CASINO in second poorest state.

SABAH'S PKR Director of Communications, Ronnie Klassen today demanded the Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Musa Aman to come clean and explain the purported plans that a CASINO is on the cards in Prime Minister's Najib Tun Razak ‘Economic Transformation Plans (ETP)’.

Musa Aman must explain to Malaysians in Sabah "Has the State Government of Sabah given the ‘Approval’ for the go-ahead of a CASINO? If Musa Aman has given the nod for this Casino, when and why was it APPROVED?"

During the ETP open day yesterday, the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) revealed that the government was considering building a 500-acre ‘eco-nature’ resort in Sabah, as part of a concerted effort to push Malaysia onto the integrated resort (IR) bandwagon and that the option to build a casino is on the table for the Karambunai IR, alongside a mangrove centre, water theme park and waterfront properties to ensure a higher return on investment (ROI).

“We want the Musa Aman Administration to come out clean and explain whether they have given any approval or are contemplating building a casino in Sabah. Even though there has been no official admission from the Barisan Nasional (BN) government, the facts allude to the strong case where a casino will be built, under the guise of ensuring a higher ROI. All points lead to the fact that a casino will be established. Can our honorable Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman confirm or deny this"?

Klassen further stressed that the proposal to build a casino showed how the present government administration is intent on ‘popularizing gambling’ in the country, barely months after the huge outcry over Tan Sri Vincent Tan’s abortive attempt to introduce football betting.

Local council state laws in Sabah,requires a company to apply for a "trading license" to do any form of business,and trading licenses are issued by the respective District Councils,Municipal Councils or City Hall.The Federal Treasury through the approval from the Federal Cabinet may Approve such a CASINO license, but without the issuance of a trading licence, such a CASINO will not be able to operate even with the approval from the Prime Minister himself,.stress Ronnie.

If the Federal Cabinet had tabled and Approved for a CASINO in Sabah, that would imply that the Minister's from Sabah namely, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Datuk Maximus Ongkili, Datuk Shafie Apdal and Datuk Anifah Aman had given their consent.

Did these ‘honourable’ Minister's take into account the social and moral implications, that would affect Sabahans or where they blinded by greed?

“We demand a full explanation from Musa Aman,where is the transparency,credibility and accountability which the UMNO/BN Government of Sabah being boasting all these while"?

The Pakatan Rakyat Government would never agree to a project that has social ills and worst off bankrupt the people. We will not allow, Ah Longs, illegal money lenders or bonafide banks a field day to destroy family's through gambling.

“As it is, the slot machine clubs in Sabah has brought disaster to many family's,many of which have now suffered broken families and debts all in the name of gambling.”

Syed Husin Ali.....A True Statesman.

I stumbled upon this special interview with Syed Husin Ali,the outgoing Deputy President of Parti Keadilan Rakyat by Merdeka Review.It is my honest opinion that Syed Husin Ali has now join the ranks of a true and blessed STATESMAN.

Dalam politik, musuh kepada musuh adalah kawan. Semua puak dan sekta akan disatu-padukan sebaik mungkin untuk menentang musuh yang utama. Pendekatan sedemikian menjadi salah satu pilihan kepada politik berhaluan kiri, yang sering dilabel sebagai fahaman anti-agama dalam politik tanahair.

Jika diimbas zaman pasca penjajahan Jepun, konsep "kerjasama" ini terjelma dalam bentuk draft Perlembagaan Rakyat, yang dikemukakan oleh gabungan Putera-AMCJA. Kemudian, usaha disusuli dengan cubaan untuk menggabungkan pengikut tiga orang tokoh Ahmad Boestaman (dari Parti Rakyat), Burhanuddin Helmi (dari PAS) dan Ishak Haji Muhammad (Pak Sako, dari Parti Buruh Malaya).

Bagaimanapun ia berakhir dengan ketidakhadiran PAS, apabila Parti Rakyat dan Parti Buruh membentuk Barisan Sosialis (Socialist Front, SF) pada tahun 1958. Kuku besi regim Perikatan (dan Barisan Nasional kemudiannya) terus mencengkam perluasan pengaruh sosialis - untuk beberapa dekad perjuangan sosialis disamakan dengan pengorbanan, seolah-olah perjuangan yang tidak menemui kemenangan...

Apa kata jikalau gerakan Reformasi tidak tercetus pada tahun 1998? "Tidak tahulah..." jawab Syed Husin Ali (gambar kanan), bekas Presiden Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) yang mengambil keputusan penting pada zaman yang bergelora itu.

