Anwar wants debate with Najib after trading blows on economic policies

By Shannon Teoh

DENGKIL, Jan 28 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim again challengedDatuk Seri Najib Razak to a debate after both rivals had lashed out at each other’s economic policies yesterday.

Opposition Leader Anwar had said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal the prime minister’s policies benefited cronies despite embarking on an economic reform programme.

But Najib returned fire in the evening, saying the opposition’s promises of abolishing tolled roads, writing off study loans and reducing fuel prices were “a recipe for economic disaster” as the government would have to absorb RM40 billion in study loans alone.

Anwar (picture) issued at least his fourth challenge to the Umno president in front of over 1,000 who attended a ceramah here last night despite Najib so far declining to go head-to-head with the former finance minister.

BN keeps Gerakan to lead Penang, possibly get more state seats

By Jahabar Sadiq
Editor
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 — Barisan Nasional (BN) is to set to name Gerakan secretary-general Teng Chang Yeow as its Penang chief while Dr Teng Hock Nan will continue to be state party chief as the ruling federal coalition seeks to recapture the island state from Pakatan Rakyat (PR) led by first-term Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

The Malaysian Insider understands that BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak will announce the state coalition line-up tomorrow when arrives in Penang for the Chinese New Year celebrations. It is also learnt that Gerakan could get more state seats at the expense of coalition partner MCA although both parties lost all their seats in Election 2008.

“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will name Chang Yeow as the Penang BN chief in a renewed effort to get back the state,” a BN source told The Malaysian Insider.

Hasan Ali seperti ‘buah buruk’, tak perlu petik akan jatuh sendiri, kata veteran PAS

Oleh Syed Mu’az Syed Putra


KUALA LUMPUR, 18 Jan — Veteran PAS Subky Abdul Latif  mengibaratkan bekas Pesuruhjaya PAS Selangor Datuk Dr Hasan Ali seperti “buah buruk” yang akan jatuh bila-bila masa tanpa perlu “dijolok.”

Ketika dihubungi The Malaysian Insider, Subky berkata kepimpinan PAS tidak perlu melayan dan ambil peduli tentang tuduhan yang dilemparkan Hasan terhadap parti itu.

Beliau juga berkata Hasan kini hanya “orang luar” dan tidak mempunyai apa-apa hubungan dengan PAS pimpinan Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Hasan (gambar) dipecat keanggotaannya pada 8 Januari lalu kerana berulang kali mengeluarkan kenyataan dan pandangan yang bertentang dengan dasar parti Islam itu.