ZAHID: UNITY UNDER THREAT Power-Hungry People Eroding Social, Contract, Says DPM

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

ZAHID: UNITY UNDER THREAT Power-Hungry People Eroding Social, Contract, Says DPM I ,..:;"...::7 ~ .:7 • ,.,. LtlJl "4 Lt..JlJ" I, ". 1\.11....1 lU, ~Vl' 8 NEWS! Goot & Policy DEC~PTlVE PROPAGANDA \ ZAHID: UNITY UNDER THREAT Power-hungry people eroding social, contract, says DPM AZURA ABAS .PUTRAJAYA [email protected] EPUTY Prime Minister DatukSeri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yester-: day warned that the so- cialDcontract that united' Malaysians was under threat. He said its foundation was being challenged and had be- come "very flimsy" because there were people who wanted to grab power by distorting the social contract with their deceptive propaganda. Deputy Prime Minister Datuh Seri'Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi accepting a memento from Universiti . Malaysia, he said, was a multi- Putra Malaysia Vice-Chancellor Professor Datin Paduka Dr Aini Ideris at the launch of Human racial nation that was respected Ecology International Conference 2017 in Putrajaya. Looking on is Human Ecology Faculty dean by the world for its peace and /Professor Dr Lai/y Paim. 'PIC BY MOHO FAOLI HAMZAH . .- harmony. /' "The social order is possible ing apart our social structure, are' battling either politics, reli- cluded that 95 per cent of because of the social contract must be challenged' by our cit- gion 'or social. Malaysian terrorists were re~ that binds us together for many izens ," he said at the launch of "It is a new culture shaping the cruited through Facebook. years. Universiti Putra Malaysia's Hu- social profile of societies across "The information they ac- "I must remind you that if that man Ecology International Con- the world," he said. quired through Facebook are dis- social contract is broken, there ference 2017. He added that social media torted views ofjihad (struggles in will not only be social disorder, On social media, Zahid said it had become a platform for the the name of God and Islam) and but even worse, 'as our streets will could become a dangerous form propagation of immoral be- tauhid (Islamic monotheism) fab- be tainted by blood and dead of cultural revolution. haviour, a propaganda machine ricated by leaders of terrorist or- I bodies. "In Malaysia, the social media for inciting hatred and propagaj- ganisations," said Zahid. "Those mad and irrational has become a battlefield between .ing lies, He also said social media was people out the~e who are prop- opposing schools of thought, de- '''Research conducted by our not all evil because some good :agating social disorder and tear- pending on the dimensions they psychologists and experts con- could come froni it..
Recommended publications
  • For Immediate Release Deputy Prime Minister
    PRESS RELEASE _ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER HOSTS T7 GLOBAL’S GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY FOR ITS METAL TREATMENT PLANT IN SERENDAH SERENDAH – 02 February 2018 Today, the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi officiated the groundbreaking ceremony of T7 Kilgour Sdn Bhd metal treatment plant located at Serendah, Selangor. The groundbreaking ceremony held this afternoon marks the commencement of construction for high value manufacturing businesses in metal treatment. The groundbreaking ceremony was graced by: - 1. Y.A.B Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia 2. Y.B Dato' Sri Mustapa bin Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry 3. Y.B Dato' P. Kamalanathan a/l P. Panchanathan, Deputy Minister of Education I 4. Datuk Seri Dr. Nik Norzrul Thani, Executive Chairman of T7 Global Berhad 5. Tan Sri Tan Kean Soon, Executive Deputy Chairman of T7 Global Berhad 6. Mr Tan Kay Vin, Executive Director of T7 Kilgour Sdn. Bhd 7. Mr. Ray Kilgour, Managing Director, Kilgour Aerospace Group T7 Aero Sdn Bhd (“T7 Aero”) a wholly owned subsidiary of T7 Global Berhad (“T7 Global”) and KOV Limited (“KOV”) signed a Joint Venture Agreement (“JVA”) on 9th May 2017; and incorporated a company named T7 Kilgour Sdn. Bhd. The 60:40 JV company was formed with T7 Aero as the controlling stake. The Company will build, operate and set up a metal treatment plant in Malaysia to pursue high value manufacturing businesses in metal treatment. Earlier, T7 Global have signed a partnership agreement with MARA Aerospace & Technologies Sdn Bhd (“M-AeroTech”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Majlis Amanah Rakyat (“MARA”) on 21st March 2017 to develop human capital for metal treatments and high-value manufacturing aerospace activities, as well as other high-technology industries.
