Sabah Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Aman not contesting UMNO Vice President or Supreme Council post, 15 September 2013

It's all yours Hishamuddin, Zahid Hamidi, Ali Rustam and Shafie Apdal.

Musa not contesting for VP or MT post.

KOTA KINABALU, 15 Sept 2013: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Hj Aman announces that he will not be contesting the Vice President or Supreme Council seat in the upcoming UMNO elections.

"After much consideration and consultation among my peers in the party including Sabah UMNO exco. I have decided not to run for both posts," he said in a statement today.

Musa who is Sabah Umno Liaison Chief said Sabah was a huge state and there was still much to be done to further develop the state and improve the overall welfare of the people,” he said in a statement today.

“This requires my undivided attention and my full commitment," he said

Musa said he has informed the Umno President, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak on his decision not to contest.

He also said that Sabah Umno maintained that the posts of Umno President and Deputy president should not be challenged.

"I am committed to Umno and its cause and will give my undivided support to the leadership of the party under its President, Datuk Seri Najib," he said.

He said it took time for him to decide on whether to contest for any of the posts due to the many requests asking him to do so.

"I wish to thank all those who have the confidence in me and who voiced their support for me to contest. However, today I wish to end the speculation and state my final decision," he said.

END.

Kadir Sheikh Fadzir akhirnya keluar UMNO

Kadir Sheikh Fadzir mungkin satu satunya menteri Kabinet Malaysia yang suka memakai Bow Tie. Selalunya Menteri pakai Neck Tie atau Tali Leher.

Ketika menjadi menteri kabinet dulu, Kadir selalu kelihatan di majlis rasmi, memakai Bow Tie. Dulu juga rambut Kadir agak botak, kini rambutnya dah tumbuh kembali. Magik.

Namun hari ini Isnin, 19 Mac 2012, orang veteran UMNO itu yang juga bekas menteri Pelancongan Malaysia dan Menteri Penerangan Malaysia, mengumumkan meletakkan jawatannya selaku ahli UMNO.

Beliau meletakkan jawatan itu setelah 56 tahun berada dalam UMNO, kerana dia masuk UMNO pada 1956 ketika Malaya belum merdeka lagi.

“Pada hari ini saya telah pun mengirim surat kepada Setiausaha Agong UMNO Malaysia untuk meletakkan jawatan selaku ahli UMNO mulai hari ini,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan ringkas 4 perenggan.

"Pada minggu sudah saya telah meletakkan jawatan selaku Bendahari UMNO Bahagian Kulim/Bandar Baharu, jawatan yang akhir dalam UMNO yang saya menjawat," katanya dalam kenyataan itu.

Kadir pernah menjadi Exco Pemuda UMNO selama 10 tahun dan Ahli Majlis Tertinggi (MT) UMNO selama 24 tahun, di samping jawatan lain seperti Ketua Pemuda UMNO Negeri Kedah.

Beliau menjadi Ahli Pentadbiran Kerajaan Malaysia sekitar 30 tahun, selaku Setiausaha Politik, Setiausaha Parlimen, Timbalan Menteri dan Menteri.

Namun tidak diketahui apakah Kadir akan menyertai mana mana parti politik selepas ini samada PAS atau PKR ataupun parti KITA ataupun parti STAR, USNO atau Pasok?

Beliau sebelum ini mengundang kontroversi apabila dilaporkan berkata pengundi di kawasan Kulim/Bandar Bahru boleh dibeli dengan wang ringgit.

Apapun, Good Luck Mr Kadir.

Puteri UMNO sanggah kenyataan Ahli Jkuasa PAS Pusat, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad mengenai perpecahan Melayu

Pergerakan Puteri UMNO dalam satu kenyataan hari ini, Khamis 1 Mac 2012, menyanggah kenyataan Ahli Jawatankuasa Pas Pusat, Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad  bahawa perpecahan undi di kalangan orang Melayu harus dilihat sebagai satu kebaikan dan hikmah kepada rakyat negara ini. Sebagai seorang pemimpin parti yang mendakwa memperjuangkan Islam iaitu agama yang dianuti orang Melayu di negara ini, kenyataan tersebut sama seperti menyokong perpecahan di kalangan umat Islam di Malaysia.

Puteri UMNO hairan dengan tindak-tanduk pemimpin Pas yang gemar kepada perpecahan dan permusuhan malah dalam banyak keadaan mereka lebih rela bekerjasama dengan orang bukan Islam dan tergamak mengetepikan penyatuan orang Melayu beragama Islam di negara ini.

Kenyataan Dr. Dzulkefly itu seolah-olah menggambarkan betapa bangganya beliau dengan perpecahan undi Melayu di negara ini sehingga ada negeri jatuh kepada parti bukan Melayu dan dikuasai oleh orang bukan Melayu sehingga nasib Melayu terpinggir dan tidak terbela.

Menurut Ketua Puteri UMNO Malaysia, Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin (gambar atas),
sudah tiba masanya untuk orang Melayu bermuhasabah diri dan merenung secara mendalam setiap kenyataan yang dibuat pemimpin beragama Islam, berbangsa Melayu tetapi mereka lebih suka melihat Melayu berpecah sedangkan Barisan Nasional (BN) bersusah payah mahu menyatukan orang Melayu untuk memastikan kedaulatan negara ini terus terpelihara.

Perhimpunan Agung UMNO 29 November 2011

Perhimpunan Agung UMNO tahun 2011 akan diadakan pada 29 November hingga 3 Disember 2011.

Bagaimanapun, tiada pemilihan diadakan kerana ia sudah ditangguhkan selama 18 bulan sehingga April 2013 seperti diputuskan sebelum ini.

Tarikh perhimpunan agung tahunan itu diputuskan mesyuarat Majlis Tertinggi (MT) UMNO yang dipengerusikan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak di ibupejabat UMNO di Menara Dato Onn Kuala Lumpur, pada malam Jumaat 29 Julai 2011.

