KABINET PAK LAH: KENAPA INDIA DAN CINA MASIH RAMAI?

Cabinet breakdown

1. Umno: 23 Ministers* 16 Deputy Ministers
2. MCA: 4 Ministers 6 Deputy Ministers
3. MIC: 1 Minister 3 Deputy Ministers
4. Gerakan: 2 Deputy Ministers
5. PBB: 1 Minister 3 Deputy Ministers (Sarawak)
6. SUPP: 1 Minister 2 Deputy Ministers (Sarawak)
7. SPDP: 2 Deputy Ministers (Sarawak)
8. PBS: 1 Minister (Sabah)
9. UPKO: 1 Minister (Sabah)
10. PRS: 2 Deputy Ministers (Sabah)
11. LDP: 1 Minister (Sabah)
12. IND: 1+
Total: 33 Ministers* 37 Deputy Ministers
* Datuk Shahrizat Jalil appointed as special adviser with full ministerial ranking
+ Datuk Amirsham Aziz considered an independent appointment

Malaysia New Cabinet 2008... Not So New

Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Deputy Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak

Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department
Tan Sri Bernard DompokDatuk Seri Nazri AzizDatuk Ahmad Zahid HamidiDatuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim (senator)Datuk Amirsham Abdul Aziz (senator)

Umno supreme council member Datuk Shahrir Samad is Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs

MinisterDeputy Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department
Datuk Johari BaharomDr Mashitah Ibrahim K. DevamanyHassan Malik

FinanceMinister
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Second Finance Minister
Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop
Deputies - Datuk Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah, Datuk Kong Cho Ha

DefenceMinister
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
Deputy - Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop

Internal Security and Home AffairsMinister - Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar
Deputies - Datuk Chor Chee Heong, Senator Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh

Housing and Local GovernmentMinister -Datuk Ong Ka Chuan
Deputies - Datuk Robert Lau , Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin

MCA secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan is Housing and Local Government

MinisterWorks MinisterMinister - Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamad
Deputy - Datuk Yong Khoon Seng

Energy, Water and CommunicationsMinister - Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor
Deputy - Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum

Agriculture and Agro-based IndustryMinister - Datuk Mustapa Mohamed
Deputy - Datin Paduka Rohani Abdul Karim

International Trade and IndustryMinister -Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
Deputies- Datuk Liew Vui Keong, Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan

Foreign AffairsMinister - Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim
Deputy - Datuk Seri Tengku Azlan Abu Bakar

Education Minister - Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein
Deputies - Datuk Wee Ka Siong, Datuk Razali Ismail

Higher Education Minister - Datuk Khaled Nordin
Deputies - Dr Hou Kok Chung, Datuk Idris Harun

Kemaman MP Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek is Information Minister

TransportMinister - Datuk Ong Tee Keat
Deputy - Datuk Anifah Aman

Human ResourcesMinister - Datuk S. Subramaniam
Deputy - Datuk Noraini Ahmad

Women, Family and Community DevelopmentMinister - Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen
Deputy - Noriah Kasnon

National Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister - Datuk Shafie Apdal
Deputy - Datuk Teng Boon Soon

Science, Technology and InnovationMinister - Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili
Deputy - Fadilah Yusof

Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development Minister - Datuk Noh Omar
Deputy - Datuk Saiffuddin Abdullah

Natural Resources and Environment Minister - Datuk Douglas Unggah Embas
Deputy - Datuk Abu Ghapur Salleh

Bera MP Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaacob is Youth and Sports

Minister Rural Regional Development Minister - Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib
Deputy - Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, Joseph Entulu Belaun

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister - Datuk Shahrir Samad
Deputy - Jelaing Mersat

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister - Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui
Deputy - Senator A. Kohilan

Youth and Sports Minister - Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaacob
Deputy - Wee Jack Seng

Health Minister - Datuk Liow Tiong Lai
Deputy - Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad

Information Minister - Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek
Deputy- Datuk Tan Lian Hoe

Tourism Minister - Datuk Azalina Othman
Deputy - Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abu Taib

Federal Territories Minister - Datuk Zulhasnan Rafique
Deputy - Datuk M. Saravanan

PILIHAN RAYA 2008: ANGKA TANPA KUASA

Petikan dari Utusan Malaysia, terima kasih. Keputusan diluar jangkaan semua pihak, termasuk para pemimpin. Terpulang siapa anda maka keputusan itu mungkin juga mimpi ngeri ataupun mimpi indah. Angka itu bagaimanapun nampaknya tidak penting kerana yang lebih penting rupanya Perlembagaan Tubuh Negeri yang memberi kuasa kepada Sultan. Maka mimpi indah juga menjadi ngeri dan mimpi ngeri menjadi lebih ngeri lagi seperti di Perlis dan kini merebak ke Trengganu. Meneguk di air keroh atau winning in chaos. Wallahu alam.

