Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Poll: Nearly half don't believe it's Anwar in sex video
- Dr M again denies seeking aid from World Bank
- Student protester faces threats, harassment
- Mustafa to Nash: Are you an ‘enemy agent’?
- EC: Voters will be marked with indelible ink in next general election
- EC still mulling which overseas Malaysians can vote
- Clean your image before sullying Anwar’s, PKR tells Dr M
- OWC: Satisfy your wife, even when you don’t feel like it
- Police report filed against gay med student
- EPF said to have borrowed £300m
- 'Only bumi companies for govt projects'
- New resolution irks Dayaks in SUPP
- No need for me to swear on the Quran, says Anwar
| Poll: Nearly half don't believe it's Anwar in sex video Posted: 19 Dec 2011 07:26 AM PST (Malaysiakini) - About one in every two people surveyed by Universiti Malaya said that they do not believe that the sex video purportedly of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim is authentic.
The survey was conducted in Perak, with the bulk of respondents having voted more than three times in an election. Twenty percent of them are civil servants, with most respondents earning RM3,000 and below per month. The respondents were mostly split on whether the 1Malaysia concept affected their level of support for the BN government. Forty percent said it did not while 38 percent said it did. The remainder were uncertain. The bulk of them, however, felt that the 2012 budget which has a slew of one-off welfare payments were "not helpful" in alleviating living costs. In terms of media consumption, about a third of Malay respondents believed the political news they watch on government or BN-linked television channels TV1, TV2 and TV3. Twenty four percent believed what they read in BN-linked Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian, while 15 percent said they "really do not believe" the dailies. Half do not read PAS mouthpiece Harakah, while the majority of Chinese respondents said that they believe what they read in Sin Chew Daily.
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| Dr M again denies seeking aid from World Bank Posted: 18 Dec 2011 08:54 PM PST (Bernama) - Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has again denied that he had sought financial aid from the World Bank during the 1997 financial crisis of thereafter. Commenting on the disclosure by the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) today which showed three documents which allegedly proved that he had applied for the loan, Dr Mahathir said he had to see whether the documents were genuine or otherwise, and had to seek confirmation from the World Bank on the alleged documents. "I want to see...I want to ask the World Bank whether this is true...Because nowadays even photos of human beings with someone else's body can be made." "As far as I can remember, and I have not forgotten, I never sent any request for any money, not during the financial crisis or even after that. I had just criticised the World Bank, then I ask money from them for what? I would be stupid," he told reporters after a meeting with 26 participants of the reality programme, "Adik-Adikku", at the Perdana Leadership Foundation, here. Dr Mahathir also questioned why such documents appeared all of a sudden, whereas Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had said that he did not have the documents earlier. "Why only today they appeared after so many years? It's due to politics, because of the general election, (they) want to criticise others," he said. Anwar was earlier reported to have claimed that Dr Mahathir had written to the World Bank for financial aid during the financial crisis, when delivering a speech at a dinner to discuss the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) which was also attended by representatives from the foreign missions. Dr Mahathir in return challenged Anwar to swear on the al-Quran as proof to back the allegation. |
| Student protester faces threats, harassment Posted: 18 Dec 2011 08:26 PM PST Adam Adli, who removed a flag at Umno HQ to put up an academic freedom flag, lodges police report after he and his family are targeted, including an attempted assult at Bukit Aman. (Free Malaysia Today) - Adam Adli, the student protester who lowered the flag bearing premier Najib Tun Razak's portrait last Saturday at Umno headquarters, fears for his safety following continuous threats and harassment against him. Even today, a small tussle had occurred at the Bukit Aman police headquarters when Adam, a second year Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) student, was giving a press conference after seeking advice from the police over the threats and intimidation. Adam said he believed the man who attempted to assault him at Bukit Aman was a police personnel. He lodged a police report over the attempted attack and the other threats at the Jalan Tun HS Lee police station. "I believe that he was a plain-clothes police officer as he was present in the meeting room in Bukit Aman when I had consulted another officer over the threats and intimidations following the flag incident. "But when he attempted to punch me at the press conference, no one tried to stop him. There were other uniformed officers but I noticed that they didn't take any action," he told FMT when contacted. When contacted, Bukit Aman could not confirm if the alleged incident had taken place. Last Saturday, during a rally against the government's decision to amend the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) and protesting for academic freedom, Adam had lowered a flag bearing Najib's image and raised the "Academic Freedom" flag instead at the Umno headquarters in the city centre. Although the 'freedom flag' was only raised for five minutes, many Umno members criticised the move. Some quarters even made violent physical threats against Adam and demanded an apology.