Menurut Najib, forum antarabangsa membabitkan delegasi luar negara akan membuka tirai perhimpunan parti itu pada 28 November 2011 nanti.

Seterusnya diikuti dengan taklimat menjelang perhimpunan serta perasmian Perhimpunan Agung Pemuda, Wanita dan Puteri UMNO pada 29 November 2011 dan disusuli persidangan sayap parti pada hari berikutnya.

Najib yang juga Presiden UMNO berkata, empat ahli UMNO di Bahagian Rantau Panjang iaitu Mohd Zain Ismail, Ghazali Ismail, Fauziah Wok dan Fauzi Omar dilepaskan daripada penggantungan.

Turut dilepaskan adalah Amran Mat dari Bahagian Kuala Krai dan Che Rosli Hasan dari Bahagian Bukit Katil.

Selain itu, Jawatankuasa Pengurusan parti itu juga memutuskan supaya Badan Perhubungan UMNO Kedah mengambil alih Bahagian Padang Serai sehingga masalah dalamannya selesai.

Sumber : Berita Harian Online / UMNO Online 29 Julai 2011

Pemuda UMNO Tenom, Sabah minta isu agama dan kaum jangan dibincang secara terbuka

SEMANGAT SETIA KAWAN.... Ketua Pemuda UMNO Malaysia Khairy Jamaluddin (2 dari kiri) menyaksikan Ketua Pemuda UMNO Tenom, Jamawi Jaafar (kiri sekali) dan Ketua Pemuda UMNO Keningau (2 dari kanan) yang juga bekas Ketua Pemuda UMNO Sabah, Azman Ruslan bersalaman erat tanda semangat setiakawan diakhir perhimpunan Pemuda UMNO Tenom pada 30 Mei 2011 di Tenom, Sabah. Turut kelihatan kanan sekali Ketua Pemuda UMNO Semporna, Mohd Azis Hj Jamman.



Jamawi Jaafar, Ketua Pemuda UMNO Tenom, Sabah

Gambar / Teks : Jaafar Wahid

TENOM, Sabah 30 Mei 2011 : Pergerakan Pemuda Umno Bahagian Tenom, Sabah meminta agar semua pihak menghentikan perdebatan terbuka mengeni isu agama dan kaum di negara ini bagi mengelakkan ia boleh mengeruhkan keharmonian serta perpaduan kaum yang telah dikecapi selama ini.


Ketuanya Jamawi Jaafar berkata isu agama dan kaum sepatutnya dibincangkan dalam majlis tertutup baik di peringkat kerajaan atau kepimpinan tertinggi parti bagi menghormati sensitiviti rakyat di negara ini yang terdiri dari pelbagai kaum dan agama yang mejoritinya menghargai perpaduan dan keharmonian terus terpelihara.


“ Jika isu ini kita bincangkan secara terbuka ianya bukan sahaja boleh mencetuskan ketegangan namun ianya turut memberikan ruang kepada beberapa pihak tertentu terutamanya parti pembangkang yang memanipulasikan isu ini untuk kepentingan politik mereka” katanya ketika berucap di majlis perasmian Persidangan Pergerakan Pemuda Umno bahagian Tenom di Dewan Datuk Seri Panglima Antenom di Tenom pada 30 Mei 2011.


Persidangan yang dihadiri lebih dari 1000 orang terdiri dari perwakilan dan pemerhati itu dirasmikan oleh Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda Umno Khairy Jamaluddin dan turut dihadiri oleh Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda Umno Keningau Azman Haji Roslan.


Menurut Jamawi yang juga Exco Pergerakan Pemuda Umno Malaysia semua pihak perlu menghormati kedudukan agama Islam sebagai agama rasmi negara dan ini sememangnya termaktub dalam perlembagaan negara tanpa mengenapikan hak,kepentingan serta kebebasan kaum kaum yag lain.


" Jika isu ini dibincangkan secara terbuka kita perlu memikirkan serta memahami perasaan kaum lain, sebagai contoh Umno bahagian Tenom sahaja enam puluh lima peratus ahlinya terdiri dari kaum bumiputera Islam yang sudah tentu akan memberikan kesan negatif terhadap kekuatan parti" katanya.

Lajim Ukin - Gugurkan Pemimpin yang bermasalah

teks / foto : Jaafar Abdul Wahid

Umno perlu mengambil tindakan drastik terhadap pemimpin yang bermasalah dan membawa masalah kepada parti itu yang boleh menjejaskan tumpuan parti menghadapi Pilihan Raya Umum (PRU) ke-13.

Ahli Majlis Tertinggi (MT) Umno, Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Lajim Ukin berkata, ini kerana ada beberapa pemimpin di semua peringkat yang membawa masalah kepada Umno sehingga ada kalanya boleh merosakkan imej dan perpaduan dalam parti itu sendiri.

“Saya mencadangkan kepada pucuk pimpinan khususnya Presiden dan Timbalan Presiden Umno supaya mengambil tindakan secara drastik kepada pemimpin yang bermasalah kepada parti sebelum menghadapi pilihanraya umum akan datang” katanya .

Beliau yang juga Ketua Umno Bahagian Beaufort berkata demikian dalam ucapannya pada mesyuarat perwakilan Umno bahagian itu yang dirasmikan oleh Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin di Dewan Baru, Beaufort, Sabah pada Sabtu 28 Jun 2011.

“Ini kerana jika pemimpin yang bermasalah ini masih ada lagi dalam parti maka ketika menghadapi parti pembangkang pada PRU ke-13 ini, mereka ini juga akan menjadi musuh dalam selimut,”katanya.

Menurutnya, ianya juga akan menimbulkan masalah kepada parti dan pemimpin tertinggi parti sehingga boleh menjejaskan tumpuan kepada strategi parti untuk memenangi PRU ke-13.

Lajim yang juga Timbalan Menteri Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan menegaskan bahawa beliau juga bertanggungjawab sepenuhnya atas cadangan itu.

