Thursday, June 25, 2009

1MALAYSIA BEGINS FROM 1REGION...


Yes, thats a new campaign which I hope could help educate my audience, the internal audience on the downstream of the 1Malaysia concept.

As far as this particular ministry is concerned, I like to put in a small piece (as my contribution) into the big picture -- that 1Malaysia Begins From 1Region. After all, we are Ministry of Rural and Regional Development...

Hence, We are 1 Region, 1Malaysia...1Malaysia Begins From 1Region...

Monday, June 1, 2009

SELAMAT ULANGTAHUN KE-51...



Selamat Hari Lahir Kak Intan...

Hari ini adalah Hari Ulangtahun ke-51 kekanda saya, Halijah atau lebih kami kenali beliau sebagai Kak Intan.

Hari ini juga adalah Hari Ulangtahun Ke-51 Tentera Udara DiRaja Malaysia atau TUDM.

Umur kekanda saya dengan TUDM adalah sama kerana kelahiran pada tarikh yang sama. Kebetulan beliau pernah berkhidmat dengan TUDM dan jawatan terakhir beliau ialah Sarjan di Pangkalan Tentera Udara DiRaja Malaysia Ipoh, Perak.

Tahun lepas semasa TUDM merayakan Perayaan Jubli Emasnya, Kak Intan saya (yang juga menyambut ulangtahun ke-50 nya) tidak dijemput untuk menjadi sebahagian daripada sambutan berkenaan, malahan surat penghargaan (atau nota pengiktirafan) pun tiada.

Boleh dimaafkan sekiranya Markas TUDM di Kuala Lumpur tidak menyedari kepentingan atau signifikan ini namun ia adalah kesilapan atau kealpaan yang agak ketara di pihak Pangkalan Tentera Udara DiRaja Ipoh, tempat terakhir beliau bertugas.

Mungkin mereka terlupa bahawa dalam ramai warga yang berkhidmat dan pernah berkhidmat dengan TUDM hanya seorang sahaja yang menyambut hari kelahirannya pada tarikh yang sama dengan kelahiran pasukan, ataupun dalam ramai yang pernah menjadi warga kerjanya, hanya tarikh lahir seorang sahaja yang begitu signifikan dengan kelahiran pasukan.

Tidak mungkin ada lagi warga kerja TUDM yang pernah atau sedang berkhidmat ketika ini yang mempunyai persamaan yang ketara ini. Namun mungkin ianya tidak signifikan kepada TUDM. Bagaimanapun bagi Puan Halijah dan kepada kami semua ia amat penting dan signifikan.

Disamping itu beliau juga adalah puteri sulung Kolonel (U) Mohd Ali Haji Rejab, seorang pegawai kanan TUDM yang pernah memberi khidmat terbaik dan menabur bakti kepada pasukan sehingga hari terakhir perkhidmatannya.

Selamat Hari Lahir Kak Intan...kami semua, Rohana, Zahir, Zaim, Zafir, Henny dan saya amat menyayangi mu, sentiasa!! Semoga KekandaKu dipanjangkan umur dan dipelihara ALLAH SWBT setiap masa...InsyALLAH...


Saturday, May 2, 2009

FADASON, PARLO ITALIANO??



FADASON...if you must ask, what's that all about?

Sounds very Italian, no?

But heck no, it is not an Italian outfit but simply a Malaysian company, in fact one of the fastest growing developers in Kuala Lumpur despite the glooming economic outlook enveloping the country.

This company has been doing well with several projects here there and is on its way up the apex of developers in the Klang Valley and this outfit outshines the others in meritrocracy.

By looking at the name I would instantly knew that it derives from a combination of names of a father and son (or sons because there are quite a number of brothers in the family). This is a well-known family in politics because they de-hemogenise their presence in a single constituency but spread out their footings in Kedah, Penang and Wilayah Persekutuan.

Latest the youngest politician in the family was appointed to Majlis Tertinggi Umno, a political resurrection of sort for the 40 something man who was quite promising at one time but faced an almost political dead-end in Kedah when he was just made an ordinary state assemblyman.

However, he lost a parliamentary seat he contested in the last general election. But then again, who did not? Most Umno candidates including the good ones drowned in the 2008 tsunami.

Now prime minister Najib T. Razak acknowledges his political acumen and bestowed greatness in him once again.

He is part of FADASON, in fact he is the dynamics behind the name.

If you drive along Jalan Kepong you will not miss the name, proudly displayed on several signboards.

FADASON, agustie italiano?...scuze paisan!!

Friday, April 24, 2009

CLEAR, PRECISE AND PRACTICAL...


After much walkabouts and talkabout, Shabery spells it out...

The setting need not be a formal and protocol-concious atmosphere for Ahmad Shabery Cheek to announce a new navigation for Sports in his second week as the new Youth and Sports Minister.

What's important that his message for Sports to be taken seriously was clear and precise and if the audience had not paid any attention to his speech at a special gathering of the KBS Family on Tuesday it was to their peril.

Shabery pointed out that it will be his tour of duty to strife for Malaysians to adopt a sporting culture, with sports as the primary concern. Sports trancends all tangible and intangible barriers and it is only apt for the ministry to expect a little tweak here and there as per the presence of the new captain to drive home the message.

"Sports is life, sports is everything and sports rises above everything. For example two hard fought boxers could be merciless and mean in the ring but once the fight is over the fighters will throw around a hug in the true sporting spirit," he told KBS (Kementerian Belia dan Sukan) staffs who filled to the brim the multipurpose hall in the adjoining building which houses the Department of Civil Aviation.

Later in the evening, the minister reiterated his message to a specific audience at the National Sports Council, saying that while Malaysians should adopt a sporting culture, sportsmen and sportswomen must also be in for the medal.

He was meeting with national sportsmen and sportswomen who were on training sessions at the sports center in Bukit Jalil during his tour to the council.

