Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- PAS readies new media troopers for next GE
- Perkasa says Himpun united PAS and Umno
- Opposition's double standards in Aziz Bari issue questioned
- Veterans flay Mat Sabu in newspaper ad
- PM: 1,600 Indians got citizenship
- Papers apologise to Kalimullah over secrets leak claim
- China-Malaysia trade to hit $100b in 3 yrs
- Holland Condemns Malaysia’s Timber Certification!
- Boosted by social media, activists reclaim space for causes
- Utusan: Let police probe claims surrounding Guan Eng’s son
- Bersih keeps momentum alive with overseas campaign
- Harussani: "Malays are Special Because They are Related to Islam"
- DPM sees ‘big problem’ if infighting continues
- Gerakan shows support for DAP
- Low turnout dampens anti-apostasy rally
- PAS eyeing five Negri state seats
- OWC stirs controversy again
- Aziz Bari maintains UIA suspended, barred him from campus
- Sabah’s right: Jeffrey disputes historian’s view
- Najib bullish on China FDI despite deal flip-flops
- UIA justifies Aziz Bari’s suspension
- Cinema censorship in Bangi continues to draw criticism
- Groups: Don’t interfere with a person’s freedom to choose their attire
- PKR touts newer, younger faces for GE
- Malaysia offers to fund Padma Bridge after World Bank backs out
- Malaysian Govt Pressured to Suspend Detainee Exchange with Burma
- Malaysia’s Inflation Unexpectedly Quickens on Food, Transport
- Energy Commission denies giving sweetheart deal to Syed Mokhtar
- Aziz Bari: I did not attack the Sultan
- Many Muslims don’t respect Sultan, says Jakim
- Karpal: Khairy ill-bred and a disgrace!
- Hundreds of UIA students protest Aziz Bari’s suspension
- ‘Is Umno tacitly backing Himpun rally?’
- Anya Corke: I don’t know Guan Eng’s son
- Ngeh claims Zambry sold state land on the cheap
- BN poised for bigger win in GE13, says OSK Research
- Guess who is Perkasa's guest of honour
| PAS readies new media troopers for next GE Posted: 22 Oct 2011 08:01 PM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - PAS is rallying its "cybertroopers" in preparation for an upcoming general election that it says is shaping up to be "an information war." "The world that we live in today is in a constant information war, news war. "If we fall behind in conveying our messages, we will lose out," PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang told The Malaysian Insider after closing the party's ICT and New Media Conference yesterday. About 500 of the party's "hardcore" ICT officers from all over the country attended the day-long event, which appeared to address rival Umno's growing army of cybertroopers. "We will use every means possible — Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, offline TV, online TV. We want ICT officers to have smartphones, no more outdated phones," the Marang MP said. The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) controls or owns most of the mainstream print and broadcast media. BN had its nose bloodied at the 12th General Election in urban centres such as the Klang Valley and Penang, ceding its customary two-thirds majority in Parliament as the Opposition took a record 82 seats and, at the same time, five state governments. BN is said to have lost its customary two-thirds majority in Parliament and five states in the historic March 2008 elections due to easy access to alternative information on the Internet. Umno Youth new media chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz has said that "80 to 90 per cent" of those online were anti-BN in the landmark election of 2008. "Our target by the next election is for all division youth chiefs to be on Twitter and for every state to have their own cyberwar team," he said in an interview with The Malaysian Insider.
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| Perkasa says Himpun united PAS and Umno Posted: 22 Oct 2011 06:39 PM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - Malay rights group Perkasa lauded the success of Himpunan Sejuta Umat (Himpun) saying it unified Muslims even from opposing political factions. "To me it is a success. One of the most successful part was that there were PAS and Umno leaders on the stage, and other individuals who are not affiliated with any parties are on the stage as well. "I believe Umno or PAS members and Malays in PKR, they all support (Himpun) but maybe they have to follow instructions from their leaders. I don't understand why are they not allowed to gather," secretary-general Syed Hassan Syed Ali said today. He shrugged off the low turn out of about 5,000 as "the one million means one million who are with us in spirit. "To me, the ones who are with Himpun are almost every Muslim in this country. Only a small number of Muslims are liberal who are not really interested in this rally," he said. Himpun chairman Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid has also said yesterday it is not concerned with the poor turnout at the rally, arguing that the spirit of the 5,000-strong crowd was more important. Azmi also said he considered the rally a great success as it proved that Muslims could come together to talk calmly about the issues affecting Islam, whatever their background or political affiliation.
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| Opposition's double standards in Aziz Bari issue questioned Posted: 22 Oct 2011 06:30 PM PDT (Bernama) - Datuk Jaafar School Alumni president Datuk Syed Hussien Al-Habshee has asked the opposition to not practice double standards with regards to Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) constitutional law lecturer Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari's suspension. He said the management and rector of UIAM must be given a chance to resolve the matter and the opposition should refrain from making baseless allegations against the government. Syed Hussien, former Malaysian Ambassador to United Arab Emirates, also questioned the opposition's allegation that there was no academic freedom in the country, asking why did they not bring it up in the Unisel situation. Abdul Aziz was suspended for seven days from Oct 19 for allegedly contradicting the Sultan of Selangor's statement on the State Religious Department church raid in Damansara Utama on Aug 3. "He need not voice his opinions at PAS assemblies or other opposition meetings but should concentrate on being an academician and leave politics to the politicians of the country," he added. -
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| Veterans flay Mat Sabu in newspaper ad Posted: 22 Oct 2011 03:44 PM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — Security forces veterans continued their attacks on PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu today, taking out two-page advertisements in Malay dailies slamming his remarks on the Bukit Kepong incident. The full-colour advertisement, carried in Mingguan Malaysia and Berita Minggu, was signed by 18 police and armed forces veterans associations.