“Jika pada perkiraan pucuk pimpinan parti saya juga akan tergolong daripada pemimpin yang bermasalah dan membawa masalah kepada parti saya bersedia menerima dengan hati yang terbuka serta dengan keikhlasan menerima apa sahaja tindakan yang diambil oleh parti kepada saya,”ujarnya.

Menurut beliau ada pemimpin tidak dapat membudayakan konsep kerja berpasukan di peringkat bahagian termasuk menjalin hubungan serta kerjasama dalam setiap program yang diatur oleh parti dimana keadaan ini juga boleh menjejaskan kekuatan parti .

Dalam pada itu, Lajim yang juga Ahli Parlimen Beaufort berkata, hampir RM1 bilion telah disalurkan oleh kerajaan Persekutuan dan Kerajan Negeri bagi tempoh 5 tahun sehingga sekarang di kawasan kawasan Parlimen Beaufort.

Ia katanya, semata-mata bagi melestarikan program pembangunan di kawasan itu, antaranya ialah projek pembinaan rumah PPRT yang bernilai RM3.6 juta di Beaufort dan RM3.2 juta di Kuala Penyu, Projek Jalan Luar Bandar dianggarkan RM207 juta dan projek menaik taraf bekalan air bernilai RM30 juta.

“Beberapa projek akan dibina dalam jangka masa terdekat ini, seperti Sekolah Menengah Agama Islam bernilai RM40 juta,”katanya.

Cold war in Sabah UMNO??

Is there a cold war brewing within Sabah UMNO, the backbone of the ruling Barisan Nasional government??

According to political observers, certain party leaders don't see eye to eye.

Certain leaders will not attend certain functions attended by certain other leaders..

This lead to public uncertainty on the current relationship between certain leaders of Sabah UMNO..

The local media has been reporting UMNO Vice President Datuk Shafie Apdal statements in which he categorically denied that he is power crazy or he has certain agendas while visiting various districts in Sabah in his capacity as the Federal Minister of Rural and Regional Development.



Shafie is the member of Parliament of Semporna in the east coast of Sabah and is the first ever Sabahan to be elected an UMNO Vice President - the third highest hierarchy in UMNO after the President who is the Prime Minister and Deputy President who is also the Deputy Prime Minister.

Sabah's leading English newspaper, the Daily Express reported on 18th May 2011 and 5th June 2011, Shafie's statement on this issue.

The Daily Express report on 18th May 2011 read like this :

Shafie denies ulterior motive in visits

Umno Vice President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal is disappointed that his series of visits to several constituencies in the State have been implied by certain quarters as an attempt at a power grab.

He said the issue should not have arisen because he was only carrying out his duty.

"As a Minister, I am only doing my job and the visits were to look at the problems of the people at the grassroots level," he said when officiating the Umno Semporna annual delegates conference at the Community Centre, here, Tuesday.

Also present were Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin who was the representative from the Sabah Umno liaison body, Minister in the Chief Minister's Department Datuk Nasir Tun Sakaran, Pantai Manis Assemblyman, Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail and division committee members.

Shafie also reminded party members to strengthen unity and forget their differences in facing the 13th General Election.

He said Umno members must not think only about positions and, instead, to make the effort to ensure the BN government continues to get the mandate from the people.

And on the 5th June 2011, Shafie again issued this statement below after officiating the Papar UMNO delegates meeting :

Shafie denies the claims

Umno Vice President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal has denied allegations that he is power crazy and planning to topple the present State leadership.

The Rural and Regional Development Minister said that on the issue of the so-called "cold war" among Umno leaders in Sabah, as far as he was concerned, he has no problem with other people.

"Unless they have problems with me," he said, when met after officiating the Umno Papar annual delegates' conference at Dewan Datuk Salleh Sulong, Saturday.

He was asked to comment on the statement by Umno Youth Chief, Khairy Jamaluddin that the change in the Sabah Umno Youth leadership happened because of a "cold war" between Umno leaders in Sabah and them (Youth wing) being caught in the middle.


UMNO Youth Chief, Khairy Jamaluddin


Former Sabah UMNO Youth Chief, Azman Ruslan

However, the following day, Sabah Umno Liaison deputy chairman Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak denied there was a "cold war" between certain leaders in State Umno.

"When I was Defence Deputy Minister, I used to come down to Semporna and when I was the Minister of (Domestic Trade and) Consumer I used to go to Semporna, too, until people claimed I only prioritise Semporna.

"So when I go to other villages, people say I want to overturn the government. How can it be because I want to build homes for the needy that I want to take over power?" he asked.

Shafie said it was up to the top leadership to make appointments because positions are not anybody's right nor it can be demanded although if given there should be no reason not to accept it.

"I am not saying that we must get this and not get that (because) this is up to the leadership," he said.

"Our position will not be forever and this is politics.

But I have no problems (with other Umno leaders)," he said, adding in this respect, he had proposed that major projects under his Ministry be launched by Menteris Besar and Chief Ministers to share the success.

Shafie said more importantly the leaders must resolve whatever problems they had in order to face the impending 13th General Election with confidence.

Earlier in his speech, Shafie said his Ministry was given the biggest allocation to the tune of more than RM16 billion to be channeled for development to all the states within three years.

"You say I am power crazy (but) my Ministry's allocation is so much bigger than the budget allocation for Sabah or Sarawak, Johor among others," he said.

Shafie said that as a Vice President of Umno he had been invited to officiate at several Umno divisional meetings in Semenanjung (peninsula) and there was no reason for him not to accept the invitation from Umno Papar.

"I am a man of clear conscience, I won't talk differently behind other people's back É it is important to be truthful, sincere and struggle for the people. To me politics is the best platform for us to work together and help the people."

He said one should not fear in fighting for the truth for the benefit of the rakyat as this was what Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was doing through the reform exercises so that the people would support the government.

