Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Boustead gets Mindef contract for 6 ships, contract ceiling RM9b
- Tuan Ibrahim on enemy tactics, indispensability
- Jeffrey Kitingan announces the formation of United Borneo Alliance
- Anti-Umno activists campaign the old-fashioned way — by hand
- Guan Eng to sue NST, calls daily ‘evil’ over state secret claims
- EC is a ‘staff’ in PM’s Dept
- Taib’s sister ordered to pay natives
- ABU not owned by anyone, says Chegubard
- Hasan sidelined as PAS leaders say he can leave if he wants
- Ramasamy, Karpal spat far from over
- Anti-Umno group hits the ground running with ‘people’s platform’
- Malaysia awaits sodomy verdict
- ’8.3m M’sians will be poorer by 2020′
| Boustead gets Mindef contract for 6 ships, contract ceiling RM9b Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:23 AM PST (The Edge) - Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn. Bhd has received the letter of award from the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) to supply six patrol vessels with a contract ceiling of RM9 billion. Bousted Holdings Bhd said its subsidiary Boustead Naval Shipyard had received the letter on Friday to design, construct and deliver six second generation patrol vessels. "The contract carries a ceiling of RM9.0 billion, to be implemented over three Malaysia Plans, 10, 11 and 12. The delivery of the first of class ship is estimated in 2017 with follow-on ships every six months thereafter," it said.
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| Tuan Ibrahim on enemy tactics, indispensability Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:04 AM PST (Harakah Daily) - 'No one is indispensable' – that is the gist of PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man's response to the controversy involving former deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa and Selangor state exco Hasan Ali. Writing in his column, Tuan Ibrahim however reminded PAS members to be wary of enemy tactics to cause frictions to bring down their foes. "The enemy will use all methods to cause chaos and internal conflicts in the opposing organisation to the extent that knives will be pointed against friends," warned Tuan Ibrahim (pic).
Tuan Ibrahim said what is even worse was that those being used by their enemies were also blinded by ego. "To the extent that they are very confident that their actions are right while others are wrong," he lamented. And Tuan Ibrahim minced no words when he made known the solution to tackling such developments within the party. "Sometimes it takes a hard slap to wake them up and make them realise that they are falling into enemy traps. So, the big question is, whether your weapon should be used against the enemy or your teammate, and worse, yourself?" he questioned. In a struggle for Islam such as PAS's, the Pahang PAS commissioner said conflicts were a divine test on Muslims. "It comes in many forms, to test the person in the conflict, and to test how far others will go to help friends embroiled in conflicts," he added. In a team, Tuan Ibrahim said no one should make threats and consider themselves to be on a pedestal and immune from being reprimanded. "We must realise in a team, collective opinion is better than personal opinion," he said.
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| Jeffrey Kitingan announces the formation of United Borneo Alliance Posted: 15 Dec 2011 07:02 PM PST (The Star) - United Borneo Front president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan announced the formation of United Borneo Alliance, an opposition coalition of Sabah and Sarawak-based parties, to contest in the coming general election. He made the announcement here Friday. Among those who were at presence when he announced the formation of the alliance were Sarawak-based State Reform Party (Star) president Dr Dripin Anak Sakoi, pro-tem president of newly revived USNO, Datuk Badaruddin Tun Datu Mustapha and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) deputy president Amde Sidik.
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| Anti-Umno activists campaign the old-fashioned way — by hand Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:54 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - An anti-Umno group's campaign to spread its message through a video began in earnest last night with the distribution of dozens of hardcopies at a spirited ceramah here. Keeping to its viral theme, the Asalkan Bukan Umno (ABU) coalition handed out VCDs and urged attendees to pass along copies of the hard-hitting video to their family and friends in rural areas to break Umno's heartland media chokehold. Kamarulzaman Ismail, 47, a businessman from Kelantan, said he will target voters who had yet to choose sides to convince them not to cast their ballot for the ruling Malay party. "I'll pass it to those who appear to be sitting on the fence. We have to give priority to the fence-sitters," he told The Malaysian Insider. But Kamarulzaman said he would also try to hand the video over to those he knew were hardcore Umno supporters despite the small likelihood of success. "There are many approaches when it comes to people. Sometimes it looks difficult but with things like this CD it can be easy too," he said. Mohd Sharif, 30, a sales promoter, also said it was not enough to distribute the video among opposition supporters as the goal was to sell ABU's message to undecided voters. "It's not enough for us to disseminate it. We need to convert people," he said. However, the PAS member downplayed the effectiveness of passing the video along from person to person, reasoning that it would be better to screen it in a public setting to draw fence-sitters. Sharif added that the video would also be more effective online, pointing out that this would allow ABU supporters to share the video without appearing to come on too strong. "You can say (to someone), 'I just want to share something and this is the website.' Usually, that's better," he said, adding that directing a person to a page online would also allow them to view related videos.