Sesungguhnya, tiada "jikalau" dalam sejarah. Tiada sesiapa yang dapat menjangkakan apa yang bakal berlaku "jikalau" sejarah berlaku sebegini dan bukan sebegitu pada detik saat tertentu. Dalam satu wawancara bersama MerdekaReview, Syed Husin Ali mengimbas faktor yang mencantumkan PRM dengan Parti KeADILan Nasional; dan berkongsi penilaian dan pandangannya terhadap Parti Keadilan Rakyat (KEADILAN), sebelum beliau berundur dari jawatan Timbalan Presiden yang disandang sejak tahun 2003.

Anwar nyatakan hasrat dalam surat

Dalam negara seperti Malaysia, ruang demokrasi kadang-kala hanya berkembang di celah-celah retakan parti pemerintah. Pembangkang melalui zaman paling sukar untuknya setelah berlakunya tragedi 13 Mei 1969. Bukan sahaja Barisan Sosialis berpecah dan terbubar, malah PAS menyertai Barisan Nasional pada awal tahun 1970-an.

Harapan pembangkang akhirnya muncul dari celah retakan UMNO pada tahun 1987. Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah pada ketika itu keluar dari UMNO, dan menubuhkan parti Semangat 46, yang seterusnya menjuruskan pembentukan Gagasan Rakyat, satu perikatan politik yang turut melibatkan PRM.

Belum genap 10 tahun kemudian, sejarah yang agak mirip dengan babak ini berulang. Anwar Ibrahim (gambar kiri) dipecat dari UMNO Baru. Parti KeADILan Nasional ditubuhkan, menjurus kepada pembentukan Barisan Alternatif (BA). Bagaimanapun, seperti tahun 1990, UMNO-BN berjaya mempertahankan majoriti dua pertiga dalam parlimen pada PRU ke-10 tahun 1999, tetapi...

Sesuatu yang luar biasa berlaku. BA biarpun tidak terelak daripada nasib keretakan, tetapi menyaksikan percantuman antara Parti KeADILan Nasional dengan PRM untuk membentuk Parti Keadilan Rakyat pada 3 Ogos 2003.

Siapakah sebenarnya yang mula-mula mengutarakan cadangan ini? Soalan yang menjangkakan hanya dua kemungkinan jawapannya, iaitu Anwar Ibrahim atau Syed Husin Ali.

"Tidak pasti," jawab Syed Husin Ali, "Tetapi dalam satu surat Anwar sebut..." Beliau mula menceritakan bagaimana Anwar menyatakan hasratnya dalam surat yang diseludup keluar dari penjara.

"Jadi, pada Dr. Syed (gambar kanan), apakah pertimbangan Anwar ketika mencadangkan pencantuman ini?" tanya wartawan MerdekaReview.

"Sebenarnya dia (Anwar) jelaskan, lebih kurang beginilah. Dia melihat bahawa kebanyakan anggota dalam PKN, bukan tak ada, tetapi kebanyakan anggota biasa, terdiri daripada pelbagai golongan..."

Syed Husin Ali bersambung, "Satu golongan UMNO, satu golongan ABIM (Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia ), satu golongan JIM (Pertubuhan Jamaah Islah Malaysia ), satu golongan NGO. Dan kebanyakan anggota biasa ini masih belum ada pengalaman politik, belum ada pandangan politik yang jelas, dan beliau mengharapkan kerjasama daripada Parti Rakyat untuk memberikan misalnya, sedikit... pendirian yang lebih bermakna."

PRM pula, pada ketika itu berdepan dengan masalah perkembangan organisasi yang terbantut, bilangan ahli aktif yang berkurang, meskipun mencatat bilangan 30,000 ahli yang mendaftar pada waktu itu. Syed Husin Ali mengakui realiti bahawa kekuatan PRM semakin menyusut jikalau dibandingkan dengan zaman Barisan Sosialis.

Oleh yang demikian, PRM melihat cadangan pencantuman ini sebagai satu peluang untuk mengembangkan idea kepada massa. Untuk tiga tahun berturut-turut kongres PRM membincangkan agenda ini, dan akhirnya kongres meluluskan usul agar PRM dibubarkan dan bercantum dengan Parti Keadilan Nasional, dengan sokongan majoriti dua pertiga, kata Syed Husin Ali.