SURAT PAK LAH KEPADA MEDIA BARAT

MALAYSIA DECIDES 2008
Thursday March 13, 2008

MALAYSIA WILL HEAL HER DIVISIONS

By Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi


WHILE I am honoured to have been re-elected as Prime Minister of Malaysia and to have received a 63% majority of the 222 seats in Parliament in our just-completed general election, I am also disappointed that we fell a few seats short of the two-thirds majority we were hoping for.
For those who have in the past questioned the legitimacy of Malaysia’s electoral process, the results of Saturday’s election are positive proof that our country does indeed enjoy a free, fair and highly competitive democracy.
As there has been much speculation about the implications of our election results, I wish to offer clarity on three critically important points:
First, we have heard the voice of our citizens, and I will dedicate myself, in this second term, to healing the divisions which became evident during the campaign. That will mean developing new and concrete initiatives, not just rhetoric, that bring our people together and ensure that no one is left behind as Malaysia prospers, whether they are ethnic Malays, Chinese or Indians.
Second, we can achieve the above goal because our economy is indeed strong and stable, with a 7.3% GDP growth rate in the last quarter, nearly full employment, more than US$100bil in foreign exchange reserves, and a flood of foreign direct investment in manufacturing and services that last year reached a record US$13.7bil.
For the benefit of all of our citizens, I intend Malaysia to remain a business-friendly and free market economy with powerful attractions for international investors who, over the past 12 months, have included General Electric of the United States, Britain’s Virgin Group, and important groups from the Middle East and China.
Third, I intend to protect the stability and security of our nation. For all of our citizens to share in the prosperity and opportunities our economy is generating, we must also continue our work to eradicate crime and corruption.
The people’s desire for law and order is as important in Malaysia as it is everywhere. The same is true of the need to make additional progress in battling corruption, which is both immoral and distorts competition in free markets.
Although the size of our majority would be considered a landslide in most countries, the fact that it has significantly reduced and we have had setbacks in five of our 13 states indicates that we need to do more for those who feel disaffected.
Although some quarters have called for me to step aside, my party has given me solid support to carry on our nation-building agenda, something for which I am grateful.
As with any election in any democratic country, there is debate, sometimes heated; there can be divisions, sometimes fierce; then people make their own choices and democratic politicians have to live with the outcome.
What matters most is that governments listen as well as lead, and so I will work hard to create more of a national consensus following our national democratic conversation.
We are listening. I know there is discontent among some parts of our community. I accept it is our responsibility, as the newly re-elected government of all Malaysians, to find practical solutions to ease that discontent, to listen to grievances and to seek to remedy them.
I have tried throughout my period in office to bring our country and our communities closer together. I have stood in firm opposition to those who have sought to divide us along racial, religious and ethnic lines.
We are all Malaysians and we all must have a stake in building a progressive, united and cohesive country. This has always been my approach to government and politics. It is even more important now.
Some people took the opportunity when voting to voice a protest, as can happen in any democracy. We accept the result. That is what democracy is all about. The election results will not diminish for a moment our determination to grow the Malaysian economy, to continue our successful programme of poverty eradication and to provide a level playing field for all.
After an election it is right to have a period of reflection; it is not a time for narrow introspection. Malaysia cannot afford a period of sitting back and risk stalling our progress and our economic growth.
We are in a changing global economy which itself is in increasingly challenging times. That is why, just as it is essential that we reflect internally on the lessons from these elections, it is vital that we look outward internationally to face and overcome the global challenges of economics, peace and international security.
Malaysia will continue to offer business-friendly policies and a welcoming environment for investors. I believe that Malaysia will continue its strong economic growth in 2008. Our vibrant economy and proven record of economic growth will help us prosper despite the economic slowdown and uncertainty in the United States.
What we must now undertake is to move forward as one nation with a renewed sense of a bright future for all.
This was an opinion article published in the Asian Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.