"There is no two way about it," he said, singling out the quest for medal vis-a-vis sporting excellence is another process of strengthening patriotism and nationalism. It was also the reflection of our resilient.

That Malaysians greatness in sports must be translated in the collection of medal is as good as the non-compromising stand of the ministry. Among those in the crowd listening to his short speech were Lee Chong Wei, the almost All-England champion and Beijing Olympics gold medallist, bowling champion Shalin Zulkifli, former All-England doubles champion Jailani Sidek and NSC boss Zolkples Embong.

The golfer and bowler Shabery completed his policy outline with the third point of making sports an industry, meaning that sports is to be taken seriously from now on.

"Sports should no longer be seen as the alternative for those who do not excell in academic but sports to be taken seriously as a career. In short, sports is not for the rejects," Shabery said to the shouts of Malaysia Boleh by his audience.

Then the tree-point policy has been laid out clearly and precisely and for a practical reason that sports is now a serious business in as far as the ministry is concerned.

We now await the minister's navigation on youth, the other focus of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

SYABAS AHMAD SHABERY CHEEK...


My sincere congratulation to Ahmad Shabery Cheek on his appointment as Youth and Sports Minister in Najib Tun Razak's Cabinet announced last week.

He is taking over Menara KBS once helmed by Ismail Sabri Yaakob (their identities were always confused. Ismail Sabri, 50, is the Bera MP in Pahang while Shabery, 51, is Kemaman MP in Terengganu) who had put in motion several initiatives including the Road to London which I found it to be very inspiring.

This is the ministry which produced 2 prime ministers -- Tuanku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj and Najib Tun Razak and 3 Deputy Prime Ministers -- Anwar Ibrahim, Najib and Muhyiddin Yassin. There were many colorful individuals who walked the corridors of power here at Menara KBS and I am sure you know their names.

Therefore this is NOT a junior ministry as people had always made it out to be.
It cannot be an insignificant ministry for it speaks to the bigger slice of the population -- youth who are rapidly numbering up as the majority of voters in the next general election or PRU-13. It was told that as many as 70 percent of the voters in the next general election will be our youth.

On the other hand, the ministry handles sports -- the single most important unifying factor of our country Malaysia. Yes, sports is the universal bond which unites the people from all races, creed, religion, strata, background etc.

So its gonna be a heavy responsibility for Ahmaad Shabery who is a scholar. His deputies are Wee Jeck Seng and Razali Ibrahim, both MPs are from Johor.

Shabery will be assisted by Yassin Salleh, the benign and most abled Secretary-General (the nicest KSU I have ever met) who is in turn being assisted by his two deputies -- Borhan "Bob" Dollah (management) and Mohid who is in charge of operation.

Welcome onboard Youth & Sports Minister Ahmad Shabery...I shall be of help to you...

Sunday, March 29, 2009

OF UMNO GODFATHER, BAD LOSERS AND RESIGNATION...


He walks into a grand entrance and a thunderous reception.

Very apt for the Godfather of Umno. Afterall, this is his Umno, his party and his everything.

"Wow!, what a return", somebody quipped while watching the drama unfolding at Dewan Merdeka PWTC, the very same hall he had announced "dah lama dah!" in 2003 to the unprepared crowd while winding up the debate at another assembly.

In the same breath and sentence Grand Old Masta Tun Dr Mohamad told the delegates that he is quiting after more than 20 years at the top.

This time he is staying for good, after having kept his word that he will only re-join the party once "that guy" is done with. And Abdullah Haji Ahmad is already a history.

Welcome Home Sir!


There are losers -- good losers and bad losers.

Bad losers reflect their inner self for they do not practise what they preach.

Good losers are like Mukhriz Mahathir while the opposite is embodied in an Old Lady (a grandmother actually) who was heading a movement in Umno.

There are bad losers and bad losers, and this is the latter!

Perhaps she could not take it that her tenure ends with a resounding defeat and one that she was not prepared for. But whatever it was, she should have shown her political maturity as a party elder and to show support to the victor.

When she was at the top her usual clarion call was for the Wanita Umno members to close ranks after a contest. Perhaps this time her inner self got the better of her, thus staying away from the assembly for good.


Shahrir Samad, like or hate him but this man is principled, period.

He had announced to resign the Cabinet next week. This is examplary and should be emulated by the others, especially the losers in the keenly contested party election for the Majlis Tertinggi Umno.

What about the others? Today Azalina Othman Said said she will not resign her ministership and leaving it to in-coming prime minister Najib Tun Razak to decide.

By right ALL members of the Cabinet regardless from Umno, MCA, MIC and Gerakan as well as those from Sabah and Sarawak should resign to make way for the new Cabinet.

If I am not mistaken Dr Rais Yatim, able minister and an an expert on constitutional law said the entire Cabinet is disbanded once the prime minister resigns his chair for he was the one who had nominated to the Yang DiPertuan Agong the formation of the Cabinet or Jemaah Menteri vis-a-vis the consent and appointments.

The Abdullah Cabinet should resign to help Najib prepares for his. The new chief should not be burdened with old political baggages among the members of the Cabinet and they should do the right thing.

In the step taken by Shahrir, the losers (quite a number of them!) should also announced their resignations as soon as possible.

Resigning now is politically and morally correct thing to do.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

UMNO DECIDES...



At this point of time, there aren't much to say anymore. My hope is that Umno delegates will wise up and put the party above self...

Malaysia awaits Umno delegates and we are holding our breath.

To the Umno delegates, you know what to do...ingatlah Agama, Bangsa dan Tanahair!


Saturday, March 21, 2009

IF I AM AN UMNO DELEGATE...


If I am an Umno delegate and knowing that all eyes of the nation are on the party polls next week, then I shall do what is the best for the party, country and for all and sundry.

I shall give my vote to Muhyiddin Yassin as the Deputy President.

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Shafie Apdal and Dr Rais Yatim shall be my chosen Vice-Presidents.

And I shall vote for Mukhriz Mahathir as the Umno Youth Head while his deputy should be Razali Ibrahim, Muar Member of Parliament.

