitary and security forces.

2. The removal, under the orders of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 2005, of all Jewish settlements in Gaza. A Jewish population of over 7,000 was relocated.

"It is my intention [Sharon] to carry out an evacuation – sorry, a relocation – of settlements that cause us problems and of places that we will not hold onto anyway in a final settlement, like the Gaza settlements.... I am working on the assumption that in the future there will be no Jews in Gaza," Sharon said." (CBC, March 2004)

The issue of the settlements in Gaza was presented as part of Washington's "road map to peace". Celebrated by the Palestinians as a "victory", this measure was not directed against the Jewish settlers. Quite the opposite: It was part of the overall covert operation, which consisted in transforming Gaza into a concentration camp. As long as Jewish settlers were living inside Gaza, the objective of sustaining a large barricaded prison territory could not be achieved. The Implementation of "Operation Cast Lead" required "no Jews in Gaza".

3. The building of the infamous Apartheid Wall was decided upon at the beginning of the Sharon government.

4. The next phase was the Hamas election victory in January 2006. Without Arafat, the Israeli military-intelligence architects knew that Fatah under Mahmoud Abbas would loose the elections. This was part of the scenario, which had been envisaged and analyzed well in advance. With Hamas in charge of the Palestinian authority, using the pretext that Hamas is a terrorist organization, Israel would carry out the process of "cantonization" as formulated under the Dagan plan. Fatah under Mahmoud Abbas would remain formally in charge of the West Bank. The duly elected Hamas government would be confined to the Gaza strip.

Ground Attack

On January 3, Israeli tanks and infantry entered Gaza in an all out ground offensive:

"The ground operation was preceded by several hours of heavy artillery fire after dark, igniting targets in flames that burst into the night sky. Machine gun fire rattled as bright tracer rounds flashed through the darkness and the crash of hundreds of shells sent up streaks of fire. (AP, January 3, 2009)

Israeli sources have pointed to a lengthy drawn out military operation. It "won't be easy and it won't be short," said Defense Minister Ehud Barak in a TV address.

Israel is not seeking to oblige Hamas "to cooperate". What we are dealing with is the implementation of the "Dagan Plan" as initially formulated in 2001, which called for:
"an invasion of Palestinian-controlled territory by some 30,000 Israeli soldiers, with the clearly defined mission of destroying the infrastructure of the Palestinian leadership and collecting weaponry currently possessed by the various Palestinian forces, and expelling or killing its military leadership. (Ellis Shulman, op cit, emphasis added)

The broader question is whether Israel in consultation with Washington is intent upon triggering a wider war. Mass expulsion could occur at some later stage of the ground invasion, were the Israelis to open up Gaza's borders to allow for an exodus of population. Expulsion was referred to by Ariel Sharon as the "a 1948 style solution". For Sharon "it is only necessary to find another state for the Palestinians. -'Jordan is Palestine' - was the phrase that Sharon coined." (Tanya Reinhart, op cit)

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Sunday, January 4, 2009

P36 KUALA TERENGGANU


Barisan Nasional lawan PAS?

Pilihanya kecil parlimen Kawasan P.36 Kuala Terengganu akan diadalan pada 17 Januari, 2009 berikutan kekosongan kerusi itu setelah penyandangnya Datuk Razali Ismail meninggal dunia mengejut selepas bermain badminton. (semoga roh Allahyarham dicucuri rahmat)

Ramalan awal menampakkan bahawa ianya merupakan bertembungan antara dua parti yakni PAS dan Barisan Nasional. Calon-calon dari kedua-dua parti telah pun diumumkan. Bagaimanapun keputusan muktamad tentang "siapa lawan siapa" hanya akan diketahuhi selepas penamaan calon yang akan di adakan pada 06 Januari, 2009.

