MB not among 22 in haj list

Friday October 31, 2008

THE Perak Government is grateful to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for allowing the 22 people under the Mentri Besar’s office to perform the haj.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, who is also Perak PAS deputy commissioner, however clarified that he was not among the list of 22 people submitted for priority approval by his office.

“I’m not going, that needs to be corrected. Also, not all of the 22 are PAS members.

“Some are PKR members, some are apolitical and some are retired teachers,” he told reporters after opening the European Union-Asia solid waste management conference on Wednesday.

Zahid reportedly said that certain quarters had complained that only selected groups were allowed to perform the haj. He said he gave approval for the sake of religion, although the 22 people were from different political parties.

Nizar said he hoped to work with Zahid, who is also Perak Federal Action Council chairman, especially since the Federal Government had allocated over RM1bil to Perak for development projects.

Isu haji: MB Perak sanggah kenyataaan Zahid Hamidi

Oleh Johari Jaafar

Harakah, Thu Oct 30, 08

IPOH, 30 Okt (Hrkh) - Menteri Besar Perak, Dato' Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin menyanggah kenyataan Menteri Di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Dato' Zahid Hamidi yang menyatakan beliau telah meluluskan permohonannya bersama rombongan untuk mengerjakan ibadah haji pada tahun ini. Iklan

"Saya tidak memohon menunaikan ibadat haji tahun ini, begitu juga isteri saya," katanya.

Sambil menafikan laporan Zahid Hamidi seperti yang disiarkan akhbar bahawa beliau dan isteri akan ke tanah suci tahun ini, beliau meminta wartawan yang hadir bertanyakan hal itu pada Utusan Malaysia.

"Saya sudah tunaikan ibadat haji, jadi saya cuma menyokong permohonan mereka yang mahu menunaikan ibadat haji tahun ini," kata beliau.

Dalam laporan Utusan Malaysia semalam Zahid dilaporkan berkata, haji bukan agenda politik,"saya mahu masyarakat tahu walaupun dari parti politik berbeza, saya mengambil pertimbangan agama."

Mohammad Nizar bagaimanapun mengucapkan terima kasih pada Zahid kerana memberi kesempatan dan menerima baik permohonan 22 anggota rombongan dari pejabatnya dan berharap Zahid mengotakan kata-kata bahawa beliau akan sentiasa mengambil kira pertimbangan agama dalam membuat keputusan yang berkaitan dengan agama.

"Saya dan isteri sudahpun menunaikan ibadat haji. yang memohon itu juga bukannya semua ahli Pas, ada dari Parti Keadilan Rakyat dan guru-guru pencen," katanya,

Menurut beliau permohonan itu dikemukakan kerana difahamkan Menteri Besar diberi peruntukan kuota khusus atau kemudahan tertentu untuk menghantar bakal haji atau menunaikan haji.

Sehubungan laporan akhbar kelmarin, Pejabat Menteri Besar menerima beberapa panggilan daripada orang perseorangan yang bertanyakan kedudukan temu janji masing-masing yang telah ditetapkan sepanjang Disember 2008. - mns _

KOMEN: Tidak tahu siapa yang betul antara MB PAS Perak atau Zahid? Kalau sangka baik dan anggap MB Perak tidak bohong, ini bermakna Zahid berbohong untuk menaikkan politiknya. Apa perlu Zahid cuba sibuk nak mengenai rancangan orang lain nak pergi Haji? Apalah sampai menunaikan ibadat Haji pun nak dipolitikkan, Zahid?

Segera keluarkan fatwa pinjaman haji

Utusan Malaysia , Oktober 29hb, 2008

BATU PAHAT 28 Okt. - Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan digesa segera mengeluarkan kenyataan mengenai hukum umat Islam menunaikan ibadat haji menerusi pinjaman wang daripada institusi kewangan termasuk bank.

Ahli Parlimen Batu Pahat, Dr. Mohd. Puad Zarkashi berkata, ini perlu bagi mengelakkan umat Islam negara ini terus keliru mengenainya kerana amalan tersebut dibenarkan di Indonesia.

Beliau berkata, kekeliruan mula timbul setelah Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Masitah Ibrahim baru-baru ini mendakwa umat Islam dibolehkan menunaikan ibadat haji menggunakan wang pinjaman bank.

''Menterinya, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi pula membuat kenyataan sebaliknya," kata beliau ketika meraikan 140 bakal haji Parlimen Batu Pahat di Senggarang dekat sini semalam.

Beliau berkata, kenyataan yang bercanggah itu menyebabkan bakal-bakal haji keliru dan mahu penjelasan rasmi mengenainya dikeluarkan Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan dengan segera.

Menurut beliau, sekiranya dibenarkan, penjelasan terperinci termasuk kaedah dan caranya perlu dikeluarkan bagi mengelakkan umat Islam tidak dianiaya oleh institusi kewangan.

''Kita tidak mahu ada umat Islam diisytiharkan muflis tidak lama sekembalinya daripada menunaikan haji," katanya.

Beliau berkata, selain bank atau institusi kewangan berdaftar, adakah umat Islam juga dibolehkan meminjam daripada ah long atau individu tertentu dengan mencagarkan harta termasuk tanah untuk tujuan tersebut.

Bagaimanapun, Mohd. Puad yang juga Ketua UMNO Bahagian Batu Pahat menggalakkan umat Isam agar menggunakan kaedah sedia ada iaitu menabung termasuk di dalam Tabung Haji sehingga cukup sebelum menunaikan ibadat tersebut.

''Ini lebih afdal dan mententeramkan jiwa serta fikiran semasa menunaikan haji," katanya.

Menurutnya, menunaikan haji menggunakan wang pinjaman dikhuatiri akan menimbulkan pelbagai masalah dan akhirnya ibadat tersebut menjadi sia-sia.

KOMEN: Macam kamu jadi bos Zahid?

Timbalan cakap lain dan kamu cakap lain. Timbalan kamu belajar Azhar dan bekas pensyarah. Kamu belajar sastera dan doktor pakar dalam manifesto BN pada pilihanraya ...

Yang kesian, adalah orang ramai.

Pemilihan jemaah haji tidak kira fahaman politik

Utusan Malaysia, Okt 29hb, 2008

IPOH 28 Okt. - Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi menafikan dakwaan kononnya beliau mengambil kira fahaman politik sebelum meluluskan permohonan jemaah haji yang akan ke Mekah.

Menurutnya, dakwaan itu tidak benar kerana permohonan khas Menteri Besar Perak, Datuk Seri Ir. Mohammad Nizar Jamaludin dan anggota Pas lain turut diberikan kelulusan.

Katanya, sikap terbuka yang diamalkannya dalam mengendalikan hal-hal agama menyebabkan beliau memberi kelulusan kepada rombongan 22 ahli Pas disertai oleh Menteri Besar Perak itu menunaikan haji pada musim ini meskipun terdapat kira-kira 348,000 senarai menunggu dalam simpanan Tabung Haji.

Katanya, mereka yang mendaftar tahun ini hanya boleh pergi ke Tanah Suci pada tahun 2019 tetapi beliau meluluskan permohonan Mohammad Nizar kerana bersikap terbuka dengan mengetepikan perbezaan politik.

"Saya sudah meluluskan senarai rombongan jemaah haji yang dipohon oleh Menteri Besar Perak yang terdiri daripada 22 orang termasuk isterinya, Datin Seri Fatimah Taat; Setiausaha Politiknya, Mohd. Misbahul Munir Masduki dan Ketua Dewan Pemuda Pas, Salahuddin Ayub.

"Saya tidak mengambil pendekatan politik untuk meluluskan permohonan jemaah haji berkenaan dan inilah sikap terbuka saya dalam mengendalikan hal-hal agama.

"Masyarakat harus diberitahu bahawa walaupun mereka daripada parti yang berbeza tetapi demi agama, perkara politik diasingkan," katanya.

Ahmad Zahid berkata demikian kepada pemberita ketika ditemui pada Majlis Jamuan Hari Raya Aidilfitri anjuran Pejabat Pembangunan Persekutuan Perak di Stadium Indera Mulia di sini hari ini.

Menurutnya, dasar keterbukaan yang diamalkan itu wajar dicontohi oleh kerajaan negeri di bawah pakatan pembangkang dalam mengagihkan peruntukan untuk keperluan hal-hal agama.

"Ada yang mengatakan bahawa jemaah haji diluluskan hanya kepada pihak-pihak tertentu tetapi dakwaan itu tidak benar kerana pendekatan kita ialah 'siapa cepat dia dapat'," ujarnya.

KOMEN: Apa perlu dikomen beenda yang tidak berlaku? DIam sajalah ... Gilakan puhblisiti atau bodoh?

Zahid: Don’t politicise haj application approvals

The Star Wednesday October 29, 2008

By HAH FOONG LIAN

IPOH: The religious obligation of performing the haj is not a political agenda and should not be politicised.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this whi­­le announcing the approval for Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jama­luddin’s 22-man entourage to perform the haj.

“I am not using a political approach when approving his application. When it comes to religion, I adopt an open attitude,” he told reporters here yesterday after attending a Hari Raya celebration organised by the Perak Fede-ral Action Council.

Although they were from different political parties, Zahid said, he had given his approval for the sake of religion.

Zahid pointed out that there had been rumblings from certain quarters that only selected groups were allowed to perform the haj.

“Applications are approved on a first-come, first-serve basis because of the high demand but due to certain considerations, I have approved the application of Nizar,” he added.

Zahid said that this year the first group of Muslims would leave for the haj on Oct 30, adding that the waiting list for those who had applied to perform the haj stood at some 348,000 while approval was given to only 2,019 Muslims this year.

Zahid, who is also Perak Federal Action Council chairman, said he hoped the Pakatan Rakyat state government would forge a close and professional cooperation with the Federal Government when it came to implementing projects beneficial to the people.

Perak, he said, had an annual allocation of over RM1bil for development projects.

“We hope the state will take the same approach and not differentiate if a particular allocation was sourced from the federal or state government,” he added.

KOMEN: Kau yang mula nak mempolitikkan orang pergi haji. Dah salah maklumat, nak beri amaran. Hantarlah gangster kamu, Zahid.

Bahagian Pagoh Tidak Pilih Zahid Hamidi

Bernama.com, 27 Oktober, 2008 16:58 PM

Pemilihan Umno Setiap Tiga Tahun Sekali Perlu Dipinda Bagi Kawal Politik Wang, Kata Tajol Rosli

IPOH, 27 Okt (Bernama) -- Pemilihan Umno semua peringkat yang ketika ini dilakukan setiap tiga tahun sekali perlu dpinda bagi mengawal politik wang daripada berleluasa, kata Pengerusi Perhubungan Umno Perak Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali.

