NST says:


KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will step down as prime minister much earlier than the planned date of June 2010, possibly by March next year.
At an emergency Umno supreme council meeting, Abdullah declined to expressly state when he would vacate the prime minister's position.But he said the transition plan that he had outlined in July -- where he would hand over power to his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Razak in June 2010 -- was "no longer in place".



The STAR says:


Najib to take over sooner
By SHAHANAAZ HABIB, JANE RITIKOS, FLORENCE A. SAMY and LISA GOH
Umno special supreme council meeting
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will hand over power to his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak earlier than June 2010, it was announced yesterday.
Umno has also postponed its annual general assembly and supreme council elections to next March to facilitate the “early transition of power,” said Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi after chairing a special supreme council meeting yesterday.

Racun says:

Can somebody please tell Pak Lah and Najib that they do not decide on UMNO's future. UMNO's future is to be decided by UMNO (the branch delegates to the divisional meetings and after that the divisional delegates to the UMNO General Assembly). There are occassions when leadership guides the decision. This is allowable when the party is in a commanding position and respected.
But the situation now is very different. UMNO is not in command and the people is rejecting the Leader. So rightfully UMNO's grassroots will have to rally behind a strong leader which will be given a chance to prop up the confidence of UMNO members and also its component partners in the Barisan Nasional.

Penawar says:

Its good that the leadership postphonement is scheduled for March, 2009 so that Pak Lah can really prepare for his retirement. The Divisions can then nominate and vote in the new leaders from 9th October to 9th November. When these new leaders won uncontested, (because the grapevine says that if Najib doesn't want to go for the number one post then there will be retractors who will back KuLi, if all the divisions agreed to Nominate Najib to take over, the nominations in the divisional meetings from 9/10 to 9/11, then KuLi will not get the splinter nominations.

UMNO will be strengthened with the new leadership and all UMNO members will rally behind and be united to face the future challenges together with renewed confidence and influence of their component partners in the Barisan Nasional.

Conclusion says:

Pak Lah is very wise to suggest this option, so that within now until March, 2009 (about 6 months time) he can systematically hand over the reign of the country to Dato Seri Najib.

The ideal situation says:

If this is the case, then the handover should be done by the 9th of October, 2008 so that UMNO is in a position to lead the BN pact before the other component parties had sorted out their leadership changes. UMNO is the backbone and it still has to be the spine for the reconstruction of Malaysian politics.

Pressure Pressure Pressure

In the year 2008, today is only 2009 (20th September) not yet 2010 (the 2oth of Ocotober).

If the transition is to happen in 2010, then its in another month's time.

Saturday September 20, 2008

Pak Lah under pressure to exit

By JOCELINE TAN

PETALING JAYA: The Prime Minister is under pressure to fast-forward the transition plan that would have seen him handing over power to his deputy in 2010.

Umno supreme council members had reportedly told Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in their meeting on Thursday that the political situation was not improving and that he should consider an earlier exit.

At the same time, Abdullah’s supporters are rallying around him to ask him to stick to the transition plan and defend his president’s post, if need be.

Stepping out of line, Zaid

Wah! Wah! Wah! Who is this Zaid Ibrahim? Still green and making such comments!

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 (Bernama) -- Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim Friday came out guns blazing against International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who Thursday asked the transfer of power fixed for 2010 be brought forward.

The de facto law minister said if Muhyiddin was not happy with the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, he should either resign or be sacked by Abdullah.

First of all Zaid, the appointment of Ministers is the prerogative of the Prime Minister including your position. You are of the same status. You cannot be asking the Prime Minister to do something which you do not have "local standi". We know lah you are obliged to defend the Boss. But look left and look right lah. You are a suspended UMNO member once, and I think because of your behaviour and the way you have been giving donations and contributions in Kota Bharu, Kelantan Darul Naim, you might be suspended again (money politics). YB Tan Sri Mahyudin Yassin is an UMNO Vice President. You think you are a Minister, you so big already kah? Sedar lah diri sikit.

The Prime Minister will know what to do lah. If not he should resign lah. What YB Tan Sri Mahyudin is doing is just voicing out the sentiments of the UMNO grassroots, the ordinary malays who are not getting any benefits and priviledges from joining UMNO, not like you tak semena mena jadi Menteri. Tak pa lah. UMNO dont mind you jadi Menteri kalau you betul layak dan tahu perasaan UMNO. Jangan lah sombong buta dan pekak tuli mentang mentang dah jadi Menteri.

