Khairy Jamaluddin seizes chance to divide PAS-DAP

In hudud, Khairy seizes his chance to widen Pas-DAP divide

Deputy Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin attempted today to drive a wedge between Pakatan Rakyat parties by criticising Pas vice-president Datuk Husam Musa’s apparent U-turn on hudud.

Raising the temperature on the hudud debate, he said Husam was bowing to the intimidation of the DAP when he admitted it would be difficult for Pas to implement strict Islamic law without the agreement of its partners in the PR alliance.

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Khairy Jamaluddin instigates and brings out the dark side

ISA used on reporters but Khairy and Ahmad Ismail are unpunished

BN’s Parliament sandiwara exposed

Malaysia under Barisan Nasional – pitiable progress

Strategy for growth

We are halfway towards the year 2020. The average real income per capita compared to advanced nations (Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development), Malaysia’s real income per capita rose 1% from 14% to 15% between 1997 to 2007.

South Korea’s grew 10 percentage points from 44% to 54% over the same period.

In the early 70s, Malaysia could be considered at par with South Korea. Today, the gap has widened. We need to increase our efforts and focus on keeping pace with countries like South Korea. We only have 12 years before 2020.

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Malaysians lament greed and mismanagement

Malaysia’s broadband, far behind other Asia Tigers

Malaysian growth model needs urgent rethink

Malaysia back-pedals into the future

Malaysia is a pale shadow of itself compared to 10 years ago

Malaysia headed for trouble

Najib outlines 3 main factors for skilled and ‘holistic’ Malaysian

Najib: We have the right recipe for success

Maybank’s profit falls 22% (Najib says Malaysia will not be hit hard ?)

Annual renewal of printing license should be abolished

Dompok: Review yearly press permits

The time has come for the Government to consider doing away with the annual renewal of the printing licence for the print media, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.

Instead of renewing it annually, it could be renewed every five years or so, he said.

“This is, in fact, the very essence of democracy,” he said during a United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) gathering with the media yesterday.

Dompok, who is Upko president, said the country could not have democracy without the contribution of the media. He citied Indonesia as an example of a country practicing freedom of the press whereby the print media was not required to apply for a printing permit.

Najib says no objection in principle to Sime Darby to acquire stake in National Heart Institute

No objection to Sime Darby stake in IJN: Najib (Updated)

The Government has no objection in principle to the request by Sime Darby Bhd to acquire a stake in the National Heart Institute (IJN), Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

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Barisan’s Permatang Pauh loss was due to swearing by Saiful and Najib

Barisan’s ugly campaign in Permatang Pauh

Badawi faces calls to quit after Najib’s botched and ugly campaign in Permatang Pauh

Najib flees from angry crowd at Permatang Pauh

Najib says Kuala Terengganu win is crucial to reclaim dignity after Permatang Pauh’s loss

The New Straits Times Online……

He said obtaining a mandate on Jan 17 was important for two reasons: to reclaim the party’s dignity after the loss in the Permatang Pauh by-election and in honour of Razali’s contribution to both state and country.

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Barisan’s Permatang Pauh loss was due to swearing by Saiful and Najib

Barisan’s ugly campaign in Permatang Pauh

Badawi faces calls to quit after Najib’s botched and ugly campaign in Permatang Pauh

Najib flees from angry crowd at Permatang Pauh

Najib deferred IJN sale because of Kuala Terengganu by-election ?

The New Straits Times Online…….

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday claimed that the sale of the National Heart Institute (IJN) would proceed after the Kuala Terengganu by-election on Jan 17.
He said the opposition stood firm in its belief that IJN should not be taken over by Sime Darby to ensure poor heart patients continued to get treatment.

“Heart patient fear they may have to solicit for funds to finance treatment should IJN be privatised,” he said after opening a futsal tournament at Safira Country Club here.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Friday had announced that the takeover plan had been put on hold pending a study by the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department, Finance Ministry and Health Ministry.

Najib said the cabinet decided on the deferment following reactions from various quarters to the proposed takeover.
He had also denied that the decision had been influenced by the by-election.

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Maybank’s profit falls 22% (Najib says Malaysia will not be hit hard ?)

Najib’s proposed widening budget deficit worries economists

Low expectations for Najib

Najib’s denial of Malaysia’ problems disappoints economists

Dr. Mahathir not satisfied with Najib’s explanation of MV Augusta sale

Najib cannot manage economy or fix corrupt and rotten system

What are Badawi and Najib not telling us ?

