Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- MCA asks voters to forget past
- Muhyiddin tells Perkasa not to jump the gun
- ISA repeal delayed to consult stakeholders, say ministers
- Malaysia Tries to Rein In Private Education Institutions
- Lawyers insist Najib, Rosmah not key to Sodomy II
- Raising retirement age will hurt some — Jacob George
- Controversial RFS is back
- Thumbs up for Community Chest
- Najib’s reform package underway
- Dr M: Early polls could break Umno
- Dr Mahathir: Umno members must return to original struggle
- Karpal: DAP never agreed to hudud in T'gganu, Kelantan
- Increase in Kinabatangan voters raising eyebrows
- BN is too big for us but we can cooperate, says Kita chief Zaid Ibrahim
- ADAMANT ON HUDUD
- Soi Lek: Some BN leaders arrogant ‘bullies’
- Opposition’s job is to say bad and unpopular things, says Dr M
- It’s time to lift this veil of beguiling deceitfulness
- All Have Chance To Succeed Under Malaysian Education System
- Pakatan to announce alternative Budget tomorrow
- 889,779 foreigners push Sabah to the top spot
- ‘Nothing done to stop RM20b yearly losses’
- DAP lawmaker claims offered RM150,000 to run for BN in GE13
- Asri: PAS needs new political framework
- Next GE will be all-out ‘cyber war’, Liow warns MCA Youth
- Iranian Pastor Sentenced to Death: Attorney Hopeful of Acquittal
- Club knows nothing about Kelantan’s latest move
- Hudud laws okay in Kelantan
- Wall Street protesters march on police
- Guan Eng wants Najib to apologise for Bumi quota flip-flop
- MCA ‘always’ relevant, say party leaders
- MCA challenges Opposition leaders to justify show-cause order issued to school
- MCA heading for irrelevance, says Tee Keat
| MCA asks voters to forget past Posted: 02 Oct 2011 07:00 PM PDT
(The Malay mail) - MCA leaders have asked the electorate not to dwell on the past but look forward as the party seeks to rebuild itself after its defeat in the 12th general election. The party, which won 31 parliamentary seats from 40 it contested in 2004, managed to garner only 15 parliamentary seats in 2008. Its deputy president, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, admitted the problems faced by MCA and denied the party was experiencing denial syndrome. "We are not the one with denial syndrome and we do not try to say that MCA is supported by the young," he told The Malay Mail. "We know in that in certain areas, the young have a wrong perception of us, so we have to work harder. We know that we have to change." Liow explained that MCA is not a party of individuals and stressed the public are waiting for what the party can do in the future. "This party does not only belong to MCA members but to the Chinese community. The Chinese community has been fighting and supporting this MCA since day one. "It is a really big asset to the Chinese. Thick and thin, it is with Chinese community. Party leaders can come and go. "So please protect the party and not because of certain individuals you are willing to destroy the party." Party vice-president and Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen echoed Liow's remarks when asked about the alleged practices of corruption plaguing the party leaders. "(Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Najib Razak has asked us to go forward and must not lag behind. Ong Tee Keat is behind, so we must look forward," she said. MCA vice-president Donald Lim said the current party leadership was united and ready to face the coming general election, speculated to be as early as January. "We know we lost so many seats in 2008, partly because of leadership problems. They select who they wanted as candidates and that was part of our downfall in 2008," he said.
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| Muhyiddin tells Perkasa not to jump the gun Posted: 02 Oct 2011 06:27 PM PDT
(NST) - Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Perkasa should not "jump the gun" on the meeting between three Malaysian personalities with Singapore's top politicians two months ago. He said Malaysians often held meetings with representatives of Singapore ministries and the People's Action Party to discuss bilateral matters or improve business ties. He was commenting on claims by Perkasa information chief Ruslan Kasim about a dinner meeting between businessman Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and several senior PAP leaders. Ruslan also claimed that a member of Malaysia Airlines board of directors, Datuk Mohamad Azman Yahya, was aware of a secret meeting that took place during the dinner. Muhyiddin said: "As a Barisan Nasional representative, I often meet PAP representatives to discuss various issues.
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| ISA repeal delayed to consult stakeholders, say ministers Posted: 02 Oct 2011 06:18 PM PDT By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 — The government said today that the Internal Security Act (ISA) can only be repealed in March as it needs to consult and engage with stakeholders to ensure "we get it right". The replacement of the ISA, which allows for preventive detention, with two new laws was the highlight of Datuk Seri Najib Razak's Malaysia Day address in which he promised more freedom to the public. But opposition lawmakers have called the delay in repealing the law, which it says Barisan Nasional (BN) abuses to silence dissent, a "cop out" as the prime minister is likely to call snap polls soon after Budget 2012 is passed. "No, it's a question of engagement and consultation. We want to get it right," Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (picture) told reporters when quizzed on the delay. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz also said that the new laws were now in the hands of the Attorney-General and the government would need to be cautious when repealing the ISA. "If we have no new law, then we must immediately release terrorists currently detained under the ISA," the de facto law minister told reporters in Parliament today. When told that the Bar Council has said that no new laws were needed as Malaysia had other legislation to deal with terrorism, Nazri said "that is the Bar's view and it is one which we will look at." Datuk Seri Najib Razak tabled in Parliament today the repeal of the Restricted Residence Act and the Banishment Act, as announced in his Malaysia Day address to kick off his reform package. The repeal of the two laws is scheduled for debate on Wednesday. However, the repeals of the ISA and three emergency declarations were not mentioned in Dewan Rakyat today.