Shahrizat Abdul Jalil shall be my choice for the Wanita Umno Head while her deputy Kamilia Ibrahim has already won the post uncontested.

As for the 25 Supreme Council members, I shall seek to balance important forum among the experienced and the young leaders whom had offered themselves to be considered.

Among the young leaders I shall vote for two former youth leaders -- Shaifuddin Abdullah (Pahang) and Idris Harun (Melaka) who were among most promising new faces in the post-Mac 8 general election.

But then again I am not a delegate but hoping them to do what is best for the party and the country, also for all and sundry.

Friday, March 20, 2009

JANGANLAH DOLAK DALIK LAGI...


Ketua Menteri Melaka Mohd Ali Rustam wajar meletakkan jawatannya kerana didapati bersalah melanggar etika parti oleh Lembaga Disiplin Umno, menurut mantan perdana menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Saya amat bersetuju dengan pendapat beliau dan ingin menambah bahawa selagi Ali menyandang jawatan itu, ahli Umno, rakyat dan parti pembangkang tidak akan memandang serius usaha Umno membersihkan parti daripada unsur-unsur politik wang, pesalah politik dan politik sumbang.

Tidak perlu berdolak-dalik dalam hal ini kerana Umno adalah punca segala kebangkitan seseorang itu dalam hiraki kepimpinan kerajaan dan oleh kerana parti mendapatinya bersalah maka jalan yang paling mulia untuk memelihara decorum parti ialah dengan meletak jawatan dan berehat sementara.

Pentingkan parti dan bukan diri...

Ali bukanlah yang pertama yang akan berbuat demikian kerana sebelum ini Osman Aroff, Rahim Thamby Chik, Muhammad Muhammad Taib, Abu Hassan Omar, Syed Razak Syed Zain, Sanusi Junid dan Mohd Isa Samad pernah mengosongkan kerusi mereka dek kesalahan dan masalah yang pelbagai. Ali juga bukan yang terakhir kerana selepas ini akan adalagi mereka yang bersalah dan perlu mendahulukan kepentingan parti daripada diri.

Bukankah sebelum ini Ali adalah antara yang paling lantang menyuruh Elizabeth Wong meletak jawatan ekoran peristiwa "terselak kain"?

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

KHAIRY, PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING...


Umno Youth Chief candidate Khairy Jamaluddin was found guilty of breaching Article 10.1 of the Umno membership ethics but was only given a warning, Umno Displinary Board said today.

Bernama reported that he was, however, allowed to contest on the upcoming party polls.

It was the same provision of which Mohd Ali Rustam, a candidate for the deputy presidency was found guilty of and barred from contesting, leaving to two other candidates to slug it out for the coveted job.

With his disqualification, it sure looks like Muhyuddin Yassin, perceived to be only money politics-free and favorite candidate, will have a field day at the polls and could possibly win the seat with a landslide.

It was interesting decision by the board that two members were found to have violated the same article vis-a-vis membership provision but only one was severely punished while the other got away with a slap on the wrist!

It was equally interesting to find out the degree of misconduct of these higher up positions' candidates that had led to two types of punishment -- a mild one as opposed to that of a severe.

The same situation existed during the last party elections in which one candidate for an Umno Youth division was suspended while his contender, also found guilty of the same misconduct was given a warning which tantamount to again, another slap on the wrist, or in the words of former party supremo Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, "he got away scott free".

Perhaps leniency was accorded to him for his extra-party position since he was then holding an important position in a senior minister's office at a certain floor of the main complex of the government's administrative complex in Putrajaya while his contender was a son of a retired senior government official.

For Khairy, it was his baptism of fire since this was his real fight at the top and he fumbled big time...

Whether or not his punishment commensurated with the violation of party ethics the words "didapati bersalah mengikut perkara yang sama tetapi beliau hanya diberi amaran" as was spelt out by chairman of the board Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen were enough to set the tone for voting among the Umno Youth delegates.

They should already knew by now whom to vote for. That they should value their one vote to set the future direction of the movement was tantamount to either endorsing the board's decision or otherwise.

As for Khairy, he should have already comprehend the situation and proceed to do the right thing.

He will be remembered as being an honorable candidate if he decides to withdraw from contesting, as soon as possible.

This is simply because his reputation and standing in the party have been tainted and tarnished with the words "didapati bersalah" and he should exit the polls if ever he has any dignity to protect at the moment.

Khairy should withdraw from contesting, period.

Monday, March 16, 2009

KETUA PENGARAH BARU RTM...


Tahniah Sdra Ibrahim Yahaya!

Anda kini Ketua Pengarah Penyiaran Malaysia.

Ini adalah amanah besar dan jawatan penting, setaraf dengan Ketua Pengarah Perbadanan Penyiaran British atau British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) dan Pengarah Urusan Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Berita Bernama di bawah mengesahkan apa yang sudah kedengaran sejak sebulan dua yang lepas.

Sebenarnya saya sudahpun mengucapkan tahniah kepada Ibrahim ketika menjejak kaki ke Wisma TV (selepas 5 tahun tidak ke sana) kerana dijemput sebagai tetamu Blog@1 di RTM pertengahan bulan lepas.

Namun beliau menjawab “heesh..belum tau lagi Bro, surat tak dapat lagi”.

Beliau menjawab secara berbisik kerana saya pun berbisik ke telinganya mengenai apa yang saya dengar. Saya menambah "takpa la, aku congratulate hang in advance".

Mungkin Ibrahim akan dapat membawa perubahan radikal dan drastik untuk mengegarkan dan mengerakkan semula minda-minda kreatif di Jabatan Penyiaran Malaysia atau lebih dikenali sebagai Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) yang sudah lama “berehat” untuk kembali cergas dan mengambil tempat mereka yang sewajarnya dalam industri penyiaran negara.