Tentangan dalaman kedua-dua parti

Bagaimanapun, pertikaian tidak berhenti di situ. Percantuman ini berdepan dengan tentangan segolongan kecil anggota, termasuk beberapa orang pemimpin dari ABIM. Dalam satu warkah dari penjara berjudul "Pakatan Pembangkang Digeruni Kerajaan" pada Ogos 2003, Anwar sengaja mengungkap lembaran sejarah perjuangan PRM menentang penjajahan dan imperialisme, "untuk memperlihatkan aspek relevan dalam perjuangan kini terutama dalam konteks penggabungan KeADILan dan PRM".

Untuk beberapa tahun yang berikutnya, Anwar perlu mempertahankan bekas gurunya daripada prejudis dan tanggapan negatif terhadap "orang kiri", malah menyatakan kesanggupan untuk berkempen mempertahankan Syed Husin Ali sebagai Timbalan Presiden dalam PKR, kerana menganggap ia sesuatu yang tidak beretika untuk menendang Presiden PRM selepas pencantuman, dengan bilangan ahli yang majoriti.

Sementara itu, keputusan Syed Husin Ali dan parti untuk mengambil risiko dengan membubarkan PRM dan bercantum dengan PKN, turut dipertikaikan oleh beberapa orang rakan seperjuangan dalam partinya. Sesetengah pemimpin PRM tetap meragui keikhlasan Anwar, yang dijangkakannya akan kembali ke pangkuan UMNO.

"Saya pasti dia (Anwar) tak masuk UMNO," tegas Syed Husin Ali dengan yakin, biarpun pendirian Anwar agak "kabur" untuk seketika, sebaik dibebaskan dari penjara pada tahun 2004. Apakah punca keyakinan bekas profesor Universiti Malaya terhadap anak muridnya ini? Soalan ini diajukan kerana Syed Husin Ali memaklumkan kepada wartawan, bahawa Rafidah Aziz (bekas Ketua Wanita UMNO) juga salah seorang anak muridnya.

"Pertama, komunikasi saya dengan dia (Anwar, gambar kiri). Sesetengah surat dia masih saya simpan..." Syed Husin Ali meneruskan, "Kedua, mereka (UMNO) sudah begitu menghina dia dengan keluarga dia, tak mungkin dia kembali ke situ."

"Saya kenal dia dah lama, sebagai student (pelajar), sebagai kawan, sebagai orang tahanan sama, sebagai orang yang sama-sama berjuang..." Dengan kata lain, hubungan yang merentasi kira-kira empat dekad inilah yang menjadi benteng kepercayaan Syed Husin Ali terhadap Anwar.

Razaleigh bersifat feudal

Malah, beliau sendiri menyebut nama Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah sebagai perbandingan. "Saya bekerjasama rapat dengan Tengku Razaleigh (bekas Presiden Semangat 46) dulu, saya tak begitu yakin dengan perjuangan Tengku Razaleigh (gambar kanan bawah). Tak begitu yakin..."

Beliau turut ketawa dengan luahan dirinya yang berterus-terang, "Ada dua sebab, satu dia bersifat feudal yang kuat. Anda boleh jadi Tengku tetapi pada masa yang sama tak feudal sangat. Misalnya, dalam mesyuarat, orang selalu tunjukkan penghormatan feudal kepadanya. Dan dia macam tak ada benda. Kadang-kadang macam biasa sahaja. Kalau orang yang ada sikit sifat yang tak feudal, dia tak mahu menerima cara-cara begini."

"Dan bezanya dengan Anwar. Anwar you boleh kritik dia. Anggota biasa boleh kritik dia. Dia akan dengar. Terutama sekali seperti sekarang," kata Syed Husin Ali.

"Yang keduanya, Semangat 46 dengan Tengku Razaleigh, mereka tak pernah mahu mengakui diri sebagai pembangkang. Tak pernah mahu menentang kuat pihak polis atau pihak kerajaan. Kalau misalnya dia pergi ceramah, polis datang suruh henti, terus henti. Tak ada lawan tak ada apa... Kalau misalnya sebelum ceramah, tak ada permit, dia tak pergi."

"Anwar tidak, orang-orang PKR tidak. Kalau lagi disekat, lagi mereka lawan. Kalau tak lama pun sekejap (mereka lawan). Tetapi ini semangat yang saya anggap berbeza dengan Semangat 46." Jiwa inilah sebenarnya yang dihayati Syed Husin Ali, yang mungkin ramai di kalangan anggota PKR tidak menyedarinya. Beliau seterusnya mendedahkan, "Tengku Razaleigh pernah minta PRM bersama (Semangat) 46, saya terus tolak."

