No fresh polls in MCA, for now

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 – The protracted leadership crisis in MCA looks set to continue after party deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek (pic) confirmed today that not enough central committee members had resigned to force new elections.

Dr Chua told a press conference at the party’s headquarters here that only 13 central committee members had resigned, eight short of the 21 needed to pave way for fresh polls as stipulated by the party constitution.

“But this does not mean that there will not be any fresh polls,” stressed Dr Chua.

“The CC members have the right to resign at anytime they want. There are those who want to resign but they might do it after Chinese New Year,” he said.

“I am always optimistic that that the top leadership want to resolve the party crisis (by holding fresh polls),” added the MCA deputy president.

Dr Chua, whose quarrel with his recent arch-rival and embattled party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat sparked off the crisis, has now formed an unlikely alliance with the latter and both of them are fighting off a faction pushing for fresh polls.

The faction is led by vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, once a stalwart in Ong’s camp against Dr Chua.

Liow and his ally, vice-president Datuk Wee Ka Siong, were among the 13 CC members who submitted their resignations a few weeks ago in a bid to push for fresh elections.

Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun in a jovial mood as they arrive for the meeting. – Picture by Jack Ooi

Speaking to reporters later, Liow who was present in the same building when Dr Chua’s press conference took place, said he was disappointed by the revelation.

“I am extremely disappointed with the rest of the CC members for their lack of action but I remain optimistic that there will be fresh polls soon,” he said.

Wee who was also present expressed hope that the party will hold fresh polls in the near future and shared his ally’s optimism that it would be held soon.

Asked when the vote would likely be held, Dr Chua said that he would not speculate on the date but reiterated that “there is high possibility” that more CC members will resign in February and March.

The party is required to hold elections within 30 days after a sufficient number of CC members resigned.

Meanwhile, Dr Chua said, the special committee will now make two recommendations to the presidential council – that only 13 resignations have been submitted, and to discuss if the fresh polls should be held for the Youth and Wanita wing as well.

Asked when he would tender his resignation, given his claim that he’s all for holding fresh polls, Dr Chua answered in his typical fashion: “I will let you know when I do that.”-MalaysianInsider

Isu Kalimah Islam: Akhbar Cina berwaspada

Isu kalimah Islam semakin hangat, lebih-lebih lagi apabila ditonjolkan pada muka surat depan media cetak bahasa Melayu untuk beberapa hari berturut-turut. Malah, tulisan sama ada dalam bentuk laporan, analisa mahupun komen lebih cenderung untuk berpaksikan perspektif "muslim perlu bersatu untuk membantah penggunaan kalimah Allah oleh bukan Islam".

Berbanding dengan media cetak bahasa Melayu, akhbar Cina nyata lebih "berwaspada" dalam isu ini. Walaupun rata-ratanya memberi ruang liputan kepada laporan aktiviti membantah penggunaan kalimah Allah, namun kebanyakan akhbar Cina mengelakkan diri untuk memberi komen terhadap isu ini.

Menurut seorang pengamal media dalam akhbar Cina, walaupun tiada arahan dari Kementerian Dalam Negeri setakat ini, namun pihaknya lebih berhati-hati, memandangkan kontroversi karikatur Nabi sebelum ini pernah mengakibatkan salah satu akhbar Cina, Guan Ming Daily digantung untuk dua minggu.

Hormati penghakiman mahkamah

China Press pada 4 Januari 2010 menyiarkan hujah Perdana Menteri, Najib Abdul Razak di muka surat depannya, menggesa supaya muslim bertenang, di samping memetik hujah Presiden UMNO ini yang berbunyi, "Saya tidak menggalakkan agar ketidakpuasan dilepaskan melalui aktiviti demonstrasi."

Walau bagaimanapun, ketika mengulas isu utama ini dalam ruang lidah pengarang di muka surat A10, China Press menganggap usaha gagasan "1Malaysia" yang mula menampakkan hasilnya dijejaskan sedikit sebanyak kerana perkembangan isu ini.

Lidah pengarang ini menerima kenyataan bahawa agama sebagai isu yang sensitif dalam masyarakat Malaysia yang terdiri daripada berbilang kaum dan budaya. Menurutnya, tentangan keras daripada masyarakat Melayu terhadap keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi menunjukkan jurang yang lebar antara etnik setelah 53 tahun merdeka.

