Rakyat Libya tubuh pemerintahan sementara

SEORANG pegawai tentera yang berpaling tadah menunjukkan cara-cara menggunakan senjata antipesawat di Benghazi, Libya semalam.

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BENGHAZI - Para penunjuk perasaan yang menentang pemimpin Libya, Muammar Gaddafi menubuhkan majlis pemerintahan baru di timur Libya.

Kerajaan sementara itu dikenali sebagai Majlis Kebangsaan Libya dan ia tidak akan berunding dengan Muammar Gaddafi.

Seorang jurucakap majlis itu menyatakan kepada agensi berita Reuters bahawa ia bukannya sebuah kerajaan sementara.

Penubuhan majlis itu mencetuskan kontroversi kerana bekas menteri kehakiman Libya, Mustafa Abdel Jalil membuat pengumuman menerusi stesen televisyen Al-Jazeera pada awal kelmarin bahawa sebuah kerajaan sementara sudah ditubuhkan.

Mustafa berkata, beliau akan mengetuai kerajaan sementara itu tidak kurang daripada tiga bulan.

Menurutnya, pihaknya akan mengadakan pilihan raya yang adil bagi membolehkan penduduk memilih pemimpin mereka.

Bagaimanapun, para penunjuk perasaan yang mewujudkan majlis pemerintahan baru itu menyatakan pandangan Mustafa bahawa beliau mengetuai sebuah kerajaan baru hanyalah satu pendapat peribadi.

- Agensi

http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2011&dt=0228&pub=Kosmo&sec=Dunia&pg=du_02.htm

Penunjuk perasaan gabung tenaga

SEJUMLAH orang berhimpun di sebuah cawangan bank untuk mendapatkan sumbangan wang daripada pemerintah di Tripoli semalam.

ZAWIYA - Para penunjuk perasaan yang bersenjata dan yang dibantu oleh rakan-rakan mereka di sebuah bandar dekat dengan Tripoli semalam bergabung tenaga untuk menyingkirkan Muammar Gadadfi yang memerintah negara itu sejak 1 September 1969.

Para penunjuk perasaan berada di bandar ini 50 kilometer dari Tripoli yang merupakan ibu kota Libya.

Menurut wartawan agensi berita Associated Press, para penunjuk perasaan itu mempunyai kereta kebal tentera dan senjata antipesawat.

Wartawan itu menyatakan, para penunjuk perasaan menguasai pusat bandar Zawiya.

Namun, terdapat enam pusat pemeriksaan tentera yang dikawal oleh askar-askar yang setia dengan Gaddafi di sebatang jalan raya dari Tripoli ke Zawiya.

Setiap pusat pemeriksaan itu, terdapat sebuah kereta kebal yang ditempatkan.

"Bagi kami, Gaddafi merupakan Dracula Libya," kata seorang pegawai tentera, Wael al-Oraibi yang berpaling tadah dengan menyertai para penunjuk perasaan antipemerintah.

Sementara itu, di kawasan pinggir Tripoli, kebanyakan kedai ditutup dan orang ramai berbaris di beberapa buah bank untuk membuat urusan.

Sebahagian orang berbaris di bank-bank selepas stesen televisyen dan khidmat pesanan ringkas melaporkan beberapa hari lalu bahawa setiap keluarga akan memperoleh AS$400 (RM1,221) selain kredir AS$100 (RM305) untuk perkhidmatan telefon daripada pemerintah.

Stesen televisyen Libya melaporkan keluarga di negara itu juga berhak untuk mendapatkan peruntukan AS$49,000 (RM149,621) dalam pinjaman tanpa faedah bagi membeli apartmen.

Semua insentif itu diumumkan selepas para penunjuk perasaan bangkit menentang pemerintahan Gaddafi yang dianggap tidak membantu penduduk miskin. - Agensi

http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2011&dt=0228&pub=Kosmo&sec=Dunia&pg=du_03.htm

Istana Muammar Gaddafi di Al-Baida diselongkar

BEBERAPA pokok menghiasi kawasan pekarangan istana milik Muammar Gaddafi di bandar Al-Baida, Libya.

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AL-BAIDA - Sebuah istana milik pemimpin Libya, Muammar Gaddafi di bandar ini diselongkar dan dirosakkan oleh kumpulan penunjuk perasaan yang menentang pemerintahannya, lapor stesen televisyen Al-Jazeera semalam.

Istana itu dihiasi dengan tumbuhan hijau, sebuah kolam renang tertutup, sauna dan jakuzi untuk tetamu-tetamunya.

Menurut stesen televisyn itu, istana itu dilengkapi dengan kubu bawah tanah yang dibina untuk perlindungan selama beberapa bulan jika beliau diserang dengan senjata bukan konvensional.

Kubu bawah tanah itu dilengkapi dengan sistem penapisan udara dan janakuasa untuk tujuan kecemasan.

Alat penggera kebakaran, paip air dan tangga digunakan untuk membantu pemimpin tersebut melarikan diri jika berlaku sesuatu yang tidak diingini.

Dalam imej yang disiarkan stesen televisyen itu, beberapa orang merosakkan barang-barang yang terdapat di dalam istana tersebut.

Istana itu diceroboh selepas para penunjuk perasaan berjaya menguasai bandar ini daripada tentera upahan Gaddafi baru-baru ini.

Gaddafi kini berdepan dengan penentangan rakyat yang tidak berpuas hati dengan pemerintahannya selama hampir 42 tahun kerana sumber kekayaan negara tidak digunakan untuk membantu kehidupan rakyat yang miskin.

Kebangkitan rakyat itu didorong oleh kejayaan tunjuk perasaan yang berjaya menyebabkan Presiden Mesir, Hosni Mubarak meletakkan jawatan selepas hampir 29 tahun beliau memerintah.

Gaddafi sanggup menggunakan bedilan peluru berpandu dan tentera upahan untuk memerangi penunjuk perasaan yang menentang pemerintahannya namun beberapa buah bandar dilaporkan sudah jatuh ke tangan para penunjuk perasaan. - Agensi

http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2011&dt=0228&pub=Kosmo&sec=Dunia&pg=du_04.htm

Polis Oman bertempur dengan penunjuk perasaan

MUSCAT - Polis Oman bertempur dengan para penunjuk perasaan di bandar Sohar semalam ekoran kebangkitan rakyat bagi menuntut perubahan politik di negara beraja itu.

Anggota-anggota polis melepaskan tembakan gas pemedih mata manakala sejumlah penunjuk perasaan bertempur dengan para penunjuk perasaan.

