Muslim nations can overcome 'negative image'

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the biggest threat faced by Muslim countries today is that they are often associated with terrorism and deviationist movements.

He said this was made worse by the fact that anti-Islamic countries and the superpowers painted a negative image of Muslim countries.

"The Muslim community has always been linked with terrorism, more so after the Sept 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

"No matter what Muslims do, they've always had a battered image," he said when closing the Sarawak Islamic Congress here last night.

Najib said the image problem was compounded when many Muslim communities in the world were labelled poor and backward.

He said Muslim countries had become weak and were not as united as before, particularly since many of them had become victims of war, such as the Palestinians in Gaza.

The deputy prime minister outlined four factors which could help Muslims handle challenges.

First, he said, was human capital development through education and knowledge.

"Muslim countries must have a generation that is intelligent and wise, just as it is mentioned in the Quran. Only then will they be able to build a great civilisation."

The second, he said, was the fighting spirit among the younger generation. He called on Islamic leaders to come forward and lead the way for the young.

"The third is that Muslims do not realise their full economic potential. They must pursue this aggressively and be competitive, especially in trade and industry."

The fourth factor, he said, was that Muslims must improve their work ethics and life practices in accordance with the values of honesty and integrity as espoused by Islam. – text: NST

'Leaders must formulate goals, objectives well'

Leaders of the public sector must identify well-formulated goals or objectives and constantly articulate them repeatedly to get everyone to work in the same direction.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said when making recommendations, they must stick to the ones with the biggest payoffs.

"Firstly, when thinking of solutions, think of the elevator speech -- the solution should be so crisp and clear that you can explain it to someone in a 30-second elevator ride.

"Secondly, leaders must be able to energise people to get things accomplished and allow them to solve the most vexing problems."

Najib said the coming decades were periods to lay the foundation for substantial growth and change.
He said this in a speech, read by International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, at the closing of the "Public Sector Young Executive Conference" at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre yesterday.

The two-day conference was opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday.

Najib said qualitative case analysis as well as rigorous studies were beginning to provide leaders with knowledge to allow them to bring forth and effectively address key issues. [like this Perakmen: a fait accompli -ed.]

He said it was his observation that the leadership in the public sector was now facing an array of daunting challenges, including inverse global competition, changing demographics, issues of integrity and accountability, political aberrations and those relating to risky human behaviours.

"While we are slowly working from differences to similarities, the challenges are not minimised but, in fact, becoming more complex."

Therefore, Najib said, the leadership in the public sector must be about handling information and knowledge to achieve competitive advantage and effectiveness.

He added that the skill to envision various alternatives, expected or otherwise, was not a luxury anymore.

"The idiom of thinking outside the box should become a matter of habit to facilitate creativity which will help towards realising wisdom.

"We have to be both smart and wise to display a successful public sector leadership to face the challenges of a globalised world." -- text: NST

No, it’s not a referendum lah!

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi down played today the significance of the Bukit Gantang by-election in Perak, saying it has nothing to do with the recent takeover of the state government by Barisan Nasional (BN) through defections.

Abdullah also sidestepped questions on whether the coalition was preparing to accept more defections from the federal opposition Pakatan Rakyat.

“We didn’t plan, they came so we welcome them,” said Abdullah.

The BN successfully dodged the prospect of facing a statewide election after convincing the Sultan of Perak that it had enough support in the state assembly to form the new government.

“No, you can’t say that, it has nothing to do with it, a by-election has to be called so we will face the election,” said Abdullah when asked to comment on suggestions that the Bukit Gantang by-election at the Parliamentary constituency in Perak was held up by many people as a referendum on BN’s takeover of the state government.

“Whatever issues that are raised in the by-election, we will face them and will have to answer, most importantly we will face it with utmost preparation,” he added.

Abdullah admitted, however, that the by-elections in Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau, Kedah would not be easy for BN.

“We have to be prepared from now, we have to work hard to win the seats. We cannot take this as an easy by-election for us,” Abdullah told reporters.

Yesterday Pas’s Roslan Shaharum died of a heart attack, which paved the way for a by-election to be called for the Parliamentary constituency in northern Perak.

In Kedah, Bukit Selambau state rep V Arumugam tendered his resignation as executive councillor and lawmaker yesterday.

The Bukit Gantang by-election is being seen by many commentators as a referendum on BN’s successful takeover of the Perak government, leading to the state DAP endorsing the Pakatan Rakyat Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin’s candidacy for the seat.

