Now Kit Siang calls Khairy a ‘rabid racist’

KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 — DAP’s Lim Kit Siang today hit back at Khairy Jamaluddin for calling him a “borderline racist” by pointing out that even former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was opposed to the aborted Umno-PAS unity talks.

“I think Khairy wanted to call Dr Mahathir a ‘borderline racist’ but dare not do so, and is using this way to hit out at the former prime minister,” said Lim in his latest blog posting.

He added that Dr Mahathir had repeated his opposition to any Umno-PAS Malay unity government talks at the Pandan Umno division motivational course on Saturday.

On Saturday, Umno Youth chief Khairy defended the aborted unity talks between Umno and PAS, and called Lim a “borderline racist” for his criticism.

Khairy had said that Lim's accusation that the proposed dialogue between Umno and PAS was against the concept of 1 Malaysia shockingly implied that Malay-Muslim unity was not good for the country.

Last week, Lim challenged what he felt was the absurdity of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s call for Malay and Muslim unity, and mocked the prime minister by asking if Umno would give the nod to Chinese unity talks or similar discourse for other communities as well.

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders have already rejected Umno’s unity government proposal and proclaimed all issues surrounding the fiasco, which brought the fledgling opposition coalition to the brink of collapse, resolved.

But the Umno president, in asking PAS not to reject a proposal which he said would be beneficial to Malay Muslims, had appeared to play the religion and race card.

In his blog posting, Lim said Khairy’s allegation was laughable as the Umno Youth chief had made an uncalled-for attack on the Indian community during a live telecast at the Umno General Assembly in November 2007 and because of his infamous outburst about the alleged marginalisation of the Malays in Penang.

“So long as Khairy can continue to play with impunity his role as a rabid racist, the prime minister’s 1Malaysia concept as a unifying force for all Malaysians regardless of race will remain suspect.”

Meanwhile Lim said he was also taking the fresh promise of merit-based national scholarships with a “heavy pinch of salt”.

Najib had on Saturday night announced a new category of Public Service Department (PSD) scholarships which will start from next year.

“The scholarships based purely on merit and regardless of race are welcomed,” said Lim.

But heis sceptical because of repeated disappointments with previous promises of “meritocracy” by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

Firstly, he said six years ago, Malaysians were promised a system of “meritocracy” in the annual intake of university students but this proved to be a “fraudulent” meritocracy.

There continues to be two incomparable university entrance examinations, the world-class two-year Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) and the inferior one-year matriculation course, he said.

Lim said if the government really wanted to stop the fall in standards in public universities, only the best lecturers and students must be recruited.

He said the first step was to have one common university entrance examination along with a programme of positive affirmation to ensure those from a socio-economically backward background get special assistance to get into universities but based on need and not race.

Secondly, he said the government gave assurances last year that 20 per cent or 400 out of the 2,000 PSD scholarships for foreign universities this year would be allocated solely on merit.

Lim said this has turned out to be an empty promise as many SPM top scorers with 11 to 16As denied were denied these scholarships.

He said any scepticism about the new PSD scholarship would be understandable because of the absence of a genuine 1 Malaysia mindset where all Malaysians regardless of race get equal treatment. - MalaysianInsider

DAP wants Umno to stop sending sending mixed signals on race and quotas

UALA LUMPUR, June 28- The DAP backs Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s reform plans but is concerned with the administration’s mixed signals on Malay rights.

Tony Pua, the party’s national publicity secretary, pointed out that while the prime minister spoke last night about removing quotas and merit-based national scholarships his deputy had promised on the same day that “Umno would fight to the last drop of blood to protect Malay rights”.

He said that although the DAP welcomes Najib’s announcement in Putrajaya last night, Barisan Nasional (BN) should stop the policy of divide and rule among Malaysians of all races.

During the dinner hosted by the MCA and the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACCCIM), Najib acknowledged that the quota system was flawed and did not benefit Bumiputeras.

Datuk Seri Muhyiddin Yassin was present at the same dinner but according to Pua, he had stirred up Malay racial sentiments in his speech earlier in Pagoh, Johor.

“Taken together with the Prime Minister’s own persistence in Malay-Muslim unity talks with PAS, it raises the question as to whether BN is continuing the policy of “singing a different song to a different racial audience”.

He said this flies in the face of the 1 Malaysia concept being preached by Najib.

Pua said that Umno continues to place Malay unity and Malay rights above all else under its “Ketuanan Melayu” banner while all other BN component parties and ethnic groups are subjugated to its authority.