Menurut rekod, Barisan Nasioanal telah memenangi kawasan ini dengan majoriti yang sedikit yakni 628 undi. PAS pula memegang rekod memenangi 3 dari 4 kawasan DUN di dalam Kawasan Parlimen Kuala Terengganu. Kawasan Parlimen ini pernah juga ditawan oleh PAS melalui calonnya Dr. Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi pada PRU11.

"Bekocak air, kita tahu jantan atau betina". Namun, dalam kes pilihanraya, kita hanya bisa meramal berdasarkn fakta dan "figures". Seperti lazimnya mana-mana parti yang bertanding akan berusaha untuk terus meyakinkan pengundi bahawa parti mereka akan bakal memenangi kerusi ini dengan mengutarakan pelbagai isu dan habuan. Balun membalun pasti akan menjadi amalan sempena dan sepanjang kempen berlangsung.

BN, sebagai penyandang, tidak mungkin mampu dan dapat duduk selesa melihatkan 3 kawasan DUN dikuasai PAS dan hanya memenangi kawasan DUN Bandar yang diwakili YB. Toh Chin Yaw. Kawasan DUN Bandar ini pula mempunyai pengundi Melayu melebihi 60%. Majoriti BN pada PRU12 pula hanyalah sebanyak 628 undi, kurang dari undi rosak iaitu sebanyak 931 undi pada PRU 12. Terdapat pula calon Bebas "sensasi", Pn. Maimun Yusof, berusia 89 tahun, yang berbasikal semasa kempennya berjaya memperolehi 685 undi. Figure ini perlu dijadikan sebagai kenyataan bahawa kerja yang amat berat menanti BN sehingga ke ambang hari pengundian nanti. Kelebihan BN hanyalah kerana BN adalah pemegang tampuk kerajaan Negeri. Begitupun, PAS mendapat injeksi dari kemenangan PR menawan 5 Negeri di Semenanjung Malaysia. PAS pula lebih ghairah dan gah menawan semula kawasan ini sedang BN akan mempertahankannya "habis-habisan".

Pilihanraya ini merupakan satu ujian yang besar bukan sahaja kepada Menteri Besar Terengganu yang baru, tetapi juga kepada Kerajaan Malaysia, BN, kerana kawasan ini adalah disandang BN. Kekalahan BN di kawasan ini akan meninggalkan kesan yang amat besar kepada terju negara kini. Kekalahan PAS pula bererti memberikan injeksi moral yang amat tinggi kepada BN untuk kembali memperkuatkan semula foundasinya di Tanah Semenanjung. Dalam hal ini, rasanya "kualiti calon" tidak menjadi "critical success factor" dalam menentukan sokongan. Parti dan masa depan dan corak politik Negara, masa depannya, negara, agama dan anak bangsa akan menjadi tumpuan, perkiraan dan landasan yang mesti dipercaturkan dengan ikhlas, hati yang terbuka dan teliti.

REKOD PILIHANRAYA 2008 (KE 12)
P36 KUALA TERENGGANU
Jumlah Pengundi: 80,325Peratusan Kaum: M: 88.14% C: 10.94% I: 0.65% B/Sab: % B/Swk: % L: 0.27%
1. Datuk Razali Ismail (BN) (32,562)
2. Maimun Yusuf (Bebas) (685)
3. Mohamad Sabu (Pas) (31,934)
Majoriti: 628 Jumlah undi: 66,112 Peratus mengundi: 82.31%Undi rosak: 931
Penyandang: Datuk Razali Ismail (Allahyarham) (BN)(Majoriti: 1,933 undi)

Kawasan P.36 KUALA TERENGGANU meliputi 4 kawasan DUN iaitu:-

N13 WAKAF MEMPELAM
Jumlah Pengundi: 20,573Peratusan Kaum: M: 99.33% C: 0.43% I: 0.07% B/Sab: % B/Swk: % L: 0.15%
1. Mohd. Abdul Wahid Endut (Pas) (9,645) 2. Othman Awang (BN) (7,452)
Majoriti: 2,193: Jumlah undi: 17,253: Peratus mengundi: 83.86% Undi rosak: 156
Penyandang: Mohd. Abdul Wahid Endut (Pas)(Majoriti: 1,888 undi)