Lidah pengarang China Press menekankan bahawa Malaysia adalah negara rule of law, maka sesiapa yang menyerahkan kesnya untuk dikendalikan oleh mahkamah, harus menghormati dan mematuhi penghakiman mahkamah. Seandainya tidak berpuas hati, mereka perlu merayu mengikut saluran yang diperuntukkan undang-undang.

Malah, China Press menyetujui bahawa mereka yang tidak berpuas hati boleh menyerah memorandum kepada pihak yang berkenaan untuk menyampaikan pandangan, menggesa agar pihak berkenaan mengambil prihatin terhadap isu tersebut. "Namun, kami tidak menggalakkan rakyat menggunakan cara yang radikal, misalnya demonstrasi jalanan yang mungkin mencetuskan kecelaruan dan mengganggu hidupan harian rakyat jelata."

Lidah pengarang ini berharap agar rakyat melihat isu ini secara rasional, dan tidak menghasut antara satu sama lain secara sengaja, sebaliknya menggunakan sikap yang lebih tamadun untuk menganut, menyebar dan mewarisi agama masing-masing. Tulisan ini menyimpulkan bahawa semua agama mendukung kedamaian dan keharmonian, maka penganutnya yang bertaqwa harus menjadikan masyarakat lebih aman, dan bukannya menunjukkan ketaatan dengan keganasan.

Negara Islam yang konservatif?

Sin Chew Daily pula, menyiarkan laporannya dalam isu ini di muka surat 5, pada 4 Januari. Berita PM Najib yang mengesahkan bahawa kerajaan akan merayu dalam kes ini dijadikan sebagai berita utama, sementara reaksi ahli Parlimen Shah Alam PAS, Khalid Samad terhadap ahli parlimen Kulim Bandar Baharu, Zulkifli Noordin yang mencabarnya untuk keluar parti juga ditonjolkan.

Walau bagaimanapun, komen terhadap isu ini hanya terselit dalam satu artikel kolum oleh Lim Sue Goan, penolong editor Sin Chew Daily. Dalam artikel yang berjudul "Permulaan tahun baru yang mengecewakan", beliau mempersoalkan tindakan mereka yang tidak menghormati mahkamah, malah masih berdemonstrasi walaupun kerajaan telah mengambil keputusan untuk merayu terhadap keputusan mahkamah.

"Ini menyampaikan satu mesej kepada masyarakat global, seolah-olah Malaysia adalah sebuah negara Islam yang konservatif," tulisnya, yang terkilan dengan pelbagai isu yang berlaku pada permulaan tahun 2010.

Demontrasi di merata tempat

Nanyang Siang Pau pula, menyiarkan bantahan umat Islam di merata tempat pada muka surat A3, 4 Januari. Malah, akhbar ini menyiarkan gambar demonstrasi di Pulau Pinang, Melaka dan Pekan, kawasan parlimen PM Najib. Di bawah muka surat A3, Nanyang Siang Pau menyiarkan berita "serang-menyerang" antara Khalid Samad dengan Zulkifli Noordin yang bercanggah pendapat dalam isu ini.

Oriental Daily pada hari ini menjadikan "PM nasihat umat Islam bertenang" sebagai tajuk di muka surat depannya, sementara menyiarkan berita isu ini di muka surat A3 dan A4. Malah, di bawah muka surat A3, Oriental Daily melaporkan cara bagaimana Utusan Malaysia melaporkan isu ini pada 3 Januari 2010.

*Kaleidoskop adalah "digest" kandungan akhbar bahasa Cina. Akhbar yang dirujuk bertarikh 4 Januari 2010, berkisar pada isu penggunaan kalimah Allah. - Merdeka Review

Guan Eng blasts police over sedition threat

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 3 — DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng today hit out at the police for threatening him with sedition over his remarks suggesting that Teoh Beng Hock was murdered, saying it was a concerted effort to topple him as Penang chief minister and break up the Pakatan Rakyat.

Lim said police should stop persecuting innocent people, adding statements from senior police officials showed they have pre-judged him despite their denials of bias.

“The police seem to have made up their minds to charge me with sedition,” Lim told The Malaysian Insider in a phone interview from Penang.

The opposition leader has a previous conviction for sedition and publishing false news, serving 12 out of an 18-month sentence in 1998 for rape allegations made against former Malacca chief minister Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik.

The police started their investigations on Dec 21 over remarks by Lim and another politician on Teoh’s death made at the Pakatan Rakyat convention on Dec 19.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said on Dec 30 that the police will not be biased in their probe.

