Khir clamouring to repair public image

The Selangor government today clamoured to repair its tattered public image over its handling of the Datuk Zainal@Zakaria Mat Deros case.

In a press statement, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo said the state had actually asked the Port Klang assemblyman to voluntarily step down as Klang municipal councillor even before his meeting with Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah on Saturday (Oct 28, 2006).

Khir said this was not revealed earlier as the state government wanted to give Zakaria a chance to resign from the post on his own in the interest of the people and the state, thus solving the problem without causing disrespect to any parties.

He said Zakaria was told to relinquish his position as councillor voluntarily and to inform the Sultan about it during their meeting.

“However, his failure to do so forces the state to make this public,” he said.

Khir’s handling of the issue had invited criticisms that the state had dragged its feet on this matter, forcing the Sultan to intervene.

Khir suggested that the Local Government Act 1976 be amended to allow the appointment of professionals as councillors for their respective areas.

When asked to clarify this statement, since the present law provides for such appointments, a state government spokesperson said this was because the Act was not specific.

Source: The Sun

Read:

Khir says Zakaria’s resignation will maintain Umno’s good name, his party position not affected because it is civil matter

Selangor under Khir – sad state of affairs

Khir’s new tune: law-breakers not fit to be councillor, now says there is crisis

Khir dragging his feet re Zakaria scandal, Sultan deeply disappointed

Food court converted to commercial complex

A company owned by a city councillor has “converted” what was supposed to be a food court into a commercial complex.

Johanjana Corporation Sdn Bhd, of which one of the three directors is Datuk Yahaya Bujang – an MBPJ councillor – is leasing retail space in the complex.

(MBPJ has since clarified that at the time the privatisation contract was awarded, Yahya was not a councillor.)

The original layout plan, which was made available to theSun, showed the plot marked as Bazaar MPPJ and any change to its land use must be with the consent of the owners of neighbouring property.

However, residents claimed they were never consulted and asserted that when they viewed the plans prior to buying their homes in 2002, it was indicated that the land sandwiched by Jalan BU 4/3 and Jalan Changkat Bandar Utama was meant for gerai makan (food stalls).

There are no project signboard erected outside the construction site as required by the law to indicate who owns it or who is developing it, except one by the letting agents, Nawawie Tie Leung.

According to building plans submitted by Yahya in his capacity as a director of the company, MPPJ had approved it as “Dua tingkat bangunan medan makanan” (double-storey food court).

The complex is called the Oasis and checks by theSun showed that there will be only two food outlets.

“The rest are for retail outlets,” said one of the two agents whose names and contact numbers are listed on a signboard outside the premise.

Council public relations and corporate director Haniza Abdul Hamid said Yahaya was not a councillor when its economic development, real estate and privatisation committee approved the project on July 23, 2003.

No tenders were called because the project was awarded on a “negotiated” basis.

Source: The Sun

MPK takes action against other councillors after Zakaria’s case came to light

Two Klang Municipal Council members were ordered to stop work on the homes they were building by the council. They had both failed to submit the building plans for the construction of their houses. 

The council told Mazlynoor Abdul Latif and Faizal Abdullah to suspend work on their respective houses in Kampung Raja Uda and directed them to submit the building plans for these properties. 

”I was not aware that they were building the houses. Why should I bother about their plans to build houses? They are educated people. They should know the regulations,” Bakir said.  

Source: The Star

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Abdul Bakir’s headache with Zakaria Deros

Klang Umno rallies behind Zakaria

The Klang Umno division rallied behind its chief Datuk Zakaria Md Deros with a show of support and loyalty, claiming that he had been “sabotaged” by the Opposition. 

“The entire thing is the work of the Opposition to discredit him. The only thing wrong here is the non-submission of building plans, that’s all,” division information chief Shoimi Shafie told pressmen at 6.45pm yesterday after the division held an emergency meeting. 

Those who attended the meeting at the division’s headquarters in Pandamaran included division deputy chairman Datuk Mazlynoor Abdul Latiff, division Wanita chief Senator Datin Paduka Norhayati Onn Ismail and acting Youth chief Zainuri, who is Zakaria’s son. 

Source: The Star

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Zakaria Deros – semua ok ?

Mazlynoor also building without submitting plans

Khir says Zakaria’s resignation will maintain Umno’s good name, his party position not affected because it is civil matter

Nov 8 will be D-day for Datuk Zakaria Mat Deros.