However, he said the DAP was willing to fully support the prime minister to remove the inefficient and ineffective quota system and replace it with a policy which promotes meritocracy in all sectors including education and the economy.

The policy on meritocracy should be complemented with an affirmative

action policy based on needs and not race.

“We would fully support all efforts to improve the economic livelihood of all poor Bumiputeras and Malaysians.”

He agreed with the PM that the quota system under the New Economic Policy (NEP) has failed the Bumiputeras.

The NEP promotes a rent-seeking culture, cronyism and corruption while benefiting only those who are politically connected, he said.

“We call on the Prime Minister to put his words into action by delivering a ministerial statement in Parliament to call for the removal of the quota-based NEP.”- Malaysian Insider

Manek Urai Akan Melakar Sejarah Baru

(gambar - Lim bersalam dengan Menteri Besar Kelantan, Tok Guru Nik Aziz semalam)

MANEK URAI – Penasihat DAP Encik Lim Kit Siang berkata pilihanraya kecil DUN (PRK) Manek Urai adalah peluang bagi pengundi-pengundi Manek Urai untuk melakarkan sejarah baru yang lebih besar.

Beliau berkata DUN Manek Urai telah menyelamatakan PAS dan mencipta sejarah pada tahun 1978 dimana ketika itu PAS hanya menang dua kerusi, salah satunya adalah DUN Manek Urai.

”Manek Urai satu tempat dengan sejarah politik 31tahun dahulu tahun 1978, masa itu selepas UMNO khianati PAS, adalah pada pilihanraya umum 1978,

”PAS kalah teruk, barulah (tinggallh) dua kerusi menang, satu kerusi mana? Manek Urai ! Manek Urai yang menyelamatkan PAS, itulah sejarah Manek Urai,

”kali ini adalah peluang pengundi-pengundi Manek Urai mencipta sejarah lebih besar,”katan ahli Parlimen Ipoh Timur itu semasa berucap dalam majlis perisytiharan calon PRK Manek Urai di Kampong Manek Urai Lama semalam.

Katanya PRK Manek Urai memberikan erti dan makna yang besar bukan sahaja kepada negeri Kelantan tetapi kepada seluruh Malaysia.

Ia adalah kerana katanya, ia akan membuktikan samada rakyat pantai timur bersama-sama menyertai pengundi pantai barat semenanjung menunjukkan undi tidak percaya kepada perdana menteri Dato' Seri Najib Razak

国油营收增18.4%至2642亿令吉

（吉隆坡25日马新社讯）国家石油公司（国油）在2009年3月31日财政年的营收增长18.4%，达到空前的2642亿令吉，创下令人满意的表现。

然而，该集团税前盈利却减少6.7%至891亿令吉，而净利则减少13.9%至525亿令吉。

国油主席兼首席执行员丹斯里哈山马力肯在新闻发布会上，公布公司业绩。

他透露，国油的收入大多来自逐渐增加的销量，以及高涨的液化天然气的价格。

他说，国油面对下挫的税前盈利，是基于生产及运作成本提高。

尽管如此，他说，税前盈利跌幅介于6.4及%25.7%尚算合理。

马力肯说，尽管盈利减少，但该集团宣布派发300亿令吉的股息，这个数额比去年增加25%。

他透露，该集团的资产从以往的3393亿令吉增长14.4%至3881亿令吉，股东基金则提高15.1%至2321亿令吉。

马力肯指出，国油依然给联邦及州政府作出庞大支付。

在上述财政年期间，该集团支付740亿令吉给政府，以致该集团自1974年创办以来，共支付了4713亿令吉给政府。

他说，在740亿令吉的数额中，其中的678亿令吉是支付给联邦政府，当中包括300亿令吉的股息、203亿令吉石油企业所得税、91亿令吉公司税、22亿令吉出口税、62亿令吉石油税。

他说，另外的62亿令吉石油税则支付给州政府，包括登嘉楼州的30亿令吉、砂拉越州达23亿令吉、沙巴州达9亿令吉。

马力肯透露，这740亿令吉支付给政府的款项，占国油税前盈利、石油税及出口税总额的71.4%，加上该集团在再投资年保留的21.1%的盈利，剩余的7.5%则为海外税款及少部分的利息。

他说，国油在财政年度的资本支出从以往的376亿令吉增至440亿令吉。

截至2009年1月1日，我国的天然气储备量从去年的201亿3000万桶增至201亿8000万桶。
SAM CHT