Rafizi Loses His Cool

The police were given an earful by PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli for erecting a barricade of Dannert (razor) wire to keep BN and PKR supporters at bay, during the Kajang by-election nomination process this morning.

As supporters started to disperse following the announcement of a straight fight between PKR and BN, Rafizi gave an emotive speech addressed to police accusing them of apeing "Israel's oppression of Palestine".

"You are treating the rakyat as enemies, simply because you need to protect (Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak) and (wife) Rosmah (Mansor) ...,” he said via a loudspeaker and facing the anti-riot squad.

"Razor wire is a symbol of Israeli oppression of Palestine, so tell your superiors never to use it again."

Although the police personnel continued to stand at attention, some had puzzled looks on their faces.

Rafizi's speech, however, received rousing cheers from PKR supporters including a man who joked that he will put on "iron underwear" (seluar dalam besi) on polling day.

Barbed wire - in this case Dannert wire - has been used to stop supporters of opposing parties from clashing in several previous election campaigns.

This time, warning signs were also put up, presumably to prevent supporters from injuring themselves.

‘No let-up by BN’

In another development, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the BN will not soften its offensive although PKR's candidate is president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and not de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim as planned.

"We will still do what is necessary," he said.

Muhyiddin said the loud chanting of BN supporters at today’s event shows that the coalition's spirits are high, to ensure the victory of coalition candidate Chew Mei Fun in the straight fight.

He said the BN will exploit the Selangor government’s failings as well as friction within PKR.

However, Wan Azizah expressed her belief that she can repeat the party's victory and match the majority of close to 7,000 votes won by Lee Chin Cheh in the 13th general election last May.

"This is a referendum on the injustice that has happened," she said, referring to Anwar's conviction for sodomy last Friday, which rendered him ineligible to run for the Kajang state seat.

She did not elaborate, as she had to rush to the Kuala Lumpur High Court to support DAP chairperson Karpal Singh, who is due to be sentenced today for sedition.

Souce: Malaysiakini

Khalid’s ‘sleight of hand’ in water deal set to embarrass Rafizi?

Could PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli be jumping the gun in putting pressure on Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to disclose terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Putrajaya on the state’s water restructuring exercise?

Khalid has gained a reputation for making calculated decisions on his own terms and it appears that his handling of the entire water deal, in negotiations since 2008, is no different.

Rafizi had on March 3 revealed a draft copy of the MoU and expressed concerns over the terms which he described as being “lopsided” and potentially illegal, warning that it could result in a water tariff hike in the state.

Khalid, however, later the same day described Rafizi's figures as being based on his “own assumptions” and contradicted data from the National Water Services Commission (SPAN).

In response to mounting pressure for him to reveal terms of the MoU, Khalid maintained that the document is bound under the Official Secrets Act 1976 but he would do so in due time after obtaining “permission” from Putrajaya.

Khalid had on March 4 met with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and he subsequently confirmed today (March 5) that the Selangor state government will draft another agreement with Putrajaya to incorporate further details regarding the water deal.

In a press conference after chairing the weekly state executive-council meeting today (March 5), online portal MalaysiaKini reported Khalid as saying that he is not interested to comment further on Rafizi’s allegations, as there is no proof, and would instead concentrate on the soon to be inked new deal.

Following Rafizi’s disclosure of the draft MoU, Khalid’s critics had insisted that he “comes clean” over the matter in the name of upholding transparency as well as to dispute rumours that he had used the water deal to broker a personal settlement over his reported debt with Bank Islam.

Under the initial MoU, Selangor will have full control over the operations of four water concessionaires - Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Bhd (Syabas), Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB), Konsortium Abbas Sdn Bhd and Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor Holdings Bhd (Splash) - and will place these under the state-owned Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Sdn Bhd (KDEB).

All four water concessionaires has also been given until March 10 to accept the state’s offer of RM9.65 billion and the state government, in return, would issue necessary approvals to facilitate construction of the Langat 2 water treatment plant.

TheMalayMailOnline also reported Khalid as saying that the new agreement, to be signed as soon as possible, will be drafted by both the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry and state-owned Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Sdn Bhd (KDEB).

“The federal government has agreed to sign a heads of agreement with the Selangor government, which contains a more comprehensive and detailed agreement on Selangor’s water restructuring plans.

“These developments show the commitment by both parties towards the MoU signed last week,” he added.

While PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim himself had reportedly said that he could not stop Rafizi from making public his concerns over the water deal, Khalid’s subsequent responses would make it appear as if the Pandan MP is being, for the lack of a more accurate English word, “menggelabah” (over-reacting to the situation).

Instead of responding to Rafizi, Khalid appears to have his own game plan in handling the water issue, even taking the unprecedented step of granting an interview to public broadcaster TV3.

It would also appear that Khalid is genuinely not interested in politicising the whole water issue and would rather take concrete steps towards fulfilling his promise of bringing about a long-term solution for the state.

Source: The Ant Daily

Anwar: No Disciplinary Action Against Rafizi

KAJANG (March 3): PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli will not be punished for 'questioning' Selangor’s water restructure Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Government.

PKR advisor and de facto Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this at the launch of the party’s Kajang by-election media centre today.

Anwar said PKR respects democracy and Rafizi was asking questions on the MoU that has not been finalised.

"He (Rafizi) did informed me yesterday of his questions. I think it's healthy for democracy to ask, but not to form an opinion yet.

"Please allow Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim some time before he can disclose the deal," said Anwar.

"As for the MoU, I have not seen it but I don't think we should take a strong opposition to his reaction. If he transgressed the basic party rules, it's different but there are some concerns over this (water) issue," said Anwar.
Anwar also pointed out that being a democratic party, freedom of expression is part of PKR's culture and that he has already advised Rafizi to ask all the questions but not to judge the issue too quickly.

"So he asked a few questions because he felt that a more detailed explanation is needed. I allowed it because I think it is healthy and because we have the interest of the Selangor people at heart.

"I find it strange that whenever a PKR member voices a dissenting opinion, you say the party is splitting apart. We are not BN, we are not Umno. We don't have the type of Umno-MCA relationship.

"What political party doesn't have any dissents in the leadership? You tell me. You must allow differing views. You have been calling and demanding (everyone) to respect democracy but when there is a difference in opinion, you said there is a crack in the party," said Anwar, adding that PKR will get hammered if gag orders are issued.

"Remember recently when PKR disallowed TV3 and Utusan Malaysia to cover our Press conferences? We got hammered. But I said that I will allow them to cover us if I can have my five minutes of airtime in TV3," said Anwar.

Asked whether the MoU will have negative implications on the Kajang voters, Anwar said he does not think so as the matter is still under discussion.

By Azril Annuar and Syuhada Roskhamdi
 Source: Fz