"Ia merupakan satu tunjuk perasaan yang besar dan terdapat pertempuran di antara para penunjuk perasaan dengan polis," kata beberapa saksi yang hanya dikenali sebagai Mohamed.

Polis menggunakan cota untuk menyuraikan penunjuk perasaan yang berhimpun di sebuah dataran utama di sini.

Menurut beberapa saksi, dua orang terbunuh dalam pertempuran tersebut.

Oman diperintah oleh Sultan Qaboos bin Said selepas baginda merampas kuasa daripada bapanya sendiri pada 1970.

- Agensi

http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2011&dt=0228&pub=Kosmo&sec=Dunia&pg=du_05.htm

Dua wanita jadi mangsa ragut

28/02/2011 5:55pm

KUANTAN – Dua wanita menjadi mangsa ragut dalam masa selang 10 minit di dua kawasan perumahan di Bentong ketika masing-masing membuka pintu pagar rumah.

Pegawai Turus Urus Setia Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Negeri ASP Noor Asyikin Shamsuri berkata kejadian pertama berlaku kira-kira 10.30 pagi membabitkan seorang guru berusia 56 tahun yang baru pulang ke rumahnya.

Wanita itu diragut ketika mahu masuk semula ke dalam keretanya selepas membuka pintu pagar rumah di mana secara tiba-tiba seorang lelaki yang memakai topi keledar meluru ke arahnya dan menarik rantai di lehernya, katanya.

Katanya mangsa tidak sempat berbuat apa-apa kerana terkejut dan hanya mampu melihat suspek dan rakannya melarikan diri dengan sebuah motosikal bersama rantainya bernilai RM3,000.

Kejadian kedua pula, katanya berlaku kira-kira 10 minit kemudian apabila seorang jururawat berusia 55 tahun diragut ketika membuka pintu pagar rumahnya di Taman KSM, Bentong.

"Mangsa juga dihampiri dua lelaki bermotosikal dan memakai topi keledar yang bertindak meragut rantai leher bernilai RM15,000,” katanya.

Beliau berkata polis percaya kedua-dua kes dipercayai dilakukan oleh suspek yang sama. - Bernama

http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2011&dt=0228&pub=Kosmo&sec=Terkini&pg=bt_06.htm

Pembeli rumah derita 10 tahun

Oleh NASRI JAMALUDIN
mohdnasri.jamaludin@
kosmo.com.my

OSMAN bersama para pembeli menunjukkan projek perumahan terbengkalai di Taman Desa Kempas, Johor Bahru semalam.

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JOHOR BAHRU – Selepas sedekad menunggu, seramai 666 pembeli projek perumahan Taman Desa Kempas di sini kecewa dan tertekan ekoran rumah idaman mereka sehingga kini masih belum siap-siap.

Lebih menyedihkan, mereka banyak kali mengadukan masalah tersebut kepada pihak pemaju namun ia ibarat mencurah air di daun keladi.

Akibatnya, pembeli terpaksa menanggung kerugian termasuk menanggung kos bayaran rumah sewa selain membayar ansuran pinjaman kepada pihak bank setiap bulan.

Seorang pembeli, Faridah Ban, 45, berkata, dia membeli sebuah rumah berharga RM88,000 itu pada tahun 2001 dan sampai sekarang, ia belum disiapkan.

“Rumah fasa ketiga itu sepatutnya siap dalam tempoh tiga tahun namun sehingga tahun 2011 hanya siap 90 peratus sahaja.

“Saya kecewa kerana terpaksa menyewa di tempat lain dengan kadar RM350 sebulan manakala pinjaman rumah itu pula perlu dibayar sebanyak RM200 sebulan,” katanya yang mempunyai tiga orang anak di sini semalam.

Bagi Yong Yeok Sheng, 39, dia kecewa dengan kegagalan pemaju menyiapkan projek perumahan tersebut.

Dia juga terpaksa menanggung bayaran pinjaman bank rumah yang dibeli pada harga RM90,000 sejak sembilan tahun lalu.

“Jadi saya minta pemaju bertanggungjawab dan menyiapkan segera rumah kami,” katanya yang kini menyewa di rumah lain pada kadar RM400 sebulan.

http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2011&dt=0228&pub=Kosmo&sec=Negara&pg=ne_08.htm

Pentas DAP dibakar, dipercayai angkara khianat

Pentas DAP dibakar, dipercayai angkara khianat

Feb 28, 11 6:00pm

Sebuah pentas berdekatan bilik operasi DAP di Merlimau yang didirikan oleh parti itu untuk satu majlis anjurannya yang dijadualkan pada 4 Mac ini dibakar pagi ini.

Menurut pengerusi DAP Merlimau, Shelley Fook, pemilik tanah lapang itu di mana pentas berkenaan didirikan mendapati kepulan asap pada sekitar jam 6 pagi.

"Dia pergi periksa dan mendapati pentas itu dibakar. Dia juga menjumpai sebuah botol kosong dengan kesan petrol,” katanya kepada Malaysiakini.

Namun, hanya permaidani di pentas itu yang musnah kerana bahagian lain diperbuat daripada keluli.

Fook berkata partinya tidak akan membuat laporan polis kerana percaya pihak polis tidak akan bertindak ke atas dalang tersebut.

Pentas itu didirikan bagi majlis ceramah dan juga makan malam bagi merancakkan kempen pilihan raya kecil Merlimau. Antara pemimpin yang dijangka hadir dan berucap adalah setiausaha agung DAP, Lim Guan Eng yang juga ketua menteri Pulau Pinang.

[Baca berita penuh]

http://malaysiakini.com/news/157312

Chan didakwa tipu bekas PM dalam skandal PKFZ

Chan didakwa tipu bekas PM dalam skandal PKFZ

Feb 28, 11 2:50pm

Mantan menteri pengangkutan Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy dihadapkan ke Mahkamah Sesyen Putrajaya hari ini dengan pertuduhan menipu bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi berhubung skandal Zon Bebas Pelabuhan Klang (PKFZ).

Beliau dituduh mengikut Seksyen 417 Kanun Keseksaaan yang membawa hukuman penjara sehingga lebih lima tahun dan denda atau kedua-duanya jika disabitkan kesalahan.

Hakim Mahkamah Sesyen Azhaniz Teh Azman membenarkan Chan diikat jamin RM1 juta dengan seorang penjamin.

Beliau menetapkan 31 Mac untuk sebutan semula kes.

Chan yang berada di luar negara pulang beberapa hari lalu selepas diminta oleh pihak berkuasa.

