Forest City Project

by Sim Bak Heng

GELANG PATAH: The voice of protest permeates the air inside the Kampung Pok community hall when the audience started to comment on the Forest City project from 3.30pm.

From housewives to farmers, from fishermen to senior citizens, they took their turns to bombard the project proponent and DEIA consultant one by one.

One of the audience the credibility of the survey result on the social and economic impact conducted by the DEIA consultant.

Of the 100 villagers polled, the result showed that 60 per cent of them said "yes" to the controversial project.

The audience questioned the methodology used kn the survey, and whether the sample is sufficient.

Kampung Pok Village Development and Security Committee deputy chairman Azman Abdul Rahman said he did not even know when the survey was conducted and if it had ever been conducted.

He urged the project proponent to find an alternative road for the project to link to the mainland as no villagers want any road from the project to pass by Kampung Pok.

Another villager then stood up and said the project only benefits the rich but what the people want are affordable housing units.

So far, no one from the audience has openly supported the project.

The dialogue continues with only brickbats and no bouquets.

Several people have appealed that the public dialogue be postponed until a more detailed DEIA is presented.

2nd story

GELANG PATAH: The controversial Forest City project will now be split into four islands instead of one single island.

The biggest island measures 1,005hectares while the smallest measures 58ha.

It is split into four islands following a hydrology study which saw the need to have more water channels to allow water flow along the Johor Straits.

Reclamation of the Forest City project stopped on June 16 this year following a diplomatic note from Singapore which asked for more details about the project and its impact on the Johor Straits.

This is in view that the project is near to the Malaysia-Singapore boundary and involves lots of coastal reclamation.

The briefing today detailed about the amount of coastal sand off Telok Ramunia meant for the project.

Reclamation for the biggest island alone needs about 118,155,717 cubic metres.

The sand are carried by barges to the Forest City site through the southern part of Singapore.

- source NST online

A Seething Speech by Hadi

Our Assemblymen Were Bought, Claims Hadi

BY MARTIN CARVALHO, RAHMAH GHAZALI, AND RAHIMY RAHIM

BATU PAHAT: PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has chastised two Selangor PAS legislators for throwing their support behind PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, labelling the two lackeys and accusing them of having been bought.

“They couldn’t get what they wanted, they stole them from us. They were bought over,” said Abdul Hadi, in what appeared to be a scathing attack at PAS’ Pakatan Rakyat partner, PKR.

His accusation comes two days after warning both PKR and DAP not to betray PAS within the tahaluf siyasi (political cooperation).

In his winding-up speech at PAS 60th muktamar here, Abdul Hadi said the statutory declaration that the two assemblymen had signed in support of Dr Wan Azizah was nothing compared to sumpah bai’ah (loyalty oath).

The loyalty oath is a PAS pledge taken by all its candidates before the general election.

“Didn’t they take the oath? Which one is bigger? The bai’ah or the statutory declaration?” he asked.

Abdul Hadi went on to say that the party had no choice but to intervene in the Selangor crisis even though it had no interest in the mentri besar post.

“We are not hungry for the post although we have more seats compared to PKR. “They have to remember that we are bound by Islamic principles, not just based on rational basis,” he said.

Hulu Klang assemblyman Saari Sungib and Morib assemblyman Hasnol Baharuddin have been criticised by PAS leaders for going against the party the moment they declared support for Dr Wan Azizah.

The two were not seen at the three-day muktamar.

-source Star online

Pas Congress 14

BY MARTIN CARVALHO, RAHIMY RAHIM, AND RAHMAH GHAZALI

BATU PAHAT: PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had to act independently by submitting his own Mentri Besar list to the Palace due to time constraints.

In defending Hadi, PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said there were occasions when a leader had to make on the spot decisions.

“As far as I remember, Hadi had always referred to the PAS central committee meetings before making a decision,” he said.

However, Mustafa said there are circumstances where the party president has to make on-the- spot decisions.

He said these decisions were made in situations where there wasn’t enough time for the PAS central committee to discuss the matter.

