Reps take bus to parliament

IPOH: It was their first time travelling to attend the Dewan Rakyat sitting in Kuala Lumpur, but Perak elected representatives of the Pakatan Rakyat government dismissed the idea of taking their personal cars.

Instead, some 30 assemblymen and their personal assistants opted to take a government bus from the State Secretariat to cut down on travel costs.

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said that by journeying by bus, it helped the state to “save tremendously”.

“We only need to pay for the fuel and toll charges for the trip,” he told reporters before boarding the bus at 7am yesterday.

Opposition express: Mohammad Nizar (right) and other Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen boarding the bus at the Perak State Secretariat building before departing for Parliament to attend the Dewan Rakyat sitting yesterday.

“If we go individually, we would use a lot of state funds for everyone’s petrol, toll and allowance claims,” he added.

Nizar said that although they were not part of the Dewan Rakyat proceedings, he felt that the trip would allow the Pakatan Rakyat assemblyman to gain valuable exposure.

“It is the best time to learn, as most of us are first-timers. We can see how our MPs debate with the Barisan Nasional MPs.

“We can also learn how to conduct the session and gain experience from there before holding the state assembly meeting here,” he added.

Sitiawan assemblyman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and Pantai Remis assemblyman Nga Kor Ming, who are both MPs, greeted the group when they arrived at Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur.

When they arrived at the Parliament house, they had separate meetings with Opposition Leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.

The Star, 13 May 2008

Bersama di Majlis Makan Malam JPN

Saya sempat bersama di Majlis Makan Malam Jabatan Pilihanraya PAS Perak bertempat di Silveritage, Medan Gopeng, Ipoh malam tadi. Gembira melihat petugas-petugas lama dan baru yang bersemangat serta begitu terharu melihat petugas-petugas muslimat yang telah memberikan pengorbanan yang begitu tinggi sepanjang pilihanraya yang lalu. Tidak juga dilupakan isteri- isteri petugas yang telah sanggup menyabarkan diri menyambut kepulangan suami mereka pada setiap awal pagi.

Apapun perlu diingat bahawa gerak kerja yang telah kita lalui baru sekumin, rahmat Allah lah yang telah membolehkan kita memimpin pemerintahan Pakatan Rakyat di Perak.

Semoga yang sekumin kita bersama jadikan segenggam, supaya rahmat Allah yang lebih besar dikurniakan kepada kita semua. Agar Negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan dapat menjadi model terbaik bagi Asia Tenggara kalau tidak pun di dunia.

Salam.

450 to ride British classic bikes

It will be a trip down memory lane in more ways than one when a group of 450 riders of British-made motorcycles converge on Ipoh for the Malaysia International Classic Bike Festival.

The bikers will ride both pre-war and post-war machines to visit heritage buildings like the Ipoh Railway Station and Kellie’s Castle and the tin dredge in Batu Gajah.

The three-day festival, beginning May 2, will be held for the first time in Perak.

Ipoh British Classic Bikers’ Club deputy president Azman Omm said it was the seventh time the club was organising the annual event with last year’s ride held in Klang.

Getting a feel: Mohammad Nizar (right) and state executive councillor Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu trying out some of the British classic bikes.

“We expect local and foreign bikers to take part in this year’s event which we hope will help promote tourism in the state,” he added.

Azman said among the classic bikes that would be used for the gathering at Dataran Ipoh for the festival were Norton, BMW, Triumph and a 1908 Sunbeam.

He said three women bikers had already signed up for the event and the oldest participant would be an 86-year-old teacher.

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, who was present at the press briefing yesterday, said the state would be funding RM70,000 for the event.

The Star, Metro 29 April 2008

Nizar, Guan Eng call for end to preventive laws

POH: Two Pakatan Rakyat state leaders have called for the abolition of the Internal Security Act (ISA).

While Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said certain provisions Act at least needed to be reviewed if not repealed, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng went step further, asking for the Official Secrets Acts (OSA) to be done away with as well.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar had on Saturday said that preventive laws, including the ISA, would not be abolished.

