Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Hudud row a boon for Najib, says WSJ
- Sodomy II: Najib, Rosmah need not testify
- Ku Li says ‘Undilah’ video fit for viewing
- Snubbing China closes trade doors further, says Pakatan
- Return IWK services to local councils, says Pua
- Even if it weakens Pakatan, Nik Aziz wants hudud
- Ex-MAS boss broke the law, says Nazri
- Dr M backed move to acquire PKFZ land, Ling trial told
- Najib and Rosmah can skip trial, court rules
- RM23,000 in tear gas hurled at Bersih marchers
- GST ‘maybe after elections,’ says Nazri
- Sex education, finally
- Govt concealing new oil profits from Kelantan
- Najib's high-tempo pursuits bearing fruit
| Hudud row a boon for Najib, says WSJ Posted: 05 Oct 2011 06:27 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should thank his political foes for resurrecting the hudud issue, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Online, which called it a timely boost to his sliding popularity as national polls loom. "Malaysian leader Najib Razak's effort to reinvent himself as the country's 'coolest' prime minister is getting a bit of a lift from a row in the opposition over unfashionable Islamic hudud laws," the influential US daily said today. It observed the DAP-PAS-PKR alliance was now tangled in regular debate over the enforcement of Islamic penal laws in mutireligious Malaysia, handing the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) a much-needed edge to claw back support ahead of an expected early 13th general election. The Chinese-majority DAP last week pledged that its leadership would resign en masse if hudud laws are implemented, after Islamist partner PAS's spiritual advisor Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat told reporters the party would seek to adopt the Islamic penal laws nationwide if it wins in the coming polls. This forced Pakatan Rakyat (PR) head and PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to mediate between the two and calm public opinion. Anwar has said the opposition will not necessarily carry out hudud if it takes over Putrajaya. "The net result of all this wrangling, political analysts say, is to do Mr Najib a favour at a time when he is trying to reclaim the centre-ground of Malaysian politics," WSJ writer James Hookway wrote in the article headlined, "Malaysia's Recurring Row Over Islamic laws Could Lift Najib". "That left Mr Najib largely free to focus on preparing a budget speech due Friday (tomorrow) that many analysts expect to contain a series of cash giveaways, such as tax rebates, civil services bonuses and lower personal tax rates, in the run-up to national elections that must be held within the next 18 months," he added. The prime minister is expected to roll out a populist Budget to combat the rising cost of living before calling for an early general election next year, ahead of the 2013 expiry of the BN mandate. The global economy is forecast to turn gloomier, which could deal a death blow to the Najib administration if it chooses to see out its mandate to full term.
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| Sodomy II: Najib, Rosmah need not testify Posted: 05 Oct 2011 05:53 PM PDT
Anwar has failed to show the relevancy and materiality of both Najib and Rosmah to the trial, ruled the judge. (Free Malaysia Today) - Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has failed in his bid to haul up Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor to court to testify in his Sodomy II trial. Judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah today allowed an application by the couple to set aside the subpoenas compelling them to be defence witnesses in the trial. "After going through the affidavits and submissions, I found that the defendants have failed to show the relevancy and materiality of both Najib and Rosmah to the trial," said Mohamed Zabidin. Meanwhile, Anwar said he was disappointed with the court's ruling. "Of course, I'm disappointed because both of them (Najib and Rosmah) were clearly involved. We have evidence to support that… "Our position is that this was planned. Now he (Najib) should come and deny it," he said. He added that the prosecution offered them as witnesses. "(So) if they are not relevant, why were they offered (as witnesses)?" Anwar's lead counsel Karpal Singh said that the defence would appeal against the decision at the Court of Appeal tomorrow. He said he was also disappointed that the judge did not give any reasons for the decision to set aside the subpoenas. "He ought to have given the reasons," said Karpal. 'Fishing expedition' On Monday, Mohamad Zabidin heard submissions from the couple's lawyers as well as from lawyers representing Anwar. Anwar's argument is that it was important to have Najib and Rosmah to testify in his trial so that he could find out what had transpired in a meeting involving the prime minister and the complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.Anwar also wants Rosmah to explain about her meeting with Muhamad Rahimi Osman, a close friend of Saiful. (Rahimi was said to have gone to Rosmah to seek assistance on behalf of his friend.)