On the same day, Papar UMNO Division head Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail issued a strong statement that read like this :



PAPAR Umno division chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail said he will not back out from the struggle "to return Sabah Umno to its original political platform".

"Don't be surprised by the content of my speech today, everything is now out in the open," he told the delegates conference at Dewan Datuk Salleh Sulong that was officiated by Umno Vice President Datuk Seri Shafie, Saturday.

For this reason, he said, some could hate him and be angry at him, but not to his constituents in Pantai Manis, here.

"They also have the right to get all the facilities enjoyed by other people in the State, so don't punish my constituents," he said, adding his constituents expected him to do that, i.e. fight for them.

Rahim, who is also Pantai Manis Assemblyman, said all this while the State leadership had been feeling comfortable so much so taking for granted that the Barisan Nasional (BN) could win the general election easily because Sabah had been labelled as the ruling government's "fixed deposit".

However, he said fixed deposit when used as a political term should mean that the votes received by the BN is more than the previous one.

"But are we really confident of achieving this?" he asked. Rahim suggested that focus be given to the "Vote Bank" to ensure that BN is returned as government.

He cited Sarawak, which was also labelled as the fixed deposit of BN but could not stop the opposition taking away several seats in the recent election.

Political analysts stated that among the reasons was failure to listen to the people or Vote Bank who wanted change, he said, adding that based on the Election Commission (EC) statistics, 47 per cent of voters are young electorates.

"So we must listen to the younger generation," he said, adding there must not be any divide-and-rule.

Rahim also expressed disappointment that certain people were not taking pride in Sabahan Umno leader, Shafie Apdal, being an Umno Vice President.

He also said Shafie's noble intention of going on rounds in the State in his capacity as Rural and Regional Development Minister to look at how to channel assistance from Federal had received negative reactions and allegations.

"How will we face the 13th General Election if we continue to be suspicious?" he asked, adding that the people were now smarter because they could obtain knowledge as well as information easily from the Internet.

Rahim said it was also disappointing that certain development projects funded by Shafie's Ministry were being blocked.

He added that Sabah, which has the highest poverty rate in the country, really needs such assistance from Federal.

"Like the Chinese saying, genuine gold is not afraid of fire - and our genuine gold is Shafie," he said.


Rahim was wrong: Ministry

On 7th June 2011, the daily express reported that the State Rural Development Ministry categorically denied, Monday, the allegation by Papar Umno Division Chief Datuk Rahim Ismail that certain development projects funded by the Federal Rural and Regional Development Ministry are being blocked.


Datuk Ewon Ebin

On the contrary, its Minister, Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin, said the State is one of the highest achievers in terms of implementing projects under the NKRA, in particular rural roads, rural electrification programme, rural water supply and housing assistance programme for the hardcore poor.

Progress of such projects are briefed almost monthly at State and Federal level committees, namely at the Ministry of Rural Development chaired by him, at Rural and Regional Development Ministry chaired by Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal and at the Delivery Task Force meetings chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister.

He said the issue of blocking or non-implementation of such projects has never been brought up at these meetings and the State's implementing agencies have, in fact, been commended for achieving completion targets.

"Sabah's performance in completing the Housing Assistance Programme last year was almost 100 per cent where a total of 2,348 new housing units were built and 319 houses were repaired," he said.





This year, he said an allocation of RM103 million was approved for the construction of 2,439 new houses and to repair 77 houses.

He said all district officers in the State are currently implementing the projects and completion is expected to be according to schedule.

In fact, he said his Ministry has requested for more funds to build more houses for the hardcore poor but that the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development could only approve about RM103 million this year.

"Similarly, more funds have also been requested under the NKRA for rural roads, rural water supply and rural electrification programmes but perhaps due to financial constraints, not all requests were fulfilled," he said.

As for rural water supply, Ewon said the State Water Department is only authorised to tender and award projects for Class E and F contractors whereas those under Class D and above are decided by the Federal Ministry of Rural and Regional Development.

All rural electrification projects, he said, are decided by the same Ministry and implemented by Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB).

The Ministry of Rural Development has, in fact, successfully appealed to the Deputy Prime Minister for the installation of electrical wiring for poor households.

"About 16,000 poor households in the State will benefit from the scheme involving monthly instalment of only RM14.20," he said.

Hence, he said there is no truth whatsoever in the claims that the State is blocking of delaying any project approved by the Federal Ministry concerned.

"(In fact) the State Government welcomes more funds from the Federal Ministry concerned for the implementation of projects beneficial to the people of Sabah," he said.

Ewon said that there is also no truth in the claim by the Pantai Manis elected representative that his constituents are being punished.

He said Papar district is among the biggest recipients of poverty alleviation projects from the State Ministry of Rural Development including the implementation of Mini Estet Sejahtera (Mesej) project at Kampung Kinosoludon where 500 acres of rubber are being planted and housing project costing RM3.9 million is under construction.

"The State Ministry also approved allocation amounting to RM517,700 last year and RM346,500 this year for the implementation of minor rural development projects in the district," he said.

To these leaders i say.. keep it cool.

Datuk Hajiji to Liberal Democratic Party - Don't practise Crab Culture

KOTA KINABALU 25th April 2011

Sabah Barisan Nasional and UMNO treasurer Datuk Haji Hajiji Haji Noor (above picture) has advised the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) not to practice what he calls ‘Crab Culture’ which is against the spirit of Barisan Nasional (BN).


“In crab culture, no one gets to the top because each crab is trying to pull the other down.

“As Sabah deputy chairman Datuk Seri Panglima Salleh Tun Said had pointed out, in Sabah BN and UMNO there is only one leader and that leader whom we support is Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Hj Aman,” added Hajiji who is also Sabah Minister for Local Government and Housing.

Hajiji pointed out that in politics one wins some and loses some and it is not easy to satisfy everybody, as in the case of BN which has many family members.

“As the saying goes, either you have the cake or you don’t, you can’t take the whole cake and eat it,” he stated.

