CHANG YEOW GETS CRACKING TO WIN BACK PENANG

It has just been a day since Teng Chang Yeow was appointed state Barisan Nasional chief but this has already created a lot of excitement both within and outside the Penang BN.

BN grassroots members are seeing the appointment as a much needed move to rejuvenate the coalition as it prepares to take on Penang under the rule of DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

On the other side, DAP and opposition-linked news websites are already launching a counter-strike with some attempting to downplay the impact of Teng's appointment and others labelling it as the installation of an "aggressive leadership" by the BN.

Making his first move to face the challenges ahead, Teng yesterday announced that he would be making some adjustments to the state BN working committee to bolster its strength.

He said some of the changes would include defining and expanding the work scope to increase its effectiveness.

Read more on : Chang Yeow gets cracking to win back Penang - General - New Straits Times 

GROUP DARES WAN AZIZAH TO SUE AMINAH


KUALA LUMPUR: Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) national director Farahhana Jamaluddin has urged Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) to sue its former Penang wanita chief Aminah Abdullah if her remarks against the party leadership were untrue.

Farahhana yesterday questioned why PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Shamsidar Taharin (PKR deputy president Azmin Ali's wife) chose to remain silent on the relationship between their daughters.

"Why have they (Dr Wan Azizah and Shamsidar) not sued Aminah for alleging that Nurul Izzah Anwar and Farah Affifah Azmin are related by blood?" she said yesterday.

Farahhana said Dr Wan Azizah needed to stop "being a hypocrite" after previously refusing to sue Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah over the sex video involving her husband, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"Until now, she has also refused to swear under oath that her husband is not bisexual. Merely dismissing the allegations as a political conspiracy is not enough and is a stale excuse," Farahhana said.

She urged Dr Wan Azizah to dispel the allegations once and for all by taking legal action against Aminah.

"If she (Dr Wan Azizah) still refuses, then she might as well declare PKR a free sex party," she added.

Meanwhile, Dr Wan Azizah could not be reached for comment. –NST

PAS YOUTH THREATENS TO SEND PROTEST NOTE

GEORGE TOWN: The ongoing tussle between Pas and Parti Keadilan Rakyat for the Penang Islamic Affairs Council (MAIPP) president's post has escalated with the state Pas Youth threatening to send a memorandum to the state government.

Its chief, Yusni Mat Piah, said Pas Youth were preparing the memorandum. He said the state Pas Youth was adamant that MAIPP should be helmed by Penang Pas Commissioner Datuk Mohd Salleh Man and that State Religious Affairs Committee chairman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim of PK should vacate the post.

It was earlier reported that Salleh was promised the post by opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the Permatang Pasir by-election in 2009 but the state government overlooked the promise and went on to propose Malik.

The Yang diPertuan Agong has since decreed that Malik head MAIPP but the state government now wants Salleh to be given the post instead.

The awkward situation has led to state Pas leaders calling on Malik to resign from the post but the latter has so far remained mum on whether he plans to do so.

"Anwar made the promise during the Permatang Pasir by-election. If the promise is broken, how can the people trust Pakatan Rakyat?" Yusni said.

Meanwhile, Salleh, when met after opening the World Book and Copyright Day carnival at the Penang Public Library, here yesterday attempted to sidestep the issue and denied that Pas and PKR disagreed over the matter.

"In terms of our relations (between the two), everything is as usual. All is well," Salleh said.

Salleh said he would continue his duties as deputy president, and "will see what happens next after further discussions". -NST