Alhamdulillah, Pusat Khidmat Parlimen Lembah Pantai berpeluang menjayakan pembahagian wang saguhati kecemerlangan pada 21 julai 2010 (Rabu). Pembahagian ini diberikan kepada pelajar yang menyambung pelajaran di peringkat sarjana di Universiti Malaya.

Seramai 8 orang pelajar yang mendapat anugerah ini. Wang ini merupakan sumbangan ikhlas daripada pihak Yayasan Aman menerusi Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai dan berlangsung di Pejabat Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai.

Dasar Kerajaan Persekutuan di bawah pentadbiran UMNO-BN menafikan hak kepada ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai dan ahli-ahli Parlimen Pakatan Rakyat lainnya yang dipilih oleh rakyat kerana tidak menyalurkan dana yang sepatutnya diterima oleh ahli-ahli parlimen. Pada tahun lepas, sebanyak 1 juta dana yang sepatutnya disalurkan dan jumlah tersebut bertambah pada sesi parlimen baru-baru ini dengan penambahan sebanyak RM500 ribu.

Penafian hak ini menunjukkan dasar kerajaan UMNO-BN yang berat sebelah dan tidak bertangungjawab dalam menolong dan membantu rakyat yang berada di dalam kesusahan.

Namun, selagi terdaya, beserta keprihatinan pihak-pihak yang sedia membantu, termasuk hamba-hamba Allah yang mahu membantu rakyat yang amat memerlukan sokongan kewangan, dapatlah Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai menolong 8 orang para pelajar ini untuk menyambung pengajian mereka.

Pejabat Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai juga akan memberi Surat sokongan kepada Menteri Pengajian Tinggi untuk turut menyalurkan bantuan kepada pelajar-pelajar tersebut.

Langkah ini sehaluan dengan pendirian Pakatan Rakyat untuk memperjuangkan pendidikan anak-anak Malaysia.

Kebajikan Rakyat, khususnya subsidi serta masa depan anak anak tidak akan Pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat korbankan sementara membiarkan pemborosan menerusi pengambilan firma Apco (RM77 juta) atau kemungkinan penggantian bangunan parlimen (RM800 juta) diteruskan oleh pimpinan yang tidak bertanggungjawab dan amanah kepada Rakyat.

Saya berpeluang ke upacara perasmian Pertandingan Futsal Piala YB Nurul Izzah di medan sukan Taman Sri Manja pada 3hb Jul 2010 jam 900 pagi. Pertandingan Futsal tersebut adalah anjuran Angkatan Muda KeADILan Lembah Pantai yang dengan usaha mereka mendapatkan seramai 25 pasukan untuk mengambil bahagian. Kejohanan ini diadakan pada 3hb dan 4hb Jul 2010 berturut-turut.

Dalam ucapan perasmian, sempat saya menegaskan dan menyeru agar golongan muda melibatkan diri dalam acara sukan sebegini agar dapat memanfaatkan mereka bukan hanya dari segi mental dan fizikal tetapi juga dapat menghindarkan daripada gejala-gejala sosial yang negatif dan aktiviti seperti ini sekaligus merapatkan silaturrahim sesama lain. Akhir sekali, saya ingin merakamkan penghargaan kepada penganjur, peserta dan semua yang memberikan sokongan untuk pertandingan tersebut.

Saya pun berpeluang menjaringkan gol, walaupun pada usaha ketiga, tapi gol juga!

Sudah daftar belum? Program Pendaftaran Pemilih yang telah berlangsung pada 3 dan 4 Julai yang lalu disambut baik dari masyarakat setempat dan yang datang dari jauh. Saya berharap program seperti ini tidak harus dikecualikan pada program-program pendaftaran pemilihan tertentu tetapi patut dijadikan sesuatu inisiatif yang penting untuk menyuarakan hak kita sebagai warganegara Malaysia dan memberi ruang untuk menyuarakan dan menggunakan hak tersebut.

Selain daripada program pendaftaran pemilihan, pejuang -pejuang PKR Lembah Pantai telah turun padang di PPR Sri Anggerik Jalan Klang Lama untuk membuat pendaftaran Pengundi baru pada 27hb Jun 2010 jam 11am.