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| PM: 1,600 Indians got citizenship Posted: 22 Oct 2011 01:51 PM PDT By Masami Mustaza, NST KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday urged Indians to put their nambikei trust) in the government to create change for Malaysians. In addition, 1,600 Indians have become citizens with the cooperation between MIC, the ministry, the National Registration Department and the police. |
| Papers apologise to Kalimullah over secrets leak claim Posted: 22 Oct 2011 01:42 PM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — The New Sunday Times, Berita Minggu and Mingguan Malaysia apologised to Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan today for alleging he leaked state secrets at a dinner with leaders of Singapore's ruling PAP party. All three acknowledged that the claim, made by Perkasa information chief Ruslan Kassim, was without any foundation or basis. The weekend papers also promised not to publish further allegations of this nature involving the ECM Libra Financial Group Bhd chairman without verification. On October 2, the New Sunday Times, Berita Minggu and Mingguan Malaysia, quoting Ruslan, alleged that Kalimullah had leaked national secrets during a dinner with senior leaders of the PAP in Singapore. Ruslan had also claimed that Kalimullah, former group editor-in-chief of New Straits Times Press (NSTP), had organised several dinners with senior PAP leaders. |
| China-Malaysia trade to hit $100b in 3 yrs Posted: 22 Oct 2011 12:15 PM PDT By China Daily NANNING - Trade between China and Malaysia is set to reach a new high of $100 billion by2015. That's after the two countries agreed to deepen economic cooperation to reduce theimpact of the global economic slowdown, according to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on Friday. He made the remarks at a roundtable discussion with Chinese CEOs during the Eighth China-ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Expo, which is being held in the city ofNanning, the capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, and runs from Oct 21 to 26. |
| Holland Condemns Malaysia’s Timber Certification! Posted: 22 Oct 2011 11:53 AM PDT By Sarawak Report Taib's foreign business partners are working hard to present a picture that all is well in Sarawak and to imply that there are no issues with the wood logged from the state or its plantation programmes. Indeed, last week Ta Ann Tasmania's Chief Executive David Ridley launched a barage of justifications defending his company against a report that has revealed that Ta Ann products are falsely promoted as 'eco-wood', thereby deceiving consumers. Still no answer to the charges of false eco-labelling! However, Ridley's repost carefully ignored the central allegation of the report, which is that the eco-labelling on Ta Ann's products is false, because Ta Ann Tasmania does not used plantation wood, as promised, but rather threatened old-growth forest. Rather than confronting this embarrassing matter, Ridley has chosen to focus instead on what he calls his 'observations' made during visits to his company's HQ in Sarawak. Ridley's fabulously rich boss, the Executive Chairman of Ta Ann, Hamed Sepawi, is of course the cousin of the corrupted Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud of Sarawak and has received numerous licences, grants of public lands and state contracts, all without proper tender. Such matters appear not to concernm Mr Ridley, instead his 'observations' are these:
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| Boosted by social media, activists reclaim space for causes Posted: 22 Oct 2011 11:48 AM PDT By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — Around 10pm last night at the DiGi headquarters in the Subang Hi-Tech Park, the Guinness Book of Records officially announced a new record for the number of "tweeps" at a "twtup". At least 2,615 users of micro-blogging site Twitter had turned up at the "OctTwtFest," a gathering that began as a giant birthday party last year to being an event to celebrate nothing more than "how influential social media can be" this year. It was influential enough for top politicians such as Pemandu CEO Datuk Seri Idris Jala, PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin to turn up while artistes such as rockers Hujan and rappers Altimet and Joe Flizzow performed for free. "This was a ground up event, reclaiming space and coming together to 'humanise' the interactivity of social media. This shows how influential social media can be and can become," said Zain HD, one of the OctTwtFest coordinators. But with the Klang Valley seeing several gatherings yesterday, three events organised by activists saw fortunes that correlated closely to the hype built on social media. For cancer awareness programme Passionately You and democratic reforms movement Occupy Dataran, the tweets with their respective "hashtags," #dontduckit and #occupydataran on Twitter dwarfed the actual turnout at their events. "You can host as many events as you want but with a social media presence, you can own a new space for discussion," said Christopher Tock, digital media consultant for Passionately You. While only a few hundred turning up at its day-long event, Passionately You saw about 5,000 pledges and donations made towards cervical and breast cancer awareness on its website. On the other hand, the Himpunan Sejuta Umat (Himpun), or Gathering of a Million Faithful, fell somewhat short of rallying its stated target to stand up to the threat of proselytising by Christians. Despite claiming the support of over 1,000 NGOs, only 5,000 Muslims turned up, inviting ridicule from influential "tweeps" such as Art Harun, who posted: "About 5,000 at Himpun. Hope the 995,000 people have not been proselytised while on the way there." Occupy Dataran, which has met every Saturday night at Dataran Merdeka since July, saw as usual just several dozen show up.
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| Utusan: Let police probe claims surrounding Guan Eng’s son Posted: 22 Oct 2011 11:43 AM PDT By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — Lim Guan Eng should ask police to investigate claims his son molested a girl as the Penang chief minister's denial is not good enough, Utusan Malaysia said today. The Umno-owned daily pointed out that DAP had "aggressively" demanded probes into issues of public concern before and should allow similar scrutiny of party leaders if it did not want to be seen as biased. "Since the issue has become a public concern, Guan Eng should ask the police to conduct a thorough investigation to dispel any doubt," said the paper's editors, writing under the Awang Selamat pseudonym. "A denial is not enough to clear his family's name. An investigation will also ensure justice for all parties. Dignity is the basic right of all people, whether the son of a leader or an ordinary citizen." Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin also called on Lim to let the police investigate the case. "If we want to clear this up, we ask the police to investigate. If it's true that it had never happened, what do you have to worry about?" the Umno deputy president said.
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| Bersih keeps momentum alive with overseas campaign Posted: 22 Oct 2011 11:11 AM PDT By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — Bersih 2.0 will step up its fight for electoral reforms next week when chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan goes on a back-to-back visit to four of the most renowned law universities in Australia where she will meet Malaysian students to highlight the various problems plaguing the country's electoral system. The Malaysian Insider understands that the respected lawyer has been scheduled to deliver a public lecture hosted by the Asian Law Centre at the University of Melbourne, followed by public appearances at the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney (October 31) and the Law Faculty of the Australian National University in Canberra on November 1. It is understood the events will also allow overseas Malaysians who have yet to register as voters a chance to do so. "Campaigns to register Malaysians as voters have picked up steam in Australia. Bersih 2.0 and the ugly events that transpired in Kuala Lumpur on July 9 have inspired Malaysians living overseas in ways that we could only have imagined before. "Hundreds of Malaysians gathered in solidarity with Bersih 2.0 in 7 Australian cities with over 700 in Melbourne and 400 in Sydney," said David Teoh, national coordinator for both Bersih 2.0 Australia and the Australian chapter for Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia Australia (SABMoz). Ambiga's (picture) appearance in Australia next week is expected to put pressure in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who will also be in the western Australia city of Perth on October 28 to attend the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). "This visit by Ambiga will serve to remind the Australian government and its citizens that a close regional neighbour and trading partner administers a system that willfully denies hundreds of thousands of Malaysians the right to vote from abroad," Teoh told The Malaysian Insider via email.
