Anwar sworn in

After an absence of 10 years, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim finally returned to Parliament as an MP.
Wearing a black Baju Melayu, the PKR de facto leader lifted his right hand and was sworn in as the Pematang Pauh MP in the Chambers at 10am.The seven-minute oath-taking ceremony, which took place immediately after morning prayers, and before Question Time, was witnessed by speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, Anwar's family, ministers Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and Datuk Mustapa Mohamed and other MPs from both sides of the divide."Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. I, Anwar Ibrahim, as an MP, do hereby swear with all honesty that I will fulfil my duties honestly and will defend and protect the Constitution," he said to thumps of support from the Opposition block.After the ceremony, he went back to his allocated seat, located at front row of Block H, which directly faces the seat of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Pandikar Amin also announced Anwar's appointment as the Opposition leader."I am satisfied that the Opposition block unnanimously agreed to this and starting today, he is the Opposition leader," he said.In congratulating Anwar, Pandikar Amin expressed hopes that the PKR leader would render his services effectively.There was no live telecast for the swearing-in ceremony.At the start of the Question Hour, Datuk Eric Enchin Majimbun (BN-Sepanggar) congratulated Anwar for his appointment, before asking his allocated first question.Nazri, in his personal capacity as the Padang Rengas MP, also congratulated Anwar.Earlier, the former deputy prime minister arrived at the August House at 9.50am with his wife Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and family, who were clad in aquamarine baju kurung.He was met by DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur).The photographers and cameramen who had been on standby at the Parliament lobby since 9am went into a frenzy, jostling to take his pictures.Flanked by his bodyguards, Anwar and his family slowly made his way into the Chambers while the media continue to surround him.In the Chambers, he chatted with PKR leaders, including Lim and his son Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan) and Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (PAS-Marang).PKR retained the Permatang Pauh seat with 15,671 majority, after trashing BN's Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah and Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia's Hanafi Mamat.Anwar polled 31,195 votes, while Arif got 15,524. Hanifi only manage to garner 92 votes, losing his deposit in the process.The Permatang Pauh seat fell vacant after Anwar's wife, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, vacated her seat on July 31.

Anwar to be sworn in Thursday

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.

Anwar: Win a sign voters want change

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has described his triumph in the Permatang Pauh by-election as “the second political tsunami” and said it was the people's victory.

“This election has been won due to the commitment and courage shown by the people.
“People want change for freedom and justice. They want the economy to benefit all,” Anwar said while addressing supporters after being declared winner of the parliamentary by-election yesterday.

“They have rejected oppression and they are saying they do not want to be taken for granted any longer.

“The people have sent a strong message to the Government,” he said, adding that the people have rejected the unfair distribution of the country's wealth.

He said his victory brought new meaning to the word “Merdeka”.

Anwar added that Pakatan Rakyat was bringing new hope to the people with its reform agenda.
“We will stick to our promise that the price of fuel will be reduced when we form the government.”

During a press conference later, Anwar said although the date of his swearing-in was at the discretion of the Speaker, he hoped to be in the Dewan Rakyat for Budget Day.

“I have promised the people that I would scrutinise Budget 2009 which will be tabled on Friday and as such, I should be sworn in tomorrow.”

With regards to Pakatan forming the government on Sept 16, Anwar reaffirmed that the planned takeover would materialise.

Resounding win for Anwar with 15,671 majority

As expected Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim won the Permatang Pauh by-election, but what was impressive was the margin of victory.

The PKR leader was returned to Parliament with a majority of 15,671 votes, exceeding the 13,388-vote majority achieved by his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in the March 8 general election.

Anwar garnered 31,195 votes to beat Barisan candidate Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah, who garnered 15,524 votes, while low-key Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia candidate Hanafi Hamat lost his RM15,000 deposit after getting only 92 votes.

The closely watched by-election was called after Dr Wan Azizah resigned from her post as MP on July 31, barely five months after she had won the seat, to enable her husband to run for election.
Anwar held the seat for four terms before he was sacked from his Deputy Prime Minister's post in 1998 over corruption and sodomy charges.

Dr Wan Azizah, who had been known as a reluctant politician, won the seat for a third term in March.

A mammoth crowd comprising PKR leaders and supporters gathered early yesterday evening at the tallying centre at the Tuanku Bainun Teachers Training College in Bukit Mertajam to celebrate the party’s victory.

Supporters let off fireworks as returning officer Roslan Yahaya announced the results at about 10pm.

Voter turnout was relatively high, registering at about 80% of the total 58,459 eligible voters in the constituency.

Barisan was the underdog from the start in the hard-fought by-election that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak described as a titanic challenge.

Anwar’s convincing victory was reminiscent of his heyday, when he secured a stunning 23,515-vote majority in the 1995 general election by polling 27,945 votes, 76.7% of the total votes then.
The laid-back town of Permatang Pauh is where Anwar won four consecutive Parliament seats from 1982 to 1995, taking over the seat from what was initially a PAS stronghold.