    [Show full text]
  • Tawaran Kerja Sama Politik Ditolak Oposisi, Masa Depan PM Muhyiddin Makin Suram
    Tawaran Kerja Sama Politik Ditolak Oposisi, Masa Depan PM Muhyiddin Makin Suram Realitarakyat.com – Para pemimpin partai oposisi di Malaysia menolak tawaran kerja sama politik dari PM Muhyiddin Yassin dan menuntutnya segera mundur. Sebelumnya pada Jumat (13/8) Muhyiddin secara terbuka mengakui ia tak memiliki suara mayoritas di Parlemen dan meminta dukungan dalam voting mosi tidak percaya pada September nanti. Sebagai imbal balik, Muhyiddin menjanjikan tujuh tawaran kepada para pemimpin partai oposisi. Di antara tujuh penawaran tersebut adalah pembatasan masa jabatan Perdana Menteri menjadi maksimal dua periode, dengan satu periode lima tahun, pengajuan RUU Anti Lompat Partai, serta mengurangi batasan usia pemilih dari semula 21 tahun menjadi 21 tahun. Hari ini partai oposisi ramai-ramai menolak tawaran tersebut, salah satunya Pakatan Harapan. “Ini adalah kali pertama dalam sejarah Malaysia seorang Perdana Menteri mengakui ia telah kehilangan suara mayoritas, tapi terus mencari dukungan,” menurut keterangan resmi Pakatan Harapan. “Pakatan Harapan telah mengambil sikap untuk menolak keras semua tawaran tidak tulus dari Tan Sri Muhyiddin yang seharusnya dilakukan lebih awal dan bukan pada akhir kehidupan politiknya.” Penolakan juga disampaikan oleh Presiden UMNO Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dan Presiden Pejuang Tanah Air, Mukhriz Mahathir. “UMNO tidak bisa mempertimbangkan tawaran dari seseorang yang tidak lagi memiliki legitimasi,” kata Ahmad Zahid dalam keterangan resmi. Ahmad juga menyarankan masyarakat untuk tetap tenang sampai Yang di-Pertuan Agong melakukan tanggung jawab konstitusionalnya berdasarkan Pasal 40 (2) untuk mengangkat perdana menteri baru dari antara anggota DPR. Penolakan lain disampaikan oleh Majelis Kepresidenen Pakatan Harapan Anwar Ibrahim (Presiden Partai Keadilan Rakyat), Hj Mohamad Sabu (Presiden Partai Amanah Negara), dan Lim Guan Eng (Presiden Partai Tindakan Demokratik atau DAP) dalam pernyataan pers di Kuala Lumpur, Sabtu.