PILIHAN RAYA MALAYSIA 2008: Pak Lah Terperangkap

Apa yang telah diputuskan oleh pengundi pada pilihan raya 2008 adalah diluar jangkaan semua pihak, termasuk parti pembangkang. Barisan Alternatif dapat durian runtuh manakala Barisan Nasional ditimpa malapetaka. Lima buah negeri di Semananjung jatuh ke tangan pembangkang; DAP akhirnya dapat Pulau Pinang yang memang strateginya, PKR di Selangor yang kaya, PAS di Kedah dan Kelantan dan yang tidak diduga sama sekali Perak.

Apa sebab-sebabnya? Mungkin salah masa kerana ketika ini Pak Lah menghadapi banyak masalah kritikal. Isu Hindraf belum lagi reda. Isu para hakim dikuasai Lingam. Isu Soo Lek. Isu harga barang naik. Jika tunggu lama sedikit Anwar Ibrahim pula akan boleh bertanding pada bulan April ini.

Jadi terperangkap agaknya. Pak Lah baru kurang lebih 3 tahun saja. Kesan kepimpinannya sudah tentu belum dapat dilihat dan dirasai oleh rakyat. Koridor baru saja dilancar, baru di atas kertas belum dilaksana dan belum ada kesan kejayaan. Jangan jadi koridor superkoridor di Cyberjaya yang hampir terkubur. Lepas itu pemilihan UMNO ditangguh pula dan akan diadakan selepas prestasi pilihan raya yang buruk.

Bagaimanapun pembangkang yang akan memerintah 5 buah negeri dijangka akan lemah dan kurang upaya. Ini disebabkan Barisan Nasional masih kuat juga. Di P. Pinang UMNO masih ada 20 kerusi sebagai contohnya. Di Selangor dan Perak tidak jauh berbeza. Rakyat akan lihat kemampuan mereka.

Tapi yang sedihnya ketuanan Melayu telah digugat oleh Melayu sendiri. Kesatuan Melayu telah dipecahkan oleh Melayu sendiri; seperti dulu British pecah-perintah kita. Ini politik jadi seperti dulu UMNO boleh berunding dengan PAS di P. Pulau Pinang contohnya dan di negeri lain demi alif baa taa kita.

PILIHAN RAYA MALAYSIA 2008: Gurindam DUN

Ini dikatakan demam pilihan raya. Bila terlalu panas ada yang sasau.

Kawasan DUN
DUN yang paling sejuk, Batu Berendam
DUN yang tak ada rasa, Air Tawar
DUN yang paling banyak hantu, Lubuk Antu
DUN yang paling bahaya, Baling
DUN yang paling wangi, Pokok Senan
DUN yang tak ada harapan, Beserah
DUN yang paling kuat mengorat, Menggatal
DUN yang paling tegang, Batang Berjuntai

PILIHAN RAYA MALAYSIA 2008: Apa dah jadi dengan Anwar Ibrahim

Warga negara Malaysia akan turun mengundi esok, 8 Mac 2008. Kempen akan berakhir tengah malam ini. US pun sedang demam pilihan raya juga, masih terus berkempen intra-parti sejak dua tahun lalu. Biasanya pilihan raya biasa saja hanya menarik tokoh-tokoh yang terlibat dan sesuatu yang berlainan saja yang menarik untuk dikomen.

Pilihan raya di US menarik perhatian kerana isu Pertama, iaitu sama ada Hillary Clinton akan jadi wanita pertama menjadi Presiden atau Barack Hussein Obama menjadi anak Bangsa Afrika-Hitam pertama menjadi Presiden US. Ekoran daripada itu muncullah isu perkauman dan gender; faktor agama dan neo-cons. Jadi sebagus-bagus US masih ada perasaan perkauman.

Pilihan raya Malaysia pula yang menarik ialah kemunculan Anwar Ibrahim, seorang tokoh besar negara ini. Malang sekali baginya ramai sahabat berpaling tadah dalam pemilihan kali ini. Berita aliran perdana menyiarkan seolah-olah beliau tiada pendirian tertentu untuk masyarakat pelbagai kaum. Beliau kini seperti Onn Jaafar, pendiri UMNO yang kemudian tersingkir kerana mahu membela semua kaum. Anwar patut belajar dari kesilapan Onn Jaafar atau belajar daripada Dr. Mahathir, keluar dan masuk kembali dan menjadi unggul. Begitu juga Pak Lah dan rakan Semangat 46. Saya merasa tersinggung apabila membaca bahawa Anwar Ibrahim mahu menghapuskan DEB dan ketuanan Melayu sementara mendorong Hindraf.

Selamat mengundi.