Commenting on a claim by PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that Pakatan Rakyat would abolish preventive laws should it rule the country, Syed Hamid had said that such laws serve the purpose of maintaining public order.

Lim said he regretted Syed Hamid's decision.

“The fact that you have the ISA and OSA (shows that) you want to frighten the people,” he told a press conference at the Mount Miriam Hospital “Ho Chiak” Charity Food and Fun Fair in Penang yesterday.

“Of course, you cannot frighten political leaders, especially those who have been held under the ISA before,” he added.

Nizar noted that the ISA detention camp was in Kamunting, Perak, and as the new mentri besar he had to answer to the families of the detainees.

“Most definitely the parents and other family members to the more than 80 detainees would come to me and ask what is happening there,” he said in his speech at the Tow Boo Keong temple.

“Please, if there is any room for review over the provisions in the act, do it. Or abolish the ISA completely.”

Nizar added that at the very least the detainees should be given the opportunity to interact with their lawyers and allow their cases to be tried in court.

“Now, they are detained without trial. This is not justice,” he said.

Nizar revealed that he had first broached the matter with the Prime Minister during their first hour-long meeting on April 18, adding that he was the first mentri besar to do so.

In TAIPING, a group gathered in front of the Kamunting detention centre at 5.45pm pressing for the release of all ISA detainees.

Hindraf coordinator S. Jeyathas told reporters that the ISA should be abolished and he hoped newly-elected MPs would look into the matter.

The Star, 28 April 2008

Perak to cancel unfair projects

By HAH FOONG LIAN

IPOH: Decisions of the previous administration that are deemed to be unfair and robbed others of their rights will be cancelled, said Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.

Assuring the people that the Pakatan state government would rule by universal values of justice, transparency and accountability, Nizar said his executive council had uncovered certain decisions of the previous Barisan Nasional government that were “unfair and robbed others of their rights”.

“We will cancel such decisions,” he said yesterday at a thanksgiving lunch organised by the Tambun Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) division at Taman Meru here.

“We are doing this because it is our duty to do so. If we continue as before (like the previous administration), the people will only get angry and hate us,” he added.

On April 17, it had been reported that the state government would stop the transfer of land titles to political parties if there had been any irregularities in the initial approval.

Nizar also stressed that the government would quickly clear and approve applications for projects that were deemed fair and to be the right of the people.

He noted that the people had wanted a change for the better when they voted in the new government and that it was his responsibility to make collective decisions based on those universal values.

Senior executive council member Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, who was also at the event, said the new government would not practise any form of discrimination based on race, religion or political beliefs.

“If there are Umno members, who want to do business or construct buildings, we will approve them provided they are done in accordance with the law,” he said.

The Star, 21 April 2008

Selangor may consider buying water from Perak

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government is looking into the possibility of buying water from Perak to cater for a projected increase in demand over the next 20 years.

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid said the state's increasing population density made it necessary to diversify its water supply resources.

“I’m glad to have got a positive feedback from the Perak government during our preliminary discussion,” he told a press conference yesterday after a meeting with Perak Mentri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, who was on his first official visit to Khalid's office.

VIP visitor: Khalid (left) welcoming Nizar, who called on him, at the Selangor state secretariat in Shah Alam on Tuesday. — Bernama

The two leaders reached a bilateral agreement to strengthen ties between the states and join forces to increase investments and economic activities.

On speculation over the increase of water rate by 37% in 2009, said to be part of the state water concession agreement, Khalid said the state government was in the process of reviewing the agreement.

Meanwhile, Nizar said Perak would consider diverting water to Selangor because of its rich resources and close proximity to the Bernam Valley.

“In-depth study will have to be undertaken and with the water resources that Perak has, it is possible that a large amount of water can be diverted into some part of Selangor, especially the northern part,” he said.

When asked if Perak would follow Selangor's footstep by offering free water, Nizar said the state government was looking into it.