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| Ku Li says ‘Undilah’ video fit for viewing Posted: 05 Oct 2011 05:11 PM PDT
By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah defended today his role in the controversial "Undilah" video, stating he was only trying to encourage the public to register to vote. Despite critics stating that the public service announcement was anti-Barisan Nasional (BN), the Umno veteran gave it a thumbs-up when asked by reporters today in Parliament.
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| Snubbing China closes trade doors further, says Pakatan Posted: 05 Oct 2011 04:44 PM PDT By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — The federal opposition has warned that Putrajaya's shifting position in proposed deals with China-based firms has further dented Malaysia's chances of spurring trade. Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers noted that with economic giants Europe and the United States facing prolonged debt crises, Malaysia is sending the wrong signal to its fourth-largest trade partner.
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| Return IWK services to local councils, says Pua Posted: 05 Oct 2011 04:32 PM PDT By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — DAP MP Tony Pua today urged Putrajaya to return Indah Water Konsortium's (IWK) sewerage treatment and management business to the local councils, pointing out the centralisation of its services had resulted in a costly bailout for the government. He, however, lauded the Finance Ministry's response in Parliament today that IWK would not be privatised but instead restructured and placed under the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry. But, said the Petaling Jaya Utara MP, the government should "take a further step" by decentralising IWK's services, reminding that prior to 1994 local councils were in charge of sewerage treatment. "The IWK was formed in 1997 as part of (former prime minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's privatisation initiative and took over all the relevant functions from the local government authorities. "To ensure increased effectiveness and greater responsiveness to issues faced by the people, it is crucial that the local councils are empowered to manage its services," he said in a statement handed out in Parliament today. Putrajaya said yesterday it had spent RM1.2 billion to sustain IWK since nationalising the national sewerage company in 2000. The Finance Ministry said that IWK had racked up liabilities amounting to RM2 billion, while its assets are valued at about RM1.2 billion. It also said that there are no plans to privatise IWK but the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry would be restructuring the sewerage industry, reviewing sewerage tariffs and guaranteeing future capital expenditure. Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah had said on September 10 that IWK would be merged with a government unit, confirming a report by The Malaysian Insider. Ahmad Husni said that the merger process was already under way but declined to disclose the name of the government subsidiary, except to say that IWK would continue to be government-owned after the merger. The Malaysian Insider reported on September 8 that IWK would be privatised into a consortium led by strategic investment agency 1MDB, some 11 years after the government was forced to bail out the national sewerage company from financial difficulties under its previous owners. Finance Ministry sources had recently told The Malaysian Insider that the 1MDB-led consortium will include water distribution company Puncak Niaga, and that the deal has been given the nod by the Economic Council chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Under the proposed deal, the 1MDB consortium was to acquire IWK for RM1 and take over its debts which include more than RM1.5 billion in loans still owed to the ministry. The consortium is seeking a 60-year concession from the government and will only pay back the principal amount and interest on the loan over the long term.
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| Even if it weakens Pakatan, Nik Aziz wants hudud Posted: 05 Oct 2011 04:28 PM PDT By K Pragalath, FMT PETALING JAYA: Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat remains adamant about implementing hudud in the state even if this resulted in Pakatan Rakyat becoming weakened. "I went through the newspapers over the past few days and they are not playing up the hudud issue as vigorously as they did last week. I hope they would, even if it weakens Pakatan because more people would understand the truth about hudud. "Perhaps the media realised that hudud cannot be used as Umno's tool as it would backfire," read the PAS spiritual adviser's posting on Facebook. Controversy over hudud erupted last month when the PAS leader announced his intention to implement the Islamic law after former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad dared Nik Aziz to implement it. Nik Aziz also stressed that hudud would only affect the Muslims. However, PAS' Pakatan coalition partner DAP had objected, saying the move would contradict the Federal Constitution. Last week, Pakatan supremo Anwar Ibrahim anounced that hudud cannot be implemented due to lack of concensus among the coalition's component parties. 'Food more important than hudud' In an immediate reaction, Perak DAP chief Ngeh Koo Ham said that Nik Aziz's view might weaken Pakatan. "It would be better to raise other issues than hudud because it would reduce the votes that we get. Issues such as people-centric policies would be supported by all good human beings," he told FMT. He cited good governance and transparency as among the issues that would garner support from all people. He said under current times, "putting food (on the table) is more important than hudud".
