Chance for Najib to come clean in Klang

Source : Free Malaysia Today

Fri, Feb 19, 2010

By Stephanie Sta Maria

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s attendance at the Chinese New Year celebrations in Pandamaran tomorrow is an ideal opportunity for him to level with the community on contentious issues, say opposition MPs.

Klang MP Charles Santiago said:  “Najib should apologise to the Chinese women in Pandamaran for the recent ‘racist’ statement by his former aide and promise that such an incident will not be repeated.”

Najib’s former aide Nasir Safar had on Feb 1 told a 1Malaysia workshop in Malacca that Indians had arrived in Malaya as beggars and Chinese, especially the women, as prostitutes.

“But more important than the celebration, this is an opportunity for Najib to also address the land grab issue in Jalan Papan and Jalan Bukit Kerayong. People want to hear his views and stand on the issue,” he said.

While welcoming the PM’s visit to Klang, Santiago said he and several of his Pakatan Rakyat colleagues will not be at the event as they had not been invited.

Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M. Manoharan said he would not attend even if he received an invitation.

“Why should I? The fact is that Najib has no place in Selangor. He is not welcome or accepted by the people here and should not be holding a celebration here. He is only doing this to gain Chinese support. ”

Manoharan said Pandamaran was chosen as the open house venue this year because it is the second-biggest Chinese new village in the country.

Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim has said he will attend the Pandamaran celebrations.

 

It’s the Economy, Stupid!

Press Statement by Member of Parliament Klang Charles Santiago in Klang on 18th April 2009.

It is appalling to read Utusan Malaysia run a frontpage article titled “Bangkitlah Melayu”, urging the Malays to rise against the other races who are allegedly demanding way too much. But maybe the answer lies in the fact that the paper is linked to the ruling UMNO.

Although at first glance the verbal diarrhea by Datuk Ibrahim Ali, the Member of Parliament of Pasir Mas seems to pour cold water on Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s 1Malaysia concept, the lines blur upon careful scrutiny.

If Najib is serious about getting rid of racist language that strife to divide the Malaysian society even further, then he should formally put an end to the affirmative action policies which have only lined the wallets of the ruling elite.

But, on a different note, mere rhetoric by Ibrahim, Utusan Malaysia and other UMNO members would not help achieve Najib’s call to Malaysians to break away from their “ethnic prison”.

Picking up on Najib’s statement after chairing his first cabinet meeting, I urge the premier to act sternly on Utusan Malaysia, which practices obsequious journalism to pander to the whims and fancies of its UMNO bosses.

The country is facing enough economic problems without a whole new franchise cashing in with their bully–boy tactics. Najib’s top job and concern should be about the economy, which is handicapped by rising unemployment and declining demand.

The effect of massive job loss may increase the national unemployment rate, which currently sits at 3.5 percent, to 4.5 percent. The country’s manufacturing sector recorded a 26.1 per cent decline in sales in February. The Malaysian Institute of Economic Research, a government-linked think tank, has said that the country’s export-driven economy would shrink 2.2 percent this year, more than the government and central bank are forecasting.

Bursa Malaysia Bhd early this week reported a net profit decline of 63 per cent from RM 42.1 million a year ago to net profit of RM 15.5 million in March of this year largely due to the decline in equities trading revenue

Malaysia’s GDP grew just 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter from a year ago, as exports continue to drop due to sagging global demand.

Utusan, Ibrahim Ali and Najib should be aware that pushing the racial line when the country’s economy is sliding fast would not help the people. These groups should strive instead to promote an enabling environment for every Malaysian, especially the poor.

Specifically, Najib’s slogan should not be persuasive language used to hoodwink the people even further. He is after all not competing to win the best slogan title against former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad who chanted Bersih, Cekap, Amanah and his one-time blue-eyed boy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s “Work With Me, Not For Me.

In short, we do not need mere political slogans, racist rhetoric and bigotry. The country needs to focus on the economy.

