KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi stood firm, saying he would decide when to hand over power to his deputy, but a number of supreme council members said the understanding was for the transition to be sooner than later.

The Umno president said he was aware of the sentiments of the grassroots and was keeping his ears close to the ground.

“I am paying heed to what is happening and the current situation. And whatever decision I make, I will discuss it with Datuk Seri Najib (Tun Razak) and then bring it up to the Umno supreme council,” he said Thursday at a press conference after chairing a council meeting.

Abdullah reiterated that he would contest for the Umno presidency in the December party elections.

He stressed that he had already made that clear at a press conference the previous day, noting that Umno divisions have not started their meetings yet and as the (country’s) leader he would continue to implement what was needed. [more]

KUALA LUMPUR:There is no need to call for an emergency session of Parliament because the next session is soon anyway, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

He told this to reporters Thursday after the Umno supreme council at PWTC.

Earlier on Thursday, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had told reporters at a press conference at the PKR headquarters that he had sent a letter to the Prime Minister requesting for an emergency session of Parliament to be held by Sept 23 to deliberate on a motion of no-confidence against Abdullah’s leadership.

The Dewan Rakyat is scheduled to resume its sitting on Oct 13.

To a question on whether Anwar would be arrested under the ISA, the Prime Minister said there was no suggestion from him to use the ISA on anyone. [more]

Today Pakatan Rakyat leaders have submitted a letter to the Prime Minister requesting him to call an emergency session of Parliament to deliberate a motion of censure against the leadership of YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi no later than Tuesday 23 September 2008.

This is in accordance with Order 11(3) of the Standing Orders of Parliament and warrants an immediate response given the gravity of today’s political impasse. A delay in his response would be interpreted as nothing short of a further sabotage of the democratic process and abuse of Executive Power.

The Prime Minister’s haggling on the syntax of our first letter is puerile at best. The intent of our meeting as described in that letter was clearly to discuss the future course of the nation’s leadership – though in deference to his position and in accordance with acceptable norms we remain considerate and polite in our approach.

I find the Prime Minister’s comment about me in his press conference yesterday to be reckless and irresponsible in light of the disastrous outcome of last Friday’s ISA raids.

He has conflated what is essentially an issue of democracy, freedom and the rule of law with national security. The use of the ISA to harass and detain duly elected political opponents is a grave transgression of the law and its continued use would further erode confidence in the current government and exacerbate political instability.

As the incumbent Prime Minister actively holding office and exercising all Executive powers, and as the outgoing Finance Minister, we hold him fully accountable for the current political turmoil and mismanagement of the nation’s economy. His accusation that I have had an adverse impact on the nation’s economy is entirely without basis.

I have met with the key fund managers in the region, representing over USD 1 trillion in assets, and on multiple occasions they were unanimously in support of comprehensive reforms in Malaysia including judicial independence, a free media, a more professional police force and anti-corruption agency, investor friendly laws and assurances on the non-interference of politicians in the governance of Bank Negara. These are policies Pakatan Rakyat has promised to implement– and initiatives that the current administration has done virtually nothing to advance since March 8th.

ANWAR IBRAHIM
Leader of Opposition
De-facto leader, Keadilan

Another blogger, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, was detained last week. An opposition blogger has been arrested for allegedly displaying a national flag upside down on his website, as the government comes under more pressure.

Syed Azidi Syed Aziz, better known as Kickdefella, is the second blogger to be arrested in a week.

The Malaysian opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, is demanding a vote of no confidence in the government.

Mr Anwar says he now has the support of enough MPs to bring down Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi.

Mr Syed Aziz, picked up late on Wednesday, is being held under the Sedition Act.

He is known as a supporter of the conservative Islamic PAS party, a component in the coalition seeking to topple the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi.

Mr Syed Aziz’s website had recently advocated that people fly the Malaysian flag upside down as a protest against the current political upheaval.

Mr Abdullah reportedly called the protest “a malicious act” and police were told to investigate the campaign.

“We were informed that the police were looking for us on Tuesday and waited for them but they didn’t show up,” his Mr Sayed Aziz’s wife Bariah Ishak told the Star daily newspaper.

“We thought the worst was over but they came looking for him and so he surrendered,” she added.
[more]

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s opposition leader has demanded a special Parliament session to hold a vote of no confidence in the government.

Anwar Ibrahim is telling reporters Thursday that the vote needs to be held no later than Tuesday to “deliberate” on a motion of censure and no confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. [more]

Parliament is currently in recess.