Hajiji who is Tuaran UMNO divisional chief is the latest among State UMNO leaders who joined the chorus in coming to the defense of Musa following a recent statement by LDP deputy president Datuk Chin Su Phin calling on the Prime Minister to effect changes in the Sabah and Sarawak BN leadership.


The controversial LDP Deputy President, Datuk Chin Su Phin



The embattled LDP President, Datuk VK Liew

Yesterday, LDP president Datuk VK Liew said Musa “drew the line against the party by sidelining it” during the recent State Cabinet reshuffle due to some personal differences with the party’s members.

Hajiji reminded Liew that being a BN component party president and as a lawyer as he described himself, the latter should know better that the appointment of State Cabinet Ministers is the prerogative of the Chief Minister just as it is the right of the Prime Minister to choose his Federal Cabinet members.

Liew is a federal deputy minister in the Prime Minister Department.

He reminded that when a Minister is appointed, he is a Minister for all the people and not a Minister for members of a particular party only.

Thus, when no Minister is appointed from LDP, it does not mean that the Chinese are not represented. There are three Chinese members of the State Cabinet, with two from Gerakan and one from PBS.

Hajiji recalled that when former LDP president Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat was made Chief Minister despite the party having only three State Assemblymen, UMNO and other component parties supported both his appointment and choice of Cabinet members.

“We supported him all the way, be it as Chief Minister or State BN chairman, in line with BN spirit and principle. We did not question where he was from or how many seats his party got,” he stressed.

“Apart from Chong’s appointment, ever since BN took over the reins of the State Government, LDP leaders had also been appointed to various government positions including that of Cabinet Minister, Assistant Minister, Deputy Speaker, chairmanship of statutory bodies and so on. UMNO and other component parties never complained that they were sidelined,” he pointed out.

Hajiji also recalled that when cornered by reporters just before the Batu Sapi by-election late last year, Liew stated that LDP would work with and supported Musa’s leadership for the sake of BN solidarity, or something to that effect. He noted that Liew made that statement only after the LDP Congress in Tawau and not before.

Even then, Liew’s statement was once again ‘disputed’ by his deputy Datuk Chin who said that LDP was doing so only out of respect to and on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Hajiji advised that at a time when BN component parties are gearing up their machinery to prepare for the general election which may be held anytime, LDP should do likewise and not behave in such a way which may cause disunity among the components and the people as a whole.

“BN has proven to be the best formula for the multi-racial and multi-religious society of Malaysia so much so that even the opposition tried to copy us by forming a similar alliance.

“BN also practices politics of unity and goodwill among the various races. Let us together preserve this unity which is vital for the survival of the nation. It is therefore dangerous for LDP to tread along racial lines and try to create hatred of the Chinese community towards the Chief Minister.

“As Sabah BN Treasurer, as Sabah UMNO Treasurer and as Tuaran UMNO head, I unreservedly defend my leader and my Chief Minister – Datuk Musa Aman,” Hajiji concluded, saying that he was not defending blindly but more so because Musa has proven to be a good and effective leader, having brought economic progress to Sabah and the State Reserves to a healthy level.

He also noted that Musa led Sabah BN to election victory in 2008, making almost a cleansweep of both parliamentary and state seats.

All the best to Sabah!!!

Aftermath of the April 16th, 2011 Sarawak election, : Sabah is different says Sabah BN Leaders

The 10th Sarawak election held on 16th April 2011 showed that the majority of the Chinese voters, voted for the oppositions, and they did not give a damn on the ruling coalition, the mighty Barisan Nasional, BN.

The Prime Minister of Malaysia, the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia and the long serving Chief Minister, Pehin Sri Taib Mahmud, tried their best campaigning for the BN in the urban areas where the Chinese community dominates the number of voters.





However, how hard they tried, the Chinese voters had made up their mind.

No matter how much they announced to the tune of hundreds of millions of ringgits of special allocation to the Chinese community, Chinese schools and Chinese Chambers of Commerces, the Sarawakians Chinese voters won't budge.





They still chose the rocket (DAP) symbol, rather than the Dacing (BN) symbol.

The end result > BN won 55 out of 71 seats, The opposition won 16 seats in which the DAP won 12 seats, Parti Keadilan Rakyat 3 seats and an Independent candidate won 1 seat.

In the previous Sarawak state election in 2006, Taib Mahmud's BN won 62 seats and only lost 9 seats.

BN's popular votes also decreases from 65 % to 55 %.

Why did they do that??

One things is a sign of protest to the 30 years old reign of Pehin Sri Taib Mahmud as Chief Minister of Sarawak.

The other was the professionally and wonderfully done DAP campaign strategies.

The DAP slogan was "CHANGE" or UBAH in Malay.





The BN slogan was continous prosperity through development for all Sarawakians, regardless of races, religions and areas including in remote settlements.

In the end, the DAP won 12 out of 15 seats they contested while the Sarawak United People's Party, SUPP, a BN component party, fared miserably, losing 13 out of 16 seats!!!



Their biggest casualty is none other than the SUPP President himself, Tan Sri Dr George Chan who was undefeated in 6 succesive elections, but this time, he bowed tamely to an uknown DAP rookie and first-timer!!!

I wonder what will happen had DAP contested in all 71 seats in Sarawak???

Meanwhile Taib Mahmud's Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Sarawak, PBB regained their supremacy, winning all 35 seats that they contested including Taib who retained his seat in Balingian.

The 100% win echoes PBB's similar feat in the 2006 election.

After the Sarawak election, what did their BN counterparts in neighbouring Sabah have to say??

A Sabah BN leader said the BN should accept the decision by the people in Sarawak in the recent State election, especially in urban areas.



Gerakan Vice-President Datuk Raymond Tan said it was more important to find out why the Chinese in urban areas decided to vote for the opposition.

"They were very, very well prepared, what to say and what picture to put up. They planned everything. They did very well, were organised and very detailed," he said on Tuesday, 19 April 2011.

