Ramblings of Abufaris

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today he approved an overseas study trip by the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) because it is constructive.

The trip, initiated by the BNBBC to take place during the one-month Ramadan break in the Dewan Rakyat sitting, was a good opportunity to expose the BN backbenchers to new technology, he told reporters after launching the “Rakan Cop” National Service Programme here.

Najib was asked to comment on a newspaper report today that the BNBBC had organised a study trip abroad from Sept 7 to 19 to enable BN MPs to learn the latest technology in agriculture and high-tech food production.

Asked whether the trip was organised to prevent several BN MPs from crossing over to the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition by Sept 16 as Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had claimed they would, Najib said: “We will see when it comes to Sept 16.”

Anwar, who is Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor, has been saying that he would overthrow the BN government through mass defections by Sept 16.

The BN has 140 MPs in Parliament, of whom 65 are ministers and deputy ministers, while the opposition has 82 MPs, one of whom is an independent. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA: Barisan Nasional MPs have been asked to submit their passports for an overseas study trip ahead of Sept 16, the date that is being bandied about for supposed defections to take place.

Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the trip was the brainchild of the club but rejected suggestions that it was organised because of the Sept 16 claim.

“The trip came about after a few of our members got talking. We wanted MPs to update themselves with the latest information about agriculture and high-tech food production so that we can debate better on the Budget when Parliament sits again in October.

“This is the best time for the trip although it is the fasting month because after that, Hari Raya celebrations begin and Parliament will meet again,” he told The Star here yesterday.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been claiming that his plan to topple the Barisan government by Sept 16 was on track. He claimed that some 30 Barisan MPs, particularly from Sabah and Sarawak, were ready to defect.

It is understood that the trip, said to take place between Sept 7 and Sept 19, will be open to all MPs, especially those whose constituencies have agricultural concerns, and not just MPs from Sabah and Sarawak, said to be targets of PKR.

Tiong, the Bintulu MP, maintained that the trip “had nothing to do with Sept 16”, saying it was only natural to ask MPs to submit their passports for the purpose of visa applications and ticket bookings.

He said the club had not finalised how many MPs would be going on the trip or the actual date.

“We haven’t also decided on the destination country. You know me, I only like to announce something when all the details have been confirmed,” he said.

He stressed that it was not an “overseas retreat” but a study trip for MPs.

Deputy Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin also confirmed there was such a trip to explore agricultural technology.

“Probably, the trip will be over this weekend. But we have not decided how many MPs will be participating,” the Kinabatangan MP said.

Kapit MP Alexander Nanta Linggi said he had been asked by fellow MPs from Sarawak if “he was available”.

“I told them that I was going on a trip with (Plantation Industries and Commodities) Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui on his palm oil campaign mission overseas to London and Belgium. They left it at that.”

Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman and Muar MP Razali Ibrahim said they had not been contacted by anybody on the proposed trip.

“I don’t know anything. I’ve been in my constituency the whole day and Parliament has not asked for my passport,” said Anifah, who is known for his vocal views during debate in Dewan Rakyat.

Pasik Salak MP Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman also denied being asked to go for the trip.

“What trip? I was not approached for this,” he added.

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as Permatang Pauh MP at 10.05am Thursday in a brief ceremony in Dewan Rakyat here.

Anwar, who turned up for the event in a simple black baju melayu, was accompanied by his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and their daughter Nurul Izzah.

The moment he entered the Dewan, he was instantly surrounded by other Pakatan Rakyat members, including Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Anwar Ibrahim swears in at Parliament house in Kuala Lumpur Thursday. - AP

Anwar swearing in in video:

Anwar Ibrahim sworn in as Permatang Pauh MP

Anwar Ibrahim sworn in as Permatang Pauh MP

However, only three ministers were present in the House for the swearing-in.

The swearing-in took place in front of Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.

After the swearing-in, Anwar took his place on the first seat on the Opposition block.

