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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Ruslan Kassim: another Munafiq identified

Posted: 12 Jun 2011 10:59 PM PDT

So you see, Islam has already established the system of consensus and elections of leaders and committees and so on. So what the Penang government is doing is extremely Islamic. The people decide on their leaders and committees. And this is done through consensus and elections.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin



Perkasa tells Penang Malays to say no to mosque polls

Perkasa wants the Malays in Penang to oppose the state government's plan of electing mosque committees, as the right-wing group believes that it will only divide the Muslim community here.

Perkasa information chief Ruslan Kassim said elections would adversely affect the sanctity of the mosques and unity among the Muslims due to power struggles, the creation of factions, and animosity.

"The action of the state government to have mosque committee elections is unwise and is only politically motivated," Bernama quoted him as saying in a statement Monday.

The Penang government announced last week that the selection of mosque committees in the state would be made through elections this year to replace the previous method.

Ruslan said elections were implemented in Kelantan in the 1960s and 1970s, but were subsequently stopped as they had caused friction and divided the Muslim community there.

This report is dated 13th June 2011

******************************************


Now read this report on Ruslan Kassim dated September 1998

The days before the Umno general assembly of June 1998, a book-length poison pen letter entitled '50 reasons why Anwar cannot become the next prime minister' (50 Dalil mengapa Anwar Tidak Boleh Jadi PM), made its debut in the Malaysian political scene.

But unlike most previous poison-pen letters, the 50 Dalil had an author as well as a publisher. It carried a by-line Khalid Jafri, ex-sports editor of Utusan Malaysia, editor-in-chief of the now defunct Harian National tabloid newspaper, an undischarged bankrupt.

Delegates arriving at the Umno general assembly had a copy of the poison book included in the party documentation handed over to them in the complimentary bag. This happened despite the passing of an interlocutory injunction by a high court judge only a day earlier, against the distribution and dissemination of the defamatory book. It was something quite odd and many at the assembly were trying to put two and two together.

The Umno Youth leader from Negri Sembilan, Ruslan Kassim, had done a little checking with the Registrar of Companies, which linked the book's publishers with the disgraced former Chief Minister of Malacca, Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik and his wife, Zabedah Abdullah.

Ruslan Kassim had also heard from the Federal Territory Umno that the party secretariat had been used to distribute the book. This pointed at the party secretary general, Sabaruddin Chik.

Who is actually behind this drama, asked Negri Sembilan Umno Youth leader (Ruslan Kassim). But none of the two Chiks were willing to admit to anything.

Impact International, Vol. 28 No. 9 (September 1998)

***********************************


Ruslan Kassim was detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for this expose. Yes, he was punished by detention without trial for his allegation against the two Chiks -- the big Thambi whose small thambi got him into trouble, and Sabaruddin 'tukang kasut' (Malays would know why 'tukang kasut' so go ask a Malay what it means).

Ruslan Kassim swore that Anwar Ibrahim was a victim of fitnah. And when Parti Keadilan Nasional (now PKR) was launched he joined the party and became its Information Chief (Ketua Penerangan).

Yes, before he became the Information Chief of Perkasa, Ruslan Kassim was the Information Chief of what is now called PKR. But when he was the PKR Information Chief he sang a different tune and now, as the Information Chief of Perkasa, he sings a different tune.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, my dear readers, is what Islam calls a Munafiq.

Is Ruslan Kassim now telling us that he lied back in 1998 and that Anwar Ibrahim was not a victim of fitnah and that the '50 Dahlil' book was true? Or is he telling us that he did not lie back in 1998 but he can now accept that Anwar Ibrahim was a victim of fitnah and it no longer troubles him like it did back in 1998?

Either way, whichever the case may be, that makes Ruslan Kassim a Munafiq. He is opposed to the election of mosque committees because he just has the interest of Islam at heart, or so he tells us.

But then, if he is motivated purely by Islam and for no other reason, especially not for political reasons, how come what he is doing and saying does not demonstrate this?

From the Islam perspective, a Muslim who runs with the hare and hunts with the hounds is clearly a Munafiq. And this is what Ruslan Kassim is doing. He accuses Umno of defaming or fitnah Anwar. And he was detained for this allegation. But yet he is prepared to work with Umno in spite of what he thinks of Umno.

Anyway, Ruslan Kassim is either ignorant about Islam or is trying to misrepresent Islam. He is trying to suggest that electing mosque officials is counterproductive to Islam.

Actually the reverse is true. It was reported that it took three days for the people of Medina to bury Prophet Muhammad's body after he died. And the reason is because the Medina people were locked in three days of debate (some like the Shiah say dispute) to decide on the successor or Khalif to the Prophet.

Finally it as agreed that Abu Bakar would be the successor and only then could they bury the Prophet's body.

No, they did not have Umno or Jabatan Agama (religious department) then in Medina. And it was not Umno or the religious department who decided on the successor. It was the people. And the people voted on the matter to decide who should be the successor to the Prophet.

So you see, Islam has already established the system of consensus and elections of leaders and committees and so on. So what the Penang government is doing is extremely Islamic. The people decide on their leaders and committees. And this is done through consensus and elections.

To suggest that the Islamic system of consensus and elections is un-Islamic makes those who say so un-Islamic themselves. And if they propose something un-Islamic and pretend that it is Islamic this makes them into Munafiqs.

That is the bottom line.

 

Saya sokong Najib

Posted: 12 Jun 2011 01:00 AM PDT

So you see, Najib, what you said is true. Politics is about perception, not reality. And you need to be good at perception management. But your people are not. They are too arrogant and they think they are smart. I alone can makan all your people. Yes, Raja Petra Kamarudin alone can take on your entire team.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Dear Najib, I sokong you. Well, to be exact, I sokong your statement below as reported by Bernama.

Yes, politics is about perception, not reality, as you said. I am glad you now understand this. In fact, your people have been using this tactic themselves.

You see, recently I gave an interview on TV3 and they very cleverly presented it as if I am now endorsing you and supporting you and that you have bought me off and I am now an Umno Trojan horse.

That may be just the perception created by Umno or TV3. But many believed this because, as you said, politics is about perception, not reality.

Let me give you another example. Many believe you are somehow, directly or indirectly, involved in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder. Whether this is true or not does not matter. That is the perception and, as you said, politics is about perception, not reality.

Many also believe that Anwar is innocent of both the Sodomy 1 and Sodomy 2 allegations plus he is not the man in the porn video. Again, whether this is true or not does not matter. That is the perception and, as you said, politics is about perception, not reality.

So you see, just on these two issues alone you and Umno lose. And I am yet to go into other issues like your wife's handbags that run into millions of Ringgit. And I have not even gone into her shoes, clothes and overseas shopping expenses yet. Your wife makes Imelda Marcos look tame by comparison. That, again, is the perception and can never be erased as much as it may be denied.

If I really wanted to get you, Najib, there are hundreds of issues I can raise. However, to be fair to me, I have picked and chosen only a few issues here and there. I have not really launched a crusade against you. If I did, you would suffer what Abdullah Ahmad Badawi suffered and you would go the way of the last Prime Minister -- into forced retirement.

The fact I have not attacked you enough is the reason why many say you have bought me off. But then these people are political novices who think they know politics but actually know nuts. That is why we need not bother with these dim-witted people. I call them bodoh sombong. Dah lah bodoh, sombong pulak.

Let me tell you why I do not wish for you to be forced out of office like Pak Lah before you. No, it's not because I love you. It is because I know that you are surrounded by stupid people. And I personally know many of these people. We used to hang out together in the days of the pre-March 2008 GE.

If you were to be forced out, then Muhyddin Yassin would take over as Prime Minister. And this would be more dangerous for the opposition.

I would rather you remain as Prime Minister until the next general election. Then the opposition has a better chance. If Muyhiddin takes over as Prime Minister before the next election then the opposition may suffer.

So you see, Najib, what you said is true. Politics is about perception, not reality. And you need to be good at perception management. But your people are not. They are too arrogant and they think they are smart. I alone can makan all your people. Yes, Raja Petra Kamarudin alone can take on your entire team.

So please don't flatter yourself when your people tell you that I am now your supporter because I no longer attack you too much. I don't attack you too much because I don't want you to fall and for Muhyiddin to take over as Prime Minister.

I personally know Muyhiddin's people. They are clever. I also personally know your people. They are not. So better we deal with you than with Muyhiddin.

Tell me, Najib, what is the best your people can do? So far they only know how to shout BABI. That's all, BABI -- Brother Anwar Bin Ibrahim. You think just by shouting BABI the opposition is going to fall?

Dear Najib, if you want to survive then you had better sack all your so-called advisers. Semua ego besar. Kepala bapak dia orang. Find better people or else you are finished. Remember, you said it: it's all about perception.

By the way, the answer is no! I do not wish to work for you if you sack all the idiots around you, not even if I come directly under Rosmah….if you know what I mean (pun intended).

*******************************************

Umno and BN need to work hard to raise public perception: Najib

(Bernama) - The Umno machinery needs to work hard and draw up new strategies to raise the perception and aspiration of the people concerning the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said in line with the current development in the mass communication technology such as the short messaging service (SMS), the social websites Twitter and Facebook, what was more important in politics was the perception and not reality.

"Politics is all about perception. Not the question of reality...the opposition knows how to play up perception and deny what is the truth. Even to get the DNA is turned down, the question on the Omega wristwatch has yet to be answered."

"That is why Umno and the BN must know how to influence the mind and aspiration of the people so that they will perceive Umno and BN as effective parties, the best and can champion the cause of the people compared to others who only know how to make promises but don't fulfill them," he said when opening the Ampang Umno delegates meeting, here.

Also present were the Selangor Umno Liaison deputy chairman Datuk Seri Noh Omar and Ampang Umno division head Datuk Ismail Kijo.

Najib said that as such, UMNO and the BN must strive for something that was more effective to show that it understood the aspiration of the people better so that the reality, perception and the people's sentiment favoured the party.

"The government had drawn up the Government Transformation Plan (GTP), we have a more detailed plan, a clearer road map unlike the opposition who only know how to make promises, the play up the promises but we cannot do so because we are the ruling party."

"We must be better than they (are), let the public perception be better than the others, if the people like the BN, then they will vote for it, but if they hate (the BN), then they will vote the other people to represent their constituency," he said.

Najib, who is also the Selangor Umno Liaison chairman, said Umno must always be prepared to face the coming general election, which could be held at any time this year, or next year or even 2013.

"We must be ready not only for the (election) dry run but must be ready for a better public perception and sentiment, this must be given priority," he said.

He said the party machinery should also pay attention to the party supporters as well as those who had yet to become supporters because Umno and the BN championed the welfare of all races.

 

The Munafiq named Zul Noordin

Posted: 11 Jun 2011 08:46 PM PDT

Zulkifli Noordin, the Kulim Bandar Baharu Member of Parliament, said, "Some Malays are willing to be used by this illegal gathering that is led by former Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreevanasan. This is despite knowing the organisation has fought strongly against Islam."

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Islam has a word for Muslims who talk about defending Islam and yet go against Islamic teachings. Datuk Ambiga is in fact upholding Islamic teachings. She is opposed to election fraud. Zul, on the other hand, wants to uphold election fraud.

In this sense Ambiga is more Islamic than Zul. Zul, according to Islamic teachings, is a hypocrite or Munafiq.

For those Muslims and non-Muslims who may not understand the concept of Munafiq in Islam, allow me to deliver my Sunday sermon.

Munāfiq (n., in Arabic: منافق, plural munāfiqūn) is an Islamic Arabic term used to describe a religious hypocrite, who outwardly practices Islam, while inwardly concealing his disbelief (kafir), perhaps even unknowingly.

The term munāfiq in Arabic, Bengali and Urdu is primarily a non-religious term that refers to a person whose actions are different from and opposite to his thoughts, which he conceals. In the Qur'anic sense the term refers to a person who does not have faith, but pretends to. 

The Qur'an has hundreds of ayāt (verses) discussing munāfiqūn, referring to them as more dangerous to Muslims than the worst non-Muslim enemies of Islam.

The Qur'an states:

The Hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire: no helper wilt thou find for them;-

    —Sura 4 (An-Nisa), ayah 145, Qur'an[2]

According to the Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari, narrated by 'Abdullah bin 'Amr:

The Prophet said, "Whoever has the following four (characteristics) will be a pure hypocrite and whoever has one of the following four characteristics will have one characteristic of hypocrisy unless and until he gives it up.

1. Whenever he is entrusted, he betrays.

2. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie.

3. Whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous.

4. Whenever he quarrels, he behaves in a very imprudent, evil and insulting manner."

According to the Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari Book 1 : Volume 2 : Hadith 32, narrated by Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, "The signs of a hypocrite are three:

1. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie.

2. Whenever he promises, he always breaks it (his promise ).

3. If you trust him, he proves to be dishonest. (If you keep something as a trust with him, he will not return it.)"

And this is the Quran's word on hypocrites:

 

Surat Al-Munāfiqūn (Arabic: سورة المنافقون‎) (The Hypocrites) is the 63rd sura of the Qur'an with 11 ayat.

Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 001 When the Hypocrites come to thee, they say, "We bear witness that thou art indeed the Apostle of God." Yea, God knoweth that thou art indeed His Apostle, and God beareth witness that the Hypocrites are indeed liars.

Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 002 They have made their oaths a screen (for their misdeeds): thus they obstruct (men) from the Path of God: truly evil are their deeds.

Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 003 That is because they believed, then they rejected Faith: So a seal was set on their hearts: therefore they understand not.

Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 004 When thou lookest at them, their exteriors please thee; and when they speak, thou listenest to their words. They are as (worthless as hollow) pieces of timber propped up, (unable to stand on their own). They think that every cry is against them. They are the enemies; so beware of them. The curse of God be on them! How are they deluded (away from the Truth)!

Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 005 And when it is said to them, "Come, the Apostle of God will pray for your forgiveness", they turn aside their heads, and thou wouldst see them turning away their faces in arrogance.

Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 006 It is equal to them whether thou pray for their forgiveness or not. God will not forgive them. Truly God guides not rebellious transgressors.

Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 007 They are the ones who say, "Spend nothing on those who are with God's Apostle, to the end that they may disperse (and quit Medina)." But to God belong the treasures of the heavens and the earth; but the Hypocrites understand not.

Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 008 They say, "If we return to Medina, surely the more honourable (element) will expel therefrom the meaner." But honour belongs to God and His Apostle, and to the Believers; but the Hypocrites know not.

Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 009 O ye who believe! Let not your riches or your children divert you from the remembrance of God. If any act thus, the loss is their own.

Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 010 and spend something (in charity) out of the substance which We have bestowed on you, before Death should come to any of you and he should say, "O my Lord! why didst Thou not give me respite for a little while? I should then have given (largely) in charity, and I should have been one of the doers of good".

Surah 63 - Al Munafiqun - Ayat - 011 But to no soul will God grant respite when the time appointed (for it) has come; and God is well acquainted with (all) that ye do.

XPGU-AxwfHk

 

Matlamat menghalalkan cara

Posted: 10 Jun 2011 05:33 PM PDT

Today you no longer know who are the people behind these fitnah campaigns. Don't always assume that the 'other side' is the culprit behind these campaigns. You might be shocked to know that it is the 'same side' doing it. It could be the opposition people slandering their own opposition comrades. Then again it could be Umno people doing it, knowing very well that it will backfire on Umno and become a political liability to Najib.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Matlamat menghalalkan cara means the end justifies the means. Basically, halal becomes haram and haram becomes halal -- the permitted becomes forbidden and the forbidden becomes permitted.

Considering that most Malaysians believe in God -- whether they are Muslims, Christians, Buddhists or Hindus -- this makes it extremely surprising, if not shocking.

Take Islam as an example. The Quran specifically mentions that we may not forbid what God has permitted and vice versa. Yet this is the very thing that those who profess the religion of Islam do, in total violation of the Quran.

The Quran also tells Muslims that they should not alter the word of God. Yet the do exactly that -- they alter the word of God by forbidding what is permitted and permitting what is forbidden.

For example, Islam makes it mandatory for all Muslims to practice amar makruf, nahi munkar. This means you must uphold good (or the truth) and oppose evil. But try doing this in Malaysia and see what happens.

If you were to uphold the truth (by criticising the government) you would get arrested and charged in court or you would be detained without trial under the Internal Security Act.

And Islam is supposed to be the official religion of the Federation of Malaysia, mind you. Podah! Malaysia is no better than Russia, China or Israel.

Well, that is because we have a bad government, you might say. But then this 'Islamic culture' not only applies to criticising the government. If you criticise the opposition or opposition leaders, they can't arrest and charge you or detain you under the ISA, but they would certainly spread stories that you have been bought off by Umno.

So the opposition is no better when it comes to not honouring amar makruf, nahi munkar. It is just that they have no power to arrest or detain you so they slander you instead.

Would the opposition allow amar makruf, nahi munkar if it becomes the federal government? Maybe if Lim Guan Eng or Nik Aziz Nik Mat becomes the Prime Minister they would but I am not sure about the rest of the Pakatan Rakyat leaders.

They are saying that I started criticising the opposition since the fallout between Zaid Ibrahim and Anwar Ibrahim soon after the Hulu Selangor by-election. They attribute this to me being pro-Zaid. Therefore, since Zaid is now anti-Anwar, I too have become anti-Anwar.

This is not about being pro-anyone or anti-anyone. It is about being anti-dirty tactics.

I am not pro-Zaid even though he is my friend (I have refused to join his party although I still socialise with him). I am also in that same spirit not anti-Anwar (I still support him as opposition leader although he no longer talks to me or contacts me). It is just that I am anti-internal sabotage and I don't like what some PKR leaders or party insiders did during the Hulu Selangor by-election.

If you can remember, at that time I wrote an article whacking Umno for the doctored photograph of Zaid and the beer bottle. I accused Umno of fitnah (slander) for distributing that fake photograph of Zaid with the beer bottle in his hand.

Then, to my shock, I discovered that it was not Umno who did this foul deed but someone high up in PKR. When I found out about this I just kept quiet (which is not quite the Islamic thing to do and opposed to amar makruf, nahi munkar).

I decided to not shake the tree lest something falls out of the tree. I did not want to name the person even though I know who he is.

Now some unknown people are distributing the Mat Sabu sex scandal VCDs. I heard the next campaign is to spread the story that Mat Sabu is a closet Shiah follower and anti-Hadith as well. That will of course hurt Mat Sabu pretty bad and may affect Muslim support for PAS.

I hope Umno is behind this next Mat Sabu slander campaign because if they are then they are very stupid indeed. It is going to backfire terribly. The Datuk T drama backfired terribly. It was a move that hurt Umno more than it hurt Anwar. And this Mat Sabu slander exercise is going to hurt Umno again.

But is it really Umno that is behind the Mat Sabu sex scandal VCD and the Shiah-anti-Hadith campaign that they are about to launch? My Deep Throats in Umno say it is not their people who are doing this and the Umno people too are puzzled as to who is behind it.

According to the Umno people they suspect that someone in the opposition is doing this. If this is true then these people are very clever. The Mat Sabu sex scandal VCD and the Shiah-anti-Hadith exercise are going to backfire badly on Umno. And the 'beautiful' thing is even Ummo is puzzled about what is going on and is being caught with their pants down.

Or is it really someone from Umno who is doing this and they are doing it knowing that it will backfire on Umno and will therefore be a huge problem for Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak?

Yes, that is another possibility. The 3M team of Mahathir-Muhyiddin-Mukhriz knows that by sabotaging Mat Sabu with the sex scandal VCD and the Shiah-anti-Hadith story it is going to hurt Najib.

So you see, all is not what it appears to be. This is just like Hitler burning the Reichstag building in Berlin on 27th February 1933. And wasn't Hitler one of the greatest propaganda strategists of his time?

What is halal and what is haram? It no longer matters. What matters is that the end justifies the means -- and never mind if the means is halal or haram.

If you were to bring a bottle of wine to the home of a Muslim he or she would get very upset. Wine is haram and they do not want it in their home. But if you were to bring a 'red packet' containing thousands of ringgit to the home of a Muslim that is not a problem.

A bottle of wine cannot. Haram! Bribes can. Not haram.

How does the mind of these Muslims work? The majority of those accepting bribes are government officers and Umno politicians who are supposed to be Muslims. They get very upset if you bring a bottle of wine to their homes but they would welcome, in fact, insist, on bribes.

And they would gleefully fitnah another Muslim and distribute sex VCDs of other Muslims for the purpose of political power. Haram becomes halal for the sake of gaining political power.

Today you no longer know who are the people behind these fitnah campaigns. Don't always assume that the 'other side' is the culprit behind these campaigns. You might be shocked to know that it is the 'same side' doing it.

It could be the opposition people slandering their own opposition comrades. Then again it could be Umno people doing it, knowing very well that it will backfire on Umno and become a political liability to Najib.

In fact, there are some in Malaysia's intelligence agencies who don't trust Shazryl Eskay Abdullah, one of the three members of the Datuk T gang. The 'official' story going around is that Eskay was once a close friend of Anwar who has since sold him out.

Some in Malaysia's intelligence agencies do not think so. They think that Eskay is still close to Anwar and that he is involved in the porn video exercise to hurt Umno. And it has, in fact, hurt Umno badly, in particular Najib.

Najib may now have to delay the next general election. Initially it was supposed to be in July. And then they said it would most likely be in November (11-11-11) after the budget. The latest I heard is it may be delayed further, to next year, because Umno is worried that all these 'scandals' may have backfired on Umno.

Yes, it is getting very confusing indeed. We are hearing all sort of things and we are hearing that so and so is behind all these. But all is not what it appears and those alleged to be behind all these things are equally confused.

Nevertheless, it just proves that Malaysian politics is getting more complicated by the day. You think you can read what is happening but that is no longer true. They aim at a certain target but the real target is another one altogether.

Rahim Thambi Chik is Dr Mahathir's man. Could it be that Datuk T's real target is not Anwar but Najib, as what some suspect? Considering the Anwar porn video has backfired on Najib this could be true. Or was Rahim tricked by Eskay, who is still Anwar's comrade?

I really no longer know. But one thing I do know is that Malaysia's politics is not as simple as you may think. It is very complicating. The targets are not that identifiable any more. They hit Anwar and Mat Sabu but their real target could actually be Najib.

 

Women of class and taste: name the women contest

Posted: 08 Jun 2011 05:37 PM PDT

The Birkin bag is a handmade purse by Hermès and named after actress and singer Jane Birkin. The bag is a symbol of wealth due to its high price and elusiveness to the public. Its prices range from US$9,000 to US$150,000. Costs escalate according to the type of materials. The bags are distributed to Hermès boutiques on unpredictable schedules and in limited quantities, creating scarcity and, intended or unintended, exclusivity. It is highly coveted and, for several years, was reputed for having a waiting list of up to 6 years; the longest wait for any bag in history. (read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkin_bag)

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

 

AND THE PRESENTS FROM ROBIN TAN, VINCENT TAN'S SON, TO MALAYSIA'S FIRST LADY, AT USD120,000 PER BAG AND PAID FOR BY SPORTS TOTO 

 

Ahmad Sarbani’s death: the lies and deceptions by the MACC (part 4)

Posted: 08 Jun 2011 01:00 AM PDT

The MACC I.O.s have since been directed to get the 'cooperation' of the Customs officers who have not been able to explain the money in their bank accounts. They were told that if they point their fingers at the late Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed, the MACC will ease up on them and will not prosecute them and may even turn them into 'prosecution witnesses'.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Police officers removing Ahmad Sarbani's body from MACC KL Office

This is the final episode of the late Customs Deputy Director Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed 'suicide' story. Note that what we have written in the four episodes of this story is based on the testimony of our Deep Throats in the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and Malaysian Customs Department (Jabatan Kastam).

The Police and Customs officers no longer trust their own government. They would rather trust Malaysia Today in seeing justice done. And that is why they have requested Malaysia Today to reveal what really happened to Ahmad Sarbani.

To my friends in the Police Force who have taken great pains to keep me safe from harm, I thank you. Without you I would not have escaped…well, you know what. And to my friends in the Customs Department who are always in touch with me to ask about my health, I also thank you. I trust Malaysia Today has been of service to you by revealing the true story behind Ahmad Sarbani's death.

A grief stricken Marziah, Ahmad Sarbani's wife

Okay, let the story continue.

So far what our Deep Throats in the Police Force and the Customs Department have revealed is that Ahmad Sarbani did not kill himself. He did not ride his bike all the way to MACC's office in Jalan Cockrane in Kuala Lumpur just to commit suicide by jumping out of the window like what they allege Teoh Beng Hock also did.

It appears like the Police investigating officer (I.O.) has also come to the conclusion that Ahmad Sarbani is not a corrupt Customs officer who became scared and committed suicide. And the Attorney-General is not happy with this conclusion. That is why this slime-ball and scumbag of an AG sent the Police investigation report back to the Police THREE TIMES.

The AG insists that by hook or by crook they must come out with a verdict of suicide. So, while the AG continues to bonk his Director, the Police have been instructed to 'bonk' the 'witnesses' and force them to implicate the deceased in corruption and conclude that he committed suicide because of it.

What puzzled PDRM I.O. ASP Zuhairi Mohamed was that the CCTV conveniently did not show any of these incidents -- suggesting that the attempt at a cover-up involved the MACC's top leadership and that Dato' Mustafar Ali had lied in his press statement.

What was more disturbing was that immediately after Wan Zainal gave his third and last statement to the police, Yusof Akope and Mohd Fauzi immediately directed S.I.O. Abdul Ghani to pick up Wan Zainal to be brought to the MACC's office for interrogation.

The focus of the MACC interrogation was to find out what Wan Zainal had told ASP Zuhairi and what documents were given to the police. This showed an intention to circumvent the police investigation.

Wan Zainal was interrogated from 3.00pm to 11.00pm.

The MACC tried to intimidate Wan Zainal and two of his other colleagues, Maggie and Eddie, in marathon interrogation sessions in the weeks that followed. They were threatened that if they refuse to 'cooperate', the MACC will now target them and their companies in follow-up investigations on the corruption allegations. In other words, help the MACC fix up Ahmad Sarbani or else the MACC will fix them up instead.

Having failed to get the cooperation of these freight forwarders, Yusof Akope and Mohd Fauzi changed tactics.

The MACC I.O.s have since been directed to get the 'cooperation' of the Customs officers who have not been able to explain the money in their bank accounts. These Customs officers were told that if they point their fingers at the late Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed, the MACC will ease up on them and will not prosecute them and may even turn them into 'prosecution witnesses'.

All they needed to do was to say that all the unexplained money in their bank accounts actually belongs to Ahmad Sarbani. Therefore, if they agree to fix up Ahmad Sarbani then the MACC will let them go free and may even allow them to keep the money in their bank accounts that they can't explain where it came from.

Killing an innocent man is one thing, but putting the blame on a dead man who cannot defend himself is just a bit too much and even corrupted government officers draw the line on this one. So they refused to accept the 'deal'.