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| Guan Eng to sue NST, calls daily ‘evil’ over state secret claims Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:15 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today he is planning to sue the New Straits Times (NST) over claims that he had leaked national secrets after the newspaper omitted him from an apology to two other personalities over an article it admitted was without any foundation or basis. The NST, Berita Minggu and Mingguan Malaysia apologised to Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan on October 23 for alleging that he had 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 prior verification. On October 2, the NST, Berita Minggu and Mingguan Malaysia, quoting Ruslan, alleged that Kalimullah had leaked national secrets during the dinner in Singapore. The next day Lim publicly demanded an apology from the NST and Mingguan Malaysia for also alleging that he had leaked national secrets at the same dinner. The English daily reported that Perkasa had claimed that there was a dinner arranged for three Malaysian personalities, including the Penang chief minister, and top Singapore politicians in August. Ruslan had questioned the motive behind the dinner that was allegedly attended by Malaysia Airlines board member Datuk Mohamad Azman Yahya, businessman Kalimullah and Lim with PAP leaders. "The weird thing is that the paper apologised to Datuk Seri Kalimullah and Datuk Azman over this false report, but it didn't want to apologise to me. This shows how NST has ill intentions and I will ask my lawyer to take legal action," Lim told reporters at the Penang Skills Development Centre today.
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| Posted: 15 Dec 2011 05:55 PM PST The Election Commission (EC), it appears, is bogged down by the lack of money, manpower and 'real' clout. (Free Malaysia Today) - In a democracy, it is widely understood that when a "commission" is set up, it comes directly under the purview of Parliament. But in Malaysia's case, the story is different. Take the Election Commission (EC). Why does the EC need the government to approve recommendations proposed by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms before implementing them? Because the EC is technically a staff "employed" by the Prime Minister's Department. Explaining the "relationship", EC secretary Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria said: " The EC does not fall under the purview of Parliament. "It falls administratively under the Prime Minister's Department… but it is independent in terms of decision-making." Recently, EC deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar reportedly said the federal government must approved the PSC's recommendations before they can be implemented. He said that "even a small change in regulation" would need to be approved by the government, although he agreed with observers that some recommendations such as the use of indelible ink did not require amendments to the law. Wan Ahmad's comments followed PSC chairman, Maximus Ongkili's statement that the PSC committee would table its full report which could include more proposals for electoral reforms in March or early April next year. Strapped for money, and lacking in manpower and clout, the EC, it appears, is now scrambling to deal with its "newfound" challenges. Speaking to FMT, Kamaruddin said that one of the EC's shortcomings in implementing the PSC recommendations was an acute lack of personnel.
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| Taib’s sister ordered to pay natives Posted: 15 Dec 2011 05:37 PM PST Fresh from one win over a logging firm, native landowners are now suing the state government and its agents for allowing the encroachment by private entities. (Free Malaysia Today) - The Kuching High Court today ordered Quality Concrete Holdings, a company owned by Chief Minister Taib Mahmud's sister Raziah, to pay RM160,000 in damages to Numpang Anak Suntai and Iban landowners in Sebangan and Sebuyau areas. The other defendants were Loyal Billion Sdn Bhd, the Director of Forests, Director of Lands and Surveys and the state government. Numpang and 14 other landowners had, on behalf of 276 Ibans, sued the companies and the government for encroaching into 3,305 hectares of forests which they claimed were their native customary rights (NCR) land. Quality Concrete, which is owned by Raziah Mahmud, is the main licence holder while Loyal Billion is the contractor. When the case came before Judicial Commissioner Ravinthran N Paramaguru today, lawyers for the defendants told the court that the Director of Forest had agreed to exclude three areas on the western side of the timber licencee (T/8473), which is within the area marked as NCR. The defence counsel said that there was no more timber licence granted on any part of the area claimed by the natives as NCR land in a marked map which was attached to the statement of claim. Both lawyers for the natives and defendants agreed to an amicable settlement on damages. Case against government to proceed In their suit, the natives had claimed that their land was damaged as a result of the construction of roads and extraction of timber from the land, which is not a licensed area. They also alleged that the rivers, which are important for their daily needs, have been polluted by the logging activities.