Beliau berkata untuk itu, kaedah pemilihan seperti yang pernah diamalkan dahulu di mana pemilihan peringkat cawangan diadakan pada setiap tahun, pemilihan peringkat bahagian diadakan dua tahun sekali manakala peringkat Majlis Tertinggi (MT) setiap tiga tahun sekali, wajar dilaksanakan semula.

Bekas Menteri Besar Perak itu berkata melalui kaedah pemilihan sedemikian, calon-calon yang berhasrat bertanding dalam pemilihan parti perlu bergantung kepada keupayaannya untuk berinteraksi dengan anggota parti di peringkat akar umbi serta aktiviti yang dilaksanakan di peringkat tersebut.

"Sama ada kita menghadapi pilihan raya atau tidak, pemilihan di cawangan, bahagian dan MT mesti diteruskan. Kalau ini berlaku saya rasa dia akan mengurangkan tohmahan, bukan semua yang bertanding itu menggunakan wang... hanya segelintir sahaja," katanya kepada pemberita pada majlis rumah terbuka Deepavali Pengerusi MIC Perak Datuk G. Rajoo di sini, Isnin.

Naib Presiden Umno Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam sebelum ini turut mengemukakan cadangan serupa bagi membolehkan anggota parti di peringkat akar umbi bergerak lebih aktif berbanding sekarang yang disifatnya sebagai lesu.

Sementara itu, Tajol Rosli menolak desas-desus terkini yang mengaitkan peningkatan jumlah pencalonan daripada Perak yang diterima Mohd Ali untuk jawatan timbalan presiden pada pemilihan parti Mac ini disebabkan Umno Perak agak kecewa apabila Bahagian Pagoh tidak memberikan pencalonan kepada wakil Perak Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi bagi bertanding naib presiden.

Beliau sebaliknya menegaskan bahawa pencalonan yang telah dibuat merupakan pencalonan suara akar umbi kerana anggota-anggota Umno mengamalkan demokrasi sepenuhnya pada proses pencalonan untuk pemilihan parti kali ini.

Bahagian Pagoh yang diketuai Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin pada mesyuarat perwakilannya telah mencalonkan Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim dan Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal bagi jawatan naib presiden.

Mohd Ali yang hanya menerima satu pencalonan pada minggu pertama persidangan iaitu daripada Parit Buntar, menerima empat pencalonan lagi daripada Bukit Gantang, Ipoh Barat, Batu Gajah dan Tapah pada minggu kedua persidangan manakala persidangan minggu ketiga semalam menyaksikan Ali meraih tiga pencalonan daripada Kuala Kangsar, Parit dan Gopeng.

KOMEN: Adakah ini bermakna Zahid bukan pilihan Najib? Adakah dia cai kepada pilihan Pak Lah, Ali Rustam?

Young Turks to the fore

The Star Sunday October 26, 2008

ANALYSIS

By JOCELINE TAN

The wind of change is blowing through Umno and there are signs that a Najib team is taking shape even at this early stage of the party polls.

IT HAS been quite an amazing turnaround for Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein. Just a few months ago, he was wondering whether his political career had hit a bump on the political highway.

Nothing seemed to have gone right for the incumbent Umno Youth leader after the general election. At one point, things were so bad that the team around him was not even sure about his chances in the Umno polls.

But the tide has turned and he is now leading in the nomination race for the three vice-president (VP) posts. Hishammuddin’s shift in fortune has partly to do with the wind of change blowing through Umno.

With just another week to go before the Umno division meetings wrap up, it looks like the VP contest will be dominated by the Young Turks.

Apart from Hishammuddin, 47, there is Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, 55, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, 50, and Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin, 49.

All four had easily surpassed the 20 nominations required to contest the post.

It was an clear-cut indication of the mood for new blood and change in the Umno leadership.

For several years now, Umno’s VPs have come to be seen as a check-and-balance group in the party’s top leadership.

But because of the leadership change taking place at the very top, the issue of succession has also become a factor in the VP contest, hence the dominance of younger and seriously qualified faces.

However, delegates would also want at least one senior and experienced face among the three VPs and this is where candidates like Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim will come into play; and many expect them to qualify for the race soon.

There is no denying that the eventual VP team will very likely comprise people who Najib can work with and rely on.

In fact, the top three contenders are associated with Najib in one way or another. Hishammuddin and Najib are cousins and much as Hishammuddin’s supporters insist that he is there on his own merit, many divisions are probably giving him the nomination as a measure of goodwill for Najib.

The deluge of nominations may not necessarily translate into votes. Hishammuddin, who is Education Minister, is quite aware of that and has asked his supporters not to get complacent just because he has the most nominations.

Zahid has done remarkably well in the VP campaign despite the fiasco over his short-lived attempt at offering himself for the deputy president post. But it has been at some cost because he would be the one leading the VP contest if not for that ill-conceived episode.

Zahid owes a lot to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who made him Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in March. But he got his first big break in politics when Najib took him as his political secretary from 1987 to 1993.

His ties with Najib have remained warm even though he went on to become a right hand man of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim shortly before the latter’s fall from power.

Shafie, the third leading candidate, also came up through Umno Youth together with Najib and he has been an out-and-out loyalist of Najib from day one.

Shafie’s edge in this contest is that he is from Sabah. Any party hoping to stay in power cannot ignore the Sabah factor. If the Unity, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister wins, he will the first Umno VP from Sabah.

The geographical factor has always been important in Umno elections and members like a good representation of leaders from every state.

But Johor may be rather too well represented in the next Umno leadership line-up. Some Umno members have jokingly complained that Johor is producing too many capable and qualified politicians, pointing to the six Cabinet members who are from Johor.

Moreover, there are three Johorians - Hishammuddin, Khaled and Syed Hamid - among the more serious VP contenders. They will have to really try their best because delegates are unlikely to vote in more than one VP from Johor.

Muhyiddin’s surprise guest

Besides, the next deputy president of Umno is also likely to a be Johorian, namely Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.



Political signals: It was the first time that Dr Mahathir had ever attended Muhyiddin’s Hari Raya open house and the event caused a stir among those present. The former Premier is seen here exchanging greetings with Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik while host Muhyiddin looks on. Seated from left are Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and Mubarak president Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang.

Of course, some argue that the next Umno No 2 may well be Datuk Mohd Ali Rustam who is Malacca Chief Minister.

“Everybody is confident that Muhyiddin will make it, that he’s the one. But there are some who think, let’s have a contest, that it’ll be healthy for the party so that no one will take the members for granted,” said Syed Hamid.

Mohd Ali has been making steady progress in the nomination count. His supporters are claiming that even the Prime Minister is backing him, especially after Abdullah appeared on TV expressing concern that there were groups pressuring Ali Rustam to withdraw from the contest.

The support from the Prime Minister should help him secure the 38 nominations he needs to contest.

But Muhyiddin, as many would know by now, has the tacit backing of the former Premier.

Last Sunday, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife caused a stir when they turned up at Muhyiddin’s Hari Raya open house in Damansara Heights.

It was the first time Dr Mahathir had ever attended a Hari Raya do at Muhyiddin’s residence.

Some said the elder statesman wanted to show his approval for Muhyiddin. Others said it was his way of acknowledging Muhyiddin’s role in speeding up the Umno leadership transition.

Whichever the reason, it set tongues awagging.

Even the normally unflappable Muhyiddin seemed thrilled to bits. He had held Dr Mahathir’s hand with both of his hands and bowed low to kiss it.

Dr Mahathir is 83 and retired. He is not even an Umno member but the consummate politician has been playing big-time politics in the way that only he knows how to.

Underlying all these impending changes is the fact that Najib’s reach in Umno is quite unrivalled.
He entered politics when he was 25 and he is now 55. During this time he has built up an amazing network of political alliances and friendship.

Many of the warlords and grassroots leaders who now command the division level poltitics have known him since his days as the leader of Umno Youth.

On his way up, he has helped a lot of people, lent his political weight to their careers and that is why things are falling in place for him at this critical juncture in Umno.

And that is also why Umno’s opponents have zoomed in on him as their target, vilifying him over a myriad of issues ranging from the Altantuya case to helicopter deals.

Many see a Najib team taking shape even at this early stage of the Umno polls.

“It’s a very crucial election for Umno. It will determine our party’s future, even our survival,” said Syed Hamid.


KOMEN: Tak akan semua orang Najib yang menang? Satu kena bukan orang Najib.

Yang paling tak layak jadi orang Najib adalah Zahid. Dia pun bukan young Turk lagi pun. Dah umour 55 tahun. pada umur 55 tahun pun tak ada jasa dan menyerlah sumbangannya dalam apa-apa, melainkan permainan politik.

Paling layak untuk digugurkan. Dia pun orang Anwar. Lama-lama balik ke sana juga. Kalau Anwar berkuasa, jangan hairan dia akan kompat balik ke sana.

Ahmad Zahid Terima PhD

SERDANG, 18 Okt -- Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi antara 176 graduan yang menerima Ijazah Doktor Falsafah (PhD) pada sesi pertama Konvokesyen Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) kali ke-32 hari ini.

Beliau menerima Ijazah PhD dalam bidang Komunikasi Kemanusiaan sekaligus menjadikannya pemegang jawatan menteri yang pertama menamatkan pengajian dalam peringkat PhD ketika masih dalam perkhidmatan.

Ahmad Zahid berkata usaha selama tujuh tahun untuk menyiapkan tesis di samping menjalankan tugasan membuktikan anggapan sesetengah pihak yang menyatakan pengajian pasca-siswazah oleh golongan karyawan dianggap boleh dibeli adalah salah.

"Terpaksa berkejar-kejar untuk menyiapkan tugasan yang kesemuanya mempunyai deadline dan adakalanya terpaksa membuat pindaan apabila persembahan kajian ditolak oleh jawatankuasa penilaian namun itu tidak menghalangnya untuk menamatkan pengajian," katanya.

Beliau berkata UPM bukan sebuah universiti yang mencetak dan menjual ijazah, tanpa mengira status semua penuntut perlu memberikan komitmen dan hasil kerja yang berkualiti dan terbaik.

Pada majlis itu UPM turut menganugerahkan Ijazah Kehormat Doktor Ekonomi kepada Setiausaha Agung Asean Dr Surin Pitsuwan yang disampaikan oleh Canselor UPM Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

Hadiah Pingat Emas Canselor pula dianugerahkan kepada graduan Ijazah Sarjana Muda Pendidikan Aini Marina Ma'rof dan bagi penerima Anugerah pelajaran Diraja kategori bumiputera pula ialah Faizura Rohaizad pemegang Ijazah Sarjana Muda Pendidikan (Bimbingan dan Kaunseling) sementara graduan Ijazah Sarjana Muda Sains Yap Wing Fen pula ialah penerima kategori bukan bumiputera.