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| Harussani: "Malays are Special Because They are Related to Islam" Posted: 22 Oct 2011 06:01 AM PDT
(Malaysian Digest) - Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria said the Malays are special because they are related to Islam, unlike the Arabs even though Prophet Muhammad was descended among them, but they are not necessarily Muslims. "The Malay race is special from other races because they are related to Islam, where the Malays are Islam," he said during a speech at the Himpunan Sejuta Umat (Himpun) gathering at Shah Alam stadium today.
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| DPM sees ‘big problem’ if infighting continues Posted: 22 Oct 2011 12:42 AM PDT By Melissa Chi, The Malaysian Insider SERDANG, Oct 22 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin stressed today that Barisan National (BN) component parties must cease their infightings immediately. "Yes I'm worried, to be frank, but of course the only consolation is that not every area has problems," he told reporters after the Premier Briefing Session of Selangor Barisan Nasional at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). The Umno deputy president emphasised the importance of unity at every level. He said that he had met with division leaders to immediately fix problems at their levels as well as work on improving their relationships among themselves. "My worry is that if they take too long or they don't realise the urgency, to me that is a big problem for us. "But whatever it is we can manage. As long as we take action now, I have already intervened," he said. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has also repeatedly stressed during several BN functions for its members and division leaders to focus on winning the next general elections as a coalition and put aside personal ambitions. "As I've said, I have already begun the process of meeting component parties recently. "I have met with the six main parties and we had discuss about the infighting in their respective parties," Muhyiddin (picture) said. Although OSK Research has said that BN is likely to improve on its performance in the 2008 general election due to indications of a swing of support to the ruling coalition, he said BN leaders shouldn't be too comfortable with the positive news. The report said that the incumbent government was likely to increase its share of parliamentary seats and that most investors were expecting the general election to be held by March 2012.
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| Posted: 21 Oct 2011 06:49 PM PDT
Technology misused by certain quarters to launch personal attacks on Lim Guan Eng's son, says Gerakan vice-president Mah Siew Keong. (Free Malaysia Today) - Gerakan has leapt to the defence of its political rival DAP over the issue of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's 16-year-old son been allegedly implicated in molesting a student. The alleged incident which was reported online is turning out to be a fake accusation. In a statement, Gerakan vice-president Mah Siew Keong urged netizens and bloggers to refrain from attacking Lim's underage son in the blogsphere, saying that such a move should not be tolerated. The online story has been the talking point of the public, causing an uproar among politicians from both sides of the divide. "Gerakan sympathises with… this young man," Mah said. He said that technology was misused by certain quarters to launch personal attacks and to undermine reputation, which is "irresponsible and unacceptable". This is also unfair and regretful, he said. "Gerakan appeals to the leaders of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat to close ranks to stop the irresponsible and immoral act of launching personal attacks and smear campaign through the Internet. We should stop gutter politics." Mah also urged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to step in and investigate the case. The incident went viral on the Internet last Sunday when a few bloggers posted an allegation that Lim's third eldest child had allegedly molested or groped a fellow female student at a school. As a result, it was speculated that the young boy was transferred to a missionary school and that the victim's family was allegedly paid off to keep quiet. Unethical beyond words
Lim initially waited to see if the mainstream media would print such allegations, indicating that he would file libel suits against media organisations linked to Umno. Then 24 hours later, Lim issued a statement hitting out at those who have allegedly victimised his son, urging his political deractors to attack him, but spare his son from such spurious attacks. Eventually, the school principal denied the allegations. Shortly, the "victim", a 21-year-old former world chess champion identified as Anya Corke, who was tracked down, also said she had never met Lim's son.
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| Low turnout dampens anti-apostasy rally Posted: 21 Oct 2011 06:47 PM PDT
Barely 4,000 people have filled the 100,000-capacity stadium to mark the start of the assembly of a million believers. (Free Malaysia Today) - Over an hour into the Himpunan Sejuta Umat (Himpun) and it appears that the hype has exceeded reality. Barely 4,000 people have filled the 100,00-capacity Stadium Shah Alam and the past 90 minutes have been filled with performances by nasyid groups as the organisers wait for more seats to be filled. Two notable names have since graced the event: Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali, and PAS Selangor executive council member Hasan Ali. Himpun (gathering of one million believers) is being held to "defend Islam" and reject apostasy among Muslims and was mooted after the controversial raid on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) on Aug 3. It claims to have the backing of 200 NGOs representing four million Muslims nationwide. Himpun's co-organiser, Mohd Yusri Mohamed, last week insisted that the rally was not anti-Christians amid rumblings of uneasiness that it could spark further racial tensions. The organisers today kept to their word after learning that a group not associated with Himpun was distributing a booklet entitled "Siapa Bertanggungjawab Kristiankan Melayu Di Selangor" (Who Is Responsible for Christianising Muslims In Selangor?).
