Thesun 2009-04-08 Page02 Voting Brisk No Major Incidents

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Voting brisk, no major incidents » From Front Page In the last state election held in May 2006, Dublin Unting retained the seat by defeating Nicholas Bawin Anggat of the Sarawak National Party with a 806vote majority. Dublin’s death forced the present by-election. Voting was brisk, as it was in the Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election in Perak where the turnout was 75% (41,626 voters) and at Bukit Selambau state seat in Kedah where voting attendance was 70% (24,687). Except for incidents of over-enthusiastic jeering and taunting, there were no reports of violence due to the heavy police presence at voting stations and vote-tallying centres Mohammad Nizar said he will carry out his duties as the MP for Bukit Gantang “cleanly, proudly, justly and transparently”. The result sends a signal to the federal government that the people want fairness, justice, good governance and a good democratic system, he told reporters after he was declared

the winner by returning officer Datuk Mahmud Mursidi. He said Pakatan Rakyat will request “a quick and urgent dissolution of the Perak government so that the constitutional crisis in Perak can be resolved”. “That will be my immediate action to stabilise the political scenario in Perak.” Manikumar said he would set up a service centre in Bukit Selambau within 48 hours as promised in his manifesto. Other reactions: » Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, BN’s director for the by-elections, said the coalition accepts the results as a decision by the voters and does not feel that it is a referendum of the nation’s leadership. “This is not a referendum on the leadership. Maybe the feel good factor of the leadership of (Datuk Seri) Najib (Abdul Razak) has yet to sink in on the voters,” he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur. » MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat called for BN leaders to go back to the roots and work harder and get ready to face the next general election. “We have a long journey ahead

and there is much to be done as well as undone before we can firmly say BN is well grounded with the people to know how to serve the people,” he commented on the results through his blog www.ongteekeat.net. “Tonight, we thank the voters for again telling us to change, to go back to our roots, be the nation builders we were known to be and be responsive to calls for greater openness, good governance and be more focused on building a ‘1 Malaysia’. We must seize the opportunity to change or be forever silenced.” » Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the BN victory in Batang Ai is a vote of confidence in Najib’s leadership. He said Najib’s appointment and his message of change were among the factors which contributed to the BN’s victory. » Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the BN’s failure to wrest back the Bukit Selambau seat from the Opposition does not mean the people’s rejection of the

Stir over logo mix-up

by Himanshu Bhatt [email protected]

SUNGAI PETANI: A mix-up in the logos designated to two independent candidates by the Election Commission caused a stir in Bukit Selambau yesterday. Businessman Venason Michael, 34, got a shock when he visited a polling station in the morning to find that his “fish” logo had been replaced with that of a telephone on the counting boxes used by the EC. He checked with the other polling stations and found the same mix-up. Venason complained to an EC official at the polling station at SMK Taman Ria Jaya, holding up one of the papers for the reporters who were present to see. There was a commotion when the official tried to snatch the paper from his hand. The policemen on duty there stepped in and asked Venason to leave but he refused. “I have a right to be here. I am a candidate,” he said. “I have already lodged a police report.” He said he had lodged a report at the Kuala Muda district police

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country’s new leadership. He said there were several local and national factors which contributed to the BN’s loss. » Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said although it was disappointing that BN won only one out of the three by-elections, “we should not feel disheartened. Instead, we should look at the results as a reminder to BN to effect reform more concretely. If so, it might well be a blessing in disguise for BN in the long run”. » Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the by-election results sent a message that Malaysians want change “irrespective of (the appointment) of) the new prime minister”. “They are stronger in their support for PR,” he said. Anwar said he was satisfied with the results of the Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau by-elections “although PR did not expect to win in Batang Ai”. On the most important factor in winning the two seats, he said it was the result of the three PR parties working cohesively as a team.

The ‘fish’ logo, designated by the EC to Venason, appears next to Anuar’s name on a counting box.

headquarters earlier. Venason lodged another report against the official for trying to obstruct him. The “telephone” logo had been assigned to retired military officer Mej (Rtd) Anuar Abdul Hamid, 58. Kedah elections director Zainal

Abidin Zakaria said the EC was aware of the mix-up but gave an assurance that there were no errors in the ballot papers used by the voters. Anuar was surprised when told about the mix-up and said he would seek clarification.