Anwar berjiwa kerakyatan

Sememangnya, Anwar Ibrahim seorang pemimpin politik yang kontroversial, sepanjang perjuangannya menggunakan wadah ABIM, UMNO dan kini PKR. Tetapi, Syed Husin Ali menemui unsur "kerakyatan" yang sebati dalam jiwanya.

"Saya tahu dia prihatin terhadap orang yang miskin, setinggan. Dalam tahanan, saya nampak dia memang tak ada prejudis terhadap orang Tionghua, atau orang bukan Melayu. Bahkan kadang-kadang, mereka menganggap dalam beberapa aspek, saya lebih melayu (bersifat kemelayuan) daripada dia," katanya sambil ketawa.

"Saya rasa dia seorang yang ikhlas, dan tidak berdendam." Demikianlah jawapannya ketika diminta untuk menilai Anwar Ibrahim. Beliau mengamati perubahan yang berlaku dalam diri anak muridnya ini, "Saya sendiri sangka dia akan masuk PAS waktu itu (selepas dibebaskan dari tahanan ISA tahun 1970-an). Tapi hubungannya dengan Mahathir cukup rapat. Terutama sekali selepas 13 Mei...bila Mahathir dikeluarkan (disingkirkan) daripada UMNO. Dia memang rapat dengan Mahathir. Dan saya percaya Mahathir lebih kuat pengaruhnya ke atasnya."

Bagaimanapun, Syed Husin Ali mengakui, "Dari segi perwatakan, bila dia (Anwar) jadi menteri, ada sifat orang besar sikitlah. Tapi pada hakikatnya saya tahu, pendirian politiknya tak berubah. Sebab tu mudah saja bagi dia kembali kepada yang asal, sekarang ini."

Sejauh mana unsur "kerakyatan" diterapkan?

Penilaian Syed Husin Ali terhadap pencantuman ini setelah tujuh tahun merumuskan bahawa PKR telah memulakan satu tradisi yang amat penting untuk menjadi sebuah parti yang multi-etnik. Pemimpin Melayu telah berani untuk mengetengahkan dasar parti yang bukan bercorakkan kemelayuan dan keagamaan, tetapi kerakyatan.

Wartawan menyusul dengan menyenaraikan Agenda Ekonomi Baru, konsep "Ketuanan Rakyat", slogan "Merakyatkan ekonomi", yang diterapkan ke dalam pentadbiran PKR-Pakatan Rakyat selepas tsunami politik. Syed Husin Ali yang rendah diri bagaimanapun enggan mengundang jasa dalam hal ini. Namun, wartawan melanjutkan persoalan dengan merujuk kepada orang-orang di keliling Anwar, yang kebanyakannya berhaluan kanan, atau liberal.

Sejauh manakah unsur "kerakyatan" ini diterapkan dalam dasar parti pada masa depan, apabila Syed Husin Ali tidak berada pada tempat nombor dua ini?

"Saya yakin dari dua segi. Satu, dasar parti sudah jelas. Keduanya, kalau kita perhatikan, ucapan dan kenyataan pemimpin utama kita, terutama sekali Anwar, juga Wan Azizah, dan Khalid Ibrahim misalnya, mereka menekankan aspek-aspek kerakyatan ini. Dan Khalid Ibrahim, walaupun dia seorang dari latar belakang korporat, tetapi sentimennya untuk menolong rakyat, walaupun pada mula-mulanya, rakyat Melayu terutama sekali, adalah sangat kuat."

Beliau menambah, "Jadi saya yakin, mereka tidak akan lari dari teras perjuangan." Namun, siapakah "pengganti" Syed Husin Ali yang bukan sahaja mewarisi jiwa "kepedulian rakyat"-nya, tetapi memiliki kewibawaan untuk mengetengahkan pandangan dalam Majlis Pimpinan Pusat pada masa depan?

"Saya nak tegaskan bahawa, perubahan dalam parti, dasar dalam parti, masa depan parti, tidak ditentukan oleh satu orang. Tetapi ditentukan oleh organisasi seluruhnya," tekannya, setelah enggan menyebut nama khusus pemimpin baru yang berkongsi idealisme bersamanya, seperti yang diminta wartawan.