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| PAS eyeing five Negri state seats Posted: 21 Oct 2011 02:51 PM PDT By Zehfry Dahalan, FMT SEREMBAN: Negri Sembilan PAS is eyeing at least five state seats for the coming general election. They are Labu, Serting, Klawang, Lenggeng, and Johol. PAS currently only has one state seat in Paroi out of the 15 seats controlled by Pakatan Rakyat. The state seat that the party thinks it has a great chance of winning is Labu, which is held by Umno state assemblymen Hasim Rusdi, who is also a state executive council member. PAS' confidence was boosted by recent developments in Labu where about 150 Umno members led by the Labu Residents Association president Aziz Samsudin, a former Umno member, crossed over to PAS last month. "We are confident of snatching the Labu seat from Umno this time around as Rasah Umno led by Hasim is facing an internal crisis. "Hasim is at loggerheads with Rasah Umno Youth and state Umno Youth chief, Helmi Din. Both Hasim and Helmi are not carrying out any activities in Labu because of the dispute between them. "Furthermore, the 150 Umno members who joined PAS are from Labu Hilir, which is Hasim's 'kampung' or fortress", said Rasah PAS chief, Anuar Azhari. Anuar is expected to contest the Labu seat this time as PKR is set to return it to PAS. In the 2008 general election, Mokhtar Ahmad from PKR lost to Hasim by 1,405 votes. The latest racial composition for Labu is Malay (65.7%), Indian (19.2%), Chinese (13.5%) and Orang Asli (1.08%). PAS is also mounting a serious challenge in Serting where the campaign will be led by Jempol PAS chief, Abdul Rahman Ramli. A recent court case involving 766 Felda Serting settlers who sued the Felda management over the issue of the extraction of low grade oil palm augers well for PAS in Serting. Two more court cases involving Felda Serting and Felda Raja Alias settlers against the Felda management also gave for PAS the chance to make inroads into Serting. "With all these developments we finally broke the ice in Felda settlement areas where in the past Felda is the strongest Umno fortress not only in Negri Sembilan but also in other states where Felda schemes are located. "We (PAS) together with PKR and Anak (National Felda Settlers' Children Association) are organising many awareness programmes in Felda schemes in Serting and Jempol on the rights of the settlers. "The response has been very encouraging where hundreds of the second and third generation of the Felda settlers joined either PAS or PKR in recent months," said Abdul Rahman.
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| Posted: 21 Oct 2011 02:47 PM PDT (The Star) - PETALING JAYA: The Obedient Wives Club (OWC) stirred up fresh controversy when its founder claimed that spiritually, a man can have sex with all his wives simultaneously. Club founder Hatijah Aam, who is also the author of the controversial book Seks Islam Perangi Yahudi Untuk Kembalikan Seks Islam Kepada Dunia (Sex in Islam Wage War Against Jews To Return Islamic Sex To The World), said that when a man reached the highest spiritual level, "he can appear in multiple apparitions and have sex with his wives even though they are in separate locations". "We never said that a man can have an orgy with all his wives on the same bed. "That is not allowed. "What we meant is when a man has reached the highest spiritual level, he will be granted the ability to have sex with his wives spiritually," she said. "This is how men who were at war in the past satisfied their needs," she said at a press conference here yesterday from Mecca, Saudi Arabia, via Skype. The club is going ahead with the global launch of the controversial sex guide despite protests from women's groups. Hatijah said the book would soon be launched globally in countries where OWCs have already been set up, including Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Britain and France. However, the club does not intend to launch the book in Malaysia. "The book was meant to be circulated among our members only. "We knew that the public's reaction to the book would be negative because they do not understand the concept," said Hatijah, who is also the wife of late Al-Arqam founder Ashaari Muhammad. Women's groups like Sisters in Islam, All Women's Action Society and the Women's Aid Organisation described the book as a cheap publicity stunt designed to raise the profile of the club. Hatijah defended the importance of the detailed sex guide on grounds that sex is God's gift to married couples and they should be educated on the ways to approach it. "Sex is the main reason people get married. And in a way, the climax is like heaven on earth," said Hatijah. She also explained that like praying, sex between married couples was also a pious act. "So, why can't we teach people how to do that in a pure way?" she asked. |
| Aziz Bari maintains UIA suspended, barred him from campus Posted: 21 Oct 2011 02:40 PM PDT By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 ― Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari has insisted that he has been suspended without pay and barred from the International Islamic University of Malaysia (UIAM) campus pending an internal inquiry despite a denial from the university administration. UIAM Rector Prof Datuk Dr Zaleha Kamaruddin told reporters yesterday the constitutional law expert was "free to enter the university and associate with the faculty" during his week-long suspension for his statement on the Selangor Sultan. Abdul Aziz said today in a clarification issued by his lawyer, Dr Zulqarnain Lukman, that the show-cause letter he received from UIAM on October 19 clearly stated he was not to enter the university's premises during the probe without written permission from the dean. "Kindly take note that pending the completion of the University's investigation into the above allegation and the outcome of any inquiry which the University may wish to conduct, you shall be suspended from service on full pay with immediate effect, until further notice," the letter read.
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| Sabah’s right: Jeffrey disputes historian’s view Posted: 21 Oct 2011 01:10 PM PDT By Michael Kaung, FMT KOTA KINABALU: Malaysian history professor DS Ranjit has come under fire in Sabah for declaring that the people of the state no longer have the fundamental right to self-determination as their legislators had surrendered that power a long time ago. The Universiti Malaya historian, whose talk entitled "Sabah prospects and retrospect: The aftermath of colonial rule" here on Thursday, put forward the argument that the British colony which had joined Sarawak, Singapore and Malaya to form Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963, would never be able to legally withdraw from the union. The state's autonomy champion, maverick politician Jeffrey Kitingan, promptly disputed this fact, saying the argument put forward by Ranjit was guesswork and unsound. Jeffrey, the chairman of United Borneo Front (UBF), was imprisoned without trial under the infamous Internal Security Act (ISA) in 1991 for allegedly having secessionist views during the rule of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) from 1986 to 1994. "The major issue, with regard to Sabah's right to secession, is the fact that the Malaysia Agreement is now viewed by the general opinion to be invalid from the moment Singapore left the federation," he said. "This is due to the fact that by normal understanding of law, if a signatory to an agreement withdraws from the agreement, the agreement automatically becomes invalid and no longer in effect." Sabah, Sarawak not consulted Jeffrey reminded Ranjit that when Kuala Lumpur decided on the expulsion of Singapore, it did so unilaterally without consulting Sabah and Sarawak though they were equal partners in the formation of Malaysia. "While this is another case of a condescending attitude of KL towards the Borneo states, it was also a contravention of the mutual agreement and mutual consultation as established during the signing of the Malaysia Agreement," he said. "As to the excuse that Sabah has no right to secede because the State Legislative Assembly passed a resolution that Sabah would not secede, we must remember that the same house could have made the opposite decision. "The resolution can even be reversed today if enough members of the house agree to do it." Replying to Ranjit's question that "…if the original agreement was null and void after Singapore's expulsion, then why did the state assembly pass this law?" Jeffrey said that the assembly must have made a resolution not to secede because of pressure from Kuala Lumpur, and there was fear that the agreement was actually null and void. "If the agreement was still in effect and valid, why the need to pass a law to validate the agreement?" he asked.
