2,100 ketua kampung empat negeri diberi jawatan baru

SERI ISKANDAR: Semua 2,100 ketua kampung di empat negeri yang diperintah Pakatan Rakyat akan meletak jawatan dan diserapkan semula dalam Kementerian Pembangunan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah. Menterinya, Senator Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib, berkata permulaan, 817 ketua kampung dan 11,438 ahli Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung (JKKK) di Perak meletakkan jawatan masing-masing berkuat kuasa 1 Mei ini dan berurusan terus dengan kementeriannya tanpa melalui kerajaan negeri. “Nama jawatan mereka belum diputuskan tetapi semua mereka kemungkinan akan dikenali sebagai Jawatankuasa Penyelaras Pembangunan Persekutuan (JPPP) seperti cadangan Persatuan Ketua Kampung Perak hari ini (semalam).

“Serentak itu, kementerian akan berurusan terus dengan mereka dalam melaksanakan projek pembangunan yang disalurkan Kerajaan Persekutuan di kampung masing-masing," katanya selepas mengadakan perjumpaan dengan 817 ketua kampung di negeri ini di Institut Latihan Kemas di sini, petang semalam. Empat negeri yang diperintah kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat selepas pilihan raya umum lalu ialah Perak, Selangor, Pulau Pinang dan Kedah. Muhammad berkata, elaun RM400 sebulan kepada ketua kampung, elaun mesyuarat JKKK serta elaun lain yang diberikan kepada mereka sebelum ini juga akan dibayar seperti biasa tetapi terus kepada mereka dan tidak melalui kerajaan negeri.

Beliau berkata, butiran lanjut mengenai perkara itu dijangka dibawa ke mesyuarat Kabinet hari ini untuk dibincangkan seterusnya diluluskan. Katanya, kementerian itu juga sedang mengkaji kemungkinan menaikkan jumlah elaun sedia ada memandangkan ketua kampung terbabit tidak lagi akan menerima elaun antara RM50 hingga RM200 yang lazimnya dibayar oleh kerajaan negeri. Beliau berkata, keputusan meletak jawatan itu bukan dibuat oleh kementeriannya tetapi atas permintaan dan kehendak ketua kampung sendiri yang berasakan agak sukar untuk bekerja di bawah kerajaan negeri Pakatan Rakyat. “Mereka terutama ketua kampung di Perak ada pendirian yang jelas iaitu berdiri teguh dan sokongan sebulat suara terhadap kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN).

"Di Selangor, walaupun mereka menggunakan pendekatan berbeza setakat ini tetapi sudah menyatakan sokongan kepada kerajaan Persekutuan, begitu juga dengan Pulau Pinang dan Kedah yang difahamkan akan mengikut langkah diambil Perak," katanya.

Ditanya kemungkinan wujud dua jawatan ketua dalam satu kampung dan pertindihan tugas, Muhammad berkata, JPPP akan bekerja di bawah kerajaan Persekutuan manakala ketua kampung dilantik kerajaan negeri bertugas untuk negeri masing-masing.

"Bagi kita, ketua kampung di empat negeri ini hanya satu iaitu yang dilantik oleh kerajaan Pusat kerana mereka sudah menyandang jawatan itu sejak berpuluh tahun lalu, berpengalaman luas dalam pentadbiran kampung dan pengaruh yang sudah kukuh. “Jadi, mereka amat diperlukan untuk melaksanakan projek pembangunan di luar bandar dan kita tidak akan membabitkan ketua kampung yang dilantik kerajaan negeri," katanya.

Mengenai dakwaan Menteri Besar Perak, Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin bahawa ada ketua kampung di Perak yang dipaksa meletak jawatan serta tandatangan mereka dipalsukan, Muhammad berkata semua 817 ketua kampung di negeri ini hadir pada perjumpaan semalam dan tiada seorang pun yang membangkitkan perkara berkenaan. (Berita Harian : 9 April 2008)

Media cuba keruhkan hubungan Pakatan Rakyat - TMB

KOTA BHARU, 7 April 2008 (Hrkh) - Timbalan Menteri Besar (TMB) Kelantan, Dato' Ahmad Yakob melahirkan rasa kesal di atas laporan akhbar yang dianggap menyimpang daripada kenyataan asalnya mengenai isu Pakatan Rakyat. Katanya, beliau tidak bermaksud mahu parti-parti lain dalam Pakatan Rakyat dipaksa menerima PAS sebagai tunjang kepada pakatan yang baru dibentuk.