However, the peninsula-based Gerakan believes the "winds of change" as demonstrated by the Chinese community there would not blow over to Sabah.

"The party (Gerakan) had learnt well about what had transpired in Sarawak and, thus, will prepare for the general election that is expected to be held soon.

"When the time comes for Sabah, we will know what to do," Tan said.

During his trips to Sarawak, Tan said he found that the people there understood the scenario not just in Sarawak but also issues and challenges in the country, especially in urban areas.

The people are more open-minded to issues both in the state and also nationwide. Hence, Sabah must learn about what transpired in its neighbouring State, he said.

"This is something that we and I need to be aware of and learn from in order for us to prepare ourselves in the direction that we are going," he said.

Tan, who is also State Industrial Development Minister-cum-Tanjong Papat Assemblyman, said doing the routine during campaigning such as putting up posters, giving ceramah (public rally) and shaking hands with the constituents was not enough.

"They could not claim that are already popular after doing all these.

Each campaign process is different and they learn new things from it, he said, adding the Sarawak general election was no exception."

People in the State, particularly in urban areas, he said, would draw comparisons to the scenario that took place in Sarawak.

"So, if the people in Sarawak were discontented or unhappy with certain things there and the Government was not doing anything about it, and we face a similar situation, then we would probably end up in the same way," he said.

Thus, the party needs to be focused, he said, adding if certain things were raised by the people and not enough was done to address these, Sabah would probably face a similar fate.

From his observation, he said many people especially in Sarawak's urban areas are unhappy, discontented and also frustrated over some issues.

Certain things that the Government should have settled, he said, failed to be resolved.

However, Tan said the situation was not only faced by certain communities but felt across the board. It applied to the Chinese, Ibans and also Malays, he said, adding that it was not only confined to the Chinese.

It is for this reason that the opposition influence had spread from urban areas to rural areas.

"So, the Prime Minister was right in querying whether we are really in touch with the people and that if you are in touch with the people and know how to address their needs, you will get their support," he said.

He said that as leaders they could not just assume that the people would be contented after providing them with the necessities.

"You could have done it but they would still be unhappy.

So, it is important that whatever you do, it touches them or that it gets to them," he said.

Meanwhile a leader from the Liberal Democratic Party, LDP thinks otherwise, saying the BN is not fully aware of the needs of the people especially the Chinese community.



The controversial LDP Deputy President Datuk Chin Su Phin said despite retaining the two-third majority, Sarawak BN saw its votes dropping to 55 per cent from 65pc in the previous state election.

"This means almost half the popular votes went to the opposition," he said.

"In the Chinese majority seats, about 80 per cent of the votes went to the opposition, particularly DAP which won 12 of the 15 seats that are concentrated in the urban areas. Even Parti Keadilan Rakyat won three seats of which one is a predominantly Dayak area," he said.

According to Chin, Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud should thank Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as well as the entire Federal Cabinet who went all out campaigning for the BN during the election.

"It was the first time we saw both the PM and DPM campaign together for one week. If not for the two leaders the result would have been different and the BN might have failed to get a two-third majority," he said.

On the defeat of SUPP President Tan Sri George Chan, he said the people there wanted Taib to step down as Chief Minister.

"As a result, SUPP became the victim. Had the issue been settled before the election, SUPP would not have lost heavily," he said.

He claimed the same leadership issue was adversely affecting the Sabah BN coalition and that the Prime Minister should be brave enough to effect changes in the BN leadership in the two states.

Chin claimed the Sabah BN leadership exploited powers and influence to gain the support from the Chinese chambers of commerce and religious bodies.

"It was sad that certain leaders from the Chinese chambers of commerce and religious bodies were involved in politics as well as issuing political statements to the media for their own agenda," he said.

"The Prime Minister should re-look the situation in Sabah and change the State BN leadership as soon as possible and not wait until the next general election. We believe Sabah Umno have adequate leaders from their own ranks to take over and effect the changes," he said.

"Apart from the Chinese, many from the other communities are also unhappy with the present State BN leadership. We all see the problems in Sabah and I hope other BN component parties are brave enough to speak up," he said.

"In the 2008 general election, Gerakan almost lost all the seats it contested due to the political tsunami and today, SUPP was dealt the same fate, so there is a great urgency to resolve the pressing BN leadership issue in Sabah before the next general election comes," he said.

He said the Chinese community in Sabah is not anti-BN government and in fact appreciated the government contributions including the allocation of financial grants to schools and religious bodies.

"I believe the issues such as concerning the Bible and the illegal immigrants are not the reason for the people to vote the opposition in Sabah and Sarawak. The main reason is that they have lost confidence in the BN leadership of the State.

"Another issue is the Chinese dislike for certain BN leaders who always raise sensitive issues in Parliament and to the media," he said, adding that he agreed with Umno Youth Chief, Khairy Jamaludin that "what we are facing now is the problem of leadership".

"The LDP will bring up issues affecting the BN and the people of Sabah in the next BN supreme council meeting," said Chin.

Shafie Apdal - dari Ketua Pemuda UMNO Sabah ke Naib Presiden

Tuah Ayam nampak di kaki, Tuah harimau nampak di belang, Tuah manusia siapa yang tahu.

Itulah tuah YB Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal yang dilahirkan pada 20 Oktober 1957 di Kampung Bubul, Semporna, Pantai Timur Sabah, Malaysia Timur.

Perjalanan karier politiknya bermula dari bawah dan mendaki pucuk kepimpinan parti sedikit demi sedikit berkat daya usaha dan kegigihan beliau yang tidak pernah mengenal putus asa.





Dulunya Shafie Apdal dikenali sebagai Ketua Pemuda UMNO Sabah yang kecil tapi ligat.

Itu tahun 1994, ketika itu Datuk Seri Shafie selaku ketua pemuda UMNO Sabah dan Exco Pemuda UMNO pusat, ligat berkempen dalam pilihanraya Dewan Undangan Negeri Sabah pada Februari 1994, taatkala BN berdepan cabaran hebat pembangkang iaitu Parti Bersatu Sabah, PBS yang ketika itu memerintah Sabah.