Beliau yang juga bekas timbalan presiden MCA dibawa ke perkarangan mahkamah pada jam 2 petang tadi dengan kawalan polis. Beliau diiringi oleh isteri dan anak perempuannya.

Dengan memaki seluar kelabu dan baju putih, beliau kelihatan tenang.

“Saya terkejut kerana didakwa tetapi saya yakin dengan sistem perundangan negara dan ini beri peluang bagi saya membersihkan nama,” kata Chan ketika ditemui wartawan selepas membayar wang ikat jaminnya.

Beliau bagaimanapun enggan mengulas lanjut.

Chan adalah VVIP kedua yang didakwa berhubung skandal PKFZ yang kosnya dikatakan naik mendadak dan menurut laporan audit mungkin akan menyebabkan negara kehilangan RM12.5 bilion.

Pada 29 Julai tahun lalu, bekas Menteri Pengangkutan, Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik didakwa atas tuduhan menipu kabinet untuk mempersetujui pembelian tanah pada harga yang lebih tinggi.

Empat yang lain, termasuk bekas pengurus besar Lembaga Pelabuhan Klang, OC Phang, juga didakwa berhubung pelabagai kesalahan berhubung pembabitan mereka dalam projek berkenaan.

[Baca berita penuh]

http://malaysiakini.com/news/157280

Pakatan berang 'gambar bogel' pemimpinnya disebar

Pakatan berang 'gambar bogel' pemimpinnya disebar

Kow Gah Chie
Feb 28, 11
1:08pm

Kempen pilihan raya kecil yang lesu di Merlimau dikejutkan dengan 'gambar lucah' palsu pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat yang disebarkan di kawasan itu.

Risalah dengan gambar-gambar yang dipalsukan itu membabitkan lima pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat yang ditampal dengan gambar bogel wanita dalam kedudukan yang menghairahkan dan didakwa mula tersebar sejak hari pertama kempen.

Lima pemimpin yang 'diserang' itu adalah ketua umum PKR, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim; mursyidul am PAS, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat; anggota exco Selangor, Teresa Kok dan ahli parlimen Serdang, Teo Nie Ching.

Bercakap pada sidang akhbar, petang semalam, ahli parlimen Kota Melaka Sim Tong Him berkata dua keping gambar itu dijumpai di Kg Ayer Merbau dan Kg Chinchin, tempat asal calon PAS, Yuhaizad Abdullah.

Satu daripada gambar berkenaan menunjukkan gambar separuh bogel Anwar dengan mesra mendakap pengadu kes liwatnya, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan dan 'dara kontroversial yang berusia 40 tahun'- Ummi Hafilda.

Risalah itu berjudul "Kalau Umno haram, kalau PAS halal".

Satu lagi risalah meletakkan kepala Nik Aziz yang terselit di celah kangkang kaki perempuan dengan kata-kata "Ingat PAS, ingat zina, tuihh!".

'Barang bagus baru barang naik'

Ia juga memaparkan gambar mursyidul am PAS itu yang tersenyum sambil memberikan isyarat tangan bersetuju dengan kata-kata "Barang bagus baru barang naik".

Gambar Elizabeth Wong dalam baju tidur seksi yang diambil dari video kontroversialnya yang disebarkan beberapa tahun lalu juga dimuatkan.

Teresa Kok pula digambarkan berpakaian jarang dengan mengayakan kedudukan lucah tetapi gambar palsu Teo Nie Ching dianggap paling keterlaluan. Gambar dengan kakinya yang terkangkang dipaparkan dengan hanya dilitupi logo DAP. Bersebelahan gambar itu diselitkan gambar lain yang membabitkan 'orgy'.

Walupun tiada logo BN dikesan pada risalah berkenaan, Sim percaya, ia didalangi oleh gabungan itu.

"Setiap pilihan raya, calon mesti bertanding dengan adil dan bukan menggunakan taktik kotor seperti ini.

"BN seharusnya menjelaskan perkara ini," katanya.

DAP akan membuat laporan polis berhubung perkara itu, hari ini.

http://malaysiakini.com/news/157261

Kerdau: Bukan semua mahu pembangunan

Kerdau: Bukan semua mahu pembangunan

Jimadie Shah Othman
Feb 28, 11
4:53pm

Walaupun ramai beranggapan kawasan luar bandar di Kerdau, terutamanya di tiga kawasan Felda dan sebuah Felcra di DUN itu memerlukan lebih pembangunan, perkara itu rupa-rupanya tidak mewakili semua hasrat penduduknya.

Masih terdapat penduduknya, terutama di kawasan 3+1 - gugusan Felda Jengka 22, Felda Jengka 23, Felda Jengka 25 dan Felcra Rumpun Makmur – yang mahukan ilmu dan lebih bimbingan agama berbanding kemudahan material.

“Macam pembangunan itu rasanya tak perlu sangat. Kami peneroka, ilmu itu kurang,” kata Rokiah Lob – peneroka selama 14 tahun di Felda Jengka 22 – dalam nada mengeluh.

Rokiah, 47, yang pada mulanya malu diwawancara memberitahu Malaysiakini, beliau kecewa kerana sejak awal berpindah ke situ – 65 kilometer daripada Temerloh – tiada ustaz yang masuk dan menyentuh tentang masalah akidah umat Islam.

“Memanglah ada bab agama (diajar di masjid), tetapi bab fadhilat (kelebihan amalan) itu, fadhilat ini. Kita nak akidah. Itu yang penting,” katanya yang lebih mesra dengan panggilan Cik Kiah.

Antara pengalaman sedihnya, cerita Cik Kiah lagi, apabila hendak berangkat menunaikan haji ke Mekah sebelum ini, beliau mendapat berita yang menggambarkan betapa buruknya “masalah sosial” di kawasan itu.

“Ya Allah, masalah sosial ini, ingat lagi masa pergi haji baru-baru ini, ada budak datang, (beritahu) 'Cik Kiah, Cik Kiah tahu, ada tiga orang bersalin anak luar nikah...'

“Tak dan ambil SPM pun. Salah seorang itu memang cerdik budaknya,” kata Rokiah lagi.

Tolak pi, tolak mai

Ditanya sama ada beliau yakin calon BN Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad sesuai dipilih bagi menyelesaikan masalah itu kerana mempunyai latar pendidikan agama, Rokiah menjawab ringkas:

“Kalau ustaz pun, kalau dia tak nak didik bab agama dulu, tak pentingkan agama dulu, rasanya sama saja.”

Dalam pilihan raya kecil DUN Kerdau pada 6 Mac ini, Syed Ibrahim dicabar calon PAS Hassanuddin Salim – seorang bekas kontraktor untuk projek berskala besar.