That is how far the MACC top leadership is prepared to go to cover up their evil deeds. They need to explain how Ahmad Sarbani died and they want to convince us that he killed himself because he was corrupted and he was scared to face the music. The Malays call this kambing jaga sireh or, as the English say, the fox in charge of the hen house. The agency tasked with fighting corruption is rapidly turning into a most corrupt agency, prepared to commit murder even.

Since the suicide story would be plausible only if Ahmad Sarbani owned unusual and extraordinary wealth, they wanted the other Customs officers to say that all their unexplained wealth actually belongs to the deceased. And the MACC is prepared to give immunity to corrupt Customs officers if they agree to do this.

They need to nail Ahmad Sarbani real bad and they will go to great lengths in achieving this. And note that these are Muslims who pray five times a day, fast during the month of Ramadhan and go to Mekah, mind you! Yet they would not hesitate to do a deed most foul -- framing a dead man.

But the Police and Customs officers are fighting back. They are not going to allow the MACC to frame Ahmad Sarbani. They want the world to know he is clean and that he did not commit suicide. And they want us to know how the MACC is tying to suggest otherwise. And to do that they have enlisted the help of Malaysia Today.

In the next part, part 5, we will disclose who killed Ahmad Sarbani -- but only if we need to. We will hold back part 5 pending the official statement by the government as to how Ahmad Sarbani died. Since the AG has announced that there will be an Inquest, let us give the Police an opportunity to reveal the real evidence at this Inquest and let us hope that they get it right this time.

If the MACC, AG Gani Patail and the Police repeat what they did in trying to cover up Teoh Beng Hock's death, then Malaysia Today will reveal the full investigation report on who killed Ahmad Sarbani. And if they want to call our bluff and play poker, thinking that we will not do it, then they do not know Malaysia Today well enough yet. We just love challenges and will rise to any challenge. 

So don't force us to do this. But we will if we have to just to clear the name of an innocent dead man who did not commit suicide but was murdered. So, till next time, part 5, if circumstances force us to come out with a part 5, take care and keep the fight for change going.

Ahmad Sarbani's death: the lies and deceptions by the MACC (part 1)  

Ahmad Sarbani's death: the lies and deceptions by the MACC (part 2) 

Ahmad Sarbani's death: the lies and deceptions by the MACC (part 3) 

 

Ahmad Sarbani’s death: the lies and deceptions by the MACC (part 3)

Posted: 07 Jun 2011 01:00 AM PDT

The mention of the AG's name did not intimidate Wan Zainal who insisted to ASP Zuhairi that "saya takkan fitnahkan orang yang dah meninggal" (he would not defame a dead man) just for convenience. ASP Zuhairi also discovered that the background of Wan Zainal is not consistent with someone who would give bribes.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Ahmad Sarbani – maligned in his death

We continue the story behind the mysterious death of Customs Deputy Director Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed. Ahmad Sarbani was the second person to 'commit suicide' while under the custody and while being interrogated by the MACC, the first being Teoh Beng Hock.

Although the government is trying to suggest that Beng Hock committed suicide, most Malaysians believe that this is not true and that Beng Hock was either murdered or was accidentally killed by the MACC officers who were forcibly trying to extract a confession from him.

Ahmad Sarbani's death appears to meet this pattern and because of this Malaysians are even more convinced that he did not commit suicide. In fact, Ahmad Sarbani's death reinforces the belief even more that Beng Hock did not also commit suicide.

Whatever the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry may be with regards to these two deaths, Malaysians have already decided that the two deaths are not suicides and that the government is trying to cover up this evil deed by fabricating reports and evidences.

However you look at it, these two incidences are going to have a negative impact on the government come the next general election.

Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) Investigating Officer (I.O.) ASP Zuhairi Mohamed did a thorough check on the late Customs Department Deputy Director Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed's assets and found that there was no unusual or extraordinary wealth.

He had only three modest cars -- a Perodua Kancil, a second-hand Honda CRV and a Proton Persona -- and a Modenas Kriss bike, which he rode to the MACC office on that unfortunate morning of 6th April, the day of his death.

He owned an apartment in Bukit Tinggi, Klang (RM65,872), an apartment in Puncak Alam (RM68,988), a Semi-D cluster house in Saujana Impian in Sungai Buloh (RM230,000) and RM35,000 in savings in Amanah Saham Bumiputra.

All these were duly accounted for.

The only significant asset, which was the Semi-D house, was bought via a government loan drawn from his wife's savings with the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), which she had withdrawn when she turned 50.

ASP Zuhairi then interviewed Wan Zainal Abidin and found out something more perplexing.

MACC Senior Investigating Officer (S.I.O.) Abdul Ghani had said that Ahmad Sarbani had implicated Wan Zainal and that he was the last person whom Ahmad Sarbani and Abdul Ghani had called just before his death.

This meant that Ahmad Sarbani was already in MACC's custody when he died. And this shows that Dato' Mustafar Ali had lied in his press statement.

In all, Wan Zainal gave three statements to ASP Zuhairi because AG Gani Patail was not satisfied when this man had steadfastly denied being involved in any bribery each and every time.

The reason for these three statements is because AG Gani Patail and Abu Kassim wanted the police to 'wrap up' this 'suicide' case by pointing to Wan Zainal as the cause of the fear and the resulting death of Ahmad Sarbani. They were bent of coming out with a verdict of 'suicide' so they needed the 'cause' but failed.

The mention of the AG's name did not intimidate Wan Zainal who insisted to ASP Zuhairi that "saya takkan fitnahkan orang yang dah meninggal" (I will not defame a dead man) just for convenience. ASP Zuhairi also discovered that the background of Wan Zainal is not consistent with someone who would give bribes.

Wan Zainal is a God-fearing man and the Imam Jenazah of his surau. His salary and allowances are very modest. He voluntarily gave his last three years bank statements to DSP Shafie, which showed there was hardly any money for him to survive monthly, what more to bribe Ahmad Sarbani or any other Customs officer for that matter to the tune of billions of ringgit.

Wan Zainal also told ASP Zuhairi that on the eve of 4th April, he had met Ahmad Sarbani who apologised to him because he was forced by S.I.O. Abdul Ghani to implicate Wan Zainal. Since Wan Zainal worked for one of the largest forwarding companies in the country as well as globally it would be believable that this company would pay the biggest bribes to clear goods.

Upon realising that he had been tricked to implicate his innocent friends, Ahmad Sarbani told Wan Zainal that he would put things right.

On the morning of 6th April at about 9.50 am, S.I.O. Abdul Ghani had asked Ahmad Sarbani to summon Wan Zainal to the MACC office. By the time Wan Zainal arrived at around noon, Ahmad Sarbani had been killed.

At 2.00pm, S.I.O. Abdul Ghani met Wan Zainal and asked him to assist in giving a story to the police that would support the MACC's spin that Ahmad Sarbani committed suicide because he was under pressure. Wan Zainal was also asked to coordinate the timing of certain calls and events to corroborate the MACC's diary.

To absolve himself, S.I.O. Abdul Ghani also told a close friend that on the morning of 6th April, another MACC I.O. by the name of Shaikh had tried to upstage his leadership of the investigation by reporting to Mohd Fauzi that Ahmad Sarbani would not agree to be 'cooperative'. This caused Mohd Fauzi to go ballistic who directed Shaikh and another officer, Kamal, to apply pressure on Ahmad Sarbani.

S.I.O. Abdul Ghani felt slighted that Shaikh was trying to gain prominence over him in this 'big case'.

Abdul Ghani also confided that he saw Ahmad Sarbani with Shaikh and Kamal who were applying 'pressure techniques' and was making Ahmad Sarbani sign the acknowledgement form for the seizure of his telephone when Ahmad Sarbani was killed.

To pacify the Malaysian public, I.O. Shaikh and I.O. Kamal have been suspended indefinitely and this created a lot of enmity within the Selangor MACC, especially because S.I.O. Abdul Ghani was being protected by Yusof Akope and Mohd Fauzi.

Part 4 will follow tomorrow where we will reveal a massive cover-up and lying exercise aimed at hiding the fact that Ahmad Sarbani did not commit suicide but was murdered.

Ahmad Sarbani's death: the lies and deceptions by the MACC (part 1)  

Ahmad Sarbani's death: the lies and deceptions by the MACC (part 2) 

 

Something that never happened and never can happen

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 08:55 PM PDT

This article is an imaginary situation. This incident never happened and never can happen in a country like Malaysia. Nevertheless, let us break away from the reality of our miserable lives and allow our imagination to run wild just for once and fantasize just like in a Hollywood movie.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Your Honour, Article 5(3) of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia says: Where a person is arrested he shall be informed as soon as may be of the grounds of his arrest and shall be allowed to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice.

My client may be regarded as a Muslim, Your Honour, and I stress the word 'regarded', as we shall come to that again later, and I am a self-professed atheist, but as Your Honour can clearly see, the Constitution stipulates that my client is allowed to be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice.

Your Honour can't forbid me from representing my client on the basis of my religion, or in this case my rejection of religion. To do so would be a violation of the Constitution and therefore a breach of my client's fundamental liberties and civil rights.

This court cannot impose any other laws and rules on my client, religious or otherwise, as Article 4(1) of the Constitution says: This Constitution is the supreme law of the Federation and any law passed after Merdeka Day which is inconsistent with this Constitution shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.

This means, Your Honour, the Constitution reigns supreme and overrides all other laws, especially if those laws were passed after 31st August 1957 and are opposed to and inconsistent with the Constitution.

In this case, Your Honour, this court cannot forbid me from acting for my client based on my religion or non-religion as the Constitution says that my client can be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice and there is no stipulation in the Constitution as to the religion of that practitioner.

Your Honour, Article 5(1) of the Constitution says: No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty save in accordance with law.

This means, Your Honour, the proper laws must be applied and these laws must be consistent with and in compliance to the Constitution and any laws passed after 31st August 1957 that are in violation of the Constitution are void.

In other words, Your Honour, this court cannot move the goalposts, so to speak.

Your Honour, Article 6(1) of the Constitution says: No person shall be held in slavery.

Your Honour, we shall be calling expert witnesses who will testify that religion is a form of slavery and therefore to impose religion on my client is to subject my client to slavery.

Our expert witnesses are renowned psychologists with no less than 40 years experience and who have lectured and written numerous books on the matter. They have also conducted intensive studies to determine that since time immemorial the ruling elite has been using religion to control and imprison the minds of the populace and subject them to mental slavery, which is more effective and dangerous than physical slavery.

Your Honour, Article 8(1) of the Constitution says: All persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law.

Now, my client is being denied this right, Your Honour. He is being brought before this court because he is regarded as a Muslim and has openly professed that he is an atheist who does not believe in the existence of God. However, if he were not regarded as a Muslim he would not have been subjected to this trial.

This means, Your Honour, my client is being prosecuted because of his faith, or in this case his rejection of faith, which also means he is not being treated equal before the law or being given equal protection of the law.

Would someone who is not regarded as a Muslim be subjected to what my client is being subjected to? Would a non-Muslim who rejects his faith be here today? The answer, Your Honour, is no! So this is a violation of Article 8(1) of the Constitution.

If Your Honour were to look at Article 8(2) of the Constitution, it says: Except as expressly authorized by this Constitution, there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground only of religion, race, descent or place of birth in any law relating to the acquisition, holding or disposition of property or the establishing or carrying on of any trade, business, profession, vocation or employment.

Your Honour, my client is being discriminated against because of his religion, or rejection of it, and this, again, is a violation of the Constitution.

Your Honour, Article 11(1) of the Constitution says: Every person has the right to profess and practice his religion and, subject to Clause (4), to propagate it.

This means, Your Honour, this court cannot take away the right of my client to believe in whatever he wants to believe in or not believe in whatever he chooses to not believe.

This court may argue that Article 11(4) of the Constitution overrides Article 11(1). Article 11(4) says: State law and in respect of the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan, federal law may control or restrict the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among persons professing the religion of Islam.

This Article merely talks about propagation, not belief. My client is not propagating anything, especially to persons professing the religion of Islam.

Now, Your Honour, let us go to the laws of Islam, in this case the Quran, the only true guidance for those who profess the religion of Islam.

Chapter 2, verse 256 of the Quran says: Let there be no compulsion in religion.

Your Honour, the Quranic passage, la ikraha fi d-dini, or there is no compulsion in religion, is generally understood to mean that no one should use compulsion against another in matters of faith.

As it is understood here, Your Honour, this statement represents a principle of religious tolerance.

Historically, the People of the Book, that is, the members of the older religions, particularly the Jews and the Christians, were in principle never compelled to accept Islam. They were obliged, while residing in any territory under Islamic domination, only to recognise the supremacy of Muslims and, at the same time, as an external indication of this recognition, to pay a separate tax.

In all other matters they could maintain their inherited beliefs and perform their practices as usual. They were even allowed to establish their own internal administration.

The situation, however, was different for members of the pre-Islamic pagan Arab society. After Islam became established and had extended its power over the whole of Arabia, the pagan Arabs were forcefully compelled to accept Islam. To state it more accurately, they had to choose either to accept Islam or face death in battle against the Muslims.

This regulation was later sanctioned in Islamic law that came long after the death of the Prophet Muhammad.

However, Your Honour, all this stands in open contradiction to the meaning of the Quranic statement: la ikraha fi d-dini. The non-Muslims at that time were clearly compelled to accept Islam unless they preferred to die.

In view of these circumstances we must return to the real meaning of la ikraha fi d-dini. And this, Your Honour, becomes clearer in chapter 10, verse 100 of the Quran, which says: And if thy Lord willed, all who are in the earth would believe together. Wouldst thou compel men until they are believers?

In other words, Your Honour, the Quran says that God could have made all people of the same faith had He wanted to but He purposely did not. And the Quran questions us: Wouldst thou compel men until they are believers?