Zaid, Azmin...

Syed Husin Ali pada mulanya enggan mengulas secara spesifik calon Timbalan Presiden yang bakal menggantikannya. Tetapi apabila wawancara menyentuh beberapa kenyataan yang dibuat Zaid Ibrahim baru-baru ini, beliau kelihatan terpanggil untuk menjawab beberapa tuduhan.

Biarpun bersetuju bahawa "musuh parti" seharusnya dirujuk kepada "musuh yang lebih besar", iaitu "segelintir perompak yang merampas harta negara di luar parti", tetapi beliau jelas terusik apabila nama Soh Chee Wen dikaitkan dengan Anwar, oleh Zaid Ibrahim. Perbualan kemudian dilanjutkan kepada Zaid Ibrahim...

"Tidak semua jawatan yang disebut media, yang kononnya dipegang oleh Zaid, benar. Sebenarnya dasar Pakatan (Rakyat) dibuat satu kumpulan, bukan seorang. Memang dia ditugaskan untuk daftarkan Pakatan (Rakyat), tapi tidak bererti dia coordinator for Pakatan," Syed Husin Ali cuba memperbetulkan.

Berhubung dasar Pakatan Rakyat, Syed Husin Ali berkata, "Dia (Zaid) ada buat first draft. Akan tetapi bila dia berada di luar negara, dasar pakatan itu telah disiapkan oleh sebuah jawatankuasa yg terdiri daripada wakil ketiga-tiga parti. Apa yang disiapkan oleh jawatankuasa inilah yang dikemukakan dalam Konvensyen Pakatan Rakyat dan diterima sebagai agenda perubahan Pakatan Rakyat."

Syed Husin Ali secara jujur mengakui bahawa dirinya mungkin menyimpan prejudis terhadap Zaid (gambar kanan, tengah), calon PRU yang nyaris ditentang oleh dirinya ketika PRU ke-10 pada tahun 2004 di kawasan parlimen Kota Bahru. Beliau mengungkit zaman Zaid ketika menjadi Presiden Persatuan Peguam Islam, apabila wartawan mengajukan pandangan bahawa "Zaid dilihat lebih kuat dari segi idea untuk memimpin".

"Nak katakan sarat dengan idea, tidak juga..." Pemimpin veteran ini bagaimanapun memberi nasihatnya, "Dia perlu jadi team player. Ketika beliau dilantik masuk Biro Politik, bila suka datang (hadir mesyuarat). Bila tak suka, tak datang. Macam mana anda menjadi pemimpin seperti itu?"

Bagaimana pula dengan Azmin Ali (gambar kanan)? "Azmin Ali ada juga kekurangan... Misalnya dia dilihat sombong dan berpuak-puak oleh sesetengah orang..." Beliau enggan mengulas lanjut, "Tapi secara ikhlas daripada saya, orang yang memimpin parti haruslah orang yang komited kepada asas-asas perjuangan Parti seperti termaktub dalam Perlembagaannya, menghormati disiplin organisasi Parti, sudah teruji merentas duri dan ranjau perjuangan, bergerak secara pemain berpasukan (team player), menentang amalan korupsi dalam segala bentuk dan mendukung nilai akhlak yang tinggi."

Adakah Azmin Ali memenuhi syarat tersebut? "Ada dia penuhi, ada tidak..." Wartawan menyusul dengan soalan bahawa Azmin dilihat kurang menyentuh soal dasar. "Dari segi idea, dia ada idea. Dia harus lebih cakap pasal dasar, mulai sekarang..." katanya.

Wartawan terus menguji, menyebut nama Sivarasa Rasiah, Naib Presiden sekarang. "Dari politik, dia matang sebenarnya...."

Tian Chua? "Tian Chua (gambar kanan) saya rasa dia lebih efektif on the street (ketawa), imej dia di situ. Tapi dia disiplin juga...dia datang mesyuarat, taklah bersikap 'suka datang, tak suka tak datang'. Lagipun dia tak condemn (mempersalahkan) parti di luar..." Syed Husin Ali, menambah "Nak condemn, datang dan condemn dalam mesyuarat..."

Syed Husin Ali melihat secara positif generasi pemimpin muda dalam PKR, meskipun mengakui bahawa sayap pemuda, iaitu Angkatan Muda Keadilan ini lemah dari segi organisasi. Beliau mempersalahkan pengaruh yang ditinggalkan bekas Ketua AMK, yang disifatnya sebagai "self-centered" (berpusatkan diri).