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| Malaysia Tries to Rein In Private Education Institutions Posted: 02 Oct 2011 05:55 PM PDT By Liz Gooch, New York Times KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia's private higher-education institutions are coming under greater scrutiny, with the government imposing a record number of fines on errant operators this year. Having expanded rapidly in the last 15 years, the private sector is widely credited with increasing access to higher education in Malaysia, but education experts say standards vary greatly. |
| Lawyers insist Najib, Rosmah not key to Sodomy II Posted: 02 Oct 2011 05:51 PM PDT By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife are not relevant witnesses to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's ongoing sodomy trial, their lawyers claimed today, adding that the duo would not be able to offer any material evidence to the court. Datuk Hisyam Teh, one of the lawyers representing the prime minister and Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in their joint application to avoid testifying, said that the opposition leader has failed to furnish proof that the two were relevant witnesses. The lawyer said Anwar's application to compel Najib and wife to testify was merely a "fishing expedition" to seek information. While Najib admitted to meeting Anwar's accuser, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, on June 24, 2008 — two days before the alleged sodomy act — the PM's lawyers stressed that the meeting was not related to events on June 26. "I cannot give [any] relevant evidence on what has been brought up by the first respondent (Anwar)," said Hisham, who read out excerpts of Najib's affidavit. Rosmah's affidavit contained the same explanation. "However, we would like to argue that the meeting on June 24 has no nexus, no connection to the incident on June 26, 2008. "The first respondent wants the PM to clarify. This clarification, confirmation on what happened on June 24 is not connected to the primary act, which is the charge... the incident was on June 26, not a day before or after," said Hisham. "They have no legal right to call any person not in possession of material or relevant evidence," said the lawyer. "Where is the connection to the charge?" |
| Raising retirement age will hurt some — Jacob George Posted: 02 Oct 2011 03:39 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - The Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam Selangor (CASSA) reads with great apprehension and concern the ongoing debate and proposal for a higher retirement age in Malaysia. All of us are quite aware that the details of the said proposal are still being ironed out and as such not published. As a result CASSA, other NGOs and the civil society members are not in a position to advice those who come to us for an opinion. Neither CASSA nor others serving public and consumer interests have been consulted like the trade unions who appear to be heavily consulted in the formulation of the said policy but the lacuna is that there are millions outside that umbrella who are not a member of any unions and their interests and rights to retire at 55 will be affected in the wake of a decision being made. Forcing them to immediately resort to the courts for a decision will be unhealthy in the current political and economic climate. Their arguments hold water as they may have already made retirement plans at 55 and are waiting to withdraw their EPF savings. Others may say this is a ploy to retain the EPF savings as the government is going bankrupt and this would be create a backlash come GE13. The pertinent question remains: why should our EPF savings be retained after 55 unless there is a hidden agenda, a clandestine covert plan of action of an ugly kind and dimension. It is in the interest of the government to allow flexibility for employees to decide for themselves whether they want to retire at 55 or otherwise. However, the increase of the age limit should not prevent those who have already attained 55 to withdraw their savings. The arguments put forward by those opposing the move are real. CASSA supports their contention that there are Malaysians who are not subsidy mentality driven and who have planned their retirement planning with dedication and foresight. They may already have adequate funds in their EPF account, and personal savings and investments, to retire at the age of 55. Why stop them and cause great dissatisfaction to them. They may have planned their retirement for years, diligently doing their calculations, extrapolating the EPF contributions and dividends, carefully investing a certain percentage in mutual funds or other plans, where applicable, spending modestly and never overextending themselves like certain cross-sections of the population. In summary, CASSA supports the contention that:
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| Posted: 02 Oct 2011 03:34 PM PDT
After a period of silence controversial online radio station Radio Free Sarawak expects to continue its campaign to address land grabs and corruption in Sarawak. (Free Malaysia Today) - Radio Free Sarawak is back after an almost four months hiatus. It is re-launching this week with an expanded team and greater ambitions. It kicks off with a two hour daily timeslot from 6 – 8 pm on the shortwave 17560 kHz bandwidth. Broadcast is also available online via the website www.radiofreesarawak.org . According to its media release, the RFS "will continue to focus on the concerns and interests of the ordinary people of Sarawak, mainly rural folk, who currently have no access to an independent news source. " "We will also address urban and Malaysia-wide issues in recognition of its popular following among internet users and listeners from other states," said the statement. RFS has been credited for the Chief Minister Taib Mahmud-led Barisan Nasional coalition's losses in the mixed and rural constituencies in Sarawak in the April state polls where BN won 55 seats while the opposition made inroads with 15 seats, whilst one seat, Pelagus, went to independent George Lagong. This was an unprecedented victory for the opposition. Political analyst had also pointed a distinctive swing in votes for the opposition in rural and Malay-mixed areas in Sarawak.
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| Posted: 02 Oct 2011 03:27 PM PDT
BN leaders say it's time the private sector contributes back to society and laud PM Najib for mooting the idea (Free Malaysia Today) - Barisan Nasional leaders have praised Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's announcement of setting up a Community Chest to fund vernacular and mission schools. Last week, Najib revealed that a minimum RM100 million of gambling funds would be channelled to these schools annually through the project. It would be funded primarily by the profits of gaming company Pan Malaysian Pools Sdn Bhd's returns from its investments and public donations. The funds would be managed by a board of trustees, chaired by Genting Malaysia chairman Lim Kok Thay. MIC chief: Schools can approach us Commenting on this, MIC president G Palanivel said the project would serve to benefit both Tamil and Chinese schools. "Priority should be given to partially-funded schools," he added. He also said that MIC's door was open to any Tamil school which wished to receive the funds. "They can come to us. We will approach the board members for it or the school management can meet the trustees straight," he told FMT. Whether the programme was mooted due to the government's failure to address the needs of the vernacular schools, Palanivel dismissed the notion saying that the government had always given fair allocation to all schools. "Now the government is encouraging the private sector to contribute and it's time for the private sector to show some support," he said. He added that this was not the first time private sector participation was welcomed as even former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad mooted the Caring Malaysia programme to encourage the private sector to contribute to society. "For some reason, it didn't work out that well then. I believe the government should not be shouldering the responsibility alone," he said.