"Pakatan itu masih lagi di peringkat awal yang dipersetujui semua parti pembangkang termasuk PAS, KeADILan dan DAP. Jadi soal siapa yang perlu mengetuai pakatan itu belum diputuskan. "Sesiapa pun boleh mengetuai pakatan tersebut apabila ia dipersetujui semua ahli dalam pakatan yang dibentuk," katanya ketika ditemui di pejabatnya di Kota Darulnaim, hari ini.

Sebelum ini akhbar melaporkan Ahmad menyebut PAS wajar menjadi tunjang Pakatan Rakyat yang dibentuk parti-parti pembangkang sekiranya ia mahu merealisasikan impian menubuh sebuah negara Islam. Bagaimanapun kenyataan itu disifatkannya ditulis mengikut persepsi wartawan itu sendiri dan bukannya menulis apa yang dicakap. Menurutnya dalam kenyataannya sebelum ini tidak pernah pun disebut soal negara Islam sebagaimana dilaporkan. Kata beliau apa yang diutarakan sebenarnya mahu memberi masa kepada mana-mana pihak dalam Pakatan Rakyat faham mengenai konsep pentadbiran berteras Islam yang dilaksanakan di Kelantan sejak lebih 18 tahun lalu.

"Tidak dinafikan kita memerlukan masa untuk memberi kefahaman kepada semua pihak mengenai konsep pentadbiran Islam yang dibawa PAS. "Buat masa ini biarlah semua ahli dalam pakatan faham sebelum sesuatu itu dilaksanakan. Ini kerana pakatan yang dibentuk dilihat sudah diterima rakyat," ujarnya yang juga Timbalan Pesuruhjaya PAS Kelantan.

Setiausaha Politik Menteri Besar, Haji Anual Bakri Harun berkata, isu pertelagahan di antara PAS dan DAP dalam Pakatan Rakyat sengaja ditimbulkan media massa bagi menenggelamkan perpecahan dalaman Umno yang berlaku sekarang. Katanya, media harian milik Umno dan BN sengaja membesar-besarkan isu pertelagahan dalam Pakatan Rakyat, sedangkan pada hakikat ia tidak berlaku.

"Buat masa sekarang tidak timbul siapa yang akan menerajui Pakatan Rakyat kerana ia masih baru dan di peringkat awal lagi. Ahli-ahli parti hendaklah menyerahkan perkara itu kepada pemimpin atasan. "Belum sesuai lagi kita mahu mengutarakan pandangan peribadi masing-masing mengenai Pakatan Rakyat. Sekarang adalah masa untuk bekerja selepas diberi mandat rakyat pada pilihan raya umum lalu," ujarnya. - mj

PAS shelves plans for syariah laws

Monday, 07 April 2008

THE president of Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) says his party is shelving plans for controversial legislation, such as a syariah criminal law, which has been bitterly opposed by non-Muslim Malaysians. Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang, in an interview with Sin Chew Daily published yesterday, also said an Islamic state is 'not poles apart' from the socialism being promoted by the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a partner in the Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition.

Just weeks ago, his comments would have raised heckles within the PAS leadership and created much doubt in the DAP. But after the March 8 general election, which saw the Pakatan Rakyat coalition winning five of Malaysia's 13 states, leaders of the conservative Islamist party have shifted their position. The third member of Pakatan Rakyat, or People's Alliance, is Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

As Datuk Hadi told the Chinese-language newspaper: 'In reality, an Islamic state is not poles apart from DAP's socialism; our stand on some issues such as justice, anti-graft and poverty eradication are the same.' He said that although the creation of an Islamic state remained the direction for his party, controversial teachings were being shelved for now. He added that PAS would continue to implement 'feasible Islamic thoughts' except controversial sections such as the syariah criminal law.