Sementara itu, bagi tiga lagi peneroka Abd Hamid Mohd Zin, Abd Hamid Shafie dan Saifudin Ibrahim, isu sekitar kebajikan Felda nampaknya lebih penting kepada mereka berbanding siapa pun calon bertanding.

Abd Hamid Mohd Zin, 58, sepanjang wawancara ringkas dengan Malaysiakini asyik ketawa bila ditanyakan soal calon pilihan hatinya.

“Calon macam mana? Macam biasalah. (ketawa) Kita tengoklah yang mana yang baik,yang mana yang tak baik,” katanya di atas motosikal ketika sampai ke kedai runcit berdekatan rumahnya.

Tetapi, selepas 31 tahun berhijrah daripada Kedah untuk menjadi peneroka di Pahang, bayaran RM1,500 untuk penduduk Felda yang ladangnya diuruskan oleh lembaga itu tidak memuaskan hatinya.

“Bayar sikit sangat. Dia bayar RM1,500. Tolak pi, tolak mai, tak banyaklah,” katanya yang masih pekat dengan loghat negeri kelahirannya.

Akhirnya PM pun umum...

Rakan sebayanya Abd Hamid Shafie – yang kebetulan mempunyai nama dan umur sama- pula nampaknya gembira dengan perkembangan di Felda, khususnya selepas kehadiran Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak pagi semalam.

“Dalam pilihan raya umum dulu, kita sudah minta CESS, Alhamdulillah Datuk Najib dah umum terus boleh. Daripada (zaman) arwah Datuk Zaharuddin (Abu Kassim) meninggal kami minta. Akhirnya PM pun umum,” katanya.

Berterus terang mahu terus mengundi calon BN kali ini, beliau berkata isu lain yang menjadi perbualan di kalangan peneroka meliputi soal bayaran bagi tanah yang diusahakan Felda dan isu pertukaran nama di geran apabila pemiliknya meninggal dunia.

“Saya ada tanya, katanya tengah dok proses geran. Dok ada 50 orang lagi (di sini) belum selesai masalah hak milik bila suami meningggal,” katanya.

Sementara bagi anak muda berumur 28 tahun, yang memilih bekerja sebagai peneroka, membuat pilihan antara kedua-dua calon bertanding nampaknya masih sukar.

Tetapi, bagi Saifudin Ibrahim, sebagai generasi kedua, beliau mahukan diberikan tanah kepada kira-kira 300 orang muda sepertinya di Felda tersebut.

“Bukan dapat pun tanah, janji nak buat,” kata lelaki pendiam itu yang sedang berehat di bawah teduh pokok tengah hari semalam.

Banyak tidak OK

Bagaimanapun, penilaiaan Saifudin jelas apabila beranggapan prestasi wakil rakyat daripada BN sebelum-sebelum ini tidak memuaskan.

“Banyak buat teruk, ambil tanah. Nak dapat bukan senang, payah,” katanya yang berkata menuggu sejak pilihan raya umum pada tahun 2008 dahulu.

Beliau juga berpendapat, walaupun banyak projek memasuki kawasan itu akhir-akhir ini, masih banyak yang “tidak OK”.

“Banyak tak OK. Kawasan ini banyak tak OK. (Gelanggang) futsal itu mana buat. Dekat pilihan raya saja buat. Baru-bari ini nak buat dewan serbaguna, (tapi) belum siap lagi,” katanya lagi.

Pertembungan di kawasan 3+1 itu amat penting kali ini bagi menilai sama ada undi orang Melayu masih kekal bersama BN.

Dengan pengundi seramai 3,721 orang di empat kawasan itu, ia amat penting untuk kedua-dua parti bertanding kerana mewakili satu pertiga daripada keseluruhan 8,999 pengundi yang layak.

http://malaysiakini.com/news/157305

'Tidak apa jika saya tidak dilahirkan sebagai Melayu'

'Tidak apa jika saya tidak dilahirkan sebagai Melayu'

Feb 27, 11 10:35pm

Menteri Besar Kelantan Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat berkata beliau tidak minta untuk dilahirkan sebagai seorang berbangsa Melayu.

Beliau juga berkata adalah secara kebetulan beliau lahir di negara ini.

"Kalau saya (lahir) dari kalangan masyarakat Orang Asli sekalipun tidak apa, asalkan saya Islam dan beriman dengan Allah SWT," katanya.

Nik Aziz mengulas kenyataan bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yang meminta beliau bersyukur dilahirkan sebagai bangsa Melayu yang tentunya beragama Islam.

Dr Mahathir berkata Melayu adalah bangsa yang unik di dunia kerana mengikut Perlembagaan, bangsa Melayu mesti bertutur dalam bahasa Melayu, mengamalkan adab Melayu dan beragama Islam.

Nik Aziz berkata semua bangsa adalah sama dan tidak ada keistimewaan kepada satu-satu bangsa sebagaimana juga bangsa Arab sendiri kecuali seseorang itu Islam dan beriman kepada Allah SWT.

"Kalau pada bangsa, tentu bapa saudara Nabi Muhammad SAW iaitu Abu Jahal (masuk syurga) tetapi Allah SWT telah menyatakan awal-awal lagi dia (bapa saudara Nabi) adalah ahli Neraka," katanya.
Mengenai Islam yang diperjuangkannya, Nik Aziz berkata ia adalah Islam sederhana yang diletak di tempat yang tinggi dan menentang tindakan melampau yang bertentangan dengan agama.

Bagaimanapun, beliau mengakui agak sukar untuk mengembalikan Islam sebenar sebagaimana air yang mengalir dari hulu sungai tidak sama dengan air di muara.

"Setelah mengalir jauh, pastinya melalui pelbagai rintangan, sampah sarap dan pelbagai kekotoran, untuk minum (air di muara) kena tapis dulu, kita kena rebus (masak) dulu," jelasnya.

- Bernama

http://malaysiakini.com/news/157222

Kerdau: PAS struggles with 'personal' approach amid BN's cash pile

Harakahdaily

TEMERLOH, Feb 28: As expected, the Barisan Nasional campaign in Kerdau has been one dominated by an outpouring of money for the voters, while underdog PAS struggles with its approach to adapt a more personal approach with voters.

PAS leaders have earlier vowed not to indulge in any character assassination, even as police reports had been filed over leaflets showing superimposed images of opposition leaders indulging in vile acts.

Its first campaign highlights in Kerdau was to launch Pakatan Rakyat's 'Orange Book' at the state level, in a move to enlighten this mostly rural constituency over Pakatan Rakyat’s policies should the coalition win the next general election.