That means the Quran is asking us whether we are trying to do what God Himself does not do.

Your Honour, in the contemporary world of Islam, the acknowledgement of religious tolerance is well established. And it is made clearer in the Quranic statement: la ikraha fi d-dini.

Your Honour, we must always keep in mind that in many ways the circumstances governing early Islam differed from those of today and that the presuppositions for a general and complete religious tolerance were not given at that time.

And that brings us to my client's case, Your Honour. Is this court empowered to try my client and impose upon him not only what the Constitution forbids but what the Quran also clearly does not propagate or allow?

Is this court playing God and doing the job of God when the Quran clearly states that God could have made everyone of the same faith if He had wanted to but intentionally did not?

This, Your Honour, will be what the Defence will be raising if this court persists in continuing with this trial and refuses to withdraw the charge of apostasy against my client.

 

Ahmad Sarbani’s death: the lies and deceptions by the MACC (part 2)

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 01:00 AM PDT

The first thing that ASP Zuhairi did was to interview Ahmad Sarbani's colleagues and he discovered a totally different picture of this much-maligned dead man. ASP Zuhairi obtained witness statements that Ahmad Sarbani was a responsible and hardworking officer who was ever so helpful to everyone who dealt with the Export & Import Section of Port Klang Customs Dept.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Dato Seri Abu Kassim was the Deputy Chief Commissioner of the MACC when Teoh Beng Hock died in custody in 2009. When news first broke about what they are trying to mislead us and classify as 'suicide', the then Selangor MACC Director, Hishamudin Hashim, panicked and ran to Abu Kassim to get 'further instructions'.

Teoh Beng Hock in happier times

The Teoh Beng Hock Royal Commission of Inquiry (TBH RCI) has since found damning evidence of lies and manipulation of facts by the MACC to cover up what had transpired at that time -- including the revelation that MACC officers have the habit of watching pornography in the office.

To divert public attention from this damning evidence, on 1st April 2011, Abu Kassim, who by now was the MACC Chief Commissioner, launched a nationwide blitz against the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (Jabatan Kastam) by sensationalising the 'news' that Customs officers had colluded with hundreds of freight forwarders to fleece the government of RM108 billion in tax revenues.

Things went terribly wrong for the MACC when, on 6th April at about 11.00am, Customs Deputy Director Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed was found dead, thrown out of the third floor of the brand new MACC office building at Jalan Cochrane in Kuala Lumpur. 

Police officers removing Ahmad Sarbani's body from MACC's KL Office

The MACC Director of Investigations, Datuk Mustafar Ali, gave an immediate press statement that evening that Ahmad Sarbani had come to the MACC office voluntarily and without an appointment.

MACC Investigations Director Dato' Mutafar Ali justifying the Customs officer's death at the MACC office

Malaysia Today has now received a report from 'Deep Throats' within the MACC as well as within the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) that Datuk Mustafar's statement was a lie and calculated to deny the fact that Ahmad Sarbani died in MACC's custody, just like what happened to Teoh Beng Hock.

This is what Malaysia Today's Deep Throat in the MACC said:

"The MACC's leadership cannot be trusted. They lied and tried to cover up Teoh Beng Hock's death. And now they are doing the same again in Ahmad Sarbani's death."

The MACC needed something sensational that can overshadow its battered reputation in the TBH RCI. They lied to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak by saying that widespread corruption by the Royal Malaysian Customs had caused the government to suffer tax losses of RM108 billion.

That got Najib excited. You see, Malaysia is going broke and Najib needed that revenue very badly and he thought that this was one way for the country to 'earn money'.

The Selangor part of the investigation is coordinated by its Director, Yusof Akope, and his deputy, Mohd Fauzi. The Senior Investigating Officer (S.I.O.) for this case is Abdul Ghani.

However, instead of conducting fair and unbiased investigations and telling the truth, these three concocted unverified intelligence to support the MACC HQ's plan to make the allegations of the loss of RM108 billion believable.

They must have learned this from the CIA, which had fabricated false intelligence reports on weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in order to support President Bush's plan to invade Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Now the whole world knows that Saddam never had any WMDs. But the end had justified the means -- Saddam has been hung dead.

The Malaysian government-owned mainstream media was roped in to sensationalise the raids and arrests of 62 Customs officers in Penang, Johor, Selangor and Pahang by a special task force, which purportedly comprised the MACC, the Inland Revenue Board, Bank Negara and the Customs Department.

The subsequent reaction of the Customs Department D-G, Dato' Mohamed Khalid Yusuf, who expressed shock and unhappiness over the exaggerated tax losses and the death is very telling. In fact, the top leadership of the Customs Department was actually in the dark over the MACC plans and did not know anything about what was going on -- contrary to what we were told.

Customs D-G Dato' Khalid (centre) clarifying the MACC's erroneous allegations with FMM President Tan Sri Mustafa Mansur and FMM Customs Committee vice-chairman Datuk Tan Kwong Jin

The targets did not require much intelligence to identify. Going by the theory that the revenue losses were from import and export activities, they simply zoomed in on the custom entry points and presumed that all the officers in these divisions were corrupted.

That was how the MACC led these raids. There were no prior investigations. All the MACC had to work on are hunches. But they didn't care because the objective was to divert public attention from the TBH RCI. That was what the disbanded APCO Public Relations firm had taught them -- it is all about managing public perception.

In the days that followed the sensational raids, the mainstream media kept playing up the story leaked by the MACC itself about one officer who purportedly had several million ringgit in his bank account while another had almost RM1 million. Two others were alleged to have more than RM500,000 each. Stories of the sweeping raids recovering gold bars and more than RM600,000 in cash stored in several bags were played up to the maximum.

With such strong 'evidence', you would imagine that these officers would have been charged by now. It has been two months since the raids and arrests, yet not one officer has been charged!

In the meantime, Yusof Akope, Mohd Fauzi and Abdul Ghani continued to smear the name of the dead Ahmad Sarbani as a very corrupted officer and painted him as the mastermind of the multi-billion ringgit Customs Department scam.

They told the Police I.O., ASP Zuhairi Mohamed, that Ahmad Sarbani jumped off the MACC building and committed suicide because he was afraid that the MACC investigations would show the billions of cash that he had stashed away. They even dubbed the case as the 3B case (RM3 billion).

See how fast it came down from RM108 billion to a mere RM3 billion!

They also told ASP Zuhairi and DSP Shafie that Ahmad Sarbani had admitted that he received bribes from Ah Seng of Top Mark Freightforwarding and Wan Zainal Abidin of Schenker Logistics.

The first thing that ASP Zuhairi did was to interview Ahmad Sarbani's colleagues and he discovered a totally different picture of this much-maligned dead man. ASP Zuhairi obtained witness statements that Ahmad Sarbani was a responsible and hardworking officer who was ever so helpful to everyone who dealt with the Export & Import Section of Port Klang Customs Department.

ASP Zuhairi found out that stories of Ahmad Sarbani being stressed out were also untrue. On 4th April, during Zuhur prayers at the Customs surau in Port Klang, Ahmad Sarbani was seen hugging and consoling fellow officer Basharuddin who had just been released from MACC remand.

According to Basharuddin, Ahmad Sarbani had told him to have faith in God and not to be afraid, as the truth will prevail.

Apparently, Ahmad Sarbani was also an Imam Zuhur of that surau and was a pious Muslim. To ASP Zuhairi, all these are not consistent with the conduct of a stressed-out, corrupted officer who committed suicide. 

And tomorrow we shall continue this story with part 3, so stay tuned.

Ahmad Sarbani's death: the lies and deceptions by the MACC (part 1)

 

Ahmad Sarbani’s death: the lies and deceptions by the MACC (part 1)

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 07:11 PM PDT

And so it is with regards to the MACC. Those in the Royal Malaysian Customs Department have no one to turn to. They don't trust the PDRM. They don't trust the MACC. But they trust Malaysia Today. So they have asked Malaysia Today to let truth be told. And that is what we are going to do.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

We from the civil society movements are extremely unhappy about the rampant corruption in Malaysia that threatens to reduce the country to the status of a failed state. But what can we do about it other than lament and reveal what we know? Not that anything is going to be done about what we reveal.

Hey, we even revealed that the Attorney-General is bonking one of his Directors. And know what? Not only has nothing been done about it but he is still bonking her until today in spite of everyone knowing about it.

"So why bother?" many may ask. Well, our job is just to reveal the truth whether anything is done about it or not. We even reveal the misconduct of the opposition although we get vilified and are called traitors and are accused of being bought off.

It is what we do -- never mind how unpopular that makes us. And if you don't like it, tough! That's your problem, not mine.

Talking about corruption, I still remember back in the 1980s when I spoke to the Deputy IGP, Tun Haniff Omar's number two, about corruption in the police force and he said that if they want to eradicate corruption they would have to sack 97% of the police force.

I did not ask Tan Sri Amin whether he is in the 3% or the 97%.

I also remember back in the 1990s when the Director of ACA Terengganu named Zainal launched corruption investigations against senior government officers and Umno leaders. It appeared like 100% of these people, Menteri Besar Wan Mokhtar Ahmad included, were going to be sent to jail.

Wan Mokhtar called Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Zainal was transferred within 24 hours.

So, yes, there are some good and dedicated Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA, now called MACC) officers. But then if they were to do the job they have been entrusted to do they would suffer persecution, 24-hour transfers, sent into 'cold storage' and whatnot. So it is not worth doing your job. Better, as one Member of Parliament said: you 'close one eye'.

Closing two eyes plus your mouth and ears as well may be even better. Then you would go far.

So whom do people turn to when they are unhappy and distrust the very institutions that are supposed to be the trustees of the public? To the police? Pleeeeeez! To the MACC? What? And get thrown out of the window?

Luckily lawyer Rosli Dahlan was detained overnight in the MACC lockup in Putrajaya, which is underground. If not he would have also been found dead on the ground floor.

Can you imagine the newspaper headlines the next day if Rosli had died?

"Lawyer Rosli Dahlan was found dead on the ground floor of the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya. Rosli was suspected to have jumped out of MACC's underground lockup and landed on the ground floor."

Yes, as in the movie 'Ghost Buster', whom do you call? The Police? MACC? No, you call the Ghost Busters! You contact Malaysia Today. You come to Malaysia Today to ask that the truth be told.

And so it is with regards to the MACC. Those in the Royal Malaysian Customs Department have no one to turn to. They don't trust the PDRM. They don't trust the MACC. But they trust Malaysia Today. So they have asked Malaysia Today to let truth be told. And that is what we are going to do.

So stay tuned and tomorrow we shall tell you part two of the story "Ahmad Sarbani's death: the lies and deceptions by the MACC", a story that will shock you.

Just when you thought it is safe to go into the water, as they said in the movie 'Jaws'. That's right, there are many sharks in Malaysia. But not all sharks swim in the water. Many sharks walk on two feet. And many sharks wear uniforms. And many sharks are under the protection of Umno.

In fact, many of these sharks are actually instruments of those who walk in the corridors of power. They are instruments to take down those critical of the government. They are tools used to silence dissent.

And what worries those who walk in the corridors of power is that many who work for the government no longer trust the government but trust Malaysia Today more. And that is why they come to Malaysia Today to tell their story. And this is why they want Malaysia Today to reveal what they told us.

Now, hold on for part two where we reveal what our Deep Throat in the Customs Department told us.

 
Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

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Let’s see who’s bigger, Perkasa dares Bersih

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 01:16 PM PDT

(TMI) KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — Claiming the support of 36 NGOs, Perkasa threw down the gauntlet last night to organisers of the Bersih gathering to see who could rally more support when the two groups face off in the federal capital on July 9.

The Malay rights group said that it had no choice but to take to the streets to counter election watchdogs Bersih because "if we don't, then the world will think that they have the support of all Malaysians."

"Wait for July 9, then we will see who has more," Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali told reporters after chairing a roundtable meeting with representatives from various NGOs.

The Pasir Mas MP insisted the 37 NGOs including Perkasa was not trying to "create chaos" as alleged by critics but simply wanting to show that "we are rakyat as well."

"The Bersih gathering has a hidden political agenda to cause chaos. There is no justification to gather hundreds of thousands simply to ask for free and fair elections when the Election Commission has already answered.

Ibrahim says Perkasa is not out to cause mischief. — file pic

"Please don't assume we are trying to create chaos. That makes no sense at all. Our stand is simple. They march, we march. They cancel, we cancel. We don't want them to say they are doing this in the name of the rakyat. We are also the rakyat," he said.

Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/lets-see-whos-bigger-perkasa-dares-bersih/

As mainstream media fails, BN takes on Pakatan in ceramahs

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 01:02 PM PDT

(TMI) KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — With the young ignoring mainstream media, Barisan Nasional (BN) is now penetrating the ceramah circuit to vie for support among the urban youth — a key demographic in the next general election.

Bypassing the print and broadcast media it controls and admitting that "online media cannot be controlled," Umno Youth leaders told The Malaysian Insider it has been trying to break Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) stranglehold on public speaking events.

"These new voters don't get mainstream media. They don't watch Warta Perdana or Buletin Utama," said Lokman Noor Adam, BN Youth's Unit Pidato (public speaking unit) chief, referring to the primetime news programmes on RTM1 and TV3.

He said that the unit, established by Khairy Jamaluddin after he became Umno Youth chief in March 2009, was an effort to address BN's poor performance and response when holding ceramahs, forums and debates.

"We didn't have anyone who can convince the public and break down the claims of opposition speakers. We also failed when it came to organising these programmes and mobilising large crowds to attend," the Umno Youth executive council member said.

He told The Malaysian Insider that those under 40 make up 80 per cent of newly registered voters. Between Election 2008 to the next GE, they will grow from 41 to 49 per cent of the electorate.

