Jimadie Shah Othman
Jul 7, 09
3:10pm
The political journey of Zaid Ibrahim has all the elements of a Hollywood blockbuster, given its numerous thrills and spills.
The articulate and well-heeled lawyer, who drives a Porsche, was once a Umno MP and division chief in Kelantan.
In 2008, he was dropped from the election line-up after being found guilty of money politics during the party polls.
After the elections, which drove a stake into Barisan Nasional's heart, former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi appointed Zaid a senator and made him the de facto law minister.
Zaid's outspokenness and refusal to toe the party line did not go down well with his colleagues, but made him a prominent figure outside the ruling coalition.
He then resigned in protest of the government's decision to detain three individuals, including a journalist and an opposition leader, under the Internal Security Act.
After turning up at several opposition events, he was finally given the boot from Umno.
Following months of leaving the people guessing about his political future, Zaid became a PKR member this year.
Hits the campaign trail
And now he has hit the campaign trail for his new party in the run-up to the July 14 Manek Urai by-election.
Yesterday, he held his maiden ceramah as a Pakatan Rakyat leader. And, among others, touched on a taboo subject - the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Zaid urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to 'explain' in relation to the gruesome death of the Mongolian national.
The Altantuya issue has remained one of the biggest weapons in the opposition arsenal and is often deployed during elections, much to the chagrin of the premier, who has repeatedly denied any links with the matter.
Diving into another issue, Zaid also called on Najib to clear the air on the Scorpene submarine deal.
Oil royalty deal
However, the bulk of his ceramah was concentrated on the 'royalty agreement' between national oil corporation Petronas and the Kelantan government.
"We want to know if the federal government has an (royalty) agreement with the Kelantan government. If there is one, reveal it to the people especially during this by-election," he said.
"If there is an agreement (we want to know its value). If they want to truly assist the people, I feel the (federal government) can come up with the royalty payment to help them.
"If Najib merely denies it, he may be taking the issue lightly and this is unbecoming of a prime minister," he added.
The oil royalty issue has always been a thorn on the side of the federal government and BN.
Last month, the PAS-led Kelantan government had sought RM1 billion for oil extracted from their territory since 2004.
Zaid was speaking at the Umno stronghold of Kampung Lela Setia, Laloh. Also present were PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub and its Manek Urai candidate Mohd Fauzi Abdullah.
However, only 50 people had turned up.
Vote for simple 'Abe Uji'
Meanwhile, Zaid said Mohd Fauzi, who is better known as 'Abe Uji', was his neighbour when they were studying together in Bachok as children.
"We were poor people then," he added.
Zaid said Manek Urai needed a representative who could provide service to the people and academic credentials were not a requirement.
"During Prophet Muhammad's time there was no university. The important thing is experience. If a person has a degree but twists the facts, there is no need to choose him," he added.
The PAS candidate (photo:right) is a fish wholeseller, who is also the Kuala Krai division chief, while his opponent Umno's Tuan Aziz Tuan Mat (left) is a graduate from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and former South Kelantan Development Authority (Kesedar) manager.
Meanwhile, Salahuddin in his speech pledged that he would work with other PAS elected representatives to help alleviate the hardship of the people.
"Najib has the slogan 1Malaysia where the rakyat's rights would be ensured but they charge RM200 for motorcycle insurance," he said.
Jul 7, 09
3:10pm
The political journey of Zaid Ibrahim has all the elements of a Hollywood blockbuster, given its numerous thrills and spills.
The articulate and well-heeled lawyer, who drives a Porsche, was once a Umno MP and division chief in Kelantan.
In 2008, he was dropped from the election line-up after being found guilty of money politics during the party polls.
After the elections, which drove a stake into Barisan Nasional's heart, former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi appointed Zaid a senator and made him the de facto law minister.
Zaid's outspokenness and refusal to toe the party line did not go down well with his colleagues, but made him a prominent figure outside the ruling coalition.
He then resigned in protest of the government's decision to detain three individuals, including a journalist and an opposition leader, under the Internal Security Act.
After turning up at several opposition events, he was finally given the boot from Umno.
Following months of leaving the people guessing about his political future, Zaid became a PKR member this year.
Hits the campaign trail
And now he has hit the campaign trail for his new party in the run-up to the July 14 Manek Urai by-election.
Yesterday, he held his maiden ceramah as a Pakatan Rakyat leader. And, among others, touched on a taboo subject - the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Zaid urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to 'explain' in relation to the gruesome death of the Mongolian national.
The Altantuya issue has remained one of the biggest weapons in the opposition arsenal and is often deployed during elections, much to the chagrin of the premier, who has repeatedly denied any links with the matter.
Diving into another issue, Zaid also called on Najib to clear the air on the Scorpene submarine deal.
Oil royalty deal
However, the bulk of his ceramah was concentrated on the 'royalty agreement' between national oil corporation Petronas and the Kelantan government.
"We want to know if the federal government has an (royalty) agreement with the Kelantan government. If there is one, reveal it to the people especially during this by-election," he said.
"If there is an agreement (we want to know its value). If they want to truly assist the people, I feel the (federal government) can come up with the royalty payment to help them.
"If Najib merely denies it, he may be taking the issue lightly and this is unbecoming of a prime minister," he added.
The oil royalty issue has always been a thorn on the side of the federal government and BN.
Last month, the PAS-led Kelantan government had sought RM1 billion for oil extracted from their territory since 2004.
Zaid was speaking at the Umno stronghold of Kampung Lela Setia, Laloh. Also present were PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub and its Manek Urai candidate Mohd Fauzi Abdullah.
However, only 50 people had turned up.
Vote for simple 'Abe Uji'
Meanwhile, Zaid said Mohd Fauzi, who is better known as 'Abe Uji', was his neighbour when they were studying together in Bachok as children.
"We were poor people then," he added.
Zaid said Manek Urai needed a representative who could provide service to the people and academic credentials were not a requirement.
"During Prophet Muhammad's time there was no university. The important thing is experience. If a person has a degree but twists the facts, there is no need to choose him," he added.
The PAS candidate (photo:right) is a fish wholeseller, who is also the Kuala Krai division chief, while his opponent Umno's Tuan Aziz Tuan Mat (left) is a graduate from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and former South Kelantan Development Authority (Kesedar) manager.
Meanwhile, Salahuddin in his speech pledged that he would work with other PAS elected representatives to help alleviate the hardship of the people.
"Najib has the slogan 1Malaysia where the rakyat's rights would be ensured but they charge RM200 for motorcycle insurance," he said.