The party also challenged the BN to field newly appointed Menteri Besar Datuk Zambry Kadir for the by-election. -- TMI

Anwar asks Nizar to carry on as MB

Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has played down DAP chairman Karpal Singh's planned suit against the Sultan of Perak for his "unconstitutional decision" to allow Barisan Nasional to take over the helm in Perak.

He said the suit would not be filed. Instead a panel of Pakatan Rakyat lawyers would look into legal remedies to the situation.

Speaking last night to a 8,000-strong crowd at the menteri besar's official residence here, which was occupied by Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, Anwar said the decision was reached when he met DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang earlier.

Anwar said he, Kit Siang and Hadi would seek an audience with the Sultan of Perak as soon as possible to convey the voice of the people of Perak.

He urged Nizar and the Pakatan executive councillors to continue with their duties as assemblymen and to return to their offices tomorrow as usual.
If they were denied entry, they were to carry on from the menteri besar's residence, Anwar said.

Present were Nizar and several Pakatan leaders, deputy DAP chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw and Hadi.

Police had blocked the roads within a kilometre radius to the menteri besar's residence to prevent crowds from converging.

Traffic was at a standstill near a roundabout in front of the residence.

City police chief Assistant Commissioner Azisman Alias said the roadblocks began at 6pm and were lifted at midnight. – text: NST, pix: TMI

Politikus at Malaysiakini! This is now a fait accompli.

Pix: Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin surrounded by supporters on what may his last night in the Menteri Besar's official residence. On his right is the DAP's Ronnie Liu

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin made a burning pledge Thursday night “to fight to his last drop of blood” as he addressed more than ten thousand supporters at the compound of his official residence as a crescendo of horns could be heard blaring from motorists outside in support.

“This will be where Najib will be buried,” he told the cheering crowd, referring to deputy Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s role in yesterday’s power grab.

pix: Datuk Seri Najib Razak – “hahihu… We have the numbers.”

“I was forced to seek dissolution of the state assembly as the Election Commission would not conduct the by-elections. Then I was asked to resign.

“I will keep fighting,” said the normally impassive Nizar.

Nizar added that he would boycott Friday’s swearing-in ceremony of the Barisan Nasional (BN) mentri besar.

Instead, he will attend special prayers at the Ubudiah mosque next to the royal palace in Kuala Kangsar.

Shouts of Allahuakbar rang out throughout the rally last night amid a light drizzle at the mentri besar’s residence here as thousands of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supporters turned up for a public rally in support of the embattled Nizar.

There is strong police presence outside the house, just a stone’s throw from the Umno building and the Istana Kinta, but this did not stop the public from turning up, causing a massive traffic jam in the city.

Earlier, various PR leaders addressed the crowd, but their rhetoric was frequently drowned out by the roars of the supporters.

Many supporters were seen carrying banners calling for the dissolution of the state assembly and for power to be returned to the people.

But despite accusing the Barisan Nasional (BN) of executing a coup, the loss of the state government is already a fait accompli as Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, the BN assemblyman for Pangkor, is already preparing to be sworn in today at 3.30pm in Kuala Kangsar ~ MORE TMI

Zambry Promises To Return Calm And Harmony To Perak

Perak Menteri Besar designate Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir (pix) has promised to return calm and harmony to the state.

Zambry, who thanked the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, for consenting the appointment and having the confidence in him to hold the post, regarded the new responsibility as a trust to be shouldered with good leadership.

"I will uphold the trust to the best of my ability. I also thank Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also the Perak Umno liaison chief, and my colleagues in Barisan Nasional (BN) for their support," he told reporters here on Thursday night.

Zambry, who is the Pangkor assemblyman, hoped his appointment as Menteri Besar would not become an issue or create a difficult situation in Perak.

Earlier in Kuala Lumpur, the prime minister announced that the Sultan of Perak had consented the appointment of Zambry as Perak's next Menteri Besar.

Abdullah also said that Zambry would be sworn in as the 11th Menteri Besar at Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar at 3.30pm on Friday.

Zambry's appointment was made after Sultan Azlan Shah ordered that Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and his state executive councillors to resign from their posts with immediate effect after the Sultan met with all the 28 BN state assemblymen and three Independent assemblymen who had declared their support for BN.

The Sultan was convinced that Mohammad Nizar had ceased to receive the support of the majority of the Perak state assemblymen.