Penerima Pingat Emas Alumni pula ialah graduan Ijazah Sarjana Muda Pentadbiran Perniagaan Lee Inn Thing, graduan Ijazah Sarjana Muda Sains Pertanian A'fifah Abdul Razak pula menerima Pingat Emas Yayasan Pak Rashid manakala Hadiah Syed Kechik diterima graduan Ijazah Sarjana Muda Sains Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Ahmad Zamri Alimin.

Keseluruhan seramai 7846 graduan menerima diploma dan ijazah masing-masing pada konvokesyen yang berlangsung selama lima hari bermula hari ini.-- BERNAMA

Zahid Agrees Umno Election Campaign Period Too Long

Bernama Oct 18 2008

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 17 -- Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Dr Zahid Hamidi agrees with a view that the Umno election campaign period is too long.

He also personally feels that the campaign period should start once the divisional delegates' meetings are completed by Nov 9, and that it is better for the party's general assembly be held on Dec 16 as planned earlier.

"That is the best date as in the past party elections, the campaign period was not as long as this time and the view could be discussed at the Umno Supreme Council meeting.

"I am not the authority to speak on this matter but if it is brought up by the Umno Management Committee for discussion at the Supreme Council meeting next week, God willing, I will be one of those supporting it," he said after attending an Aidilfitri function of the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), here Friday.

Zahid, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, however, added that his view on the matter did not mean he was asking Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to step down earlier than scheduled.

"The prime minister can remain in the post until March next year as planned, but with regards to the party, the new president can be officially chosen earlier."

He said an earlier party election would not only give comfort to the candidates, but also to the delegates as a long campaign could have some detrimental effects and not just to productivity levels.

"Not only will there be money politics, but mud-slinging and spreading lies and wild accusations as well," he added.

Yesterday, Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had said that the Umno polls campaign period of four months was too long and could affect the productivity levels of the candidates, especially those with portfolios in government.

Muhyiddin, who will be vying for the party deputy president post, also felt that as a candidate, one month would be better.

On the proposal by MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai on Friday that an additional Barisan Nasional deputy chairman post be created with one being filled by an MCA leader, Zahid said: "Good suggestion, but I think we need to get the consensus of all BN components. So, we should all sit down together and discuss this."

KOMEN: Kamu juga nak Abdullah kekal. Kamu juga sanggup nak tentang Muhyiddin atas suruhan Abdullah. Kamu juga nak setuju dengan Muhyiddin? Lalang itu satu hal, tapi tulang belakang kamu sakit ke?

Kampar not picking Ahmad Zahid for veep post

The Star, Monday October 13, 2008

By CHRISTINA KOH

KAMPAR: The Kampar Umno division has gone against Perak Umno’s wish to support Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for a vice-president’s post.

In a show of defiance against the decision made by the state liaison committee at a meeting on Saturday, Kampar Umno division chief Datuk Mohd Radzi Manan said the division was of the view that a vice-president should not be decided according to state lines.

“When it comes to the vice-president, we must look for someone who can help the president and his deputy,” he told reporters after the annual division delegates’ meeting here yesterday.

“Vice-presidents should be chosen carefully because they will be among those who will go on to the esteemed positions of president and deputy president,” he added.

Mohd Radzi, who retained his division chief’s post unopposed, said the vice-presidency would be a “training ground” for those aiming for higher positions in the future.

During the meeting, the Kampar division nominated Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Tan Sri Mohamed Isa Abdul Samad and Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal for the three vice-president posts.

The division nominated Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for the number one and two spots, respectively.

On Saturday, Perak Umno chief Datuk Seri Mohamad Tajol Rosli Ghazali told reporters in Ipoh that the state committee would back Ahmad Zahid, who is also Bagan Datoh division chief, as a vice-president and leave the other two to the divisions’ discretion.

Mohd Radzi said his main consideration for leaving out Ahmad Zahid was because several Umno leaders from Sabah had recently been displaying good leadership qualities.


KOMEN: Ini bermakna Zahid dapat pencalunan paksa dan bukan sebenar disukai. Yang lain sanggup dipaksa pun sama bodoh.

NAIB PRESIDEN – MUDAH UNTUK ZAHID

Friday, October 10, 2008

Dipaksa atau rela hati?

Oleh Hambali Abdul Latif

Kenapa tiba-tiba Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi mengubah fikiran untuk hanya bertanding jawatan Naib Presiden Umno pada pemilihan parti Mac depan?

Beliau yang sudah pun mendapat sokongan selepas menawarkan diri bertanding jawatan Timbalan Presiden Umno, berkata keputusan itu dibuat demi menjaga perpaduan anggota peringkat akar umbi.

Umno Bahagian Kuala Terengganu semalam (9 Oktober 2008) mengumumkan akan mencalonkan Timbalan Presiden Umno Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak dan Ahli Majlis Tertinggi Umno Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi untuk bertanding jawatan Presiden dan Timbalan Presiden Umno dalam pemilihan Agung Umno pada Mac depan.

Ketua Umno Bahagian, Senator Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh berkata keputusan itu dicapai sebulat suara dalam mesyuarat Ahli Jawatankuasa Umno Bahagian yang diadakan Selasa lepas.

Menurut Wan Farid: “Dari satu sudut, kita merasakan orang yang layak bertanding bagi jawatan nombor dua parti itu adalah mereka yang datang dari kalangan Naib Presiden atau mereka yang pernah menjadi Ketua Pemuda yang mana jawatannya setaraf dengan Naib Presiden Umno,” katanya, sambil menambah calon Timbalan Presiden yang dimaksudkan itu adalah Ahmad Zahid.

Malah, Badan Perhubungan Umno Perlis turut mengalu-alukan keputusan Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi untuk bertanding jawatan Timbalan Presiden Umno pada pemilihan parti, Mac depan.

Pengerusinya, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, berkata keputusan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri itu sekurang-kurangnya memenuhi hasrat Umno yang memerlukan pemimpin muda untuk memperkasakan parti.

Pada 3 Oktober lalu Zahid berkata kesediaannya bertanding jawatan timbalan presiden Umno pada pemilihan parti Mac ini berdasarkan telahan bahawa Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak akan mengambil alih jawatan presiden Umno.

Katanya apabila ada kekosongan jawatan timbalan presiden, beliau telah diminta oleh akar umbi untuk menawarkan diri ke jawatan berkenaan.

Tegasnya: "Saya tidak berhajat untuk "mendahului" mana-mana pemimpin, bagi saya keputusan yang saya buat berdasarkan telahan saya, Najib akan mengambil-alih jawatan sebagai presiden."

Zahid adalah pemimpin yang pertama menyatakan kesediaannya bertanding jawatan Timbalan Presiden Umno.

Zahid, 55, juga mengatakan pengumuman beliau untuk bertanding bagi jawatan nombor dua parti itu terlalu awal, beliau berkata pengumuman itu perlu kerana persidangan mesyuarat bahagian-bahagian akan bermula Khamis ini (9 Okt).

Ditanya hirarki dalam Umno, jawatan timbalan presiden adalah terdiri dari kalangan mereka yang telah berkhidmat sebagai naib presiden, beliau berkata bekas timbalan perdana menteri allahyarham Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman ketika memenangi jawatan timbalan presiden Umno ketika itu beliau bukanlah penyandang jawatan naib presiden Umno.

Dengan kata lain, sudah ada precedent dalam Umno, jawatan timbalan pernah dimenangi di kalangan mereka yang bukan terdiri daripada naib presiden.
Mengenai keputusan terbarunya, Zahid berkata beliau mahu menjaga kekukuhan parti serta menghormati Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak, yang bakal menerajui Umno.

Kenapa beberapa hari sebelum ini Zahid tidak menilai faktor itu semua?
Apakah Zahid jenis penakut? Atau Zahid benar-benar insaf bahawa menjaga perpaduan parti dan melakukan pengorbanan, lebih penting daripada segala-galanya.

Kata Zahid dalam kenyataannya: “Saya memohon sokongan dan pencalonan daripada akar umbi dalam persidangan Umno bahagian-bahagian untuk jawatan berkenaan (Naib Presiden) sahaja.

Saya juga ingin menyatakan sokongan dan taat setia tidak berbelah bagi saya kepada Datuk Seri Najib, yang telah diberikan kepercayaan oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi untuk mengambil alih teraju kepimpinan parti sebagaimana yang telah diputuskan," katanya.

Zahid, yang kini anggota Majlis Tertinggi (MT) Umno, mengucapkan terima kasih kepada semua pihak yang memahami situasi dan realiti politik semasa, yang memerlukan pengorbanan daripada seseorang demi perpaduan dan kekuatan parti.

Realitinya Zahid memang diakui berprinsip dalam tindak tanduknya dan ini ditunjukkan sejak beliau menjadi Ketua Pemuda Pergerakan UMNO lagi.

Apapun, Zahid yang memenangi jawatan pemilihan Ketua Pemuda Umno pada 1996 secara automatik setaraf naib presiden sehinggalah beliau tidak lagi menjawat jawatan berkenaan.

Persoalannya, apakah selepas itu Zahid merajuk atau menentang UMNO?

Jawapannya tidak!

Zahid memilih untuk berada pada pihak Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dan ‘melupakan’ Anwar biarpun banyak pihak mendakwa dan mendedahkan mengenai harta-hartanya yang dikatakan didapatinya hasil keakrabannya dengan Anwar.

Zahid yang membentangkan isu kolusi dan kronisme pada Perhimpunan Agung UMNO 1998 akhirnya terpaksa akur bahawa apa yang diperkatakan olehnya banyak ‘menikam dirinya’ sendiri.

Apa pun, Zahid menzahirkan keperibadiannya kerana beliau memang jenis yang ‘taat’ kepada ketuanya, khususnya Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak yang membimbingnya sejak menjadi Setiausaha Politik lagi.

Malah, biarpun banyak pihak menganggap beliau begitu mengagumi Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Zahid sanggup menerima cacian, cerca dan segala-galanya, termasuk ditahan di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) hanya kerana ‘ketaatannya’ kepada ketuanya – Najib dan Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Bukankah ini suatu pengorbanan?

Saya masih ingat bagaimana Zahid yang kemudiannya tidak lagi menjadi Ketua Pemuda UMNO dan Pengerusi Bank Simpanan Nasional ‘ditinggalkan penyokong-penyokongnya sebelum itu’.

Mereka melihat Zahid tidak dapat memberikan apa-apa lagi – rakan-rakan daripada kumpulan Anwar yang ‘mencercanya’ dan juga kawan-kawan yang menyokong Dr Mahathir yang ‘sangsi’ terhadapnya – tidak lagi berlegar di rumahnya.

Zahid - untuk beberapa ketika kehilangan kawan-kawan, khususnya selepas dibebaskan ISA - ketika itulah menumpukan kepada pengajian Ph.Dnya.

Saya sering juga ke rumahnya di Country Heights dan dijemput makan semeja dengannya dengan dilayani isterinya (Datin Seri).