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| Mustafa to Nash: Are you an ‘enemy agent’? Posted: 18 Dec 2011 08:24 PM PST The PAS secretary general says the former party deputy should answer the question if he is an agent bent on weakening PAS. (Free Malaysia Today) - PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali today dared former deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa (photo) to confirm or deny if he was acting as an enemy agent tasked to "weaken" the Islamic party from within. Mustafa said this in reply to an accusation made by Nasharudin yesterday that PAS was veering away from its Islamic agenda. "Before I reply to his (criticism), I want him to answer that (of being an enemy agent)," he told FMT when asked to comment on Nasharudin's criticism published in an interview with Umno-linked Malay daily Berita Harian yesterday. Mustafa had told party organ Harakah recently that he was informed of an "external agenda" to weaken and damage PAS, saying that Nasharudin could be "acting as the agent" with or without him realising it. In response, an embattled Nasharudin, who's future in PAS now hangs by the balance, had lamented that his party was no longer perceived to be "consistent" in its Islamic image. He also suggested that PAS's top leadership was sacrificing Islam for political gain as it changes Islamic "terminologies" to suit its political interest. Nasharudin, the Bachok MP, had also said that PAS could not afford to become too "flexible" to the point where the rights of Islam and the Malay community are disregarded. His views are shared by former Selangor PAS chief Dr Hassan Ali, a known Islamic hardliner, who is now under fire for his open attempt to reignite the "unity talk" with archrival Umno. The scandalous attempt to build a bridge with Umno was seen as the major factor behind the ousting of the conservatives, including both Nasharudin and Hassan, in the recent party polls. A future without the duo Nasharudin was replaced as PAS deputy president by progressive Mohamad Sabu while Hassan was replaced as the party's Selangor chief. While he had vehemently denied any attempt to forge closer relation with Umno in the past, Nasharudin had finally come clean in the interview yesterday that he would strive to unite the Malays "regardless of ideologies" in the name of Islam. Talks are rife that PAS is now preparing to move on without the two. It was also said that both are likely to be removed as candidates in the coming national polls.
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| EC: Voters will be marked with indelible ink in next general election Posted: 18 Dec 2011 03:30 PM PST (The Star) - All voters will be required to have their fingers marked with indelible ink before they are allowed to vote in the next general election. Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said on Monday that the commission had agreed to ten recommendations made by the Parliamentary Select Committee for electoral reform, and the use of indelible ink was one of them. Other electoral reforms include the introduction of advanced voting for the police and armed forces, the cleaning-up of the electoral roll, and various changes to the voting process to allow for more transparent and efficient elections.
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| EC still mulling which overseas Malaysians can vote Posted: 18 Dec 2011 03:28 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - The Election Commission (EC) said today that it has no problem letting Malaysians residing abroad vote in elections but stressed it was still deciding who qualifies to do so.
"The EC has no objection to this but it comes down to details...," EC chairman Tan Sri Aziz Yusof (picture) told reporters here. "Sometimes we have Malaysians who have lived overseas for 30 years and who've never been back. They can't even speak Malay (anymore). Should they be allowed to vote?"
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| Clean your image before sullying Anwar’s, PKR tells Dr M Posted: 18 Dec 2011 03:26 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - PKR told Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today to focus on cleaning his own image instead of attempting to taint Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's, reminding the former prime minister of controversies surrounding his eldest son Mirzan's finances. Party leaders said Dr Mahathir should explain his involvement in "bailing out" his son's firm in 1998, allegedly with RM2 billion worth of taxpayers' money, and how the financially-troubled Mirzan could subsequently afford the RM2.9 billion purchase of San Miguel in the Philippines, Southeast Asia's largest beer brewery. "Dr Mahathir should clean his own image and answer to these two issues involving his family... instead of trying to deny that he had borrowed funds from the World Bank and blaming Anwar for being in support of seeking international assistance during the 1997 financial crisis," PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli said today. Rafizi was referring to the ongoing row between the two leaders which erupted last week when Anwar alleged to have sighted documents proving that Dr Mahathir had sought financial aid from the World Bank during his tenure as prime minister. In response over the weekend, Dr Mahathir had denied this, challenging Anwar to swear on the Quran and adding that he would be willing to do the same. Dr Mahathir had also indicated that Anwar had been in favour of measures recommended by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the financial crisis that would prove detrimental to the country's financial situation. PKR called Dr Mahathir's bluff in a statement yesterday and furnished documented proof today that the former prime minister had sought some US$704 million, worth some RM2.6 billion during the economic crisis, from the global financial body. Rafizi pointed to the dates on the documents — October 23, 1998, March 3, 1999, and July 26, 1998 — all of which proved the loan appeals were made while Anwar was already sacked from his government post and was "languishing in prison with a bad back and black eye".