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| Najib’s reform package underway Posted: 02 Oct 2011 03:23 PM PDT
In Parliament today, the government is proposing to repeal the Restricted Residence Act and the Banishment Act, and to form the PSC on poll reforms. (Free Malaysia Today) - Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak moved to repeal the Restricted Residence Act and the Banishment Act today, fulfilling his vows to implement quick political reforms to improve civil liberties. At the same time, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz also tabled a motion to form the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on poll reforms. Najib promised the formation of the PSC after his government received widespread condemnation for its strong-arm response to the July 9 rally that called for Putrajaya to clean up Malaysia's electoral system. The rally, where close to 1,700 protesters were arrested while scores were injured, was organised by polls reform group Bersih 2.0. The committee members' composition will reflect current Parliamentary numbers – five from Barisan Nasional, three from Pakatan Rakyat and one independent. While tabling the motion, Nazri reiterated that setting up the PSC was not a nod to accusation that election in Malaysia was corrupt but instead a way to deflect the allegations. "The formation of the PSC is to ensure there are no more accusations against the Election Commission," the law minister told the Dewan Rakyat. The PSC will have six months to look into poll reforms and make recommendations on ways to improve the election system. The panel's terms of references included all key eight demands made by Bersih, including the possible use of indelible ink, fair access to media, longer campaigning period and the abolishment of postal votes. Winning back middle Malaysia He also made a landmark announcement to scrap the British-inherited Internal Security Act which allows detention without trial. Najib said the ISA, a law which the opposition claimed BN had thrived on to crush dissent, will be repealed in March next year as his government needed time to draft two new laws to replace it.
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| Dr M: Early polls could break Umno Posted: 02 Oct 2011 01:31 AM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today factionalism and internal sabotage continues to plague the ruling coalition's lynchpin, Umno, and warned that having national polls too soon may cost the party dearly. This is the second time in recent months the former prime minister of 22 years has advised Barisan Nasional (BN) to hold off holding an early general election — previously predicted to take place during the November school holidays — by saying the time was not ripe. The country's fourth PM told reporters in Kota Kinabalu on May 7 the government has plenty of time to carry out its plans and choose suitable candidates to field for the 13th general election, adding it could stretch this until 2012. The current mandate expires only in 2013 but political parties have been in election mode since the Sarawak state poll last April. "If the general election is held now, Umno may lose big because the support and spirit has faded," Dr Mahathir was reported as saying today by Bernama Online. "Umno still has factions and the split is still critical. If there is awareness, a sense of gratitude and unity, BN can win," the state news agency quoted him further. Still-influential at 86, the politician urged his Umno colleagues to return to the party's original fight to protect religion, race and country by casting aside self-interest to win the general election. He advised Umno members to overcome their disappointment at not being picked for the general election, saying they still stood to gain in other ways. BN lost its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority and four states, including wealthy Selangor and Penang, in Election 2008.
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| Dr Mahathir: Umno members must return to original struggle Posted: 01 Oct 2011 07:08 PM PDT
(Bernama) - Umno members must return to the party's original struggle for the sake of religion, race and country by casting aside self-interest, to win the general election. Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said this was the only way to cure the "backstabbing" disease within the party. "Previously, Umno members sacrificed anything, including pawning their jewellery, to help the party but now their posts are for landing contracts and to become candidates. "If the general election is held now, Umno may lose big because the support and spirit have faded," Dr Mahathir told reporters after presenting a talk, 'Bicara Negarawan,' at the premier gathering of Federal Village Development and Security Committee (JKKKP) members here Sunday. Some 2,000 JKKKP chairman and secretary from the state attended the one-hour talk. Also present were Kedah Umno liaison chairman Datuk Paduka Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah and his deputy Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir. Dr Mahathir, however, said Barisan Nasional could win big at the general election if Umno's disease could be cured. Asked whether the time was right for general election, he said: "It is unsuitable as lot of things need to be done and Umno is not strong enough." "Umno still has factions and the split is still critical. If there is awareness, a sense of gratitude and unity, Barisan can win. On PAS' plan to implement hudud law, Dr Mahathir said they had to resort to this as "they feel that they will lose." "The country consists of a multi-religious population. If 100% are Muslims, there is no problem. "Nik Aziz wants to implement hudud only for Muslims and this is not fair. Islam demands justice in all matters."
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| Karpal: DAP never agreed to hudud in T'gganu, Kelantan Posted: 01 Oct 2011 07:05 PM PDT
(The Star) - DAP chairman Karpal Singh said he is surprised over the statement by Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat that the party had agreed in principle to the hudud legislation which was passed in Kelantan and Terengganu in 1999 and 2003 respectively. "We never agreed in principle to the legislation," he said at a press conference at his office here Sunday. "We have nothing against PAS. On larger issues, we are on one mind. "But we find that PAS' stand on hudud is inconsistent with the Federal Constitution," he said. Karpal said DAP leaders had made it clear during a meeting with Pakatan Rakyat leaders on Wednesday that the hudud law was not in line with the Federal Constitution. Asked about his absence at the 60th PAS anniversary celebration in Kepala Batas, Karpal Singh said he did not attend as he was unwell. "I informed DAP headquarters that I could not attend the function. "It is not a deliberate attempt on my part to skip the event," he said.
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| Increase in Kinabatangan voters raising eyebrows Posted: 01 Oct 2011 02:09 PM PDT By Queville To, FMT KOTA KINABALU: The unexpected high voter-to-population ratio in the Kinabatangan region on the east of Sabah has raised concerns that non-citizens have made it into the new electoral rolls. Sabah DAP which sounded the alarm said the ratio had risen to as high as 68% and was abnormal. MP for Kota Kinabalu Hiew King Cheu noted that a check on the electoral roll revealed that registered voters in Kinabatangan is around 22,000 from a total local population of 32,638, which which makes the population-to-voter ratio at 68%. "This is very high when compared with many other areas in Sabah. The normal voters-to-population ratio is between 20% to 35% only. "For example in Beaufort, it is 28,000 voters to 70,000 people (36%), for Penampang, it is 36,000 voters to 130,000 people (28%), and for Beluran it is 20,000 voters to 110,000 people (18%) only. "It is not possible for a constituency to have 68% of the population registered as voters. Normally, many kampung folks and their young ones are not registered as voters and also many of them are working away from the area. This is even more obvious in Kinabatangan area. "We cannot understand the situation in Kinabatangan. Maybe someone can explain the high voters- to-population ratio to us."