The Port Klang State Assemblyman has to resign as a Klang municipal councillor by then or be dropped by the state government.
This is Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo’s ultimatum to the embattled Klang Umno division chief who built a luxury mansion without official approval.

“If he relinquishes his post, it would show that he is still a responsible person.
“It would also mean that he realises his many mistakes and can still maintain his good name and that of the party,” he told reporters at his Hari Raya open house at Simpang Lima, Sungai Besar, here yesterday.

On why the controversy would not affect Zakaria’s position in Umno, Dr Khir said this was because it was a civil matter.
“Umno can take action (against party leaders) if the issue involves criminal breach of trust, imprisonment or a crime,” he said.

On councillors with outstanding problems like Zakaria, he said the state government had decided to give them a two-month grace period to resolve the issues.
He said they would be dropped if they could not resolve their problems during that period.

Source: New Straits Times

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Selangor under Khir – sad state of affairs

Selangor under Khir – sad state of affairs

After the 20-minute meeting, Zakaria kissed the Sultan’s hand and again begged for forgiveness.

“Tuanku indicated that he should also seek forgiveness from the rakyat and those he had wronged,” added a state official who was present at the Istana.

The official also said the Sultan had spoken to Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo before this, telling him to take appropriate action against Zakaria.

As Zakaria left Istana Bukit Kayangan, what dawned on many was this ­ that it is a sad state of affairs when the Sultan has to intervene in matters that should have been resolved at government or party level by those who had pledged to protect and serve.

Source: The Sun 30 Oct 06

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Khir – pledged to protect and serve, but …

A Malay to make us proud

When interviewed about the CPPS report (Mingguan Malaysia, Oct 8), Umno vice-president and Minister of Agriculture Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was asked this question: If the Malays are no longer assisted, what would happen in the future?

His answer? Melayu akan jadi ’sampah’ dalam masyarakat.

Rafidah has this to say:

“I’m saying that ALL poor people, regardless of ethnicity, should be helped, not only because this will avoid resentment, not only because it’s the right thing to do, but also because I pay taxes and I should be allowed to express my opinion on how to spend the money.

But the bigger part of what I’m saying is that it is irresponsible of the minister to make such a statement because it conditions the Malays to think that if they don’t receive government help, they will amount to nothing. It conditions the Malays to think that on a level playing field, they will surely lose. Even the best athletes, if conditioned to rely on a particular product, will become mentally vulnerable regardless of their true capabilities.

Surely the minister realises all this. What then is his motive in making such a sampah statement?”

Read the rest of her storey in The Sun

Read:

What these politicians tell us:

Khairy says his piece about the ASLI report

Najib: There should be consensus on sensitive economic data

EPU figures do not need reexamination

Muhyiddin says many Malays still need assistance

Badawi says ASLI report is inaccurate and baseless

Sultan advised Zakaria to quit and repent

Embattled Port Klang state assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Md Deros has been advised by Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to voluntarily relinquish his Klang municipal councillor post and mend his “wayward” ways, or risk being stripped of his Datukship.

Source: The Star

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Khir’s actions:

Khir:I don’t know, I am still waiting for report

Khir said law-breakers can become councillors

Khir dragging his feet re Zakaria scandal, Sultan deeply disappointed

Khir acts … finally … collectively … to maintain public confidence

Khir regret’s Zakaria’s action

Khir’s new tune: law-breakers not fit to be councillor, now says there is crisis

Zakaria shows up in palace

Zakaria had arrived at the palace in a Toyota Harrier at 10.50am accompanied by six men including two of his sons.

Sporting a pair of Gucci sunglasses, he beamed and waved to the barrage of pressmen and cameramen from the steps of the palace entrance.

Source: The Star

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Zakaria Deros

Umno Youth’s support for Abdullah cannot be questioned

Umno Youth is “sick and tired” of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s attitude of constantly criticising Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. 

Its chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said Umno Youth’s support for Abdullah’s leadership, who is also the party president, cannot be questioned. 

“As the Umno Youth chief, I will never ever allow our members’ attention to be distracted because of the current polemics, nor will I allow this movement to be divided,” he said in a statement yesterday. 

“We will continue to defend the party’s institution and ensure that its fight is still relevant. 

“I myself will go down to the ground to carry out the responsibility mandated to me as the Education Minister.” 

Source: The Star