Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Police: No sabotage or terrorism link to Empire Gallery blast
- Indians ‘kingmakers’ in 130 state seats
- Namewee calls Utusan ‘trash’
- Sodomy II: Anwar tells PM, wife, to explain meeting with Saiful
- ‘Anwar’s moles digging Najib’s grave?’
- Pakatan leaders likely to close ranks
- Oct 18 hearing for Anwar’s application on tax payable
- Ex-MAS chairman in out-of-court settlement with Malaysian Insider
- Can hudud be applied to non-Muslims?
- Najib gets a drubbing over ‘Community Chest’
- Explosion rips through Empire Gallery, four hurt
- PM: Break away from Bumi quotas
- Suspected teenage robber shot dead in Taman Tun Dr Ismail
- Pakatan practising hypocrisy, says Chua
| Police: No sabotage or terrorism link to Empire Gallery blast Posted: 27 Sep 2011 09:52 PM PDT
By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider SUBANG JAYA, Sept 28 — The police have ruled out sabotage and terrorism as being behind this morning's explosion that ripped through Empire Gallery here, confirming the blast was caused by a gas leak that could have been due to negligence. Deputy Selangor CPO Datuk A. Thaiveegan told reporters at the scene that the complex, which comprises a 12-storey office suites tower, five-storey shopping mall, a nine-storey SOHO (small office home office) and a 10-storey hotel, will be closed to the public indefinitely. "Many have called to ask if the incident was caused by sabotage or terrorism. From our early investigations, no proof was found to indicate this. "Meaning, there was no sabotage and no link to terrorism. We regard this as an accident, which could have been caused by negligence," he said. Fire and Rescue Department personnel, police, its forensics unit and the Energy Commission (EC), he said, will press on with investigations to discover what caused the leak. "We know it was a gas leak ... but what caused the blast? There must have been a spark," he said. He also confirmed that the police would be stationed at the mall throughout investigations to prevent any looting from the damaged mall outlets. In the 3.30am incident here, a gas explosion ripped through the mall, causing severe damage to at least five floors. Some 170 hotel guests and 10 SOHO tenants had to be evacuated, while four individuals sustained minor injuries. Hundreds of security and safety personnel, government agency officers, engineers and architects were deployed to monitor the chaotic scene, which had calmed considerably by this afternoon. At press time, the authorities were still inspecting the scene and have yet to allow the mall's management and experts to enter the premises.
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| Indians ‘kingmakers’ in 130 state seats Posted: 27 Sep 2011 06:21 PM PDT
A PKR survey revealed that urban and semi-urban Indians are still partial to the Pakatan Rakyat coalition (Free Malaysia Today) - A PKR leader is of the opinion that the Indian community is still very much aligned to Pakatan Rakyat and will be the kingmakers in 130 state assembly seats. Malacca vice-president G Rajendran said that a recent survey by an independent team indicated that 60 percent of Malaysian Indians, who were mostly from the urban and semi-urban areas, were fed up with the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration. He claimed that the team, which included him, had visited 62 parliamentary constituencies where the respective Indian communities had played a major role in deciding the winning candidates in the historic 2008 general election. "We've been doing the survey for the last six months. The feedback is favouring Pakatan," he told FMT. According to him, Indians will play a pivotal role in the coming general election. "The survey revealed that the outcome of 130 state assembly seats in Kedah, Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Johor, will be determined by Indian votes," he said. (A parliamentary constituency has three to four state assembly seats.) Rajendran said currently the BN leaders are playing a "psychological war" with the Indian community. They are pitting the Indian community against Pakatan leaders by saying the community is unlikely support the opposition party. "These are utter lies… the Indian voters still have faith in Pakatan. "Pakatan has excellent state governments in Kedah, Kelantan, Penang and Selangor respectively," he added. Rajendran pointed out that only 15% of the Indians are now living in estates and rural areas, based on the survey. "This is the group that MIC is focusing on. They (MIC) are hoping that by sorting out this group's simple needs it is enough to win at the ballot box," he said, adding that this group was still true loyalist to BN. Rajendran, however, believes that despite MIC's forays, the rural Indians are unlikely to turn against Pakatan in the 13th general election, even though the community is facing numerous problems to vote. "Many of the voters have no transport to go to the voting centres. "Some do not have identity cards and others are too complacent or are not interested to vote," he said. He added that that there should not be a comparison between a by-election and a general election, where in the former, the BN can give its full attention to the rural areas where Indian reside. He also said the BN would also have trouble convincing the 20% Indians who lived in urban areas to vote for the ruling regime. "BN cannot 'touch' them (urban Indian) at any cost. "Thus, the remaining 65% of the Indians who live in the semi-urban are now seen as the real threat to both sides," he said.