Mungkin juga Ibrahim, seorang yang lebih muda daripada ketua-ketua pengarah RTM sebelum ini mempunyai idea-idea baru dan bernas yang mampu memartabatkan semula stesyen itu seperti mana ia berada di bawah teraju Tok Mat dan Khalil Yaakob sebagai Menteri Penerangan.

Mungkin juga RTM perlukan sentuhan-sentuhan individu-individu yang lebih muda dan berwibawa untuk menerajuinya.

Sebelum ini para penyandang jawatan itu dilantik mengikut susunan hireki kepimpinan dalaman yang hakiki, bermaksud apabila pencennya yang di atas maka di bawahpun naiklah, tanpa mengira kemampuan atau merit.

Kesemua mereka menyandang jawatan itu sudah berada dipenghujung kerjaya mereka dalam industri penyiaran dan rata-rata mereka berusia lebih daripada 53 tahun.

Perlantikan Ibrahim merupakan yang pertama daripada kalangan profesional dan "orang luar" dalam sejarah RTM yang sudah berusia lebih daripada 60 tahun.

Sekiranya TV3 membuat "experiment" dengan melantik Farid Ridzuan yang tidak mempunyai latarbelakang penyiaran sebagai ketua pegawai eksekutif stesyen itu dan percubaan itu berjaya maka tidak ada salahnya RTM mengambil pendekatan yang hampir sama.

Bezanya dalam kes RTM ialah kerana Ibrahim turut mempunyai pengalaman penyiaran kerana ramai mengenali beliau sebagai wartawan daripada penyiar. Dalam blognya Ibrahim menyebut dirinya sebagai "journalist forever".

Namun dalam sejarah Kementerian Penerangan Malaysia dalam konteks jabatan kerajaan perlantikan ini bukanlah yang pertama kerana sebelum ini penjawat Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Filem Negara dilantik daripada kalangan Pegawai Tadbir dan Diplomatik untuk sepenggal dua-tahun sebelum jawatan itu "dikembalikan" kepada orang dalam, Raja Rozaimie Raja Dalnish Shah.

Mungkinkah akan ada lagi perubahan drastik selepas ini? Atau dalam Bahasa Inggeris "more better things to come?" Harapnya akan ada lagi lah...

Saya berharap teraju baru RTM akan berupaya mengembalikan era gemilang dan hebatnya sepertimana ia berada di bawah Tok Mat dan Khalil seketika dahulu. Saya berkesempatan berkhidmat selama 10 tahun di Angkasapuri bersama-sama dua individu hebat ini.

Mungkinkah Ahmad Shabery Cheek mampu mengulangi era gemilang itu?

Maka mungkin masanya sudah tiba untuk memikirkan semula nama singkatan Kementerian Penerangan Malaysia dikembalikan kepada KemPen dan tidak lagi menggunakan singkatan MOI ataupun Ministry Of Information.

Ini adalah kerana dalam banyak-banyak kementerian di negara kita ini, tidak ada satupun yang bertuah seperti Kementerian Penerangan yang mempunyai nama dan peranannya dalam satu perkataan yang sama, iaitu KemPen sebagai nama dan Kempen sebagai kerjanya.

Pendek kata, namanya KemPen, kerjanya pun Kempen. Satu kebetulan yang menakjubkan!

Dan apabila ditanya "apakah benda tu yang menyelubungi Angkasapuri tu", maka jawablah "Ooh, itu motif rebab, bukannya belangkas atau gambus ataupun topeng peran Mak Yong".

Motif yang sama digunakan pada menara Bangunan Parlimen Malaysia kerana arkiteknya orang yang sama dan kedua-dua mercu tanda Kuala Lumpur ini juga dibina pada tahun yang sama.


Berita Bernama hari ini...

Bekas pengarang kanan Berita Publishing Sdn Bhd Ibrahim Yahaya dilantik Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Penyiaran (RTM) mulai Isnin.

Ibrahim, 48, menggantikan Abdul Rahman Hamid yang kini bertugas sebagai Penasihat Penyiaran Digital kepada Menteri Penerangan sejak 2 Jan lepas, menurut kenyataan Kementerian Penerangan hari ini.

"Pelantikan beliau berdasarkan pengalaman meluas beliau dalam bidang media dan penyiaran," kenyataan itu menyebut. Sebelum ini, Ibrahim memegang jawatan sebagai Penasihat Media kepada Menteri Penerangan.

Beliau juga pernah berkhidmat sebagai pengurus ehwal semasa dan penyiaran TV3 dan ketua pengarang berita Berita Harian.

Pelantikan Ibrahim adalah sejajar dengan penstrukturan semula Jabatan Penyiaran yang diluluskan oleh Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam berkuatkuasa 1 Jan lepas.

p.s. Sorry Bro, i am still the only one among your friends who do not like to call you and other people by their nicknames. Its simply because I too have a nickname and I resent it very much, despise those calling me by my nickname and abhors this nickname business because its almost nauseating!. Salam Dari Mergong...

Sunday, March 15, 2009

UMNO: ADA ORANG BESAQ NAK KENA?...


Berita Mutakhir...

Diberitakan bahawa ada seorang berkedudukan kanan dalam satu daripada 3 pergerakan Umno akan berhadapan dengan tindakan disiplin yang mungkin tidak akan melayakan beliau bertanding jawatan penting pada Perhimpunan Agung 2009 ini.

Tuduhannya: Politik Wang.

Sumber Umno memberitahu bahawa surat tunjuk sebab telah diserahkan kepada beliau dan calon ini dijangka akan dipanggil mengadap Lembaga Disiplin Umno dalam masa terdekat.

Berita sepenuhnya akan menyusul...


Tuesday, March 10, 2009

LOVE, OR THE LACK OF IT IN KUALA LUMPUR


Valley View By Zukri Valenteno

Kuala Lumpur… Senyuman Mu Di Pagi Ini
Sungguh Bererti Kerna Cinta Bersemi Lagi Setelah Kemarau Panjang
Di Lebuhraya, Di Papan tanda Tergambar Wajah Mu
Dengan Kalimat Cinta Untuk Kita Semoga Kekal Selamanya…

These are the opening lyrics of “Senyumlah Kuala Lumpur”, a famous ballad popularised by the equally famous band Alleycats who rocked the local music charts back in the 1980s.

