Ku Li declines to comment on loss
Fauwaz Abdul Aziz & Syed Jamal ZahiidPublished: Nov 4, 2008 2:28 PM | Updated: Nov 4, 2008 4:37 PM
Defeated Umno presidential candidate Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said he would reserve his comments until the conclusion of the series of party divisional meetings.
Defeated Umno presidential candidate Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said he would reserve his comments until the conclusion of the series of party divisional meetings.
"I think it’s not appropriate for me to comment now. They’re still having meetings, so I’ll comment, maybe, after Nov 9," he told reporters when met in Parliament this morning.
Asked about him being mathematically ruled out of being a candidate in the March party elections after failing to secure the minimum 58 nominations, the Kelantanese prince said with a wry smile, "So you know arithmetic! You can add and subtract."
On whether his aspirations for the Umno presidency have come to an end, Tengku Razaleigh responded, “I don’t know how to comment when you ask me questions like that.”
To the suggestion that Umno members rejected his expressed desires for change, he said, “What’s important is not what I want, but what the people want.”
Asked if Najib Abdul Razak would be a good party president: “You can ask yourself that question.”
Tengku Razaleigh contested against then party president Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1987, and lost narrowly by 43 votes. Legal challenges of the result led to a split in Umno. Tengku Razaleigh led splinter party Semangat 46 through till the mid-90's before rejoining Umno.
This is the second time the Gua Musang MP has offered himself for the party presidency since his re-entry. He received one nomination when he challenged Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2004.
Azalina: Tourism Ministry does not discriminate
Tourism Minister Azalina Othman Said asserted that the ministry does not discriminate states ruled by the opposition Pakatan Rakyat.
“The Ministry of Tourism has never acted based on political party sentiments in its efforts to make Malaysia the top tourism destination in this region,” she told the Dewan Rakyat in reply to a question from Khalid Samad (PAS-Shah Alam).
“This can be seen in the activities organised by the ministry that are still ongoing in every state even if the state is not ruled by Barisan Nasional,” she added.
The PAS man pressed on that since Pakatan started to run Selangor in March, the ministry “has had no official relations with the (Selangor) exco responsible for tourism.”
Kelantan’s tourism has also been dealt a blow following the RM8 million allocated to it being withdrawn by the ministry, he added.
“I hope the ministry’s methods and attitude will be more positive for the sake of the interests of the country,” said Khalid when asking his supplementary question.
Azalina, however, was adamant and challenged Khalid to prove that Elizabeth Wong, the Selangor exco in charge of tourism, had been sidelined by the ministry.
“I challenge Shah Alam to prove that the exco was never invited by the tourism ministry for official functions.”
The minister cited her visit to Carey Island in Klang - which Wong did not join. However Wong was part of the ministry’s tourism promotion delegation to Dubai.
“The facts stated by Shah Alam are not accurate. I hope you talk with the state exco (herself),” the Pengerang MP from Johor said.
“I have the facts. Maybe you are informed of (the tourism) exco matters, for which I am grateful. But as elected representative for Shah Alam and a native of Johor, you have to be more fair to me,” Azalina added.
The minister also stated that there has been a 44 percent increase in tourists compared to 2007, further evidence of the ministry’s effort to bring visitors to Malaysia and make the country a top tourism destination.
Road sign debate rejected
Pasir Mas Independent MP Ibrahim Ali today had his motion to debate Penang’s multi-lingual road signs rejected by Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia.
For Ibrahim, the Penang government had contravened the spirit of the social contract and the federal constitution which recognises Bahasa Malaysia as the primary language of the country.
“The use of multi-lingual road signs in Penang is disrespectful towards the constitution and can be confusing to Malaysians as well. I urge the House discuss this matter now.”
Pandikar however felt that the motion was of no urgency and rejected the independent MP’s call to debate it.
"I think it’s not appropriate for me to comment now. They’re still having meetings, so I’ll comment, maybe, after Nov 9," he told reporters when met in Parliament this morning.
Asked about him being mathematically ruled out of being a candidate in the March party elections after failing to secure the minimum 58 nominations, the Kelantanese prince said with a wry smile, "So you know arithmetic! You can add and subtract."On whether his aspirations for the Umno presidency have come to an end, Tengku Razaleigh responded, “I don’t know how to comment when you ask me questions like that.”
To the suggestion that Umno members rejected his expressed desires for change, he said, “What’s important is not what I want, but what the people want.”
Asked if Najib Abdul Razak would be a good party president: “You can ask yourself that question.”
Tengku Razaleigh contested against then party president Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1987, and lost narrowly by 43 votes. Legal challenges of the result led to a split in Umno. Tengku Razaleigh led splinter party Semangat 46 through till the mid-90's before rejoining Umno.
This is the second time the Gua Musang MP has offered himself for the party presidency since his re-entry. He received one nomination when he challenged Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2004.
Azalina: Tourism Ministry does not discriminate
Tourism Minister Azalina Othman Said asserted that the ministry does not discriminate states ruled by the opposition Pakatan Rakyat.
“The Ministry of Tourism has never acted based on political party sentiments in its efforts to make Malaysia the top tourism destination in this region,” she told the Dewan Rakyat in reply to a question from Khalid Samad (PAS-Shah Alam).
“This can be seen in the activities organised by the ministry that are still ongoing in every state even if the state is not ruled by Barisan Nasional,” she added.The PAS man pressed on that since Pakatan started to run Selangor in March, the ministry “has had no official relations with the (Selangor) exco responsible for tourism.”
Kelantan’s tourism has also been dealt a blow following the RM8 million allocated to it being withdrawn by the ministry, he added.
“I hope the ministry’s methods and attitude will be more positive for the sake of the interests of the country,” said Khalid when asking his supplementary question.
Azalina, however, was adamant and challenged Khalid to prove that Elizabeth Wong, the Selangor exco in charge of tourism, had been sidelined by the ministry.
“I challenge Shah Alam to prove that the exco was never invited by the tourism ministry for official functions.”
The minister cited her visit to Carey Island in Klang - which Wong did not join. However Wong was part of the ministry’s tourism promotion delegation to Dubai.
“The facts stated by Shah Alam are not accurate. I hope you talk with the state exco (herself),” the Pengerang MP from Johor said.
“I have the facts. Maybe you are informed of (the tourism) exco matters, for which I am grateful. But as elected representative for Shah Alam and a native of Johor, you have to be more fair to me,” Azalina added.
The minister also stated that there has been a 44 percent increase in tourists compared to 2007, further evidence of the ministry’s effort to bring visitors to Malaysia and make the country a top tourism destination.
Road sign debate rejected
Pasir Mas Independent MP Ibrahim Ali today had his motion to debate Penang’s multi-lingual road signs rejected by Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia.
For Ibrahim, the Penang government had contravened the spirit of the social contract and the federal constitution which recognises Bahasa Malaysia as the primary language of the country.“The use of multi-lingual road signs in Penang is disrespectful towards the constitution and can be confusing to Malaysians as well. I urge the House discuss this matter now.”
Pandikar however felt that the motion was of no urgency and rejected the independent MP’s call to debate it.
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