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| Najib bullish on China FDI despite deal flip-flops Posted: 21 Oct 2011 12:47 PM PDT By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 — Malaysia expects foreign direct investment from China to grow despite a slate of recent last-minute reversals on deals with Chinese firms. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today FDI from China in the first eight months of 2011 had already grown 62 per cent from last year's total of US$208 million (RM645 million) to US$337 million and that there was still room for expansion.
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| UIA justifies Aziz Bari’s suspension Posted: 21 Oct 2011 12:38 PM PDT By Melissa Chi, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The International Islamic University Malaysia (UIA) has said Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari's suspension is not a "punishment" as his salary has not been docked and he can still enter the campus. UIAM Rector Prof Datuk Dr Zaleha Kamaruddin told reporters yesterday the week-long suspension was to enable a detailed investigation to be carried out over allegations that the law professor criticised the Selangor Sultan.
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| Cinema censorship in Bangi continues to draw criticism Posted: 21 Oct 2011 11:30 AM PDT By Wani Muttiah, The Star PETALING JAYA: The cinema ban in Bangi by PAS is continuing to draw flak, with many describing the move as arbitrary and ludicrous. Selangor Umno information chief Abdul Shukur Idrus said he failed to see the logic behind the ban. "What is their motive? Do they actually think that having a cinema would corrupt morality?" he asked, challenging the party to impose a state-wide ban. Selangor MCA secretary Wong Koon Mun said that instead of banning cinemas, PAS should look into the increase in immoral activities in the state after Pakatan Rakyat took over Selangor. "There has been an increase in vice dens and also massage parlours, pubs and karaoke outlets since 2008. "Why hasn't PAS said anything about this? "They are shooting at the wrong target by banning cinemas in Bangi," he said. MIC secretary-general S. Murugesan said PAS should "stop shoving its skewered values down people's throats". "Cinemas are a legitimate and wholesome platform for entertainment. "I don't know why PAS is viewing cinemas from a negative aspect," he added. Writer Colin Kuan, 31, said it was annoying that PAS had initiated such a ban. "It is ridiculous in this day and age that PAS is taking us back to the dark ages with its warped sense of morality," added Kuan, who writes for a magazine. Veterinarian Dr Devan Arumugam Lingam said PAS was nit-picking on issues that had little impact on the country's progress. "I also feel that a basic right is being taken away from me," said the 29-year-old. He said the move indicated that the Selangor Government and Pakatan Rakyat had failed to come up with policies that suited the people. |
| Groups: Don’t interfere with a person’s freedom to choose their attire Posted: 21 Oct 2011 11:14 AM PDT (The Star) - PETALING JAYA: Having regulations or snoop squads in Kelantan to check on how Muslim women dress is ridiculous, say women's groups. All Women's Action Society Malaysia (Awam) acting president Ho Yoke Lin said there was no need to snoop on or regulate a person's dressing. "This is absurd. Why interfere with a person's freedom and dictate how they should or should not dress? "What are they going to regulate next? Women know how to dress themselves," she said yesterday. Ho was commenting on the Kelantan state government's move to enact council by-laws dictating how Muslim women should dress as well as the suggestion by a state councillor that a snoop squad be set up to spy on their dressing. The state's local councils have issued 225 compounds for violation of dress code by-laws at business premises to date, it was reported. Women's rights group Empower Malaysia executive director Maria Chin Abdullah said women were entitled to choose their dressing. "The authorities should not be obsessed with how women dress. "We have to respect people regardless of whether they are women, men, Muslims or non-Muslims. Everyone has a right to dress the way they want. "Women do not need this form of intimidation or fear put in them," she said. Women's Aid Organisation president Mok Chuang Lian said the way a woman dresses is a personal choice and her right. "You cannot tell them what to wear. Why must one always dictate or form laws about what women should or should not wear?" She said the focus should not be on women's dressing but tackling issues like corruption, poverty and crime. "Dressing should be the least of their concerns. There are other pressing issues that need to be looked into," Chin said. |
| PKR touts newer, younger faces for GE Posted: 21 Oct 2011 10:54 AM PDT By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 — PKR will field fresher, young candidates for the next general election with a set criterion that aspiring lawmakers must have a solid educational background — they must be either qualified professionals or semi-professionals. PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution told The Malaysian Insider this was PKR's "new niche" or formula for the 13th general election where younger, qualified candidates will eventually replace some of the incumbent parliamentary and state representatives. "We will be putting up younger, skilful candidates with no political baggage," said the Machang MP. The Malaysian Insider understands that the PKR national leadership has begun talks with incumbent lawmakers with regards to allowing "new blood" to take over some seats. It is also learnt that some representatives have expressed "willingness" to allow the process to take place. "Party leaders have started talking to incumbents informally, it won't be that easy but the process will take place," Saifuddin (picture) said. He remained optimistic about PKR's survival and future in Malaysian politics despite the fact that the 12-year old Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition party has seen its fair share of controversies, with as many as five MP defections last year as well as a fractious attempt at direct party elections "Since this year, we have been recruiting, and have been receiving applications from young aspiring candidates, some already members and some new members, with as many as seven to eight interested candidates per constituency.