It was a harmonious love song with the federal capital as its backdrop, about love that had finally blossomed in the heart of Kuala Lumpur after a long hiatus and how the city became the rendezvous point of lovers with a typical happy ending.

Although it is already more than 20 years old, this evergreen hit is still popular in the karaoke circuit today because of the easy and catchy lyrics. It is simple and beautifully composed and has everything to do with Alleycats, the most-loved band in the country!

In a way the song promotes love, caring and loving feeling as well as to smile and exchange smiles at all time. The message, however, hardly gets through these days because we can barely feel love in Kuala Lumpur.

Have you ever noticed these words “Sayangi Kuala Lumpur” on all billboards erected in Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s jurisdiction?

But the city folk’s demonstration and manifestation of love are anything but that.

For instance, KL-ites litter at ease as if there is no tomorrow. They still throw rubbish out of moving vehicles. They spit everywhere without any compunction and still wait impatiently in the yellow box and they have no mercy for senior citizens and children who are about to cross the road.

If that’s not enough, some KL folk still stick bills (especially advertisements on money lenders) at every available public property. In short, they show no love at all.

Suffice to say there is almost no love, or rather the lack of it in Kuala Lumpur.

How to bring back love to this once lovely metropolitan city, the city I grew up in; where the younger generation show respect and love to our elders regardless of our religion and race, colour and creed. The city is supposed to make us feel good and where everyone smiles at each other and exchange greetings at ease?

This is where we live and “cari makan” and I suppose we do not litter in our home, yes?

And I suppose too that we should not be spitting anywhere as we like since we are not uncouth?

Is it all right to drive at breakneck speed without any regard to the other road users or is it okay to rempit at any given road?

Do we not love our beautiful environment in our city that we leave behind tonnes of rubbish after enjoying ourselves at a carnival?

Or we do not love our public toilets anymore after using them to ease ourselves for a trifle fee of 30 sen or 50 sen?

What about our love towards public properties such as the telephones which can be very helpful to us during an emergency like when our handphone batteries are out and when we lose our belongings to snatch thieves and robbers?

In short, have we forgotten what love is? Or how to show love?

I would say nothing is more apt then Black Eyed Peas’ “Where Is The Love?”

Zukri Valenteno is a long-time Kuala Lumpur resident who yearns the day when city folks readily say “Terima Kasih” at every opportunity or even “Selamat Pagi” or “Have A Nice Day” and “Boleh Saya Tolong Encik?” to help foster and share love and the loving feeling. He can be reached at utarawan@streamyx.com.

This article appeared in TheStar Metro today, Tuesday March 10, 2009

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

WITHER UMNO'S PSYWAR?...


The aftermath of the Perak Parade and Kedah’s Bukit Selambau unraveled one prominent issue in as far as Umno is concerned, or Barisan Nasional for that matter – their lack of psywar expertise.

It seemed to me that Umno has been on the defensive since Day 1 against the constant onslaught by its opposition – Anwar Ibrahim’s brand of Blame Everything Umno rhetoric.

And while the roughnecks in Perak were bent on dissipating any good perception of Umno in the state and extra-state, Umno’s psywar i.e. its counter-attack was hardly felt on the ground, neither the airwaves nor the cyberspace if ever there was one.

Was there any such effort? I doubt it as there was no semblance of such or perhaps there was none although Umno is holding the fort in the state capital. It sure is too late if Umno plans to save the in-your-face battle for both by-elections, already dubbed as bye-election.

Work should have been done in the earnest, as soon as the new state government was formed. Where are Umno psyoperatives? Wither (newly-appointed) Perak’s State Information Chief’s fightback?

This reminds me of Mark Twain’s Truth Puts Its Boots on While Lies Travel Halfway around the World famous quote when assessing the situation.

This is also the time Umno misses the likes of Tok Mat (Mohamed Rahmat) the most for he was the best political psywar operative Umno ever had who could easily take on the “new school” politics with his old school tactics.

He is (still) the best in Umno and if there is anyone to rival him that Umno man should be Khalil Yaakob who did Sabah what Tok Mat done onto Parti Melayu Semangat 46.

And looking beyond Perak to Bukit Selambau, Umno in Kedah could not offer any resistance when again the PKR-led opposition was apt and comfortable spewing “he quit because of constant harassment by BN” political speak.

Did he resign both positions because of Barisan Nasional or due to his “personal problem”? I think the personal problem was even more compelling.

Did Kedah Umno capitalize on this? Not that I knew off.

Make no mistake by looking at what seemed to be sporadic mortar attacks by the opposition for they are not erratic, they are well-organised and disguised as chaos, as in The Chaos Theory.

It is not chaos and it is not random.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

THERE WASN’T A PLAN, WAS IT?...


Middle of last year three politicians met at a coffee house in a city on the fringe of Princejaya to casually discuss about an idea to return one of the four opposition-controlled states to The Empire, specifically Amno.

Over a few cappuchinos and expensive cigars the gentlemen agreed on a political navigation to pursue an all-out Silent Night war to win back at least one of the states on a one-state-at-a-time basis.

At a subsequent meeting, coincidentally at an upmarket resort in Pangcore they hatched a plan with well-crafted strategies to takeover the Payrak House of Representatives via the available constitutional means.

The consecutive defeats of the empire at Cherok Tok Kun and Kola Tranganu by-elections notwithstanding, the plan was by then already a full-blown but was still on the need-to-know basis with only a handful of people in the know.

Some are obviously oblivious to it.

A few meetings followed in Kola Lampour and elsewhere to fine tune the Pangcore Project which took into serious consideration all the political development in the country, the goings-on in Serawaq included.