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| OWC: Satisfy your wife, even when you don’t feel like it Posted: 18 Dec 2011 03:16 PM PST (The Malay Mail) - Husbands have to give in to their wives' sexual desires even if they do not feel like it so that their wives do not look for other "avenues" to fulfill their needs. This was the opinion of the Obedient Wives Club (OWC) president Fauziah Ariffin who said ignoring the sexual needs of wives may be a reason for straying husbands. Fauziah was responding to the recently released Durex Sexual Well-Being Global Survey 2011 report which stated Malaysian women play the infidelity game more than Malaysian men. The survey revealed 33 per cent of Malaysian men and 39 per cent of Malaysian women confessed to cheating on their spouses. It also categorised Malaysians as third among 36 nationalities for being the most unfaithful partners. "As a wife, you have to sacrifice by giving in to your husbands' sexual needs even if you are not in the mood for it. Likewise, the husbands have to do the same thing. It works both ways and ensures spouses are faithful to one another," Fauziah told The Malay Mail yesterday. Fauziah also opined the reason women cheat may depend on the reason why they got married in the first place. "If the reason is love, then the woman is more likely to cheat on her husband. The first and foremost reason for getting married should be the fear of God. "It is a command (sunnah) under Islamic law to get married because of the fear of God and that should be the driving force behind every marriage. "If you love God, you will love your partner and won't think of straying," she said. Fauziah said she encourages couples to prep themselves with good religious background before tying the knot.
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| Police report filed against gay med student Posted: 18 Dec 2011 03:00 PM PST A Muslim NGO wants the police to probe Ariff Alfian Rosli, who reportedly got married to a man in Ireland. (Free Malaysia Today) - The police have been urged to investigate gay medical student Ariff Alfian Rosli who reportedly married an Irish man over the weekend. The report was filed by Muslim NGO, Kepong Islamic Youth Organisation (PBIK), with the Sentul police headquarters here this morning. "We are making the police report in the name of the Malays against a Malay youth who disgraced the name of our country, religion and race. "We want to pressure the Higher Education Ministry and government-linked companies which sponsors students for education abroad to ensure that the students' Malayness and Islamic identity are strong," said PBIK chairman Norizan Ali.
Ariff, 28, who was studying in the University College Dublin was initially reported to be missing. He is a former Petronas scholarship recipient.
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| EPF said to have borrowed £300m Posted: 18 Dec 2011 02:58 PM PST (Bloomberg) - Malaysia's state-owned Employee Provident Fund borrowed £300 million in a five-year loan, proceeds of which will be used to buy properties in London, according to a person familiar with the matter. The fund initially targeted £240 million and increased the amount after receiving a strong response from banks, the person said, asking not to be identified as details are private. Banks consider Employee Provident Fund to be a quasi-sovereign borrower, the person said.