Among issues raised by PAS were the continous absence of clean water supply in Kampung Pulau Mandi Angin, the Kerdau town centre's sorry state which had not undergone development in spite of its linkage with the East Coast Highway's Temerloh exit, as well as Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob's exploitation of Yayasan Pahang scholarships which are said to be distributed like 'ang paos' at a school in Teluk Sentang.

A constituent, Abdul Aziz Ismail, 55, said the manner the RM250 scholarships were now being liberally dished out was a far cry from the recent past, when parents had to undergo rigorous procedures before hoping for a scholarship.

Prime Minister Najib Razak’s visit to Felda areas has also been marked by cash, with an announcement of some RM10 million worth of development projects.

Najib had however claimed he could not allocate more funding for fear of being accused of vote-buying, promising to increase federal allocations for Kerdau on condition that the constituency voted in the BN candidate, Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad.

Meanwhile, in a repeat of previous by-elections, the state religious department is tightening its grip on 22 mosques in Kerdau to prevent PAS leaders from speaking to voters in the mosques.

Kerdau goes to polls together with Melaka's Merlimau state constituency on March 6.

http://en.harakahdaily.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2356:kerdau-pas-struggles-with-personal-approach-amid-bns-cash-pile-&catid=36:headline&Itemid=70

Mahathir lectures Egypt and Tunisia on birth pangs of revolution

Harakahdaily

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28: Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic) has said that while the peoples in Tunisia and Egypt had overthrown their regimes, the path towards democracy would be a painful one.

"Power corrupts and will affect the performance of the Government. It is not necessary that the Government which replaces the old regime will be free from corruption. The people may have to try to remove the Government again and again with no certainty the replacements would be any better," wrote Mahathir in his latest blog posting.

Mahathir suggested that the slogan of 'government of the people, by the people and for the people' would have to be now adapted to realities, saying reforming the institutions of the country and holding elections were both not easy.

"You cannot have the people directly governing themselves. You will need to have a new constitution and political parties which will enable representatives of the people to form the Government. For this, elections will have to be held. Unfortunately elections can be manipulated.

"There will be a rush to grab for power by nationalists and by opportunists. It will not always be the good people who will win to form Governments," said Mahathir, whose rule had also seen mass scale street demonstrations following his sacking of his deputy Anwar Ibrahim in 1998.

Mahathir, who has been widely criticised for subverting Malaysia's institutions such as the police and judiciary, said it would be difficult to instil professionalism in the army and police in order to make them apolitical.

"Their political affiliations will be private as they will have to serve whichever party forms the Government. It is going to be hard. The temptation to seize power will plague the minds of many," he said, but was quick to add that he hoped the people's sacrifices would "be rewarded with Governments that they had dreamed off".

http://en.harakahdaily.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2355:mahathir-lectures-egypt-and-tunisia-on-birth-pangs-of-revolution&catid=34:primary&Itemid=56

Southeast Asian leaders warned of Arab-style uprising

Harakahdaily

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said that the current uprising in the Arab-Muslim would soon reach Southeast Asian nations if governments did not take heed to initiate socio-economic reform and strengthen democracy.

Speaking at a conference held in Phnom Penh on February 26, Anwar said such governments could carry on as long as their state controlled organs such as the police, security forces or the military did the regimes' bidding to suppress dissent.

“The problems that plague the Middle Eastern nations are no different from those affecting other parts of the world under autocratic regimes.

The amassing of wealth by the elite at the expense of the masses, inadequate infrastructure, outdated education systems, deplorable health care and declining incomes in real terms – these are problems that almost all nations under autocratic regimes have in common," he said.

Saying the Middle East uprising was a warning to Southeast Asian leaders to vigorously pursue the reform agenda, Anwar said draconian laws had undermined the independence gained from colonial powers.

Anwar cited Indonesia as the example of a real democracy after going through political upheaval, and urged countries in the region to emulate the country's democratic institutions.

“There are rare exceptions though. Indonesia, having undergone her transformational political upheaval and emerging from the storm a new nation altogether, still remains the shining example of a real democracy. Press freedom is alive and well, and the practice of free and fair elections leaves her neighbours looking like pathetic upstarts in the race for democracy,” said Anwar.

Anwar also said that any empowerment of a particular community at the expense of another would lead to conflict in a plural society.

“It is therefore incumbent on politicians be they in power or those in opposition to conduct themselves responsibly even if it means risking popularity," he added.

Kuan Yew and Najib

Anwar said the current revolution in several Arab countries was proof that Islam and Muslims do not tolerate dictatorship, as claimed by some right wing commentators.

“In any event, the fear of Islam hijacking freedom and democracy has been proven to be without foundation.

Hence, this rising tide of Islam catch phrase is nothing but another new way of beating the Islamic bogeyman, in its various manifestations of Islamophobia,” stressed Anwar.

He added however that 'Islamophobia', or the fear of anything Islamic, was not a disease among Western leaders only.

“We have on record a supposedly retired statesman in Southeast Asia expressing opinions on Muslims which betray an utter lack of sensitivity," he said, in a apparent jibe at Singapore's former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew over his recent statement criticising Muslims.

Anwar also did not leave out prime minister Najib Razak's latest statement in Turkey, in which he cast suspicion on Egypt's Ikhwan Muslimin over its role in post-Mubarak Egypt.

"We even have Muslim leaders in the region who appear to be suffering from the paranoia about the Muslim Brotherhood to a degree that rivals that of say Mubarak or even the Neo-cons of America,” he said.

http://en.harakahdaily.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2354:southeast-asian-leaders-warned-of-arab-style-uprising&catid=34:primary&Itemid=56

Anwar on Middle East revolution and its impact on Southeast Asia

Anwar Ibrahim

Speech by Anwar Ibrahim at the Fifth Asian Renaissance Seminar on February 26, 2011 in Phnom Penh

SPEECH My congratulations once again to the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and the Institute for Policy Studies for hosting this Fifth Seminar. This is indeed a most opportune time for our future leaders to engage with each other on the issues that matter most to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving world.

It was only two years ago that I addressed the last Renaissance forum held in Manila and recounted the episode of my attempt at some crystal ball gazing on the geo-political situation in the Middle East. Today, as we all know, it gives me some degree of satisfaction to be able to say that I wasn’t too far off the mark when I said that the winds of change from autocracy to democracy had been blowing across various parts of the Muslim world. Of course, little did I expect that the winds of change would transform into the sandstorms of revolution.