Charles Santiago

Member of Parliament, Klang

016-6267797

——————————————————————–

巴生国会议员查尔斯圣地亚哥文告，2009年4月18日于巴生

拼经济为上，笨蛋！

马来西亚前锋报在4月15日的封面新闻“起来吧马来人”令人震惊，该文促请马来人站起来反抗需索无度的其他族群。这篇煽动味十足的报导，出于与巫统关系密切的前锋报，其目的不言而喻。

巴西马国会议员伊不拉欣阿里的耸动言论看似泼了首相纳吉的全民大马概念一头冷水，但若仔细观察，两者的区别其实相当模糊。

如果纳吉认真要去除这些分化大马社会的种族主义语言，他必须正式结束只是惠及统治精英的扶弱政策。

此外，伊不拉欣、前锋报和其他巫统党员的种族主义言论，对纳吉呼吁国人跳脱“种族囚牢”毫无帮助。

引用纳吉在主持第一次新内阁会议后的言论，我促请首相严厉对付只会对巫统主子阿谀奉承、投其所好的前锋报。

我国已面对许多经济问题，巫统群氓还是乐于玩弄种族情绪。纳吉的主要工作和焦点应该是经济，如今失业率正不断上升，需求正逐渐减少。

大量失业将使国内失业率增加，数据显示失业率已从3.5巴仙提高至4.5巴仙。二月份制造业的销售额下降了26.1巴仙。大马经济研究机构指出，以出口为主的大马经济将在今年萎缩2.2巴仙，超过政府和国家银行的预测。

就在这个星期，马来西亚交易所宣布蒙受63巴仙的亏损，其所获净利从去年的4千2百万令吉，剧降至今年的1千5百万令吉。主要是因为股市交易收入的减少。

大马的国内生产总值在2008年第四季只增长0.1巴仙，因为全球经济的萎靡导致出口减少。

前锋报、伊不拉欣阿里和纳吉须知，当国内经济不断下滑，斥诸种族主义无法帮助人民。反之，他们该为所有大马人提供一个有生活保障的环境，特别是贫穷阶级。

纳吉的口号不该只是用来哄骗人民，他无须和前首相马哈迪医生和阿都拉竞争最佳口号的头衔，马哈迪曾经提出“干净、效率和诚信”的口号，阿都拉也不落人后倡议“与我一起工作，而非为我工作”的概念。

简言之，我们谢绝政治口号、种族主义言论和偏执。我国该专注于拼经济。

查尔斯圣地亚哥 敬上

巴生国会议员

016-6267797

 

Kit Siang: New cabinet full of ‘political rejects’

Source : Malaysiakini

Apr 10, 09 2:34pm

Barely 24 hours after Najib Abdul Razak’s new cabinet line-up was announced, the new prime minister has already received brickbats from the DAP.

MCPX

Leading the dissatisfied pack was DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang who said the line-up created history as “the first Malaysian cabinet with the most number of political rejects”.

Najib had appointed ministers who had been defeated in the general election last year but brought back to Parliament through the “back door” of the Senate, Lim said in a statement today.

(They are) namely (Gerakan president) Koh Tsu Koon, (Umno Wanita chief) Shahrizat Abdul Jalil), (MCA Wanita chief) Chew Mei Fun and (Umno supreme council member) Awang Adek Hussin.

“This  does not speak well for the government’s commitment to accountability and democracy,” the DAP leader asserted.

29 ministers, not 28

Lim also lambasted Najib for making “such a small yet colossal mistake” where there are actually 29 ministers instead of 28.

“Most of the media headlines screamed ‘28 ministers, 40 deputy ministers’ when actually it should be ‘29 ministers, 40 deputy ministers’,” he said.

With this figure, Lim said Najib has only two less than the 31 ministers of his predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and two more than the last cabinet by the fourth prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad after the 1999 general election.

“If Najib is serious about a lean and smart cabinet, he should have trimmed the cabinet by one third to have not more than 20 ministers when in contrast,  the United Kingdom has a cabinet of 23 full-rank ministers, Australia with  20 ministers and France with 17 ministers,” he added.