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| 'Only bumi companies for govt projects' Posted: 18 Dec 2011 11:39 AM PST (The Malay Mail) - Bumiputra companies must be the only choice for government projects irrespective of whether they can deliver. This is the stand of the Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (MCCM). Its president, Syed Ali Alatas, said projects such as the RM3 billion Pudu Prison redevelopment must be given to a bumiputra company regardless of whether there are better parties - local or foreign - which can see the project through with the best returns to taxpayers. "The issue is not whether the contract should be given to a bumiputra or a non-bumiputra company," he told The Malay Mail. "The bumiputra companies should be given such projects but we never get this kind of deals. "Such projects should be given to us. Period," he said before ending the call abruptly. He was responding to UDA chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohammed's statement earlier this month that the Finance Ministry had mandated UDA to focus solely on bumiputra investors even if it means taxpayers do not get the best deal from development projects. The Finance Ministry had ordered UDA to drop China-based Everbright Ltd in favour of a bumiputra company - resulting in Nur Jazlan warning that hiring a bumiputra company would eventually result in a bail-out as these companies lack the funds and skills to take on such a huge project on its own. Everbright which boasts RM4 billion in reserves, had had offered RM2.9 billion in building costs with projected annual returns of at least RM300 million to RM400 million. Opposition party leaders however said the best company, be it a local or a foreign company must be chosen to reconstruct the site of the 116-year-old prison. They also want selection process made transparent and approve contractors based on merit. Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali told The Malay Mail that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should "walk the talk". "The PM talks about being transparent and he should practise it. If he wants to see progress then he should make the tender open for everybody not just select contractors based on cronyism or nepotism. "The contractor who will eventually be selected must have an excellent track record as the area they will be redeveloping is prime land in the capital. "The project also must result in profits return and value for money," said the Gombak MP. PAS vice-president and Kubang Kerian MP Salahuddin Ayub said the contractor does not have to be specifically a bumiputra or a local company. "It can be anybody but what's more important is that the project is completed properly and the contractor meets the set requirements. The new complex must be have have the it safety features, quality control and it's facilities intact. This is a must if they want to win the rakyat's trust," he said.
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| New resolution irks Dayaks in SUPP Posted: 18 Dec 2011 11:28 AM PST Rival SUPP group headed by former deputy secretary general Wong Soon Koh wants the ROS to look into a resolution which they claim will sideline Dayak members. (Free Malaysia Today) - Former Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) deputy secretary-general Wong Soon Koh and his G7 (group of seven) who boycotted the party's triennial delegates conference (TDC) due to alleged irregularities have now turned their guns on the party's newly elected deputy president Richard Riot. They have accused him of being used for "window dressing" for the predominantly Chinese party. According to Engkilili assembyman Johnical Rayong, who is a G7 member, the recent TDC had passed a resolution to elevate the secretary-general into the second most powerful position ahead of the deputy president. "Being the only Dayak in Peter Chin's line-up in the party central committee, it is not unexpected as he was a lone ranger," said Rayong. Besides Wong and Rayong, the other members are MP for Lanang Tiong Thai King, assemblymen Jerip Susil (Bengoh) Ranum Min (Opar) Francis Harden (Simanggang) and Lee Kim Shin (Senadin). Wong and his group refused to attend the TDC, citing various irregularities and manipulations at branch and TDC elections. They have filed complaints with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) and are still awaiting his decision. Riot, who was said to have been with the G7 initially, turned his back and joined forces with Chin believing that any problems in the party should be settled in the TDC. His support for Chin, who was elected SUPP president during the TDC which was held from Dec 9 to 11, has irked the Dayak members of the G7. Among the most vocal are Rayong and Jerip. Rayong called on the ROS to look into a resolution which confirmed the secretary-general's post as the most powerful within the party. He said that such a resolution, if approved by ROS, would deprive a non-Chinese from becoming president of the party, adding out that the Dayak members of the party are unhappy with it. With that provision which effectively removed Riot from becoming president, Rayong said that Riot's election as the first Bumiputera deputy president was rather hollow in SUPP.
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| No need for me to swear on the Quran, says Anwar Posted: 18 Dec 2011 08:40 AM PST (The Star) - Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says he will not swear on the Quran that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had asked for funds from the World Bank in 1999. He claimed that there was no need for him to do so because the World Bank had records to confirm the approval of an application by the Malaysian Government that year. "I have also issued a statement on the report by the World Bank. "These are facts and the World Bank approved the application by Malaysia. What is there to swear on?" he asked. Dr Mahathir challenged Anwar on Satur-day to swear on the Quran in a mosque that he had written a letter to the World Bankasking for funds. The former prime minister said he was willing to swear in a mosque that he did not write such a letter. Anwar said the World Bank's annual report showed the kind of loans given to Malaysia since 1999. "How am I supposed to find the letter sent by the Government to the World Bank?" he said during a break at the Penang Muslim Congregation Convention at Evergreen Laurel Hotel here yesterday. Asked to comment on reports of PKR members leaving the party, Anwar said it was "normal" before an election. "But at polling time, there will be votes," he quipped.
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Thirty six percent of those asked in the survey, conducted from Oct 23 to 30, were not sure if Anwar was the man in the video while 18 percent were certain it was him.
Umcedel found that about half of the Chinese respondents surveyed felt that BN Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir's performance is "average", while a significant 28 percent felt he had done "poorly".
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