Two directors fined RM200,000 each over Tabung Haji withdrawals KUALA LUMPUR: Two Metrowangsa Asset Management Sdn Bhd (MAM) directors were fined RM200,000 each by a sessions court here yesterday for abetting in the withdrawal of RM50 million from its Tabung Haji account. Ghazali Atan, 57, and Mohamed Abdul Wahab, 58, were found guilty of abetting in withdrawing the money from the Tabung Haji account maintained by the company with Malaysan Banking Berhad on Jalan Selaman 1, Palm Square, Ampang, between April 18 and May 24, 2001. Judge Rosenani Abd Rahman ordered that they settle their fines by paying RM100,000 yesterday and the remainder in instalments of RM50,000 on May 7 and June 7. In mitigation, Ghazali, represented by counsel Md. Yunos Shariff, asked for a minimum fine saying he had been out of work since the Securities Commission revoked his licence.

He also said he did not benefit in any way from the withdrawal. Mohamed’s counsel, P. Subramaniam, said Mohamed had also lost his source of livelihood and had four children, including one who is disabled, to support. SC prosecuting officer Shanti Geoffrey said the court should impose a heavy penalty as a deterrent and also to reflect the seriousness of the commission in fighting crimes that could affect the investment industry. On April 1, the same court acquitted and discharged Mohamed on two counts of making misleading statements to the SC in Metrowangsa’s half-yearly statements for 2000 and 2001 involving corporate net asset values of over RM124.2 million and RM102 million. The offences were alleged to have been committed at the SC at 3, Persiaran Bukit Kiara here on Jan 13 and 19. – Bernama

| WEDNESDAY APRIL 8 2009

Najib: ISA will not be used arbitrarily PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said yesterday his administration would not use the Internal Security Act (ISA) arbitrarily but would give importance to the principles of human rights and civil liberties. He said the ISA was undergoing a review to ensure that it incorporated several provisions which upheld these principles. “Several provisions (of the ISA) will reflect our (the government’s) intention to uphold civil liberties and establish a check and balance so that the ISA is not used arbitrarily or according to the whims of the authorities without regard for the fundamental rights and civil liberties of the people of Malaysia,” he told a group of journalists from Indonesia at his office, here. Najib said his decision to release 13 ISA detainees recently was a government gesture which gave importance to the fundamental rights and civil liberties in a modern, mature and civilised society. At the interview, Najib was asked, among other things, his style of administration, Malaysia-Indonesia bilateral relations, regional security, press freedom in Malaysia and the role of the two prime ministers before him. On the philosophy behind the “One Malaysia. People First. Performance Now” concept which he had announced soon after becoming the prime minister, Najib said it was “the overarching philosophy” behind the administration he helmed. He explained that it emphasised what should be done from now to spur the nation towards realising the objectives and vision set by the two prime ministers before him, i.e. to enable the people achieve “excellence, glory and distinction” and realise “Vision 2020” to become a developed nation. “That is our destination, but before we attain Vision 2020 I want to emphasise what we have to do now ... what then is the process. Unity, People First and Performance Now,” he said. The “One Malaysia” concept emphasises mutual respect and trust among all the ethnic groups in the country, which Najib describes as the pillar for the process of national solidarity. Najib said the effort must be carried out with the full awareness of the government and the people in all the programmes implemented. “This concept must be translated into action, government programmes ... for example, the allocations for Chinese and Tamil schools be given directly to the school boards. “No ethnic group should feel marginalised in terms of government policies and programmes.” He said the bumiputras should also be given assistance because they still lagged behind ... but the effort should be carried out fairly, both for the bumiputras and the non-bumiputras. On “People First”, Najib said the government he led would ensure that it was sensitive and close to the people, that it was not an elite government seen as pro large corporations and practised cronyism or nepotism. “It is for this reason that I went on a walkabout (last Saturday) in Malay, Chinese and Indian areas. I wanted to show that leaders must be close to the people. I do not feel awkward when meeting with the people,” he said. – Bernama