Syed Husin Ali secara terus-terang dengan kritikannya terhadap budaya tidak menepati masa dalam parti, "Perpaduan organisasi tak begitu mantap, kerana disiplin tak kuat."

Liew's team sweep KK division, rival cries foul

By Queville To-FreeMalaysiaToday

KOTA KINABALU: The incumbent chief for PKR Kota Kinabalu division Chrisitna Liew defeated her contender Ronnie Klassen with a majority of 165 votes after polling 252 votes against Klassen’s 87 votes. There were seven spoilt votes.

Her running mate Roman Lo also beat his opponent Dr Chong Eng Leong in the contest for the deputy chief post by a majority of 120 votes when he polled 228 votes against Chong’s 108 votes.

Her other running mate Wong Kin Yin also beat her opponent Benny Quek with a majority vote of 150, by polling 234 votes against Benny’s 84 votes. There were five spoilt votes.

In the battle to head the women's wing, Liew's running mate Roslind Bion polled 65 votes against Chu Shuk Fun (51) votes. There were two spoilt votes.

In an immediate response, Klassen claimed that there were irregularities in the voting process and that he had lodged an official protest with the election committee before the vote counting began.

Among others, he claimed that Liew had convened the Annual General Meeting (AGM) much earlier at 9.25am instead of 10am as stated in the notice of meeting, besides claiming that her people were seen marking the ballot papers on behalf of members, instead of them going into the designated voting area to vote on their own.

He claimed that one of the election officials upon being alerted by him had went over to stop Liew’s people from doing so.

He also claimed that the ballot papers did not tally with the number of members who turned out to vote with 325 members attending but 350 ballot papers submitted.

“In any election there’s always a victor and loser. I can accept defeat if it was truly done in a democratic manner,” he said.

“The tactics employed by my opponent are beyond the true spirit of a friendly contest. I may have lost but my fight for change in PKR will continue,” he added.

Klassen also refused to sign the result sheet.

“I will not recognise the result and I will protest till the end. My team members have taken photographs and a video of what transpired during the voting,” he said.

Liew: Let officials decide

Meanwhile, in her response, Liew said she would leave it to the team of six election officials from the party headquarters to deal with Klassen’s complaints and allegations.

She thanked the members for their support to her and her team in the election, adding that it had reaffirmed their struggle to continue the work for the party.

“Our struggle is clear from day one – to change the corrupt, arrogant BN (Barisan Nasional) government to a Pakatan government in the next general election,” she said.

She also said she would be calling for a meeting with her new committee soon to activate the election machinery in full gear.

Meanwhile, Penampang PKR secretary Franky Lobinjang disclosed that its AGM cum election has been postponed to Oct 3 and the division was waiting for confirmation on the venue from the party headquarters.

“We will inform all the members once it is confirmed,” he said.

When contacted, PKR vice president Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said his contest with Danny Andiapi would only be held on Sept 26.

Sabah PKR candidate lodges police report over campaign slander

By Michael Kaung......Free Malaysia Today.

KOTA KINABALU: The battle for PKR posts in Sabah has taken on a criminal twist with one candidate lodging a police report over campaign strategies adopted by a rival.

Ronnie Klassen who is challenging Christina Liew for the Kota Kinabalu PKR branch chief post has lodged a police report against the latter for allegedly slandering him.

Klassen said that the report was lodged at the Karamunsing police station on Aug 31 and he had also submitted an official report to the party's disciplinary board as Liew had breached PKR's code of ethics.

He told a press conference on Tuesday that Liew, who is also Sabah PKR deputy chairperson, and PKR Kota Kinabalu women's chief Rosalind Bion had sent slanderous and malicious SMSes against him and his team to members of the division.

Klassen is challenging Liew for the post at the party elections on Saturday, Sept 18. Also in the fray are former Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) leader Dr Chong Eng Leong and former Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Luyang community leader Benny Quek Yi Than.

Chong is vying for the deputy divisional chief post while Quek, the vice president's post. They are challenging Roman Lo and Wong Kin Yin who are the incumbents. They are also pitting Chu Shuk Fun against current Kota Kinabalu division chief Rosalind Bion.

According to Klassen, the SMSes sent by Liew and Bion alleged that he was unscrupulous.

