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Thursday, January 13, 2011

PKR faces another revolt

PETALING JAYA: Another revolt is brewing in the PKR. This time around it is over a string of appointments that had allegedly ignored grassroots’ sentiments.

From Perlis to Sabah, voices of dissent point to their losing patience over the leadership’s appointment of “unpopular” state chiefs.

On Sunday, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had announced the new state chiefs, among whom were Shamsul Iskandar in Malacca, Dr Idris Ahmad (Federal Territories) and Wan Salleh Wan Isa (Kedah).

New state chiefs were also appointed in Terengganu (Azan Ismail), Kelantan (Abdul Aziz Kadir) and Sabah (Pajuddin Nordin).

The party retained the incumbents in Selangor (Azmin Ali), Johor (Datuk Seri Chua Jui Meng), Perlis (Johari Shafie), Negri Sembilan (Datuk Kamarul Bahrin Abbas) and Pahang (Datuk Fauzi Abdul Rahman).

PKR also retained the state chiefs in Perak (Dr Mohd Nor Manuty), Sarawak (Baru Bian) and Penang (Datuk Dr Mansor Othman).

“It looks like PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has set up a dream team for Azmin Ali - a team that will kow tow to him,’’ said a party insider.

Party observers also noted that Anwar had a different set of rules for different leaders.

“Baru was told to give up his appointed vice-president’s post if he wanted to be the state chief. But, at the same time Anwar allows Shamsul to continue being the PKR Youth chief,” the party observers said.

“He also allows Dr Mansor to hold on to the Penang deputy chief minister’s and PKR vice-president’s posts.

“Fuziah Salleh was dropped as the election director and told to focus on her duties as vice- president.

“But Azmin, who is holding a higher and heavier position as the party deputy president, is also appointed Selangor chief and central election committee chief.”

Many division leaders in Sabah are said to have been insulted over the appointment of Pajuddin, the Tuaran division’s deputy chief and a virtual unknown.

Sarawak leaders, on the other hand, are upset over Baru remaining as their state chief though the majority have reportedly wanted the native rights lawyer out.

In Perak, division leaders had, through secret ballot on Dec 16, chosen Mustafa Kamil Ayub to lead the state. However, they were stunned when Dr Mohd Nur was appointed instead.

“We drew the secret ballot twice and at both times Mustaffa emerged as the more popular candidate,’’ said a party insider.

In Negri Sembilan, the Rasah division passed a vote of no confidence against Kamarul at an EGM two weeks ago.

“But, we were astonished when the party headquarters announced that they were retaining him,’’ said a member.

Elsewhere, the Federal Territories members said they were baffled why the leadership appointed a meek Dr Idris to head FT, as he heads a non-active Segambut division. And, in Johor, the majority of leaders opposed Chua as their state chief.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/1/12/nation/7780311&sec=nation

Monday, January 3, 2011

TKM 1 akan bina Universiti di Penanti

Sebagai sebuah kerajaan yang berjiwa rakyat, Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang akan mewujudkan sebuah universiti di kawasan Dewan Undangan Negeri (Dun) Penanti dalam tahun ini.

Timbalan Ketua Menteri 1 Pulau Pinang, Datuk Dr. Mansor Othman berkata demikian selepas menyerahkan bantuan keperluan persekolahan kepada golongan yang tidak berkemampuan di Yayasan Aman, Penanti pagi tadi.

Ketika ditemui beliau berkata, adalah menjadi aspirasi utama kerajaan negeri memberi peluang pendidikan yang terbaik bagi masyarakat negeri ini untuk meningkatkan taraf pendidikan mereka.

"Lokasi kawasan telah pun dikenal pasti. Segala perkara berkaitan dengan penubuhan insititusi tersebut sudah pun berada pada peringkat terakhir. Kita sekarang berada dalam proses pembangunan sahaja.

"Selain dari universiti dalam kawasan Penanti yang juga berada dalam Parlimen Permatang Pauh, kerajaan negeri juga akan mewujudkan sebuah lagi institusi yang akan memberi fokus kepada pembangunan ummah yang dikenali sebagai Yayasan Islam Pulau Pinang," tegasnya lagi.

Tambahnya, dengan kewujudan institusi tersebut, ia membuktikan kerajaan negeri tidak meminggirkan nasib orang Melayu di Pulau Pinang.

Difahamkan, yayasan yang akan beroperasi awal tahun ini, akan memberi penekanan kepada keperluan masyarakat Islam seperti pendidikan, ekonomi dan sosial.

“Kita bukan saja mahu masjid berperanan sebagai tempat ibadah, tetapi juga merangkumi semua aspek kehidupan masyarakat yang menitikberatkan ilmu agama semata-mata, tetapi juga membuka ruang sebagai tempat untuk meningkatkan ekonomi dan membentuk peribadi atau pembangunan insan, " katanya lagi.

Beliau yang juga Adun Penanti, optimis apa yang termaktub dalam manifesto pilihan raya yang lalu bagi mewujudkan institusi ini ternyata berjaya direalisasikan sepertimana yang dinyatakan dalam pemerintahan Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat di Pulau Pinang.