    [Show full text]
  • Racialdiscriminationreport We
    TABLE OF CONTENTS Glossary ............................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Executive Summary...................................................................................................................................................... 3 Definition of Racial Discrimination......................................................................................................................... 4 Racial Discrimination in Malaysia Today................................................................................................................. 5 Efforts to Promote National Unity in Malaysia in 2018................................................................................... 6 Incidences of Racial Discrimination in Malaysia in 2018 1. Racial Politics and Race-based Party Politics........................................................................................ 16 2. Groups, Agencies and Individuals that use Provocative Racial and Religious Sentiments.. 21 3. Racism in the Education Sector................................................................................................................. 24 4. Racial Discrimination in Other Sectors................................................................................................... 25 5. Racism in social media among Malaysians........................................................................................... 26 6. Xenophobic
    [Show full text]
  • Eritaboustead April - June 2010
    eritaBoustead April - June 2010 For internal circulation only • Tan Sri Lodin honoured with the • Royale Chulan presents birthday cake Malaysia Business Leadership Award 2010 to the King - pg 3 - pg 4 • UAC wins BrandLaureate for Best Brands • BHIC participates in DSA 2010 in Product Branding 2009/2010 - pg 6 - pg 3 Group Admin. & Communications Royale Sports Carnival 2010 Mount Kinabalu Expedition Department Teambuilding - pg 10 & 11 - pg 13 - pg 16 2 3 Perutusan Tan Sri Lodin honoured with the Timbalan Pengerusi/ Malaysia Business Leadership Award 2010 Pengarah Urusan or his success in leading, building and evolving the Group, Y.Bhg. Tan FSri Dato’ Lodin Wok Kamaruddin, Deputy Chairman/Group Managing Kumpulan Director of Boustead Holdings Berhad was recently honoured with the Malaysia Business Leadership Award 2010 : Conglomerate Company of Staf Boustead yang dihargai, the Year. Tan Sri Lodin received the award from Y.B. Dato' Seri Noh Omar, Minister Perjalanan Kumpulan menuju titik pertengahan tahun of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry at the 2nd Malaysia Business kewangan 2010 adalah sangat menggalakkan dan penuh Leadership Awards 2010 awards ceremony, held on 22 May 2010 at the dengan pelbagai peristiwa. Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Deputy Chairman/ Dengan sukacitanya, saya ingin memaklumkan bahawa The ceremony, jointly organised by the Kuala Lumpur Malay Chamber Kumpulan Boustead telah mencatatkan keuntungan of Commerce and The Leaders Magazine honoured the achievements of various high profile business leaders in Malaysia and their immense selepas cukai sebanyak RM104 juta pada suku pertama Group Managing Director's contributions to the country’s economy. tahun kewangan 2010, satu peningkatan ketara Tan Sri Lodin receiving his award from Dato' Seri Noh message berbanding RM68 juta yang dicapai pada suku pertama tahun lepas.
    [Show full text]
  • Ucapan Aluan Ybhg. Dato' Sri Rohani Abdul Karim Menteri
    UCAPAN ALUAN YBHG. DATO’ SRI ROHANI ABDUL KARIM MENTERI PEMBANGUNAN WANITA, KELUARGA DAN MASYARAKAT SEMPENA MAJLIS PERASMIAN BULAN KEBAJIKAN NEGARA 2017 1 OKTOBER 2017 (AHAD) PUSAT LATIHAN PERINDUSTRIAN DAN PEMULIHAN BANGI 1 Assalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh, Salam Sejahtera dan Salam Negaraku Keluarga Bahagia. <SALUTASI> PENDAHULUAN 1. Terlebih dahulu saya ingin memanjatkan setinggi-tinggi kesyukuran ke hadrat Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala kerana dengan limpah kurnia dan izinNya dapat kita bersama-sama hadir ke Majlis Perasmian Bulan Kebajikan Negara 2017. 2. Ingin saya rakamkan setinggi penghargaan dan terima kasih kepada YAB Dato’ Sri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Timbalan Perdana Menteri Malaysia kerana sudi meluangkan masa untuk menyempurnakan Majlis Perasmian Bulan Kebajikan Negara 2017. Kehadiran YAB Dato’ Sri pada hari ini membuktikan komitmen tinggi Kerajaan terhadap kebajikan rakyat sebagai salah satu teras dalam membangunkan Negara. Terima kasih YAB Dato’ Sri. 3. Terima kasih yang tidak terhingga saya ucapkan kepada rakan- rakan strategik korporat yang hadir pada hari ini iaitu KFC Holdings, Nestle dan juga Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad yang sentiasa memberikan pelbagai bentuk sumbangan kepada kumpulan sasar Kementerian iaitu kanak-kanak, Orang Kurang Upaya, warga emas dan juga mangsa-mangsa bencana. LATAR BELAKANG PENGANJURAN BKN 2017 YAB Dato’ Sri dan para hadirin yang dihormati sekalian, 2 4. Bulan Kebajikan Negara 2017 merupakan satu program inisiatif KWPKM julung kali diadakan dan akan menjadi acara tahunan untuk mengiktiraf amalan dan penyampaian perkhidmatan kebajikan kepada masyarakat terutama kepada mereka yang memerlukan. Kementerian mengambil inisiatif penganjuran Bulan Kebajikan Negara 2017 ini berdasarkan kepada ketetapan yang terkandung di dalam dokumen Nasional Negara iaitu : i. Dasar Kebajikan Masyarakat Negara yang menggariskan Kebajikan Tanggungjawab Bersama dengan membina dan memupuk semangat tolong-menolong dan bantu- membantu untuk mengukuhkan budaya ikram; ii.
