Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Daim: The game has changed
- Blogger lodges police report against alleged religious sedition Twitter post
- July 9 rally: No more discussions, police to take action, says Deputy IGP
- Government leaves it to cops to maintain law and order and stop the July 9 rally
- Stay away, don tells students
- MCMC: We will shut down websites if necessary
- Cops: Only those wearing yellow to promote event detained
- Police to make sure July 9 rallies do ‘not take place’
- Permits for assembly unconstitutional, says lawyer
- Ex-Bank Negara top official charged with graft
- Heavy police presence failed to thwart pro-Bersih rally
| Posted: 30 Jun 2011 09:54 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Former Cabinet minister Tun Daim Zainuddin today said the obstacles facing the present day government are far removed from those just a decade ago, and old strategies are unlikely to find the success they once did. Today's younger audiences, said the former finance minister, demanded communication that was accurate and honest, adding that this applied to businesses and governments alike. "The onus is on leaders of public and private sector to explain their actions. The rise of fuel price, inflation and food price globally is a good example," Daim was cited in a Bernama Online report today. He said the adverse public reaction to certain government policies may sometimes be the fault of the delivery rather than the policies themselves. The government recently announced a series of subsidy cuts to diesel, sugar, and electricity, continuing on the painful subsidy rationalisation path announced last year. The subsidy withdrawals are part of larger efforts by the Najib administration to rein in a growing budget deficit and record national debt. But the moves have also provided fodder for the opposition Pakatan Rakyat, who have seized on them in the hopes of generating the same voter sentiments that led to their impressive gains in Election 2008, when they took 82 federal seats and five states.
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| Blogger lodges police report against alleged religious sedition Twitter post Posted: 30 Jun 2011 07:18 PM PDT
(Malaysian Digest) - The Secretary of Blog House Malaysia (BHM), Tony Yew today lodged a police report against Chan Lillian who according to Tony post a religious sedition with her Twitter account.
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| July 9 rally: No more discussions, police to take action, says Deputy IGP Posted: 30 Jun 2011 04:34 PM PDT
(The Star) - No more discussions, it's now time to act according to the law, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar has warned those thinking of participating in the illegal Bersih 2.0 rally. Khalid said police had tried meeting with all organisers of the proposed July 9 march to relate the concerns of the police and the public, like traders and tourism industry players, but to no avail. "They still insist on carrying out their plans for the illegal rally, despite our meetings. "So we are done talking to them and will now act according to the law," he told a press conference in Bukit Aman here Friday. Khalid also said police would detain anyone wearing any clothing promoting the rally. "Anyone wearing shirts inciting people to join the march will be arrested, regardless if the shirts are yellow, red or purple," he said. Khalid also did not rule out the possibility of the Internal Security Act being utilised while apprehending participants of the illegal rally. "We will use the full force of the law in upholding the peace and tranquility of this country," he said, adding that police could also arrest the organisers before July 9. Khalid said police have received 2,136 reports as well as numerous phone calls and letters from the public against the proposed illegal march. "This shows that the public is really against this rally but they (the organisers) do not see that. "There is no reason for them to continue with this demonstration," he said. He added that a total of 115 people have been detained so far in connection with the rally.
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| Government leaves it to cops to maintain law and order and stop the July 9 rally Posted: 30 Jun 2011 04:26 PM PDT
(The Star) - The Government will leave it to the police to consider measures including imposing the Emergency Ordinance to ensure public order is not jeopardised by the planned July 9 illegal rally, the Prime Minister said. Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said maintaining law and order was the responsibility of the police so it would be up to them to decide on the action to take. "That is up to the police to consider according to the situation. It is their responsibility," he said when asked on allegations that the Government might impose emergency laws to stop the opposition-initiated Bersih 2.0 rally. Najib also dismissed claims that Malaysia was moving away from democratic practices for not allowing street demonstrations. He said the country's election process was respected widely for being free and fair, which was proven when the Opposition gained ground in the 2008 general election. Speaking to reporters after launching Pesta Gasing dan Tamu 2011 here yesterday, Najib stressed that the Government was doing its duty to the people by providing a safe, secure and stable country. "Rallies have a tendency to bring about a mob psychology, it can turn people of good behaviour into mobs. "That is why we cannot take it lightly," he said. Earlier in his speech, Najib said Umno could also mobilise its three million members and rope in members from Barisan Nasional component parties and its allies to "flood Kuala Lumpur". "But this is not what we want for Malaysia. This is not the responsible way of dealing with issues." He also announced a RM30mil allocation to build a district police headquarters for Sipitang and another RM2.7mil for the Esplanade here. In WASHINGTON, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Government's action against those supporting and plotting the rally had not raised international eyebrows. He said the issue had not been brought up at an official level during his meetings here. "There was a question during my meeting with the think-tank groups yesterday and we have explained but it was not at the official level. "Maybe they (US administration) have been following developments very closely (and are aware of the circumstances). "As far as my visit here is concerned, the matter did not arise," he said at the end of his three-day official trip to the United States. On reports that Malaysian students in Australia were planning to join Bersih rallies there, Muhyiddin said it was for the Australian government to decide what to do. "It is beyond our control as it is within Australia's jurisdiction. Our students should focus on their studies."