Najib announced his much-awaited cabinet yesterday which saw many old faces retained and the cabinet has been slashed from 32 ministers to 28 but the number of deputy ministers increased from 38 to 40.

At the same time, the number of ministries have been reduced from 28 to 25, with the merger of a few portfolios.

There are only six new faces named as full ministers and even then, two were promotions from their deputy minister’s posts. They represented only about 20 percent of the new cabinet.

Not answerable to the public

Echoing Lim’s sentiments, DAP member of Parliament for Klang Charles Santiago said the ministers chosen by Najib are “not answerable to the public” as they were not chosen by the people during the last general election.

“Neither would they have to face their constituents. In short, they are simply not accountable to anyone, except Najib,” said Santiago in a statement.

He further accused Najib of retaining “most of the ministers from former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s cabinet”.

“Maybe Najib forgot that these ministers were an integral part of the previous government that failed to deliver on its reform promises, including weeding out graft or initiating changes to the administration of the country under ruling Umno and its component parties,” he said.

Santiago also remarked that dropping newly-elected Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin from the cabinet line-up and including his defeated rival and Mahathir’s son Mukhriz Mahathir only “goes to show that Najib is pals with the former premier”.

“The other theory is that Najib wants to make sure that the old man does not pass stinging remarks about his leadership from both within and outside the country,” he said, adding that
“deliberately sidelining Khairy will only cause an internal strife within Umno”.

“(And this) may lead to further instability and infighting within the party,” said Santiago.

 

A Reform Centered Cabinet?

Press Statement by Member of Parliament Klang Charles Santiago in Klang on 10th April 2009

First, we were all given the impression that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s new cabinet will be leaner. Slashing two people hardly amounts to slimming down the cabinet representation.

But what is more pertinent is Najib’s choice of candidates whom he would rely on to implement his government and social reforms in the next coming months. In contradiction to infusing new blood, he has retained most of the ministers from former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s cabinet.

Maybe Najib forgot that these ministers were an integral part of the previous government that failed to deliver on its reform promises, including the weeding out of graft. Or for that matter initiate changes to the administration of the country under ruling UMNO and its component parties.

What is even more glaring is Najib’s back-door means of appointing candidates who lost at the last general election. These ministers and deputy ministers are not answerable to the public because they were not chosen by them. Neither would they have to face their constituents. In short they are simply not accountable to anyone, except Najib.

Dropping Khairy Jamaluddin from the cabinet line-up only goes to show that Najib is pals with former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The other theory is that Najib wants to make sure that the old man does not pass stinging remarks about his leadership from both within and outside the country.

Najib has already incurred the wrath of Abdullah’s boys for purging them out of UMNO before party elections were held. Deliberately side-lining Khairy will cause an internal strife within UMNO, which may lead to further instability and infighting within the party.

Najib does not need more problems for himself. He has been facing serious allegations linking him to the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu, the Mongolian model.

The court verdict, sentencing the two policemen implicated in the murder to death, has only angered the rakyat more. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that the former Special Task Force officers are scapegoats with absolutely no motives for blowing up Shariibuu, using powerful explosives.

Although speculations about Najib’s role in the lurid murder might linger, he could have at the very least put together a more credible team to show he is serious about reforms.

His inability to do so candidly shows that there is nothing within UMNO to help them change.

Charles Santiago

Member of Parliament, Klang.

Vice-Chairman of Selangor DAP

016-626 7797

巴生国会议员查尔斯圣地亚哥文告，2009年4月10日于巴生

纳吉新内阁无法反映改革决心

我们原本以为首相纳吉的新内阁阵容将锐减，但是仅仅减少两人，实际上变动并不大。

但更重要的是，纳吉选择了怎样的团队。他将依赖这个团队，在接下来几个月落实政府和社会改革。令人失望的，纳吉不但没有为新内阁注入新血，还沿用了前首相阿都拉内阁的大部分部长。