Badawi says NEP is no longer in existence

Pak Lah: NEP No Longer In Existence

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi emphasised that the New Economic Policy is no longer in existence today.

“The NEP is a policy which is no longer in existence. The objective of this policy has been to eradicate poverty, as you all know.”

He said during an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily at his private residence in Kuala Lumpur that the way the NEP was implemented had triggered the dissatisfaction among many people, including some Malays, adding that Malaysians needed a more transparent policy and open market.

He said, according to the UN Millennium Development Report, Malaysia is one of the countries that have drastically reduced the poverty rates. Nevertheless, the media have hardly reported on the country’s success in reducing poverty.

“If you want to show the country’s poverty in order to overthrow the government, or make the people very angry with the government, you can always show this kind of pictures on the TV every day. You can show the pictures of people lacking food supply, but that will be very unfair to the government, for the country’s overall poverty rate has dropped!”

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Khir Toyo says Umno must continue NEP to stay relevant

Najib ignores Malaysia’s constitutional history, social contract and says Malaysia was never a secular state, is an Islamic nation, Islamic state

Malaysia: Racial division sharper after 50 years

Khir Toyo says Umno leaders must FIRMLY and UNAPOLOGETICALLY protect Malay rights

Should the NEP be abolished ?

Nazir Razak’s reply

The NEP (National Economic Policy) was meant to be a 20-year exercise that, according to Tun Razak in 1971, is “… not aimed at promoting any sectional interest but is a blueprint for the progress and unity of our Nation.”

The NEP has had many successes against poverty and in uplifting the economic well-being of Malays but it now has gone on for 18 years longer than the founding fathers planned and is sadly seen by too many as a major cause of national disunity.

Furthermore, since the NEP was introduced, the competitive landscape of nations has changed dramatically, the complexion of our economy has transformed and Malaysians are quite different too.

I would suggest that we set up a closed-door forum of the best and brightest Malaysians to openly discuss the future of the NEP. At the very least, we need to change some out-dated implementation policies.

On a related note, I also feel disturbed that we can’t even seem to talk about vernacular schools. Again, why not set up a parallel forum to openly discuss all aspects of the education system so that future generations have a real chance of realising Bangsa Malaysia?

Badawi’s judiciary reform falls short

Malaysia PM defends his judicial reforms – International Herald Tribune

..The reputation of Malaysia’s judiciary has suffered from a series of scandals including a secretly taped video showing a lawyer allegedly brokering the appointment of senior judge in a telephone conversation with someone who was later appointed the chief justice.

At present the prime minister appoints the judges at his discretion without the need to justify his choice or consult others. The recent appointment of a former ruling party lawyer as the chief justice has also triggered opposition criticism about the independence of the judiciary.

The Judicial Appointments Commission calls for setting up a nine-member panel of judicial and nonjudicial persons who would recommend to the prime minister a set of names for the job of senior judges.

However, the prime minister has the prerogative to reject the recommendations and ask for fresh names until he picks one that he thinks is a suitable candidate.

Abdullah said the judicial commission will lend “more transparency” to the system, insisting that no prime minister would misuse his power.

“I am sure the prime minister will not do anything that will ultimately put him in bad light. His reputation will be at stake,” he said.

Opposition leaders say the country cannot rely solely on the prime minister’s fear of sullying his reputation to have an independent judiciary. They say the prime minister should have no role at all in picking judges.

The new law “is totally unsatisfactory and unequal to the task to restore national and international confidence in the independence, impartiality and integrity of the Malaysian judiciary,” Lim Kit Siang of the opposition Democratic Action Party said.

Proton needs foreign partner

Malaysia leader says Proton needs foreign alliance – MSNBC Wire Services – msnbc.com

Malaysia’s leader said that national carmaker Proton, criticized for shoddy workmanship and poor after-sales service, should tie-up with a strong foreign partner in a joint venture to remain competitive.

The comments by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi came amid news Wednesday that Proton has been sued by its former Chinese joint-venture partner, Goldstar Heavy Industrial Co. Ltd., for 1 billion yuan ($146 million) in compensation for breach of contract.

Abdullah indicated in an interview with The Associated Press that Proton should be willing to give majority control to a partner in a joint venture if necessary but refused to be drawn on specifics.

Asked if a foreign partner can hold a majority 51 percent stake, he said: “It doesn’t matter as long as Proton, the mother company, is entirely ours.”

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Proton struggling without foreign partner

Proton downgraded

Malaysia’s Proton needs strategic partner – Khazanah – Forbes.com

Malaysia’s Proton shares tumble after VW talks end