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| Posted: 27 Sep 2011 05:59 PM PDT
Rapper and Nasi Lemak 2.0 director comes out with a scathing YouTube video in response to attacks by Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia (Free Malaysia Today) - In his usual acerbic style, rapper Wee Meng Chee (better known as Namewee) has come out guns a-blazing against Utusan Malaysia for their attacks on him. Through a YouTube video entitled "Namewee F–k Utusan!!!", the Nasi Lemak 2.0 director slammed the Umno-owned newspaper for claiming that he had offended the Malays. "(The role of the) newspaper is to report, report! You are judging people. You don't write to shiok sendiri (please yourself)." "That kind of newspaper runs down Malaysians, runs down the people… You have a pen, you have a keyboard and you're considered a reporter," he belted out sarcastically in Malay, along with a series of expletives. "Trash newspaper! Scum of society! Trash writer!" he added. Wee was responding to an article entitled "Bukan Nasi Lemak 2.0, soalnya Namewee" (It's not Nasi Lemak 2.0, the question is Namewee) by Utusan feature writer Fauziah Arof. Fauziah stressed that she would not watch Wee's Sept 8-released movie even if she was given free tickets. In several volleys against the rapper, she claimed that he had offended Malaysians, especially the country's "Malays and Muslims". The newspaper said it was strange for Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz to receive Wee without taking action against him. Fauziah also claimed that the rapper was given "too much face" and rubbished Wee's support of the 1Malaysia concept. "Who is this Namewee, and what is so special about him?" she asked, adding that she had no problems with local films, and was willing to spend money to watch "Malay films". In his nearly three-minute-long video, Wee did not appear to be amused with Fauziah's words.
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| Sodomy II: Anwar tells PM, wife, to explain meeting with Saiful Posted: 27 Sep 2011 05:47 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's defence team insisted today the prime minister and his wife are relevant witnesses for the opposition leader's ongoing Sodomy II trial. In his affidavit-in-reply to Datuk Seri Najib Razak filed today, Anwar said he needed the PM to come to court not to show he was involved in a "conspiracy, but to get clarification" on the latter's meeting with Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan on June 24, 2008, just two days before the alleged sodomy act took place. Anwar raised similar points in a separate affidavit-in-reply to Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, saying he wanted her to explain because she had given a witness statement to the police officer in charge of the ongoing sodomy case, DSP Jude Pereira. The High Court is set to hear tomorrow, Najib's and Rosmah's twin applications to skip the trial, which resumes on October 3. "Datuk Seri Najib has said, 'subpoena, I'll come'," Anwar told reporters at court this afternoon. He repeated he was disappointed the PM was reneging on his word. "They have said they are not relevant witnesses and their evidence is not material to the case," Anwar's lawyer, Sankara Nair said, referring to the PM's and Rosmah's affidavits. "We are saying it is," Sankara added. Both Najib and Rosmah were subpoenaed last month after they refused to take part in closed-door interviews.
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| ‘Anwar’s moles digging Najib’s grave?’ Posted: 27 Sep 2011 05:40 PM PDT
An Utusan Malaysia columnist suggests that the opposition leader's loyalists may have infiltrated strategic government bodies to topple Najib. (Free Malaysia Today) - Utusan Malaysia, the daily which is no stranger to controversies, has now claimed that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's loyalists may have infiltrated strategic government bodies. And their motive, according to the Umno-owned publication, was to provide the opposition with confidential information to undermine Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. However, columnist Zaini Hassan who wrote the article titled "Musang berbulu ayam dalam badan-badan strategik kerajaan?" (Wolves in sheep's clothing in strategic government bodies?) did not name the agencies involved. He also stated that he was not sure if this was a mere coincidence or a well-crafted plot. But if it was the latter, the writer warned that it was a dangerous situation which could jeopardise the current government. "The information I received shows that it is real and evident," he said. According to Zaini, the information he had obtained revealed that the "enemies within" were feeding the opposition with confidential information pertaining to Najib such as details on the costs of the prime minister's official trips and holidays abroad. The article also suggested that certain strategic bodies now appeared incapable of performing their tasks following the presence of these "elements". Zaini's informant had stated: "I do not wish to provide more examples, but see for yourself how a federal government agency (the name kept confidential) with the important task of defending the policies of the government and to make the public understand (about these policies) so that they would support the prime minister, could absorb and even use the intruments of the opposition working to 'kill' the prime minister." "This is the victory of Anwar Ibrahim, delivered by his strongman in that particular organisation, and (who) is still slowly bringing in (more of) Anwar's people. The applications to bring in new officers are pending with the JPA (Public Service Department) and SPA (Public Service Commission)." On Najib's overseas trips and holidays, the informant had asked how could the opposition obtain such detailed information in an expeditious manner.