或许纳吉忘了，这些部长也是无法付诸改革行动的前朝政府的一部分。他们不但无法杜绝猖獗的贪污，也无法在巫统和其它成员党的领导下，启动国内的政治改革。

更令人难以接受的是，纳吉委任在上届大选的败选者入阁。这些走后门的部长和副部长无需向公众负责，也无需向任何选区负责，因为他们并非民选议员。他们除了纳吉外，不需向任何人负责。

把凯里嘉玛鲁丁排斥在内阁之外，显示纳吉向马哈迪释放善意。另一个解释是纳吉要确保这个老人不会在国内外毫不留情地批评他的施政措施。

纳吉在党选前排斥阿都拉阵营的候选人，已经激怒阿都拉的支持者。边缘化凯里将会加剧巫统的内部斗争，进而导致该党内部的不稳定和权力斗争。

纳吉也无法再承担更多问题，他一直面对涉及蒙古女郎谋杀案的指责。

法庭宣判涉及蒙古女郎谋杀案的两个警官死刑，只会继续激怒人民。我们不需要一个火箭科学家来解释两个前特种部队警官是代罪羔羊，因为他们根本没有以威力惊人的C4炸弹炸死阿旦杜亚的动机。

虽然纳吉涉及这个惊人谋杀案的传闻甚嚣尘上，但他至少能组织一个更有公信力的团队以显示他意在改革。

无法做到这点，说明巫统完全没有改革的可能。

查尔斯圣地亚哥 敬上

巴生国会议员

雪州行动党副主席

016-626 7797

 

Pakatan wins 2 bukits – A Rejection of Najib’s Leadership and Perak Coup

Press Statement By Member of Parliament Klang Charles Santiago in Klang on 8^th April 2009 

The opposition’s victory in two out of the three crucial by-elections is a severe blow to newly-minted Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. Although the win does not gravely shift the balance of power, it was an unofficial referendum on Najib’s popularity. 

It is clear that the people have shunned Najib’s leadership. The results also show that the shift in political sentiments towards the opposition at the March 8 general election is very much grounded. 

There are many factors that contributed to the ruling National Front coalition government’s defeat. Topping the list is Najib’s alleged links to the sensational murder of Mongolian model, Altantuya Shaariibuu. While Najib has shrugged off these accusations as mere slander, there was never an independent inquiry commission to clear the premier’s name. 

Najib and his cronies have also been implicated in corruption scandals involving huge kickbacks amounting to billions of dollars from purchases of submarines when he was the Defense Minister. 

But most importantly the victory in Bukit Gantang is a direct rejection of Najib’s devious scheming tactics which resulted in the fall of a democratically-elected Pakatan Rakyat government in Perak. 

The voters have not been fooled by Najib’s promises to carry out wide-ranging government and social reforms. His hasty decisions to release 13 ISA detainees and list the ban on two opposition newspapers did not hold sway as the rakyat saw through Najib’s political gimmicks. 

Although Najib strategised and struggled to portray himself as a democratic and progressive leader, he committed a big blunder in the form of inviting former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to campaign for Barisan Nasional. 

While Malaysians see Najib as an integral part of former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s government and therefore incapable of initiating reforms, aligning himself with Mahathir further eroded his administration’s capability to be democratic. 

The poll results also clearly reflect that Barisan Nasional’s hardline racial language has not worked. Neither has their last-minute efforts to dish out goodies and cash to the electorate. 

The large swing in non-Malay votes to the opposition candidly demonstrates ruling UMNO’s inability to effectively engage the coalition’s component parties in consensual decision-making. 

This has been made even more apparent by MCA’s emergency meeting Wednesday to urge Najib to retain the second largest party’s quota of cabinet representation. 

Although Najib is expected to announce a sleeker, sophisticated cabinet to make good his reform promises, much more needs to be done by the premier whose credibility is sinking fast. 

His reform agenda must be spelt out clearly as the people are fed-up of being hoodwinked under the administration of the present regime. Najib must also set a time frame to carry out his reform plans, which must begin with a massive clean-up within UMNO. 

