The new leaders in MCA

The MCA party elections on Saturday saw members polling for Datuk Ong Tee Keat as the new president while Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek won the deputy president’s seat. The four vice-presidents are Datuk Kong Cho Ha, Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, Tan Kok Hong and Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen, who became the first woman to hold this post.

MIC will continue to seek release of Hindraf 5

Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu, the president of MIC said that the party will still continue to request for the release of the Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Force) 5 leaders who are detained under the ISA (Internal Security Act) despite the ban of the movement by the government. He said “Regarding the ban on Hindraf, no comment. I don’t have any reaction. I don’t like to comment on it,” He also commented about the affects of the ban on MIC where he said “MIC stands on its own foundation. We have more than 600,000 members. Now, they are saying that the voice comes from there? What do they voice out? Whose voice is it? The voice normally comes from MIC. The demands come from MIC. The plans are formulated by MIC. We have a special Cabinet Committee to protect the interests of the Indian community through MIC. Voicing out issues? Anyone can do it. It is not difficult to voice out your opinions. What’s hard is implementing actions that can benefit the Indian community. We have representatives in Cabinet. I have raised certain issues concerning the community. Now, (Human Resources Minister) Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam raises issues on a weekly basis. Not through massive street demonstrations. We plan it from our office and raise it to the Government and the Prime Minister,”

Najib nafi campur kes Altantuya

Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak menafikan dakwaan yang beliau menyalahgunakan kuasa dengan campur tangan dalam siasatan pembunuhan wanita Mongolia, Altantuya Shaaribu. Beliau menegaskan adalah tidak perlu untuk beliau memberikan khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS) antara beliau dan seorang peguam terkemuka. ‘‘Saya tidak perlu memberikan sebarang komen mengenai perkara tersebut. Apa yang penting tidak ada sebarang penyalahgunaan kuasa,” katanya.
Sebuah portal berita membuat laporan bahawa Najib telah menyalahgunakan kuasa dengan campur tangan urusan kes Altantuya. Laporan itu mengatakan terdapat mesej komunikasi antara Najib dengan seorang peguam terkemuka yang mewakili Abdul Razak Baginda, salah seorang lelaki yang didakwa bersubahat dengan dua pegawai polis dalam pembunuhan Altantuya. –Malaysia Today

15 sen reduction for petrol

The Prime Minister’s office today released an official statement that with effective 15 October 2008, RON97 petrol will be reduced by 15sen to RM2.30 per liter while RON92 petrol is reduced to RM2.20 per liter. The statement reads "The lowering of the fuel prices is also made to speed up the reduction of retail prices so that the people will be able to enjoy the benefits sooner,"

Country not in recession - PM

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that the country is not heading to recession as the economic fundamentals are strong so as the reserves and trade surplus. He said “I believe, insya-Allah (God willing), we can weather the storm. We still have strong economic fundamentals. We have very strong reserves. Our trade surplus is still strong. We do have high domestic savings. We are not in any kind of turmoil. We have a healthy democracy,” he added that “We have a lot of assets that we can use to withstand the impact of the situation we are facing today, but I’m not saying that it’s going to be easy. It’s going to be tough. If we stand together, if the rakyat (citizenry) supports the Government, we can continue to work well with the private sector as a unit. We should be able to weather the storm,”

Anwar sifatkan bajet lapuk

Ketua Pembangkang, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PKR-Pematang Pauh) yang tetap mahu meneruskan n perbahasan Bajet 2009 walaupun cubaan untuk menangguhkan perbahasan ditolak oleh Timbalan Yang Dipertua Dewan Rakyat, Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar. Ketua Umum Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) itu bebahas selama 4 jam setengah dan akan menyambungnya pada hari ini. Anwar menegaskan Bajet 2009 dibuat semasa harga minyak ialah AS$125 setong (RM425 setong) sedangkan harga sekarang pada paras AS$77 (RM261 setong) dan data-data ekonominya amat berbeza.
Ianya turut disokong oleh Penasihat DAP, Lim Kit Siang (DAP- Ipoh Timur) yang mengemukakan peraturan mesyuarat Perkara 52 (1) dan 53(4) di mana Menteri Kewangan boleh memberikan notis sehari untuk mengemukakan pindaan Bajet 2009. –Malaysia Today

PM dissapointed with Hindraf supporters at open house

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that he is disappointed with the Hindraf (Hindu Action Rights Force) supporters who came to the open house hosted by him and the cabinet and that the security personnel and police should have seek his clearance before letting them in. He said “I discussed it with (his deputy) Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and the other ministers. My view was that they wanted to come to the open house, which is open to all and we do not stop any group from coming to wish us and join other guests. We even welcomed non-Malaysians who came in huge numbers. In that spirit I told the security people to ask them to come in. But they came in and there was a lot of noise, I don’t know why. The rest I heard very clearly – ‘Hapuskan ISA, Lepaskan Hindraf; Hapuskan ISA, Lepaskan Hindraf’ (Repeal the ISA, Release the Hindraf detainees). That was all they wanted to say to me. They did not have the spirit of Hari Raya, to enjoy and join in the celebration. But this one has created a lot of unhappiness to many people,” He added that “I was not present, if they were some among the 70 who wished Selamat Hari Raya, I wouldn’t know. But when I was there and this happened, nobody was interested to wish Selamat Hari Raya. Some of them even skipped my ministers. Even Datuk Seri Najib, some of them skipped also,”

Keputusan Abdullah akan kukuhkan UMNO - Mahathir

Bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad berpendapat keputusan yang dibuat oleh Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi untuk tidak mempertahankan jawatan Presiden UMNO pada pemilihan parti Mac tahun depan mampu membantu mengembalikan kekutan UMNO. Beliau berkata langkah itu dapat memulihkan semula keyakinan rakyat terhadap Barisan Nasioanal (BN) yang terjejas teruk pada pilihanraya umum lalu.
''Nasib baik pandangan saya sebelum ini tersasar kerana dalam blog, saya tulis beliau tidak akan letak jawatan. Sebaliknya beliau telah membuat pengumuman itu, sudah tentu ia amat menggembirakan bagi UMNO, bukan untuk diri saya tapi untuk UMNO bagi membolehkan parti itu diperkukuhkan semula," katanya. Mahathir turut berkata walaupun terdapat banyak pihak mahu Abdullah meletakkan jawatan sekarang, namun mereka tetap berharap beliau akan terus berusaha untuk mengukuhkan UMNO dan BN sehingga tempoh Mac. –Malaysia Today

Dr. Koh wins presidency for Gerakan

Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, the acting president of Gerakan is now the permanent president of the party after winning the post uncontested. He said “I have mixed feelings. I am happy and honoured to take on this heavy responsibility. I will work will all leaders in Gerakan and together we will face and overcome all the challenges. There is still a lot of interest and trust given to the party and I welcome such a move. It is positive and encouraging. Just the day before there was still talk that some people were offering their services for the post of president,”