    [Show full text]
  • Speech by DAP Secretary General Lim Guan Eng at the DAP
    Speech by DAP Secretary General Lim Guan Eng at the DAP National Special Congress on 12 November 2017 at the IDCC Shah Alam, Selangor A Democratic, Progressive and Prosperous Malaysia for the many Preamble We, the DAP national delegates, gather here today for our National Special Congress as requested by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to hold a fresh election for the Central Executive Committee members, once again. We had earlier decided to accept the instructions by the ROS, under protest. Since the last National Conference on 4th December 2016, we lost two of DAP’s most important national leaders, the former Secretary-General and my university mate Sdr. Kerk Kim Hock and the former Perak Chairman and one of the earliest DAP members Sdr. Lau Dak Kee. Both of them were detained under the Internal Security Act during the Ops Lalang in 1 987. Let us pay tribute to Sdr Kerk and Lau for their contributions to the Party and to Malaysia, especially during difficult dark years. 1. Crisis and leadership Before I proceed into the details of this special meeting, let us together express DAP’s solidarity with the people of Penang for the recent unprecedented natural disaster of worst flood and storm in history that befell upon us on 4th and 5th November. No words can fully grasp the unexpected calamity. On behalf of DAP, let me express my sincerest gratitude to Penangites and Malaysians that have helped our people during the tumultuous time, and those who continue to assist us till this very moment. Your precious assistance, contributions and donations will forever be appreciated.
    [Show full text]
  • DPM Dares Mystery Man in Putsch Plot to Deny It Malaysiakini.Com Aug 15, 2015
    DPM dares mystery man in putsch plot to deny it MalaysiaKini.com Aug 15, 2015 Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has challenged the Umno leader he claimed was planning to "topple the government", to deny it publicly. "If he has guts, this person must deny it through the press," said Ahmad Zahid. Speaking at the Klang Umno division annual general meeting today, Ahmad Zahid said that the plot and its plotter was real. "I know this thing is happening because as Home Minister, I receive information and I will also find out who is behind it. "I don't have to expose the person as this will reveal itself," he said, according to Bernama. Earlier today, Ahmad Zahid had claimed that this mystery person was attempting was "topple the government" by getting MPs from both sides of the divide to sign a seven-page statutory declaration. Once that is done, the MPs will declare that they have the majority in the Dewan Rakyat. Court of perception Despite challenging the person to deny it, Ahmad Zahid did not provide any names. Thus far, Johor Menteri Besar Khaled Nordin has publicly stated that he was not the person mentioned by Ahmad Zahid. Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid warned Umno members against persecuting its leader based on perception. "This is because there are four types of courts, namely the court of justice, people's court who are the voters, court of perception and court of public opinion. "It is unfair for our nation's top leaders, especially (Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak), to be judged by the court of public opinion and court of perception because we know they cannot do that.
    [Show full text]
  • Zahid: Police Opened 84 Investigation Papers During S'wak Polls Malaysiakini.Com May 25 Th , 2016
    Zahid: Police opened 84 investigation papers during S'wak polls MalaysiaKini.com May 25 th , 2016 The police have opened a total of 84 investigation papers (IPs) on various offences allegedly committed during the recent Sarawak state polls, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. "These investigation papers will be completed as soon as possible and submitted to the Attorney-General's Chambers for further instruction," he said in a parliamentary written reply. From the 84 IPs, 47 cases are probed under Section 427 of the Penal Code for committing mischief and thereby causing damage to the amount of RM25 or upwards. Meanwhile, a total of 12 cases are being investigated under Election Offences Act allegedly committed during the campaign period from April 25 to May 7. Zahid said the police are also probing one case under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt, and another six cases for committing mischief by fire or explosive substance to destroy. Four investigation papers were opened under Section 506 and Section 507 of the Penal Code, both related to criminal intimidation. Zahid was responding to Marzuk Shaary (PAS-Bachok) who asked about the investigation papers opened throughout the state polls. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said told Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan) that the government has spent RM135.6 million in the recent state polls. "A total of 69 candidates have lost their (RM5,000) deposit totalling RM345,000," she said in another parliamentary written reply. Copyright © 1999-2016 Mkini Dotcom Sdn. Bhd Source: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/342832 .