Indeed, regardless of the locus of the upheaval, where the formula for repressive rule is founded on the suppression of dissent by state controlled organs, such as the police, security forces or the military, the powers that be can only continue to be so as long as these organs do their bidding. As we witnessed in Tunisia, and then more significantly in Egypt, when these organs malfunction, or refuse to do their bidding, the entire substratum of control collapses enabling the people to progress from mere assemblies of protest to a virtual behemoth of regime change. Even as we speak, we know that events in Yemen, Bahrain and Libya are spiralling towards their inevitable resolution, no matter how stubbornly their leaders cling on power.

The problems that plague the Middle Eastern nations are no different from those affecting other parts of the world under autocratic regimes. The amassing of wealth by the elite at the expense of the masses, inadequate infrastructure, outdated education systems, deplorable health care and declining incomes in real terms – these are problems that almost all nations under autocratic regimes have in common. Political marginalization in all its implications and economic impoverishment, these are the perfect ingredients for political upheavals. Regimes that have gone past their expiry dates but continue to paint a facade of peace, security and even prosperity through the use of an elaborate propaganda machine are only delaying their final reckoning.

True, it will take some time for Tunisia and Egypt to move into the league of Muslim democracies such as Turkey and Indonesia, but even as the point of no return has been reached for the Middle East, we ask ourselves how these events may now impact the supposedly ‘older’ democracies in Southeast Asia.

It would do well to remind leaders here to vigorously pursue the agenda for socio-economic reform and to strengthen further the institutions of democracy and freedom. Fundamental safeguards put in place upon the attainment of independence from colonial powers have been systematically dismantled. In their place are draconian laws that violate fundamental liberties together with a systemic destruction of the separation of powers equation.

There are rare exceptions though. Indonesia, having undergone her transformational political upheaval and emerging from the storm a new nation altogether, still remains the shining example of a real democracy. Press freedom is alive and well, and the conduct of free and fair elections leaves her neighbours’ looking like pathetic upstarts in the race for democracy.

Granted it is no Utopia, but the phenomenal changes in the areas of governance, the judiciary, and the pre-eminence of the rule of law set it as an exemplary nascent liberal democracy. So what happened to the rest of the pack?

The Philippines was at the fore front in the democratization process displacing their dictator with People Power. Under the late president Corazon Aquino, the Philippines got way ahead of the curve but, as they say, democracy can be here today and gone tomorrow. So this great nation has had its fair share of the trials and tribulations associated with the passage from martial law to full freedom and democracy. Fortunately, the backsliding from democracy was never that insidious as to destroy the entire foundation. The recent elections results make us optimistic that under its new President, the Philippines will be firmly on the road back to real freedom and democracy.

Taking lessons from history, we can say that with the exception of Japan and India, not more than 30 years had passed in the countries in Asia before the euphoria of independence became supplanted with the gloom of despotism and autocracy.

Still being championed by aging autocrats some still in power and some having ostensibly retired, the view is that authoritarian systems are better suited towards realizing socio-economic ends. The proposition is that in order to eradicate poverty and exploit resources to accelerate modernization, government must be paternalistic. This means rapid centralization of power together with the dismantling of the checks and balance. These are obviously antithetical to freedom and democracy.

Today, we see the rights and liberties of the people being progressively eroded – whether they are from minorities, the marginalized poor, the progressive middle class or from those on the other side of the political spectrum. At the same time, we see political leaders grandstanding before their electoral constituents even if it means fanning the fire of ethnic tensions and putting the long term stability of the nation in danger.

In a plural society, the empowerment of one ethnic group at the expense of another would only lead to a clash of competing interests which would in turn threaten the essential overlapping consensus. This consensus requires making adjustments to overlapping claims to entitlement of rights or competing goals. It is therefore incumbent on politicians be they in power or those in opposition to conduct themselves responsibly even if it means risking popularity. It is therefore doubly reprehensible for leaders in multi-ethnic societies who control the state organs including the mass media to stoke the fires of ethnic rivalry and animosity just so that they can stay in power.

Now apart from free, fair and transparent elections, the basic institutions of civil society must be in place with an independent judiciary that will function as an effective check and balance against the powers of the executive and the legislature. We cannot overstate the profound importance of an independent judiciary. A judiciary which is compromised can and will take a nation to political damnation. It breeds systemic failure of due process and the rule of law.

If the next generation is to inherit the legacy of an Asian Renaissance in its full bloom, then the lessons of the latest upheavals in the Middle East must be learned by the leaders of the region. Some seem to have taken cognizance and are humbled. Yet others have not only remained in denial but, for reasons best known to themselves, have displayed pure arrogance in the face of these stark realities. Some pride their sense of security in the attainment of economic wealth and progress. Some pride theirs on their own evaluation of their contribution to the political well being of the state. But let us remind these pompous and pontificating autocrats that the consequences for not heeding the call for freedom and democracy will be profound and far reaching. You may be able to swim against the current in the river when it serves but you cannot swim against the force of history.

While the collapse of the regimes in Tunisia and Egypt has proceeded on an uneven keel, the common thread that links it remains clearly a collective desire to break free from the chains of tyranny and political enslavement. In as much as democracy is not time bound, the world of cyber linkages is borderless. This has immense implications for autocratic regimes. Whether they call it managing information or filtering negative content, the fact remains that the Internet is being seen by such regimes as major threats to efforts in stifling dissent. Yet, despite having been proven to be a Sisyphean endeavour, (as in Egypt and Libya) the powers that be in this part of the world, continue to flaunt its role of cyber Big Brother.

But these are things that don’t really surprise us, coming from a basically totalitarian state. But we need not look too far for surprises though. In Southeast Asia, bloggers are being hauled up to face charges for exercising their freedom of expression and that’s simply because their expressions are not in favour of the ruling governments. Bloggers and websites dedicated to opposition bashing are allowed free rein and some are funded by the powers that be.

Finally, let me say a few words about the view that is gaining currency fast in the wake of the revolutions in the Middle East. This is the so-called ‘rising tide of political Islam’. As I’ve said before, given a choice between freedom and dictatorship, Muslims will overwhelmingly choose the former. In any event, the fear of Islam hijacking freedom and democracy has been proven to be without foundation.

Hence, this rising tide of Islam catch phrase is nothing but another new way of beating the Islamic bogeyman, in its various manifestations of Islamophobia. This psychotic fear has not dissipated since 9/11 and has been given a new lease on life in the wake of the convulsions in the Arab world. And contrary to general belief, this phobia is not prevalent only in the West. We have on record a supposedly retired statesman in Southeast Asia expressing opinions on Muslims which betray an utter lack of sensitivity. We even have Muslim leaders in the region who appear to be suffering from the paranoia about the Muslim Brotherhood to a degree that rivals that of say Mubarak or even the Neo-cons of America.