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| Malaysia offers to fund Padma Bridge after World Bank backs out Posted: 21 Oct 2011 12:39 AM PDT By Mizan Rahman/Dhaka, Gulf Times Visiting special envoy of the Malaysian government Dato Seri S Samy Vellu made the proposal in a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Gonobhaban in Dhaka yesterday. PM's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad said the Malaysian government requested Bangladesh to provide a scheme design of the bridge and a construction plan. Azad said the Malaysian proposed financing of the 6.15km Padma Bridge Project at easy terms. The Malaysian proposal came against the backdrop of the World Bank's refusal to continue its commitment to finance the project because of alleged corruption, a charge which the government rejected outright. Padma Bridge is a priority project of the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to connect Bangladesh's southern region with the rest of the country, it is estimated that the bridge will add 2% to GDP. State Minister for Housing and Public Works Advocate Abdul Mannan Khan, State Minister for Local Government and Cooperatives Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Aslamul Haque, MP attended the meeting. The envoy was accompanied by Malaysian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Jamaluddin Sabeh.Principal Secretary Sheikh Wahiduzzaman, PMO Secretary Mollah Wahiduzzaman, Local Government secretary Abul Alam Shahid Khan and Public Works Secretary Khandakar Showkat Hossain were also present. Various issues relating to mutual interests also came up for discussion. The government has already signed deals of $1.2bn with the World Bank, $615mn with Asian Development Bank, $400mn with Japan International Cooperation Agency and $140mn with Islamic Development Bank to arrange funds for the $2.9bn Padma Multipurpose Bridge project, the country's longest bridge. The 6.15km bridge with 3.68km of land-based approach viaducts on both sides of the river will connect 19 south-western districts and the capital, enhancing their access to markets, improving services and accelerating growth. The bridge will reduce distances to Dhaka by about 100km and halve travel times from most areas in the southwest. Moreover, the bridge will enhance regional trade by linking with the Asian Highway and Trans-Asian railway network systems, officials said. It will also connect the two major seaports in Bangladesh. |
| Malaysian Govt Pressured to Suspend Detainee Exchange with Burma Posted: 21 Oct 2011 12:36 AM PDT By Saw Yan Naing, The Irrawaddy Malaysia should delay deporting Burmese refugees and asylum seekers until there is safety and job security in their homeland, according to Malaysian rights groups and the leading opposition party. The calls came in response to a plan to exchange detainees reached between Kuala Lumpur and Naypyidaw earlier this month. Under the deal, Malaysia will deport the 1,000 Burmese currently held at Malaysian detention centers, mostly for immigration offenses, while Burma will send back Malaysian detainees, Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein announced this week. Lim Kit Siang, the chairman of the Malaysian opposition Democratic Action Party and a member of the Malaysian Parliament, said that the detainee exchange between Malaysia and Burma should be suspended until there is an assurance that refugees and asylum seekers will be protected from prosecution when they return to Burma. "The agreement will only further jeopardize the dignity and security of Myanmar refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia. Those who flee Myanmar remain at risk of persecution in all forms," Lim Kit Siang told a press conference in the lobby of Parliament on Friday. There are at least 340,000 Burmese in Malaysia, including more than 87,000 refugees registered by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Many belong to ethnic minorities and fled Burma for fear of forced labor, rape, violence, murder and persecution by the government army. Speaking with The Irrawaddy on Friday, Agung Putri, the executive director of the Asean Inter-parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC), said that migrants come to Malaysia for different reasons, so the country should review the reasons the Burmese flee to Malaysia. She said many do not come for economic reasons, but because of systematic persecution in their homeland. She said that Burmese refugees must be categorized differently from Indonesian and Cambodian migrants. "We would like Malaysia to overthrow its policy, and suspend the exchange," said Putri. On Wednesday, a leading Malaysian rights group, Suaram, released a statement saying that the deal between Malaysia and Burma could result in some Burmese nationals being forced to return to a country "where their lives could be in danger." Aung Naing Thu, an Burmese activist in Malaysia, told The Irrawaddy on Friday that the security of Burmese refugees and asylum seekers is at risk, and employment is uncertain for them if they are deported to Burma. "Many of the refugees don't want to return to Burma," he said. "If they do go back, they have to worry about their safety," said Aung Naing Thu. Rights groups said that is a high possibility of persecution for those who are sent back to Burma. The human rights situation in Burma, grievous as it remains, is unlikely to be able to ensure such protections, without which Malaysia cannot hope to fulfill its international obligations to ensure that human rights of refugees be protected, said the AIPMC in a statement. |
| Malaysia’s Inflation Unexpectedly Quickens on Food, Transport Posted: 21 Oct 2011 12:34 AM PDT By Shamim Adam and Michael Munoz, Bloomberg Malaysia 's inflation unexpectedly quickened in September as food and transportation costs climbed and a weakening ringgit made imports costlier. Consumer prices rose 3.4 percent from a year earlier after climbing 3.3 percent in August, according to a report by the Putrajaya-based statistics department today. The median estimate of 18 economists in a Bloomberg News survey was for a 3.3 percent increase. Europe 's debt crisis and a faltering U.S. recovery have hurt demand for Asian goods, raising the danger to regional growth and prompting Asian central banks to refrain from raising interest rates or start to lower borrowing costs. The Malaysian government cut its forecast for economic expansion in 2011 this month and said there is "added pressure" to use fiscal resources to bolster growth. "Domestic inflationary pressure is what's keeping headline inflation elevated," Irvin Seah , an economist at DBS Group Holdings Ltd. in Singapore, said before the report. "There are upside risks to inflation given that massive floods in neighboring countries such as Thailand will drive imported food prices to Malaysia higher." Thailand, the world's largest rice exporter, may lose 6 million metric tons of unmilled rice as floods damage key plantation areas, Apichart Jongskul, secretary-general of the Office of Agricultural Economics, said today. Malaysia's ringgit fell about 7 percent against the dollar in September, along with most other Asian currencies, as a deepening European debt crisis prompted investors to shun emerging-market assets. Bank Negara Malaysia left the overnight policy rate at 3 percent on Sept. 8 for a second meeting, saying a "more challenging" external environment has increased the "downside risks" to Malaysia's economy. The nation will probably expand 5 percent to 5.5 percent this year, the government said Oct. 7, lower than an earlier target of as much as 6 percent. Consumer prices will probably rise 3 percent to 3.5 percent in 2011, central bank Governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz said Sept. 25. The monetary authority will hold its final policy meeting this year on Nov. 11. |
| Energy Commission denies giving sweetheart deal to Syed Mokhtar Posted: 21 Oct 2011 12:04 AM PDT By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The Energy Commission said today that the tariff and length of concession for the 1,000-megawatt plant in Tanjung Bin, Johor was determined during the bidding process, denying claims that the government had signed a "blank cheque" for tycoon Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary. The federal opposition had accused the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration of awarding the independent power producer (IPP) deal to a subsidiary of Malakoff Berhad, controlled by Syed Mokhtar, without first agreeing to tariff rates and the length of the concession. The commission said in a statement today the tender restricted to two bids was evaluated solely on "technical and commercial aspects" including "the proposed tariff for the entire duration of the 25-year concession." "The tariff and concession period have already been determined through the competitive bidding process. The final tariff that was submitted and approved ... is very competitive compared to similar projects in the region," it said. This comes despite the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry saying in a written reply this week that the Energy Commission will only finalise the power purchase agreement with Tanjung Bin Power at the end of the year. Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers had said the deal awarded to Malaysia's richest Bumiputera after a limited tender between two bidders "is scandalous, if not criminal." But the Energy Commission explained today that the limited tender was due to the need to award the project on time to "achieve commercial operation in early 2016" to avoid "potential brownouts" based on projected economic growth. |
| Aziz Bari: I did not attack the Sultan Posted: 20 Oct 2011 07:25 PM PDT By G Manimaran, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — As pressure grows for the International Islamic University of Malaysia (UIA) to lift Dr Abdul Aziz Bari's suspension, the law professor has insisted he did not criticise the Selangor Sultan. Abdul Aziz said today he was fulfilling his role as an academic when he said earlier this month that the Sultan had intervened in an "unusual and inconsistent" manner on the church raid by religious authorities."I did not attack the Selangor Sultan. As an academic, I have a role to inform the public," he said, adding that he would reply to a show-cause letter from the university on Tuesday after he has met his lawyer. Over 700 UIA students held a protest at the Gombak campus this morning demanding that the constitutional expert be reinstated.