Jelas sekali Zahid memang nampak kesaorangan ketika itu.

Ada sekali kebetulan waktu maghrib, Zahid menjadi imam dan saya makmum yang satu-satunya!

Tiada lagi deretan-deretan makmum atau tetamu yang datang bertahlil atau ‘berbual-bual’ panjang. Malah, saya dijemput ke bilik bacaan beliau yang kebetulan saya juga berminat untuk menyambung pengajian.

Namun, saya hanya separuh jalan kerana masalah kewangan dan beliau berjaya mendapat Doktor Falsafahnya di Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Apa pun, kesetiaan Zahid kepada UMNO berbaloi apabila terus dapat bertanding untuk kerusi Parlimen pada pilihan raya 1999 dan menang.

Beliau kemudian dilantik sebagai Ketua Penerangan Kelab Penyokong Kerajaan (BBC) yang ketika itu dipengerusikan oleh Datuk Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis.

Kemudian beliau ditugaskan pula menjaga Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) dan semakin ramailah orang yang mendekatinya.

Keakrabannya dengan Abdullah dan mentornya, Najib terus mendapat tempat dan sudah pasti menguntungkan Zahid.

Saya tidak terkejut apabila hanya beberapa hari selepas menemubualnya dalam rancangan “Bicara Ekonom” Selamat Pagi Malaysia (SPM) TV1, mengenai ‘Prospek Pelancongan Islam’ beliau dilantik menjadi Timbalan Menteri Pelancongan.

Selepas itu segala-galanya berada di tangan Zahid. Beliau menjadi Timbalan Menteri Penerangan dan kini Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri.

Dan seperti saya katakan sebelum ini, apabila Zahid mendapat pangkat, ramailah ‘kawan lamanya kembali kepadanya dan juga ramai kawan baru yang mengelilinginya.”

Saya nampak, beliau tidak ada masalah untuk menang Naib Presiden UMNO kerana bukan sahaja ‘kawan-kawannya ramai’, malah mentornya juga kini menuju kepada orang nombor wahid UMNO.

Jalan terbuka luas untuk Zahid kini selepas menghadapi ‘cahaya kecil di hujung terowong’ pada akhir 1990-an dan awal abad ke 21.

Hakikatnya selepas hampir 10 tahun bergelut meletakkan identiti dan pendirian politiknya, Zahid kini benar-benar mampu untuk melangkah lebih jauh.

Syabar dan tahniah Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi!

Zahid Hamidi tarik diri

Utusan Malaysia, October 10, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR 9 Okt. - Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi telah mengubah fikiran untuk hanya bertanding jawatan Naib Presiden UMNO pada pemilihan parti Mac depan.

Beliau yang sebelum ini menawarkan diri bertanding jawatan timbalan presiden UMNO, berkata, keputusan itu dibuat demi menjaga perpaduan anggota peringkat akar umbi dan kekukuhan parti serta menghormati Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak, yang bakal menerajui UMNO.

Berikut ialah kenyataan penuh beliau;

Demi menjaga perpaduan akar umbi serta menghormati Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yang akan menerajui UMNO, saya menawarkan diri untuk bertanding hanya jawatan naib presiden UMNO pada pemilihan kali ini.

Justeru, saya memohon sokongan dan pencalonan daripada akar umbi dalam persidangan UMNO bahagian-bahagian untuk jawatan berkenaan sahaja.

Saya juga ingin menyatakan sokongan dan taat setia tidak berbelah bagi saya kepada Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yang telah diberikan kepercayaan oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi untuk mengambil alih teraju kepimpinan parti sebagaimana yang telah diputuskan.

Saya mengucapkan terima kasih kepada semua pihak yang memahami situasi dan realiti politik semasa yang memerlukan pengorbanan daripada seseorang demi perpaduan dan kekuatan parti.- Utusan

KOMEN: Ah ... temberang si Zahid. Kalau dia nak jaga parti, patut jangan jadi kaki bodek selama ini.

Zahid Hamidi pulls out of Umno deputy race

The Star, Thursday October 9, 2008 MYT 8:27:24 PM

PETALING JAYA Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has pulled out of the race for the party’s deputy presidency and will vie for the vice-presidency instead.

“I have made the decision to only contest the vice-presidency this time in order to preserve unity at the grassroots, and to strengthen the party,” he said in a statement yesterday.

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said he was also doing it out of respect for Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who has been chosen to lead the party.

“I thank all those who understand the situation and current political reality which needs sacrifice from some for the sake of the party’s unity and strength,” he added.

His stand comes a day after Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that he would not be contesting in the party elections and would hand over the reins to his deputy Najib.

Abdullah however, will remain as Prime Minister until March when the Umno general assembly will be held.

The Prime Minister, who named Najib as his successor, hoped that the latter would win the party presidency and would discuss the transition of power after that.

Ahmad Zahid also asked the support and nomination from the grassroots during the ongoing Umno divisional meetings.

“I also state my support and undivided loyalty to Datuk Seri Najib who has been given the trust by the Prime Minister to take over the party’s leadership,” he added.

The Plot thickens

By Sakmongkol AK47

In about a few hours time, Pak lah will make his announcement.

He will say, after consulting to his advisers and listening to the opinions of ulamas, he will stay the course. He is committed to stay until 2010. Provided things do not change.

What will be the repercussions?

First, Dato Najib will also make a declaration that he will defend his deputy president’s post. He will say, he too is committed to the original transfer of power plan. He is in no hurry. He is returning his loyalty to Pak Lah just like Pal Lah was loyal to Tun Razak. One good turn deserves another. After being slapped on one cheek, he will give the other. Its OK, because he like other politicians subscribed to no principles. Only interests matter.

But Sakmongkol also said ‘ provided things do not change’ the original plan will be observed as much as possible. It will be like what Shakespeare said- a plan more honoured in its breach than its observances.

How come?

Because Dato Najib has already started his Machiavellian machinations. Those deft moves wrere not lost on Pak lah’s people.

First he has unleashed his Ghurkhas to state they are offering themselves for the deputy presidents post. His main obergrupenfuhrer was Zahid Hamidi. Despite his blatant declarations that he is loyal to Pak Lah, everyone knows his master is Najib.

It was Najib who placed him on Yayasan Gerak Bakti and Kretam Holdings. In the next few days, his record at Kretam and other corporate vehicles will be exposed. Sakmongkol has said that when the cat pretends he wants to go away, the rats come out to play.

Zahid will most certainly withdraw from the deputy president’s post now that his boss and mentor Najib is forced to defend the deputy presidency. But his own flip flop decision will cost him dearly. Delegates will punish his impertinence by not even wanting him to contest the vice presidency post.

Now, Pak Lah’s own field marshals are conscious of the plans hatched by Najib. They will go after Najib’s people with a vengeance. Those people involved in the shady deals involving Kretam Holdings and Yayasan Gerak Bakti will be exposed one by one. And Najib is also related to Yayasan Gerak Bakti. People will point fingers accusing him of standing silent as transgressions took place in Yayasan Gerak Bakti. He will be accused of doing a Moshe-Dayan eye on the going ons then. Another of Najib’s right hand man, Jamaluddin ‘Jack Sparrow’ Jarjis will also be on the receiving end.

That the first phase.

Even after Najib declares that he is defending the DP’s post, Pak Lah’s people must never succumb to the tse-tse sickness of falling asleep. They will note that, Najib is repeating his famous running with hares and hunting with hounds routine. His people will go around the country asking Najib to be nominated as President. In the meantime Najib will maintain his Janus Face.

Those hangers on around Najib, will do their own shifting alliance routine. They will be seeking out pastures on Pak Lah’s turf. Some will even squeal as pariah rats often do, that Najib has been scheming all along.

After this, Pak Lah’s people will carry out their nights of the long knives, many of Najib’s people will be thrown out from the divisions and MKT.

Will report on the odd man left out- Muhyiddin.

KENAPA ZAHID HAMIDI BERTEMU NAJIB?

Dari blog Jelapang

APA MATLAMAT ZAHID HAMIDI BERTEMU NAJIB?

Itu topik perbualan di warung-warung kopi sejak Isnin selepas Zahid tanpa diundang muncul di Pejabat Timbalan Perdana Menteri Isnin lalu untuk menemui bekas bosnya.

Blogger, Pahit Manis, dalam postingnya Isnin lalu menulis mengenai khabar angin pertemuan tersebut.

Menurut sumber blogger, Ahmad A.Talib, bekas Pengarang Kumpulan New Straits Times, pertemuan Zahid dan Najib tidak diadakan di dalam suasana mesra.

Apa tujuan Zahid menghadap Najib? Penyokong Zahid mengembar-gemburkan ke setiap pelusuk bahagian bahawa beliau diminta oleh Abdullah untuk bertanding jawatan Timbalan Presiden.

Kononnya Zahid, bekas setiausaha politik Najib, menerima panggilan telefon dari Abdullah ketika Zahid sedang mengerjakan Umrah di Mekah.

Ada juga yang menyebarkan berita kononnya Abdullah mahukan Zahid "membantu Najib dalam mentadbir negara".

Selepas pertemuan Zahid dan Najib, tidak kurang pulang penyokong Zahid yang mendakwa bahawa Najib selesa dan bersedia untuk bekerja bersama Zahid.

Malahan, orang-orang Mohd Ali Rustam juga turut membuat dakwaan yang serupa. Tetapi kenapa Zahid bertemu Najib jika Abdullah yang mahukan beliau bertanding jawatan Timbalan Presiden, jawatan yang masih lagi kepunyaan Najib sehingga Abdullah mengumumkan tidak bertanding jawatan Presiden?

Apakah pertemuan yang tidak diundang tersebut bakal menjadi modal Zahid untuk menyakinkan akar umbi yang kononnya beliau menjadi calon pilihan bakal Perdana Menteri untuk menjadi Timbalannya?

Yang anehnya, sudah ada penyokong-penyokong Zahid yang berangan-angan bos mereka bakal menjadi Timbalan Presiden Umno, Timbalan Perdana Menteri dan Menteri Kewangan.

http://ahmadatalib.blogspot.com/2008/10/najib-queried-zahid-hamidi-on-top-post.html

Zahid sogok Sayuti Omar, penulis buaya kaki peras ugut

Malaysia Today, Tuesday, 07 October 2008 10:45

Siapa Suruh Zahid Tanding Timbalan Presiden?

Kalau ilham itu diperolehi menerusi istiqarakah apa boleh buat lagi, Zahid kena akur saja kalau tidak beliau akan ketulahan. Peluang dalam politik jarang menjelma dua kali biasanya sekali saja untuk seorang individu.


Oleh MOHD SAYUTI OMAR

PENGUMUMAN yang dibuat oleh Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (foto) untuk bertanding Timbalan Presiden Umno mengejutkan banyak pihak. Pengumuman itu tak ubah seperti pokok yang bergoyang kuat tanpa ada angin meniupnya. Merujakan permerhatian umum!