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| Posted: 30 Jun 2011 04:19 PM PDT
(The Star) - Students from public universities should not attend illegal rallies, said Malaysian Higher Education Public Institutions Vice-Chancellors and Rectors Committee chairman Prof Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak. Prof Dzulkifli, who is Universiti Sains Malaysia vice-chancellor, said university students and staff should stay away from activities that could cause problems to themselves and the country. "I hope students on long holiday and those undergoing their industry training will not be involved in such activities," he said in a statement yesterday. In KUALA LUMPUR, a group of university students launched a campaign to voice their dissent over the Bersih 2.0 rally. Suara Keamanan Mahasiswa secretariat head Muhamad Mukhlis Maghribi, 24, said the group was formed to show that not all undergraduates supported the rally. He said the group had 167 members from 16 universities and was not aligned with any political party.
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| MCMC: We will shut down websites if necessary Posted: 30 Jun 2011 04:13 PM PDT
SAY NO TO BERSIH AND AVOID GETTING CLOSED DOWN (The Star) - Websites with offensive content and deemed a threat to national security, including those that promote or help in organising the July 9 rally, risked being shut down by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). MCMC chief strategy officer Datuk Mohamed Sharil Mohamed Tarmizi said the MCMC would not hesitate to take action against any website for breaching the Communication and Multimedia Act. Anything deemed illegal or wrong in the real world also applied to the cyber world, Sharil said. "Don't assume there's no law in the cyber world. A lot of people don't think about that but we would like to remind the people to behave responsibly when using the Internet or any other technology of the new media," he said yesterday when asked if the MCMC would take action against websites that supported the Bersih 2.0 rally. Sharil said the MCMC had always been monitoring websites for offensive and harmful content and would continue to do so with help from other enforcement agencies.
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| Cops: Only those wearing yellow to promote event detained Posted: 30 Jun 2011 04:08 PM PDT
(The Star) - Police have only arrested people wearing yellow to promote the July 9 rally, said Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Mohd Zinin. Refuting allegations that the police were arresting anyone wearing yellow, he said the arrests were all linked to the rally. He said police would not arrest people for being in yellow clothes but would take stern action against anyone found wearing them as a way to promote the rally. He explained that there had been much confusion due to certain quarters insinuating that the police were arresting anyone wearing yellow.  Seized: Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed showing a photo of former Communist leader Shamsiah Fakeh and t-shirts taken from a house in Section 4, Petaling Jaya, on Wednesday. "There have even been mischievous suggestions that the police should arrest members of the royal family and tourists for wearing yellow clothes," he said. Comm Mohd Bakri stressed that the arrests and seizures made so far had no connection to the colour. "The arrests and seizures of materials are related to the planned illegal rallies. We have clearly stated that no permit will be issued to any organisation to hold a rally on that day," he said. He also said the public had been misinformed of their rights to freedom of speech as well as the right to hold an assembly. The organisers of the rally, many of whom were of legal background, had failed to mention the clauses linked to Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which spelled out certain restrictions to these rights, he said. "This has perplexed us as this misinformation could be a threat to national security if the rallies were to take place," he said. He added that police had spoken to the organisers and advised them to call off the rallies or at least hold them in venues that would not pose a threat to security and public order. "Despite our advice and mounting public pressure to call off the rallies, they have chosen to proceed. "This leaves us no choice but to act under the laws passed by Parliament to prevent these illegal gatherings from taking place," he said. Meanwhile, Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk S. Ambiga had a 30-minute meeting with Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar to discuss an alternative route for the rally. Ambiga said another route was needed in order to avoid confrontation with any other group, adding that Ismail was silent on the suggestion. Ambiga also mentioned to Ismail that the rally was within the rights of Malaysians to participate in a peaceful gathering and that they were not doing anything illegal.
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| Police to make sure July 9 rallies do ‘not take place’ Posted: 30 Jun 2011 03:59 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - The police have shut out all forms of negotiations with organisers of the upcoming July 9 rallies, with Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar warning today that the police will make sure the rallies do not take place. The Deputy Inspector-General of Police said that there would be no more room for discussions, and warned the organisers — Bersih, Perkasa and Umno Youth — to be prepared to be arrested if they did not abort the rally. "We have given them explanations and warnings and reminders, but they do not heed. We will make sure the rallies do not take place."
"We will not discuss anymore. Be ready to face the laws of this country," he said. Khalid (picture), speaking at a hastily called press conference at Bukit Aman, did not discount the possibility of using the Internal Security Act (ISA) against those involved in the upcoming rallies. "I won't discount it," he said. Bersih had yesterday asked the police to suggest a route for its July 9 march to ensure that its rally goes off without a hitch. Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said the election watchdog presented the suggestion to the Inspector-General of Police in the hope that he would be open-minded and work with Bersih.