Chief minister Lim not impressed with the developments. - Picture by Choo Choy May

“However, Lim’s allegations are considered seditious be- cause Teoh’s inquest is ongoing,” Musa told reporters.

“The sedition investigation against Lim is not politically motivated. His allegation can incite and confuse the public, causing them to turn against government agencies.”

But Lim said Musa and the police must be professional in their investigations.

“I am ready to be investigated but the police must be professional. Their statements suggest otherwise,” he added.

Lim disclosed that the investigations fit a pattern to take out popular Pakatan Rakyat leaders including Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat.

Anwar is facing a second sodomy charge while Nik Aziz, the popular PAS spiritual chief, has been criticised with charges of nepotism and possible corruption.

“Our political rivals believe they can snap the Pakatan Rakyat by taking out the strong and popular leaders. They are wrong,” Lim said.

He said the Barisan Nasional federal government and police should instead focus on bringing down the country’s crime rate and solve cases such as the embarrassing theft of two fighter jet engines from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base in Sungei Besi.

“The general elections are over. We can battle it out in the next one. Its time to take care of the country and the people,” Lim said.

Lim’s current brush with the law began over his remark that “Teoh Beng Hock had been cruelly murdered. I want to remind those responsible that we will not forget you because there is no forgiveness for you.”

Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar had said that no one should make unsubstantiated remarks.

“Lim Guan Eng’s remarks can be considered to be an incitement, causing

the public to believe that Teoh Beng Hock had been murdered.”

He added the police would also record a statement from Anwar to help in its probe against Lim.

A coroner’s inquest into Teoh’s mysterious death was postponed twice last month as pathologists have yet to complete their report on the second autopsy of the political aide’s remains.

The inquest by coroner Azmil Munthapa Abas was scheduled to resume two weeks ago but lawyers now expect it to continue this month.

The 30-year-old Selangor political secretary who was found dead at Plaza Masalam on July 16 after overnight questioning by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which was probing alleged abuse of state funds by politicians from the ruling Pakatan Rakyat state government.

The findings of the second autopsy done at the Sungai Buloh hospital on Nov 22 are highly anticipated as they may confirm suspicions that Teoh was murdered.

Two foreign experts — Dr Peter Vanezis for MACC and Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand for the Selangor government — had observed the post-mortem carried out by Sungai Buloh Hospital chief pathologist Dr Shahidan Md Noor.

The renowned Thai pathologist earlier testified at the inquest that Teoh’s death was “80 per cent” homicide based on photographic evidence.

However, her views are contrary to the first autopsy done by local pathologists. The coroner then ordered the exhumation of Teoh’s remains and the second autopsy.

MACC officials have also lodged reports against Suara KeAdilan and Dr Pornthip over alleged leaks of the second report published by the PKR party organ. - MalaysianInsider

白糖起20仙

各種飲料蠢蠢欲漲
新年前起10仙

獨家報導：陳思遠

（吉隆坡1日訊）隨著每公斤白糖起價20仙，國內各地咖啡店販賣的各種飲料也醞釀起價，預料漲幅達10仙。

《中國報》探悉：隆雪一帶的咖啡店，已經醞釀在農曆新年前漲價。

多名咖啡店東主受本報詢問時，均指各類飲料很快將起價，凡是有用白糖沖泡的飲料，包括咖啡、茶、美祿、雀巢咖啡（Nescafe）、好力克、雀巢咖啡加美祿（Neslo）、涼茶及sirap，每杯一律加10仙。

他們指出，即使是“Kopi O”（少糖咖啡）或“Teh O”（少糖茶），也起10仙；除非是完全沒放糖的“Kopi O kosong”（齋啡）才不起價，維持每杯90仙。

漲價後收入增5令吉

業者指出，汽水及罐裝水價格維持在2令吉，暫不起價，惟若汽水廠商調高價格，他們也會跟著起價。

八打靈咖啡酒餐商公會總務李添滿告訴《中國報》說，咖啡店飲料起價在所難免，因為隨著白糖漲價，其他原料如練奶、美祿及雀巢咖啡，也會跟著起價。

“再者，電費、水費也預料在今年再度調漲，無形中增加咖啡店經營成本。”

