keris tdm

Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad Malaysia's former Prime Minister has returned to the headlines and front-pages with harsh criticism for his hand-picked successor, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Commenting on recent election results Dr. M stated, "It's shocking. The Japanese would have committed hara-kiri." He is usually known for his biting wit.

Kembali kepada Islam, rujuk Ulama - Tun Mahathir

GOMBAK, 16 Feb (Hrkh) - Bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad menyarankan umat Islam belajar daripada Ulama untuk mendapat pemahaman yang betul tentang ajaran Islam yang sebenarnya.

Kenyataan itu membuatkan hadirin memberi tepukan gemuruh kepada Penaung UIAM itu.

Semasa memberikan ucaptamanya di satu Program 'Global Peace : Crisis In Islamic World' di Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) pagi tadi, Dr Mahathir turut berkata, tanpa Ulama umat Islam sukar untuk memahami Islam yang sebenarnya.

Beliau dijemput memberi ucaptama di UIAM sempena program Minggu Ummah 2008. Turut hadir ialah, Pengerusi UIAM, Tan Sri Sanusi Junid; kepimpinan akademik UIAM serta mahasiswa dari pelbagai negara yang menuntut di universiti tersebut.

Berucap lanjut Dr Mahathir mengingatkan supaya ummah merujuk kepada Ulama untuk memilih pemimpin termasuk dari sudut politik.

Malah, beliau mengingatkan peranan Ulama sejak 1400 tahun lalu yang dijadikan sumber rujukan dan beliau turut menyeru semua kembali kepada asas Islam merujuk kepada Al-Quran dan Hadis.

LAPORAN PENUH harakahdaily.net DI SINI

Former M’sian premier Dr M scoffs at Anwar’s plan for political comeback

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed scoffed the idea of a political comeback by his renegade former deputy Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, ''He could win a few seats but making a comeback and taking over the government, that's a pipedream.”

Anwar has already announced he wants to run for office through a proxy in the forthcoming general election (widely speculated in March), and eventually a by-election in May. But as analysts have pointed out a pop politician can not take the top job without enough majority parliamentary support from his ‘barisan’ coalition.

And so far, Anwar’s party and its rag-tag opposition coalition is no match to the formidable machinery, media and money of the ruling 14-party ‘Barisan Nasional’ coalition.

The opposition coalition remains divided and has performed poorly in recent by-elections. Still, the opposition coalition is hoping to deny the ruling coalition a two third majority against a backdrop of widespread accusation of election irregularities.

Recent Developments - updated Feb 14, 2008 : Anwar, Malaysian Opposition, Aim to Erode Majority - bloomberg.com

Former M’sian deputy premier Anwar to run for office

Former Malaysian deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim looks set to make his political comeback through a proxy in the forthcoming general election (hotly speculated in March), and eventually a by-election in May, according to reports here, and here...

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has dropped tantalising hints to voters that he may contest a by-election in Balik Pulau, on Penang island, in May.

He was addressing a ceramah last Saturday in Kampung Terang in Balik Pulau, the island’s only rural parliamentary constituency, one of three locations he visited in his home state during a weekend of campaigning.

Speaking from a dilapidated wooden house that stands on eroding concrete stilts, he said: “In 1987, while I was in the cabinet, I insisted that this whole area be supplied with electricity and piped water. It was supplied but there has been little further improvement to this place since then. If the PKR candidate wins here in the coming election (widely expected in March), I may contest here in a by-election in May.”

The crowd of some 500 cheered. They obviously knew that this could see a dramatic transformation of the constituency from rural rusticity to something better. After all, the ruling Barisan Nasional had shown its munificent strategy in the Ijok by-election, for example.

Earlier, Anwar had pointed out Yusmadi Yusoff (photo - see dinmerican -ed.) to the crowd, a gesture that could be interpreted as a sign of his eventual selection to contest the Balik Pulau seat. Yusmadi, 32, was born in Balik Pulau and now practises law in Kuala Lumpur. He joined PKR last July, and had accompanied Anwar to the ceramah.

Anwar is barred by law from contesting the elections up to April 15, following his conviction and six-year jail sentence for corrupt practice.

Najib denies knowing anything about Dr M’s agreement

Reiterating his support and loyalty to the prime minister, Datuk Seri Abdul Najib Razak said today he did not know anything about an alleged agreement that Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi stay as premier only for one-term before stepping down in favour of his deputy.

"No, I don't know. I really don't know about that,” said the deputy prime minister after opening a seminar for Felda mosque officials at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre. “However, I am committed to support (the prime minister) and remain loyal to the prime minister. I don't know. You (reporters) have to ask the parties concerned."

Najib was responding to reporters’ questions on whether he knew of the "gentleman's agreement" between Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah. The agreement, according to the former prime minister yesterday, was made with Abdullah in 2003. However, Dr Mahathir conceded that he had no way of proving the existence of such an agreement.

The understanding, Dr Mahathir said, was for Abdullah to serve as a prime minister for one term before passing the baton to Najib. Dr Mahathir was quoted by AFP as saying, "That was my thinking since (Abdullah) was older than Najib, he should be PM for one term and then Najib should be able to take over."

Najib, also the Barisan Nasional deputy chairman, stressed he was committed to support and remain loyal to the prime minister. At the same time, he said his focus was on the coming general election and to ensure the BN’s victory.

Source: http://www.emedia.com.my/detailnews.php?nid=908&cid=N01

Related news analysis: Perjanjian lisan tidak valid!

LATEST DEVELOPMENT: Wed Feb 06, 08 5:16:44 pm MYT: PRU ke 12: Peluang tipis Najib untuk gantikan Abdullah sebagai PM. Apakah Dato' Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak berfikir, kesetiaan yang ditunjukkan beliau kepada Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi akan membantunya menjadi Perdana Menteri Malaysia yang ke-6? Mesej sebenar yang hendak disampaikan bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad adalah, jika Abdullah diberi mandat melanjutkan khidmatnya sepenggal lagi, Najib mungkin tidak berpeluang menjadi PM dan Presiden Umno.