N14 BANDAR

Jumlah Pengundi: 18,953 Peratusan Kaum: M: 60.4% C: 38.02% I: 1.23% B/Sab: % B/Swk: % L: 0.31%
1. Toh Chin Yaw (BN) (7,831)
2. Dr. Abdul Manaf Che Mat (PKR) (6,689)
Majoriti: 1,142 Jumlah undi: 14,751 Peratus mengundi: 77.83% Undi rosak: 231
Penyandang: Toh Chin Yaw (BN) (Majoriti: 1,612 undi)

N15 LADANG
Jumlah Pengundi: 16,777 Peratusan Kaum: M: 91.5% C: 6.86% I: 1.12% B/Sab: % B/Swk: % L: 0.43%
1. Datuk Tengku Hassan Tengku Omar (Pas) (6,723)
2. Datuk Wan Hisham Wan Salleh (BN) (6,692)
Majoriti: 31 Jumlah undi: 13,700Peratus mengundi: 81.66%Undi rosak: 285
Penyandang: Datuk Wan Hisham Wan Salleh (BN)(Majoriti: 1,041 undi)

N16 BATU BURUK
Jumlah Pengundi: 24,022Peratusan Kaum: M: 98.02% C: 1.41% I: 0.35 % B/Sab: % B/Swk: % L: 0.20%
1. Dr. Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi (Pas) (10,672)
2. Senator Nordiana Shafie (BN) (9,511)
Majoriti: 1,161 Jumlah undi: 20,395 Peratus mengundi: 84.9% Undi rosak: 212
Penyandang: Wan Abd. Mutalib Embong (Pas)(Majoriti: 140 undi)
BN KATA.......
DSAI KATA........

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Open Letter to Barack Obama


Negarawan, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

Open Letter to Barack Obama: CRG E-Newsletter‏
From: Globalresearch.ca (crgeditor@yahoo.com)
Sent: Friday, 2 Jan, 2009 6: 16 PM
To: kibinhajisamad@hotmail.com

Open Letter to Barack Hussein Obama, President-elect of the United States of America
By Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Former Prime Minister of Malaysia
URL of this article: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017CrSnKFxxyhnc2_AphgKPS4WA0dK4yCqBIcPTQ_QHyomRsVuYwif6kpBA5G77DJwAOYljNgOrZxq3qmsiZQ4R6iNvZfSC_jmmoHqLDaotm7Xs53RiqQorfgmDkW332UwbcJKlCLgZfrK3LszRuApJcCb_ri32VpChfIdlsqh4R8=
Global Research, January 2, 2009

January 1, 2009
Dear Mr. President,
I did not vote for you in the Presidential Election because I am Malaysian. But I consider myself one of your constituents because what you do or say will affect me and my country as well. I welcome your promise for change. Certainly your country, the United States of America needs a lot of changes.

That is because America and Americans have become the most hated people in the world. Even Europeans dislike your arrogance. Yet you were once admired and liked because you freed a lot of countries from conquest and subjugation.

It is the custom on New Year's day for people to make resolutions. You must have listed your good resolutions already. But may I politely suggest that you also resolve to do the following in pursuit of Change.

1) Stop killing people. The United States is too fond of killing people in order to achieve its objectives. You call it war, but today's wars are not about professional soldiers fighting and killing each other. It is about killing people, ordinary innocent people by the hundreds of thousands. Whole countries will be devastated. War is primitive, the cavemen's way of dealing with a problem. Stop your arms build up and your planning for future wars.

2) Stop indiscriminate support of Israeli killers with your money and your weapons. The planes and the bombs killing the people of Gaza are from you.