Alternative media channels have chipped away at the advantage BN holds from its control of both print and broadcast media.

The latest Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) figures for the year ended June 30, 2010 showed that the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia lost 5.9 per cent of its circulation from the previous year, dropping from 181,346 to just 170,558 copies.

The ABC report also showed The Star's circulation dropping from 295,479 to 286,409 (-3.1 per cent), the New Straits Times from 120,770 to 109,341 (-9.5 per cent), and Berita Harian from 183,187 to 160,597 (-12.3 per cent).

Meanwhile, social media networks usage among Malaysians has grown exponentially, with 9.5 million Facebook accounts registered as of January 2011. Both PKR and DAP have also set up websites to cater for the Facebook generation that will vote for the first time in the next general election.

Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/as-mainstream-media-fails-bn-takes-on-pakatan-in-ceramahs/

Bersih rally: Hindraf opts out

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 12:57 PM PDT

(FMT) The movement's leader says since Pakatan failed to endorse its 18-point demand, Hindraf will not participate in the rally.

PETALING JAYA: Hindraf Makkal Sakti will not be participating in the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally, said its leader P Uthayakumar.

"We are not participating because Pakatan Rakyat failed to endorse our 18-point demand made in 2007," he added in a press statement.

Uthayakumar was responding to a news report that linked the Hindraf rally to the first Bersih rally in 2007 that swung public sentiment against the government during the 2008 general election.

The former Internal Security Act detainee said back then, the movement supported Pakatan because it did not have a choice.

"Hindraf did not have a political choice but to give the unconditional political directions to support Pakatan. But after the 2008 general election, it became more plain and obvious that PKR, DAP and PAS like the Umno-BN regime only wanted Indian votes," he said.

Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/06/15/bersih-rally-hindraf-opts-out/

Police brace for hackers’ attack

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 12:55 PM PDT

(NST) Police are working with several government agencies in preparing for the "worst" in the event a group of international hackers carry out their threat against the country.

Calling themselves "Anonymous", the international hacker group has threatened to sabotage and disrupt the Malaysian government's official online portal tomorrow.

Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Syed Ismail Syed Azizan said police were working with the National Security Council and CyberSecurity Malaysia in tracking and monitoring the group.

"We are looking at various measures to identify the hackers and take steps to prevent the attack." He said several IT experts had been roped in for this effort.

The group, believed to be made up of hackers worldwide, claimed they were targeting the Malaysian government after noticing unreasonable censorship in the country.

The group specified that the recent blocking of file-sharing and sites, such as The Pirate Bay and WikiLeaks, as the reason for their outrage and threat.

In a message at pastebin.com, the group claimed that the Malaysian gover nment's censorship was similar to taking away basic human rights.

"Malaysia is one of the world's strictest governments, even blocking out movies, and television shows.

"These acts of censorship are inexcusable," the group said. The group threatened to carry out the hacking, dubbed "Op eration Malaysia" at 7.30pm GMT (3.30am tomorrow local time) which can be accessed on a graphic poster at http://i.imgur.com/PTFWh.png.

The discovery of the threat was made by a computer security software firm officer in Finland, with an online notification at 4.42am yester - d ay.

Last week, Anonymous launched DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks on Turkish government websites, in protest against the government's plans to introduce Internet filter ing.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission said it was working with other government agencies to coordinate security measures to mitigate the attack.

It said in a statement that it was aware of the planned cyber attack on the malaysia.gov.my website through news reports on the matter.

RIM wants another file-sharing site blocked

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 12:52 PM PDT

(The Star) The Recording Industry Association of Malaysia (RIM) has called on the Government to ban another file-sharing site - jiwang.org.

 

It claimed that the site specialises in providing pirated Malaysian music recordings for illegal downloads.

RIM said the site also reaps lucrative advertising revenue from commercial organisations.

Last week, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) banned 10 file-sharing sites and called on local Internet service providers to block access to the sites.

RIM chairman Norman Abdul Halim lauded the Government's efforts to uphold copyright laws in cyberspace by taking action against the file-sharing sites.

The websites were among the most visited by Malaysians to illegally download movies.

He added that RIM had filed a complaint with the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry about jiwang.org.

Norman said the ban was a good starting point against illegal downloads, although savvy Internet users could still circumvent any blocks.

Malaysia is the first country in South-East Asia to block file-sharing sites, he said.

Although Internet censorship was against the MSC Malaysia Bill of Guarantees, which states that the Government will not censor the Internet, it was illegal to download pirated songs and movies, he said.

Not a single decent road in oil-rich Sabah

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 12:41 PM PDT

(FMT) The federal government had failed to build a modern road network in Sabah despite 47 years of nation-building, says a former minister.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is clearly not in the nation-building plans of the Barisan Nasional government in the last 47 years. For todate, "not a single decent trunk road or highway" has been built for the state.

A former Sabah minister, Kong Hong Ming, said the federal government had failed to build a modern road network in the state almost half a century since the formation of Malaysia.

He said Sabahans were still begging for infrastructural development despite regularly giving away 95% of the state's oil and gas resources to the federal government.

Kong, now a PKR leader, has accused the Umno-led BN federal government of taxing Sabahans and treating Sabah as a backwater.

"With all our oil and gas resources, there is not a single decent trunk road or highway in Sabah after 47 years.

"Worse still, almost all the trunk roads linking the major towns in Sabah are in bad shape due to lack of maintenance despite billion of ringgit spent on the task.

"Meanwhile, we watch and admire the modern and expensive communication system and networks in Peninsular Malaysia built and enjoyed by the people there.

"Obviously, what we have in Malaysia is one country with two systems of administration, with Sabah given lower priority in every aspect of development," Kong said, adding that the BN government had nothing to shout about in so far as development in Sabah was concerned.

Unserviceable roads

Kong, who is PKR's Tawau division chief, was commenting on numerous public complaints over the deteriorating condition of the controversial Sapulut-Kalabakan Road, constructed at a cost of RM565 million.

Kong, who happened to be the "whistle-blower" of the controversial project, also warned that the government might end up wasting another RM270 million of taxpayers' money on the "upgrading" of the road.

"It is almost certain that RM565 million of public funds spent on Sapulut-Kalabakan Road has gone to waste.

"It is also likely that the government will be throwing away another RM270 million for nothing without a proper study of the current resent deplorable conditions of road.

"It appears that the supposedly new road is now already beyond repair and re-construction is necessary," said Kong, a civil engineer.

He noted that the federal government had pledged in Parliament in April last year, an additional allocation of RM270 million for upgrading the road, which is meant to link Tawau to here.

However, to this day no upgrading has been done.

Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/06/15/not-a-single-decent-road-in-oil-rich-sabah/

Penan hunter-gatherers to be dumped in vast oil palm plantation

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 12:30 PM PDT

By Survival International

More than 1,000 Penan hunter-gatherers will be taken from their rainforest home and dumped in a vast oil palm plantation – to make way for the controversial Murum dam.

The Penan depend on their forest for survival. The Penan depend on their forest for survival.

The Penan have said they do not want to move, but have been given no choice. They told the government that if they had to leave they wanted to move to another part of their ancestral land.

Bulldozers clear land for oil palms, Metalon, Sarawak.
Bulldozers clear land for oil palms, Metalon, Sarawak.
© SCANE/ Survival

The government accepted this – but has sold the same area to the Malaysian company Shin Yang, which is clearing the forest and planting thousands of oil palms.

The Penan, who live in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, rely on their forest for hunting and collecting wild fruits and plants; without it they cannot survive.

In an emotional appeal the Penan said, 'Shin Yang has entered the area illegally without our consent. If it is allowed to extensively clear and fell the forest, there will be no more forest left for our community to sustain our livelihood'.

Murum Dam construction, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia.
Murum Dam construction, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia.
© Survival International

Survival's Director, Stephen Corry, said today, 'Even by the appalling standards of the Sarawak government, which has treated the Penan with contempt for decades, this is breathtakingly cynical. Not only is it forcing more than 1,000 people from the forests they have lived in for generations, it has sold off the area it promised them as a new home, and is allowing it to be cleared for plantations. It looks like the government won't be satisfied until the Penan are reduced to utter poverty and destitution.'


Note:

The Murum dam, due to come onstream next year, is the first in a series of twelve new hydroelectric dams that will flood Penan and other indigenous villages. 

The twelve new dams will facilitate the development of the 'Sarawak corridor of renewable energy' (SCORE), which will involve oil, timber, aluminium and palm oil enterprises and will further threaten the land of Sarawak's tribal people

WIKILEAKS: Syed Mokhtar al Bukhary's foray into Iran

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 01:00 AM PDT

SKS is small operation controlled by Syed Mokhtar al Bukhary, one of Malaysia's wealthiest industrialists with a Forbes Magazine estimated net worth of $2 billion. Much of Syed Mokhtar's personal wealth has been acquired in dealings with the GOM and GOM-linked corporations. He controls Malaysia Mining Corporation, DRB Hicom, Malakoff, and Gas Malaysia among other significant Malaysian operations.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUALA LUMPUR 000059

 

SIPDIS

 

STATE FOR EEB/ESC THAMMANG

STATE FOR EEB/TFS CBACKEMEYER

STATE FOR NEA/IR RWADHWANI

 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2020

TAGS: ECON, EFIN, ENIV, ENRG, EPET, ETTC, IR, KNNP, MY

SUBJECT: MALAYSIA: SKS VENTURES EXPLAINS ITS IRAN INVESTMENTS

 

REF: A. 09 STATE 121808

     B. KUALA LUMPUR 0037

 

Classified By: Econ Counselor Matt Matthews for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

 

1.  (C) Summary: SKS Ventures (SKS) CEO Abang Iskandar Muas (Iskandar) met with Econoff January 19 to discuss SKS plans to develop the Golshan and Ferdowsi gas fields (G&F) in Iran.

Iskandar said that the GOM had initially negotiated the deal with the GOI and handed the project to SKS just prior to signing.  Iskandar told us that development of the G&F fields is going slowly because sanctions impeded National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) ability to perform basic due diligence functions.  He also stated that NIOC has been extremely difficult to work with and that the initial buyback service contract signed in Dec. 2007 is the only commercial agreement between SKS and NIOC. 

SKS's only investment over the past two years since the announcement was limited to staff time from their 15 employees and air tickets for meetings with a total value under $1 million, according to Iskandar.  He was pessimistic on prospects for the deal and said that SKS is considering pulling out altogether. 

However, he emphasized SKS would need GOM approval prior to exiting the transaction because Malaysian Trade Ministry and Foreign Ministry officials had encouraged SKS to enter into the deal in the first place and had reconfirmed GOM support for trade cooperation with Iran at a recent meeting. 

Iskandar also denied reports of SKS participation with NIOC in a refinery projects in Syria and Indonesia and downplayed its deal with NIOC which is under review in Malaysia.  End Summary.

2.  (C) Comment:  SKS is small operation controlled by Syed Mokhtar al Bukhary, one of Malaysia's wealthiest industrialists with a Forbes Magazine estimated net worth of $2 billion.  Much of Syed Mokhtar's personal wealth has been acquired in dealings with the GOM and GOM-linked corporations.  He controls Malaysia Mining Corporation, DRB Hicom, Malakoff, and Gas Malaysia among other significant Malaysian operations. 

Post believes Iskandar is a credible interlocutor that provided an important window on the GOM's role in the deal and SKS current thinking on the transaction. Iskandar seemed genuinely frustrated that the G&F deal turned out to be an empty business proposition due to NIOC incompetence and Iran sanctions.  Other oil and gas industry contacts have confirmed the small size and scope of the SKS operation.    End Comment.

SKS Ventures

3.  (C) Econoff met January 19 with SKS Ventures (SKS) CEO Abang Iskandar Muas (Iskandar) to discuss the SKS intentions to develop the Golshan and Ferdowsi gas fields (G&F) in Iran and implications under the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA).

Iskandar mentioned early in our conversation that Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Senior Director Wong had called him January 15 informing him that the embassy had been trying to contact him and he needed to meet with us. Econoff delivered ref A points and offered additional background on our information request. 

According to Iskandar, SKS has 15 full time employees and works on projects outside of Malaysia for Syed Mokhtar.  Iskandar is an experienced O&G industry professional, having worked for Shell Oil USA (based in Houston) for fifteen years in Sarawak, Saudi Arabia (where he was VP for Finance and Human Resources), and Kuala Lumpur prior to assuming his current position with SKS two and one half years ago. 

Iskandar fondly reminisced of his frequent travel to the U.S. for business and family vacations prior to assuming his position at SKS.

Golshan and Ferdowsi: G2G Agreement

4.  (C) Iskandar said the G&F deal grew out of government-to-government negotiations between Malaysia and Iran during 2007.  The GOM brought SKS to the table late in the negotiations, according to Iskandar, finalizing a buyback service contract between SKS and National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) in December 2007. 

He added that SKS entered into the agreement based on the GOM's policy of expanding trade cooperation with Iran and the belief that the business climate for oil and gas (O&G) in Iran was improving during 2005-6. 

Iskandar said that the initial business strategy was for SKS to plan the project, NIOC to perform physical due diligence (appraisals, seismic analysis, feasibility studies, etc.), and, once the project was ready to start, sell controlling interest, at a profit, to an international oil company that could bring resources to develop the fields.

Iskandar commented, "We have no wells, no drilling rigs, no facilities, no experts, and no technology" to implement a project the size of G&F.  His explanation as to why the Iranians would enter in to a transaction the size of G&F with such a small entity was, "in order to be friendly to the government (of Malaysia)."

