RINGKASAN:

Menurut STAR dan STS, Datuk Abdul Fauzi Rahman telah pun meletak jawatan selepas membuat lapuran polis terhadap penyelewengan Khalil Yaacob semasa menjadi MB. Skandal tersebut antara lain ialah memberi permit menebang balak lebih dari had yang dibenarkan. Penyalahgunaan dana juga turut dilapurkan.

Khalil menjadi MB selama 13 tahun sehingga beliau bertanding dan menang kerusi parlimen pada pemilu 1999 lepas.

FAUZI SENGAJA MAHU DIJATUHKAN?

Berita Hairan menyebut Fauzi menafikan desas-desus beliau akan keluar daripada Umno. Fauzi dikatakan rapat dengan Anwar dan ramai pihak tertentu di dalam Umno kurang senang dengan beliau sehingga mereka menaja beberapa pencabar beliau untuk menjatuhkannya. Ada pendapat mengatakan kehadiran beliau menyukarkan kerja curang menebang balak dan menganiaya orang dilakukan. Pihak istana juga disebut kurang senang jika pecah beberapa tembelang....

Perletakkan jawatan itu mungkin disebabkan pencalonan yang begitu sedikit buat beliau (9) untuk kerusi ketua bahagian Umno Kuantan. Pencabar beliau beroleh pencalonan yang lebih tinggi, iaitu Datuk Faisal Abdullah (29) dan Timbalan Ketua, Datuk Wan Adnan Wan Mamat (20). Bagi Fauzi, tidak perlu berkhidmat jika ramai sudah tidak menerimanya lagi.

Ada 65 cawangan dalam bahagian Kuantan. 59 sudah bersidang - jadi tinggal 6 lagi yang belum. Seseorang calun perlu mendapat sekurang-kurangnya 13 pencalonan untuk layak bertanding ketua bahagian.

PILIHANRAYA YANG MENDEBARKAN UMNO

Jika perletakkan jawatan tersebut diterima, dan jika beliau juga turut mengosongkan kerusi DUN N12 Beserah yang dipegangnya, bermakna satu pilihanraya kecil akan diadakan di situ. Jika ini berlaku Umno terpaksa berkerja keras untuk menang jika tidak ia akan memercik ke perhimpunan Agung Umno akan datang dan mungkin akan menggugat sang presiden sehingga tertendang.

Kita meramalkan Dollah mungkin sekali lagi menjadi ketua pilihanraya di sini. BN cuma menang 895 undi sahaja di sini dalam pemilu dulu menentang calun BA-PAS.

Dijangka pertandingan kali ini lebih sengit kerana kehadiran pengundi baru serta krisis Khalil Yaacob yang akan terbongkar. Malah isu sultan beranak luar nikah mungkin juga terkeluar.

MCA mungkin tidak menyengat berikutan krisis Liong Sik dan Lim Ah Lek. Lagipun Lim Ah Lek agak hebat di Pahang kerana ini tempat beliau. MIC pula masih demam kerana gagal menekan kerajaan untuk bertindak serius menangani masalah ekonomi dan pergaduhan di Kg Medan.

Ada banyak lagi isu seperti krisis sakit Anwar, SRJKC, pengguguran nama Islam, amanat Hj Ab Hadi, skandal time dotCom - KWAP - KWSP, MAS - Naluri, Harga Minyak Sawit, penutupan kilang, nasib pekerja bank, nasib warga tua, krisis orang Asli, dan bermacam-macam lagi.

Nampaknya Umno terpaksa berhempas pulas jika tidak ramai akan terkena pulas nanti di perhimpunan Agung Umno - termasuk sang presiden sendiri....

-Kapal Berita-

ELECTION RESULTS 1999:

N12 - BESERAH

Turnout: 16,170 (73.9%)
Spoilt: 671
Voters: 21,887
Majority: 985

Fauzi Abdul Rahman (BN - UMNO) 8242

Mohd Yusof Ibrahim (BA - PAS) 7257

http://www.emedia.com.my/Current_News/BH/ Friday/Mukadepan/20010330090010/Article/

Fauzi akan letak jawatan Adun Beserah

KUANTAN, Khamis - Ketua Umno Bahagian Kuantan, Datuk Fauzi Abdul Rahman mengesahkan beliau akan meletakkan jawatan sebagai Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Beserah, esok.