Anwar says Pakatan not going against the palace

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Perak Menteri Besar’s refusal to resign despite the request by Sultan Azlan Shah did not mean Pakatan Rakyat was on a collision course with the Perak palace.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, hands clasped, deliberates about Perak's state of affairs in Pakatan Rakyat’s press conference in Ipoh today. Perak Menteri Besar — for now — Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin on his left looks on for inspiration. The coming hours will be crucial in deciding the fate of the silver state. — pic by Choo Choy May

“Considering the spirit of constitutional monarchy and Parliamentary democracy, this takover if allowed will be a disaster to the democratic system,” Anwar told reporters after a meeting with PR leaders.

He added that only a dissolution of the state assembly and a state-wide election would solve the problem.

On the order by the state secretariat for the leaders to vacate the building, Anwar described the action as abnormal.

“The MB has not resigned, has not been dismissed. It is abnormal under the so-called democratic system,” he added.

DAP’s Lim Kit Siang described the takeover attempt by BN as a coup led by Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“A month before Najib becomes the sixth Prime Minister, but today he has launched a coup d'état,” said Lim adding that Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin was still the Menteri Besar.

“The PR government is still legitimate. This takeover is illegal and unconstitutional,” said the Ipoh Timor MP.

Earlier today Nizar was ordered to resign by the ruler as he was deemed to have lost the support of the majority of the state’s lawmakers.

The government has however refused to step down saying that BN has no majority in the assembly, claiming that the three independents who back the coalition have resigned as legislators. -- By Adib Zalkapli, The Malaysian Insider

Pakatan plans mammoth gathering in Ipoh to rally support

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is planning a mammoth public gathering in front of the Perak mentri besar’s residence tomorrow in what is surely the last throw of the dice to head off the formation of a new state government by Barisan Nasional (BN).

A new BN government is looking all but certain now after the defections of four assemblymen from the PR alliance in Perak today.

“We are trying to mobilise a crowd of over 50,000 people for tomorrow night.

“This will be the start of the public’s support for Pakatan Rakyat,” read a text message sent by an aide to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tonight.

The plans for a mammoth rally come after a dramatic day where Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin tried to obtain consent from the Peral Sultan to dissolve the state assembly.

He failed to get an immediate answer from Sultan Azlan Shah.

But any plans to convince the state ruler with a public rally may well be moot if he consents to BN forming a state government tomorrow morning.

Deputy Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also Perak BN chief, is expected to be granted an audience by Sultan Azlan Shah tomorrow morning.

During the meeting, Najib will make the case for BN to form a new government to end the political uncertainties in the state.

the star pix: We have the numbers

Najib made the claim for the power grab today after announcing the state BN coalition now had 28 members of the state legislature, the same as PR, but it also had the backing of three independents whom are likely to join one of the parties of the ruling coalition soon.

If the Sultan does not give an immediate answer tomorrow, it will open the door for PR to use a public rally to try to convince the ruler to dissolve the assembly.

PR leaders feel that fresh elections will be their best bet for survival as they are confident of getting a convincing mandate from voters. - The Malaysian Insider

PKR moots regional Islamic body as throwing shoes won't stop missiles

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 –
As Parliament continued to censure the Israeli and United States governments over the Gaza conflict, PKR today mooted the idea of a regional Islamic body to flex its political muscle in the Muslim world.

MPs had expressed frustration over the powerlessness of the public to compel the United States and Israel to bring a halt to the Israeli attacks on Palestinians in the Gaza strip that has continued for nearly three weeks.

Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said that "throwing shoes cannot stop Tomahawk missiles," to illustrate the lack of a political solution.

De Facto PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim proposed in Parliament today that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi negotiate with other Muslim nations in the region such as Indonesia and Brunei to do something meaningful.

"This will encourage Arab leaders to do more than just have to beg for mercy," he said.
In a press conference later, he added that as Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim country and "an important democratic country that is considered moderate," with an independent foreign policy, a regional coalition could have "a definite influence on the world, as Arab countries may be considered emotionally vested in such issues."

"We must take our own stand as the anger of the public has been made known so it is incumbent upon our leaders to react," he said.

Selangor Menteri Besar and former PKR secretary-general Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim added more details on the suggestion in his speech in Parliament later.

"A task force with a formal secretariat should be formed to meet and mobilise initiatives with other Islamic nations," he said.

He said that by taking an active role, holding talks and discussions with other governments, a regional body could lobby for concerted efforts to curb future atrocities against Muslim nations.

Khalid suggested that foreign ministers could lead the secretariat to ensure eminent persons from each of the three Southeast Asian countries would represent their respective governments when speaking to other parties. – text: By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider, graphic: b-g