Pangcore was the chosen name for it was significant due to historical reason, being the namesakes of the first treaty that allowed inroads to some Mat Sallehs into Payrak and the second so-called agreement between a pack of wolves and a canine, resulting in the canine being a pathetic servant to the wolves.

The third reason was quite obvious, individually.

But the bigger picture that was constantly looked at was the upcoming Amno party elections in the first quarter of 2009, many a times curiously.

It was not a wonder that less number of Payrak leaders were in their typical element during the events leading to the realization of the objective since many were uninformed that there was a plan but played the usual role of politicians making their political statements vis-à-vis the ensuing political drama in Eipoh.

There was a plan, but they were not aware of it.

In what was now academic, the takeover plan was among others, triggered by the generous award of state land to a certain group of people to the disdain of Melayu who saw this as an encroachment of their future, the growing enmity against the real power behind the Payrak Chief Minister, the constant in-fighting among the ranks in the unity state government and increasing dismay of the palace towards the state administration.

But the real reason was the razor-thin majority that favored the unity government.

That being the reason, the plotters underscored the vitality of the in-fighting which was quite apparent to outside the ranks as the primary cause for potential recalcitrant.

A tilt of the scale will likely change the political equation, it was expected.

However, what was lacking in the plan was the participation of a former chief minister who was seen as been unwilling to take on the difficult challenge. He was also described as a spent force, if ever he was one in the first palace.

A brainchild of a member of parliament who was earmarked to be the next Chief Minister, the plan was however, pacing slowly until a new state chairman of The Empire was named and was only activated full-swing when one of the serving state assemblymen had eventually agreed to be the Trojan Horse, which was one of the strategies adopted.

Other strategies considered and applied were Silent Night and Shock and Awe.

The plan had also anticipated the resistance of the opposition, even a possible fight back but what was not factored was the open defiance of the unity government’s mentri besar against the Payrak Royal Court, something which was not probable given that he is a Melayu and one who represents a Melayu-majority opposition party.

Another unfactored element was the speed of its execution for the complete realization of the plan came sooner than expected.

However, as all ends well, the plan comes to a conclusion today with the swearing-in of the new Payrak Chief Minister.

But then again, this story is just too good to be true…isn't it?

DR ZAMBRY IS PERAK MENTRI BESAR...


KUALA KANGSAR. Barisan Nasional officially took over the Perak State Government today with Pangkor State Assemblyman Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir sworn in as the new Mentri Besar.

The swearing-in ceremony took place before the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah at the Istana Iskandariah in Bukit Chandan here.


p.s. its Perak and not Payrak and Pangkor, not Pangcore...

NAJIB'S TRIUMPH...


This coup in Ipoh, leading to the Perak Porak Peranda, borrowing from Rocky's Bru posting, should be dedicated to Najib Tun Razak and nobody else.

Results to date...

(1) New State Government in Perak, no more ngangaing...
(2) New Mentri Besar, preferably a former PTD
(3) No more Tajol Son of Former MB...

Hail The Chief...and somebody said Hail Columbia too...

Monday, February 2, 2009

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK...


Be very sure you have what it takes to pick a fight and with whom.

Otherwise...read on what Malaysiakini has to report...

5:06pm BN mempunyai cukup jumlah Adun untuk membentuk kerajaan baru Perak selepas empat Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) melompat kepadanya secara terbuka dan rasmi hari ini.

Tiga bekas wakil rakyat Pakatan termasuk Adun Jelapang dan juga bekas Timbalan Speaker DUN Perak, Hee Yit Foong akan kekal wakil rakyat bebas tetapi bersama kerajaan BN, kata timbalan perdana menteri.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak berkata beliau akan menghadap Sultan Perak secepat mungkin.

Adun Bota, Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim - yang mengumumkan melompat kepada PKR selama 10 hari - kembali semula kepada Umno.

KAMPUNG BARU : TRANSFORMASI JIWA DAN WAJAH...


Oleh Rohana Mustaffa

Bahagian Akhir daripada 6 siri Rencana Kampung Baru

KUALA LUMPUR, 3 Feb (Bernama) -- Kampung Baru akan mengalami transformasi jiwa dan wajahnya menjelang tahun 2020, sekiranya sebuah draf pelan ibu kota diterima sepenuhnya terutama oleh warga kampung ini.

Ketika itu Kuala Lumpur akan muncul menjadi bandar raya bertaraf dunia manakala Kampung Baru pula diangkat martabatnya menerusi pembangunan yang berstrukturkan zon dengan kewujudan 16 presint di atas tanahnya seluas 378.93 ekar (151.57 hektar)

Keluasan ini mengikut ukuran Kampung Baru di bawah kawasan Malay Agriculture Settlement (Petempatan Pertanian Melayu) (MAS) yang merangkumi Kampung Periuk, Kampung Masjid, Kampung Atas A, Kampung Atas B, Kampoung Hujung Pasir, Kampung Paya dan Kampung Pindah seluas 225.89 ekar (90.35 hektar).

Seluas 153.04 ekar (61.21 hektar) lagi ialah kawasan di luar MAS terdiri daripada kawasan Chow Kit, Dang Wangi dan Jalan Sultan Ismail (dulunya terdapat beberapa buah kampung setinggan), Kampung Sungai Baru dan Flat Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS).

Kampung Baru di dalam peta Kuala Lumpur terletak di bahagian utara pusat bandar, disempadani Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz di utara, Jalan Tun Razak di timur, Jalan Dang Wangi, Lebuh raya Bertingkat Ampang-Kuala Lumpur (Akleh) dan Sungai Kelang di selatan dan Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman di sebelah barat.

Sekiranya Draf Kuala Lumpur Pelan Dewan Bandaraya 2020 diterima secara keseluruhannya, Kampung Baru akan berubah wajah kepada, sebagai contoh Presint A di mana Pasar Minggu Kampung Baru bersama stesten LRT Kampung Baru akan dimajukan sebagai pusat pengumpulan, pemasaran serta pameran kebudayaan dan seni dengan kewujudan kemudahan laluan kaki bernama Kampung Baru Walk.