Selangor's previous government had also entered into an agreement with Pahang to buy water.

Meanwhile, Khalid said, all pig farmers in the state would have to relocate to a centralised farm in Kuala Langat within a year's time.

“We have talked to the farmers concerned and most of them have agreed to the modern farming centre in Ladang Tumbuk, which fulfils the high quality guidelines approved by the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry.

The project was approved by the previous state government on Jan 30, and Khalid said the new government decided to proceed with it as it was necessary.

He said the farmers would be given compensation in terms of incentives and business opportunities for moving into the one-stop centre.

The land and premises left by the farmers would be utilised for other business purposes.

Former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo, however, denied that the former exco had on the approved the project during the exco meeting on Jan 30.

The Star, Wednesday 9 April 2008

Articale From The Star, Friday 4 April 2008

Perak MB takes challenges in his stride

By HAH FOONG LIAN

With the Perak government having a mere two-seat edge, Mentri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin expects to see more drama threatening the DAP-PKR-PAS coalition. He speaks to The Star on the resistance to the change, which he expects will grow more intense.

EVEN before Perak PAS secretary Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin was sworn in as the state's 10th Mentri Besar, his days were riddled with heart-stopping drama.

The players were from within the new DAP-PKR-PAS coalition and also supporters of their political foes who lost in the general election. The drama did not end even after he was sworn in as Mentri Besar.

The episodes continued even as his state executive council members met for the first time to decide on their portfolios.

Confident of his team: On what the future holds for the new coalition state government, Nizar is optimistic and believes that a hundred days is a fair time frame for them to prove that they can make things work.

With a strong religious background, Mohammad Nizar takes them all in his stride.

Describing them as “trials and tribulations,” he believes they are part and parcel of the change that is happening in the state.

Mohammad Nizar, the Pasir Panjang assemblyman, describes his current position as “divine intervention” and he has to accept the reality that comes with the job.

Raised in a family of hardcore Umno supporters, Mohammad Nizar got along well with many Umno leaders, as well as those from the MCA and MIC, and now from the DAP and PKR.

His late father Jamaluddin Ngah Ismail, his 75-year-old mother Hamidah Zainal Abidin, who is Chinese by birth, and his brothers were all hardcore Umno members.

A certain section of society is taken in with your ability to speak Chinese dialects and they talk a lot about your mother. Why is that?

By birth, my mother is Chinese, but she was raised by a Malay family from day one.

I think the people have inflated my ability to speak Chinese. I speak a bit of Chinese because I have a lot of Chinese friends and I studied in the Anglo-Chinese School in Kampar. The people there speak Cantonese. So I can speak a bit of Cantonese, Mandarin and Hokkien.

When I was in Penang, I was exposed to Hokkien. I don’t know it too well but I can get by with it. I will get along. I won’t get lost.

PAS used to talk about setting up an Islamic state. How would that affect Muslims and non-Muslims in the state?

Right from the beginning, I never uttered those words or phrases. They did not come from me. The portrayal I’d like to show is based on universal values that are mostly acceptable by all religions.

So the reason why I didn’t utter those specifically is because I truly understand the composition of the various religious background in Perak and that uniqueness puts me in a situation where there are certain phrases that can actually be coined from a universal standpoint and they are well-accepted.

So why should I go to the level where it can create certain misunderstanding and wrong perception.

I could use different terminologies that are acceptable by all religions and enhances the very meaning and objective of each and every of these religions.

My biggest challenge is how to interpret them in terms of my sayings, my movement and my body language. That is the most difficult part.

Muslims and non-Muslims have voiced concern over the possible imposition of certain practices like the dressing or wearing of tudung. What do you say to them?

My message to them is please have an open mind.

The very basic teaching that was instilled in me is that there is no compulsion in religion, religious beliefs and in everyday life including the way one eats, the way one dresses and the way one has his own family.

Those are basic human rights that have to be tolerated and I allow for that.