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| Many Muslims don’t respect Sultan, says Jakim Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:58 PM PDT
By Shannon Teoh,The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The federal Islamic development agency claimed today that many Muslim do not respect the authority of the Malay Rulers who are heads of religions for their respective states. On the eve of a planned gathering of a million Muslims to defend the faith, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) prepared a Friday sermon that accused some parties of putting political interests ahead of the religion. "Many Muslims today do not respect the views and authority and in fact question the Sultan heads of the Islamic religious councils. "The sanctity of the faith has been politicised and the split among Muslims has affected the function and role of the councils," said the sermon titled "State Islamic religious councils drive the transformation of the faithful". The sermon added that the councils are looked down on and seen to be mere government agencies, causing their authority over religious matters to be ignored. Professor Dr Abdul Aziz Bari was suspended by the International Islamic University (IIU) this week as police investigate allegations that he had disrespected the Selangor Sultan. Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had decreed recently that the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) had found evidence of proselytisation by non-Muslims during a dinner held at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) on August 3 but said it was insufficient for further legal action. Abdul Aziz had said the intervention was "unusual and inconsistent" and should have been done in line with Islamic teachings, causing a furore in Parliament among Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs who urged that action be taken against the law professor. Although a police report has been lodged against him, the outspoken academician has decided against apologising for his remarks, insisting he had not meant to challenge the Sultan. The sermon said the erosion of Islam's dignity "cannot happen without being implicitly planned." The Himpunan Sejuta Umat (Himpun), or Gathering of a Million Faithful, is being organised by various right-wing groups such as Perkasa to rally Muslims against the "challenge of Christianisation" on the back of alleged proselytising by Christians.
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| Karpal: Khairy ill-bred and a disgrace! Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:55 PM PDT
DAP chairman takes Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin to task for a Twitter posting villifying Lim Guan Eng's son. (Free Malaysia Today) - National DAP chairman Karpal Singh today branded Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin a "disgrace" for villifying Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's son in a Twitter message. "He is a disgrace not only to whoever extended him a tertiary education but also to Parliament of which, regrettably, he is a member. "He is certainly not well-bred for having fallen hook, line and sinker for the vile and vicious attacks against Guan Eng's 16-year-old son without first ascertaining the truth of the allegation," said Karpal. The Bukit Gelugor MP took Khairy to task for the latter's Twitter message in Bahasa Malaysia that was posted three days ago. The message read: "Maybe he (Lim Guan Eng) demolished Kampung Buah Pala to replace it with Kampung Buah Dada (literally translated a breast village)." Khairy posted his comments following spurious attacks by Umno bloggers that Lim's son was transferred from his school after allegedly molesting a fellow female student. Yesterday, Karpal urged Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to intervene and stop the baseless allegations. The DAP revealed in Parliament on Oct 19 that the alleged victim was a former Hong Kong chess champion Anya Corke, a British citizen who has never set foot on Malaysia, let alone met Lim's son.
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| Hundreds of UIA students protest Aziz Bari’s suspension Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:53 PM PDT By Mohd Farhan Darwis, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Hundreds of International Islamic University (UIA) students gathered today to protest the university's suspension of Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari, chanting slogans in a show of force at the mosque compound of its Gombak campus here. Approximately 700 students turned up for the protest and demanded UIA Rector Prof Datuk Dr Zaleha Kamaruddin immediately drop Abdul Aziz's (picture) suspension. "Hidup hidup mahasiswa! Hancur kezaliman! (Long live undergraduates, reject authoritarianism!)" many of the protesters were heard shouting as police watched. Many of the students said the move was necessary to "repair" the university's image as a respected academic institution. UIA has indefinitely suspended the outspoken academic following his remarks on the the Selangor Sultan, saying that "criticism of a Ruler is valid if it is intended to constructively show that the Ruler has erred." Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had decreed recently that the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) had found evidence of proselytisation by non-Muslims during a dinner held at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) on August 3 but said it was insufficient for further legal action. Following Abdul Aziz's statement that the intervention was "unusual and inconsistent" and should have been done in line with Islamic teachings, it caused a furore in Parliament among Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs who urged that action be taken against the UIA law lecturer. Although a police report has been lodged against him, the outspoken academician has decided against apologising for his remarks, insisting he had not meant to challenge the Sultan. Among the politicians present at the protest today were PKR vice-presidents Chua Tian Chang and Nurul Izzah Anwar. |
| ‘Is Umno tacitly backing Himpun rally?’ Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:52 PM PDT
A Hindraf Makkal Sakti leader claims Umno is behind the assembly and he also questioned the fast-track approval of police permit for the gathering. (Free Malaysia Today) - A Hindraf Makkal Sakti leader says he sees the hand of Umno behind Saturday's "Himpunan Sejuta Umat" (Assembly of One Million Believers Defending the Faith) gathering. Hindraf Makkal Sakti leader P Waythamoorthy claims that Umno is tacitly backing the assembly and he is calling the relevant authorities to stop the gathering. Waythamoorthy said the assembly was an Umno ruse to stir up the Malay psyche and create a split among Malaysians along religious and racial lines. He said Hindraf was shocked that the police were so quick to issue a permit for a mammoth gathering that could generate so much anxiety, discontent and disharmony in the country. He questioned the need to hold a gathering of a million Muslims to defend Islam, which is safeguarded by the Federal Constitution. "The assembly is not only to woo Malay votes but also to warn the people not to vote for change in the next general election," said the London-based Waythamoorthy. PKR , PAS and Umno have officially distanced themselves from the assembly to be held at the Shah Alam stadium. But all the parties said that they would not be able to prevent their members from attending in their individual capacity. Umno information chief Ahmad Maslan said the party will not prevent its members from attending the assembly. United against proselytising According to the organisers, they plan to gather one million Muslims to gauge the "unity" among themselves, particularly against proselytising. This assembly comes after the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) raided a fundraising dinner at Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) on Aug 3 over alleged proselytisation taking place.