KEWUJUDAN ZON PEMBANGUNAN

Jalan Raja Abdullah yang akan bernama Presint B, akan dizonkan sebagai Laluan Korporat atau Corporate Street, Jalan Raja Alang yang mempopularkan Bazar Ramadan akan dikekalkan tetapi dengan nama barunya Laluan Bazar atau Bazaar Street di Presint P.

Draf itu juga mencadangkan supaya Jalan Raja Bot sebagai Presint H akan menjadi pasar seni bersempadan dengan Presint G atau Hab Perubatan yang merangkumi Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Fakulti Sains Kesihatan Bersekutu UKM dan Pusat Penyelidikan Perubatan (IMR) yang sedia ada.

Deretan kedai lama di Jalan Dang Wangi (dahulunya Jalan Campbell) akan menjadi Presint Warisan K, sementara Jalan Raja Uda yang mempunyai bilangan besar rumah kampung, akan menjadi kawasan kediaman dan komersil yang dinamakan Presint F, manakala Presint J pula adalah pusat perbankan Islam di persimpangan Jalan Sultan Ismail dan Jalan Raja Abdullah yang sudah wujud beberapa buah bank di situ.

Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz yang kini merupakan pusat perniagaan usahawan Melayu dalam industri kereta motor akan bergelar Autocity Mall yang terdiri daripada pelbagai pusat jualan dan pameran automobil serta pusat aksesori kenderaan.

DBKL menerusi draf itu mencadangkan supaya semua kawasan dalam kawasan operasinya dilibatkan dalam rancangan pembangunan untuk menyediakan peluang dan kemudahan sama rata kepada penduduknya yang dijangka mencapai 2.2 juta.

Setiap kawasan mempunyai kategorinya dan DBKL menetapkan bahawa perlu wujud kawasan-kawasan khusus yang memerlukan perhatian dari segi pelaksanaan perancangan pembangunannya disebabkan sudah ketinggalan dan dikaitkan dengan masalah pembangunan yang kompleks, kemiskinan, persekitaran hidup yang kurang sihat dan infrastruktur yang tidak mencukupi.

Menurut draf Kuala Lumpur 2020 itu, Kampung Baru akan berperanan sebagai penghubung kebudayaan dan komersil penting di antara bahagian utara, barat dan timur pusat bandar raya.


KORIDOR HIJAU AKAN MUNCUL DI KAMPUNG BARU

Kampung Baru juga akan terlibat dalam pembangunan koridor hijau yang menghubungkan Presint Kebudayaan di sepanjang Jalan Tun Razak dan Taman Tasik Titiwangsa dengan menggunakan Sungai Bunus sebagai kawasan lapang berjajar.

Mengikut pelan struktur itu, kawalan ketinggian bangunan akan dikenakan di kawasan ini dalam usaha mengekalkan koridor visual dari Taman Tasik Titiwangsa ke Menara Kembar Petronas Kuala Lumpur.

Kampung ini juga akan dibangunkan sebagai pemangkin kepada kewujudan satu Koridor Kebudayaan yang menghubungkan presint kebudayaan di Jalan Tun Razak dan Jalan Conlay dengan presint membeli belah di KLCC dan Chow Kit.

Kampung Baru, satu-satunya kampung rizab Melayu di tengah-tengah bandar raya, merupakan antara enam kawasan khusus yang ketinggalan dalam pembangunan, dan akan diberi perhatian dari segi pelaksanaan perancangannya oleh DBKL.

Daripada enam kawasan itu, Kampung Baru merupakan kawasan yang paling padat dengan penduduk, seramai 446 orang satu hektar, atau 45,000 orang keseluruhannya (mengikut bancian tahun 2000).

DBKL kini dalam proses mendengar pandangan dan bantahan terhadap Draf Kuala Lumpur Pelan Bandar Raya 2020 selepas dibentangkan kepada umum tahun lepas dan menerima maklum balas mereka melalui borang khas pandangan awam yang disediakan.

Jilid 4 draf itu khusus melibatkan pelan tempatan perancangan di Kampung Baru.

DBKL menerima lebih 100 pandangan dan bantahan daripada individu, badan bertindak penduduk dan persatuan yang mengisi borang pandangan awam berkenaan dan mereka kini menunggu giliran untuk dipanggil di hadapan sebuah panel bebas.

Pengarah Jabatan Pelan Induk DBKL Zainab Mohd Ghazali Ogos tahun lepas turut dijemput sekumpulan penduduk Kampung Baru untuk memberikan penerangan mengenai pelan tempatan khusus melibatkan kawasan Kampung Baru di dalam draf itu.

Beliau berkata empat alternatif pembangunan disyorkan DBKL bagi Kampung Baru iaitu:

a. Pembangunan mengikut trend - mengekalkan ikut keadaan sedia ada dengan kebanyakan pembangunan bergantung kepada tuan tanah

b. Pembangunan semula terpilih - mengikut kesesuaian kawasan yang dikenal pasti

c. Pembangunan semula berintegrasi - digalakkan DBKL kerana pembangunan Kampung Baru akan disepadukan dengan pembangunan di kawasan sekitarnya seperti Taman Tasik Titiwangsa dan KLCC.

d. Pembangunan semula komprehensif - memerlukan pengambilan tanah dan melibatkan perubahan keseluruhan kawasan.

Aspek penting dalam pelan pembangunan Kampung Baru ialah cadangan zoning yang diperaku untuk keseluruhan kawasan Kampung Baru. Cadangan zoning ini menetapkan kegunaan tanah bagi kawasan-kawasan di Kampung Baru yang secara langsung akan mempengaruhi nilai harga tanah pemilik tanah dan kegunaan tanah itu.

Sesetengah kawasan ditetapkan sebagai kawasan perdagangan, kegunaan bercampur kediaman, zon kemudahan dan infrastruktur, kawasan lapang awam dan lain-lain.