The opposition coalition, on the other hand, cannot rest on its laurels. Neither can we afford to be complacent after the by-election victories. The people want to see concrete changes under Pakatan Rakyat or we could also face declining support before the next general election. 

Sincerely,

Charles Santiago

Member of Parliament Klang

Vice-Chairman of Selangor DAP

  

民联双武吉奏凯歌 – 人民向纳吉和霹州政变说不！ 

反对党在三场补选中以二比一击败国阵，对新任首相纳吉来说是一大打击。虽然补选的胜利没有改变双方均衡的实力，却是对纳吉支持率的非正式公投。 

显然人民已否决纳吉的政治领导。这个令人鼓舞的成绩，说明308大选挂起的反风，至今还没有消失。 

许多因素导致执政的国阵落败。最主要的因素是纳吉被指涉及蒙古女郎谋杀案。虽然纳吉驳斥这些指责荒唐不实，但政府仍未成立独立调查委员会，以展开调查及还纳吉清白。 

纳吉和他的朋党也涉及贪污丑闻，潜水艇交易案中的巨额佣金引起民愤，当时纳吉正是国防部长。 

武吉干当补选获胜的最大意义是霹雳州人民否决了纳吉一手策划的政变，人民通过民主程序选出的民联政府因此垮台。 

选民没有被纳吉承诺的社会改革蒙骗，他们认为突然释放13个内安法令扣留者和解除两家党报报禁，只不过是纳吉的政治伎俩。 

虽然纳吉重新拟定策略和尽量把自己包装成民主和进步领袖，但是他犯下一个非常大的错误，就是邀请前首相马哈迪医生为国阵助选。 

当国人视纳吉为无法启动改革的前首相阿都拉政府的团队成员，靠向马哈迪只会令人质疑，他领导的新政府是否能落实民主改革。 

补选的成绩显示国阵的强硬种族性言论已失去效用，最后一刻的紧急拨款和贿赂选民也无法奏效。 

非马来选民大量转向反对党，显示巫统无法和其它国阵成员党在决策上达成共识。马华在星期三召开紧急会议，促请纳吉保留马华的内阁固打，就是一个最好的例子。 

许多人预料纳吉将推出一个令人舒适而复杂的内阁，以实践他的改革承诺，可是他需要做得更多以挽回不断下沉的声誉。 

纳吉的改革议程必须言出必践，人民已对国阵政府空雷不雨的改革失望透顶。纳吉必须制定一个改革计划的时间表，当务之急就是”净化”巫统。 

反之，反对党联盟不能满足于补选的成绩。人民要民联落实更实质的改革，否则我们将在下届大选失去支持。 

查尔斯圣地亚哥 敬上

巴生区国会议员

雪州行动党副主席

016-6267797

 

Najib Should Focus on the Economy and Not Political Persecution

Press Statement by MP Klang Charles Santiago in Parliament on 17 March 2009.

Najib Should Focus on the Economy and Not Political Persecution

First Gobind Singh Deo was suspended from Parliament for one year. Then veteran politician Karpal Singh was slapped with a sedition charge for his threat to sue the Perak ruler over the constitutional crisis in the northern state of Perak.

It is clear that both the prominent lawmakers and my DAP colleagues have been targeted for political persecution.

The suspension against Gobind is an abuse of power by the ruling Barisan Nasional. It was brought about as a result of him questioning the link between Prime Minister in Waiting Najib Tun Razak and the lurid murder of a Mongolian woman.

But, he had raised what is lingering in the mind of most Malaysians.

Karpal’s sedition charge, on the other hand, hints that the royalty is above the law. As a seasoned lawyer, Karpal had only pointed out that the Perak sultan could be sued over the fall of the Pakatan Rakyat-led government in the silver state.

Karpal had echoed the sentiments of most Malaysians who are aware of the coup orchestrated by Najib to topple opposition rule in Perak as he prepares to take over the top job at the end of March.

Both the suspension and sedition charge clearly indicate a disturbing sign of intolerance as Najib gears up for UMNO’s internal elections which would entrench his position as the country’s next premier.