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| Pakatan leaders likely to close ranks Posted: 27 Sep 2011 05:35 PM PDT
Opposition coalition will most likely reach an accommodating and conciliatory stand to appease Kelantanese and also the larger segments of Malaysians, say analysts. (Free Malaysia Today) - Despite hogging the headlines the last two weeks, the hudud controversy is unlikely to break the opposition coalition but instead will force it to focus on common policies, say political analysts. They were asked to comment on the possible outcome of Pakatan Rakyat's meeting tonight which will be attended by the top brass of the coalition, like PAS president Abul Hadi Awang and DAP chairman Karpal Singh. Political analyst James Chin said that the hudud issue has been lingering since the Islamisation process which former primer Dr Mahathir Mohamad started in the 1980s. "The current controversy is merely a political game which has little impact on the electorate. It's being blown up by the mainstream press in order to break up Pakatan," said Chin. He does not foresee a break-up of Pakatan but rather the controversy will force the coalition to focus on common-ground policies such as the welfare state. Chin said that social justice was part of Islam's message, adding that there would be little compromise on behalf of PAS, the Islamic party in the coalition. The controversy surrounding hudud began when PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan Menteri Besar, Nik Aziz Nik Mat, said that he would want to implement hudud in Kelantan. His call was backed by PKR de facto leader, Anwar Ibrahim, last week. Alarmed, DAP openly criticised PAS over the matter with Karpal vehemently voicing his opposition, saying that Pakatan leaders had agreed to support a secular state. Nik Aziz likened DAP to "a small child who is scared of ghosts", saying that hudud had nothing to do with non-Muslims and thus DAP had no reason to oppose it. This locking-of-horns between two coalition stalwarts, Chin said, was normal as both bigwigs of the coalition were trying to "play to the gallery of their supporters". "Do you expect Karpal to say otherwise? Or do you expect the spiritual leader of an Islamic party to say that he does not support hudud?" asked Chin. When asked if the voters were savvy enough to understand that this was a political game, the Monash University lecturer nodded in the affirmative, saying people knew that matter was an old one and a non-issue. Another political analyst, Abdul Aziz Bari, echoed Chin's sentiments, saying that tonight's meeting will be "conciliatory and accommodating" as there were larger issues to focus on. "Judging by the cordial meetings among the coalition's secretaries-general a few days ago, I think it is going to be conciliatory and accommodating to all. They will appeal to the Kelantanese and to the larger segments of Malaysians," he said.
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| Oct 18 hearing for Anwar’s application on tax payable Posted: 27 Sep 2011 05:26 PM PDT
(The Star) - The High Court has set Oct 18 to hear an application by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to review the taxation imposed in his RM100mil defamation suit against former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Deputy registrar Farah Hana Hashim set the date after meeting Anwar's lawyer S.N. Nair in chambers yesterday. Nair said Dr Mahathir has also filed for a cross review of the taxation amount. "A senior assistant registrar has ordered Anwar to pay RM120,000 to Dr Mahathir (over the suit at the High Court stage). We are disputing the taxation amount," he said. On Jan 27, 2006, Anwar filed the suit against Dr Mahathir for allegedly portraying him as a man with no morals who was dangerous to Malaysian society. The High Court had struck out Anwar's suit with costs on July 4, 2007. On Oct 20, 2009, the Court of Appeal threw out an appeal by Anwar because the memorandum of appeal was not in Bahasa Malaysia. Last year, the Federal Court had dismissed the point of law raised by Anwar's lead counsel Karpal Singh in his leave application to appeal over his RM100mil defamation suit against Dr Mahathir. The point of law raised was whether the grounds of judgments which were written in English, are invalid.