PENDEKATAN PELBAGAI DIGUNA PAKAI

Pada seminar itu, Zainab menjelaskan bahawa mekanisme yang dicadangkan oleh Pelan Pembangunan Kampung Baru ialah "pendekatan pelbagai" dengan memberi empat pilihan kepada pemilik untuk membangunkan tanah mereka -

(1) secara persendirian
(2) pembangunan tanah bersepakat
(3) pembangunan melalui Kampung Baru Development Corporation atau
(4) DBKL mengambil balik tanah di bawah 3(1)(b) Akta Pengambilan Balik Tanah 1960. Bagaimanapun, katanya, DBKL mengesyorkan supaya pembangunan secara persendirian digalakkan dan pembangunan melalui pengambilan tanah ialah cara terakhir.

Sebanyak RM100.6 juta diperuntuk di bawah Rancangan Malaysia Ke-9 untuk menaik taraf struktur fizikal dan infrastruktur di Kampung Baru yang melibatkan pembangunan semula Pasar Minggu (RM20 juta), menaik taraf dan memperindah Jalan Raja Alang serta Jalan Raja Muda Musa (RM25 juta), membina dan menaik taraf rangkaian jalan yang menghubungkan Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman dan Jalan Tun Razak (RM40 juta), penambahbaikan dan mencantikkan persekitaran Jalan Raja Bot dan Jalan Haji Hussein (RM7 juta) serta projek bersepadu pejalan kaki (RM8.6 juta).

Mengambil kira segala rancangan pembangunan ini, turut dibincangkan ialah syor memansuhkan sekatan kepentingan yang menghalang pendudukan dan penyewaan kepada bukan Melayu bagi meninggikan nilai tanah di Kampung Baru dan membolehkan pembangunan pesat berlaku.

Pemansuhan sekatan ini akan menjamin kelarisan pasaran hartanah yang akan dibangunkan dan dalam hal ini juga pembangunan Kampung Baru tidak perlu bergantung kepada tuan tanah Kampung Baru saja tetapi diperluas kepada orang Melayu lain yang berkemampuan.


MEKANISME PEMBANGUNAN

Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique, yang juga anak Kampung Baru, sempena sambutan Hari Wilayah, memberi jaminan kepada penduduk kampung ini yang Perbadanan Pembangunan Kampung Baru akan ditubuhkan di bawah bidang kuasa DBKL untuk memudahkan pelaksanaan rancangan pembangunannya.

Beliau yakin pemilik tanah akan diberi pilihan untuk membangunkan tanah mereka dan mereka boleh memilih formula yang menguntungkan mereka tetapi haruslah ada satu formula yang bertepatan untuk itu.

DBKL sementara itu mengakui bahawa Jabatan Peguam Negara telah mengesahkan bahawa hak milik yang dikeluarkan Pejabat Tanah KuaLa Lumpur (sebelum 1974) dan kemudian Wilayah Persekutuan, adalah sah di sisi undang-undang, dengan itu pemilik tanah MAS Kampung Baru mempunyai hak milik yang tidak boleh disangkal di bawah Seksyen 340 Kanun Tanah Negara.

Dari segi hak, ia terjamin mengikut Perkara 13, Perlembagaan Persekutuan, iaitu: "Tiada seorang pun boleh dilucutkan hartanya kecuali mengikut undang-undang. Tiada sesuatu undang-undang pun boleh membuat peruntukan bagi mengambil atau menggunakan harta dengan paksa dengan tiada pampasan yang mencukupi".

Oleh itu DBKL mentafsirkan Perkara 13 seperti berikut:* Pihak Berkuasa Negeri boleh mengambil tanah milik individu secara paksa. Apabila tanah milik seseorang atau badan diambil, pampasan secukupnya (harga pasaran) mesti dibayar kepada pemilik*

Tanah milik persendirian hanya boleh diambil atau digunakan di bawah kuatkuasa undang-undang.

Dalam kes tanah MAS Kampung Baru, DBKL mengesyorkan tanah itu dimajukan oleh sebuah badan kerajaan atau syarikat kerajaan (GLC) dan Kabinet boleh mengarahkan syarikat berkenaan supaya mengambil tanah MAS yang dikenal pasti di bawah Seksyen 3(1)(b) APT 1960.

Pemilik tanah boleh memilih sama ada ingin menerima pampasan dalam bentuk wang tunai atau sebahagian wang tunai dan sebahagian hartanah yang hendak dibangunkan pemaju.

Mana-mana hartanah yang siap dibangunkan sementara menunggu orang Melayu membelinya, boleh disewakan kepada pihak lain sama ada Melayu atau bukan Melayu.

Antara kaedah pembahagian hartanah yang disyorkan ialah sistem pawah di mana pemaju mengambil tujuh bahagian dan tuan tanah diberi tiga bahagian atau cara lain yang adil berdasarkan nilai tanah.

Cara kedua ialah menubuhkan satu badan khas di bawah akta Parlimen yang berperanan membangunkan tanah rizab Melayu di seluruh Semenanjung, memasarkan hartanah yang dimajukan orang Melayu, memegang dan menguruskan hartanah yang belum dapat dijual kepada orang Melayu dan menyewakannya kepada orang lain, Melayu dan bukan Melayu serta membeli kuota hartanah Bumiputera yang tidak mampu dibeli.

Cara ketiga ialah memberi kebebasan kepada pemilik tanah membangunkan tanah mereka apabila mereka merasakan sudah bersedia dan mampu menjalankan projek tertentu ke atas hartanah mereka.

Sementara itu, DBKL menjangkakan tidak menghadapi masalah dalam cadangan membangunkan tanah Kampung Baru di luar kawasan MAS seperti yang pernah dilaksanakan PKNS dan ia turut boleh diusahasama dengan bukan Melayu dengan pasaran tanahnya lebih terbuka.-- BERNAMA