PUTRAJAYA: PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s letter to the Prime Minister only mentioned national security, the leadership and problems on morality and politics and had not touched on the transfer of power to the Opposition.

“He had stated that his letter had mentioned the transfer of power and asked that the emergency rule is not invoked but these are not mentioned in the letter that I had received,” said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. He added that Anwar was confusing the public.

Abdullah reiterated that he would not meet Anwar because his letter had not stated the issues he wanted to discuss.

He added that Anwar’s lies about the country and its economic progress are a threat to national security and the country’s economy.

He said Anwar had spread wrong information of the country’s economic stability overseas to the extent that investors had reported that Malaysia was not a good country to invest in due to the political instability. [more]

Video Clip 2: Datuk Zaid Ibrahim Determined to Resign

The Star

PUTRAJAYA: Datul Zaid Ibrahim has set his mind on resigning from the Cabinet, citing his disappointment with “meeting a brick wall” from his own colleagues and party members on many of his suggestions for reform.

The former de facto Law Minister also said he did not want many of the problems arising from his proposals earlier to be a burden on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at a time when the latter had to grapple with party conflict and other challenges.

Zaid says he is disappointed. “I don’t want the PM to be beset by problems involving me and it’s better for him to focus instead on other more important matters. Let me not be the problem. Although I thanked the Prime Minister for his suggestion that I go on leave instead, I am not tired. I’m just disappointed so I don’t have to rest.” [more]

Video Clip 3: Anwar: We have the Numbers

The Star

PETALING JAYA: Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has claimed that more than 31 Barisan MPs have agreed to cross over to Pakatan Rakyat.

He, however, refused to reveal the names of the 31 MPs.

Anwar told a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya on Tuesday that he would give the list of the names to the Prime Minister when he meets him.

The Permatang Pauh MP also claimed that the transition to the new Government has been delayed a few days pending the meeting with Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to ensure a smooth and peaceful transition.

“The numbers are increasing by the hour, but as of now, it is in excess of 31 MPs. [more]

Video Clip 4: The New Government Will Be A Reality

Video Clip 5: Badawi Refuses to Meet with Ibrahim

The Star

KEPALA BATAS: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wants Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to reveal the names of the Barisan Nasional MPs the Opposition Leader claims are crossing over to Pakatan Rakyat.

“I don’t think he has the names. If he does, I don’t think he would wait to inform the people (of the names),” he said after giving out aid to the poor at complex Yayasan Budi Penyayang here on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister said he would not entertain Anwar’s request to meet him until the list is made public.

”There is no reason for me to meet him because I don’t think he has the names. He is just getting the people to focus on him and his political ploy. I do not need to see him.” [more]

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s targeted date of Sept 16 to capture the Government may not be achieved due to anticipated problems delaying the transition of power.

“After discussing with PAS and DAP, the date can be postponed even though our target was Sept 16 previously.

“However, I believe the present Government will find it difficult to quell the uproar of the rakyat,” Anwar said during his speech after a solat tawarikh and hajat ceremony at his home here last night. [more]

The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution wants to transfer Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy case from the Sessions Court where he was charged last month to the High Court.

But the defence objected to the move saying it was unnecessary and that the transfer certificate had been signed by Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, who was to have no involvement in the case.

Lead counsel Sulaiman Abdullah complained about the shabby treatment by the prosecution, who only informed the defence about the transfer application at the eleventh hour.

“We asked them what was the plan and up to Tuesday, we were told that there was no decision.

“On Tuesday afternoon, senior DPP (and AG’s Chambers head of prosecution) Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden was kind enough to call me to say that they most probably would ask for a transfer.

“Only 10 minutes ago when DPP Mohd Yusof appeared in court were we informed that they were indeed going to ask for a transfer,” the veteran lawyer said.

Describing the move as an “ambush”, Sulaiman said it left the defence to argue “practically out of the air.” [more]

Najib, who is the BN chief whip, said he approved the study trip.

“I approve anything that is constructive. It (the study tour) is a programme initiated by the BN Backbenchers’ Club. It is up to them.

“It will be a good opportunity for our backbenchers to learn something,” he said yesterday after launching the Rakan Cop National Service programme.

Najib said the public should not read too much into the trip scheduled on the eve of Sept 16, the date opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said would see him forming the next government.

Anwar needs 30 backbenchers to defect to topple BN and the sudden nature of the trip has sparked speculation that the BN leadership was sending backbenchers away to pre-empt crossovers.

Yesterday, Najib quashed such talk and Anwar’s plans to form a new government on Sept 16.