Harapan saya adalah semua yang belum berdaftar, marilah sama-sama mendaftar dan menggunakan hak anda untuk memastikan integriti dan tadbirurus baik kerajaan, ada didalam tangan anda. Suara rakyat, suara keramat!

Tempat-tempat berdaftar dapatkan di sini

Baru-baru ini, saya dapat berinteraksi bersama rakyat dengan panel-panel dari PDRM, Alamflora dan juga Malaysian Aids council melalui program DIALOG bersama Rakyat Anjuran PKM APLP pada 11Jul 2010 Ahad minggu lepas. Program di jayakan dengan kerjasama Persatuan Penjaja Taman Sri Sentosa di Pasar Taman Sri Sentosa.

Program seperti ini harus di ambil iktibar untuk mengembalikan keyakinan rakyat terhadap perkembangan gelombang politik yang dapat memanfaatkan mereka. Inisiatif seperti ini, bertukar idea, mendengar masalah melalui dialog amat bermakna bagi saya, dan ia juga dapat menggambarkan haluan dan rintangan yang dilalui oleh mereka.

Turut hadir pada Sesi Dialog adalah Wakil PDRM ASP ANG dan Inspektor Sail,Wakil Alamflora En. Isa Doman, Pengerusi Penjaja Taman Sri Sentosa En. Lim Lian Hooi bersama AJK-AJK penjaja. Dalam majlis yang sama, daripada sumbangan dan kemurahan hati beberapa individu dapat kami memberi kerusi roda percuma kepada beberapa orang kurang upaya. Turut serta dalam pembahagian kerusi roda tersebut adalah wakil PDRM dan wakil Alamflora. Sebagai permulaan, seramai 40 orang OKU yang dikenal pasti mendapat kerusi roda tersebut. Majlis tamat dalam pukul 7pm dengan jamuan ringan yang disediakan oleh PKM

Alhamdulillah, program Gotong-royong minggu lepas, 11 Julai 2010 anjuran PAS dan Pejabat Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai disambut meriah sekali. Saya berpeluang turun padang bersama ramai di Tanah Perkuburan Islam Bukit Kerinchi C2 Pantai Dalam. Turut hadir bersama dengan kami, YDP PAS Lembah Pantai Ustaz Mohd Adlin, dan AJK-AJK PAs. Program itu juga tidak kan berjaya tanpa penyokong-penyokong yang datang memberi sokongan dan kerjasama. Peralatan membersihkan tanah perkuburan telah dibekalkan oleh DBKL. Sambutan yang diberikan oleh penduduk setempat sangat memberangsangkan. Terima kasih sekali lagi diucapkan kepada semua yang hadir untuk menjayakan program tersebut.

Gambar dibekalkan oleh M.Parthiban Ben

By Shannon Teoh

July 05, 2010

Pakatan Rakyat leaders attend the launch of FoPR in London yesterday, July 4, 2010. — Picture by Danny Lim

LONDON, July 5 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders continued their bullish stance towards a possible snap election by insisting that they would win big, when launching an outreach programme here yesterday.

Despite losing five MPs this year, they further taunted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak by stating that the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition was running scared.

“Umno is in a state of panic. They see enemies everywhere,” PR secretariat chief Datuk Zaid Ibrahim told a crowd of over 200 at the launch of Friends of Pakatan Rakyat (FoPR) in London.

Other leaders at the FoPR launch, such as PAS treasurer Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli, DAP’s Kepong MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, were also confident of expanding their historic wins in Election 2008 into the next general election, which must be held by 2013.

Their upbeat mood followed Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s statement last week that PR would be ready should BN opt to dissolve Parliament early.

The government’s reluctance to upset the majority Malays has led to policy reversals and reform pullbacks that are fuelling talk Najib may be readying to get his own mandate as prime minister. The last election was led by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who stepped down in April 2009.

Najib raised constituency allocations for BN MPs from RM1 million to RM1.5 million last month, leading to further speculation.

Dr Hatta expressed his belief that there was a significant possibility of a snap election after Umno vice president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said yesterday that the time had come for BN to go to the polls to prove that they have overcome past mistakes.