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| ABU not owned by anyone, says Chegubard Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:37 AM PST (Malaysian Digest) - The Asalkan Bukan Umno (Anyone But Umno) movement is not owned by anyone, says one of its core members Badrul Hisham Shaharin. Badrul, or better known as Chegubard, said ABU has been around for a long time, but now it has been given a new 'color' with the main objective of uniting the rakyat to fight against Umno which he claims has been dividing the people all this while. "So today we unite simultaneously throughout the nation starting from 9 December 2011," said Chegubard during a press conference at the Rapat Rakyat: Asalkan Bukan Umno ceramah today. Chaired by Chegubard, among those who attended the ceramah were Benny Loh of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) president Dr Rohana Ariffin, and Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) Secretary-General S Arutchelvan.
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| Hasan sidelined as PAS leaders say he can leave if he wants Posted: 15 Dec 2011 09:42 AM PST (The Star) - Firebrand PAS leader Datuk Dr Hasan Ali is in the middle of a storm, with one top official saying the party would have no issue with him quitting to join Umno just a day after there were reports that he would not be fielded as an election candidate. Another party leader is suggesting that he has been "trapped" by the agenda of the enemy, but things became complicated with PAS Youth chief Nasruddin Hassan openly pledging his support for Dr Hasan, who is said to have a solid bank of support among the grassroots. Vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar said it was up to Hasan to decide whether or not he wants to leave the Islamist party, indicating a widening rift between the top leadership and the former Selangor PAS commissioner. Secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali was also irked that Hasan appeared to be questioning the stance of the party. The embattled 64-year-old Hasan was recently quoted in a Malay daily as being open to spearheading unification talks with Umno but Mahfuz said Hasan did not represent the party's position on the issue. "This issue (PAS-Umno unity) was never discussed (by the top leadership), and he (Hasan) was never appointed as our representative to discuss this," he said yesterday. Mahfuz, however, clarified that he was not alluding to the possibility of Hasan leaving PAS, saying he was only answering a hypothetical question raised at a press conference earlier. The vice-president said Hasan's plan to bring the two parties together with Islam as the basis was not in line with the PAS goal of unifying all Muslims and all Malaysians, regardless of race and creed. In an interview with Harakah online, Mustafa criticised Hasan and his Nasruddin Hasan. Mustafa said: "The two of them have been dragged into the Umno agenda which can jeopadise our party." This is the latest in a series of controversies to hit Hasan, who as a Selangor state executive councillor has had many a run-in with his party colleagues and Pakatan Rakyat partners over the management of his portfolio in charge of Islamic affairs, Malay customs, infrastructure and public amenities. The controversies include the recent anti-proselytisation inspection on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church, claims of solar-powered bibles being used to convert Muslims to Christianity and his failed attempt to ban the sale of alcoholic beverages at 7-11 outlets. On the other hand, his supporters, most notably Nasrudin, view Hasan as an eminent defender of Islam, Malays and the royal institution. Nasrudin was at the forefront to defend Hasan on numerous occasions, openly supporting the church inspection and his decision to take part in the "Himpunan Sejuta Umat" (gathering of a million believers) against proselytisation of Muslims, despite a ban by the top PAS leadership. Another key supporter for Hasan is veteran leader and former party deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa.
