6 theSun | FRIDAY OCTOBER 31 2008

news without borders

Khairy to explain debate

proposal to Hisham
PETALING JAYA: Umno Youth vice-chief
Khairy Jamaluddin said yesterday he
Apart from Khairy, the movement’s
executive council member Datuk Mukhriz
Abandon ‘silo’ mentality,
would meet the movement’s chief Datuk
Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein to explain
his proposal for open debates among can-
didates for the movement’s top post.
He said he would meet Hishammuddin
soon to explain the matter as well as to
get his consent for the proposal.
Mahathir and former Selangor Mentri
Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo
had also obtained enough nominations to
contest for the movement’s top post.
Mohd Khir had taken up the challenge
to debate openly with Khairy.
Mukhriz, who garnered the highest
says Raja Nazrin
“I respect Datuk Seri Hishammuddin as nominations so far, however, opted out by Maria J.Dass “Challenging Asia” at the Kuala empowerment.
Umno Youth chief; this should be the way. of the debate, saying party elections were newsdesk@thesundaily.com Lumpur Convention Centre He said empowerment
The open debate is my personal sugges- internal matters. yesterday, he said: “No segment enables societies to become
tion and it would be up to him whether to Meanwhile, Umno supreme council PETALING JAYA: Perak of society must be disrespected, strong and achieve lasting
go ahead with it,” he said. member Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said a Regent Raja Dr Nazrin Shah discredited and disenfranchised. outcomes.
He was met by reporters at a forum debate, whether open or closed, would en- yesterday advocated the No group should feel that their Empowerment, he said,
on “The West-Islam Dialogue: Where are able candidates to introduce themselves principle of inclusiveness in efforts and contributions go embraces not merely the under-
We and Where are We Going?” at the In- as well as to spell out their visions for the tackling challenges, arguing unrecognised and classes but all those
ternational Institute of Advanced Islamic party. against formulating policies, unwanted. who do not walk the
Studies Malaysia here. “I don’t see any problem with holding a laws and regulations on a “Bringing this corridors of power
Hishammuddin said on Wednesday that debate. I believe it would be an avenue for discriminatory basis and in an about is one of the and who have little
he wanted members of the movement to the people and delegates to get to know ethical vacuum. greatest challenges say in what affects
refer the debate proposal to him as he was their potential leaders,” he said in Kuala In his speech at the 21st Law of governance today. their lives.
still the Umno Youth chief until March. Lumpur. Asia Conference 2008 themed We must abandon the He listed the
‘silo’ mentality where prerequisites of
we only look up at empowerment:
what is happening » strengthen the rule
and not beside us of law;
at what others are » greater political
experiencing.” participation where
Raja Nazrin’s residents are
speech focussed on Diversity converted to citizens
what Asia’s response and citizens into
should be to the is only stakeholders;
global financial crisis. strength if the » the reform of
He said his unity of the societal “software”
concerns about Asia whole, and not where values
had to do with the
social fabric of the the differences, and beliefs need
to be changed.
people; the complex are being (“This is never a
societies are stratified emphasised.” straightforward task
not just by class but where efforts must
also by ethnicity as be taken to ensure
well as linguistic and religious that desirable behaviour such
differences. as entrepreneurship and
“Diversity is only strength innovation are rewarded, while
if the unity of the whole, and undesirable behaviour such as
not the differences, are being corruption and abuse of power
emphasised,” he said. are penalised,” said Nazrin);
Raja Nazrin said there is » technology, particularly
no better way to express the information and
principle of inclusiveness communication technology and
than through the practice of » education.

briefs
Tabung Haji absorbs higher
costs for pilgrimage this year
PETALING JAYA: The Pilgrims Management and
Fund Board (Tabung Haji) is to absorb the higher
cost of air fare, accommodation and food of this
year’s 27,000 Haj pilgrims, Minister in the Prime
Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid
Hamidi said yesterday.
Copter He said Tabung Haji had allocated more than
deal RM100 million from its profit last year to meet the
sealed additional and unavoidable expenditure.
“Every pilgrim is allocated additional ex-
without penditure of RM2,600,” he told reporters at the
physical ceremony to bid farewell to the pilgrims, which
evaluation was attended by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku
Mizan Zainal Abidin and Raja Permaisuri Agong
pg 8 Tuanku Nur Zahirah.
Ahmad Zahid also said Tabung Haji and the
Construction Industry Development Board were
in the process of selecting a local contractor to
work with the Saudi Arabian authorities on the
construction of Tabung Haji’s hotel in the Holy
Land. – Bernama

ACA can probe poison-pen

claims of money politics
PUTRAJAYA: The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) can
initiate investigations into claims of money politics in
Umno merely based on poison-pen letters, Minister in
the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed
Nazri Abdul Aziz said yesterday.
“It’s not necessarily based on official report. The
ACA can investigate claims made in poison-pen let-
ters,” he told reporters after opening the ACA’s 41st
anniversary here. However, Nazri said there was no
necessity for the ACA to investigate if the claims were
mere hearsay or speculation. – Bernama