I am priviledged to these comments because if to compare your services and contributions to UMNO as compared to me, you are no where. You got all the benefits from UEM, UMNO feed you and make you rich and that does not mean that you have the right to tell the Prime Minister or YB Tan Sri Mahyudin what to do. (Because we are fasting and this is the month of Ramadhan, I will reserve my other comments on your intervention in the Tan Sri Mahyudin matter.

The Ahmad Ismail phenomena - a 119 call for MALAYSIA

It sure is disturbing. Ahmad Ismail is a friend (rakan seperjuangan) during our younger days. We were very active in our own ways when I was in Kota Melaka and he was and still is and now no more in Bukit Bendera.

I was puzzled by his outburst and strong headedness (kepala batu) on a very sensitive issue like the Malays and the Chinese and the history of Independent Malaya. Why oh why Saudara at this time? We all have to be responsible for our actions and words. Why want to irritate the Chinese community with such remarks? Why want to ask a member of the Barisan component party to leave the pact? Why so bold and arrogant? Why so ignorant for the fact that the Penang Malays are standing on quicksand? Very very questionable? If its for your personal benefit, then good luck Saudara ku. As a friend, I do not personally think that what you have done is for the good of the Malays.

The real Malays who are Tuans of Malaysia looks after everybody and anybody including the illegal immigrants that comes from all over. That's what our forefathers had decided and agreed upon to make us worthy of rightful owners of the land.

For getting UMNO into trouble, a three year ban is a small price to pay. "Kerana mulut badan binasa". These few words are for an individual. But the damage done to UMNO is not going to be easily mended. Sad to say this, you are still my friend like my many other friends who had betrayed UMNO, but you are no longer my "rakan seperjuangan".

A seven day notice to Anwar's 16th of September

The Federation of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah merged on the 16th of September, 1963 to become Malaysia (the bigger Malaysia). But on the 9th of August,1965 Singapore was forced to be independent against its own will when the Parliament of Malaysia evicts Singapore from the merger. So the smaller Malaysia actually comes into being on the 9th of August, 1965.

Anwar is going back to 16th September to take over the country, that's the date when Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah merged to become Malaysia. So Anwar actually was counting on Singapore's support to take over Malaysia and playing on the sentiments of the Sarawak and Sabah MP's. If many of us can remember, there are a lot of communal problems during the two years preceeding that day. If he is thinking of Malaysia for Malaysia, his most appropriate date would be the 9th of August. Thats when the real Malaysia was reborn without the racial tensions and disorders and successfully grew till today.

So beware, do not let history repeats itself. Trouble and chaos all the while for two years after 16th September,1963. Peace and harmony after 9th August, 1965 except for the remnance of the 16th September problems (Malaysian Malaysia) which emerge in May,1969. Do not let Anwar bring us back to the dark ages of that Malaysian Malaysia campaign.

After being the US puppet during the Financial Crisis, now Anwar is becoming Singapore's pawn to ruin Malaysia?

In the month of Ramadhan when all Satans are under lock and key. This Satan is creating chaos and mockery. God forbids his evil intentions in this auspicious month.

Sincere hope from Anak Malaysia to all Malaysians especially to MP's in purportedly Anwar's crossover list.

Andai nya ini Ramadhan Terakhir

andai kau tahu ini Ramadhan terakhir
tentu siangnya engkau sibuk berzikir
tentu engkau tak akan jemu melagukan syair rindu
mendayu..merayu...kepada-NYA Tuhan yang satu
andai kau tahu ini Ramadhan terakhir
tentu solatmu kau kerjakan di awal waktu
solat yang dikerjakan...sungguh khusyuk lagi tawadhu'
tubuh dan qalbu...bersatu memperhamba diri
menghadap Rabbul Jalil... menangisi kecurangan janji
"innasolati wanusuki wamahyaya wamamati lillahirabbil 'alamin"
[sesungguhnya solatku, ibadahku, hidupku, dan matiku...
kuserahkan hanya kepada Allah Tuhan seru sekalian alam]


andai kau tahu ini Ramadhan terakhir
tidak akan kau sia siakan walau sesaat yang berlalu
setiap masa tak akan dibiarkan begitu saja
di setiap kesempatan juga masa yang terluang
alunan Al-Quran bakal kau dendang...bakal kau syairkan

