Show Proof I Was Bought Over

"Saari to Hadi: Show Proof I Was Bought Over"

by Akil Yunus

PETALING JAYA: PAS’ Hulu Kelang assemblyman Saari Sungib has challenged party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to show proof that he was bought over by PKR to support Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. 

“Provide the proof then,” he told Hadi, who claimed during his wrap-up speech at the party’s muktamar on Saturday that there were "brokers" from certain quarters who had "stolen" the support of PAS assemblymen in Selangor.

Saari clarified that he signed the statutory declaration (SD) supporting Dr Wan Azizah in order to deny Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim the chance to cause further damage to the state. 

“Khalid claimed he had the majority support, and had started sacking exco members. However, he did not consult any of the state assemblymen to ask them if they supported him.

“The aim was to deny Khalid. However, the lawyers explained that the state assemblymen need to support another candidate in order to legitimise the SD, so we supported Dr Wan Azizah because PKR and DAP had agreed to her nomination,” he said when contacted on Sunday. 

Saari insisted his only wrongdoing was to help safeguard Pakatan’s grip on Selangor, and lashed out at PAS for allowing its members to revile and insult him without knowing the full story. 

“There are many Islamic scholars in the party, yet they allow a motion to condemn me for my actions, which constitutes as punishment before trial. What kind of Islamic party is that? 

“At the muktamar, the permanent chairman did not intervene when a delegate prayed for God’s wrath upon me. This is very shameful to the party,” he added. 

Saari and Morib assemblyman Hasnul Baharuddin were the two Selangor PAS assemblymen who signed the SD supporting Dr Wan Azizah on Aug 14, three days before the party was to make an official stand on the mentri besar crisis.  

- source Star online

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