他指出，該公會將于本月中召開理事會會議，以通過上述起價的建議。

一般上，每公斤白糖平均可沖泡約50杯咖啡、茶等飲料。這意味，每公斤白糖所沖泡的飲料，漲價后能為咖啡店增加5令吉以上的額外收入，這比每公斤白糖起價后的1令吉65仙價格，還要多幾倍。

咖啡店上次調整飲料價格，是在去年6月電費宣佈漲價后，每杯飲料漲10仙。

馬新咖啡茶業聯合總會會長吳仕文受詢時說，全馬各地咖啡店經營商將會計算增加成本，才決定飲料漲幅。

他說，各地區飲料價格及漲幅不一樣，因為不同地區的經營成本及店舖租金不一樣。

“白糖起價后，由各咖啡店業者自行決定飲料漲價幅度。”

他指出，該總會並沒統一飲料價格表，由各地區業者自行決定價格。

隆雪區咖啡店飲料價格
飲料	目前價格（令吉）	漲價后（令吉）
熱茶／咖啡	1.30	1.40
冰茶／咖啡	1.50	1.60
茶／咖啡（O）	1.10	1.20
熱美祿／雀巢咖啡	1.60	1.70
冰美祿／雀巢咖啡	2.00	2.10
熱好力克／Neslo	1.80	1.90
冰好力克／Neslo	2.20	2.30
涼水／Sirap	1.20	1.30
汽水／罐裝水	2.00	暫不起價
茶／咖啡（O Kosong）	0.90	暫不起價

連興泉勸勿囤積
白糖下週供應正常

馬來西亞雜貨商聯合會總會長連興泉指出，雜貨批發商的白糖存貨，已在過去幾天被消費人搶購一空，預料下週一獲得糖廠的新供應。

他說，由于消費人事前已知道，政府會在2010年調漲白糖價格，使到接近2009年年底時，許多消費人蜂擁購買白糖，使到白糖暫時缺貨。

“然而，預測白糖可在下週一恢復供應。”

連興泉今日接受《中國報》訪問時說，基本上，市面上的白糖足夠供應消耗，他呼于消費人不要囤積過量白糖，以免造成人為供應短缺。

他認為，只要消費人不超量購買白糖，供應一定足夠。換言之，若消費人瘋狂掃貨，即使增加供應，也會面對短缺問題。

2009年12月31日，國內貿易及消費人事務部宣佈，每公斤白糖從2010年1月1日起漲價20仙，半島零售價由1令吉45仙漲至1令吉65仙，東馬則漲至1令吉75仙。

連興泉也呼吁消費人趁白糖起價之際，減少消耗白糖，因為攝取過量糖分將對健康有害，易患糖尿病。

他相信政府最終將完全取消白糖補貼措施，屆時預測每公斤白糖零售價將漲至2令吉45仙左右。

他希望消費人趁現在習慣減少使用白糖，以免白糖價格繼續上漲，而必須付出額外開銷。

大年小販節省開銷
未起價前已存貨

報導：鄭燕玲

（雙溪大年1日訊）白糖今日漲價，小販趁未起價前大掃存貨。

美農“錦興”雜貨店的黃順清（30歲）受訪時指出，白糖起價20仙發放后，昨午4時多開始就陸續有人前來進貨。

小販業者更購買大量白糖囤放，以節省開銷。

他說，昨天短短幾個小時，雜貨店忙著賣白糖，顧客大部分以馬來人居多，不管是小販或主婦，他們的白糖用量比其他族群高，相信是烹煮咖哩和糕點。

從事14年雜貨店的黃氏指出，每年一旦日常用品隔天要漲價，肯定有很多人來購買，儘管只是漲價10仙，顧客仍抱著能省則省的心態大量“收購”。

他說，單是昨天就銷售近100公斤白糖，可見白糖的需求量何其高，尤其是小販業者，他們用到的白糖比一般家庭高出好幾倍。

“普通家庭一個月大約用量一，兩公斤，昨天家庭主婦來買三至五公斤；小販業者一般是三、五天就要5公斤，昨天他們來掃貨，一買就是10公斤以上。”

業者：拉長補短
暫不調整價錢

記者走訪幾個小販業者，他們皆說以拉長補短的方式應對，暫不作調整，過了一段時期料會調整價錢，因為成本提高，價格相應也會調整。

家庭主婦李月清指出，白糖漲價對一般家庭影響不大，畢竟家庭用糖量不多，普通每月一至兩公斤左右，只是小販的成本提高，食品自然會調漲，將會轉嫁給消費者