Tidak kedengaran sebelum ini yang ahli Parlimen Bagan Datoh itu bercadang untuk menandingi jawatan itu. Jadi apabila beliau tiba-tiba mengumumkannya ia menyebabkan timbul sedikit tanda tanya.

Sebelum ini apa yang kendengaran ialah Zahid akan mencuba untuk kerusi Naib Presiden Umno. Desas desus itu tidak pelik kerana jawatan itu sangat sesuai dengan beliau dan beliau juga paling layak mengisikannya. Usia dan kematangannya dalam politik menjadikan jawatan itu amat padan dengannya.

Dengan kedudukannya selaku menteri dan pengalaman luasnya dalam politik yang pernah memegang jawatan Ketua Pemuda Umno dan menduduki MT diherarki top ten wajar kalau beliau menajak ke atas. Masanya sudah tepat sekali.

Naib Presiden jawatan yang dikira mudah untuk digapai oleh Zahid. Jika dibandingkan nama-nama yang menawarkan diri untuk bertanding jawatan itu jelas kedudukan Zahid mengatasi mereka. Hishamuddin Hussein, Khalid Nordin, Shafei Afdal dan lain-lain tidak mampu mengatasi populariti Zahid.

Kemesaraan dan stail politik Zahid yang baik dengan semua orang dan boleh pejam mata dengan seteru politiknya bila berjumpa, adalah aset dan modal peribadi Zahid yang jarang dimiliki oleh orang politik. Zahid juga seorang yang mesra dengan sesiapa saja. Kelebihan ini adalah sebahagian kehebatan Zahid.

Perwatakan, ketokohan dan idealiisme Islamnya juga menyebabkan beliau mulai dilihat sebagai tokoh agama dan Islam terulung dalam Umno. Kehadiranya boleh mengganti tempat tokoh-tokoh agam dalam parti berkenaan seperti Wan Mokhtar Ahmad, Yusuf Noor atau Abdul Hamid Othman. Malahan pembawaan Islam Zahid lebih dinamik dan progresif daripada tokoh-tokoh itu ini menyebabkan Islam seperti terjamin ditangan Zahid berbanding dengan mereka yang bergelar ustaz atau kiyai Umno.

Potensi ini jelas bila mana Zahid memberi reaksi yang diharapkan apabila setiap kali timbul isu mengenai agama Islam dan juga isu ketuanan Melayu. Beliau sangat vokal dalam menangnai isu-isu ini. Semangat Islam dan Melayu yang tumbuh menyubur dalam jiwa Zahid menyempurnakan beliau sebagai seorang pemimpin parti Melayu seperti Umno.

Kekayaan dan kemewahan hidupnya juga memungkinkan untuk beliau melakukan persiapan bertarung merebut jawatan itu seadanya. Zahid sudah ada pengalaman bagaimana hendak memikat hati perwakilan Umno semasa bertanding merebut jawatan ketua Pemuda tahun 1996. Justeru itu beliau dilihat mudah akan menduduki salah satu daripada kerusi berkenaan.

Sewaktu terserempak di Makkah dua minggu lalu saya ada mengatakan kepadanya, yang beliau akan (InsyaAllah) menang untuk kerusi Naib Presiden. Apa yang beliau perlu kejar ialah mendapat tempat undi tertinggi kerana kemenangan seperti sadah di tangan. Zahid hanya ketawa mersa dan meminta saya berdoa. "Berkat doa ustaz,"katanya kepada saya seperti selalu yang dipamerkan.

Bila balik dari menunaikan umrah alih-alih beliau mengumumkan untuk bertanding kerusi timbalan presiden. Ini mengejutkan sedikit. Apakah gerangan maka beliau berminat kerusi berkenaan. Apakah doa atau istiqarahnya di Makkah memberikan ilham kepadanya untuk bertanding kerusi nombor dua itu dan bukan kerusi nombor tiga! Apakah tahun depan nombor dua membawa tuah kepada anak Jawa Bagan Datoh itu.

Kalau ilham itu diperolehi menerusi istiqarakah apa boleh buat lagi, Zahid kena akur saja kalau tidak beliau akan ketulahan. Peluang dalam politik jarang menjelma dua kali biasanya sekali saja untuk seorang individu.

Pertunjuk di Makkah biasanya baik dan benar seperti mana yang beliau lakukan semasa hendak tanding Ketua Pemuda Umno tahun 1996 dulu. Di Makkahlah beliau buat keputusan itu dan kebetulan saya ada sama ketika itu.

Menurut Zahid ketetapan itu kerana berlaku kekosongan pada jawatan itu apabila ianya bakal ditinggalkan oleh Mohd Najib Razak. Katanya lagi keputusan beliau itu juga kerana ada tanda-tanda akar umbi mendesak beliau berbuat begitu. Bagaimana pun keputusan itu juga tidak bermakna beliau ingin mendahului mana-mana pemimpin dan ianya dibuat berdasarkan telahan (firasat) beliau Najib akan meninggalkan kerusi berkenaan.

Memahami kata-kata Zahid itu ia memberi berbagai pengertian. Dan keputusan itu juga mempunyai strategi dan politik tersendiri. Yang jelasnya, maksud Zahid itu seakan ingin menghalang hajat penyandang jawatan Naib Presiden Umno, Muhyiddin Yassin (foto) yang awal-awal lagi kemaruk untuk menduduki jawatan nombor dua itu.

Muhyiddinlah yang melakukan kerja untuk menolak Najib ke atas bagi membolehkan beliau mengisi tempat Najib itu. Seperti mana dugaan awal saya pelan peralihan kuasa dalam Umno adalah idea Muhyiddin yang dibuat kononnya untuk kepentingan parti walhal hakikinya untuk kepentingan dirinya.

Apakah Zahid mempunyai niat sedemikian? Kalaulah benar begitu ia tidak menjadi kesalahan malah cara Zahid itu tepat sekali. Seharusnya ada yang berani untuk menegur atau pun menghalang menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri itu kerana kelancangannya dalam menegeluarkan kata-kata dan ideanya sehingga menyebabkan Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tidak senang duduk.

Dalam pada ini tindakan Zahid itu lebih kepada cuba membela Abdullah. Mungkin beliau merasakan tindakan Muhyiddin itu tidak patut. Dari sudut lain saya merasakan tindakan Zahid itu seperti ada orang yang memberi dorongan kepadanya agar membuat kenyataan itu. Pasti sudah ada green light dari atas kalau tidak Zahid mungkin tidak bersedia untuk membuat kenyataan demikian.

Sebab jawatan yang paling afdal untuk Zahid ialah Naib Presiden Umno. Kalaupun beliau berjaya menduduki salah satu dari tiga kerusi itu ia merupakan kedudukan tertinggi bagi Zahid dan merupakan satu prestasi terbaik dalam kerjaya politiknya.

Apakah dalam soal ini Najib yang mengajar Zahid berbuat demikian? Ada desas desus mengatakan Najib tidak begitu sebulu dengan Muhyiddin. Muhyiddin bukannya regu atau kawan politik Najib. Namun kalau dilihat kepada kerja Muhyuddin menghambat Abdullah itu menguntungkan Najib, tidak mungkin Najib tidak suka dengan kerja Muhyiddin itu. Bahkan Muhyiddin dikatakan akan bergabung dengan Najib menjatuhkan Abdullah?
Yang pastinya tentu ada orang memberi aspirasi dan sokongan kepada Zahid. Apakah orang itu Abdullah sendiri? Tidak mustahil. Ada sebab kalau Abdullah memberi ilham kepada Zahid untuk mencuba jawatan itu dan sekaligus menganggu emosi Muhyiddin. Sudah tidak menjadi rahsia lagi hubungan Abdullah dengan Muhyiddin akhir-akhir ini tidak begitu 'lendik'. Malahan jika dilihat secara zahir mereka berdua seperti ada masalah besar. Kalau tidak masakan Muhyiddin secara terbuka meminta Abdullah berundur! Jadi mungkin Abdullah menghantar Zahid untuk mengekang Muhyiddin.

Bagi Zahid pula tidak ada masalah untuknya berhadapan dengan Muhyiddin. Apa lagi kalau mendapat sokongan daripada presiden sendiri. Tentu Zahid merasakan bahawa beliau dijadikan anak emas oleh Abdullah. Kalau tertakdir Zahaid berhadapan seorang sama seorang dengan Muhyiddin untuk jawatan itu, kemenangan berpihak kepada Zahid. Pengaruh Zahid juga bukan kecil anak.

Lagipun pengaruh Muhyiddin dalam Umno tidak konsisten. Beliau pernah menang dengan mendapat undi terbanyak untuk jawatan Naib Presiden tetapi undinya merosot kemudian meletakkan beliau sebagai Naib Presiden yang tercorot. Dengan Muhyiddin bermasalah dengan Abdullah ini memberi kesempatan baik kepada Muhyiddin.

Lagipun sekiranya Najib bertanding kerusi presiden dan menang, Zahid tidak ada masalah untuk berada bersama Najib. Najib adalah bekas bosnya. Zahid penah menjadi Setiausaha Politik, Timbalan Perdana Menteri itu dan beliaulah yang mengajarkan Najib dengan istilah Islam dan juga mengajar menyebut al Fatihah secara betul.

Untuk memantap ilmu agamanya dan memastikan Islam terus bersinar dalam Umno, Najib memerlukan orang seperti Zahidi sekiranya beliau menjadi PM kelak. Dengan latar belakang dan ilmu serta akhlak muslim yang baik Zahid boleh membantu dan membimbing Najib sekaligus.

Berdasarkan senario itu Zahid berada dalam keadaan di kiri untung di kanan laba kalau beliau mencuba nasib di kerusi nombor dua. Beliau boleh berkerja dengan sesiapa saja. Dengan Abdullah samatelahlah. Abdullah yang memberi kepercayaan kepada Zahid untuk menjadi menteri setelah bekas ketua pemuda itu dinafikan haknya bertahun-tahun oleh bekas Perdana Menteri, Mahathir Mohamad.

Begitu juga sekiranya Zahid sedia berdepan dengan Muhyuddin untuk kerusi nombor dua itu atas hajat untuk membela Abdullah ia dikira kena dan tepat sekali. Tidak salah bagi Zahid sambil untuk memperbaiki kedudukan dirinya dalam hirerki politik Umno ianya juga untuk membela orang yang berbudi kepadanya. Sebagai orang berlatar belakang Islam yang tahu mana halal dan haram, Zahid tentu pandai menghormati mana orang yang baik dan berjasa kepadanya.