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| Ex-MAS boss broke the law, says Nazri Posted: 05 Oct 2011 04:26 PM PDT By Syed Jaymal Zahiid, FMT KUALA LUMPUR: Former MAS chairman Tajuddin Ramli breached the Companies Act in not disclosing his interests when he was with the national carrier, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz told the Dewan Rakyat today. "Evidence shows that he breached Section 131 of the Companies Act, which involves disclosure of interests," he said in response to Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur), who noted that there had been no prosecution against Tajuddin despite the reports MAS had lodged with the police and anti-graft authorities. Lim asked if the Attorney-General had the right to absolve Tajuddin of criminal liabilities. Nazri said Tajuddin had incurred a compound fine but the Attorney-General had delayed action on the fine because a civil suit had yet to be resolved. "As the case involves a civil claim that has not been resolved, he asked the Attorney-General's Chambers to delay the compound. The AG's Chambers has granted the request." In August, Putrajaya directed all government-linked companies (GLCs), including MAS, to drop all civil suits against Tajuddin.
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| Dr M backed move to acquire PKFZ land, Ling trial told Posted: 05 Oct 2011 04:23 PM PDT By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad signed off on a government report recommending Putrajaya acquire, and not buy, the financially non-viable Pulau Indah land for the Port Klang Authority (PKA), the High Court here heard today. The October 23, 2002 report prepared by the Finance Ministry, headed by then-Prime Minister Dr Mahathir, pointed out the land had many encumbrances and caveats and suggested the government use the Land Acquisition Act instead. Former Treasury deputy secretary-general Datuk Abdul Rahim Mokti, who helped prepare the report, said landowners Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) and Koperasi Pembangunan Pulau Lumut Bhd (KPPLB) had used the land as collateral for loans "many times". He told Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik's cheating trial KDSB alone had mortgaged the land six times and owed banks some RM380 million. Abdul Rahim, 61, also said Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Shamsudin Hitam had also recommended that the land be acquired in a June 19, 2001 letter to his counterpart in the Transport Ministry as it was cheaper and easier option than buying it. PKA had originally been instructed by the Finance Ministry to acquire the land before receiving the Cabinet's go-ahead to purchase it. Former MCA president Dr Ling was charged in July last year with knowingly deceiving the Cabinet into approving the land purchase for the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) transshipment megahub, which resulted in wrongful losses for the government. The prosecution has argued that the additional interest of 7.5 per cent per annum, amounting to some RM720 million, had pushed PKA's land purchase from RM1.09 billion to RM1.88 billion for the port project.
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| Najib and Rosmah can skip trial, court rules Posted: 05 Oct 2011 01:50 PM PDT By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife need not testify in the Sodomy II trial, the High Court ruled today. Judge Datuk Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah said that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's lawyers had failed to prove "relevancy" in issuing a subpoena to the prime minister and Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor to testify in the trial. Lawyers acting for Najib and Rosmah have argued that the duo are not relevant witnesses to Anwar's ongoing sodomy trial and that they would not be able to offer any material evidence to the court. But Anwar's lawyers have argued otherwise, saying Najib's testimony could shed light on the disposition of the opposition leader's accuser in the days leading up to the alleged incident. Defence counsel Karpal Singh asserted that as the prime minister had met Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan on the night of July 24 — two days before the latter accused Anwar of sodomising him — Najib's account of the meeting would "go a long way" in assisting the court. |
| RM23,000 in tear gas hurled at Bersih marchers Posted: 05 Oct 2011 01:46 PM PDT By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — Some 226 tear gas canisters and 36 smoke grenades worth RM22,886 were used to disperse the tens of thousands who gathered on July 9 to support Bersih's call for free and fair elections. The Home Ministry said, in a parliamentary reply to Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut), that each "Tear Smoke Shell" cost RM79.76 while "Tear Some Grenades" were valued at RM135 each.
