From: jit@slic.cellbio.duke.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asean
Subject: Mal news ,  Nov 9, Monday, 1992
Date: 9 Nov 92 14:32:07 GMT
Originator: jit@slic.cellbio.duke.edu

The Strait Times, Monday, Nov 9th, 1992


Ghafar will lead UMNO after me, says Mahathir

Kuala Lumpur -- UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday
dispelled speculation that he had changed his mind on Mr Ghafar baba,
his deputy in the party and government, succeeding hm to the top party post.
  "There is no change. Mr. Ghafar will succeed me," he said.
  Dr ahathir, who is also Prime Minister by virtue of UMNO's dominance
in the ruling National Front coalition, said it was the party's
tradition for the No 2 person to take over the presidency.
  His clarification came at the end of the three-day UMNO annual general
assembly during which the succession question was among the main
concerns of the more than 1700 delegates.
  As to whether he would make himself available as party president for
one or two more terms, he said that it all depended on whether UMNO
still wanted him.
  "If I am still healthy and the party still wants me, then it is a duty
to offer myself.  If the party does not want me, it is quite all right,"
he said.
  Speculation that Dr Mahathir was throwing open the party succession
spread like wildfire among the delegates after he told reporters on
Saturday that the party should decide on his successor.
  The reason he gave for not wanting to name a successor was that such
an action might split the party instead of bringing greater unity.
  Asked to clarify, he said his earlier comments on succession were
meant to refer to the third layer leadership in UMNO, not the second layer.
  "The jockeying now is for the three posts of vice-presidents.  If I
were to name them now, I do not think it is going to contribute to the
betterment of the party," he said.
  Asked whether he would prefer to retain the status quo, he said that
the UMNO leader after him wold be his deputy now, but after that it was
up to the party to decide.
  The three vice-presidents now are Finance Minister Datuk Anwar
Ibrahim, who is the front-runner to inherit the party in th
post-Mahathir era, Foreign Minister Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and
Agriculture Minister Datuk Sanusi Junid.
  On the qualities he would like to see in the next generation of
leaders, Dr Mahathir said that it was vital for the country to continue
pushing towards the targets set under Vision 2020.
  Though there might be some minor shifts, he said there should not be a
180 degree about turn in the current drive to transform Malaysia into an
industrial nation.
  The run-up to the tiennial UMNO elections, which will be held at all
levels next, has triggered off infighting and unhealthy campaigning,
such as the use of money among some party leaders.
  Dr Mahathir said that all posts were up for re-election, and that
there was nothing to stop members from standing for any position,
including the party presidency and deputy presidency.
  Observers have ruled out any challenge to Dr Mahathir or Mr Ghafar in
next year's party polls.
============================================================
Stop expecting KL to help bumis get rich: Mahathir
"Work hard as gvt has done everything it can"
(By Kalimullah Hassan)

Kuala Lumpur -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday
told bumiputras to stop expecting the government to provide them with
means to become rich.
  Speaking at the closing of the annual UMNO General Assembly, Dr
mahathir said the government had over the years done everything it could
to help bumiputras.
  "We have given licences to import cars, for deep seafishing, easy-term
loans, contractors' licences, cheaper houses and ensured that they get
30 percent equity in public companies."
  "But it is time that we learn we cannot depend on the government for
everything," he said in response to calls from delegates attending the
assembly for the govt to increase aid to bumiputras.
   Dr Mahathir, who is UMNO president, said that as a trained medical
doctor, he often had to prescribe medicine to cure ailments and medicine
was normally bitter.
   In the same manner, he said bumiputras had to learn that nothing was
for free.  They had to work hard the Japanese, koreans and Taiwanese if
they wanted to succeed without depending on the govt as a crutch.
  He lamented that when the govt made regulations whereby bumiputras
received equity in newly listed companies, it found that they sold off
their shares to make quick money, defeating the purpose of ensuring that
they held a 30 percent stake in the country's economy.
  For this reason, he si\aid, the government now preferred to give new
shares to govt-controlled bumiputra institutions to ensure that shares
remained in bumiputra hands.
   Dr Mahathir was also unhappy that some UMNO delegates had questioned
why non-Malays were given big projects.
   He also took exception to a Johor woman delegate's reference to
Chinese as "slit-eyed".
  Malaysia comprised many races and UMNO members could not expect the
govt to take away from non-Malays to give to UMNO members, he said.
  His speech, which was broadcast live over television and radio,
outlined the weaknesses of Malays entrepreneurs.
  "You have to accept the fact that the only way to progress is to work
hard.  If you can accept that, then we will succeed."
  He also expressed disappointment with the delegates' debates, saying
that many merely kept on asking for more handouts.
  "It was the same last year.  And mark my words, it will be the same
next year.  I just hope delegates do more research on what they speak so
that we can all learn and improve ourselves," he said.
============================================================
Poison-pen letter writers 'out to destroy party, start fights between
leaders'