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| Ex-MAS chairman in out-of-court settlement with Malaysian Insider Posted: 27 Sep 2011 04:57 PM PDT
(The Star) - Former Malaysia Airlines executive chairman Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli confirmed on Wednesday to record settlement with The Malaysian Insider in his defamation suit against the online news portal. The terms of settlement will be recorded on Friday before the High Court judge Justice Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal. Tajudin had named the proprietor of The Malaysian Insider Sdn Bhd, The Malaysian Insider chief executive officer/editor Jahabar Sadiq and its reporter Shazwan Mustafa Kamal as defendants in the suit filed on Aug 18. In his lawsuit, Tajudin claimed the defendants had published defamatory words about him on their website in an article titled "MACC clears A-G of graft allegations" on May 31. The words in the article meant that MAS lost RM8bil during his tenure as its executive chairman between 1994 and 2001, he said. In his statement of claim, Tajudin contended that the words also implied that complaints had been lodged against him for the loss and that he was dishonest in his dealings with MAS, saying the words suggested he had abused his position for his own pecuniary advantage and acted unprofessionally. Alternatively, he said, the words also meant that he had perpetrated a fraud on MAS by making secret profits in transactions involving MAS and was guilty of improper conduct and should be subjected to investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). The defendants, he claimed, had replied in a letter dated June 20 that the words were not defamatory and that they had multiple sources to the words, of which some were in public domain. He had earlier sought general damages of at least RM200mil and other relief deemed fit by the court.
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| Can hudud be applied to non-Muslims? Posted: 27 Sep 2011 02:44 PM PDT
(FMT) - SUNGAI PETANI: The debate on hudud took a new twist with a Kita MP saying it can be applied to non-Muslims. Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng said Kita president Zaid Ibrahim told him recently that non-Muslims can be subjected to the same punishment under the hudud criminal code enactments. Tan said that currently the Syariah (Islamic) laws being practised in Malaysia are on civil and family legislation, which mostly governs individual Muslim family matters. It manages family laws such as marriages, divorce settlements, custody of children, family will, properties disbursement, family disputes – all mainly personal or private legal issues. However, hudud is defined as a set of public punishments to mete out justice to the various types of crimes committed. This falls under the realm of public domain, meaning that everybody, regardless if they are Muslims or non-Muslims, can be subjected to hudud if they are found guilty of committing a crime. The Federal Constitution must be amended to accommodate facets of hudud criminal code in it, Tan said. 'I Was Shocked' For now, he added that the matter is polemic as hudud can only be adopted if the Federal Constitution is amended. It can be passed by certain states, which see a need for it but it cannot be applied unless the Federal Constitution is amended, Tan said. "I was shocked when I was informed that hudud can be applied to non-Muslims. I think Pakatan Rakyat is not telling the whole truth. It has resorted to half-truths."
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| Najib gets a drubbing over ‘Community Chest’ Posted: 27 Sep 2011 02:38 PM PDT
By Tarani Palani, FMT PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has received a drubbing for claiming credit for the private sector initiative to provide funds for vernacular and mission schools. DAP leader and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said: "He has no right to boast because the funds are from the private sector. He should not mislead the public into thinking that it was provided by the government or Barisan Nasional". On Monday, Najib announced that a minimum of RM100 million of gambling profits would be channelled to these schools annually through a fund called 'Community Chest'. It will be funded primarily by the profits of gaming company Pan Malaysian Pools Sdn Bhd, returns from its investments and public donations. Kok also took Najib to task over his statement that NGOs and government linked parties will have a say in how the funds will be allocated. "Najib said, 'the funds will be distributed in close consultation with the government… parties like MCA, Gerakan and MIC as well as NGOs… to ensure that it will be distributed fairly'. "The message he seems to be sending is, "if you support MCA, Gerakan, MIC and BN-affiliated NGOs, I will reward your school with education funds" "It is much the same message as his infamous "You help me, I help you," speech during the Sibu by-election," said Kok in a statement. Staying apolitical Vernacular schools have complained about unequal treatment from the government and Kok said Najib's attempts at associating himself with the funds will not deceive the public.
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| Explosion rips through Empire Gallery, four hurt Posted: 27 Sep 2011 02:08 PM PDT
By Debra Chong & Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider SUBANG JAYA, Sept 28 — Four people were hurt in an early morning explosion at the Empire Gallery shopping mall here, which was heard from as far away as Bangsar. Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos, with police, ambulances and the fire brigade still on the scene. Police tracker dogs were also present, as were Fire and Rescue Department personnel from stations across Subang Jaya, Shah Alam, Damansara and Puchong to investigate the incident. Subang Jaya OCPD ACP Zainal Rashid Abu Bakar told reporters at the scene that the blast was believed to have started in the basement and involved a gas pipeline. "We have yet to determine the cause of the blast but damage is extensive, affecting the parking lot and many outlets on the basement level and even the ground floor," he said. "Our forensics team is still investigating. We have not been able to enter certain parts of the mall . . . the damage is too bad and the areas are sealed off." He confirmed that a distress call was received at 3.45am concerning the explosion at the mall, which is at the entrance of Subang Jaya from the Federal Highway. Zainal Rashid said four people were injured — two Nepalese security guards and a couple. They received minor scrapes and bruises. Rescue workers are still combing the basement in search of more victims. The security guards, who were initially trapped in the basement, have been sent to hospital. The couple, sales executives Daryl Chua, 27, and his girlfriend Hibbie Tan, 23, were taken to hospital in an ambulance but have since been discharged. Nearly the entire stretch of the front portion of the newly-built mall was blown out, damaging a number of cafes, restaurants and clothing stores including Tangs and Starbucks Coffee.Chua told reporters that he was walking with his girlfriend to an parking payment station a few steps from Starbucks when the explosion occurred about 3.30am. "We were at La Bodega earlier for dinner and then we were just hanging out outside my car and talking," he said. "Just as we were heading to the Autopay, there was a loud 'boom', like in the movies. I thought it was a bomb." Chua said he was "literally lifted off the ground" and thrown sideways several metres from the blast, lightly grazing both his arms. The sound of breaking glass, falling debris and metal, and sirens broke the earlier silence, he said, leaving him in a momentary state of confusion and panic. "And then the flames came up. It was all over, the entire front of the mall was razed. I thought I was going to die," he said. When the scene calmed slightly, Chua said he carried Tan, who had sprained her leg, to safety and noticed passers-by and nearby residents rushing to the scene. His car, a black Volkswagen Golf GTI, was severely damaged.