“If it’s in September, we will win big. If it’s next year, we will win even bigger,” the Kuala Krai MP said.

Zaid added that “ministers are talking rubbish all the time, because they are panicking over early elections.

“When you start banning newspapers, charging people for sedition and play races against each other and manufacture enemies, that’s the sign of an emerging fascist government. We cannot afford to let that happen,” the former de facto law minister said.

He also claimed that the constant persecution of opposition figures while Umno figures got away with outrageous statements was evidence that the Malay party had “destroyed all sense of fairness in the system.”

“Najib can blatantly buy elections by promising millions because they know they will never be prosecuted,” he said, referring to his recent defeat in the Hulu Selangor by-elections where the prime minister handed out millions to sway voters including RM3 million he promised to a Chinese school if BN won the poll as well, as in the Sibu by-election where the prime minister made a similar appeal.

Nurul Izzah expounded on how PR was more than just “not BN”, but a viable alternative today.

Nurul, who is Anwar’s eldest daughter, stressed that PR had established a Common Policy Framework; while in Selangor, it has introduced a select committee to ensure the integrity of lawmakers and are set to table the Freedom of Information Act in the state assembly.

“The only innovation from BN is Perkasa,” she said, referring to the Malay rights group led by Pasir Mas MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali.

“Change will come and [the] next general election will not be something easily forgotten by BN,” she promised.

Dr Hatta added that in the last elections, DAP, PKR and PAS had only formed an electoral pact to avoid three-corner fights and campaigned individually, whereas this time they would campaign together and make sacrifices for each other.

“This administration should have been over in the last general election. Victory is within reach,” he said.

Dr Tan also insisted that PR would not wait to capture government state-by-state but would be taking over both federal and state governments “simultaneously.”

“While we cannot ensure that PR will be 100 per cent clean once we are in government, we promise that we will show no mercy to those who are corrupt. We must have integrity,” the DAP vice-chairman said.

Friday, 02 July 2010

Friends of Pakatan Rakyat (FPR) is being officially launched as an organisation to rally the support of Malaysians who share the vision of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition for a better Malaysia. The launch will be held on the Sunday 4th of July 2010 in London and officiated by Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, the Pakatan Rakyat Secretariat Coordinator.

Speakers at the event will also include the ineffable Raja Petra Kamarudin as well as speakers from PAS and DAP together with a number of civil society activists  sharing their experiences in shaping the agenda of change in Malaysia.

Naturally we would like to attract as many as possible particularly the “unconverted” to experience first hand the depth of support that currently exists globally amongst Malaysians living abroad particularly in the UK.  The Friends of Pakatan Rakyat (FOPR) movement is currently being duplicated in various countries throughout Europe, Canada, USA, New Zealand, Australia, Asia, etc.  The objective is to harness the global strength of highly qualified Malaysians and former Malaysians living and working abroad to tap into their expertise and financial strength in preparedness for GE 13.

Date:   Sunday 4th of July

Time:  10.30 am to 4pm.
Registration begins at 10am

Venue: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL

Map:   http://tinyurl.com/35d6kre

The programme for the day is as follows:
1000    Registration
Meet civil society activists

1100    Introduction & Welcome address by MC in the Main Hall

1110    Opening Address by Pro tem Chairman of Friends of Pakatan Rakyat – Brian Morais

1130    Speech by Raja Petra Kamarudin, Malaysia Today

1150    Speech by YB Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP Deputy Chairman and 7th Term MP Kepong

1210    Introduction to Civil Society Movements
Fair Comment
Abolish ISA Movement UK
Malaysia Freedom Film Festival
1225    Speech by Ustaz Idris Ahmad, Ketua Penerangan PAS

1245    Canapès & Lunch served by Mango Tree, Top Fine
Cuisine Restaurant, Belgravia, London  …  www.mangotree.org.uk

1400    Keynote speech by Pakatan Rakyat Secretariat Coordinator for PKR – Datuk Zaid Ibrahim

1430    Speech by YB Nurul Izzah Anwar,  PKR  MP for Lembah Pantai

1500    Q & A session

1630    End of Conference
This event will represent the largest gathering of overseas Malaysians max. possible 500 people, to demand a nation that we can all be proud and call home.

Do bring along your entire family.