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| Anya Corke: I don’t know Guan Eng’s son Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:16 PM PDT
By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The girl whose photograph was used by pro-Umno bloggers to level accusations of sexual harassment against Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's son has denied ever meeting or hearing of the 16-year-old schoolboy. Chess grandmaster Anya Sun Corke said today that she was "shocked, dismayed and baffled" as to how her photo was used without her knowledge or consent. "I have never met or even heard of any of the people involved. I have never been physically assaulted in any way. I have never been victimised in any way by this boy or his family. "The only way in which my 'modesty was outraged' has been by the publication of my picture in connection with these scurrilous and unfounded rumours," the undergraduate at Wellesley College said in a statement. Pro-Umno bloggers had claimed that Lim's son had assaulted a 16-year-old schoolmate and tried to escape punishment by using his father's name. But the DAP showed at a press conference on Wednesday screenshots from the blogs which used pictures of Corke that matched those from www.chessbase.com. Lim had denied the allegations on Tuesday, saying he was furious with the "barbaric lies" made about his teenage son by "pro-Umno ferocious beasts." His colleagues in Pakatan Rakyat (PR) have come out strongly in support of the DAP secretary-general against what they call "the lowest gutter politics" seen in decades. The principal of SMK Heng Ee in George Town also moved two days ago to put an end to the accusations, calling them "completely untrue." Sensing growing public anger, Umno MPs have been quick to distance themselves from the allegations. Corke said today that she has not visited Malaysia for seven years.
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| Ngeh claims Zambry sold state land on the cheap Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:09 PM PDT By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Perak DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham filed a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in Ipoh today accusing Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir of selling land at a loss of at least RM1.2 billion. The former senior state executive councillor said he had "concrete proof" that since Barisan Nasional (BN) took power on February 6, 2009 until July this year, the Perak mentri besar alienated nearly 28,000 hectares of land for just over RM150 million. "I have concrete proof that the land was approved by the BN government since its power grab," the Beruas MP said in a statement today. "I suspect there is abuse especially of the industrial and farm land that has been approved at about RM375 per acre (0.4 hectares)." He said the market price for land in Perak was now about RM50,000 per hectare, meaning that "an open auction would have fetched at least RM1.2 billion for the state government" for the 24,500 hectares of industrial and farm land. Zambry refuted the allegations on Monday, stating that the land was given to the state religious authorities' public-funded schools and other state-owned agencies for a nominal fee. But Ngeh, who was part of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government ousted over 30 months ago, said he believed "the land approved for these organisations are just a small portion of the total".
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| BN poised for bigger win in GE13, says OSK Research Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:05 PM PDT By Lee Wei Lian, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — A major investment bank has said that Barisan Nasional is likely to improve on its performance in the 2008 general election due to indications of a swing of support to the ruling coalition. OSK Research in a report yesterday said that the incumbent government was likely to increase its share of parliamentary seats and that most investors were expecting the general election to be held by March 2012. "This expectation is premised on indications that certain communities have swung their support back towards the BN since early 2010," said OSK. "While we cannot predict the number of seats that the BN may clinch, we believe that it would be an improvement over the 63 per cent secured in 2008." The report also said that based on the 2008 polls and the news flow since then, the three west coast states of Kedah, Perak and Selangor were expected to be major battlegrounds. It also broke down the geographical support, with Pakatan Rakyat dominating urban centres, the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and the rural Malay heartland in the north of the peninsula reflecting its alliance of components comprising Islamic fundamentalists, secular urbanites and moderate reformers. The ruling BN coalition, meanwhile controls the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia, which reflects its more development-focused agenda. The report also said that based on the stock market's historical performance, a one-month post-election strategy — which entails buying into the market just prior to an election and selling out about a month after — was the most consistent in terms of returns. "This strategy gives the second highest probability of a positive return," said OSK. "The average returns over the past eight elections from employing such a strategy are also the second highest among other possible strategies, such as buying six months prior to an election, or holding for three months post-election." It also recommended a "short and tight" approach to trading during election season as polls are in general a short-term localised driver. Among strategies recommended for election season include waiting for profit-taking ahead of the general election before entering the market, buying just before the election date and riding on the positive post-election sentiment, exiting about one month after the elections and focusing on blue-chips in the banking, O&G and construction sectors rather than on so-called "election plays".
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| Guess who is Perkasa's guest of honour Posted: 20 Oct 2011 01:21 AM PDT (Harakah Daily) - UMNO offshoot Perkasa will be having its annual assembly and Malaysians may finally be able to see its members gathering in large numbers, a sight many have been waiting for amid repeated yet-to-be-fulfilled claims of the group's wide following. But the large crowd is not the only attraction promised by Perkasa's incorrigible chief Ibrahim Ali. "Bapa anjing" Hours later, he was to tell the media that Anwar was "safe and sound" under police custody, only to be shockingly proven otherwise when the one-time acting prime minister appeared in public days later sporting a black eye. In comic exchanges with Anwar's counsel Karpal Singh at a Royal Commission of Inquiry set up amid public outrage over the 'black eye', Rahim claimed that he was provoked by Anwar who called him "bapa anjing" (father of dog). He claimed that he entered Anwar's cell and had wanted to remove Anwar's blindfold, but before he could do so, Anwar said "ni, bapa anjing" ("here comes the father of dogs"), at which point, he slapped Anwar on the right and left side of his face. Karpal then reminded that Anwar was blindfolded, and questioned if Anwar could have possibly made such remarks, unless he had smelt the canine.
Now 68, Rahim (pic) had largely been out of public view since then, until recently when he made a comeback after being recruited to counter PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu's revisionist view of Malaya's history of independence.
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Rahim (left) of course is best remembered for the infamous Black Eye incident involving former deputy prime minister-turned-parliamentary Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim. 
Karpal then disputed Rahim's claim that the incident lasted several seconds, saying he could not have hit Anwar seven times in such a short time. | 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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