Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- DRB-Hicom May Win Bid For Proton Stake, Says Dr M
- DAP central committee to meet Tues over Karpal-Ramasamy spat
- Defence close Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trial
- National broadband penetration rate reaches 81 per cent
- Defence wants Saiful, DPP recalled to answer affair allegation
- Hasan Ali says only loyal to Allah
- ‘Perak DAP too has godfathers, warlords’
- Court asked to ‘Kill the Bill’
- Pakatan aims for Negri, eyes PKR MP as MB
- Truce bid fails and DAP war worsens
| DRB-Hicom May Win Bid For Proton Stake, Says Dr M Posted: 11 Dec 2011 08:39 PM PST (Bernama) -- Conglomerate, DRB- Hicom Bhd, is likely to win the bid for Khazanah Nasional Bhd's 42.7 per cent stake in Proton Holdings Bhd, given its sound financial and management capabilities, Proton adviser, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said Monday. "DRB Hicom is quite well run. They also produce cars for Suzuki, Mercedes and Volkswagen. This company also belongs to the Al-Bukhary Group, which has a lot of other businesses, including port operations.
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| DAP central committee to meet Tues over Karpal-Ramasamy spat Posted: 11 Dec 2011 08:34 PM PST (The Star) - DAP's central executive committee will meet Tuesday to discuss the warlod-godfather' spat between party chairman Karpal Singh and deputy secretary-general Dr P. Ramasamy. The meeting will take place at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur where top leaders, such as party adviser Lim Kit Siang, Karpal and secretary-general Lim Guan Eng are expected to attend. DAP Youth head Anthony Loke, who confirmed this, said he hoped the discussion could mend the rift between both leaders after their dispute disrupted the Penang DAP convention on Sunday. It is learnt that the leaders would also discuss if its disciplinary committee needs to investigate Dr Ramasamy after a complaint was lodged by Kuala Juru DAP branch chairman Tan Ah Huat. The spat broke out after Dr Ramasamy was quoted in a Tamil vernacular newspaper as saying that there were "godfathers" in DAP after named three individuals as candidates in the next general election. When contacted, Dr Ramasamy, who is also the Penang Deputy Chief Minister II, said that he might not be able to attend the meeting as he was busy with other duties.
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| Defence close Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trial Posted: 11 Dec 2011 08:30 PM PST (BBC) - Defence lawyers representing Malaysia's main opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim have made their closing arguments at his sodomy trial in Kuala Lumpur. They urged the country's High Court to acquit Mr Anwar of all charges, claiming that the man who accused him is a "compulsive and consummate liar". Prosecution lawyers are expected to address the court on Tuesday. Supporters of Mr Anwar say the case is politically motivated ahead of national elections expected next year. But the government has denied any involvement with the charges or a conspiracy. Mr Anwar is accused of sodomising a former political aide, Saiful Azlam, in June 2008. The allegation surfaced just months after Mr Anwar led the opposition to win an unprecedented number of seats in the March 2008 elections, says the BBC's Jennifer Pak in Kuala Lumpur. Sodomy is illegal in Malaysia, even among consenting adults. Mr Anwar faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted. 'Character assassination'Mr Anwar was imprisoned on separate sex and corruption charges in 1998, and freed on appeal in 2004. In August Mr Anwar said that the latest allegations against him were "a vile and desperate attempt at character assassination" orchestrated by his political enemies. Defence lawyer Sankara Nair told the AFP news agency that a verdict could be expected within a month. A guilty verdict would effectively prevent Mr Anwar from standing in the next polls, he said. "The evidence adduced by the defence has demolished all semblance of truth in the evidence [of Mr Anwar's accuser]," Karpal Singh, another defence lawyer, told the court. But our correspondent says that Mr Anwar's lawyers believe they have a tough case to prove. The prosecution's case rests mainly on his accuser's testimony and DNA evidence allegedly linking Mr Anwar to him. Mr Anwar's lawyers say the DNA material is tainted. But the judge has already said in court that they found Mr Anwar's accuser and key DNA evidence gathered against him to be "credible" and "reliable". Malaysia's governing National Front coalition, which has ruled the country since 1957, is widely expected to seek a new mandate by mid-2012.