Beliau memberikan alasan sebahagian besar cawangan Umno di Beserah tidak mencalonkannya bagi mempertahankan jawatan ketua bahagian, sebagai asas mengambil tindakan itu.

'Saya akan menyerahkan surat peletakan jawatan itu kepada Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Umno negeri yang juga Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob berserta sebab saya mengambil keputusan ini,' katanya pada sidang akhbar di sini, malam ini.

Setakat ini, Fauzi menerima sembilan pencalonan berbanding pencabarnya, Naib Ketua bahagian, Datuk Faisal Abdullah (29) dan Timbalan Ketua, Datuk Wan Adnan Wan Mamat (20).

Fauzi bagaimanapun menegaskan tidak akan keluar daripada Umno dan khabar angin kononnya beliau akan menyertai Parti Keadilan Nasional atau Pas, tidak benar.

'Saya berpegang kepada prinsip saya naik melalui Umno dan Umnolah menentukan kedudukan saya,' katanya.

Sidang akhbar itu diadakan di kediaman rasmi Menteri Besar, sejurus selepas beliau menemui Adnan selama kira-kira sejam.

Fauzi, bekas Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri berkata, apabila majoriti cawangan di bahagian itu tidak lagi mencalonkannya sebagai ketua bahagian, ia bermakna ada penolakan oleh Umno Beserah atau cawangan di kawasan itu terhadapnya.

'Mereka nampaknya tidak merestui apa yang saya buat di kawasan saya serta menolak perkhidmatan saya atau apa yang saya lakukan,' katanya.

Sementara itu, Adnan memberitahu pemberita selepas itu, beliau akan meneliti surat peletakan jawatan Fauzi, esok, sebelum membuat sebarang keputusan.

Katanya, beliau akan mengkaji sama ada penolakan Fauzi sebagai ketua bahagian Umno Kuantan menerusi pencalonan cawangan sekarang, dilakukan atas dasar rakyat di kawasan itu tidak mahu khidmatnya lagi atau disebabkan perkara lain.

Beliau berkata, kajian teliti itu perlu kerana Fauzi adalah antara wakil rakyat yang cemerlang, mempunyai pusat perkhidmatan sendiri serta sanggup menemui pengundi hampir setiap hari bermula jam 10 pagi hingga jam 1 pagi kecuali cuti umum.

'Hasil kajian itu akan dikemukakan kepada Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad dan Timbalannya, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi untuk mendapatkan pandangan mereka,' katanya.

Fauzi dalam sidang akhbar berkata, adalah sesuatu yang merugikan jika Umno di Beserah mempunyai wakil rakyat yang tidak boleh diterima ahlinya.

'Saya pun membazirkan masa jika membuat kerja tetapi orang tidak boleh terima,' katanya.

Beliau turut meminta siasatan rapi diadakan berkaitan dakwaan sesetengah pihak kononnya ada unsur rasuah dan sogokan dalam pencalonan jawatan ketua bahagian itu.

'Saya tidak tahu tetapi orang kata mungkin ada unsur rasuah, unsur sogokan, unsur pemberian hamper, unsur korban lembu sehingga tiga hari berturut-turut,' katanya yang menafikan beliau sudah menghantar surat peletakan jawatan itu kepada Dr Mahathir.

Fauzi turut mengesahkan membuat laporan di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Kuantan terhadap seorang bekas Menteri Besar seperti disiarkan dalam internet.

http://www.emedia.com.my/z/Current_News/NST/ Friday/Frontpage/20010330074216/Article/pp_index_html

Assemblyman Fauzi confirms plan to quit

By Azran Aziz azrana@nstp.com.my

KUANTAN, Thurs. - Beserah State Assemblyman Datuk Fauzi Abdul Rahman confirmed tonight his intention to step down as a wakil rakyat.

He said he would submit his resignation letter to Pahang Umno liaison committee chairman and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob tomorrow.

Incumbent Kuantan division chief Fauzi said he had made up his mind to step down following the outcome of the nominations from the branches so far for next month's party divisional elections.

Of the 65 branches in the Kuantan division, 59 have convened their meetings, of which only nine nominated Fauzi for the division's top post.

Division deputy chairman Datuk Wan Adnan Wan Mamat received 20, while vice-chairman Datuk Faisal Abdullah had 29 nominations.