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| Ramasamy, Karpal spat far from over Posted: 15 Dec 2011 09:39 AM PST (New Straits Times) - The high-powered committee formed to resolve a dispute between DAP chairman Karpal Singh and Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy may like to think it has resolved the problem, but the issue is far from being settled. Karpal yesterday made it clear that the panel may have come to its own conclusions, but "it was definitely not the end of the matter". In a statement faxed to the New Straits Times office here, Karpal said the three-man panel —comprising national adviser Lim Kit Siang, life adviser Dr Chen Man Hin and secretary-general Lim Guan Eng — had "made a quick decision" to solve the issue between him and Ramasamy. He said while there was no doubt that DAP had to move forward, the party would not tolerate political intimidation from any quarter, referring to the commotion caused by Ramasamy's supporters at the Penang DAP convention on Sunday. It was reported that about 150 people had gathered outside Pearl View Hotel in Prai carrying placards supporting Ramasamy. The group also condemned two Penang DAP assemblymen — R.S.N. Rayer (Seri Delima) and A. Thanasekaran (Bagan Dalam) — besides throwing jibes at Karpal. The protesters turned rowdy as soon as Karpal arrived for the convention, and he did not mince his words about what he thought of the group when he started his speech. There was also a slight commotion during the convention when a Ramasamy supporter tried to disrupt Karpal's speech. Karpal said it was clear that what happened at the convention was disgraceful and could not be allowed to happen again. "Those responsible for the disturbance in the convention hall and those who organised the demonstration outside the hotel will have to face the disciplinary board." "No one, however high in the party hierarchy, will be spared if he is found responsible for organising the demonstration or, in any way, encouraging it." He added that other matters requiring solutions would be dealt with through party channels. Earlier yesterday, Kit Siang, Guan Eng and Dr Chen issued a statement announcing that the issue between Karpal and Ramasamy had been resolved and the party leadership would move forward as a united team to face the 13th general election. They said Tamil newspaper Makkal Osai had issued a correction of its Nov 28 report quoting Ramasamy on DAP candidates for the polls. They said its chief editor, M. Rajan, had issued the correction in the newspaper's Wednesday edition, which stated that the report had not originated from Ramasamy, besides expressing sadness that it had caused the public controversy between Karpal and Ramasamy. |
| Anti-Umno group hits the ground running with ‘people’s platform’ Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:43 AM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Eschewing policy for potshots, the Asalkan Bukan Umno (ABU) grouping last night trotted out a laundry list of the ruling Malay party's failings to drive home a message of urgent change in the next polls. Drawing on the testimonies of ordinary Malaysians, from housewives and bank executives to students and contractors, the coalition of political parties and civil society groups stressed repeatedly that voters should pick "anything but Umno" to put an end to alleged abuse of power.  Badrul Hisham said ABU was a vehicle through which Malaysians could voice their disaffection with Umno. "The people have opposed Umno's rule but their (the party's) advantage is that the people are not united... "Umno is not strong, the people have just been weak in fighting them so far," he told the 300-strong crowd at Taman Melewar here. Also present were PAS vice president Datuk Mahfuz Omar, Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general S. Arutchelvan, Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) president Haris Ibrahim, among others. Badrul Hisham, better known as Chegubard, also took pains to point out that ABU was not a political movement but a vehicle through which Malaysians could voice their disaffection. "This... is a platform for the people, (a platform) for people's stories," the PKR leader said. But Haris reminded the largely partisan crowd it was meaningless for them to air their grouses and speak of change if no action came of it. "Let's not take ABU as just a slogan. Slogans are Umno's domain. Mahathir gave us Vision 2020, Pak Lah gave us Islam Hadhari, now it's 1 Malaysia. All merely slogans..." he said in a fiery speech. "We must spread the word that the people have united with one spirit to topple Umno, to topple Barisan Nasional (in the next election)." ABU, comprising SAMM, PSM, MCLM, Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), was launched last week to educate Malaysians on "the evils of Umno". The loose grouping last night launched its "DN Tumbangkan BN" video online to counter the government's chokehold on mass media in rural areas. According to Haris's website, over 200,000 hardcopies of the 104-minute video have already been distributed in mainly Malay villages nationwide.
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| Malaysia awaits sodomy verdict Posted: 15 Dec 2011 07:43 AM PST (AFP) -- THE sodomy trial of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has closed with a judge setting January 9 for a verdict.