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| PM: Break away from Bumi quotas Posted: 27 Sep 2011 11:30 AM PDT (Bernama) Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak said today that there was a need to "run away" from quotas for Bumiputeras but they must continue to be supported to grow. "You must run, go away from quotas. But you must support them (Bumiputeras) in a way that will allow them to grow from small and medium enterprises to get bigger and to become even regional champions," he said at a question and answer session at the Khazanah Megatrends Forum 2011 here. He feared that "if you give them quotas, they will rest on their laurels and eventually will not gain the expertise to manage businesses." Najib said that one past criticism he had of the quota system was that the right kind of people was not being promoted. The affirmative action must now be based more on meritocracy. Najib alluded to the Bumiputera Agenda Coordinating Unit in the Prime Minister's Department which had identified more than 1,000 companies that would be assisted to grow. Stressing that the government was serious about carrying out reforms, he said: "This coming Parliament session, you will see a slew of new legislation or actions." |
| Suspected teenage robber shot dead in Taman Tun Dr Ismail Posted: 27 Sep 2011 11:28 AM PDT (TMI) The suspects were distracted with picking up the items, giving the police officer time to draw his weapon and fire three times at his assailants. A senior police officer shot dead a 19-year-old, one of the six men who allegedly were attempting to rob him in Taman Tun Dr Ismail here, last night, Bernama Online reported.During the 9.45pm incident, the superintendent of police who had returned from dinner, parked at his residence and was about to leave his car when he a group of men with parang accosted him. He fled leaving some valuable items, according to City police CID chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah. The suspects were distracted with picking up the items, giving the police officer time to draw his weapon and fire three times at his assailants. Ku was recounting the events at the crime scene to reporters. The incident at Lorong Burhanuddin Helmi 6 ended the life of a 19-year-old youth, while rest escaped in their motorcycles. The body has been sent to Kuala Lumpur Hospital while police have launched a manhunt for the five other men.
Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/suspected-shot-dead-in-taman-tun-dr-ismail/ |
| Pakatan practising hypocrisy, says Chua Posted: 27 Sep 2011 11:26 AM PDT (Free Malaysia Today) MCA launches fresh attacks on Pakatan for the latter's action to put a lid on the hudud controversy. KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Rakyat's gag order on the hudud debate drew instant flak from MCA which described the instruction as proof of the bloc's blatant hypocrisy. Its president Dr Chua Soi Lek said the opposition had "conveniently" tried to conceal its weakness by gagging its leaders from openly discussing the prickly issue that has reignited past hostility between PAS and the DAP. "It is their right (to issue the gag order) but every time they (Pakatan) have problems, they resort to using gag orders while preaching greater democracy, transparency, accountability and openness," he told reporters at the party's headquarters here. Chua, a former health minister, pointed out that Pakatan state leaders in Selangor had issued a gag order following a controversial raid by the state's Islamic Affairs Department (JAIS) on a church in Damansara recently, adding that going mute on the issue has not solved the debacle. "The issue is still unresolved. Until now we don't know if there was actually an attempt to convert Muslims to Christians," he said. The raid triggered animosity and heightened tension between Muslims and Christians amid efforts by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to improve relations by forging diplomatic ties with the Vatican last month. But while the issue slowly took a back seat, Kelatan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat gave non-Muslim the shivers when he said his party plans to implement hudud in the east coast state. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/09/27/pakatan-hiding-its-weaknesses-says-chua/
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