Faisal Abdullah had 29 nominations. A candidate needs at least 13 nominations to qualify to contest the division's top post.

'Looking at the nominations so far, it appears that Beserah Umno members whom I represent are rejecting me, and there is no point in continuing being a wakil rakyat there if my services are not wanted.'

He was speaking to reporters after a 40-minute meeting with Adnan at the latter's oficial residence here.

Fauzi, however, said he would remain an Umno member.

'Initially, I thought of submitting my resignation letter to the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad), but I later realised that I should follow the proper procedure and submit it to the State party chief.'

Fauzi said he had requested Adnan to investigate into elements of corruption during the branch nominations in the Kuantan division.

'Adnan has given me his assurance to carry out a thorough investigation,' he said.

Adnan, meanwhile, said he would study the contents of Fauzi's resignation letter first before deciding whether or not to accept it.

The Star

Friday, March 30, 2001

Fauzi quits Beserah seat after
lodging report against Khalil

By Syed Azhar

KUANTAN: Barisan Nasional assemblyman for Beserah Datuk Fauzi Abdul Rahman dropped a bombshell yesterday when he decided to quit his seat.

Fauzi, a former deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department, made the decision after lodging a police report against Tan Sri Khalil Yaakob over matters when Khalil was mentri besar.

"Yes, I have tendered the resignation letter,'' he said when contacted, but declined to comment further.

If Fauzi, 55, remains firm with his decision, a by-election will have to be called, unless he holds on to the seat and joins another party or declares himself an independent.

Until press time, top Umno officials in Kuala Lumpur were trying to talk to him.

In Kuala Lumpur, Khalil, who is Umno secretary-general and Information Minister, declined to comment on Fauzi's decision and the police report against him.

Pahang Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, responding to Fauzi's decision, said he was aware of the matter.

"I have feedback that Fauzi did not get enough nominations to even qualify to defend his post (of Kuantan Umno division chief) and if I know him well, he will surely resign,'' he said, adding that he had been trying to contact Fauzi.

In his report lodged at the district police station here at 3pm, Fauzi made allegations on matters relating to state funds.

Khalil served as mentri besar for 13 years until he contested and won the Kuantan parliamentary seat in 1999.

Fauzi also urged the police to conduct a full-scale investigation into his allegations.

Pahang police chief Datuk Mohd Noor Hamat confirmed that the report had been lodged but declined to elaborate.

Umno officials said a possible reason for Fauzi's decision was his failure to secure enough nominations to defend his division chairmanship.

Fauzi failed to get nominations from at least 14 branches out of the 65 to defend his post at the division polls next month.

Fauzi said it was only appropriate that he vacate the seat because it was evident that Umno members did not support him.

At a press conference after meeting the mentri besar late last night, Fauzi told reporters he would not back out from his intention to quit. He said the letter would only be given to Adnan tomorrow.

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/asia/story/0,1870,33344,00.html?

He harvested more than what was allowed, says assemblyman

By Brendan Pereira
MALAYSIA CORRESPONDENT

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's ruling coalition could be headed for another crisis - after a state assemblyman lodged a police report accusing the former Chief Minister of Pahang of alleged discrepancies in timber practices.

Datuk Abdul Fauzi Rahman alleged that while Information Minister and Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Khalil Yaacob was the head of the central Malaysian state, areas larger than that allowed under the national forestry policy were harvested.

It is understood that the Umno stalwart was also expected to quit the state legislature, a move that will force a by-election in an area where the victory margin was a narrow 895 votes in November 1999.

Speculation was rife last night that the former deputy minister - a close friend of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim - was considering joining Parti Keadilan Nasional.

It is learnt that Keadilan president Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail discussed the possibility of him joining the party with several other party leaders.

Umno insiders have been predicting his departure from the party since results of the last general election were announced in November 1999.

They noted that the former deputy minister has been torn between his loyalty to a friend and to the political party.

Datuk Fauzi has also been telling his friends of his dissatisfaction with the behind-the-scenes manoeuvring to kill off the political careers of those associated with Anwar.

It is believed that his inability to muster enough nominations to defend the Kuantan Umno divisional chief's position at next month's party elections hastened his departure.

For now though, the focus will be on a government coming face to face with another by-election.

In November, Barisan Nasional lost the Lunas by-election in Kedah, a defeat that sent the ruling coalition into a period of soul-searching.