3) Stop applying sanctions against countries which cannot do the same against you. In Iraq your sanctions killed 500,000 children through depriving them of medicine and food. Others were born deformed. What have you achieved with this cruelty? Nothing except the hatred of the victims and right-thinking people.

4) Stop your scientists and researchers from inventing new and more diabolical weapons to kill more people more efficiently.

5) Stop your arms manufacturers from producing them. Stop your sales of arms to the world. It is blood money that you earn. It is un-Christian.

6) Stop trying to democratize all the countries of the world. Democracy may work for the United States but it does not always work for other countries. Don't kill people because they are not democratic. Your crusade to democratize countries has killed more people than the authoritarian Governments which you overthrew. And you have not succeeded anyway.

7) Stop the casinos which you call financial institutions. Stop hedge funds, derivatives and currency trading. Stop banks from lending non-existent money by the billions. Regulate and supervise your banks. Jail the miscreants who made profits from abusing the system.

8) Sign the Kyoto Protocol and other international agreements.

9) Show respect for the United Nations.

I have many other resolutions for change which I think you should consider and undertake. But I think you have enough on your plate for this 2009th year of the Christian Era.

If you can do only a few of what I suggest, you will be remembered by the world as a great leader. Then the United States will again be the most admired nation. Your embassies will be able to take down the high fences and razor-wire coils that surround them.

May I wish you a Happy New Year and a great Presidency.

Yours Sincerely,


Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad
(Former Prime Minister of Malaysia)
(Kredit juga kepada chedet.com)

Friday, January 2, 2009

MOHD. ABDUL WAHID ENDUT, WAKAF MEMPELAM ASSEMBLYMAN - PAS CANDIDATE FOR KUALA TERENGGANU


Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut (PAS) vs. Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wab Salleh

January 02, 2009 00:19 AM
Pas Names Wakaf Mempelam Assemblyman For KT By-Election
By: Ramjit

KUALA TERENGGANU, Jan 1 (Bernama) -- State assemblyman for Wakaf Mempelam Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut has been named as Pas candidate for the Kuala Terengganu by-election.Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang made the announcement in front of 8,000 party supporters at Stadium Negeri here tonight.

Hadi said he personally picked Wahid, 52, who has served as Wakaf Mempelam assemblyman since 1990 after getting views from many quarters, and Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat had endorsed it."It was very difficult to choose the Pas candidate because all the names forwarded are good -- no corruption, no money politics and no political abuse," he said.

Hadi told reporters later that Wahid was chosen because of his reputation as the Wakaf Mempelam assemblyman for five terms.As a state executive councillor in charge of entrepreneur development and youths when Pas ruled Terengganu from 1999 to 2003, Wahid was able to draw voters from all walks of life including youths, he said."Our candidate has the experience as a people's representative; has never lost in the past five general elections," he said.Wahid is Terengganu Pas treasurer and the party's Kuala Terengganu chief. He holds a degree in marine science and fisheries from Universiti Putra Malaysia.Meanwhile, Wahid said he had many issues to be raised during the campaign but would not attack his opponent personally.

The Barisan Nasional candidate for the by-election, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, when asked on Wahid's candicacy, said whoever his opponent, it would not change the coalition's approach and principles to bring the message of development for the Kuala Terengganu people.-- BERNAMA
Source...

Thursday, January 1, 2009

KUALA TERENGGANU-SYED AZMAN DIRAMAL BERTANDING

Adun Batu Buruk diramal bertanding


Dr. Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi, ADUN Batu Buruk (PAS), Pernah Menjadi MP Kuala Terangganu pada tahun 1999.