Pendek cerita, PBS pimpinan Ketua Menteri Sabah ketika itu Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan menang, apabila meraih 25 kerusi berbanding 23 kerusi dimenangi BN.



Namun kerajaan PBS yang baru berusia 3 minggu, akhirnya tumbang selepas satu demi satu ADUNnya bertindak keluar parti menyertai parti komponen BN ataupun menubuhkan parti baru seperti Parti Demokratik Sabah, PDS (kemudiannya dikenali UPKO) dan Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah, PBRS, kedua duanya diterima ke dalam BN.

Datuk Seri Shafie memainkan peranan penting dalam peralihan kuasa itu, apabila berkempen penuh semangat selaku ketua pemuda di seluruh pelusuk Sabah, bukan hanya berkempen di tempat kelahirannya di Semporna, tetapi juga di pedalaman Sabah.

Memandanya ataupun mentor Datuk Shafie iaitu Tan Sri Sakaran Dandai (kini Tun), kemudiannya dilantik Ketua Menteri Sabah yang baru.

Pada pilihanraya umum 1995, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal mengorak langkah politiknya apabila buat pertama kalinya bertanding di kerusi Parlimen Semporna, semestinya atas tiket BN. Beliau menang dan terus menjadi Ahli Parlimen Semporna sehinggalah sekarang pada 2010.

Dalam ertikata lain, beliau berjaya mempertahankan kerusi Parlimen Semporna sebanyak 4 penggal berturut turut pada pilihanraya umum 1995, 1999, 2004 dan 2008, semuanya dengan majority maha besar.

Pada 1997, Datuk Shafie menang kerusi Majlis Tertinggi UMNO dan berjaya mengekalkannya sehingga 2008 apabila beliau mengambil keputusan untuk buat pertama kalinya bertanding jawatan Naib Presiden UMNO Malaysia.

Tindakan beraninya itu pada mulanya dipandang secara skeptical oleh pemerhati politik mahupun rakan dan seteru politiknya.









Apa tidaknya, ini percubaan pertama beliau dan terpaksa pula berdepan calon lain yang dianggap lebih dikenali termasuklah Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein, Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dan Datuk Khaled Nordin.

Sebelum ini, Ketua Menteri Sabah pada 1999 hingga 2001, Datuk Osu Sukam pernah bertanding kerusi Naib Presiden UMNO, namun hanya mendapat tempat keempat.

Namun siapa sangka, tuah Shafie Apdal, dia menang satu daripada kuota Naib Presiden dibelakang Zahid Hamidi dan Hishamuddin.

Sekaligus mencatat sejarah sebagai anak Sabah pertama menang jawatan Naib Presiden UMNO. Pemilihan itu turut mencatat satu lagi sejarah bagi Sabah apabila 3 pemimpin dari negeri itu turut menang kerusi Majlis Tertinggi UMNO. Mereka ialah Ketua Menteri YAB Datuk Seri Musa Aman, Timbalan Menteri Perumahan & Kerajaan Tempatan - Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Haji Ukin dan Ahli Parlimen Kinabatangan - Datuk Bung Moktar Radin.

Hasil kemenangan itu, Shafie diberi kepercayaan oleh Najib dan dilantik sebagai pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO Kedah, dengan matlamat merampas semula tampuk pemerintahan kerajaan negeri daripada PAS menerusi usaha memperkasakan semula UMNO di bumi Kedah.

Potfolionya dalam kabinet persekutuan turut dinaikkan pangkat oleh Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak daripada Menteri Perpaduan, Kebudayaan, Kesenian dan Warisan kepada Menteri Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah.

Ini juga kali pertama seorang anak Sabah dilantik ke jawatan penting dan kanan itu.

Sejurus dilantik sebagai menteri bertanggung jawab bagi pembangunan luar Bandar, Shafie memikul tugas berat dalam melaksanakan Bidang Keputusan Utama Nasional, NKRA luar Bandar, satu daripada 6 teras NKRA digariskan Najib.





Kementeriannya diberi peruntukan 18 billion ringgit untuk melaksanakan pelbagai projek memperkasakan prasarana asas luar Bandar demi lonjakan kesejahteraan rakyat pedalaman.

Antaranya membina 60 ribu unit rumah rakyat, membina 1,500 kilometer jalanraya berturap di Sabah dan Sarawak dengan kos 4 billion ringgit, membina jalan berturap dengan kos 1 billion ringgit di Semenanjung Malaysia serta juga bekalan air bersih dan bekalan elektrik luar Bandar.

18 billion ringgit itu perlu dibelanjakan dalam tempoh 3 tahun sehingga 2012.

Mampukah Shafie – anak Sabah, anak Semporna, anak Pulau Bum Bum melaksanakan dan memikul tanggung jawab maha berat itu?










Jawapannya ya. Meskipun ada cubaan pihak tertentu termasuklah kenyataan Ahli Parlimen Batu, Tian Chua mengenai kontrak bekalan elektrik luar Bandar yang dikatakan menguntungkan pihak tertentu sahaja, Shafie tenang menjawab segala pertuduhan itu yang disifatkannya tidak berasas sama sekali.

Jawapan beliau, lengkap dengan fakta rasional, sudah disiarkan media arus perdana.

Ketika ini juga media alternative hangat membuat spekulasi, Shafie bakal dilantik Ketua Menteri Sabah yang baru menggantikan Datuk Seri Musa Aman. Sejauh mana kebenarannya, hanya Tuhan saja yang tahu.

Berbalik kepada potfolio Shafie sebagai Menteri Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah, Shafie sebenarnya mula dilantik ke dalam kabinet persekutuan pada 15 Mei 1995 sebagai setiausaha parlimen Kementerian Penerangan. Jawatan itu disandangnya hinggalah 24 Mei 1999.