NIOC Difficulties

5.  (C) Working with NIOC, according to Iskandar had been "extremely difficult."  He added, "we should have taken a lesson from Petronas" claiming that Petronas will not deal with NIOC any longer because NIOC still owed a substantial amount of money to Petronas from its buyback service contract for South Pars Phases 2 and 3. 

Iskandar said that NIOC has made no progress on its due diligence obligations at G&F due to international contractors refusing to work in Iran because of sanctions.  He complained that SKS and NIOC also have not reached any commercial agreements on the project in the last two years. 

Iskandar stated, "We have no idea how we would be paid.  NIOC has not agreed to LNG and we have no interest in selling gas domestically.  Iran uses most of their gas to inject into their oil fields to get more oil or to produce heavily subsidized electricity." 

He listed numerous other problems plaguing the project related to Iran sanctions such as the inability to import LNG technology or hire expat expertise, a low likelihood that Iranian LNG could be consistently sold on the open market, and NIOC's lack of access to financing.

SKS Ready to Walk Away

6.  (C) Iskandar described the SKS agreement with NIOC on G&F as "barely hanging on" and that SKS is currently deciding whether to stay in or pull out, and added, "The decision will come sooner rather than later."  He viewed the buyback service contract as having "no commercial value" at this time. 

He noted though that Syed Mokhtar's close connections to the Malaysian government mean SKS will not move on a G&F decision without policy direction from the GOM.  "We do not want to be on the wrong side of the government and we have not heard from PM Najib", according to Iskandar.  However, he added that SKS has "no money in the ground" in Iran, because the firm did not pay an initial "signing bonus" as the buyback service contract did not carry any vested rights to the gas. 

He also stated that SKS management is aware of the change in the international political environment with regard to Iran and is "not entrenched," implying SKS would quickly drop the transaction if permitted by the GOM.

Another View of the MITI Meeting

7.  (C) Iskandar offered a different account of the recent meeting between MITI and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) officials and officers from the three Malaysian companies listed in ref A.  Iskandar said that after the companies answered MITI queries on their Iran investments, the companies, especially Petronas, pushed back at MITI and MFA asking "What is the government's stance on trade cooperation with Iran?" and "Should we adjust our investment strategies?"

MITI responded that the GOM still supports trade cooperation with Iran, according to Iskandar.  (Comment: The MFA account of the meeting (ref B) was similar to Iskandar's but omitted the companies' questions and MITI's response.  End Comment.)

Other Announcements Inaccurate

8.  (C) Toward the close of the meeting, Iskandar addressed recent Iranian and Malaysian press announcements of SKS participation in other transactions with NIOC.  He stated that the GOM asked SKS to commission a feasibility study on a project with NIOC. It involved a refinery project in Kedah with a pipeline across the Malaysian Peninsula to Terengganu.

Iskandar commented that the pipeline is economically unwarranted and an Iranian partner likely makes the refinery unfeasible.  He added that recent announcements of SKS participation in a refinery project in Syria with Iranian and Venezuelan partners and SKS participation in an Indonesian refinery project with Pertamina and NIOC are blatantly false.

He said that the first SKS had heard of either project was in press reports.  He explained that SKS never issued denials of participation in the deals in order to avoid embarrassment in case the government was involved.

KEITH

 

Why Is Perkasa Against Bersih?

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 11:52 PM PDT

It may be that the Government takes no action against him because it considers him a clown, or even a paper tiger. Or it may be that he is actually helping the Government by opposing the Bersih 2.0 rally because the ruling party seemingly does not endorse the idea of free and fair elections. After all, the 2007 rally was partly instrumental in its loss of its two-thirds majority. The ruling party would no doubt be worried that another such rally could dim its prospects at the next general election.

by Kee Thuan Chye, Malaysian Digest  

MANY people have come to regard Ibrahim Ali as a clown, including Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz. One hopes Ibrahim was just talking like a clown when he recently announced that his organization, Perkasa, would oppose the planned Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9 by staging a counter-demonstration. "That means," as he himself says, "on that day, there will be confrontation."

This is militant talk. This is a threat to cause violence. And to add fuel to it, Ibrahim has pledge that in the event of a clash, "I will fight to the end".

But why would Perkasa want to oppose the Bersih 2.0 rally? The rally has nothing to do with race – it is not demonstrating against Malay supremacy, which Perkasa was set up to defend. The rally is calling for electoral and institutional reform. It is calling for the electoral roll to be cleaned up, postal voting to be reformed, indelible ink to be used at elections, all political parties to be given free and fair access to the media, automatic voter registration, a minimum of 21 days for the campaign period, the strengthening of public institutions, a stop to corruption, and a stop to dirty politics.

Is Perkasa against free and fair elections? Is it against calling for a stop to corruption?

Ibrahim explains: A big demonstration like the Bersih rally, which expects to draw about 100,000 protestors, will cause chaos. It could be like the protests in the Middle East.

Ibrahim thinks people will throw stones, burn cars, and injuries will result like in Tunisia.

History has shown that this was not the case during the last Bersih rally in 2007. About 40,000 people were estimated to have taken part then, but it was an entirely peaceful rally, except when the police fired water cannons and hurled tear gas at the protestors. No one was out to throw stones or burn cars.

This time around, the rally is expected to be peaceful as well, aimed at creating awareness among Malaysians of the need for electoral reform. If no one intervened, including the police, if the permit was granted and the police kept vigil merely to pre-empt untoward incidents, there should be no harm done.

So, what Ibrahim has predicted is unfounded. Besides, his reference to Tunisia is ironic. The protests there actually brought down an unpopular and repressive regime. Is such a positive cause, like Bersih 2.0's, to be spoken of in negative terms?

In fact, what will cause chaos is the clash that could result if Perkasa and the other NGOs he proposes to co-opt take to the streets at the same time to oppose the Bersih 2.0 rally. What he is proposing to do is the real danger. But Ibrahim knows he can get away with expressing it because he has always been untouched in the past. Many have been the times when he said things that could have caused him to be charged with sedition, but never has he been called to account for them. Last month, he said he would launch a jihad against Malaysian Christians if they tried to usurp the position of Islam, and before that, he had said other things that incited hatred against non-Malays.

It may be that the Government takes no action against him because it considers him a clown, or even a paper tiger. Or it may be that he is actually helping the Government by opposing the Bersih 2.0 rally because the ruling party seemingly does not endorse the idea of free and fair elections. After all, the 2007 rally was partly instrumental in its loss of its two-thirds majority. The ruling party would no doubt be worried that another such rally could dim its prospects at the next general election.

Whatever the reason or reasons, in the context of Ibrahim's current pronouncement, it looks bad for the Government. Speculation has already been rife that Perkasa is actually affiliated to Umno, that it is the organization to which Umno has outsourced the job of defending Ketuanan Melayu so that Umno is not seen to be racist; now, with Perkasa going outside of its prescribed agenda and raison d'etre as an organization to oppose Bersih 2.0, it appears to be another Government stooge.

In politics, perception often takes ascendancy over reality, so even if is not true that Perkasa is affiliated to Umno, the perception that it is has now been confirmed.

Ibrahim says he is stopping the Bersih 2.0 rally in the name of democracy. This is based on his reasoning that "there are people who do not agree with this rally". Well, fine. The people who do not agree have a right to express it publicly too. But by the same token, Bersih 2.0 has a right to stage its rally, so stopping it is actually anti-democratic.

He reportedly goes on to say that he is not worried by the expected Bersih 2.0 turnout of 100,000 people because most Malaysians will not accept the movement's demands. If he's not worried, then why bother to oppose it? He reasons that since Malaysia has a population of 27 million people, even if Bersih 2.0 were to bring 300,000 to the rally, there would still be 26 million plus who would not agree with it. His mathematics is okay, but his reasoning is clearly faulty and hopelessly warped.

Nazri may be right after all in calling Ibrahim Ali a clown. But even so, if there is a movement going on to campaign for reform, clowns should not be allowed to spoil the party. Especially if they are clowns who might start an unwanted fire.

 

PAS warns Perkasa against causing trouble

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 11:42 PM PDT

L-R: Hatta, Suhaizan and Mat Sabu

(Harakah Daily) - PAS leaders have warned UMNO's sister organisation Perkasa against any act of violence to thwart the planned rally on July 9 by electoral reform group Bersih.

Kuala Krai member of parliament Dr Hatta Ramli, who is also in the Bersih committee, described Perkasa's threat to disrupt the rally with its own gathering as "terrorist-like".

"We never stop Perkasa from gathering. But (we hope) it gathers to fight for (what it believes as) their right, not to stop us.

It looks like a physical war had been declared. That's not the way, this is terrorist way," Hatta said when met at the Parliament.

Perkasa's chief Ibrahim Ali vowed to stop the Bersih rally by countering it with a similar rally on July 9, hoping both gatherings would clash.

"(If they proceed) there will be a clash (pertembungan). If that happens, it is for the better. I cannot imagine, when they bring a big crowd and start throwing stones, burning cars...Perkasa will go down to make sure we stop (the Bersih rally)," said Ibrahim, who again invoked the term "jihad" to describe his right-wing activities.

"Jihad is to prevent bad things from happening... I have every right to stop (the rally)," he added.

Johor PAS Youth meanwhile said Ibrahim's plan to disrupt the Bersih rally was proof that Perkasa was only interested in creating trouble, and urged police to take action.

"The police with all their equipment should be able to use their wisdom to prevent any disturbance. They can ensure peace during the Bersih rally by placing policemen along the road leading to the Palace," said its leader Suhaizan Kayat, referring to Bersih leaders' plan to hand over a memorandum to the Agung on that day.

He added that if Perkasa's Ibrahim Ali (left) was interested in holding any gathering of their own, they can also be allowed to do so by using another route.

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said it was not up to Perkasa to determine whether chaos would happen during the Bersih rally, the second such major gathering in the city since its successful 2007 rally which saw tens of thousands demanding for electoral reforms before the general election.

Mat Sabu, saying Bersih chairperson had guaranteed the rally would be peaceful, said it was the police's job "to determine whether it is peaceful or not."

Mat Sabu also dismissed the threat from Ibrahim, while acknowledging Perkasa's right to gather.

"We will continue, Perkasa wants to do the gathering, it's their right. But Perkasa, if you really want to do a gathering, choose a different date, as this date (July 9) we have proposed long time ago," said Mat Sabu, who has been spearheading efforts to mobilise PAS members for the rally. Earlier at the PAS Muktamar, PAS had pledged 300,000 members to attend the rally.

Earlier, Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan said the group would not be cowed despite whatever the threats or police reports lodged.

"We will not be intimidated," she said.

 

Anwar vs Khairy: Seeking an out of court settlement

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 11:30 PM PDT

(Bernama) - The parties in a defamation suit brought by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim against Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin are to explore possibilities of an out-of-court settlement.

Khairy's counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told the media here today that High Court Judicial Commissioner Nik Hasmat Nik Mohamad had asked the parties to do this when meeting the parties in her chambers today.

Khairy was also represented by counsel Sarah Abishegam while counsel Mohd Haijan Omar acted for Anwar. Muhammad Shafee said he would discuss with his client (Khairy) on whether he agreed to settle the matter out-of-court.

The court set June 24 for case management for them to inform the court of their decision.
Anwar filed the suit on Sept 7, 2007, claiming that Khairy, who was then Umno Youth deputy chief, had defamed him at a political function in Kuala Kangsar, Perak, in August 2007.

He said the defamatory statements were carried by the print and electronic media in the country on Aug 3, 2007.

Anwar claimed that the statements portrayed him as a politician who could not be trusted by the Malays; who did not give importance to the struggle of the Malays and their rights; and that he was capable of betraying the Malay struggle and rights just to get the support of the non-Malays in the country.

Anwar contended that Khairy had made the statements to insinuate that he (Anwar) was a political agent of the United States and the Jews, as well as to ruin his political career, and that he had ill-intention when making the statements, which were lies, baseless and without truth.

Khairy defended in his statement of defence that the statements were made on an occasion of qualified privilege, justification and fair comment.

 

Parliament: Motion To Discuss Customs Officer Ahmad Sarbini's Assets Rejected

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 11:18 PM PDT

(Bernama) -- A motion to discuss the revelation of deceased Selangor Customs assistant director Ahmad Sarbani Mohamad's assets, was rejected at the Dewan Rakyat sitting, here, Tuesday.

Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandie rejected the motion tabled by Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) under Standing Order 18(2) as he found the matter to be not urgent.

"The case of Ahmad Sarbani's death has been referred by the police to the Attorney-General's Chambers whereby an inquest will be conducted.

"I'm also aware that the court had fixed July 4 to 15 for the inquest into the case. Therefore, I find the motion to be not urgent," he said.

Ahmad Sarbani, 56, who was attached to the Port Klang Customs office, was found dead on the badminton court located on the first floor of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) Federal Territory branch office in Jalan Cochrane, here, on April 6 this year.

He was reported to have gone to that office to meet an MACC investigation officer over an investigaiton into alleged corruption and money laundering involving 62 Customs officers.

When tabling the motion, Lim referred to a report by Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin that the police investigation into Ahmad Sarbani found that he had "no extraordinary wealth".

Following his death, reports had portrayed him as having a lot of assets which could imply that he was involved in corruption.

Lim urged that the police investigation be revealed before further action was taken including conducting an inquest or setting up a royal commission of inquiry.

 

Who Are They Trying To Kid?

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 09:36 PM PDT

Masterwordsmith

So what is the name of the game? Justify those expenses! Who will take responsibility for this? If it is not justified, who will pay? Certainly not the rakyat!!!

Have you heard this unbelievable news HERE:

A whopping RM1,758,432 was spent on developing six Facebook pages to promote Malaysian tourism, the Tourism Ministry said today.