The DAP has openly opposed the idea of an Islamic state, fearing for the rights of minorities, while multi-ethnic PKR has also voiced its reservations over the issue. Datuk Hadi's comments are significant because PAS had been pushing hard for the implementation of syariah (Islamic) laws, including criminal law, which, among other things, advocates amputation of hands for thieves and stoning for adulterers. Its syariah plans and hope to form an Islamic state had, in the 2004 general election, turned off non-Muslim voters, which make up 40 per cent of Malaysians.

It is understood that PAS has been greatly encouraged by the support it received from non-Muslims in last month's general election, after it issued its manifesto calling for setting up 'a caring society'. It had also campaigned on the 'PAS for all' platform.

In the interview, Datuk Hadi also admitted that PAS would not be able to realise a true Islamic state because it was incapable of forming a single-party government. Non-Muslims should therefore not worry about the issue, he said.

'Tell me, is there a difference between hungry Chinese and suffering Muslims? DAP wants fair administration, which is what PAS stresses. What is the biggest difference? It is our different faiths,' he said.

He added that differences should be set aside for now and discussed when there was a need to implement policies. He also said the coalition government would have to listen to the views of all members before discussing and drafting policies.

'Under such circumstances, PAS must respect the views of DAP. Even in PAS-ruled Kelantan, we will listen to the views of the other races. 'In Kelantan, PKR won only a seat and DAP does not have any representative, but PAS still respects their views,' he said. - THE STRAITS TIMES

DAP only has qualms about Islamic state

KUALA LUMPUR: The DAP accepts Islam as the country’s official religion as long as PAS has no plan to turn the country into an Islamic state or introduce hudud laws, its chairman Karpal Singh said. He said that he had, at no time, belittled Islam and DAP had no quarrel with PAS except for its fundamental ideology to turn Malaysia into an Islamic state and introduce hudud laws. Karpal Singh said the DAP accepted Islam as the official religion of the country as guaranteed under the Federal Constitution.

“PAS must accept and face reality and not depart from what the Constitution provides and the views of former prime ministers Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Hussein Onn. “There’s no doubt that the Chinese and Indians in Kelantan are happy, but that doesn’t mean that they subscribe to the creation of an Islamic state or the introduction of hudud laws,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Karpal Singh said the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, comprising DAP, PKR and PAS, could defeat Barisan Nasional in the next general election provided PAS does not insist on turning the country into an Islamic state or seek the introduction of hudud laws.

On Sunday, PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat criticised Karpal Singh for saying that PAS should not dream about becoming the backbone of the proposed coalition and establishing an Islamic state in the country. (The Star : Apr 8, 2008)

NIK AZIZ SLAMS KARPAL'S CRITICISM ON PAS

NIK AZIZ SLAMS KARPAL'S CRITICISM ON PAS BECOMING BACKBONE OF PAKATAN RAKYAT

Sunday, 06 April 2008

(Bernama) KOTA BAHARU, April 6 -- PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has criticised DAP chairman Karpal Singh for saying that PAS should not dream about becoming the backbone of the proposed "Pakatan Rakyat" and establishing an Islamic state in the country as belittling the Kelantan state government's efforts to promote Islam. The Kelantan Menteri Besar asked Karpal to prove the weaknesses of the PAS administration in Kelantan under Islamic principles over the past 18 years.

"I want to know (from him) what is wrong with Islam and where does he (Karpal) disagree with Islam. The non-Muslim communities are happy under us (PAS)," he told reporters after meeting the Japanese ambassador to Malaysia, Masahiko Horie, at his office here Sunday.

Last week, Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Kelantan Datuk Ahmad Yaakob had said that PAS should be the backbone of "Pakatan Rakyat", a yet to be formed coalition of Opposition parties if it wanted to realise its dream of establishing an Islamic state. Ahmad said the dream would only become a reality if all parties understood and accepted the real Islamic concept because Islam was a religion for all.

Karpal responded by saying that there was no question of any one party -- PAS, DAP or PKR -- becoming the backbone in the Pakatan Rakyat as all were equal in the alliance. Following Karpal's statement, Nik Aziz said he would invite the DAP politician to visit Kelantan and see for himself the development in the state under Islamic principles.

"I will pay for the cost of his hotel accommodation. He does not need to see me, he can just meet the non-Muslim communities in Kelantan and then tell me what is not good about Islam."