Sejurus berakhir pilihanraya umum 1999, Shafie dilantik ke jawatan lebih senior selaku Timbalan Menteri Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan. Jawatan itu disandangnya hanya 7 bulan apabila dinaikkan pangkat pula ke jawatan lebih senior selaku Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan.

Shafie menjalankan tugas dengan amat baik sekali sebagai Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan mulai 14 Disember 1999 hingga 29 Mac 2004, ini termasuklah menangani krisis tebusan Pulau Sipadan pada April 2000. Dalam insiden yang menggamit minat dunia itu, 21 pelancong asing serta pekerja rakyat Malaysia di Pulau Sipadan, Semporna diculik kumpulan Abu Sayyaf diketuai Ghalib Andang atau Komander Robot dan dilarikan ke Jolo, Selatan Filipina.

Shafie sendiri bersamaYong Teck Lee, Sairin Karno dan pegawai kerajaan Filipina turun padang ke selatan Filipina untuk menyelesaikan krisis tebusan itu. Hasilnya kesemua pelancong dan rakyat Malaysia yang diculik termasuk 6 kakitangan Jabatan Hidupan Liar Sabah, selamat kembali ke pangkuan keluarga masing masing tanpa ada pertumpahan darah.

Shafie turut terlibat dalam melaksanakan pelan tindakan Ops Pasir bertujuan memantapkan lagi kawalan keselamatan di sepanjang pantai timur Sabah dari Kudat di utara hingga Semporna di Selatan, bagi mengelak insiden Sipadan berterusan.

Menerusi Ops Pasir, pos kawalan tentera darat dan pasukan gerakan am diwujudkan di pulau dan daratan strategik untuk mengekang kemasukan anasir tidak diingini yang cuba mengganggu gugat keselamatan dan ketenteraman negara.

Selepas pilihanraya umum 2004, Shafie sekali lagi dinaikkan pangkat, kali ini dari Timbalan Menteri kepada Menteri Penuh. Potfolionya Menteri Perdagangan dalam negeri dan hal ehwal pengguna dari 30 Mac 2004 hinggalah 13 Februari 2008.

Selama 4 tahun memegang jawatan itu, Shafie turut berdepan cabaran hebat, antaranya kes kekurangan bekalan gula di pasaran, begitu juga penyeludupan diesel. Namun sekali lagi Shafie berjaya mengharungi badai dan gelora itu untuk melayarkan bahteranya merentasi samudera dengan tenang dan selamat.

Antara tindakan drastik dan berkesan yang dilakukan Shafie dalam menangani krisis bekalan gula adalah dengan menghantar bekalan gula menerusi prosedur kecemasan lagi cepat, iaitu menggunakan kapal Tentera Laut Di Raja Malaysia. Di Sabah, beratus ratus tan metrik bekalan gula dihantar dari pembekal di Semenanjung ke Pelabuhan Kota Kinabalu menggunakan kapal TLDM, kerana ini cara paling cepat berbanding menggunakan perkhidmatan kapal laut komersial. Hasilnya, pengguna di Sabah termasuklah di pedalaman, mendapat bekalan gula yang ketika itu begitu kritikal termasuklah ketika musim perayaan.

Selepas pilihanraya umum 2008, umum tersentak apabila Shafie ditukarkan potfolio ke sebuah kementerian yang dikatakan kurang penting iaitu Kementerian Perpaduan, Kebudayaan, Kesenian dan Warisan. Menurut orang ramai, menteri yang jaga muzium!!

Namun hanya kira kira setahun selepas itu di bawah pentadbiran Perdana Menteri yang baru – Najib menggantikan Pak Lah, Shafie menang kerusi Naib Presiden dan sehingga sekarang menjalankan tugas begitu penting sebagai menteri bertanggung jawab memperkasakan kesejahteraan hidup penduduk Luar Bandar di Malaysia.

Dari segi akademik, bapa kepada 6 cahaya mata ini dan suami kepada Datin Seri Hajjah Shuryani Datuk Haji Shuaib, merupakan seorang pelajar cemerlang. Beliau melanjutkan pengajiannya di United Kingdom, lebih tepat pengajian Diploma Pengurusan dan Perkapalan di London Business College. Pada 1979 hingga 1982, Shafie melanjutkan pelajarannya di Universiti Staffordshire, England dan berjaya mendapat segulung ijazah Sarjana Muda Ekonomi dengan kepujian.

Sebelum bergiat dalam politik, Shafie pernah bertugas sebagai pegawai ekonomi di kementerian kewangan Sabah, pegawai pentadbir kanan di jabatan ketua menteri Sabah dan penolong setiausaha kanan kementerian pembangunan perindustrian dan luar Bandar Sabah.

Shafie juga pernah bertugas sebagai setiausaha politik kepada Tan Sri Sakaran Dandai (kini Tun), ketika Sakaran menjadi Menteri Tanah dan Pembangunan Koperasi Malaysia pada 1991 hingga 1993.

Shafie juga adalah anggota jawatankuasa penaja UMNO Sabah ketika UMNO mula mula mengembangkan sayapnya ke negeri di bawah bayu pada 1991.

Pendek kata, Shafie adalah seorang pemimpin yang taat dan setia kepada perjuangan parti dan memahami keluhan, permintaan, keperluan dan kehendak akar umbi, berlandaskan kepada perjuangan agama, bangsa dan tanah air.

Perjalanan karier politiknya bermula dari bawah dan mendaki pucuk kepimpinan parti sedikit demi sedikit berkat daya usaha dan kegigihan beliau yang tidak pernah mengenal putus asa.

Ayuh Shafie… terus maju jaya.. Datuk Shafie juga mempunyai blog rasminya di alamat ini http://shafieapdal.com/



Lagu ini begitu popular di Semporna setiap kali ada acara dirasmikan Datuk Shafie Apdal.

Madsukul (Terima Kasih dalam bahasa Semporna), Madsukul kerana membaca…