But Najib must be reminded that he is set to take over the leadership of the country when Malaysia is faced with the worst possible recession since the 1998 Asian financial crisis.

The RM 60 billion stimulus package announced by Najib last week needs to indicate more on how the funds would be disbursed to effectively bolster the economy.

Therefore, I urge the in-coming premier to stop the power chase and instead concentrate on the setting-up of a Parliamentary select committee that reports periodically to Parliament and a dedicated website informing all Malaysians on how, when and where the funds are being spent.

Charles Santiago

Member of Parliament, Klang

Vice-Chairman of DAP Selangor

016-626 7797

Chinese version

纳吉该拼经济和停止政治迫害

随着哥宾星的国会议员资格被冻结一年，资深政治人物卡巴星也在煽动法令下被提控，罪名是他恫言在霹雳州宪法危机事件上起诉苏丹。

再清楚不过，这些表现出众的国会议员和我的行动党同僚已成为政治迫害的靶子。

哥宾星的议员资格被冻结凸现国阵滥用权力。哥宾星被指在国会质疑侯任首相纳吉和蒙古女郎谋杀案有关，这成了他被重罚的导火线。

但是，他所提起的疑问，也是同样萦绕在大多数大马人脑里。

卡巴星的煽动指控，示意王权高于法律。身为一个资深律师，卡巴星只不过指出霹雳州苏丹可以在霹雳州民联政府倒台的事件上被起诉。

卡巴星的言论，反映了多数大马人对纳吉一手策划霹雳州政变，推翻民联政府所怀有的情绪。

冻结哥宾星的资格和提控卡巴星，显示即将成为最高领导人的纳吉不能包容异己，尤其是在他即将接棒的巫统党选前夕。

但是纳吉必须记得，他接过首相的职权时，正值国家面临1998年金融危机后最糟糕的经济衰退。

上星期宣布的600亿令吉振兴经济配套，纳吉有必要吐露更多详情，告诉人民政府将如何使用这笔钱以及如何有效刺激经济。

因此，我促请这位候任首相停止政治迫害。反之，成立一个定时向国会汇报的国会特选委员会，以及在网上公布振兴经济配套的详情，告知大马人这些钱如何使用、用在什么地方和什么时候会落实。

查尔斯圣地亚哥 敬上

巴生区国会议员

雪州行动党副主席

016-626 7797

 

查尔斯 – 納吉：只是巫統領袖，而非國家領袖？

English version : Charles Santiago – Najib: Leader of UMNO but Not the Country?

新聞文告

日期 ：2008年11月4日

副首相納吉在巫統選舉中不戰而勝，平穩地邁向首相的職位，并不令人感到意外。

巫統領袖們都說納吉的勝利反映黨內的團結。實際上，他們寄望新任主席重塑巫統的形象，重新獲得人民的信賴，特別是馬來族群。

讓我們檢視納吉的誠信 – 他是大馬第二任副首相敦拉薩的兒子，他的名字始終縈繞在蒙古女郎謀殺案中，他被指責在潛水艇交易中接收巨額的回扣。最近國防部購買歐洲直升機被指程序不當而被擱置，納吉也難辭其咎。