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| BN is too big for us but we can cooperate, says Kita chief Zaid Ibrahim Posted: 01 Oct 2011 02:05 PM PDT
(Bernama) - KOTA BARU: Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita) can cooperate with Barisan Nasional in certain matters although it will not be joining the coalition, said its president Datuk Zaid Ibrahim. He said although Kita had not been offered to be part of Barisan, it was not impossible to establish such cooperaton with Barisan or any other party, except in the general election and in policy matters. "Whatever it is, Kita will not join BN which is already big, even if offered," he said after delivering a talk at his residence here. Zaid said Kita was prepared to contest in the general election although it had not yet prepared a full list of candidates. He hoped the selected candidates would be accepted by the people, especially in Kelantan, to provide the party an opportunity to correct the mistakes of PAS, which he said had failed to develop the state under its rule since 1990. "Kita wants to boost Kelantan's economy so that it will be strong like previously and where people's problems like lack of water supply and employment were given priority," he said. On the hudud issue which is still being harped by Kelantan Pas, Zaid said PAS should be focusing on more important matters than on something which he felt would not be implemented. Zaid said Pas had raised again the hudud issue to actually win back public support in facing the coming general election and not to implement this Islamic criminal law.
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| Posted: 01 Oct 2011 11:48 AM PDT
By Sharanjit Singh and Audrey Dermawan, NST KEPALA BATAS: Looks like there's no stopping Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat from talking on hudud, gag order or no gag order. In fact, he is pushing the issue further — to make hudud a federal requirement.
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| Soi Lek: Some BN leaders arrogant ‘bullies’ Posted: 01 Oct 2011 11:44 AM PDT
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider Some Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders' actions have affected the coalition's image, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek claimed today. The MCA president said that while Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been doing his best to engage with Malaysians, "one or two" BN leaders have tarnished BN's popularity among voters. "Sadly, it has been perceived that one or two BN leaders are aloof, arrogant, and abusive...they project themselves as a big brother but they are bullies. "Some are also known to be loose cannons, they get into the headlines for the wrong reasons," Dr Chua (picture) said today during his presidential address at the MCA annual general assembly. The MCA president did not state explicitly which BN leaders he was referring to. "For the sake of stability in BN, the MCA has not responded in a way it perhaps should," Dr Chua added. MORE TO COME HERE
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| Opposition’s job is to say bad and unpopular things, says Dr M Posted: 01 Oct 2011 10:44 AM PDT By Farik Zolkepli, The Star KUALA TERENGGANU: Politicians should not get upset over Penang Chief Minister Lim Guang Eng's alleged statement that Johor is unsafe because the Opposition must make "bad and unpopular" remarks, saidTun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He said he could understand Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar's anger over the matter, but insisted that politicians should not blow their top over the issue. "The Sultan is angry and I understand it as he is the state Ruler. However, politicians should not lose their cool as the Opposition's job is to say bad and unpopular things," he told reporters after attending the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) convocation ceremony yesterday. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate in science. The former prime minister was asked to comment on Lim's apology over his alleged statement that Singaporeans were likely to be kidnapped if they went to Johor. Dr Mahathir said he himself was attacked by the Opposition, including being labelled a dictator and his online blog flooded with negative comments. "In my blog, depa maki saya (they curse me). If I were to take action (on every single attack), then I won't have time to do anything else. "Apology or no apology, Lim only did so after being criticised by various parties," he added. On the Kelantan PAS government's insistence on implementing hudud law in the state, Dr Mahathir said the move was just a political ploy to fish for votes. "Hudud is a game for PAS and Islam is a game for them as well, as they know they will not form the federal government," he said. Dr Mahathir said there were many Kelantanese who worked elsewhere. "Thus, if PAS goes ahead with its plans, then I believe there will not be anyone left in Kelantan," he added. On certain PAS leaders' pledge to implement hudud in the country if they win the next general election, Dr Mahathir said it could not be done as Malaysia was not a country where its population is 100% Muslim. "PAS must be realistic as non-Muslims are very important to this country and our economy could collapse if there were no non-Muslims," he said, adding that Islam had never been the focal point of PAS' struggle. |
| It’s time to lift this veil of beguiling deceitfulness Posted: 01 Oct 2011 10:23 AM PDT (The Star) - PAS, hudud law and an Islamic state are the inseparable trio that, of the party's own choosing, would simply refuse to go away. Last year, PAS rejected any compromise on hudud law despite the DAP's objections. So much for consultation within Pakatan Rakyat. The issue raged heatedly, then subsided. Earlier this year, PAS Youth said hudud was no longer a priority, after the party president's keynote speech at the 57th Muktamar downplayed it. Then speculation of an impending general election grew. PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nik Aziz Nik Mat again said hudud law would be implemented nationwide should Pakatan win the general election. This policy volcano, until then dormant but never extinct, rumbled again. PAS would now make Kelantan an Islamic state through the syariah court system. Conservative Islamism has returned with all its controversies fully intact, and Pakatan's glaring discrepancies flared again. Once more, PAS is insisting on an Islamic state despite all the objections. This is no way to run a party alliance, let alone a multi-ethnic Malaysia with sizeable minorities. Changing the Constitution to allow for what the world today regards as inhumane punishments, along with vastly disparate forms of legal testimony, is also disturbing. To pretend that hudud law will not affect non-Muslims is dangerous and nonsensical fiction. Pakatan has tried to ban entertainment during Ramadan, stop Muslim staff from working in establishments serving alcohol, planned to disrupt music concerts and seen family disputes arise after a family member had undergone religious conversion. If these issues are trivial or merely "ghostly apparitions", more will emerge when hudud law is implemented. All Malaysians and even foreign visitors and businesses will be affected, to varying degrees. Although hudud is contained in the Quran, not all Muslims are clamouring for it. Meanwhile, PAS has demanded silence from doubters while Pakatan has imposed a gag order on the subject. Sadly, issues of major national significance are being swept under the carpet by those demanding free speech for themselves and transparency in others. If hudud law were so much better, it would not be so controversial or should at least be open to free enquiry and debate. This nation's future is too important to be left in the hands of power seekers who are fundamentally incompatible. |