KUALA TERENGGANU: Pas malam ini dijangka mengumumkan Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Batu Buruk, Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi sebagai calon bagi merampas kembali kerusi Parlimen Kuala Terengganu yang disifatkan sebagai antara kubu kuat parti itu, dalam pilihan raya kecil 17 Januari ini. Bagaimanapun, sumber rapat parti itu menjelaskan pucuk pimpinan parti itu turut mempertimbangkan Pesuruhjaya Pas negeri, Datuk Mustafa Ali yang mewakili calon kumpulan ulama untuk digalaskan dengan tanggungjawab mengembalikan kerusi Parlimen Kuala Terengganu yang sudah terlepas sejak dua penggal lalu. Pengumuman senarai calon Pas yang akan bertanding akan diumumkan oleh Presiden Pas, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang di Stadium Negeri, malam ini.

Dalam pilihan raya umum Mac lalu, Dr Syed Azman yang juga Ahli Jawatankuasa Pas pusat menewaskan calon BN, Nordiana Shafie di Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Batu Burok dengan majoriti 1,161 undi. Mustafa atau lebih mesra dengan panggilan ‘Cikgu Par’ bertanding di DUN Alur Limbat dalam Parlimen Marang, tetapi tewas kepada calon BN, Alias Abdullah dengan majoriti 799 undi.
UNTUK REKOD:-
Parliment Kuala Terengganu meliputi 4 DUN. Tiga (3) daripadanya dikuasai oleh PAS, iaitu:-
1. DUN Ladang - dimenangi Dato' Tengku Hassan Tengku Omar (PAS)
2. DUN Wakap Mempelam - dimenangi Haji Abdul Wahid Endut (PAS)
3. DUN Batu Buruk -di menangi Dr. Syed Azman (PAS)
4. DUN Bandar - dimenangi Toh Chin Yau (BN)

SUMBER......
http://www.bharian.com.my/Current_News/BH/Thursday/Nasional/20090101111756/Article/index_html
Related.......
Finally, PAS chooses Syed Azman for KT

Dr. Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi, PAS candidate for Kuala Terengganu.

.......The selection of the candidate for the Kuala Terengganu by-election has been a contentious issue in Pas, resulting in the party commissioning two independent surveys. Both revealed that Syed Azman is the best candidate for the party.

A British-trained political scientist, Syed Azman had served in Indiana State University, the Japan Institute of Tokyo, University of Malaya and International Islamic University before winning the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat in 1999........

MORE......
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/15058-finally-pas-chooses-syed-azman-for-kt

Can Asia Emerge Stronger?


FEER(12/5) Can Asia Emerge Stronger?
Asia is being hit by financial tsunami whose epicenter is in the developed countries, but which has had an impact so far on hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Unlike the Asian financial crisis of 1997 caused by poor macroeconomic policies and weak financial systems in the region, this time most Asian countries are being affected despite strong macroeconomic fundamentals and sound banks and corporations. The richer Asian economies of Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore are all currently in recession. The rest of Asia is still growing, but regional growth will decline in 2008 and 2009 by as much as three to four percentage points -- more sharply than expected -- sending millions of people whose lost jobs back into poverty.

This is especially bad news because of the good news that preceded the crisis. In the past decade, Asia was able to lift some 300 million people out of extreme poverty. And it had brought its economic house in order. But now, all these gains are under threat from the current crisis. Given that almost 900 million people still live in extreme poverty in Asia -- living on less than $1.25 per day -- the current turmoil has the potential to become a social disaster and increase political tensions. Instead of further progress in the fight against poverty, even the recent gains are at risk of reversal unless Asian countries take urgent action. As late as September this year, Asia appeared headed to achieve the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals by 2015, but that assessment now seems to be in doubt and could be derailed......... (Click below to continue or read more)

Read More.....