這個人即將成為我國下任首相。

然而，巫統支部卻無視環繞在這位后任首相身邊的丑聞，一致投選納吉。

這清楚反映該黨領袖正努力贏取這些在三月大選遺棄巫統的人民的支持。

他們的策略就是冀望新主席帶來奇跡。納吉被視為能夠協助巫統重獲馬來社群支持的領袖。簡言之，黨內人士相信他能夠承擔拯救巫統的責任。

但是說總是比做容易。納吉或許能獲得巫統支部領袖的支持，但其他國人未必如此。這包括不在巫統內的馬來人和非馬來人。納吉必須推動改革和致力掃除黨內和政府的貪污。

納吉是否能實現這些改革，還是一個疑問。最近的事件顯示納吉正在傾全力確保自己成為下任首相，無論任何代價，即使必須鎮壓反對力量也在所不惜。

國會公賬委員會已經聲明政府在數十億計的歐洲直升機軍購案中沒有出現弊端。即使反對陣營強烈要求公賬會召見納吉和反貪局介入調查，納吉還是能夠置身度外。

一位發表法定聲明，指責納吉涉及阿旦杜亞謀殺案的私家偵探已經失蹤。不斷批評納吉涉及諸多丑聞的著名部落客拉惹佩特拉已被無審訊扣留。

因為反對巫統內部的激烈改變，納吉被廣泛認為將在任內以預防性法令打壓異議。他的確不會帶來一個亂局。許多人擔心馬哈迪主義即將回歸。

所以，我們將會有一位擁有巫統支持但是被人民拒絕的首相。這是否是我國即將面對的新分歧，還是納吉會帶領巫統和國陣走向滅亡之路？

查爾斯圣地亞哥 敬上

巴生國會議員

016 626  7797

 

Charles Santiago – Najib: Leader of UMNO but Not the Country?

PRESS STATEMENT

Date : 4th Nov 2008

It is not a surprise that deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has won the leadership of ruling UMNO uncontested, setting him on track to hold the top job in the country.

UMNO leaders have said Najib’s victory reflects the unity within the party. In reality, it embodies the hope that a new President would repair the image of UMNO and possibly regain the confidence of the people, especially Malays.

Let’s look at Najib’s credentials – he is the son of Malaysia’s second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak, his name features prominently in the murder of a Mongolian woman and Najib has also been slammed for allegedly receiving huge kickbacks involving submarine deals. His recent claim to fame skirts around the irregularities in the suspended purchase of 12 Eurocopter helicopters.

This man will become the country’s next Prime Minister.

UMNO divisions, on the other hand, had unanimously voted for Najib despite the controversies surrounding the Prime Minister in waiting.

This clearly reflects that party leaders are grappling to win back the support of the people, who shunned UMNO and ruling component parties at the March general election.

The strategy is clear – a new party President and a change of guards is expected to work miracles. Najib is touted to bring Malays back to the UMNO fold and regain the support of the electorate. In short he is entrusted with the responsibility of saving UMNO.

But this is easier said than done. Najib might have the support of UMNO division leaders but not the rest of the country. This includes the Malays and non-Malays who are not in UMNO. Najib would have to carry out reforms and make a concerted effort to wipe out corruption in the party and country.

Whether or not Najib would be able to do this remains a question. The recent events in the country show that Najib’s focus is to become the next premier at whatever cost and every effort had been made to thwart any opposition.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had cleared the government of any wrongdoing in the billion-ringgit Eurocopter deal. Najib was not summoned for the PAC hearing and it is a long shot that Najib would be called to testify at the Anti-Corruption Agency’s investigation into the same matter.

A private investigator who alleged Najib’s involvement in Altantuya Shaariibuu’s murder in a sworn affidavit had gone missing. Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the prominent blogger, who unveiled dirt on Najib faces indefinite detention without trial.

As opposed to initiating serious changes within UMNO, Najib is widely expected to curb dissent to his rule using various preventive laws. He certainly would not rock the boat. There are concerns that the country might witness a return of Mahathirsm.

So we would have a Prime Minister who enjoys the support of UMNO leaders and is rejected by the people. Is this the new disparity we would see in the country or would Najib lead UMNO and Barisan Nasional to its demise?

Charles Santiago

Member of Parliament, Klang

016 626 7797

 