Deputy Tourism Minister James Dawos Mamit said this today in reply to a question from Anthony Loke (Rasah-DAP).

Each Facebook page cost RM293,072 — Cuti-Cuti 1 Malaysia, Citrawarna 1Malaysia, Karnival Jualan Mega 1 Malaysia, Festival Pelancongan Seni Kontemporari 1 Malaysia, Kempen 1 Malaysia Bersih and Fabulous Food 1 Malaysia.

Mamit said that the RM1.8 million included costs for designing, flash programming and coding, testing and debugging, uploading and launching the application, system server deployment and campaign management.

"You need RM1.8 million to run Facebook pages and applications? A six-year-old can start a Facebook page.

"If Datuk Seri Ng Yen Yen has problems getting people to help start Facebook pages, DAP headquarters can help her out, we have people who can develop these things at no cost," Loke told reporters later at a press conference.

Loke said that unless Ng explained the reasons behind the "exorbitant" costs for the "social media branding" exercise by her ministry, he would lodge a report to the Malaysian Anti-Crimes Commission (MACC).


Come on!!! Who are they trying to kid? Anyone with some reasonable skills/exposure in FB can build a Facebook page with a few clicks here and there. Anyone knows that setting up a Facebook page is FREE so who are they trying to kid? Morons? Themselves?

Malaysians are not stupid idiots and we have the capacity to think, rationalize, criticize and demand for justification of our hard-earned money given to the government via taxes.

So what is the name of the game? Justify those expenses! Who will take responsibility for this? If it is not justified, who will pay? Certainly not the rakyat!!!

Spend spend spend...and then ask the rakyat to tighten their belts. Remove subsidies..then spend spend spend.

No wonder we cannot provide scholarships to worthy students. The money has gone here and there - every which way except the right way?

By Jove, this means that primary school students can be millionaires if they offer their services to that woman!!!

As if that is not enough, did you know that according to THIS WEBSITE:

Tourism Malaysia will be taking over five of London's iconic red double-decker buses, giving the capital's bustling transport system an altogether tropical feel!.

The bus campaign was launched today by the Minister of Tourism Malaysia, the Honourable Dato' Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen at a special reception at the Malaysian High Commission in Belgrave Square, London.

"We are really excited on the working partnership with Transport for London to promote our fantastic destination on the most recognised public transport system and the world's most iconic city that presents a great opportunity for Tourism Malaysia. We hope the buses can bring more sunshine and help put a smile on the faces of London's commuters," said, the Honourable Dato' Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen.

For the next 12 weeks, the buses will carry passengers on some of the busiest routes around London, covering the city's centre, north, east, and west, and being seen by millions of Londoners. They will also pass world famous tourist sites such as Big Ben, the Houses of parliament, Piccadilly Circus and Harrods.

Malaysia is world famed for its beaches. But with 14,500 flowering plants, 600 species of birds, 210 species of mammals and thousands of exotic insects and marine life, it is also one of the world's top 12 Biodiversity countries.

Londoners will be able to see giant exotic jungle and aquatic images of Malaysia as part of a drive to promote the country's hugely diverse nature, fantastic diving, and growing ecotourism industry.

 

READ MORE HERE (photo of bus included)

Himpunan BERSIH - Ahmad Maslan Ajak Rakyat Boikot

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 04:35 PM PDT

 

(KL Pos) - Ketua Penerangan UMNO Malaysia, Datuk Ahmad Maslan menggesa kesemua warganegara Malaysia membantah Perhimpunan anjuran Pembangkang iaitu BERSIH 2.0 yang dakwa beliau bakal menggugat keselamatan dan periuk nasi warga kota.

Beliau juga menggesa kesemua Pertubuhan dan Persatuan Kerajaan mahupun bukan Kerajaan membuat laporan polis sebagai bukti kukuh seterusnya mendesak agar pihak berkenaan menghentikan serta merta perancangan pembangkang.

Ahmad Maslan turut mendakwa Pembangkang kelihatan buta dengan kerusi DUN dan Parlimen yang diperolehi mereka setelah berjaya merampas 4 buah Negeri dan menguasai Parlimen di Wilayah Persekutuan pada Pilihanraya Umum ke 12 yang lalu.

Ini membuktikan bahawa amalan demokrasi melalui Pilihanraya Umum di Malaysia telus dan bersih dari anasir-anasir kotor.

Beliau turut menggesa Pembangkang menganjurkan Perhimpunan ini di dalam Stadium Tertutup yang lebih efisyen dan tidak mengganggu ketenteraman awam di samping tidak menghalang sebarang aktiviti perniagaan dilakukan oleh peniaga-peniaga di ibu kota.

Ahmad Maslan berkata demikian di dalam Sidang Akhbar di PWTC, disini sebentar tadi. Turut serta dalam Sidang tersebut Pengerusi PEKIDA Wilayah Persekutuan, Datuk Roslan Dahaman.

 

 

PAS will never cooperate with Umno, says Mat Sabu

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 04:21 PM PDT

 

(Bernama) - PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said the party would never cooperate with Umno even in the name of Malay unity, saying that it was tired of Umno's antics.

"We do not want a repeat of the 1969 incident when, after they win on the Barisan Nasional ticket, we are kicked out (of the coalition) before the following general election."

"Umno leaders are now trying to befriend PAS ... I will not respond to the extended hand," he said in a talk at the Kedah PAS complex here last night.

 

 

Umno turning into the old PAS

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 03:53 PM PDT

 

Regardless of the sincerity of the accusation, Umno and its allies insist that PAS is committing a political betrayal. They claim PAS is abandoning the Islamic state ideal and ejecting the ulama from party leadership. Rather than acknowledging the developments as simply a move to the centre, they are more comfortable accusing PAS of kowtowing to DAP.

Hafiz Noor Shams, The Malaysian Insider 

If one had opined that PAS was more of a centrist than Umno 10 years ago, nobody would have believed it. It would have been an outrageous opinion. Yet today, it is no longer so foreign a prospect.

The recently concluded PAS internal election is the latest evidence of the party's march to the centre. That election saw both the promotion of the so-called professional group to the leadership of the party and the adoption of a more realistic stance with regards to the Islamic state agenda.

The participation of PAS within Pakatan Rakyat has a lot to do with the reconfiguration of the party towards the political centre. While the criticism of ideological difference against the coalition as a whole remains valid, the alliance itself is the great engine that is pulling all of its members to a middle ground. That middle ground is proving to be the Malaysian centre.

This is should be contrasted with trends within Barisan Nasional, or really, just Umno.

Regardless of the sincerity of the accusation, Umno and its allies insist that PAS is committing a political betrayal. They claim PAS is abandoning the Islamic state ideal and ejecting the ulama from party leadership. Rather than acknowledging the developments as simply a move to the centre, they are more comfortable accusing PAS of kowtowing to DAP.

Betrayal or not, as with any move to the centre, those on the fringes will have less hold on the party. That will fuel some discontent.

Umno-owned Malay daily Utusan Malaysia wants Umno to appease the fringes. Assistant chief editor of Utusan Malaysia Zaini Hassan has gone as far as suggesting that Umno should have its own ulama wing, perhaps thinking that particular manoeuvre could outflank PAS.

He forgets that times are changed.

In the past, the Islamisation race between Umno and PAS always ended up with PAS being the loser. PAS did not budge even as Umno encroached on the traditional domain of the former. That allowed Umno to win centrist votes and gain some voters who could have voted for PAS.

That little trick might not work again after the latest PAS election.

With PAS slowly nudging towards the centre and Umno to the opposite direction, the Islamisation game has only one participant, and that is Umno. With enough momentum powering both sides, Umno might find itself taking the relatively more extreme position compared to PAS. This means Umno is at risk of becoming the loser this time around.

If both parties stay on their course, Umno will turn into the conservative party that PAS was. Meanwhile, PAS the centrist should be very happy with that.

 

Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, the Prodigal Son, may Return to PBS

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 03:48 PM PDT

Selvarajasomiah's Weblog

Remember Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, my good friend, that old gadfly of Sabah politics? Well, after spending several years on the margins of mainstream politics, the maverick at long last might be on his way back to the Parti Bersatu Sabah. The return of the prodigal, as it were, has the blessings of the PBS supremo, Pairin Kitingan.

Even though a couple of second rung leaders are rather apprehensive of their own place in the party should Dr Jeffrey be allowed to stage a comeback, Dr Maximus Ongkili is still opposed to his return, known to keep his own counsel in these matters, however, cannot be too pleased at the prospect of one of his more trenchant critics a more capable leader than him being allowed admittance in the PBS.

READ MORE HERE

 

Sarbaini inquest set for July 4

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 03:44 PM PDT

 

(The Malaysian Insider) - An inquest into the mysterious death of Selangor Customs assistant director Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed will be held from July 4 to July 15.

Sarbaini, 56, was found dead on the badminton court of the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) building in Jalan Cochrane on April 6 at about 10.20am, barely two hours after walking in.

His death, which occurred while the Teoh Beng Hock Royal Commission of Inquiry was still ongoing, came as a huge blow to the anti-graft body's already battered credibility.

Teoh, a DAP aide, fell to his death at the then-Selangor MACC office on July 16, 2009. An 18-month inquest returned an open verdict, ruling out both suicide and homicide in Teoh's death.

The police have recommended an inquest be held for Sarbaini and the Attorney-General has agreed but Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers have criticised the idea, citing Teoh's case as reason to back their doubts.

Police filed an application for an inquest at the Jalan Duta court complex on June 3.

Coroner Aizatul Akmal Maharani said today the Sarbaini inquest would be heard at the magistrate's court here.

Ahmad Sarbaini was among those detained by MACC on April 1 during a graft probe involving Customs officers who allegedly caused the Government to lose RM2.2bil in under-declared taxes.

He had been released on bail but went to the MACC building, apparently to change his statement.

READ MORE HERE

 

 

Nazri says Mugabe, Bashir not welcome in Malaysia

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 03:34 PM PDT

 

(The Malaysian Insider) - Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said today that he will "strongly recommend" that the federal government withdraw invitations to Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for an international economic forum here.

The two presidents are scheduled to attend a forum to be held in Putrajaya from June 19-21.

The minister in the prime minister's department said today that Malaysia had a responsibility to ratify the position taken by the International Criminal Court (ICC), since it was a member.

ICC had issued a warrant of arrest in 2008 for Bashir over Khartoum's genocidal campaign in Darfur.

"I am taking this matter seriously, will discuss with Cabinet ... we should comply with the charter. As such, I strongly recommend the government withdraw the invitation," the minister told reporters today.

He said that he was surprised that Mugabe and Bashir were invited, and that the matter was not discussed during Cabinet meetings.

READ MORE HERE

 

Amnesty urges Malaysia to arrest Sudan's Bashir

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 03:30 PM PDT

 

(AFP) - RIGHTS group Amnesty International urged Malaysia on Tuesday to withdraw its invitation to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and arrest him if he travels to the South-east Asian country.

Bashir and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe are among several African leaders expected to take part in the Langkawi International Dialogue from June 19 to 21.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Bashir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in the wartorn western Sudanese region of Darfur.

'Malaysia should not turn itself into a port of call for fugitives from international justice,' said Donna Guest, Amnesty's deputy director for Asia Pacific. 'The Malaysian government should bar Bashir from its territory and arrest him if he turns up,' she added.

Bashir is the first sitting head of state to be targeted by an ICC warrant, and ICC statutes dictate that any member country should arrest him if he visits. Malaysia is not a party to the ICC but Parliamentary Affairs Minister Nazri Aziz said earlier this year that Kuala Lumpur plans to recognise the ICC's jurisdiction to declare that it rejects crimes against humanity.

'Malaysia's invitation to Omar al-Bashir flies in the face of its decision to join the ICC,' Guest said in the statement. 'Instead of hosting people wanted by the ICC, Malaysia should reaffirm its commitment to justice,' she said in a statement.

 

Anak muda Melaka sertai Bersih 2.0

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 03:16 PM PDT

 

(Harakah Daily) - Pemuda Pakatan Rakyat Negeri Melaka melancarkan Bersih 2.0 semalam.

Pelancaran tersebut disempurnakan bersama oleh Ketua DAPSY Melaka, Tey Kok Kiew, Ketua Dewan Pemuda PAS Melaka, Yuhaizad Abdullah dan Ketua AMK Melaka, Law Bing Hau di Pejabat PAS Negeri Melaka di Semabok.

Dalam ucapan ringkasnya pada program tersebut, Yuhaizad yakin anak-anak muda negeri Melaka akan turun beramai-ramai menyatakan sokongan kepada pimpinan Bersih 2.0 yang menuntut suatu pilihan raya bersih, telus dan adil.

"Kita yakin anak-anak muda Melaka akan bersama-sama dengan anak-anak muda seluruh Malaysia turun untuk menyatakan bantahan dan menuntut pilihan raya yang bersih, adil dan telus.

"Selain itu kita juga yakin seluruh penyokong PR tidak mengira bangsa, agama, umur dan taraf kehidupan akan turun beramai-ramai bagi menjayakan perhimpunan bersejarah tersebut," ujar Yuhaizad yang merupakan bekas calon PAS Pilihan raya kecil Merlimau.

Teh Kok Kiew dan Law Bing Haw juga melahirkan keyakinan yang sama di mana DAP dan PKR kata mereka akan menggerakkan seluruh ahli untuk sama-sama menghadiri perhimpunan aman tersebut.

Sementara itu, Pemuda Pakatan Rakyat akan menganjurkan ceramah untuk mobilisasi Bersih 2.0 pada 16 Jun ini bertempat di Dataran Hamas, Kompleks PAS Kawasan Jasin.