| All Have Chance To Succeed Under Malaysian Education System Posted: 01 Oct 2011 09:43 AM PDT (Bernama) - PEKAN -- The country's education system provides opportunities to all Malaysians to be successful, said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. He said the system did not discriminate anyone and was in fact much better compared to even those in developed countries as it gave room and opportunities for everyone to succeed. "What is important is that we expose students to a system which has committed teachers and good parental support so that students will become successful. "Through our education system, we provide the path to each child to become successful. Success in education produces results within a single generation and there has been successful leaders, corporate figures and others," he said when addressing Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Seri Pekan's Smart Partnership Gathering and Transformation Programme here yesterday. Najib said there were certain advanced countries where their education systems catered more for the children of the elite with less fortunate groups standing standing no chance of changing their lives of their children for the better. "In Malaysia, a person's socio-economic status is of no consequence. If have the desire, we can succeed," he said. The prime minister also praised SMK Seri Pekan for its fine performance despite not being a fully residential school. He said although SMK Seri Pekan was not a fully residential school, it had succeeded in achieving excellence as a cluster school in the state of Pahang. "I hope SMK Seri Pekan will go on to achieve High Performance School status," he added. At the function, Najib also announced a RM500,000 allocation for the school's marching band. |
| Pakatan to announce alternative Budget tomorrow Posted: 01 Oct 2011 09:41 AM PDT By Syed Mu'az Syed Putra, The Malaysian Insider KEPALA BATAS, Oct 2 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will unveil its alternative Budget for next year tomorrow, five days before the prime minister tables Budget 2012 in Parliament, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said. He said the move would allow the public to compare the economic policies of the opposition pact and the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which is under pressure to tackle rising cost of living. "The committee comprising economic experts from PAS, DAP and PKR has put together our own Budget... in great detail," he said after attending the PAS 60th Anniversary Congress here. PR's Budget 2012 is expected to include income and expenditure projections, allocations for government ministries and will highlight policy differences between PR and BN.
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| 889,779 foreigners push Sabah to the top spot Posted: 01 Oct 2011 08:26 AM PDT
(Daily Express) - Sabah has the most migrant workers in the country, recording a 44.7 per cent increase from 614,824 in 2000 to 889,779 in 2010. Women, Family and Community Ministry Secretary General, Dato Dr Noorul Mohd Nur, said this after launching the Indonesian Workers in Tawau Seminar Findings here, Thursday. The figures were based on the 2010 Population and Housing Census, which shows 27.7 per cent out of the 3.2 million population in Sabah comprised migrant workers with a majority of them being Indonesians. "In 2000, Sandakan recorded the most migrant workers (114,230). However in 2010, Tawau recorded the most (171,409) most of whom are Indonesians," she said. She said that in the context of the nation's development, especially Sabah, the focus was on legal migrant workers and not illegal migrants. "A research conducted in 2010 by the Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) in Tawau, which is an agency under the Ministry disclosed three main reasons for the influx. First was for reasons of employment, second was to garner higher income and third was to follow their spouse or relatives who have entered the State. "Even though the intake of migrant workers has assisted in the economic growth of the nation, the government takes seriously the issues concerning the influx of migrant workers because of the negative implications such as remittances. "Among steps taken is to monitor and control the number of migrant workers entering the country. However, local employers should also offer more jobs opportunities to the local community. "There are many employers who prefer employing migrant workers due to the cheaper labour compared to the locals, which deprives our locals from obtaining employment in various sectors mainly plantation, manufacturing and service sectors," she said. She disclosed that a policy is being formulated by the Economic Planning Unit and the Government on how to ensure local workers are not excluded in these sectors. Commenting on the implementation of high technology in the sectors, she said: "Employers prefer to take in migrant workers even though they are unskilled due to the cheaper labour. "Many of the employers do not use high technology because it would mean they have to employ skilled workers which costs higher than unskilled workers. "If we don't implement technology now, then our country will not achieve our target of being a developed economic nation by 2020," she said. Towards its end, she said it is important for the State Government to review the employment categories and competency level, which is needed in human resources development. "This step is necessary because if many of the jobs offered are for unskilled or semi-skilled workers, despite the fact that many locals have achieved tertiary education, then the work generated would not benefit the community. "In line with the implementation of the Sabah Development Corridor, the State is expected to face a major transformation by 2025," she said. "The State's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) can by then expect to increase to RM63.2 billion with per capita increasing to RM14,800. "Based on the analysis by the SDC, the unemployment rate in the State will be decreased to 3.5 per cent and new job opportunities are expected to increase to 900,000 by year 2025," she said, advising locals to grab the job opportunities offered through the SDC.