Kita berharap Zahid istiqamah dengan keputusannya itu. Kemenangan Zahid kelak juga boleh menebus segala malu dan aibnya kepada Hishamuddin Hussein selama ini. Hishamuddin yang menjadi pembantunya diberikan keistimewaan melampau di zaman Mahathir dimana ia dirasakan satu kezaliman kepada Zahid. Mungkin kali ini giliran Zahid pula mengatasi atau mendapat kedudukan lebih tinggi dan lebih baik dari Hishamuddin. Kepada Zahid selamat mencuba namun harus juga waspada!

KOMEN: Apa terserempak? Zahid bayar dia supaya berbohong mengenai dan cerita baik mengenainya! Siapa tak tahu Sayuti Omar, penulis pemeras ugut yang kalau tak kasi duit, akan buruk-burukkan seseorang pemimpin.

Ada Laksamana Do Re Mi dalam Umno?

Dari blog Pahit Manis

APAKAH yang membuat Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, MP Bagon Datoh dan ahli Majlis Tertinggi Umno, mengubah fikiran dari mahu bertanding jawatan Timbalan Presiden kepada Naib Presiden?

Yang tersurat memang jelas. Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri itu menyatakan bahawa beliau menarik balik hasrat bertanding jawatan nombor dua demi 'kepentingan dan perpaduan parti.'

Yang kita semua ingin tahu ialah yang tersirat. Apakah penarikan itu hasil pertemuan empat mata antara beliau dan Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak awal minggu ini? Atau apakah pengumuman awal itu semata-mata untuk mendapat perhatian ahli parti dan mereka yang akan mengundi di pemilihan parti di perhimpunan Mac depan?

Apapun, pengumuman Zahid itu sedikit sebanyak mengurangkan 'pening kepala' perwakilan, terutama di mesyuarat agung bahagian yang bermula hari ini (Khamis). Mungkin ada yang membuat kesimpulan bahawa Zahid menarik balik keputusannya setelah sedar bahawa kemenangan bukan automatik.

Dalam pergelutan untuk jawatan timbalan presiden, setakat ini Datuk Wira Mohd Ali Rustam dan Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib adalah dua pembesar Umno yang menawarkan diri untuk bertanding.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin dijangka menyatakan hasrat yang sama esok dalam sidang akhbar khas di Putrajaya.

Mohd Ali, Ketua Menteri Melaka dan salah seorang penyandang jawatan Naib Presiden, yakin boleh menang atas popularitinya yang memang susah ditandingi. Namun, populariti sahaja belum tentu boleh memberi kemenangan untuk jawatan kedua terpenting dalam parti, dan seterusnya, dalam kerajaan.

Begitu juga dengan Muhammad Taib, Mike Tyson Umno ini. Sejarah hitamnya akan menghantui orang kuat Umno ini. Ketua Penerangan Umno ini memerlukan 'satu keajaiban politik' jika mahu menang dalam pertandingan ini.

Pemerhati politik tanahair tahu bahawa keajaiban atau 'miracle' bukanlah satu perkara yang sukar ditempah. Tidak ada yang mustahil dalam politik. Ini jugalah yang menjadi pegangan Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, MP Gua Musang, seorang gergasi dalam politik Umno dan tanahair.

Jika Ku Li mendapat cukup pencalonan, bekas Bendahari Umno ini akan berdepan dengan Mohd Najib, anak bangsawan Umno yang bakal dinobatkan sebagai Perdana Menteri Mac ini (jika dia lulus ujian pemilihan parti).

Dalam sejarah Umno Baru, pemilihan Mac ini adalah satu-satunya yang boleh disifatkan sebagai pemangkin kepada apa juga reformasi yang perlu dibuat untuk memastikan parti itu terus relevan dalam landskap politik tanahair.

Kita lihat juga bagaimana dua anak muda yang berhasrat menerajui Pemuda Umno masing-masing dapat satu pencalonan dari dua bahagian yang bermesyuarat hari ini - Khairy Jamaluddin (Machang) dan Datuk Mukriz Mahathir (Kimanis).

Apapun, Umno berada dalam keadaan terbaik atau terburuk dalam usaha menentukan masa depannya. Terbaik kerana pemilihan Mac betul-betul boleh mengembalikan keyakinan ahli dan rakyat terhadap kepimpinannya jika pemilihan dibuat berasaskan kejujuran dan keikhlasan.

Terburuk kerana keghairahan dan sifat gila kuasa yang tiada sempadan boleh meranapkan sebuah wadah yang telah lama berjasa. Mundur maju Umno terletak kepada kewarasan dan kematangan pejuang-pejuang dalam parti tua ini.

Perak Umno chiefs returned unopposed

The Star, Tuesday October 7, 2008

IPOH: Eight incumbent Umno division chiefs in Perak have been returned unopposed while three are not seeking re-election.

The eight are Parit Buntar division chairman Datuk Abdul Raman Suliman, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz (Padang Rengas), Datuk Seri Mohamad Tajol Rosli Ghazali (Gerik), Datuk Samsuddin Abu Hassan (Tapah), Datuk Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib (Tanjong Malim), Datuk Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah (Tambun), Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir (Lumut) and Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Bagan Datoh).

According to Perak Umno secretary Datuk Ramly Zahari, the eight had been returned unopposed after the branch meetings concluded last month.

Ramly, who is incumbent Kuala Kangsar Umno division chief, said the remaining 16 divisions would see candidates vying for the various positions.

There were only three incumbent division chiefs who did not seek re-election, he said yesterday.

The three were Bagan Serai Umno division chief Datuk Zainal Abidin Zin, a former Deputy Defence Minister; Gopeng Umno division chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin, a former Rural and Regional Development Minister; and Bukit Gantang Umno division head Datuk Mat Isa Ismail, a former Perak assembly speaker.

It was a record of sorts for the Parit Buntar division because the heads of its three wings Wanita, Youth and Puteri had also won the positions uncontested, said Abdul Raman.

Dr Zambry, who is a two-term Lumut Umno division chief, also became the latest contender in Perak to announce his interest in a supreme council post.

“There is an urgency to help Umno as a party and to regain the confidence of the people regardless of race,” said Dr Zambry, who was an Umno Youth executive council member in 2000.

Among those who had announced their interest in vying for a supreme council position are Husni and incumbent Pasir Salak division chief Datuk Tajuddin Abd Rahman, who is also Pasir Salak MP.


KOMEN: Kalau begini, maknya UMNO Perak tak ada perubahan. YTak ubah kepimpinan, tak ada perubahan. Hmmm.... terutama di Bagan Datoh.

Najib queried Zahid Hamidi on top post?

From Pahit Manis blog

CAN someone confirm this for me - I was made to understand that Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, an aspirant for the deputy president post in Umno, had a pow-wow with Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak earlier this evening (Monday).

Zahid, once Najib's political secretary and now a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, had announced his interest to vie for the number two post. I'm not sure whether Zahid sought the meeting with Najib or he was summoned by the Deputy PM.

Zahid's declaration to make a bid for the top post was met with much talk on the ground. I'm also told that a few divisions had begun to give a second thought as to who they would nominate to contest the number two post, especially in Perak.

These divisions, who had earlier hinted strongly that they would back Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, a front runner in the race despite not officially announcing his interest, had begun to waver and may opt for Zahid instead.

Sources close to senior Umno leaders said it wasn't a happy meeting the two had. In Umno's tradition, the behind-the-scene deals are just as important, if not more, than the public announcements.

Zahid's announcement had caught many people by surprise, and Najib was believed to be one of them. In Umno politics, not telling your boss of your intentions can yield a somewhat awkward situation.

Questions: What transpired at the meeting between Najib and Zahid (if indeed it took place?). Would Najib discourage Zahid from proceeding to seek nominations? What reasons Zahid offered by way of justifying his intention?

At this point in time, Zahid, Malacca Chief Minister and Vice President Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and Tan Sri Mohamad Rahmat's son, Datuk Nur Jazlan, are the only ones who had openly declared their interest to contest. The other vice president, International Trade and Industry Minister, Muhyiddin, has yet to publicly expressed his desire to contest.

Question: Must an aspirant explain to his boss his reasons to contest? Would Ali and Nur Jazlan be also hauled up like Zahid? Is this a form of an unofficial 'vetting' before a potential candidate can try to advance his political career?

This is the Umno way, the intrigue that's been practised over the years. Some commentators said Zahid is being planted to contest to put a check on Muhyiddin, seen to be a strong critic of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Muhyiddin has been speaking up and made strong statements that Umno must reform itself, starting from the top.

In the next few days, some of these questions will be answered. Just be patient.

The Umno Deputy Presidency: Are these candidates for real?

From Jejak Pujangga blog

I know Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, the young MP for Pulai and son of former Information Minister Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat.

We used to discuss local politics over a meal when I was still the News Editor of the New Straits Times. He wasn't a Parliamentarian then. When I left the newspaper, I stopped getting the ocassional calls that I used to get from him. I did try to call him on several ocassions, but I never got through.

I have not spoken to him for about 4 years now. But I have been keeping tabs on his political career. The last I heard was that he was finding it difficult to even get sound support from his own division - Pulai.

So when I heard that he had offered himself for the post of Deputy President, I almost fell off my chair.

To me, Jazlan has not attained political puberty for him to even vie for the position of a normal Umno Supreme Council seat, let alone the post of Deputy President.

The post of Deputy President is an important one. The Umno Deputy President also by tradition holds the second most powerful position in the country, the Deputy Prime Ministership.

It requires someone with vast experience in politics and administration, highly educated and knowledgeable, should be credible, should have the ability to be a good salesman, should be able to deal with both the local and foreign Press, should be good enough to succeed the Prime Minister and has the potential of becoming a Statesman, should have a good command of both English and Bahasa Malaysia and most of all, should not be an international embarrassment.

Jazlan may just be trying to prop up his name for bigger positions by throwing in the idea of him contesting the No 2 post, but by doing that, consciously or unconsciously, he is making a mockery of this important position.

I am not saying that Jazlan is not a Deputy President material. But it will certainly take him a good decade or so before he qualifies.

If I were him, I will focus on strengthening my position at the divisional and State levels before I aim any higher.

While in the subject of the Deputy Presidency, I am also quite disturbed by the fact that Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Ali Rustam have offered themselves for the post of Deputy President.

Both Zahid, with whom I had worked with when I was a journalist, and Ali do not have the sufficient background to become Deputy President and Deputy Prime Minister. What outstanding contributions have they made to the country to deserve this important position? Are they better than all the other Umno Supreme Council members? Also worrying is the fact that they can hardly speak English.

Simply picture them speaking with President Barrack Obama with the aid of an interpreter. That will be the first for our country. God save us.

Is that all the reason justified?

UMNO POSITIONS: Perak must back Zahid

New Straits Times, October 7, 2008

FOR the first time in the history of Perak politics, an anak Perak has indicated that he will vie for the post of Umno deputy president at the coming general assembly (”Ahmad Zahid’s surprise run for Umno No 2″ — NST, Oct 3).