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| National broadband penetration rate reaches 81 per cent Posted: 11 Dec 2011 04:54 PM PST (Bernama) -- The national fixed line and wireless broadband penetration rate had reached 81 per cent of populated areas, the Dewan Negara was told today. Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum said up to the third quarter of this year, the total internet subscriptions numbered 5.59 million and the number of internet users was approximately 17.5 million. "The internet service coverage has also been increased from time to time by the service providers and through the implementation of broadband initiatives by the government. "Among the initiatives are the construction of telecommunication tower, wireless village, community broadband centre and broadband services at rural libraries," he said in reply to Senator Chew Lee Giok during question time. The deputy minister also said the broadband penetration rate in Malaysia should not be compared to Singapore and Hong Kong. "This is because the population density in Malaysia differs from the two countries... so is the size and the geographical features of Malaysia," he said. Nevertheless, he said the government was concerned with the service performance and the quality of internet service in the country and had underlined the mandatory standards for broadband access service that should be adhered to by the service providers.
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| Defence wants Saiful, DPP recalled to answer affair allegation Posted: 11 Dec 2011 04:25 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's lawyers have demanded the court recall Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan and Farah Azlina Latif to answer allegations of an affair between them, saying that it was necessary in order to ensure a "just decision" of the trial. Defence counsel Karpal Singh dismissed the results of an investigation headed by the Attorney-General's Chambers which concluded that there was no basis for the allegation. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz had said in a written reply in Parliament to Karpal on November 10 that there was no evidence of an affair between Farah Azlina and Saiful. Farah Azlina is a deputy public prosecutor who was part of the prosecution team in the ongoing sodomy trial. However, the Padang Rengas MP said that Farah Azlina was removed from the prosecution team to avoid any further allegations of impropriety in Anwar's second sodomy trial that began 21 months ago. "An independent inquiry would have been an answer and that one must be conducted by this court by recalling SP1 (Saiful) to deny the allegation under oath and summoning Farah Azlina as a witness to do likewise in court," Karpal said today during the defence's closing submissions of the trial. The veteran lawyer said that High Court judge Datuk Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah had "ample powers" to do so under section 425 of the Criminal Procedure Code which allows "any court to... summon any person as a witness or any person in attendance... to examine or recall and re-examine any such person if his evidence appears to be essential to the just decision of the case." He stressed that the court would be "abdicating" its duty if it did not summon the two, and pointed out that they have yet to deny the allegation. Karpal said if the affair did indeed take place, Saiful would have had "access to the investigation papers and accordingly tailor his evidence to the detriment of the defence." Opposition Leader Anwar had tried to strike out the sodomy charge following controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin's allegations in August 2010 that Saiful and Farah Azlina were in a sexual relationship.
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| Hasan Ali says only loyal to Allah Posted: 11 Dec 2011 04:10 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Datuk Hasan Ali refused today to state if his loyalties lie with PAS and Pakatan Rakyat (PR), stating instead he was only loyal to Allah and would cooperate with anyone championing Islam. The former Selangor PAS chief was removed from his post earlier this year after continued infighting which has continued, most recently with reports that the Gombak Setia assemblyman may be dropped from contesting the next general elections. The state executive councillor in charge of Islamic affairs said he was committed to uphold Islam, Malays and the institution of Malay monarchs. "I am loyal to Allah. To mankind, in this context, I don't like to use the term loyal, but cooperate. Closely cooperating to help them and they help me," he told a press conference when asked if he would remain loyal to his party and coalition if they upheld the same principles. Hasan also said he would let "time and circumstance and my Islamic thinking" determine his course of action if PAS did not select him as an election candidate. "Anyone that brings Islam forward, I will support. It is not easy for anyone to leave any organisation based on Islam except if these three things are not defended," he added. He said it did not matter whether he was a candidate or not as "these obstacles will only make me more determined" in the fight to defend Islam. "I don't need Selangor PAS to recognise me or even the PAS president to recognise me. I don't need DAP or PKR to like me. What I need is Allah likes me," he added. PAS denied yesterday Utusan Malaysia's report that Hasan and former deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa will be dropped as candidates as discussions on candidates have not begun.