About This Blog


Dan adapun orang-orang yang takut kepada kebesaran Tuhannya dan menahan diri dari keinginan hawa nafsunya. Maka sesungguhnya syurgalah tempat tinggalnya. (al-Naziat ayat 40-41)

"Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes...known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few. . . No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare."
- James Madison, Political Observations, 1795

santapan rohani ii

Al-hadith :ثلاثةٌ قد حَرّمَ اللهُ - تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى - عليهم الجنةَ : مُدْمِنُ الخمر ، والعاقّ ، والدّيّوثُ الذييُقِرُّ في أَهْلِهِ الخُبْثَ . رواه أحمد والنسائيErtinya : "Tiga yang telah Allah haramkan baginya Syurga : orang yang ketagih arak, si penderhaka kepada ibu bapa dan Si Dayus yang membiarkan maksiat dilakukan oleh ahli keluarganya" ( Riwayat Ahmad )

PEGANGAN

Ingatlah firman Allah Taala:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا بِطَانَةً مِنْ دُونِكُمْ لَا يَأْلُونَكُمْ خَبَالًا وَدُّوا مَا عَنِتُّمْ قَدْ بَدَتِ الْبَغْضَاءُ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَمَا تُخْفِي صُدُورُهُمْ أَكْبَرُ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ (118) هَا أَنْتُمْ أُولَاءِ تُحِبُّونَهُمْ وَلَا يُحِبُّونَكُمْ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْكِتَابِ كُلِّهِ وَإِذَا لَقُوكُمْ قَالُوا آمَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْا عَضُّوا عَلَيْكُمُ الْأَنَامِلَ مِنَ الْغَيْظِ قُلْ مُوتُوا بِغَيْظِكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ (119)

Maksudnya: “Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! janganlah kamu mengambil orang-orang yang bukan dari kalangan kamu menjadi “orang dalam” (yang dipercayai). mereka tidak akan berhenti-henti berusaha mendatangkan bencana kepada kamu. mereka sukakan apa yang menyusahkan kamu. telahpun nyata (tanda) kebencian mereka pada pertuturan mulutnya, dan apa yang disembunyikan oleh hati mereka lebih besar lagi. Sesungguhnya telah Kami jelaskan kepada kamu keterangan-keterangan itu jika kamu (mahu) memahaminya. Awaslah! kamu ini adalah orang-orang (yang melanggar larangan), kamu sahajalah yang suka (dan percayakan mereka, sedang mereka tidak suka kepada kamu. kamu juga beriman kepada Segala Kitab Allah (sedang mereka tidak beriman kepada Al-Quran). dan apabila mereka bertemu dengan kamu mereka berkata: “Kami beriman”, tetapi apabila mereka berkumpul sesama sendiri, mereka menggigit hujung jari kerana geram marah (kepada kamu), Katakanlah (Wahai Muhammad): “Matilah kamu Dengan kemarahan kamu itu”. Sesungguhnya Allah sentiasa mengetahui akan Segala (isi hati) yang ada di dalam dada.” [Ali Imran: 118 & 119]
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تُولِجُ اللَّيْلَ فِي النَّهَارِ وَتُولِجُ النَّهَارَ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَتُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَتُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَتَرْزُقُ مَنْ تَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍآل عمران : 27

"Engkaulah (Wahai Tuhan) yang memasukkan waktu malam ke dalam waktu siang, dan Engkaulah yang memasukkan waktu siang ke dalam waktu malam. Engkaulah juga yang mengeluarkan sesuatu yang hidup dari benda yang mati, dan Engkaulah yang mengeluarkan benda yang mati dari sesuatu yang hidup. Engkau jualah yang memberi rezeki kepada sesiapa yang Engkau kehendaki, dengan tiada hitungan hisabnya".

bermubahalah

“Siapa yang membantahmu tentang kisah Isa-Setelah engkau beroleh pengetahuan yang meyakinkan tentang hal itu, maka katakanlah kepada mereka : Marilah kita panggil (kumpulan) anak-anak kami dan anak-anak kalian, isteri-isteri kami, dan isteri-isteri kalian, diri-diri kami dan diri-diri kalian, kemudian kita bermubahalah kepada Allah, mohon agar Allah menjatuhkan laknat-Nya kepada pihak yang berdusta.” (Ali Imran : 61)