Zakaria Md Deros dies

Former Port Klang state assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Md Deros died of a heart attack at his palatial home in Kg Idaman near here early yesterday morning.

His son Zulhisham, 29, said Zakaria died while discussing the grim outcome of the recent general election with family members and friends.

Zakaria: Died while discussing the outcome of the recent general election

“We were all seated around the dining table after a late dinner at about 12.30, discussing what had happened, when my father experienced breathing difficulties and fell,” said Zulhisham, who is married to former deputy information minister Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s daughter Nurul Izwani.

Besides his children and close friends and political allies, Zakaria’s wife Datin Zizah Ngah was also with him.

Zakaria, 62, courted controversy when he built his palatial home in a low-cost housing area without submitting its building plans to the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) for approval.

He had also operated an unlicensed satay restaurant built illegally on government reserve land and had not paid assessment for another property for 12 years. All these occurred while he was an MPK councillor.

Zakaria’s misdemeanours were brought to light in 2006, which caused him to give up his municipal councillor post of more than 20 years.

His career in politics was put to an end when he was dropped from the Barisan Nasional list for the recently concluded election.

Among those who thronged Zakaria’s troubled mansion was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Putrajaya MP Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Dr Ahmad Zahid and former Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib.

Zakaria is survived by his wife, 11 children aged between 39 to 11, 13 grandchildren as well as two sons-in-law and five daughters-in-law.

His body was later sent to Malacca and laid to rest at his village at the Kuala Sungai Baru Muslim cemetery in Masjid Tanah

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Pak Lah’s reforms aided more open elections

It was due to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s reforms and opening of democratic space that the general election went the way it did, a public forum was told.

Social Strategic Foundation executive director Datuk Dr Dennison Jayasooria and Umno supreme council member Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said after winning the 2004 general election, the Prime Minister had opened up democratic space and made substantial changes that involved widespread consultation with the people.

“While many have run down Prime Minister Abdullah over his leadership and tried to call for his resignation, this history (in the 2008 elections) would not have been possible if not for him enabling a democratic space in the country,” Dr Jayasooria said.

He said the Prime Minister had also built on the citizens' values and expectations of transparency, accountability, good governance and fight against corruption. For this, the people gave Abdullah a resounding victory in 2004.

The just concluded election, he said, was a test card of the leadership, and the people felt that the Barisan did not stand up to the principles advocated.

Dr Jayasooria also pointed out that the Prime Minister was gracious in losing, and this was a tremendous strength in leadership.

“I don’t think other prime ministers would be able to take it in the same fashion. Graciousness in losing is a tremendous strength and something we must value in the nation as we move on,” he said.

Shahrir noted, however, that the issues affecting voters, such as unemployment, crime, rising price of goods, and quality of life, were the same issues faced by developed nations.

Shahrir said despite the Barisan winning an overwhelming victory in 2004, the Prime Minister made substantial changes in Parliament.

“For the first time we had widespread consultation on major bills, which was never done before. We had select committees whose members came from the ruling party and the Opposition, and an active Public Accounts Committee (PAC),” he said.

He said the question now was whether the Barisan could still afford the same kind of luxury.

“But I have faith in the leadership of Pak Lah. It is the man and his beliefs that made us go the way we did,” he declared.

Shahrir also said that one could not ignore the fact that the Barisan might now want to form a coalition government with PAS.

“If the DAP can work with PAS, why can’t we work with PAS. Chinese voters have given their votes to PAS. If you vote for the Opposition, we assume that you accept PAS, and it is an acceptable partner to the Barisan,” he said.

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Tussle for Deputy MB post

The proposed Selangor Deputy Mentri Besar’s post is an open competition among three of the four DAP state assemblymen who are expected to be made state executive councillors.

They are Ean Yong Hian Wah (Seri Kembangan), Ronnie Liu (Pandamaran) and Teresa Kok (Kinrara).

The fourth suggested executive councillor, Lau Weng San (Kampung Tunku) is out because he is considered a junior who lacks experience.

Once again left out in the cold, although he is the most experienced DAP state assemblyman with a proven track record as an astute state government watchdog, is former opposition chief Teng Chang Khim (Sungai Pinang).

DAP’s Ean Yong recently confirmed that, apart from requesting the four executive councillors positions, the party would also seek to have one of its exco members appointed Deputy Mentri Besar.

Together with the PKR and PAS, the opposition parties won 36 seats to form the new state government compared with the 20 seats won by Barisan Nasional.

However, Kok’s audience with the Selangor Sultan yesterday fuelled speculation that she was also in the running.

When reporters asked about the Deputy Mentri Besar candidate, she said nothing had been confirmed and it was not discussed during her audience with the Sultan.

She added that the Selangor Deputy Mentri Besar and list of state executive counciLlors for the new state government would be decided perhaps by the end of this week.

Kok said Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah wanted to know if DAP supported the selection of PKR secretary-general Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as the Mentri Besar and if the three parties could work together to form a stable state govermment.

Liu also said no decision had been made yet on who would be Deputy Mentri Besar. He added that even the names of the four DAP state assemblymen touted to be made excos was mere speculation.

When asked by reporters why Teng was left out, despite his excellent track record of exposing wrongdoings that contributed to the downfall of two previous mentris besar, Liu repeated that nothing had been confirmed.

When told that many people felt Teng was a suitable choice to be made Deputy Mentri Besar, Liu replied: “One has to identify who the people are, are they his people, or my people, or who?”

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New CM waives summonses

New Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has introduced a series of populist decisions from giving a one-time waiver of summonses issued by local councils to the abandoning of New Economic Policy measures by the state administration.

He said the state government also wanted to foster harmonious relations with the Federal Government in all respects and he would seek an appointment with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to discuss moves to address the needs of the people of Penang.

He said this during a press conference after being sworn in as Chief Minister at his new office in Komtar here yesterday.

Lim said the key areas of the new agenda for Penang included the economy, governance and social needs of the people. (See chart)

He said the agenda for change would “re-establish rule by the rakyat.”

He also said that the Chief Minister, state exco members, speaker and deputy speaker, as well as the heads of the Penang and Seberang Prai municipal councils would be required to publicly declare their personal assets.

On the move to waive summonses issued by the Penang and Seberang Prai Municipal Councils before March 11, Lim said the move was to help reduce the burden faced by the people, especially the poor.

However, further offences of such nature would not be excused, he said.

Lim said he hoped to discuss with Abdullah the possibility of using Petronas’ proceeds to fully fund the construction cost of the Federal Government’s second Penang Bridge project.

He also hoped federal funding to Penang would not be affected by the change of government, adding that the funding was provided for under the Federal Constitution.

“I don't think Abdullah wants to see Penangites suffer just because they exercised their right to vote in the March 8 elections,” he said.

On how he felt being the Chief Minister, Lim replied: “Being a former prisoner, I did not expect to sit on the chief minister's chair. It is really a transformation and quite an experience for me.”

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