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is a true-blue anak Perak and all Umno branches, divisions and the state level should put sentiment and ideology aside and support him 100 per cent.

Perak once had the biggest number of divisions in the country and Umno members from all these divisions were not only respected and much sought-after before every general assembly but also commanded vast respect and power. Of course, that is history now.

What we have here now is a winner and Zahid needs solid support from his own state.

He is well learned, has vast experience in Umno, was once a political secretary to Datuk Seri Najib Razak, was a deputy minister and now is a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of religion. He is almost an all-rounder.

This could be the turning point for Umno and for Perak, too. Ever since Perak lost its position as the state with the highest number of Umno divisions, it has been in the doldrums.

This could be a true awakening for Perak, and if Perak Umno is to recover from its defeat at the last general election, then this is the time to do it.

So I call on all Umno branches, divisions, state levels and, most of all, all Perakians to give total support to Zahid in his quest to become the next Umno deputy president.


KOMEN: Adakah Zahid disokong kerana asas semangat kenegerian saja? Kalau begitu negeri lain tidak payah sokong orang lain tetapi calun dari negeri masing-masing.

Tanya adakah Zahid layak untuk menjadi Naib Presiden? Adakah dia tidak akan menjatuhkan maruah negeri Perak satu hari nanti bila dia berkuasa? Kaji betul-betul sebelum sebut dia "well learned". Benarkah dia "vast experiance"?

Berapa lama dia pegang Ketua Pemuda? Berapa lama dia jadi Setiausaha Politik Najib? Berapa lama dia pegang Menteri Penuh? Adakah dia layak dan akan berjaya dalam jawatan yang disandang sekarang?

Barisan Bertindak Sokong Zahid?

Dari blog Mokhtar Petah

Barisan Bertindak Perpaduan Melayu (BBPM) menyambut dan menyokong kesediaan Dato’ Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi bertanding jawatan Timbalan Presiden UMNO dalam Perhimpunan Agung UMNO, pada Mac, tahun depan.

Presiden barisan itu Haji Osman Bakar memberitahu, bahawa barisan tersebut dan semua badan NGO yang bersamanya menyokong penuh akan rancangan Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, kerana rancangan satu ‘jihad’ untuk membela UMNO dan bangsa Melayu.

“Kami mengalu-alukan kesediaan Dato’ Dr. Zahid, kami menyokong penuh semua perpaduan Melayu pada masa akan datang,” katanya.

“Kami harap Dato’ Dr. Zahid Hamidi akan menjadi Timbalan Perdana Menteri dan akan dapat membantu Perdana Menteri, Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak pada masa akan datang,” katanya lagi.

Dato Dr. Zahid Hamidi seorang tokoh penting setelah Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi menyerahkan kuasanya kepada Najib pada Mac nanti kerana beliau tokoh yang berwibawa untuk menyelamatkan parti politik Melayu itu dan sekali gus menyelamatkan bangsa Melayu,” tambahnya.

Menurut Osman Bakar, Najib Tun Razak tidak akan terdaya menentang gelombang yang akan menghapuskan UMNO sepeninggalan Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Najib Tun Razak perlukan seorang tokoh yang Islamik untuk membantu beliau dan dalam UMNO tidak ada tokoh yang islamik selain dari Zahid Hamidi, jelasnya.

Beliau khuatir, setelah peralihan kuasa nanti, ahli-ahli UMNO yang islamik yang berdiri di belakang Abdullah Ahmad Badawi akan meninggalkan parti politik itu dan menyertai Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Presiden Barisan Bertindak Perpaduan Melayu itu menduga, ahli-ahli UMNO yang islamik tidak akan mengikuti Najib Tun Razak kerana beliau tidak termasuk golongan ahli UMNO yang islamik.

Othman Bakar menyeru semua pemimpin Melayu dalam UMNO, PAS, PKR dan badan-badan tidak berpolitik bekerjasama untuk mencari jalan bagi menyelamatkan bangsa Melayu.

Sementara itu beberapa Badan Perhubungan UMNO Perlis turut mengalu-alukan Dr. Zahid Hamidi dan menyifatkan langkah beliau sebagai memenuhi hasrat UMNO memerlukan pemimpin muda untuk memperkasakan parti politik Melayu itu.

KOMEN: Siapakah Osman Abu Bakar? Kalau ada orang Pasir Salak, sila ceritakan. Siapakah dibelakang Badan Bertindak Perpaduan Melayu? Untuk Melayu atau ...?

Zahid, DAR, Mat Taib - any more names?

From Pahit Manis blog

SMS QUESTION in the last couple of days - is Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi serious about bidding for the deputy president post in Umno? Same question was asked of Malacca CM Datuk Ali Rustam. A day later, an SMS asked if I know that Umno Information Chief Tan Sri Muhammad Haji Muhammad Taib was also contemplating a similar challenge?

And of course there's the usual follow-up questions - what about current VP Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, is he not going to announce that he's also keen to bid for the post? Isn't he a favourite and front-runner already, even when nominations are not yet in?

Well, if you ask me - these guys aren't just floating a test balloon! Zahid must feel that since he was once the political secretary of UMNO president in waiting, Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak, he stand a good chance of making it to the main office this time.

One must think big in politics; show one has the balls to go for it; willing to take calculated risks; and stand and be counted. I believe Zahid must have thought about this when he made known his intention to vie for the number two post.

An old hand in Umno politics have a somewhat different view. She's of the opinion that someone is putting Zahid up to it. When I asked who could that person be, she smiled and hinted that it's someone who doesn't want to see Muhyiddin have a walk-in to the deputy president's post!

Should Muhyiddin be worried then? I don't know. He seemed confident, and probably encouraged by recent declarations by a few divisions that they would nominate him for the deputy president post when the time comes.

As for Ali Rustam, the man is a hugely popular leader, especially among grassroots members. Everyone knows that if he's been invited to 10 weddings in a day, he'll make every effort to attend all, even if for a few minutes. What are his chances?

Well, you never know. He's a state wakil rakyat, and not an MP. His rivals may argue that he can't be Deputy PM even if he gets to be Umno deputy president! Woh! If you ask DAR (as Ali Rustam often refers himself when replying to SMS), let's cross the bridge when he comes to it.

I know many people may look at Muhammad with considerable dismay, disgust even. This is because of his Australian history, a rather embarrassing one at that. But be that as it may, Muhammad believes he's a loyal servant of Umno, and therefore harbours hope of going further than an Information chief.

In a few days time, the Umno divisional meetings will take place. Nominations will start, and the ground troops are all set for some serious political maneuverings. Things are going to be hot in the next few weeks.

Zahid: I’m not trying to force change in party

New Straits Times, October 4th, 2008

ALOR GAJAH: Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his offer to contest the deputy president post was not to force a speedier transition of power in the party.

Stressing that he was offering himself “in obedience” to the wishes of the party grassroots, Zahid said he respected the power transition plan which had been agreed between party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“I am not trying to force a change in Umno by considering to run for the deputy president post. Whatever change in Umno would eventually take place and I would allow the changes planned by the leadership to take its course.

“I am not trying to overtake other Umno leaders, but my intentions are based on my prediction that Najib would take over as Umno president from Abdullah once the transition takes place.

“Then, the No 2 position would be vacant, and I have been asked by the grassroots to contest for the post of deputy president,” he said, when met at his mother-in-law’s Hari Raya open house at Kampung Durian Daun in Masjid Tanah, here, yesterday.

Zahid said he would soon make an official announcement. He also revealed that he had received mixed reactions on his intentions to contest the No 2 post in Umno.

“Of course, there have been many positive reactions but there were also some who wanted me to contest for the vice-presidency.

“But I have stated my intentions to go for the No 2 post in Umno and it would be difficult for me to go back on my word.

“I would be meeting Umno members throughout the country after Oct 9 (the date on which Abdullah is expected to make an announcement on whether he would be seeking re-election).

“I want to gauge the situation before making an official announcement,” said Zahid, who was also a former political secretary to Najib.

Last Friday, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he would step down as prime minister much earlier than the planned date of June 2010, possibly by March next year.

Abdullah had said the party’s annual general assembly and polls had been postponed to next March and he would decide by Oct 9, when the 191 Umno divisions start nominating leaders for party posts, whether he would seek re-election.

Ahmad Zahid's announcement may cause a rush for No. 2 job

The Star, Saturday October 4, 2008

By JANE RITIKOS

KUALA LUMPUR: The race for the Umno deputy president’s post is hotting up with the possibility of at least five leaders eyeing the position if it falls vacant.

Yesterday, Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, 59, became the second leader to openly state his intention to go for the number two post.

The Umno vice-president said: “I am ready to offer myself for the (deputy president) (party) elections if there is a vacancy.”

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was the first to announce that he will throw his hat in the ring for the post on Thursday. Zahid, 55, is a supreme council member and former Umno Youth chief.

Vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, 61, who has been vocal with his views on the transition of power plan, is widely expected to offer himself for the post of deputy president but he will wait for Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s announcement before making a commitment.

The party is waiting for Abdullah to state whether he would defend his president’s post by Oct 9. The party elections are in March.

The divisional elections begin on Oct 9 and they will start nominating candidates for the supreme council.

Once this happens, it will be official whether the number two post will be up for grabs since the incumbent Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will move up.

Another name that has been mentioned is three-term vice-president and Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, 63.

The senator who did not deny having an interest to join the fray, however, said that out of respect he would wait for Abdullah’s announcement first.

Saying that Abdullah had made a major concession for the party and made a lot of personal and political sacrifice by fast tracking the transition of power more than once, he said: “It is only proper that we give our fullest respect to him, if not it will be perceived that we are pushing him off the cliff. It would not look nice like that. I will wait.”

Asked if he would also throw his hat in the ring, he replied that he was an experienced party and state leader and had been loyal to Umno.

“In 1993, Pak Lah (Abdullah), Najib, Muhyiddin and I went for the vice-presidency. In 1996 and 1999 I was also the vice-president. I am a veteran vice-president. I worked hard every election but to make that announcement now is too early.”

In the last party election in 2004, Mohd Ali was elected party vice-president with the second highest number of votes among the three vice-presidents.

Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad secured the highest votes while Muhyiddin came out third. Muhammad, who had been vice-president since 1993, failed to get re-elected when he took the fourth spot.

Another possible candidate is said to be supreme council member and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim. However, he could not be contacted for comments.

Zahid: I’m contesting because Najib will be president

MASJID TANAH, Oct 3 - Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his decision to contest the Umno deputy president’s post was based on his conclusion that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would take over the Umno presidency.

He said party grassroots members had asked him to go for the number two post should there be a vacancy.

have no intention of stepping ahead of any leader. My decision is based on my conclusion that Najib will take over the president’s post,” he told reporters at a Hari Raya gathering at his in-laws’ house in Kampung Empang Batu, Durian Daun, today.