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| ‘Nothing done to stop RM20b yearly losses’ Posted: 30 Sep 2011 06:00 PM PDT
Alternative budget will propose drastic measures to cut on the colossal monetary wastage, says the opposition leader. (Free Malaysia Today) - Every year, the country suffers about RM20 billion in losses through monetary leakages via corruption, wastage and money laundering, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said. "But what is the government's action to address it (the losses)? Absolutely nothing," he added. Quoting international financial reports on the colossal losses, he said the Barisan Nasional government could have carried out various programmes and projects with the money to benefit the people. "But the government is not doing anything about it. Is the government pro-active in combating corruption? "Definitely not," Anwar, the PKR supremo, told a sizeable crowd during a forum on development themed "Interaksi Komuniti (Community Interaction) here here today. Also present were Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman, state executive councillor and Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow, and Penang State Legislative Assembly speaker Abdul Halim Hussain, who is PKR state secretary chief and Balik Pulau division chief. Others were Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff , Senator Mustafa Kamal Mohd Yusoff and Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Sim Tze Tzin. As a constructive opposition coalition, Anwar said Pakatan Rakyat would prepare its own alternative people-oriented budget early next week to address the issue and deal with budget deficit. Pakatan is expected to table its budget to the press after Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who is also the Finance Minister, had tabled the national 2012 Budget at Parliament next Friday. Anwar indicated that Pakatan's budget would propose drastic measures to cut down on the colossal monetary wastage currently suffered by the country and the escalating budget for the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
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| DAP lawmaker claims offered RM150,000 to run for BN in GE13 Posted: 30 Sep 2011 05:22 PM PDT
Gwee said though he was upset after being suspended he would not accept the BN offer. (The Malaysian Insider) - A suspended Johor DAP assemblyman today revealed he had been offered RM150,000 and 50 acres of land to quit his party and stand as an independent candidate aligned to rival Barisan Nasional (BN) in the coming national polls. First-term Bentayan state lawmaker Gwee Tong Hiang said he was approached last Tuesday by a Chinese man claiming to be a representative from the Prime Minister's Department who caught him while he was feeling down over his six-month suspension for alleged power abuse. The allegation comes on the heels of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's latest charge to win back support from ethnic Chinese voters nationwide, following the dismal performance from the ruling coalition's Chinese parties, notably the MCA, which has been practically written off as irrelevant. The allegation also recalls the controversial takeover of Perak, which was won in the 2008 general election by the PAS-DAP-PKR pact. Jepalang MP and Perak state assembly Deputy Speaker Datuk Hee Yit Fong had quit the DAP to become a BN-friendly independent, tipping the balance in favour of the BN. Najib, who is also BN chairman, carried out a whirlwind tour into enemy territory in DAP-controlled Penang last weekend, but support towards the BN government in Umno-controlled Johor appears to be eroding as well if Gwee's claim is to be believed. Gwee told reporters the man, whom he named as Wee Pao Chin, had arranged for him to meet Najib in Putrajaya on Monday where the BN chairman would announce the news at a media conference. He said the RM150,000 would be provided by Putrajaya and would be paid to him in one lump sum through the Wee clan association in order to avoid detection. He also claimed that he was promised more than RM5,000 a month as extra funds and would be given an office and staff to take care of his constituents if he agreed to quit the DAP. "Their terms were 'you must stand as independent candidate in the next election to fight DAP candidate'," Gwee, 44, disclosed at the DAP headquarters here today. The Bentayan state seat is in the Bakri parliamentary constituency and was until 2008 an MCA stronghold. Gwee beat the MCA's Lee Chin Yong in the last general election with a comfortable 2,798-vote margin. Asked why the BN wanted him as a candidate there for the next polls, Gwee said he was told: "Top management kau-tim [has been fixed]. MCA will not put a candidate in Bentayan constituency."
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| Asri: PAS needs new political framework Posted: 30 Sep 2011 05:16 PM PDT
Asri said Umno is not the standard for PAS to make comparisons. (The Malaysian Insider) - PAS needs a new political framework where all of its leaders can be accepted by voters, Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has said. The former Perlis mufti said the Islamist party needed to think beyond governing a state if it was serious in taking over federal power. He cautioned PAS leaders against getting involved in issues which can be resolved internally. "PAS needs a new political framework, PAS needs a bigger framework... Malaysia's framework is not Kelantan. "Umno is not the standard for PAS to make comparisons, PAS needs to be at a higher place," he said at a PAS forum here last night. PAS celebrates its 60th anniversary today. Asri stressed that the party needed to groom leaders which could be accepted by all layers of society if it wanted to remain relevant politically. "PAS needs to create or groom a leader who is acceptable by not just by the party but also by those outside PAS; if we look there are 60 per cent of voters who are undecided on who to vote for. "PAS needs a leader like Burhanuddin al-Helmy... great, everyone knows him, some even say he was worthy to become prime minister," he said.
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| Next GE will be all-out ‘cyber war’, Liow warns MCA Youth Posted: 30 Sep 2011 04:30 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - The battlefront for the next general election will be an all-out war in cyber space, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai warned MCA Youth leaders today. The MCA deputy president reminded the party's Youth wing that it needed to embark on a more aggressive online campaign, and that the party's dismissal of the influence of blogs and the Internet in the last general election had contributed to the MCA's loss of parliamentary and state seats. "To stop opposition parties to continue deceiving the people, efforts for an all-out war must begin now. I call on all Youth members to prepare for cyber war. "We understand that blogs were a mainpublicity media in the last general election while Facebook and Twitter are expected to become the primary media in the coming general election. MCA candidates cannot neglect the Internet war in the coming general election," he said at the MCA Youth annual general assembly.
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| Iranian Pastor Sentenced to Death: Attorney Hopeful of Acquittal Posted: 30 Sep 2011 04:19 PM PDT
(Business and law) - The attorney for an Iranian Christian pastor who is facing the death penalty for the crime of apostasy said he is optimistic his client will be acquitted and freed. Youcef Naderkhani has refused to renounce his Christian faith in a case that has sparked global fury against Iran and appeals for clemency. According to a report in BBC, Naderkhani's lawyer, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, said there was a 95 percent chance he will be freed. U.S. House Speaker John Boehner also has already spoken out against Iran. "While Iran's government claims to promote tolerance, it continues to imprison many of its people because of their faith. This goes beyond the law to an issue of fundamental respect for human dignity. I urge Iran's leaders to abandon this dark path, spare [Nadarkhani's] life, and grant him a full and unconditional release," said Boehner. Naderkhani, 32, reportedly was born Muslim and converted to Christianity at the age of 19. He became a pastor of a 400-person Church of Iran congregation in the northern city of Rasht. He was arrested two years ago and sentenced to death in 2010 by a court of appeals. His crime was apostasy, or abandoning his Muslim faith. Iran's Supreme Court said Naderkhani could be freed if he renounced his Christian religion. The Right Reverend Michael Nazir-Ali, the former Anglican Bishop of Rochester, told BBC: "As a Christian I can't do that [refute my faith]. In a much lesser way I have faced these questions myself, and I would ask for myself for strength in this situation and courage, and that is what I would ask for him. But at the same time to ask that understanding and compassion and clemency be exercised by those who are in authority." Nazir-Ali sad Iranians are likely concerned about the growth of Christianity in the country and may want to make an example of Naderhkani. He added that the death penalty has not been imposed in Iran in such a case since 1990. Before his last hearing Wednesday, Nadarkhani had been given three previous chances to repent, and all three times he has refused. After his final refusal Wednesday, no verdict has been announced, but many expect that he could be put to death as soon as Friday. Even if the sentence were commuted, Nadarkhani could still face life in prison. And even if he were released, there would still be danger. "In Iran about 18 years ago, they had released a pastor, but then came and assassinated him and his bishop later. We cannot stop the pressure," Pastor Firouz Sadegh-Khandjani, a Member of the Council of Elders for the Church of Iran, told the American Center for Law and Justice. Between June 2010 and January 2011, more than 200 people in Iran were arrested for their religious beliefs, according to Elam Ministries, a United Kingdom-based church with ties to Iran. In August, a pastor named Haghnejad was arrested for the third time, according to Christian Solidarity. Police also confiscated 6,500 bibles, which Iran's social issues committee deemed were being used to deceive youths.