Top UMNO leaders yesterday condemned the writers of poison-pen letters,
saying the people responsible were ou ot destroy UMNO and start fights
between party leaders.
  In their winding-up speeches, the leaders warned UMNO members that
they would be falling into the trap if they started believing
allegations against party leaders as penned in such letters.
  UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim related that he and PM
Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad had been the target of many such letters,
and some had even suggested that he was having an affair with a Chinese
girl.
  He said: "Most people know it's not true but some may believe it.  The
same letter was sent to my wife, these writers are evil people; they
even want to wreck your marriage."
  He said that the letters contained half-truths about projects awarded
to these tycoons and tried to suggest that he had gained.
  Another vice-president, Datuk Seri Sanusi Junid, refuted claims that
he was responsible for poison-pen letters.
  On Saturday, Federal Territory delegate Datuk Azman Attar had said
that some people had blamed Datuk Sanusi for the poison-pen letters.
  Datuk Sanusi said: "Last year, I was accused of producing books
criticising some leaders.  Now it is poison-pen letters.  Such lies are
common.  There will be even more lies in 1993."
  Party elections are scheduled to take place next year.
   [.....]

============================================================
Sabah politics not the same as that in peninsula: State delegate

The Sabah UMNO yesterday told federal leaders that politics in the east
Malaysian state was different from that in the peninsula.
  Any attempts to campaign peninsula-style in Sabah would meet with
failure, said Sabah delegate to the annual UMNO General Assembly, Haji
Sairin Karno.
  Haji Sairin, who was applauded repeatedly by delegates when debating
the resolution on religion, articulated Sabah UMNO's views in public for
the first time since the party set up branches in Sabah last year.
  He said UMNO was predominantly Malay and Muslim in the peninsula but
it had to remember that its Sabahan members came from various ethnic
backgrounds and comprised many Christians and other non-Muslims.
  "If we try to project as if the party belongs to only one race, the
other ethnic and religious groups will feel that UMNO is prejudiced
against them.
  "The opposition Parti Bersatu Sabah is capitalising on this and saying
UMNO is a party for Muslims only.  We feel that such campaigns can
affect UMNO adversely if no concrete moves are made to counter these
allegations," he said.
  Haji Sairin, who declared himself a Dusan-Kadazan, the state's biggest
ethnic group which is largely Christian, said UMNO leaders had to
remember that there were more than 30 ethnic groups in Sabah with
different religions.
  His comments follow privately expressed complaints by Sabah
politicians that federal leadrs campaigning in the state tend to preach
Malay and Muslim unity, often diregarding the sensitivities of
non-Muslim, non-Malay members.
  He suggested that federal leders mix around more with the non-Muslim
members to get a better feel of Sabah politics and to ensure they could
build up support to oust the PBS in the next state elections.
  He said non-Muslim UMNO members accepted that Islam was the official
religion and the way of life espoused by the party constitution but they
should not be made to feel that their sensitivities were threatened.
  "We must dispel notions that UMNO is only for the Muslims.  I believe,
sooner or late, if this is done, Sabahans will accept UMNO," he said.
============================================================
Bumiputras of any religion in Sabah can join UMNO: PM

Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad has told UMNO Sabah that all bumiputras
in the state, irrespective of their religious background, can join the
party.
  He conveyed the message to UMNO Sabah deputy chief, Tun Datu Mustapha
Datu Harun, who led leaders of the Dusun-Kadazan-Murut task force during
a 30-minute meeting in KL on Saturday.
  Tun Mustapha said the meeting was held after the ruling Parti Bersatu
Sabah had claimed that Christians could not join UMNO as the party was
only for Muslims.
  [...]
  Even non-Muslim Peninsular Malaysian bumiputras of Thai, Portugese and
Orang Asli origins were allowed to join UMNO, Tun Mustapha told
reporters.
  [....]
============================================================
KL to crack down on suppliers of inferior food rations

Kuala Lumpur -- The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency will launch 
nationwide crackdown against contractors allegedly supplying inferior
food rations to hostels, hospitals and welfare homes.
   [....]

============================================================
Falling discipline among soldiers worries army chief

Army Chief General Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Hamid has expressed concern
about deteriorating discipline among Malaysian army personnel and the
lack of commitment to the service.
  He told The Sunday Star that there had been an increase in
disciplinary cases among soldiers such as involvement in criminal
activities, drug abuse and absence without leave.
 [.....]
============================================================
Chilean President due in KL tomorrow

Kuala Lumpur - Chilean President Patricio Alywin would arrive here
tomorrow on a state visit expectd to pave the way for greater trade and
investment flows between Chile and the region, officials said yesterday.
  [....]

============================================================
Perak club to hold parade of vintage, classic cars

IPOH -- The Royal Perak Motor Club will organise a parade of vintage,
classic and sports cars in conjunction with the centennial celebration
of Batu Gajah, once the administrative centre of the world's riches tin
district of Kinta.
 [...]
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