For those with young children families, provisions will be made for a playroom and creche.

To join us on this momentous occasion, please indicate your interest by registering online athttp://www.eventbrite.com/event/714363681.

Do register early as seats are limited and pass this invitation to your other friends.

Be part of the torch that lights the spirit of hope for Malaysia.

FRIENDS OF  PAKATAN RAKYAT

Danny Lim
Jul 5, 10
3:23pm

As rumours of a snap general election intensify, Pakatan Rakyat is taking its fight overseas with the launch of their Friends for Pakatan Rakyat (FoPR) club in London yesterday.

FoPR chairperson Brain Morais estimated that 20,000-30,000 Malaysians live in London alone.

They represent a potential political support group that could channel its energies and resources through the club.

For the launch, Pakatan top guns flew in from Malaysia to massage the morale of overseas supporters and run through a lengthy checklist of BN blemishes, whilst allaying concerns about problems within the coalition, during a five-hour wide-ranging forum.

Above all, the message was to exude confidence in Pakatan’s ability to win the next general election, adding that the Sibu by-election was the precursor to BN’s downfall.

PKR supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim (right) said this has led to a situation where BN would attack imaginary enemies or create dodgy excuses to taint rivals.

Among others, he cited the banning of cartoon books by Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, better known as Zunar, and attempts to taint his Manchester rendevous with fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin as a criminal act.

“(BN) are in a state of panic, they now see enemies everywhere,” said Zaid, who later stated confidently that Pakatan’s takeover of Putrajaya is inevitable and near.

Withholding dissolution

As the cheerleading baton passed on to PAS treasurer Hatta Ramli, he said BN bigwigs such as Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein have dropped wide hints that a general election is looming.

“Which is September I guess. If it is, I think we will win big,” said Hatta (left).

He then mooted the possibility of Pakatan-held states of Kelantan, Kedah, Penang and Selangor choosing not to dissolve their respective state legislative assemblies as a tactical manoeuvre.

“I’m trying to persuade our leaders…. I hope, or we hope, that the states now controlled by Pakatan will not join the fray and will not dissolve out state assembly.

“We have a duty to do. We have been given the task to rule for five years. We cannot run away from our responsibilities,” he said.

Hatta said that should a snap election be called, this scenario will allow Pakatan to concentrate its efforts on capturing other states, particularly the “difficult” states of Johor, Sabah and Malacca.

BN’s only innovation

The final speaker, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, took a more nuanced perspective and invited her audience to appreciate the fact that unlike the BN, Pakatan is open to criticism and willing to improve itself.

“You shouldn’t choose Pakatan just because we are the antithesis to BN. We have our weaknesses, but we have also been making progress,” she said.

Eager to quote policy positions, she cited successes like the implementation of Selangor Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency which acts as a internal check-and-balance mechanism.

“(Pakatan) distinguishes the power of the state, the state assembly and the powers of the executive,” said Nurul Izzah, adding that with the BN, the lines are opaque.

Nurul Izzah (left) also took a jibe at Umno’s apparent attempts to “outsource” its racial agenda to controversial Malay rights advocate Perkasa.

“In the 10th Malaysia plan, innovation is said to be the main driver of economic growth. The only innovation (thus far) seems to be Perkasa,” she quipped.

“Ibrahim Ali… he is a creature who has to be avoided at all cost… The prime minister has allowed the voice of these narcissistic, narrow-minded, dangerous Malays and allowed (Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad) to back them up, to shore up support, supposedly for Umno, at what cost?”

Other personalities at the event were fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, private investigator in exile P Balasubramaniam (in red shirt), and Tumpat MP Kamaruddin Jaafar.

The event was held at the Conway Hall, which is reputed as a hub for free speech and previously a platform for speakers such as author Salman Rushdie.

For Pakatan, the cost of flying its leaders to London will be far outweighed by the votes it can achieve, if FoPR can get even half as many Malaysian Londoners to make the trip back home.

DANNY LIM is a freelance writer and photographer currently based in the UK.

Pusat Khidmat Lembah Pantai & Bar Council of Malaysia presents: MyConstitution: A Dialogue
Limited space available, for reservation, please call 012-9199 245

Come and join us!