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| GST ‘maybe after elections,’ says Nazri Posted: 05 Oct 2011 01:44 PM PDT By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — The government said it will not yet table a law to introduce the controversial goods and services tax (GST) despite listing it in the today's parliamentary order of business. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz told The Malaysian Insider that the law will not be read today, saying only that its introduction "maybe even after elections, anything is possible." "Yes, today we go back early," he said when asked if today's proceedings would stop before the GST Bill. The implementation of GST was first mooted by Putrajaya in 2009 but public outcry due to rising cost of living has seen the government postponing its roll-out. The proposed law states that it will be up to the finance minister to decide when GST will be implemented and at what rate. "This Act comes into operation on a date to be appointed by the minister... and may appoint different dates for the coming into operation of different parts or different provisions of this act," the Bill reads. "The minister may... fix the rate of tax to be charged on the supply of goods or services or on the importation of goods; and vary or amend the rate of tax fixed," it continues. It further states that the tax shall be levied of any goods or service made in or imported into Malaysia. The federal opposition tabled an alternative Budget earlier this week calling for a total of RM12.8 billion to be injected to raise income after seeing cost of living surge this year. Pakatan Rakyat (PR) also said RM22 billion must be maintained for subsidies to avoid any rise in fuel prices and to keep inflation, which has persisted at a two-year high of over three per cent since March, under control. Household debt has also climbed to 77 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) at the end of last year, which PR says has more than doubled from 33 per cent in 1997.
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| Posted: 05 Oct 2011 10:32 AM PDT By T.K. Letchumy Tamboo, The Malay Mail AFTER a six-year delay, sex education is likely to be taught to Year Six and Form Three students next year as a pilot project in several schools in the country. The decision to introduce social and reproductive health education (SRHE) into primary and secondary school classrooms came about from discussions between the Education Ministry and the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil told The Malay Mail it would be taught as a co-curricular subject after the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) examinations. |
| Govt concealing new oil profits from Kelantan Posted: 05 Oct 2011 10:18 AM PDT (Harakah Daily) - Oct 6: Having denied Kelantan its share of oil royalty for oil extracted from its territory, the Barisan Nasional government is now accused of hiding oil revenues from two oil fields. Kelantan's State Petroleum Royalty Claims committee chairman Husam Musa said the state was not informed of oil and gas from 24 out of 32 oil fields in Bumi and Suria in Kelantan waters."Not only they keep denying the state oil royalty, in fact the state was not told of the latest revenue harvested. "This is immoral because it amounts to robbing the state of its wealth," he said.
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| Najib's high-tempo pursuits bearing fruit Posted: 05 Oct 2011 10:11 AM PDT (NST) - IN a football match, games played in the English Premier League particularly, a recurring tactic of club managers is a high-tempo game -- one sparkling in attacking flair that the opposing side is impelled to defend with little chance to mount their own attacks. You might want to adopt this football analogy to how politics is played out now. One in four is always a good option if your resources are limited, but in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's case, he has opted for four out of four, such is the confidence he exudes in recent months. Najib has emulated the high tempo football strategy in the 30 months since he took office; the tempo of his policies so ascending you'd wonder whether he is able to sustain such highs. Evidently he can. Repealing the tough security laws in the context of Malaysian politics is such a big deal that you'd think the prime minister would have used this stunning gambit as a political endgame to score big in the coming general election. Just when you thought the tempo was feverishly high, he revs it higher with the release yesterday of 125 people held under the Restricted Residence Act 1933 while countermanding police warrants that would have curbed the movements of 200 others. And this in is just the last two weeks. You can ignore though the opposition's hoary quarterly predictions that polls are just around the corner in the hope that the prime minister will acquiesce to the tiresomely laughable polls exhortation parlour game. Many strongly feel the prime minister won't call the general election this year although the opposition is cavorting for snap polls purely on the idea that the big gains they were rewarded with on March 8, 2008 have steadily been sapped. |
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