My ideology and beliefs emphasise respect for openness and freedom to believe. That comes from the Quran, which says there is no compulsion in religion.

That is the very basic tenet that I think is being accepted under the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights or whatever you have it.

There is no compulsion in one’s dressing. Even after 19 years of governing Kelantan, there has not been a single moment that the Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat forced the non-Muslims to use the tudung.

For Muslims, they must adhere to the teachings of Islam by virtue of being Muslims. But in no way did the Mentri Besar of Kelantan enforce it for all Kelantanese irrespective of race or culture.

He actually advised those who have accepted the Islamic belief to accept the teachings.

There is no point in being a Muslim and not accepting the Islamic beliefs.

Likewise for Muslims in Perak, I would advise that they adhere to the Islamic culture.

But those who don’t accept the Islamic teachings have the complete freedom as allowed by their own religion.

Incidents like DAP Buntong assemblyman A. Sivasubramaniam quitting and pulling back his resignation – does it look bad on the government?

As you know, every move towards change there will be resistance and there will be tribulations.

There will be a lot of tests on your determination and commitment. Perakians have given the mandate through the ballot boxes. They wanted a change. I believe that any change will come hand in hand with resistance.

And apart from resistance, you’ll have to face all those tribulations. I accept that they are part and parcel of the change that we are going to create in Perak.

I have told my exco members that they have to be prepared psychologically, mentally and even spiritually for these tribulations which will go on and they shall be very intense, both internal and external.

So my problem is how to manage those changes and manage the resistance and to use them to further strengthen the people of Perak.

Having a Malay Mentri Besar may be considered “window dressing” with the DAP having the most number of seats. What is your view on that?

I don’t deny there can be a lot of insinuations and interpretations leading to that sort of perception because everybody has the right to perceive and interpret what goes on.

That’s coming particularly from a certain group or sector of society. However it is yet to be proven. In principle, decisions will be made collectively and based on consensus.

Among the exco members and supporters of the party, we have in principle agreed to accept the “institution” of collective decision.

If you use the simple-thinking mind of a person, then it would be something unbelievable.

Our friends in the DAP have 18 seats, comprising 14 Chinese, three Indians, a Punjabi. In Keadilan, it has seven seats comprising three Malays, three Chinese and an Indian while PAS has six seats comprising five Malays and a Chinese.

Now the normal mind of a person would not be able to believe at the moment how so many races, cultures, sexes and religious backgrounds, professional integrity would be able to culminate and become a force to run the state purely on the basis that we accept differences, we agree to disagree, we have a lot of rationalisation.

This is based on certain professional etiquette and religious values.

Even with you and I, we have brothers and sisters living in the same house, taken care of by the father and mother.

Can you deny that under that flagship as brothers and sisters we didn’t argue? There was no bickering among us?

We did argue but those were family arguments. I fought with my brothers and sisters when I was small but I got along again with them after two or three hours.

Now that is having the same brothers and sisters from the same father and mother. Even then you argue.

What more if we are 31 state assemblymen from diverse backgrounds? How on earth could you believe we can come together?

It is purely because of the discipline and elements I just mentioned that have brought us together.

Because our interest is to serve the rakyat and they had bravely made the decision to give the mandate to the coalition government.

Certainly the aspect of divine intervention is very dear and close to our hearts.

Will the state government last when it has to face various problems that come along the way?

My only comment is nobody knows what will happen in the future. We can only anticipate through the various factors that we can see physically.

But to be fair to the people of Perak, the civil servants and the various institutions that had played a role in the formation of the coalition government, please do give us a chance.

A hundred days is probably a fair time frame.

The same question was posed to Tuan Guru Nik Aziz. I can remember that the late Tun Ghafar Baba did ask if the Kelantan Government would last a month.

After finishing one month, the Kelantan Government went on to the third month, then to the sixth month, then a year and now up to the 19th year. We are on that platform. Nobody knows the future.

We certainly are very confident with the ability of all the exco members with their professional integrity and commitment.