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| Club knows nothing about Kelantan’s latest move Posted: 30 Sep 2011 04:10 PM PDT
(The Star) - PAS Supporters Club chairman Hu Pang Chow has claimed that he was "in the dark" over the Kelantan government's plan to implement hudud in the state. Hu said he had received hundreds of calls from club members asking about Kelantan's hudud plan. "As it is, even before hudud is implemented (in Kelantan), there are no investments here. Just imagine when hudud is actually put into practice here. "I would say it would be minus zero investment for Kelantan in the coming years until the general election. I received hundreds of calls from club members asking me about Kelantan's plan," said Hu yesterday. "The only answer I can give is that as club chairman, I was not consulted or invited to discuss the matter. I am also in the dark over this sudden move by the state government." Hu said the stalemate in Pakatan Rakyat's stand over the hudud issue also had far reaching consequences for non-Muslims in both the west and east coasts of peninsular Malay-sia. He said the inconclusive meeting among Pakatan members would affect non-Muslim support not only in religious terms but also the investment climate. Hu said although Kelantan had stressed that such laws would not affect non-Muslims, such a move, if implemented, would eventually impact them. "I cannot say much on the investment climate because non-Muslims are a minority in the east coast. "However, the Chinese would be alarmed by the move."
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| Posted: 30 Sep 2011 04:02 PM PDT
However, FMT readers are confident that it would not be implemented nationwide when Pakatan Rakyat comes to power. (Free Malaysia Today) - A majority of FMT readers are not seeing red over the implementation of hudud in Kelantan but, at the same time, do not expect hudud to be featured in a Pakatan Rakyat federal government. In a FMT poll conducted for the past two weeks, some 81 percent or 1,968 out of 2,417 readers, voted that hudud would not be Pakatan's national policy compared with 300 readers who voted "yes". Only seven percent or 149 voters were undecided on the issue. The controversy over the implementation of hudud was sparked a fortnight ago when Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat, who is also PAS spiritual adviser, announced that he wants to implement hudud in Kelantan. The DAP, a partner in the Pakatan Rakyat alliance, promptly opposed it on the grounds that it is unconstitutional. Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim announced that hudud will not be implemented due to a lack of consensus after a meeting of Pakatan top brass to discuss the hot-button issue on Sept 29.
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| Wall Street protesters march on police Posted: 30 Sep 2011 01:57 PM PDT
(Reuters) - Protesters who have camped out near Wall Street for two weeks marched on Friday on police headquarters in Manhattan over what they viewed as a heavy-handed police response to a previous demonstration. The Occupy Wall Street movement, whose members have vowed to stay through the winter, are protesting issues including the 2008 bank bailouts, foreclosures and high unemployment. More than 1,000 people marched past City Hall and arrived at a plaza outside police headquarters in the late afternoon. Some held banners criticizing police, while others chanted: "We are the 99 percent" and "The banks got bailed out, we got sold out." Workers from the financial district on their way home watched as the marchers passed, with some saying it was not obvious what outcome organizers of the Occupy Wall Street movement wanted. Police observed the march and kept protesters on the sidewalk, but no clashes were reported. Police said no arrests were made before the protest dispersed peaceably by 8 p.m. after the march. "No to the NYPD crackdown on Wall St. protesters," organizers had said on their website, promoting the march. Other online flyers for the march read: "No to Stop-and-Frisk in Black & Latino neighborhoods" and "No to Spying and Harassment of Muslim Communities." The protest came less than a week after police arrested 80 people during a march to the bustling Union Square shopping district, the most arrests by New York police at a demonstration since hundreds were detained outside the Republican National Convention in 2004. A police commander used pepper spray on four women at last weekend's march and a video of the incident went viral on the Internet, angering many protesters who vowed to continue their protests indefinitely. Police have said pepper spray was a better alternative than night sticks to subdue those blocking traffic. RIGHT TO PROTEST Friday's crowd appeared to have been boosted by an announcement that the rock band Radiohead would perform at 4 p.m. Later, organizers said on their website, "Radiohead will not being playing. This was a hoax. Please accept our apologies." "We heard about Radiohead coming here on Facebook," said Alegra Felter, a 34-year-old teacher from Brooklyn who was among the disappointed rock fans. The protest encampment in Zuccotti Park in downtown Manhattan is festooned with placards and anti-Wall Street slogans. There is a makeshift kitchen and library, and celebrities from filmmaker Michael Moore to actress Susan Sarandon have stopped by to show solidarity. Asked on his weekly radio show on Friday whether the protesters could stay indefinitely at the private park they call their base, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, "We'll see." Bloomberg added: "People have a right to protest. But we also have to make sure that people who don't want to protest can go down the street unmolested." While the protest has been made up mostly of young people, it also has recently attracted the support of a loose coalition of labor and community organizations. Marty Goodman, a unionized subway worker, said, "Last year we had 900 of our members laid off ... These are our issues too: Wall Street, the banks, layoffs, the struggle that these young people are spearheading is our struggle too." Among those pledging solidarity were the United Federation of Teachers and the Transport Workers Union Local 100, which has 38,000 members. The unions could provide important organizational and financial support for the largely leaderless movement. Similar but smaller protests have also sprouted in other cities in recent days, including Boston, Chicago and San Francisco. |
| Guan Eng wants Najib to apologise for Bumi quota flip-flop Posted: 30 Sep 2011 01:47 PM PDT
By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 — DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng wants the prime minister to apologise for another "flip-flop", this time over the scrapping of Bumiputera quotas. Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday he had not promised to abolish the 30 per cent quota eventually despite media reports to the contrary. But Lim (picture)pointed out today it was hard to believe state news agency Bernama, which also carried the alleged misquote, would dare to misrepresent the prime minister. "As it is hard to imagine a government news department like Bernama daring to misquote or misrepresent what the prime minister said, will the prime minister be compelled to apologise for saying the wrong thing?" Lim said in a statement. Bernama, several online news portals and the Chinese media reported earlier this week that Najib had called for the eventual removal of Bumiputera quotas. "We want to do away from (with) quotas but we must support them (Bumiputera entrepreneurs) in a way that would allow them to grow," Najib told the Khazanah Megatrends Forum 2011 here on Tuesday night. The prime minister, however, denied yesterday he had meant for such quotas to be scrapped and that he was merely trying to urge Bumiputera entrepreneurs to be more self-sufficient. "I did not say we want to abolish quotas, but I said we cannot be too reliant on them," he had said after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting here.