“I can take any kind of SMSes but when she (Liew) gets personal and breaches Section 2.4 of the party's code of ethics, this I cannot tolerate. So my message to Christina is, don't stoop down so low in wanting to attack me.

“This is a very friendly party election and we are not here to slander or attack anyone. If I want to attack anyone, I will attack Umno or Barisan Nasional, not the party members,” he said.

Time for change

He said that his group was challenging the current Kota Kinabalu PKR division leadership because they feel that it is time for a change.

“My purpose is to clean the party up and raise the level of patriotism among the Kota Kinabalu division's 3,340 members.,” he said, adding that most of the members were also in the dark as to what has been happening in the division all this while.

Klassen is challenging Liew to a debate over what she had accomplished for the division in the last 10 years and what she will be doing for them in the next three years.

“As PRK de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and other party leaders are coming to Sabah tomorrow (Wednesday), maybe we can invite them to come to the debate,” he said.

Klassen said that he was an independent of any faction within PKR and denied claims that he was aligned to former state PKR chief Ansari Abdullah, a rival to PRK vice president Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

He described his team as a “new breed of members” who believe in the party's cause and he urged party's leaders to 'stop fighting'.

“My advice to them is to stop all this. If they have their ears to the ground then their would have heard that this is what the people are saying,” he said.

Is this UMNO/BN's idea of Good Governance?

UMNO and Barisan Nasional have miserably fail the people yet again.This news hit the news-stands in Kota Kinabalu and has appeared in most news websites.

The illegal immigrants are the occupants of this illegal housing, and everything here is illegal. It started with illegal use of condemned buildings, renting houses to illegal immigrants, stealing of electricity and water supply, no sanitary installation, and many other illegal items.这里的人没还市政厅的门牌税和地税，但非法移民却能享受市政厅为他们免费清理垃圾。 民联的领袖们表示，难怪这些人尽管受冒着被将倒塌的房屋压死也不搬迁。该处许多房屋的钢筋混凝土结构已经破裂成碎片，任何轻微的动摇将会导致该破房子完全 崩坍。

The few rows of this pathetic abandoned terraced houses in Taman Makmur along Lintas Square in Luyang, Kota Kinabalu is the focus of many public complaints received by the leaders of the Sabah Pakatan Rakyat which included Dr. Chong Eng Leong, Benny Quak, Ronnie Klassan and Dr. Hiew King Cheu, the KK MP.

The PR team arranged a joint inspection on the 12^th September, to check on the various complaints arising from the people. This place is truly a filthy slump area in the beautiful City of Kota Kinabalu. The housing had been condemned by the authorities as a disqualified housing with its OC lifted some thirty years ago due to the structural defects of the buildings and unqualified supervision procedure. The serious crumpling of the building had caused most of the building becoming impossible to live in.

The illegal immigrants are the occupants of this illegal housing, and everything here is illegal. It started with illegal use of condemned buildings, renting houses to illegal immigrants, stealing of electricity and water supply, no sanitary installation, and many other illegal items.

The people here don’t pay house assessment and quit rent, but they enjoy the constant service from the Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu in clearing their garbage for free. The PR leaders said "no wonder these people don’t want to move out in spite of the danger of being crushed by the collapsing houses". The reinforced concrete structure of the housing had already broken into pieces and any slight movement can caused the house to collapse totally.

Dr. Chong Eng Leong sighted that the ill health condition of no sewerage system in the housing and the people here are "shitting" everywhere especially just next door is the Luyang Polyclinic causing much health hazard. The drains here are filled with dirty water, garbage and mosquitoes. He said how can DBKK did not border to take action on this abandoned housing. He further said that he had earlier on made a police report and published in the newspapers on why allowing the Illegal Immigrants to stay in the housing and the authorities took a blind eye over it. So far the police and the authorities did nothing.

Dr. Hiew the KK MP said that there is law covering the harbouring of illegal immigrants and include providing them with shelter is a punishable offend. He urges the DBKK and the police together with other relevant government bodies to work together to clear the area and help those house owners in Taman Makmur to redevelop the whole housing immediately or give them an alternative solution to solve their problems. Kota Kinabalu City cannot be spoiled by the unsightly look of Taman Makmur.