Defence lawyers were allowed a final rebuttal of the prosecution's charge that Malaysia's former deputy prime minister and one-time leader-in-waiting sodomised a 27-year-old male aide in June 2008. Sodomy is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia and Mr Anwar, 64, faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted. Legal experts say he would also be barred from contesting polls expected to be called by Prime Minister Najib Razak within months, although others say he may be able to run if an appeal is pending. "I will deliver my decision on January 9," judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah told a packed courtroom in the capital Kuala Lumpur, shortly after the defence rested in the trial, which opened in February 2010. Mr Anwar, who was jailed a decade ago on a separate sodomy conviction that was later overturned, says the case was cooked up by Mr Najib and is part of a pattern of legal harassment by the long-ruling coalition to ruin him politically. "The process has not been fair. This is not a fair trial and we have adduced enough cogent, compelling, incontrovertible evidence to support that," Mr Anwar told reporters after the trial ended. "Having said that, we are still hopeful that sanity will prevail and the judge will decide based on the facts and the law." Mr Anwar alleges the case is a bid by Mr Najib to decapitate an opposition alliance of ethnic Malay, Chinese and Muslim parties that found new strength rallying around the charismatic Mr Anwar. The sodomy allegation emerged shortly after the Anwar-led opposition secured historic gains in March 2008 parliamentary elections. "It doesn't make a difference - in jail or outside, I will fight for justice," Mr Anwar said. Mr Najib, who denies involvement in the case, must call elections by 2013, but speculation of early polls has mounted after he told his ruling United Malays National Organisation's (UMNO) congress last month that "the time is near". Mr Anwar's legal battles have cast a shadow over Malaysian politics for years. He had been groomed to take the helm of the multicultural nation but a bitter split with his boss, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, in 1997 led to Mr Anwar's arrest the following year. He was later convicted on sodomy and corruption charges widely seen as politically motivated, but was freed in 2004 after the sodomy conviction was overturned. Whether or not Mr Anwar can run in the coming polls, political observers say the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition apparently hopes his image - and the opposition's - will be fatally tarnished by a guilty ruling, especially among conservative majority Malay voters. However, analysts say widespread perceptions among Malays - who make up about 60 per cent of the country's 28 million people - that Mr Anwar is being persecuted have caused many to desert UMNO in favour of the opposition. A guilty verdict could backfire on Mr Najib, said James Chin, a political science professor with Monash University in Kuala Lumpur. "Most people expect Anwar to be found guilty so the key will be in the sentence. If Anwar gets a harsh sentence, it will lead to strong anti-BN sentiments," Mr Chin said.
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| ’8.3m M’sians will be poorer by 2020′ Posted: 15 Dec 2011 07:38 AM PST Promises of a high-income economy will come to naught, claims the opposition leader. (Free Malaysia Today) - As many as 8.3 million Malaysians may be classified as urban poor – earning less than RM1,500 a month – by 2020, claimed Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim. A high inflation rate, he said, would only plunge more Malaysians into poverty even if incomes were to increase by 3.6% every year. "…by 2020, there will be between 7 million and 8.3 million urban poor with monthly earnings of RM1,500 and below, according to the ETP's (Economic Transformation Programme) own projections," he said during a speech here. He said this while delivering a keynote address entitled "Debunking ETP: Widening Income Gap". Even if wages were to grow at 3.6% every year over the next decade, there would still be 7.6 million people earning less than RM1,500 a month, Anwar said. He also called the current national poverty line of RM700 "obsolete", saying that many urban households were struggling with RM1,500 a month. Anwar did not appear confident with the government's claim to turn into a high-income nation by 2020. Citing government figures, he said: "Wage growth in Malaysia recorded an average increase of 2.6% annually for the past 10 years while the cost of living has outpaced the wage growth." This, he said, contradicted the ETP's claim that workers' wages would grow at an average of 3.6% every year.
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Earlier, PAS secretary general Mustafa Ali criticised both Hasan and Nasharuddin for dancing to UMNO's tune by supporting efforts by UMNO to bring PAS out of Pakatan Rakyat and make alliance with the Malay party for the sake "unity".| 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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