We have already seen that right from the Tunisian revolution, and throughout the Egyptian phase and now in Libya, Yemen and elsewhere, the rallying cry had been freedom against tyranny and oppression. The demands of the people remain to be good governance, accountability for corruption, political empowerment and social justice.

http://en.harakahdaily.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2353:anwar-on-middle-east-revolution-and-its-impact-on-southeast-asia&catid=34:primary&Itemid=56

Oman protesters stage third day of unrest

– 1 hr 29 mins ago

MUSCAT, Oman – Protesters set a supermarket ablaze and gathered in several sites in a seaside town in Oman on Monday in a third consecutive day of unrest that has included deadly clashes in the strategic Gulf nation.

Security forces sealed off main roads to Sohar, about 120 miles (200 kilometers) northwest of the capital of Muscat, in attempts to isolate the protesters and keep crowds from swelling.

Omar al-Abri, an official at the state-run Oman News Agency, said one person has been confirmed dead Sunday after police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of demonstrators who took to the streets in Sohar. State hospital officials had set the death toll at two. The reason for the discrepancy was not immediately clear.

Witnesses said a supermarket was set on fire Monday and protesters had gathered in two traffic circles in the town.

Oman, ruled by a powerful family dynasty, marks the latest flashpoint in the Arab world's challenges to authority and suggests that demonstrations could widen in the Gulf with protest rallies planned next month in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Oman shares control with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Gulf — the route for about 40 percent of the world's oil tanker traffic. Oman also plays an important role as a mediator between Iran and the West because of its strong ties to Tehran and Washington.

Protests have been rare in the country, which wraps around the southeast corner of the Arabian peninsula. But Oman's ruler, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, is moving quickly to try to offer reforms to quell the demands that include more jobs and a greater public voice in the country's affairs.

On Sunday, he ordered 50,000 new state positions and a monthly stipend of 150 rials ($390) for job seekers. A day earlier, the sultan replaced six Cabinet members.

A high-level delegation planned to travel to Sohar to meet with protesters, who on Sunday set fire to cars, a police station and the governor's residence.

In September, Oman helped negotiate $500,000 bail to free American Sarah Shourd from Iranian custody after being detained along the Iraqi border in July 2009 with two companions.

The other two Americans pleaded not guilty to espionage charges earlier this month. Shourd was ordered by Iran to return for the trial, but she remained in the United States.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110228/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_oman_protests

Tunisia's president appoints new prime minister

AP – In this undated photo is the newly named Tunisian Prime Minister Beji Caid-Essebsi. Tunisia's interim …

By BOUAZZA BEN BOUAZZA, Associated Press Bouazza Ben Bouazza, Associated Press – Sun Feb 27, 8:08 pm ET

TUNIS, Tunisia – Tunisia's interim president chose a former government minister as a new prime minister on Sunday, appealing for a return to calm following new violent protests that have been hobbling this North African country since the ouster of its long-time autocratic leader.

Beji Caid-Essebsi will replace Mohammed Ghannouchi, who resigned earlier Sunday after becoming a major irritant to Tunisians behind the so-called "Jasmine Revolution" that toppled autocratic President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali last month and sparked a wave of upheaval in the Arab world.

The caretaker president, Fouad Mebazaa, made the appointment later Sunday.

As Ben Ali's prime minister for 11 years, Ghannouchi became the emblem of an entrenched old guard that many Tunisians feared were hijacking their revolution.

It was not immediately clear how much the shake-up would mollify the protesters in Tunisia, at a time when its leaders are attempting to rebuild its tourism industry and cope with an influx of Tunisians and others fleeing from violence in neighboring Libya.

The change in the government's leadership follows renewed street protests. Officials said that at least five people have died in violent street protests since Friday.

Ghannouchi had previously vowed to stay on to guide Tunisia until elections could be organized this summer.

As he stepped down, Ghannouchi sought to take the high ground.

"This (resignation) is not a flight from my responsibilities, but to open the way for another prime minister who — I hope — will have more margin for action than I have had, to give hope to the Tunisian people," he said.

"I am not ready to be the man of repression, and I will never be," Ghannouchi said, warning that unspecified forces appeared to be swelling to try to quash the move toward democracy.

Caid-Essebsi is an elderly statesman and lawyer who served in government posts under the Tunisia's two longtime leaders since it gained independence from France in 1956: Habib Bourguiba and Ben Ali.

Ben Ali was driven from power on Jan. 14 and fled to Saudi Arabia following weeks of a deadly popular uprising that has fanned similar upheaval across the Arab world.

Some Tunisians believe that Ben Ali loyalists in the country have sought to sow discord and discredit the movement that brought the former authoritarian leader down.

"There needs to be reconciliation among all Tunisians to show the world that Tunisia is a civilized country," Ghannouchi said. "My resignation will help create this new atmosphere."

The Interior Ministry, in a statement Saturday, blamed "provocateurs" for fomenting violence in otherwise peaceful rallies and for allegedly using young people as human shields in renewed demonstrations.

On Saturday, police and troops backed by tanks used tear gas to disperse hundreds of youths protesting against the caretaker government. Officers were seen chasing some youths through town after the rally ended.

Authorities then ordered a temporarily ban on vehicle and pedestrian traffic on the capital's central Bourguiba Avenue until midnight Sunday — the first of its kind since Ben Ali's downfall.

On Friday, police fired tear gas and warning shots as violence erupted alongside a sit-in that drew tens of thousands of protesters near the seat of the interim government.

Officials said nearly 200 people were arrested over the last two days.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110228/ap_on_re_af/af_tunisia_prime_minister_resigns

Hidupkan Istilah ‘Wang Pembayar Cukai’ Dalam Media

Disiarkan pada Feb 27, 2011 dalam kategori Kenyataan & Penjelasan |

HIDUPKAN ISTILAH ‘WANG PEMBAYAR CUKAI’ DALAM MEDIA
Prof Madya Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin
(sertai facebook DrMAZA.com)

Istilah memainkan peranan penting dalam menyedarkan penggunanya dan pendengar. Seringkali media melaporkan bantuan atau belanja yang dikeluarkan oleh kerajaan digambarkan seakan itu adalah harta kerajaan atau orang politik yang terbabit. Maka bantuan yang disalurkan seakan dari sifat pemurah kerajaan seperti disebut ‘kerajaan bermurah hati membantu’.