Nik Aziz said the Islamic financial system implemented by the Kelantan state government had been recognised by global economic experts and since Kelantan came under PAS it had made a lot of improvements including abolishing interest payments and establishing an Islamic pawn-broking system.

"Non-Muslims have also been given the right to be appointed community supervisors and I want to ask him (Karpal) what is not good about this."

Nik Aziz said non-Muslims had never been forced to embrace Islam and even with the introduction of Islamic values in the state they were comfortable with the PAS administration.
On the visit by Horie, the Menteri Besar said the Japanese ambassador was impressed with the business enterprise of Kelantanese women.

"I invited the ambassador to visit the Siti Khadijah central market and Wakaf Che Yeh wholesale market to get a closer look of how enterprising Kelantanese women are in business," he said.

KARPAL TAKES PAS YOUTH TO TASK

Saturday, 05 April 2008
By Mazlinda Mahmood

(NST) KUALA LUMPUR: DAP chairman Karpal Singh yesterday slammed Pas Youth for suggesting that the Islamist party use the Pakatan Rakyat as a springboard to an Islamic state. Reiterating his stand, Karpal said Pas should accept the provision in the Federal Constitution and judicial pronouncement by the Supreme Court in 1988 that Malaysia was a secular state and not an Islamic one.

He was responding to Kelantan Pas Youth's support for Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yaakub's proposal that Pas become the backbone of the new opposition coalition to realise the objective of establishing an Islamic state. Yesterday, the Kedah and Terengganu Pas Youth echoed Kelantan's position, with national Youth vice-head Azman Shapawi Abdul Rani saying the party should anchor the coalition as it had been in existence for much longer than Parti Keadilan Rakyat and the DAP.

"Pas should be realistic and practical to ensure that the Pakatan Rakyat is not derailed by public statements in the nature of wanting to turn Malaysia into an Islamic state," Karpal said. "In any event, Pas has only 23 seats to the DAP's 28 and PKR's 31. I cannot see how Pas can make such a claim," he said.

In Kedah, Pas Youth head Musaddak Ahmad said he was confident of Pas' ability to lead the coalition by highlighting the Islamic concept in national administration.

"As such, Pas should become the backbone of the coalition to realise the objective of forming an Islamic state," he said.

PKR vice-president Mohamad Azmin Ali said the formation of Pakatan Rakyat was based on a common agenda and the Islamic state was not part of it.

"The Islamic state was not one of the issues discussed and agreed upon by the top leadership, even by Pas, as the consensus was to work on a common platform," he said.

Azmin said Pas had the right to express its views.

"But, ultimately, the top leadership must agree on the basis for the formation of the new alliance and the fact remains that the coalition must work based on consensus and principles which have been agreed upon by all parties."

PAS mahu ketuai Pakatan Rakyat di Kedah

Izwan Abdul Halim

GUAR CHEMPEDAK, 4 April 2008 (Hrkh) Dewan Pemuda PAS Kedah mahu PAS mengetuai Pakatan Rakyat di Kedah bagi mengukuhkan sokongan rakyat dan gerakerja di peringkat akar umbi. Ketuanya, Ustaz Musoddak Ahmad menyatakan demikian hari ini bagi mengulas cadangan agar PAS mengetuai Pakatan Rakyat yang digagaskan bersama-sama KeADILan dan DAP.

"PAS mempunyai kekuatan organisasi dari peringkat perhubungan negeri hingga cawangan. Oleh itu kita akan memperkuatkan Pakatan Rakyat ini di Kedah melalui kerjasama dengan KeADILan dan DAP,"ujarnya.

Ditanya siapakah tokoh yang bakal mengetuai Pakatan Rakyat di Kedah, beliau menegaskan bahawa calon yang paling layak ialah Menteri Besar, Ustaz Azizan Abdul Razak.

"Pemuda Kedah mempercayai penuh kemampuan beliau (Ustaz Azizan). Beliau sangat sesuai dan sebagai sayap parti, pemuda sentiasa berdiri teguh mendokong kepimpinannya. "Kami akan buktikan kemampuan yang sebenar kepada rakyat. Hari ini Pakatan Rakyat bukan sahaja berdiri sebagai Kerajaan Negeri bahkan kita juga mahu dokongan bersama dari seluruh rakyat," katanya lagi. - mks