查尔斯圣地亚哥：跛脚首相和污名副首相

Source : Merdeka Review

English version : Charles Santiago : What reform? Lame Duck PM and Tainted DPM

■日期／Oct 09, 2008 ■时间／08:13:36 pm

■新闻／党团观点 ■作者／民主行动党

【党团文告／民主行动党（查尔斯圣地亚哥）】在国阵面临强势的反对阵营的挑战下，首相阿都拉宣布将在明年三月卸下巫统主席的职位。 这清楚显示首相被施压下台，即使阿都拉和其副手纳吉的权力转移计划已经安排妥当。阿都拉知道他在明年三月可能无法获得58个区部提名的竞选主席职位门槛。 巫统领袖不得勒紧套在阿都拉头上的吊绳以挽救该党受损的形象。似乎阿都拉下台，新首相就会奇迹似地重获民心。 改变领导人无法帮助巫统赢取人民的支持。巫统领袖必须落实政府内部的真正改革，革除贪污和打造一个有公信力和透明的政府，包括停止党内的朋党文化。 简言之，必须改变现有的差劲政策。国阵政府向来只会花言巧语，就像纳吉网站的影像讯息，他承诺将重振人民对公共机关的信心和“为改变奋斗”，回应人民在今年大选传达的强烈不满国阵政府的讯息。 但是以严酷的内安法令杜绝对政府的批评和打压异议，完全违背副首相承诺给予更大权利和另类意见的言论。 纳吉的改变承诺必须先从废除内安法令和释放所有扣留者开始 – 包括拉惹柏特拉、兴权会五君和其他被拘留在甘文丁长达六年之久的扣留者。 拉惹柏特拉的网站指责纳吉涉及蒙古女郎的谋杀案。 纳吉的名字也与潜水艇交易的贪污案挂钩–可以确定那不是马来西亚人心目中未来首相所应拥有的信誉。 公正来说，阿都拉继承了其前上司马哈迪留下来的贪腐政府。马哈迪一手摧毁我国的司法、驯服媒体、开启巫统的金钱政治文化和对猖獗的贪污视而不见。 但是阿都拉誓言在离任前改革政府机关、司法制度和反贪制度，只不过是空头承诺。实际上阿都拉是一个无法为国家行政系统带来任何改变的跛脚首相。 查尔斯圣地亚哥（Charles Santiago）是民主行动党雪兰莪州巴生区国会议员。

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查尔斯圣地亚哥：什么改革？跛脚首相和声誉受玷污的副首相

English version : Charles Santiago : What reform? Lame Duck PM and Tainted DPM

新闻文告

日期 ：2008年10月9日

在国阵面临强势的反对阵营的挑战下，首相阿都拉宣布将在明年三月卸下巫统主席的职位。

这清楚显示首相被施压下台，即使阿都拉和其副手纳吉的权力转移计划已经安排妥当。阿都拉知道他在明年三月可能无法获得58个区部提名的竞选主席职位门槛。

巫统领袖不得勒紧套在阿都拉头上的吊绳以挽救该党受损的形象。似乎阿都拉下台，新首相就会奇迹似地重获民心。

改变领导人无法帮助巫统赢取人民的支持。巫统领袖必须落实政府内部的真正改革，革除贪污和打造一个有公信力和透明的政府，包括停止党内的朋党文化。

简言之，必须改变现有的差劲政策。国阵政府向来只会花言巧语，就像纳吉网站的影像讯息，他承诺将重振人民对公共机关的信心和“为改变奋斗”，以回应人民在今年大选传达的强烈不满国阵政府的讯息。

但是以严酷的内安法令杜绝对政府的批评和打压异议，完全违背副首相承诺给予更大权利和另类意见的言论。

纳吉的改变承诺必须先从废除内安法令和释放所有扣留者开始 – 包括拉惹佩特拉、兴权会五君和其他被拘留在甘文丁长达六年之久的扣留者。

拉惹佩特拉的网站指责纳吉涉及蒙古女郎的谋杀案。

纳吉的名字也与潜水艇交易的贪污案挂钩 – 可以确定那不是大马人心目中未来首相所应拥有的信誉。

公正来说，阿都拉继承了其前上司马哈迪留下来的贪腐政府。马哈迪一手摧毁我国的司法、驯服媒体、开启巫统的金钱政治文化和对猖獗的贪污视而不见。

但是阿都拉誓言在离任前改革政府机关、司法制度和反贪制度，只不过是空头承诺。实际上阿都拉是一个无法为国家行政系统带来任何改变的跛脚首相。

查尔斯圣地亚哥

巴生国会议员