Rakyat seakan bagaikan peminta sedekah. Begitu juga apabila ada penyelewengan ataupun pembaziran, maka rakyat yang tidak faham merasakan yang rugi hanyalah kerajaan atau duit orang politik, sedangkan mereka lupa wang tersebut adalah wang mereka. Maka di sini disebutkan beberapa perkara;

i. Samada kita sedar atau tidak, setiap rakyat negara ini membayar cukar kepada kerajaan. Ini merangkumi cukai pendapatan, cukai langsung dan tidak langsung. Harga barangan yang kita beli dalam negara ini sebenarnya kita bayar bersama harga cukai. Di Malaysia kita membeli kereta dengan harga yang tinggi disebabkan faktor cukai. Begitu juga segala barangan, makanan dan stesyen TV yang dibeli merangkumi harga cukai. Maka, setiap rakyat kena tahu bahawa mereka sebenarnya setiap hari membayar cukai kepada kerajaan. Justeru wang kerajaan adalah wang rakyat.

ii. Maka, wang yang dibelanja oleh mana-mana kerajaan; samada BN atau PR atau istana-istana dalam negara adalah wang rakyat yang membayar cukai secara langsung atau tidak langsung, sedar ataupun tidak sedar. Istilah ‘wang pembayar cukai’ atau taxpayers money, atau harta awam sepatutnya sentiasa dipakai dalam media dan ungkapan rakyat.

Justeru, apabila kerajaan membelanja untuk sesuatu projek atau menyalurkan harta kepada mana-mana pihak, hendaklah dilapor atau disebut “kerajaan menggunakan wang pembayar cukai atau harta rakyat untuk projek itu dan ini”. Jika berlaku pembaziran, hendaklah dilapor dan disebutkan “kerajaan telah membazirkan wang pembayar cukai, atau merosakkan harta awam, merugikan wang rakyat”.

iii. Ungkapan ini penting supaya orang-orang politik sedar bahawa bantuan dan peruntukan yang mereka salurkan kepada rakyat bukan wang poket mereka, atau harta peribadi mereka sehingga mereka boleh mendabik dada bangga. Sebaliknya, ia sememang harta rakyat. Begitulah rakyat, mereka tidak boleh tertipu dengan merasakan seolah-olah bantuan yang diumumkan oleh orang-orang politik itu dari ‘harta persendirian’ tokoh politik tersebut, sebaliknya ia memang harta rakyat yang diuruskan oleh orang-orang politik. Ini boleh mengelakkan perasaan rakyat yang merasakan mereka bagaikan peminta sedekah kepada kerajaan dan mengelakkan orang-orang politik lupa diri terhadap wang awam yang mereka belanja atau isytiharkan dalam kempen politik mereka.

iv. Sesebuah kerajaan BUKAN dipuji kerana mereka berbelanja dengan wang rakyat atau wang pembayar cukai itu, tetapi mereka dipuji kerana pengurusan yang cemerlang dan amanah dalam mengendalikan harta awam atau harta rakyat. Ertinya, jika kerajaan berjaya mengendalikan harta rakyat dengan cemerlang dan amanah, maka kerajaan itu dipuji dan disokong, begitu juga sebaliknya.

v. Istilah ‘taxpayers money’, atau ‘taxpayers fund’ atau ‘taxpayers dollar’ sering digunakan dalam media negara maju apabila memperkatakan tentang pembelanjaan ataupun pembaziran oleh pihak kerajaan. Istilah seperti ini sebenarnya boleh membantu mengelakkan kecuaian kerajaan dan dalam masa yang sama boleh menyedarkan rakyat tentang hakikat wang yang digunakan oleh pihak kerajaan. Istilah ini juga patut dihidupkan dalam negara kita.

http://drmaza.com/home/?p=1369

Tunisian prime minister announces resignation

– 57 mins ago

TUNIS, Tunisia – Tunisian Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi said Sunday he will resign, amid renewed violence during protests in this North African country.

Ghannouchi, 69, has been a major irritant to Tunisians behind the so-called "Jasmine Revolution" — weeks of public upheaval that drove longtime autocratic President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from power last month.

Even though Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia on Jan. 14, Ghannouchi — who served for 11 years as his prime minister — had promised to stay on to guide the country until elections this summer.

Ghannouchi's announcement on state TV and radio came a day after officials said at least four people had died in recent days in the capital during clashes between stone-throwing protesters and police.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110227/ap_on_re_af/af_tunisia_prime_minister_resigns

Yemen's parties to join anti-president protests

AP – An anti-government protestor, center, reacts during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni …

By AMHED AL-HAJ, Associated Press Amhed Al-haj, Associated Press – 2 hrs 20 mins ago

SANAA, Yemen – Yemen's opposition parties said Sunday they are joining young protesters in their push to bring down the country's beleaguered president.

The announcement marked the second major setback in two days for President Ali Abdullah Saleh, a key U.S. ally in the fight against the al-Qaida terror network. On Saturday, two powerful chiefs from his own tribe abandoned him, and hundreds of thousands called for his ouster in the largest protests yet.

In recent weeks, Yemen has seen daily protests, inspired by successful uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia. The mainstream opposition parties had been reluctant to join, preferring a wait-and-see approach.

However, on Sunday they said they would hold rallies Tuesday to show solidarity with the protesters.

"We call on all the citizens to come out Tuesday and condemn the regime for its crimes," said the Joint Gathering, an umbrella organization for seven opposition parties, including socialist, moderate Islamic and nationalist factions.

The announcement is a blow to Saleh, who has been in power for 32 years, said Abdel Bari Taher, a Yemeni analyst. "If they join the people in the streets, they will swiftly decide the fate of the regime," he said.

Anti-government protests were held Sunday in cities across Yemen, including the capital of Sanaa, the city of Taiz and the port of Aden. In the eastern town of Malla, 18 protesters were injured in clashes with security forces, security officials said.

Security officials said Saleh dispatched army units, bolstered by tanks, to Aden to help security forces in putting down the protests. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media.

On Saturday, Saleh appeared to be hardening his stance, after initially offering protesters to engage in dialogue and promising that the security forces would not use force against them. Yemeni TV quoted him as telling army commanders that the armed forces will not hesitate to "defend the security of the nation as well as the unity, freedom and democracy."

"We will fight to the last drop in our blood," he said.

Saleh's government had been weak even before the protests erupted. He was faced with growing al-Qaida activity and a separatist movement in the south. At the start of the protest wave, Saleh offered not to seek re-election in 2013, but was rebuffed by demonstrators.

Slideshow:Yemenis rally against government

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110227/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_yemen