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| ‘Perak DAP too has godfathers, warlords’ Posted: 11 Dec 2011 04:02 PM PST MCA Youth claims that the 'high-handedness' trait of DAP leaders also exists in Perak. (Free Malaysia Today) - The "godfather-warlord" feud in Penang DAP is also prevalent in Perak DAP, MCA Youth chairman Mah Hang Soon claims today. He said that it has become a trait with the opposition leaders in the two states to sideline other members in the party. He added that Perak DAP chairman Ngeh Koo Ham and state party secretary Nga Kor Ming have also being "high-handed" in their behaviour towards other members. He said in a statement that their "authoritarian rule" and "godfather-warlord" behaviour had alienated many Perak DAP leaders. Mah was commenting on the feud between DAP chairman Karpal Singh and Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, which has escalated into an open "warfare". "It has become a trait of DAP leaders to be high-handed. Many Perak DAP leaders, who are alienated by the Ngeh-Nga authoritarian rule, are contemplating leaving the party," he claimed. This was evident when two DAP representatives had quit the party because they were disillusioned with them (Ngeh and Nga), said Mah, who is Perak state executive council member. Jelapang assemblywoman Hee Yit Foong left the party in February 2009. Her departure played an instrumental role in the Barisan Nasional power grab in Perak. The other was Malim Nawar assemblyman Keshwinder Singh who resigned in June 2010. Too stubborn Mah, who is Chenderiang assemblyman, said that this "high-handedness" showed that DAP leaders would be indifferent to their electorate should they win in the coming national polls. "If they form the government, they will not take into consideration the voices of the electorate," he added. Mah said that the "godfather" row showed that DAP leaders were "too stubborn to place the rakyat's welfare above childish self-interests". The quarrel between Karpal and Ramasamy erupted when a Tamil daily, Makkal Osai, quoted the latter as announcing that the party would field a list of Indian candidates including three women – D Kamachi, P Kasturi (daughter of the late DAP stalwart P Patto), and an unknown lawyer from Penang, K Mangleswari. Ramasamy was also quoted as saying that parliamentarians M Kulasegaran (Ipoh Barat), Gobind Singh Deo (Puchong), Charles Santiago (Klang) and M Manogaran, and assemblymen A Sivanesan (Sungkai), A Sivasubramaniam (Buntong), V Sivakumar (Tronoh) and P Gunasekaren (Senawang) were certain of contesting in the coming general election. He also reportedly said that he would re-contest both his Prai state and Batu Kawan parliamentary seats. This irked Karpal who said that no party leader or even member has the right to bypass the party top decision-making body, the central executive committee (CEC), to allot seats for their cronies. He then warned Ramasamy to behave and not act like a warlord by circumventing the leadership to announce seats for his cronies.
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| Court asked to ‘Kill the Bill’ Posted: 11 Dec 2011 04:00 PM PST Three PAS leaders, in a test case, are attempting to stop the Peaceful Assembly Bill from being passed as law. (Free Malaysia Today) - The opposition, having staged a walkout when the Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011 was debated in Parliament, has now gone to the courts in an attempt to stop the controversial bill from being passed as law. Although the bill has been cleared in the Dewan Rakyat, several PAS leaders are now asking the High Court to declare the law "unconstitutional" and issue a court order to prohibit the bill from being at the Dewan Negara stage. PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, who filed the suit on Dec 2 together with party treasurer Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli and central committee member Dzulkefly Ahmad, also wants the court to order the government to withdraw the law or amend the bill so that it conforms to Article 10 of the Federal Constitution, which guarantees freedom to assemble. "This is the first time we are trying to ask the court to interfere. We've had precedents in England and Bahamas where the court had asked the government to amend its laws. We hope the judge will allow us our request for a judicial review," said Mohamad Sabu. Mohamad Sabu, or better known as Mat Sabu, said the three leaders represented the Pakatan Rakyat coalition in filing the test case. The Kuala Lumpur High Court (Appellate and Special Powers Division) today was to have heard the application for leave (permission) for a judicial review but has postponed the case as government lawyers were not ready. Judge Rohana Yusof this morning rescheduled hearing on Dec 15. Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and the Malaysian government are named as the respondents in the suit. Order of mandamus Mat Sabu and two others are seeking a declaration that the respondents had exceeded or abused their powers when they introduced the Peaceful Assembly Bill in Parliament, despite the law contravening Article 10(1)(b) and 10(2)(b) of the Federal Constitution. They are also seeking a order of prohibition to prevent the bill from becoming law and an order of mandamus to compel the respondents to take appropriate steps to either withdraw or make necessary amendments so that it will be in line with the Federal Constitution.