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| MCA ‘always’ relevant, say party leaders Posted: 30 Sep 2011 01:36 PM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - MCA leaders today lambasted former party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat for saying the party is becoming increasing irrelevant, claiming there is no basis for his remarks. They denied that the Chinese community had written the party off, claiming that the MCA was on its way to regaining Chinese support. Ong had told The Malaysian Insider in an interview that the MCA was on the path to irrelevance, and that the Barisan Nasional (BN) component has not heeded the push for reform that saw the party lose 25 of the 40 federal and 59 of the 90 state seats it contested in Election 2008. He had said the reforms he tried to implement in the MCA "all went down the drain" after he was ousted. "MCA is always relevant. Although we lost badly in 2008, we still have strong representation within the Chinese community. "He (Ong) can say what he likes, but he must not eat his own words," said MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai. Liow said that when Ong was president, he had instructed MCA members to refrain from saying bad things about the party. "No (we are not irrelevant), MCA has been working hard to ensure support of Chinese," said Liow.
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| MCA challenges Opposition leaders to justify show-cause order issued to school Posted: 30 Sep 2011 08:50 AM PDT (The Star) - MCA Youth has challenged Pakatan Rakyat leaders to justify a show-cause letter issued by the Pasir Puteh Land and District Office (PTJPP) in Kelantan to a Chinese school for celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said the movement was angry that a festival, which is part of the Chinese community's culture, could be interpreted as "entertainment". "I want Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng to answer if what they are doing is fair to the Chinese community. "Since when is celebrating the lantern festival a crime under the entertainment enactment? "Is this what they mean when they claim respect for different cultures?" he asked during a press conference after the MCA Youth central committee meeting at Wisma MCA yesterday. Dr Wee, who is also Deputy Education Minister, showed a letter to the press from PTJPP, dated Sept 18, to SJK(C) Kai Chih in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan, informing the headmaster that it had held an entertainment event Sept 15 from 8pm to 11.30pm at the school's premises without obtaining a licence or approval. "In relation to that, the organiser can be punished if found guilty of violating Section 6 (2) of the Entertainment and Places of Entertainment Enactment 1998, which carries a maximum fine of RM20,000 or a five-year jail term, or both," Dr Wee quoted while reading out the letter. Dr Wee questioned whether PAS is sensitive to the beliefs and culture of the community. "If they were celebrating the festival, it should not be an issue. We consider this a violation of the rights of non-Muslims, especially the Chinese," he said. Meanwhile, Dr Wee defended the video clip Undilah and said he did not regard it as controversial despite Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim saying it offended certain segments of society. "We do not regard the message of the video as sparking a Reformasi and it does not contain any hidden message to bring down the Government," he said.
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| MCA heading for irrelevance, says Tee Keat Posted: 30 Sep 2011 08:34 AM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - The MCA is on the path to irrelevance, its former president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said this week ahead of the party's annual gathering this weekend. He told The Malaysian Insider in an interview that the Barisan Nasional (BN) component has not heeded the push for reform that saw the party lose 25 of the 40 federal and 59 of the 90 state seats it contested in Election 2008. "MCA is still stuck in the mindset of being gung-ho with statements instead of delivering good governance. It is parroting old polemic rather than delivering reforms asked for by voters. "If MCA continues on this same old path and psyche, then it is certainly headed for irrelevance. Some have bluntly said we are already irrelevant," said Ong, who was deposed as MCA boss by Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek in a fractious power struggle 18 months ago. The Pandan MP cited, as examples of "empty platitudes," his successor's threats to quit BN if Umno implemented hudud and to resign from the Cabinet and other government posts if the party does not improve in a general election expected soon. "I don't see how his threats can lift the party from its doldrums," he said. The party holds what is likely to be its final general assembly this weekend before federal polls are called. But despite having three presidents in as many years, the MCA has seen Chinese support continue to shrink in by-elections. Some analyses state that the Tenang polls held earlier this year saw just 18 per cent of Chinese voting for BN. Datuk Seri Najib Razak has begun taking over the charge for Chinese votes, spending last weekend dishing out RM15 million to Chinese schools and exempting a Community Chest project headed by Chinese tycoons from tax to help it channel RM100 million a year into vernacular education. "Najib as BN chief is spearheading initiatives to win Chinese votes, triggering the question of 'where is MCA?' from the public," Ong said. He said the MCA could not shirk its responsibility as part of government despite Umno's seniority in the ruling coalition. "How are they justifying their position as minister? Chinese want a level playing field. Ministers must get rid of cronies and monopolies," he said. Ong cited his 26-month tenure as transport minister where he opened the probe on the RM12.5 billion Port Klang Free Zone scandal even though senior officers told him it was a closed case. "I put aside considerations of whether or not it would implicate Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik or Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy," he said of the former MCA president and deputy who were Ong's predecessors as transport minister. "I was more concerned about how the party had been linked to that debacle which was a key factor in the March 2008 tsunami," he added, referring to the BN's landmark loss of its customary two-thirds majority in Parliament and five state governments.
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