Yesterday, Ahmad Zahid, an Umno supreme council member, made a surprise announcement that he was willing to contest the Umno deputy president’s post in the March 2009 party elections.

Apart from Ahmad Zahid, another leader, Umno vice-president and Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, has also announced his intention to contest the deputy presidency.

When asked whether his announcement came too early, Ahmad Zahid, 55, said it was necessary because the party’s divisional meetings would start next Thursday.

“Why should I delay the announcement? The divisions will start their nominations on that day... let the grassroots members decide,” he said.

He likened his move to someone flying a flag, saying, “One flies a flag so that others will see it”.

When told that traditionally the candidates for the number two post were from among those who had served as vice-presidents, Ahmad Zahid said, this was not always the case.

He said that there was already a precedent when former Deputy Prime Minister Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman won the number two post even though he was not an incumbent vice-president.

Ahmad Zahid had won the Umno Youth chief’s post in 1996, a post equivalent to that of Umno vice-president.

On the response from party members after his announcement, he said, there were many who supported his move while others wanted him to contest the vice-presidency.

“But I’ve decided to offer myself (for the deputy president’s post). I find it difficult not to keep my words,” he said. - Bernama

Sebelum Jadi "Beroke", Tolong Hantaq Cermin Kat Dia

Oleh Husin Lempoyang

Amboi berdering-dering talipon Husin sejak semalam. Kalau orde unta untuk buat rendang, tak apa juga. Masuk juga bisnes. Ini tanya pasal Menteri Ugama umum nak tanding Timbalan Presiden.

Mak Dato Ketua Wanita: Husin, apa ni cerita Zahid Hamidi nak tanding Timbalan?

Husin Saudagar Unta: Dia tawar diri Datin. Takpe lah. Demokrasi.

Mak Dato Ketua Wanita: Dia tak sedaq dighi ka? Baghu jadi menteghi penuh, itu pun JPM. Dia ingat dia pandai sangat? Cakap orang putih pun terkial-kial.

Husin Saudagar Unta: Itu yang Dato tak tahu. Zahid Hamidi sekarang ada Phd. Dapat dari UPM. Nama dia sekarang Dato Dr Hj Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Bunyi pun hebat sekarang. Kalau bersyarah, sebutan huruf jawi ha, ho, kho, dzal, rho ... perfect macam Anwar Ibrahim.

Mak Dato Ketua Wanita: Hang ni mengusik aja. Dulu hang tibai dia.

Husin Saudagar Unta: Ingat Dato, ye.

Mak Dato Ketua Wanita: Macam mana nak jadi Timbalan Presiden yang akan merangkap Timbalan Perdana Menteri. Satu hari ... satu hari ...

Husin Saudagar Unta: Satu hari apa. Tok?

Mak Dato Ketua Wanita: ...

Husin Saudagar Unta: Tok, are you okay?

Mak Dato Ketua Wanita: Dada saya sebak nak sebut ...satu hari dia akan jadi Perdana Menteri.

Husin Saudagar Unta: Tak tentu Tok. Mana tahu masuk penjara pasai lewat masuk kerja? Atau bila dah dipencenkan, dia kembali jual bangsa dan negara?

Mak Dato Ketua Wanita: Hang tahu, dia tak tahu nak beri alasan yang betoi untuk dia bertanding pun.

Husin Saudagar Unta: Dia pun bukan betoi pun. Siap-siap masuk penjara pasai cederakan orang. Atau kes pecah amanah nak tibai saham yayasan.

Mak Dato Ketua Wanita: Dia kena asak dengan wartawan, dia cuma jawab Pak Lah suruh dia tanding untuk bantu Najib.

Husin Saudagar Unta: Tak masuk akal. Abis tu. Mat Taib pun nak cuba-cuba jadi kuda hitam. Tolong Najib ke? Ali Rustam pun. Isa Samad dah nak umum katanya. Dengar-dengar Shahrir, yang dah kata tak mahu tanding PRU13, pun nak cuba.

Mak Dato Ketua Wanita: Macam katun ya, cik. Habis tu Zahid dah kata dia, "go for broke".

Husin Saudagar Unta: Giler babi betoi ni.

Mak Dato Ketua Wanita: Babi giler pun tak cam ni. Tak sedar akhirnya dari "go for broke" jadi beruk. Betoi-betoi "beroke".

Husin Saudagar Unta: Hahaha ... Orang marah dia buat kerja giler. Habis kerjaya politik dia kalau di lihat sebagai pak lawak. Tak akan kena suruh main ikut saja.

Mak Dato Ketua Wanita: Hang kena buat sesuatu, cik. Kasi tibai dia cukup-cukup.

Husin Saudagar Unta: Nak tibai takut, tuk. Dia ada geng moto. Ini ustaz boleh tibai kasi pecah muka. Gini kita ramai-ramai hantaq dia cermin. Rumah dia tak cukup cermin dinding untuk dia tengok muka.

Mak Dato Ketua Wanita: Pandai hang. Dia ada open house sebelah malam. Hangpa pi hantaq ramai-ramai cermin. Biar dia faham sindiran.

Husin Saudagar Unta: Mintak-mintak muka dia tak belajaq jadi sardin pasai kerja bawah Dolah. Kasi alamat dan nombor contact. Suruh kedai hantaq.

Mak Dato Ketua Wanita: Nah alamat rumah Zahid di Putrajaya. 83, Jln P10C, Presinct 10, Putrajaya. Talipon rumah dia 03-88885xxx. Kasi habis cermin di kedai.

Husin Saudagar Unta: Alamat boleh kasi tahu. Nombor rumah tak boleh la. Itu Husin simpan. Macam mana dengan Mat Taib, Ali Rustam, Isa Samad, dan Shahrir?

Mak Dato Ketua Wanita: Mat Taib, saya suruh Ku Yah saman tuntut nafkah. Biaq pening kepala dia. Ali Rustam, suruh tukang gunting rambut cukur misai dia sebelah saja. Isa Samad tu kita hantaq bangku pasai tak nampak muka di rostrum. Shahrir ...

Husin Saudagar Unta: Shahrir Tiung tu, Dato selit C4 di celah gigi kapak dia.

Mak Dato Ketua Wanita: Hehehe

Okay para pembaca.

Tolong si Zahid dari jadi "beroke". Hantaq cermin kat alamat atas. Alamat betoi tu. Cuba pi cek.

Ahmad Zahid to go for No. 2 post in Umno

The Star, Friday October 3, 2008

By G. MANIMARAN

PETALING JAYA: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is the first to throw his hat in for the Umno deputy presidency at the party elections next March.

“Yes, yes, I will be contesting (the deputy president’s post),” the Umno supreme council member told mStar Online yesterday.

Zahid pledged to fulfil the requests of party members if he was nominated for the post, and would make an official announcement after the nomination process.

He said he had decided to go for the post because of the current political scenario affecting the party and due to requests by the grassroots for him to join forces with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to lead the party.

“After the recent Umno supreme council meeting when (Umno president) Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that the transition of power would be earlier, the scenario in Umno began to change,” Zahid said, adding that others then felt he should consider going for the deputy presidency.

Zahid, 55, is the Bagan Datoh MP and was Umno Youth chief from 1996 to 1998. A former political secretary to Najib, he was once also a close ally of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who was sacked as Deputy Prime Minister in 1998.

Zahid was made a deputy minister after the 2004 general election and promoted to the Cabinet after the March 8 general election.

Abdullah has stated that he will announce before Oct 9 if he would be defending his presidency.

Asked if he would team up with Najib, Zahid, who is the de facto Religious Affairs Minister, said nothing had been decided yet but added that he would make an appointment to meet the Deputy Prime Minister soon.

Zahid believed that he would be able to carry out the responsibilities of a deputy president based on his party experience.

Is Zahid a check on Muhyiddin?

Malaysiakini.com
Beh Lih Yi | Oct 3, 08 4:33pm

Umno supreme council member Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s move to contest for the party’s deputy president’s post at the party polls next year will be a test of sorts for the ruling party, which is attempting a crucial leadership transition exercise.

Zahid (below), 55, also a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, confirmed yesterday that he will be vying for the Umno No 2 post at the elections in March next year.

His announcement came as a surprise to many as it is rare for a relatively juniour leader to contest the deputy presidency and come out victorious.

Under convention, the post is usually be helmed by one of the three elected vice-presidents - the number 3 in the party’s hierarchical ladder.

Embattled Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is widely expected to step down before or during the party polls in March and hand over the reins to his deputy Najib Abdul Razak.

Analyst Khoo Kay Peng views Zahid’s bid as an ‘eye-opener’ for the party and a yardstick on whether Umno delegates are ready to break away from convention during the polls.

"It is a test for Umno whether there is any appetite within the party to go for a change in wanting new blood.

"However, I don’t think there will be a big impact as I don’t think he will win. The Umno election is all about hierarchy and power [...] a junior leader like him will not have enough firepower to win the race," claimed Khoo.

Najib-Zahid team a possibility

Nevertheless, he expected the announcement from Zahid - the first to confirm his intention for the number 2 post - to trigger more such announcements from other aspiring candidates.

Zahid has cited the current political scenario affecting the party and demands from supporters for him to join forces with Najib to lead the party as the reasons behind his decision.

Umno vice-president Muhyiddin Yassin, who is widely speculated to be eyeing the same post, said he will not make any announcement until Abdullah decides on whether the he is seeking re-election as party president.

Abdullah has said he will announce his decision before the party’s divisional meetings begin on Oct 9.

Party grassroots generally see a Najib-Muhyiddin team as their natural choice to take over the party when Abdullah steps down but some political observers have not ruled out the possibility of a Najib-Zahid team.

Their argument is that Zahid may be roped in to serve as a check on Muhyiddin’s influence as Muhyiddin - the most senior Umno vice-president - is seen by Najib’s camp as a formidable rival.

Political observer Wong Chin Huat said he would not rule out the possibility of a Najib-Zahid combination.

"Najib’s calculation is that if Muhyiddin (right) is the deputy, he (Najib) may not be able to hold more than one term of the premiership because Muhyiddin would by then impatient and would want to go for the top post," he said.

Najib is turns 55 this year while Muhyiddin is 61.

Najib won’t endorse

The Najib-Zahid combination however may come at the expense of Najib as it may push Muhyiddin to join forces with Umno presidency aspirant Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, cautioned Wong.

The analyst stressed that he was of the view that Najib would not openly endorse or team up with any deputy presidency candidate unless he (Najib) himself was in for a tough fight.

Zahid is Najib’s (left) ex-political secretary and former Umno Youth chief in 1998 when ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim was sacked from government.

He was once seen as a close ally of Anwar especially after he protested the decision to sack Anwar which subsequently resulted in him being detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

He returned to Umno’s folds later and was made a deputy minister after the 2004 general elections and appointed as a full cabinet minister after the last general election on March 8.