andai kau tahu ini Ramadhan terakhir
tentu malammu engkau sibukkan dengan
bertarawih...berqiamullail...bertahajjud...
mengadu...merintih...meminta belas kasih
"sesungguhnya aku tidak layak untuk ke syurga-MU
tapi...aku juga tidak sanggup untuk ke neraka-MU"

andai kau tahu ini Ramadhan terakhir
tentu dirimu tak akan melupakan mereka yang tersayang
mari kita meriahkan Ramadhan
kita buru...kita cari...suatu malam idaman
yang lebih baik dari seribu bulan

andai kau tahu ini Ramadhan terakhir
tentu engkau bakal menyediakan batin dan zahir
mempersiap diri...rohani dan jasmani
menanti-nanti jemputan Izrail
di kiri dan kanan ...lorong-lorong ridha Ar-Rahman

Duhai Ilahi....
andai ini Ramadhan terakhir buat kami
jadikanlah ia Ramadhan paling berarti...paling berseri...
menerangi kegelapan hati kami
menyeru ke jalan menuju redho serta kasih sayangMu Ya Ilahi
semoga bakal mewarnai kehidupan kami di sana nanti

Namun teman...
tak akan ada manusia yang bakal mengetahui
apakah Ramadhan ini merupakan yang terakhir kali bagi dirinya
yang mampu bagi seorang hamba itu hanyalah
berusaha...bersedia...meminta belas-NYA


andai benar ini Ramadhan terakhir buat kita…


…MAAFKAN SEMUA KESALAHAN YANG PERNAH KULAKUKAN…

Japanese Prime Minister Resigns

Japan Begins Search for New PM After Fukuda's Resignation
By VOA News 01 September 2008

Yasuo Fukuda (File)

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party has begun the process of selecting a successor to Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda after his surprise resignation.

Party leaders met Tuesday morning to discuss a schedule for electing a new party president, who is all but assured of becoming the country's next prime minister.

LDP Secretary-General and former Foreign Minister Taro Aso is seen as a frontrunner. Aso, who narrowly lost to Mr. Fukuda in last year's race for prime minster, has not said if he will run.

Mr. Fukuda announced his resignation on Monday, after less than a year in office. He said late Monday that Japan needs new leadership to face parliament when it opens September 12.

The prime minister has had low approval ratings since taking office last September. The opposition-controlled upper house of parliament has blocked many of his promised reforms.

Problems in Thailand

Thai prime minister declares emergency in capital

By JOCELYN GECKER – 3 hours ago

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — Thailand's prime minister declared a state of emergency in the capital Bangkok on Tuesday after a week of political tension exploded into violent street clashes between supporters and opponents of the government that left one person dead.

Under sweeping powers that give the military the right to restore order, authorities can suspend certain civil liberties, ban all public gatherings of more than five people and bar the media from reporting news that "causes panic."

The military, which has staged 18 coups since the country became a constitutional monarchy in 1932, said the army did not want to step into the crisis but if it had to, it would not use force against the public.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej was confronted with another threat Tuesday when the Election Commission recommended his People's Power Party be disbanded for electoral fraud during December elections. Samak and other top party leaders would be banned from politics for five years if the ruling is upheld by judicial authorities, though members could form a new party and retain power by winning new elections.

Samak gave no timeframe for how long the emergency decree would stay in effect but said it would be over "moderately quickly."

"I did it to solve the problems of the country," Samak said in a televised news conference at a military headquarters in Bangkok. "I had no other choice. The softest means available was an emergency decree to end the situation using the law."

The overnight violence heightened a national crisis that started a week ago when thousands of opponents of Samak occupied the grounds of his office and refused to move until he resigned.

The right-wing People's Alliance for Democracy accuses Samak of being too close to ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and of trying to change the constitution to help him avoid prosecution on corruption charges. Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup and recently fled to Britain to escape an array of corruption charges. The same group organized the massive anti-Thaksin demonstrations in 2006 that helped spark the bloodless coup.

Many of the same issues — corruption, stifling the media and the ruling party's buying votes from the rural poor with cash and other benefits — have come to dominate the protests against Samak.

The alliance and their sympathizers — a mix of royalists, the urban elite and union activists — complain that Western-style democracy with one-man, one-vote gives too much weight to Thailand's rural majority, who protesters say are susceptible to vote buying that breeds corruption. They have proposed a system under which most lawmakers would be appointed rather than elected.

The prime minister has repeatedly insisted he will not bow to pressure by resigning or dissolving parliament to call new elections.

Samak declared the state of emergency after a week of protests turned violent overnight.