    [Show full text]
  • Watching the Watchdog 2.0 Utusan Borneo
    Watching the Watchdog 2.0 Utusan Borneo Section 1: Coverage of Political Parties and Coalitions 1.1 Volume of Coverage of Parties & Coalitions Figure 1: Volume of Coverage of Political Parties & Coalitions PSM 0.00 0.00 USNO 0.04 0.04 PDP 0.08 0.12 IKATAN 0.12 0.29 PRS 0.33 0.33 Gagasan Sejahtera 0.33 0.37 PBB 0.37 0.41 Gerakan 0.45 0.77 MCA 0.86 0.90 STAR 1.10 1.30 PH 1.96 2.24 DAP 2.28 2.69 Other 2.81 2.89 Warisan 7.17 7.54 BN 51.39 0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 • BN received the most coverage (51.39%), followed by UMNO (7.54%) and Warisan (7.17%). 1 Figure 2: Volume of Coverage of Political Parties & Coalitions: Government vs. Opposition vs. Independent/Other GS 2.03 Independent 1.32 PH 16.61 BN 80.04 0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 70.00 80.00 90.00 • Once parties/coalitions’ coverage volumes are combined, BN received the highest level of coverage (80.04%), followed by PH (16.61%) and GS (2.03%). 1.2 Tone of Coverage of Political Parties & Coalitions Figure 3: Raw Tonal Coverage Volume of Political Parties & Coalitions Attacked 0% Neutral 26% Positive Negative 62% 12% • The Positive tone was used the most (62%), followed by Neutral (26%) and Negative (12%). 2 Figure 4.1: Attacked Political Party & Coalition Coverage STAR 0.00 USNO 0.00 Warisan 0.00 LDP 0.00 Other 0.00 AMANAH 0.00 UPKO 0.00 SUPP 0.00 SAPP 0.00 PSM 0.00 PRM 0.00 PRS 0.00 PPBM 0.00 PH 0.00 PKR 0.00 PDP 0.00 PCM 0.00 PBS 0.00 PBRS 0.00 PBB 0.00 PAS 0.00 MIC 0.00 MCA 0.00 IKATAN 0.00 Gerakan 0.00 Gagasan Sejahtera 0.00 DAP 0.00 UMNO 14.29 BN 57.14 0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 • BN received the highest coverage of Attacked tones (57.14%), with UMNO sharing the rest of the coverage (14.29%).
    [Show full text]
  • 50 Reasons Why Anwar Cannot Be Prime Minister 287–8, 298 Abdul
    Index 50 Reasons Why Anwar Cannot be mega-projects 194, 313–14, Prime Minister 287–8, 298 320–1, 323 successor 126, 194, 307–9, 345 Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin 298 Proton 319–21 Abdul Aziz Taha 158 Abdullah Majid 35, 36 Abdul Daim Zainuddin see Daim Abdullah Mohamed Yusof 133 Zainuddin Abu Bakar Ba’asyir 228–9 Abdul Gani Patail see Gani Patail Abu Sahid Mohamed 176 Abdul Ghafar Baba see Ghafar Baba affirmative action programme (New Abdul Khalid Sahan 165 Economic Policy/NEP) 30–1, 86, Abdul Qadeer Khan 313 87, 88–9, 96, 98, 101, 103–4, Abdul Rahim Aki 151, 152 110–13, 142, 155, 200, 230, 328, Abdul Rahim Bakar 201 329, 348 Abdul Rahim Noor see Rahim Noor Afro-Asian People’s Solidarity Abdul Rahman Putra see Tunku Abdul Organization 23 Rahman agriculture 88–9, 104, 111 Abdul Rahman Aziz 227 Ahmad Zahid Hamidi see Zahid Hamidi Abdul Razak Hussein see Razak Ali Abul Hassan Sulaiman 301 Hussein Aliran (multiracial reform movement) Abdul Wahab Patail see Wahab Patail 66, 70, 324, 329 Abdullah Ahmad 4, 26, 27, 32, 35–6, Alliance 17 38, 128, 308, 319 government 18–19, 24–5, 53, 126, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi see Abdullah 218 Badawi see also National Front Abdullah Badawi 235–7, 268, 299 Alor Star 3, 4–5, 11, 14–15, 16, 130 2004 election 317–18 MAHA Clinic (“UMNO Clinic”) 13, anti-corruption agenda 310–12, 191 317–18, 319, 327–8, 330–1 Mahathir Mohamad’s relocation to Anwar Ibrahim case 316 Kuala Lumpur from 31 corruption and nepotism Alternative Front 232, 233 allegations 312–13, 323 Anti-Corruption Agency 90, 282, 301, economic policies 194, 313–14 311,
    [Show full text]
  • For Review Purposes Only
