KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 9, 2007): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today condemned the Coalition for Free and Fair Election (Bersih) for its defiance of authority in deciding to carry on with its illegal assembly tomorrow.

“I’ve heard from the police that they will not be given a permit (for the assembly) but I’ve seen from reports and I’ve heard from sources that the organisation wants to continue.

“This shows their stubbornness. I’m very disappointed with this act as this will cause a lot of problems,” he said in his winding-up speech at the Umno General Assembly which ended on schedule.

“Are they challenging the government and the leadership? They are challenging and ignoring the law. That’s what they’re challenging, not me. But I will not be challenged!” he said, to cheers from the congregation.

Abdullah said Malaysia enjoyed peace and stability because she upholds the rule of law.

He said the demonstration was not the way to bring change.

“This is not our way; this is not the way of Malaysia. Ours is democracy and this (the gathering) is not acceptable.

“The police have asked them to stop and when untoward incidents happen, they blame the police, when in fact, it is their doing,” he said.

In addressing Bersih’s concern for change, he said: “What changes do they want? Wait for the election!”

The Election Commission – often the target of the Coalition’s criticism – is putting up transparent boxes, and had approved the use of indelible ink, Abdullah said, adding that the country’s practice of democracy had allowed opposition wins in every election.

“I hope the people will understand that this wayside democracy is not the way to effect change and will not accept this move. People are willing change in a peaceful way. Not this way.

“How can they be leaders (when they ignore the law)? The law must be upheld and respected,” he said.

Bersih, which is a coalition of non-governmental organisations and opposition parties, is  organizing a march from Dataran Merdeka to Istana Negara to push for electoral reform.

They also plan to submit a memorandum to the King after their march.

At a press conference later, reporters told Abdullah that Bersih had vowed it would be a peaceful assembly, but he replied: “There will never be (any) peaceful demonstration.”

When another reporter pointed out that freedom of assembly is stipulated in the Federal Constitution, Abdullah said the freedom should not cause others difficulties.

He said the police will ask the demonstrators to disperse.

When asked whether his warning contradicted his pledge to listen to the truth and whether Malaysia would be likened to Myanmar, Abdullah said: “People have a chance to express their views. There are all types of mosquito publications around, and I have never stopped them.”

On another matter, he said the government will study the reports submitted by a three-member panel set up to determine the authenticity of the video-clip purportedly on senior lawyer V.K Lingam brokering judicial appointments with a Datuk said to be former Chief Justice Tan Sri Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim.

Earlier in his speech, Abdullah also lifted the spirit of the floor when he said that although China and India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) far outstripped Malaysia’s, the per capita GDP in Malaysia is US$5,859 against China’s US$2,043 and India’s US$797.

However, Abdullah said, there will need to be change where the knowledge economy is concerned and highlighted the need to stop the “addiction” for foreign workers.

Admitting that foreign workers meant lower labour costs, the premier said, these same people were poorly skilled and produced lower quality results.

“I hope we can implement this change as soon as possible to ensure that we have qualified employees who are skilled and knowledgeable in science and technology and produced high quality results,” he said.

Abdullah also echoed Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin’s call for Malaysians to reduce their dependence on subsidies.

“We must restructure our subsidies. We’ve discussed this and it must be targeted to those who need subsidies (and) those with low-incomes.This is an approach that we are looking at (to implement),” he added.

Abdullah also reminded the people to understand the concept of power-sharing and the struggle of the late Tunku Abdul Rahman in creating the social contract.
“We want our friends to understand because if they don’t understand it, it can be misconstrued as discrimination and it will be harder for them to accept.”

Najib: Subsidy review will not burden the people
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 9, 2007): Deputy Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak says Malaysia has found herself in a unique position of matching a ringgit in development expenditure with a ringgit in fuel subsidy.

“In theory, if we channel all the money spent on subsidy into development, the country’s economy will grow 9-10%,” he told the Umno general assembly in his winding-up speech today.

Najib said the subsidy on petrol and gas will cost the government a total of RM35 billion if world crude oil price breached US$100 per barrel.

He said by adding other subsidies totaling about RM5 billion, the total subsidy burden is RM40 billion.

“Under the 9th Malaysia Plan, RM200 billion had been allocated for the country’s development, which means we have to spend RM40 billion every year just for development.

“And that make us very ‘unique’ as we have to spend RM40 billion for development and at the same time, RM40 billion on subsidy, a year. The ratio is 1:1. There is no other country that spends as much money on subsidies as Malaysia,” he said.

Najib said there are only two options for the country to increase its capacity and achieve higher economic growth.

First, the country can increase its rate of productivity by using latest technology, improving efficiency, using information and communication technology and developing the capacity of the mind.

The second is a review of the subsidy system, he said, citing the call by deputy Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

Najib said theoretically, if the RM40 billion subsidy is channeled to development making it RM80 billion a year, the country may achieve 9% to 10% economic growth.

“But this is just in theory, as the Terengganu representative has advised us that we should not become ‘kamikaze bombers’.

“We do not want to become a party that rejects the people. We will use a formula that will not burden the people and at the same time, will not kill the country’s economy.”

Najib stressed that the Malay Agenda must be continued.

“We are fair to other races as we did not steal or deny the rights of other races, and in return, no one should deny the Malays’ rights.

Najib said for outsiders who tried to question this matter, they should first understand the Malays so not to keep pushing “as everything has its limit”.

He said he was mandated by the prime minister to chair a committee to ensure that there will be five to 10 new Bumiputra companies to be listed in the share market next year.

“I assure that the criteria for these companies will be based on know-how and not know-who,” he said.

Najib said Umno now fully owns Universiti Tun Abdul Razak and he will chair the board of trustees to focus on creating more Malay entrepreneurs.

He also advised party delegates to be prepared for the next general elections, after wins in the by-elections in Batu Talam, Machap and Ijok early this year.

“We must ensure that we win two-thirds of the seats in parliament and in every state, that we will be our target,” he said.

On candidacy, Najib stressed that the party leadership will decide on this, and warned against in-fighting as the party’s interest supersedes that of any individual.
“More importantly, we all should stand firmly behind the president to fight against whatever issues raised by the opposition parties. If we are united, we will overcome all challenges,” he said.

Lastly, Najib commented that the general assembly was a good one as all speakers had debated in a manner reflecting the Malay culture.

He said all concepts and initiatives like the national mission, corridor projects, improved public service delivery, the 2057 concept or the push for model agriculture were well received by the delegates.