路阳岭兰花园成为非法移民天堂

沙巴民联领袖邱庆洲博士，庄永谅医生，郭义海，罗尼加拉申(Ronnie Klassan)和其他领袖经常接到许多市民的投诉有关在路阳岭兰花园住宅区的问题。 在路阳岭兰花园有二十多间排屋被遗弃多年，如今已成为非法移民的安乐窝。

民联团队安排在9月12日前往视察有关该处的问题，并发现该处正如市民所说的一样。 这个地方确实是在美丽的亚庇市中心造成极度碍眼和有毁市容。由于不合格的建筑程序，工程监督和结构有缺陷，该些房屋在约30年前已被地方当局取消其入伙 纸，并鉴定为危楼。 此外，多数的单位已崩垮，造成了严重损坏。 现在该些破烂的房屋已被非法移民非法占用为其住所。 在该处每一样都是非法的，例如，非法使用的不合格的建筑物，出租房屋于非法移民，盗窃电力和水的供应，没有卫生设施，以及许多其他非法事件。

这里的人没还市政厅的门牌税和地税，但非法移民却能享受市政厅为他们免费清理垃圾。 民联的领袖们表示，难怪这些人尽管受冒着被将倒塌的房屋压死也不搬迁。该处许多房屋的钢筋混凝土结构已经破裂成碎片，任何轻微的动摇将会导致该破房子完全崩坍。

庄永谅医生说，该处没有污水处理系统，而且环境欠佳，该处的非法居民到处拉屎，而隔壁就是路阳医院，这将造成的极大的健康危害。 在这里的水渠充满污水，垃圾和蚊子。 他说，亚庇市政厅怎么可能没有发现该情况，并且没有对被遗弃的房屋采取行动。 他进一步表示，他较早前已向报警，并在报纸上公布详情，他不明白为什么当局没有进行对居住在这些的房屋非法移民采取行动，反而视而不见。到目前为止，警方 和有关当局并没有采取任何行动。

亚庇国会议员邱庆洲博士说，现有法律已有条例涵盖提供住所于非法入境者，包括为他们提供庇护。 他敦促亚庇市政厅及警方联同其他相关政府机构携手合作，清除该地区，并帮助那些在岭兰花园的业主立即重建整个住宅区或给他们一个替代方案，以解决他们的问 题。 亚庇市不能被岭兰花园破烂的房屋影响市容。

图：民联领袖视察岭兰花园

PKR members go to the polls to elect new leaders.

A Message from Mr. Ronnie Klassen

In the name of change and to re-invent,reposition,rejuvenate our PKR Kota Kinabalu Division, today I unveil my manifesto in the upcoming party election during a press conference held at 2pm in Kota Kinabalu. My motto “We will work for the people,with the people”.

Our Manifesto:

1. A news letter in a form of a “tabloid” will be published quarterly and circulated to all members on the activities of the division. This information will keep the members abreast on whatever that’s happening within the division, no one will be left out.

2. We will also have our very own PKR Kota Kinabalu division live Internet TV, beamed live so as to give the global community an opportunity to know Kota Kinabalu. In addition we shall also have our very own Internet Radio talk show which will be held live twice a week.This will give the opportunity to members to voice their problems and grievance to the government.

3. We shall provide a sms blast service for all members, whereby information’s,such as activities and news will be disseminated to them immediately.

4. We shall activate all dormant rantings(branches)and form new rantings throughout Kota Kinabalu. Ranting chiefs will be appointed and given the mandate to ensure that the members problems are brought to the attention of the division.Rantings will be provided adequate assistance to ensure that the members activities are carried out without any hitches.

5. We shall provide educational incentives(RM 200) to members children who perform well in their examination. This incentive will be given to the TOP TWO students in UPSR, SRP, SPM and STPM. For members who are unable to provide school aids for their children due to financial constraints, a special fund will be allocated to assist them.

6. Bereavement assistance amounting to RM 200 will be given as an assistance to members.

7. A special committee will be form to assist members in obtaining jobs for those who are unable to , within Sabah.

8. A 24 hour HOT LINE will be activated for the convenience of members,Members can call this hot line or any committee member in the event of an emergency.

The Kota Kinabalu PKR Division Elections will be held on the 18th.September.2010. The venue will be at No:602,Jalan Sang Kancil Satu,Kota Kinabalu(Opposite the RTM), commencing at 10 am to 3 pm.If you are a member of PKR KK division,please come and vote for my team and for CHANGE. If you are not a member,please inform friends of yours who are members.

Thank you.

Ketua Cabang : Ronnie Klassen.

Timbalan Ketua : Dr.Chong Eng Leong

Naib Ketua : Benny Quek.