Pandikar Amin said he had received and approved an application by the Pakatan Rakyat MPs appointing Anwar as the Opposition Leader.

Sepanggar MP Datuk Eric Enchin Majimbun, who is from Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) took the opportunity to congratulate Anwar on his win as he stood up to field the first query in the question and answer session.

Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz also congratulated Anwar on behalf of the Government when he stood up to reply the first question.

He later said that the live telecast of Parliament proceedings is only meant to show the question time and not other matters, which is why Anwar’s swearing-in was not aired.

Nazri said the opposition should not be over-sensitive about the matter.

KUALA LUMPUR: Newly-elected Permatang Pauh MP Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be taking his oath in Dewan Rakyat on Thursday.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia made the announcement when the sitting resumed at 10am Wednesday.

The Speaker’s office confirmed receiving the letter from the Election Commission on the Permatang Pauh by-election result on Wednesday morning.

This means Anwar will be able to attend the Parliament sitting starting Thursday and he will in the House for the tabling of the Budget on Friday.

At a press conference later, Pandikar said he had yet to receive any letter from the opposition parties on the post of Opposition Leader.

“I am still waiting to hear from the opposition parties,” said Pandikar, adding that the EC was very efficient, notifying him of the by-election result within a short period of time.

Pandikar also said Anwar has been informed of the oath-taking ceremony.

At the Parliament Lobby, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said PKR, DAP and PAS will be sending a letter to Pandikar to appoint Anwar as the Opposition Leader.

Anwar on Tuesday won the Permatang Pauh by-election by a resounding 15,671 majority, beating Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah who only managed 15,524 votes and Akim’s Hanafi Hamat who got 92 votes.

Hey Najib!!! don’t forget you have a nation to take care of. Don’t waste your time here in Permatang Pauh. You should have been in the Parliament for the second table of the DNA bill. And don’t forget also that you are not even a voter in the Permatang Pauh constituency. Barisan Nasional deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak talking to BN election workers at Sekolah Kebangsaan Seberang Jaya 2 in Permatang Pauh yesterday.

Kudos DSA. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim waving to supporters outside the Institut Perguruan Tuanku Bainun yesterday. — NST picture Rosli Ahmad

He polled 31,195 votes compared with the 15,524 obtained by Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah.

Anwar’s majority of 15,671 votes was bigger than that obtained by his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in the March general election.

The third candidate, Hanafi Mamat, who contested on a Parti Keadilan Insan Malaysia (Akim) ticket, only managed to get 92 votes, losing his RM15,000 deposit in the process.

There were 447 spoilt votes.

With the win, Anwar takes back the seat he had held from 1982 to 1999. In 1998, after he was sacked from government and jailed, Dr Wan Azizah won the seat in the general election that followed. She was returned again on March 8 but resigned on July 31, to force a by-election so that Anwar could return to Parliament.

That Anwar was set to make his political comeback after a 10-year absence, of which six were spent behind bars, became apparent by the time polling stations closed at 5pm.

An estimated 40,000 Pakatan Rakyat supporters swarmed the Tuanku Bainun Teacher Training College grounds to celebrate the victory.

The crowd began to gather at the area from 4pm. Conspicuously missing were Barisan Nasional supporters.

When the crowd grew larger, the field set aside for BN supporters was opened to Pakatan Rakyat supporters.

The crowd cheered each time the returning officer announced Anwar had won in a particular polling station.

Shouts of “reformasi” and “Merdeka” filled the air with supporters waving their party flag.

Dubbed the “mother” of all by-elections, BN was the underdog from the start as Permatang Pauh has long been Anwar’s turf.

Nevertheless, the BN fought hard using phantom voters and manipulating voters list. It was a ferocious 10 days of campaigning as BN traded insults and accusations on Anwar. BN has made it as the dirtiest by-election ever.

Anwar and his supporters had claimed that the government and mainstream media had mounted an “intensely negative campaign” against him

They also claimed that there was electoral fraud.