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| Permits for assembly unconstitutional, says lawyer Posted: 30 Jun 2011 03:52 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Malaysians have the right to march as the Police Act 1967 that mandates permits for public assemblies violates the constitutional right to assemble peacefully, says PKR vice-president N. Surendran. The human rights lawyer stressed that Malaysians had the right to march in the July 9 Bersih rally, pointing out that Article 10(2)(b) of the federal constitution merely restricted that right in the interest of national security.
"Any right that can only be exercised by the permission of the state is not a right; it's a licence, and nowhere in the federal constitution does it say that this important right is a licence," he added. Surendran said the right to assemble peacefully, which is guaranteed under Article 10(1)b) of the federal constitution, could be restricted by merely requiring organisers to inform authorities before their rally, as practised in England. "The Police Act is a dwarf compared to this document," said Surendran, holding up a copy of the federal constitution before a 50-strong audience. "Article 4 (of the federal constitution) says that any law that contravenes the federal constitution is not valid," he added. Election watchdog Bersih 2.0 has vowed to continue its demonstration on July 9 in the capital for electoral reform despite the authorities refusing to grant it a permit.
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| Ex-Bank Negara top official charged with graft Posted: 30 Jun 2011 03:02 PM PDT The former Bank Negara assistant governor is said to have received a RM100,000 bribe to help secure a RM95 million bank notes printing contract. (Free Malaysia Today) - A former Bank Negara assistant governor was today charged with accepting a RM100,000 bribe to help secure a bank note printing contract involving printing RM95million worth of RM5 polymer bank notes. Mohamad Daud Dol Moin, 58, dressed in a suit, pleaded not guilty after two similar charges were read out to him at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court. Mohamed Daud was arrested after MACC conducted joint-investigations with Australia Federal Police. Six persons are expected to be charged in Australia today. Mohamad Daud's charge read that he received a RM50,000 bribe from businessman Abdul Kayum Syed Ahmad through a middleman, in his capacity as a Bank Negara officer, to help obtain a contract involving printing the polymer notes by Note Printing Australia Limited. He is alleged to have committed the offence at Dome restaurant at Bangsar Shopping Centre and had received the same amount on two separate occasions– Dec 1, 2004 and Feb 16, 2005. If convicted, Mohamed Daud faces a jail-term of between 14 days to 20 years Under Section 11(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1997, and fine five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher. Judge Rosbiahanim Ariffin set bail at RM100,000 with one surety after DPP Majoj Kurup and defence counsel Collin Goonting and J.D Goonting both agreed to the amount. August 2 was fixed as mention date. Mohamed Daud was the assistant governor between 1999 and 2009. He is now retired. Those facing charges in Australia are personnel from two companies– Securency International and Note Printing Australia Ltd and six others, namely Myles Curtis, John Leckenby, Mitchell Anderson, Peter Hutchinson, Barry Brady and Rognvald Mardrant. According to MACC, the contract was for Note Printing Australia Ltd to print RM5 polymer bank notes for Bank Negara worth RM95,000,178.32.
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| Heavy police presence failed to thwart pro-Bersih rally Posted: 30 Jun 2011 02:56 PM PDT Heavy police presence fails to thwart pro-Bersih rally at PAS state headquarters in Kepala Batas last night. (Free Malaysia Today) - Despite heavy police presence, a Pakatan Rakyat's pro-Bersih rally went on without a hitch the at PAS state headquarters in Pongsu Seribu, Kepala Batas last night. About 200 police personnel, including a small Light Strike Force unit, arrived in trucks, jeeps and other vehicles soon after the rally began at 10am. Many youths among the 2,000 crowd, quickly shut down the entrance gates to the venue and formed a human shield to block any attempts by the law enforcers to barge through. Seeing the determined crowd, police personnel did not take any drastic action and merely lined up and stood guard outside and the rally went on without any incident for two hours. Last night's rally, which was held without a permit, was to substitute a banned rally scheduled to be held in Seberang Jaya expo site. The police obtained a court on Tuesday to stop two state-sponsored Bersih rallies in Seberang Jaya and Sungai Nibong. Former state exco Toh Kin Woon, Bukit Tengah assemblyman Ong Chin Wen, state PAS youth wing Mohd Yusin Mat Piah and PKR Batu Kawan division information chief Amizudin Ahmat spoke out in support of the planned Bersih rally in Kuala Lumpur on July 9. July 9 will happen Mohd Yusin said that even the Malaysian football squad had not donned the traditional yellow home colours in pre-World Cup Asian qualifier against Taiwan on Wednesday.
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Chan Lillian is an official video-journalist for Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng.
"When you have section 27(5) (of the Police Act) that requires permits, it doesn't just restrict the right... it nullifies the right," said Surendran (picture) at a workshop organised by NGO Lawyers for Liberty last night.| You are subscribed to email updates from Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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