    ONLY PURPOSES REVIEW FOR Understanding the Dewan Rakyat Copyright © Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung & Insight News Sdn Bhd. 2011 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the Publisher except in case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Earlier versions of MP Watch: Eye on Parliament reports have appeared in The Nut Graph website exclusively. Images contained in this volume are courtesy and property of The Nut Graph, the interviewees and/or other sources respectively. Permission to reproduce the aforementioned and previously published material is gratefully ONLY acknowledged. FIRST EDITION: March 2011 Published by B-2-19, Merchant Square, Jalan Tropicana Selatan 1, PJU 3, 47410 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.zipublications.com.my ISBN 978-967-5266-18-8 Layout & cover design by creativetrees.blogspot.com /REVIEW [email protected] Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Understanding the Dewan Rakyat / The Nut Graph FOR ISBN 978-967-5266-18-8 1. Malaysia – Politics and government. I. Title. 344.07409595 Printed in Malaysia by Vinlin Press Sdn. Bhd. No. 2, Jalan Meranti Permai 1, Meranti Permai Industrial Park, Batu 15, Jalan Puchong, 47100 Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia Contents West Malaysia Constituencies Map 10 East Malaysia Constituencies Map 12 Foreword 14 Introduction 16 ONLY Part I Knowing Malaysia’s Parliamentary Democracy 20 System of governance and the role of Parliament 21 Malaysia’s electoral system 24 The work of an MP 30 Funding our MPs 38 The speaker: Functions and powers 42 PURPOSES Part II Knowing Malaysia’s MPs 54 MP Watch: who replied, who didn’t, and why 55 MPs and the ISA 63 MPs and the Islamic state issue 68 MPs and freedom of information 72 MPsREVIEW and separation of powers 77 The challenges of being an MP 81 MPs and lawmaking 88 FORStr engthening parliamentary democracy 93 Part III 222 MP Profiles 100 Perlis P.
    [Show full text]
  • Nepotism) ZAHID EXPLAINS REMARKS on "NEPOTISM"
    18 JUN 1998 Umno - Zahid (nepotism) ZAHID EXPLAINS REMARKS ON "NEPOTISM" KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 (Bernama) -- The Umno Youth's recent remarks suggesting nepotism and cronyism were prompted by its desire for transparency in policy implementation and it was not questioning government policies per se, said its chief Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. "I want to explain that nepotism and cronyism refer to the practice or act of favouring relatives and friends that has now exceeded racial and religious limits," he said. He said the movement would continue speaking about nepotism and insist on transparency in efforts to rescue beleaguered companies so as to maintain public confidence in the government. Ahmad Zahid said this in his policy speech to the Umno Youth assembly, on the theme of "boosting resilience and initiating reforms", at the Putra World Trade Centre here today. Deputy Prime Minister and Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim earlier officiated at the joint opening of the Umno Youth and Wanita assemblies there. Zahid has for the past fortnight been harping on nepotism and cronyism in the allocation of economic opportunities and made good his earlier promise to explain the issue in detail in his policy speech today. Zahid said the movement's recent remarks about nepotism and cronyism should not be seen as merely wild accusations or made in collusion with foreign elements. "Ours is the voice of the people, of the Malays aspiring for an ever strong country, of devotion to Malay dignity and political power. Such is the voice of the Umno Youth," he said. He said the movement's demand for transparency was for Umno's own consolidation and in in the interests of its cause.
    [Show full text]