Mustafa cited the list submitted on Sept 3 by Hadi as an example of a situation where Hadi had to take matters into his own hands.

The list named three candidates for the Mentri Besar’s post – including one from PAS.

“I already stated clearly to the media on Sept 2 that we did not have time to convene a central committee meeting,” he said.

Mustafa used an analogy of a soldier in a battlefield facing an enemy.

“When the soldier is facing an enemy who is about to shoot him, he has to make a decision on the spot on how to react against that enemy,” said Mustafa.

Meanwhile, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said he would never override the president, as he would consult him before any decision is made.

“Although I have the authority to sign a statement whenever the president is absent from meetings, I would still have to go through the secretary-general. Any decision does not come from me alone,” he said.

- source Star online

Pas Congress 13

by Shahrum Sayuthi

BATU PAHAT: Pas deputy spiritual adviser Datuk Haron Din today told Pas members to brace themselves with the possibility of the party being expelled from Pakatan coalition.

He said such a scenario should not be dismissed despite repeated calls by delegates at the Pas 60th muktamar (annual general meeting) here for the party to remain in the coalition.

"Even in a marriage, if certain conditions had been breeched, it would not be able to be saved and divorce is the only way out," he said.

Relations between Pas and its Pakatan allies PKR and DAP reached a breaking point over the Selangor leadership crisis when it was widely rumoured of late that Sultan of Selangor may appoint a Pas assemblyman as menteri besar on Sept 23.

Haron reminded members that Pas' stand on such matters are based on Islamic teachings unlike that of PKR'd and DAP's.

"We must therefore abide by the Syura Council's decision and support the stand made by our party," he said.

- source NST online

Pas Congress 12

BY MARTIN CARVALHO, RAHMAH GHAZALI, AND RAHIMY RAHIM

BATU PAHAT: No groups should use the division between the professionals and the clerics in PAS to oust certain leaders, deemed not in line with the party’s struggle.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said having both factions within the party was nothing new and such division has never been an issue.

“Do not create lies to oust certain leaders.

“Whoever says the professionals are not needed, they do not understand the dynamics of PAS.

“Whoever says the Ulama are not needed, they also do not understand the dynamics of PAS,” he told the delegates during his winding-up speech at PAS’ 60th Muktamar Saturday.

Mustafa also defended PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu and vice-presidents Datuk Husam Musa and Salahuddin Ayub.

“I need to clear their names as they have been viciously attacked.

“PAS without Ulama is blind, PAS without professional is lame. We need both to strengthen the party,” he said.

PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub, in his winding-up speech, said the party should put a stop to allegations that the party is now marred by a group of liberals.

“Who are these liberal leaders? Are they Khalid Samad? Dzulkefly Ahmad? Mujahid Yusof Rawa? Hanipa Maidin?

“Let’s prepare a stage and call them for debates. We can do this closed-door,” he said.

He said the president should act sternly, by sacking those who are found guilty in bringing liberalism into the party.

“We don’t need to take a disciplinary action against them, just sack them,” he said.

- source Star online

Pas Congress 11

NST online

BATU PAHAT: Pas Youth chief Suhaizan Kaiat has urged all members to unite under the leadership of president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang as a way to resolve the current crisis in the party.
Suhaizan said Hadi, as president, is a symbol of party unity.
"We also need to be with other senior leaders like Datuk Seri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and Datuk Dr Harun Din. It is also time for us to resolve the crisis because if we do not, it would only lead to more problems to the party," said Suhaizan.
He also said that party leaders should think of the sacrifices of party members instead of quarreling with each other.
The Pas leadership has been split following the Selangor leadership crisis between the ulama (religious leaders) faction led by Hadi and the so called "progressive" faction led by deputy president Mohamad Sabu who is known as aligned to PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"Take this muktamar for example. There are many party members who sacrifice their time and money to volunteer their services here but the leaders are having a crisis," said Suhaizan.
He also asked members not to be so engrossed with current problems that the party is facing that they forgot about other party matters.
"I would suggest that members spend 70 per cent of their time to think about other party matters so that we can bring the party forward," said Suhaizan.