Anwar: Name my ‘cronies’

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has challenged his detractors to name the people who allegedly benefited from his position when he was deputy prime minister and finance minister.
“There was no such thing. If you know of the people who benefited, you should identify them. Do not just make claims,” he said.
The PKR leader, who is contesting the Permatang Pauh by-election, was asked to comment on his involvement in bumiputra policies when he was in the Federal Government and the award of projects without tenders.
Speaking to reporters during a break from his morning campaign yesterday, Anwar said bumiputra youths did not have any problem embracing a multiracial philosophy.
He said the recent issue with Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s proposal to allocate a 10% quota for non-bumiputras in UiTM was a ploy by Umno leaders to make PKR look bad and anti-Malay.
Friendly reception: Seberang Jaya residents welcoming Anwar and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail during their visit to the Seberang Jaya Food Court in Penang yesterday
“(Tun) Dr Mahathir Mohamad gave the same proposal in 2002. What Umno is doing is manipulating Khalid’s statement,” he said, adding that he did not think Umno could sustain the racial line.
“It is time for the Malays to take the step (towards a multiracial philosophy), but it will not be easy initially,” he said, adding that he himself was amazed how well Malay youths had responded to him championing for the interests of other races.
Declaring he is a leader of all races, Anwar said his main objective was to bring prosperity to all Malaysians.
“Yes, I am an agent for the Malays as well as the Indians and Chinese,” he said yesterday, while hitting out at Barisan leaders for allegedly portraying him as anti-Malay.
He stressed that he would never betray the Malays or sacrifice Islam to achieve his plan of leading Pakatan Rakyat to take over the Federal Government.
He claimed that Barisan Nasional leaders had been using the racial line in their campaign rounds to sway Malay voters away from him in the by-election.
“Playing on the racial line is a very dangerous game. The people are not that stupid now compared to years ago. Umno is a sinking ship and its leaders are holding on to it to stay in power,” he said.
On contesting against his former protege Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah, Anwar said he had nothing personal against the man and that he was a good friend.

Banteras politik wang tidak boleh berlengah

MENCEGAH lebih baik daripada mengubati. Itulah yang sepatutnya menjadi pegangan dalam menangani apa juga masalah termasuk gejala politik wang yang didakwa berleluasa di peringkat cawangan UMNO.

Walaupun dakwaan itu masih belum pasti kebenarannya, namun ia satu tuduhan yang serius. Maka ia tentunya perlu disusuli dengan tindakan yang serius juga.

Politik wang bukan perkara kecil. Ia bukan perkara yang boleh dipandang mudah kerana membabitkan imej dan maruah.

Ini soal integriti parti. Kalau di peringkat akar umbi sudah kecoh dengan gejala negatif ini, ia boleh menyebabkan parti goyah dalam menghadapi gelombang politik pasca pilihan raya umum ke-12 yang cukup mencabar.

Ketika pucuk pimpinan terpaksa berhadapan dengan pelbagai isu termasuk yang d iluar kawalan seperti kenaikan harga minyak, UMNO tidak boleh dibiarkan diganggu gugat oleh isu-isu dalaman.

Apa juga isu yang berbangkit perlu ditangani dari awal supaya tidak menular menjadi barah yang menghancurkan parti.

Sebab itu kes politik wang yang didakwa berlaku pada mesyuarat cawangan tidak boleh dibiarkan. Kalau ia hanya timbul di satu dua cawangan mungkin boleh dianggap kes terpencil. Tetapi banyak cawangan mengadu hal yang sama. Yang terbaru pendedahan Ahli Majlis Tertinggi (MT) Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar sendiri.

Sebagai orang lama dalam UMNO dan berada pula dalam barisan MT, pendedahan Syed Hamid tentu ada asasnya.

Ia tentu bukan didorong oleh niat untuk meraih simpati menjelang pemilihan bahagian kerana taruhannya adalah imej parti.

Oleh itu ibu pejabat UMNO perlu pantas bertindak supaya gejala ini dapat dibanteras di peringkat awal lagi.

Jika pemilihan di peringkat cawangan orang sudah heboh bercakap pasal sogokan, beli undi dan sebagai, bayangkan apa akan jadi pada pemilihan bahagian Oktober ini. Ini bukan perkara kecil yang boleh diambil pendekatan tunggu dan lihat. Ini soal imej dan maruah.

Biar sekecil mana sekalipun aduan mengenai politik wang ia perlu disiasat dan dipastikan kebenarannya supaya ahli-ahli terus yakin dengan perjuangan parti. Pada masa sama rakyat tidak memandang serong terhadap UMNO.

Oleh itu sekretariat bagi memantau gejala tidak bermoral di peringkat cawangan seperti yang diumumkan Presiden parti, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi semalam perlu digerakkan serta merta.

Sebelum imej dan maruah parti dipersenda, adalah lebih baik UMNO memerangi habis-habisan golongan yang sanggup menggadaikan parti hanya untuk mencapai kepentingan peribadi.
Segera kenal pasti golongan yang rendah moral ini supaya mereka tidak terus menjadi duri dalam daging kepada parti. Jangan tunggu sampai nasi menjadi bubur. Jangan biarkan golongan yang tidak bertanggungjawab terlepas begitu sahaja. Pastikan mereka dihukum sekeras-kerasnya.

Chronology of Anwar Ibrahim's tumultuous decade

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has had a roller-coaster political career -- sacked as deputy premier, jailed on corruption and sodomy charges, and then returning to the political stage.

Here is a chronology of recent events:

Sept 1998: Anwar Ibrahim, then deputy to prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, is sacked and slapped with sodomy and corruption charges that he said were politically motivated.

April 1999: Found guilty of corruption and sentenced to six years in jail.

August 2000: Found guilty of sodomy and sentenced to nine years in prison.

Sept 2004: Released after Malaysia's highest court overturns sodomy conviction.

March 2008: Leads a resurgent opposition to stunning victories in general elections, seizing five states and a third of parliamentary seats

April 2008: Ban on holding public office, relating to his corruption conviction, expires.

June 2008: Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, a 23-year-old who was a volunteer at his office, lodges a police report claiming Anwar sodomised him.

July 16, 2008: Anwar arrested amid a tussle over fixing a date for police interrogation, and spends night in custody before being released.

July 31: Announces he will contest parliament by-election for the Permatang Pauh consituency in his home state of Penang, after his wife resigns the seat to make way for him.

August 6: Anwar says he will be charged with sodomy the following day.

-- Election Commission officials announce August 26 by-election date.