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| Pakatan aims for Negri, eyes PKR MP as MB Posted: 11 Dec 2011 09:50 AM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is ramping up efforts to wrest Negri Sembilan from Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next general election, with its leaders saying the pact has identified Teluk Kemang MP Datuk Kamarul Baharin Abbas as frontrunner for the mentri besar post. The Malaysian Insider understands that the PKR lawmaker has been singled out as one of the potential candidates to assume the top state post should PR topple the BN state government. "He is a senior state leader, a veteran politician with years of experience. He is one of the frontrunners for the MB post should PR take over. It's not guaranteed, but he is among the few Pakatan is considering. "I don't think PKR would have a problem with that, and the other parties would have to discuss before accepting it, but as of right now, he is definitely the main candidate," a senior PR leader told The Malaysian Insider on condition of anonymity. The PR leader said the pact's shortlisting of the Teluk Kemang MP to take up the MB post showed that it was "prepped" and ready to win over the BN state. "Negri Sembilan is in our sights, as we lost the state marginally in the last election. We're not saying it's a definite win, but we stand a good chance there," the source said. PR believes a marginal five per cent vote swing in four key seats in Negri Sembilan will be enough to topple the BN state government. State PR leaders told The Malaysian Insider back in June that a win in the Pilah, Kelawang, Lenggeng, and Linggi state seats where BN won by wafer-thin majorities in Election 2008 would secure the coalition a simple majority in the 36-member state legislative assembly. BN won Pilah by 1,258 votes, Kelawang (1,167), Lenggeng (1,285) and Linggi (1,575). BN won 52.6 per cent (178,048) of the state's popular votes, while PR won 47.4 per cent (160,504) back then. The ruling coalition currently controls the state government with 21 state assemblymen (Umno-19, MCA-1, MIC-1) while PR has 15 assemblymen (DAP-10, PKR-4, PAS-1). Should PR retain its current seats and win over four BN state seats, it would mean that PR would be able to control the state assembly with a 19-17 simple majority. But Kamarul refused to comment on the matter, saying that "nothing had been decided or finalised" yet. "I do not have a state seat, the matter does not arise," he told The Malaysian Insider. Kamarul said that PR would launch its state-level manifesto in Negri Sembilan next month, which would include the Buku Jingga policy framework as well as "localised issues." "Perhaps then you can get a better hint of PR's plans (for Negri Sembilan)," he added.
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| Truce bid fails and DAP war worsens Posted: 11 Dec 2011 07:28 AM PST (The Star) - Attempts to broker a truce between DAP chairman Karpal Singh and Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy have broken down with both sides openly attacking each other now. Both factions traded insults while some 150 supporters of Dr Ramasamy demonstrated against Karpal, calling him a "pensioner" while the former stood by his "godfather" remark. Karpal retaliated immediately, warning Dr Ramasamy to behave and snubbed him by asking aloud "who is Ramasamy?" The quarrel between the duo at the annual Penang DAP convention held at a hotel here yesterday shocked DAP leaders in attendance as many had presumed that the issue would be handled delicately, especially after DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang's 11th hour intervention on Saturday to strike a compromise. His efforts came to nothing when one group went ahead to stage a protest outside the venue while Karpal lambasted Dr Ramasamy in his address. On the sidelines, Dr Ramasamy was unrepentant when asked whether he would withdraw his "godfather" remark which was first reported in a Tamil newspaper. "I do not understand the meaning of that word (apologise). I am not intimidated," he said. In his speech later, he sounded conciliatory by stating that he was willing to leave the DAP: "I will go home to Sitiawan (Perak) to (regroup)." He said that he would do so as his pride was at stake. Opening the convention earlier, Karpal demanded that Dr Ramasamy retract his "godfather" remark and apologise. "Who built DAP?" the Bukit Gelugor MP drummed across the hall. "It is the veterans who built the party and we should not forget their sacrifices. The party would not be around without their sacrifices. I do not mince my words." Karpal said Dr Ramasamy "cannot just join DAP and impose things his own way." No one can be a warlord in DAP, Karpal stressed. At one juncture, Karpal was disrupted by a war of words among members who had to be calmed down. The uproar affected the convention as 10 out of the 13 speakers addressed the flare-up between the duo. At the end, Dr Ramasamy walked over to the wheelchair-bound Karpal to shake his hands but the latter was seen turning away his face.
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