Timbalan Presiden PAS, Mohamad Sabu akan menyampaikan ceramah tersebut bersama-sama dengan Pesuruhjaya PAS Melaka, Adly Zahari, Pengerusi DAP dan PKR negeri, Goh Leong San dan Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin.

 

Bersih 2.0 diteruskan walau Perkasa halang

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 03:08 PM PDT

 

(Harakah Daily) - Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Mobilisasi PAS, Mohamad Sabu (gambar) berkata, PAS tidak akan berganjak bersama Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih 2.0) untuk mengadakan himpunan besar-besaran di Kuala Lumpur, 9 Julai ini.

Katanya, biarpun kumpulan pendesak Melayu, Perkasa memberi amaran untuk menghalang, namun himpunan tersebut tetap akan diteruskan.

"Kita akan buat terus, dia (Perkasa) nak buat himpunan itu hak dia," katanya kepada Harakahdaily hari ini.

Presiden Perkasa, Ibrahim Ali dalam sidang media di parlimen hari ini memberitahu pertubuhan itu akan melawan habis-habisan himpunan Bersih 2.0 itu.

Sambil menyifatkan himpunan itu sebagai "mengacau", Ibrahim turut memberi amaran akan membuat himpunan serupa bagi menghalang himpunan Bersih 2.0 tersebut walaupun terpaksa berlaku pertembungan.

Ibrahim, yang juga ahli parlimen Pasir Mas, juga mendakwa himpunan Bersih itu akan menimbulkan huru hara apabila ada pesertanya membaling batu dan membakar kereta.

Membidas kenyataan Ibrahim itu, Mohamad yang juga Timbalan Presiden PAS berkata, bukan Perkasa yang menentukan himpunan tersebut huru-hara atau tidak.

"Itu kerja polis la nak tentukan aman atau tidak. Datuk Ambiga (Pengurusi Bersih), sudah beri jaminan kita akan buat himpunan secara aman," katanya.

Beliau turut memberi contoh himpunan Bersih pertama pada 2007 lalu, menyaksikan himpunan berlangsung secara aman.

"Perkasa kalau nak buat juga himpunan, buat hari lain la, kita dah cadang tarikh ni lebih awal lagi," katanya.

Declare perang fizikal

Seorang lagi AJK Bersih, Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli menyifatkan tindakan Perkasa memberi amaran mahu bertembung dengan peserta himpunan Bersih sebagai tidak wajar.

"Kita tak pernah halang Perkasa nak berhimpun. Tapi berhimpun lah untuk memperjuang hak sendiri, bukan sebab nak halang kita semata-mata.

"Ini sudah declare perang secara fizikal. Bukan begini caranya, ini cara pengganas," katanya.

 

 

Himpunan Melayu Pulau Pinang selepas Bersih 2.0

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 03:05 PM PDT

 

(Harakah Daily) - Timbalan Presiden PAS, Mohamad Sabu berkata, satu perhimpunan umat Melayu Pulau Pinang akan diadakan untuk menempis anggapan kononnya mereka tidak sokong Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat negeri.

Katanya, ia akan diadakan selepas berjaya mengadakan perhimpunan aman Gabungan Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih) 2.0 pada 9 Julai nanti.

Semua agenda tambahnya, telah dibincangkan secara tidak formal dengan Ketua Umum Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan akan dipanjangkan kepada Pengerusi PKR Pulau Pinang, Datuk Mansor Othman serta Pesuruhjaya PAS negeri, Ustaz Saleh Man.

"Perhimpunan orang Melayu di Pulau Pinang juga harus diadakan sebagai tanda mereka tidak terjerat dengan mainan politik jahat Umno dan Barisan Nasional (BN) yang tidak sudah-sudah melemparkan padangan negatif terhadap Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat," jelasnya ketika ditemui selepas berpidato di hadapan ribuan orang di padang awam, Pekan Penaga malam tadi.

Katanya, sebelum membuat persiapan perhimpunan tersebut, satu pertemuan dengan DAP akan diadakan bagi menerangkan hasrat murni berkenaan supaya kepimpinan DAP tidak salah sangka.

Mohamad yakin, DAP tidak semacam Umno yang berfikiran tidak matang dan jauh ketinggalan dari arus perkembangan politik yang sihat.

Kata beliau, perhimpunan aman itu juga bermatlamat memberikan penerangan sejelas-jelasnya mengenai beberapa perkara yang sengaja dicaturkan oleh Umno setelah gagal mempertahankan Pulau Pinang pada Pilihan raya Umum ke-12 lalu.

Mereka, ujarnya nampak agresif memburuk-burukkan Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang dengan kerjasama beberapa badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang bersembunyi atas nama perjuangan menegakkan kebenaran tetapi pada masa yang sama bersekongkol dengan segelitir kepimpinan Umno dan BN.

"Bila kalah dan rakyat Pulau Pinang menolak kepimpinan yang korup, maka ramailah yang keluar tunjuk perasaan tidak puas hati kononnya habislah negeri ini bila dapat pada DAP atau bangsa Cina," ujarnya.

Tambahnya, tanpa orang Melayu sedar bahawa sebelum ini pun Pulau Pinang diketuai oleh Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon, lainlah jika sebelum negeri ini jatuh ke tangan Pakatan Rakyat ia diperintah oleh Umno. 

Jelasnya, bagi PAS siapa pun yang memerintah patut bersikap adil dan tidak mencuri harta rakyat dengan sewenang-wenangnya.

Menruutnya, apabila Pakatan Rakyat diisytiharkan menang, maka DAP yang mempunyai lebihan kerusi akan memegang tampuk pemerintahan.

Ini, katanya berbeza dengan Umno yang menang banyak kerusi pada pilihan raya 1990 tetapi memberikan hak ketua menteri kepada Gerakan.

"Umno dayus dan hanya sanggup melemparkan kenyataan pedas terhadap Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat yang berjaya menghalang mereka meneruskan usaha mempergunakan hak kerajaan untuk kepentingan parti dan kroni," ujarnya.

 

‘PAS trying to get Anwar off the hook’

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 02:52 PM PDT

 

PAS has urged those accusing Anwar of immorality to back it up by producing four credible witnessess to accompany the accusation.

(Free Malaysia Today) - PAS is trying to get Anwar Ibrahim off the hook by insisting there must be four witnesses if he is accused of being the man in the sex video tape.

"If this is the case, then PAS must draft a new legislation, as all khalwat (close proximity) cases would be tainted if the prosecution cannot bring forward four witnesses," Kedah Kita chairman Zamil Ibrahim said.

He said PAS – a party with Islam as its bedrock – must champion morality and justice in the right frame and not revert to just pure politicking to champion its cause.

PAS has urged those accusing Anwar of immorality to back it up by producing four credible witnesses to accompany the accusation.

The onus is on Anwar to prove beyond reasonable doubt that he is not the person portrayed in the tape, having sex with an unidentified woman, Zamil said.

Kita is an independent party set up by former federal minister Zaid Ibrahim last year, of which some political observers are describing as a third alternative to Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat.

Kita executive committee member Christopher Firdaus said PAS should not be misguided by its alliance with Anwar.

They should allow the rightful authorities such as the police and the justice system to take their course, he added.

"PAS should know that in this modern age, it is difficult to produce four witnesses. Some may be intimidated to come forward as Anwar is a major political personality. We cannot allow the accusers to be victimised by political leanings. We must be neutral."

READ MORE HERE

 

A government of the Cronies, by the Cronies and for the Cronies

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:43 PM PDT

A government of the Cronies, by the Cronies and for the Cronies

By Selena Tay, Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

Well, here is breaking news for everyone.  Malaysia does not appear to have a government and we kid you not.

The people who are in power in Putrajaya don't quite behave  like a normal government does  - at leasrt not in a developed world. Some aspects of their behavior are reminiscent of pirates intent on plundering and pillaging the nation 24 by 7. And mind you, this damning indictment comes from the creme de la creme of corporate Malaysia - a former head of national enery firm Tenaga, no less!

On the political front, the opposition has been hollering if indelible ink had been used in the 12th General Election in March 2008, Prime Minister Najib Razak and his rag-tag Cabinet would not be sitting in Putrajaya now.

For those who are tender-hearted, rest assured that if this happened, Najib and the likes of Musa Aman and Taib Mahmud won't be selling durians or nasi lemak. But very likely, they'll be living it up in Monte Carlo, the Alps, London, New York, Paris while the opposition guys, Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang and Hadi Awang, sweat it out trying to balance the unbalanceable Malaysian budget -  irreparably busted by decades of reckless BN spending.

So this is the state of play in Malaysia - for now at least. A rogue-regime with all the characteristics of a robber-regime versus their likely inheritors - the Pakatan Rakyat, made up of a bunch of young smarties and political veterans seasoned by decades of enforced frugality and hard work.

Once they take power, the inheritors will surely be turned into a 'coolie'-regime. Yes, the Pakatan will have to slog 24 by 7 for next decade at least to be able to clear all the dirt and faeces from the Aegean stables vacated by the UMNO elite.  Work has already begun at some of these swills and faeces-farms, which coincidentally mirror the 4 most essential elements.

The Water Margin

First of all, the water industry. Tun Dr Mahathir during his tenure as Prime Minister had ordered a privatization of water assets on the basis that privatization would improve services and save the government cost.  But to pundits and many industry experts, it was a bailout. And that is not an unfair premise given that one of the major water players is none other than the treasurer of Selangor Umno - SYABAS' Rozali Ismail.

JBAS (Jabatan Bekalan Air Selangor) which was making profits around RM50 to RM80 million per year was privatized in 1997 and thereafter incurred losses as the treatment of water which was bringing JBAS huge profits was privatized to 3 companies:

1. Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB);
2. Syarikat Pengeluar Air Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd (SPLASH); and
3. Konsortium  Abass Sdn Bhd (ABASS).

Meanwhile, "non-revenue water (NRW)" was still under JBAS.

JBAS,  after corporatization became PUAS (Pengurusan Air Selangor Berhad) and was put under the management of the Selangor State Government.  PUAS incurred deficits (losses) amounting to RM350 million until it was privatized to SYABAS (Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor) in the year 2005.

The SYABAS shareholders are:

1. Puncak Niaga Holdings Berhad (PNHB) - 70% share;

2. Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad (KDEB) - 15% share; and

3. Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad (KPSB) - 15% share.

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance has one 'golden share' in SYABAS.

To the rakyat or populace, the government announced that after privatization, the water services would be more efficient and lessen the government's burden as the private sector would now oversee the water services. Sad to say, at that time, the rakyat lapped up Mahathir's promises.

To the concesssionaires and keen parties in the private sector, who no doubt would have to put up huge capital and long-term investment, the government offered high tariffs, subsidies and compensation. Sad to say, they too believed Mahathir's promises and some of them are now stuck!

In order for the government to keep its promises to the private sector, the rakyat have to be burdened. Just like in the electricity tariffs. For the government to continue subsiding IPPs to the tune of RM19 billion, they must cut the subsidy from elsewhere. Guess where? If the answer is from the rakyat and other Malaysian industries, not fortunate enough to have a crony CEO, then this is correct.

Take for instance Selangor, where the BN government agreed to allow an increase in water rates of 37% (in 2009), 25% (in 2012) and 20% (in 2015). PM Najib now intends to bail out the water concessionaires who have incurred debts of RM6.4 billion to bond-holders.

It's a puzzle where the money comes from, considering that his administration is always yapping about not having enough money for all. Yet, somehow, his government is ever-ready and ever-willing to assist the 'special' firms. Of course, at the same time, the burden of the rakyat is increased.

The Fire Thieves?

Now for the other element, fire or rather, electricity.

TNB (Tenaga Nasional Berhad), similar to JBAS was a nationalized body and it was efficient and making profits until it was privatized and strangled by the IPPs (Independent Power Producers).

It was the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) that was responsible for this whole fiasco. TNB is able to provide electricity at the rate of 8 sen per unit (for each kWhr) but had to pay the IPPs at the rate of 23 sen per unit. In actual fact, TNB is able to supply electricity at the rate of 17 sen per unit without the IPPs. The reserve capacity of electricity at over 50% is one of the world's highest.

It is obvious that the BN Government is profiting their cronies at the expense of the rakyat. Why should Malaysians pay so much for something they don't use. And the scary thing is that this outsized bill is recurring and continuous - not one-off.

Every month, billions of ringgit of unused power is paid for with the hard-earned money of Malaysian taxpayers. The money eventually leaves the bank account of the Malaysian government and ends up in the accounts of the crony firms. No wonder, the tycoons who head these firms guys are on the Forbes list of the world's richest! Incidentally, they are called cronies because they are the chosen friends of the ruling elite in UMNO, the party that rules Malaysia.

It was this cruel vicious cycle of keeping the poor, poorer and the rich, richer that caused former TNB Chairman Ani Arope to resign years ago. He has been vindicated and no longer fears calling a spade a spade. Recently, he publicly labelled the EPU as the Economic Plundering Unit.

Now it becomes clearer why the BN Government needed to increase the electricity tariffs at the rate of 7.12% on June 1, so that the rakyat pays more to the government and the government can continue to pay the cronies the same benefits as before, without having to borrow more money.

Not that Najib and friends are averse to borrowing more money. mind you. Far from it. But going from past record, Malaysians can expect the new debt will be channelled to other 'nice', new projects meant to create 'nice', new income streams for the pockets of the cronies and from there to themselves.

Meanwhile, Energy minister Peter Chin claimed that 75% of the households will not be affected by the increased tariffs although he failed to mention that the waiver for those who use less than RM20 electricity per month will no longer be applied from 1st Jan 2012 onwards and that food prices will go up tremendously as the food industry is a major user of electricity.

In BN's traditional stiff upper-lip style, Peter Chin only gave the good news but concealed the bad news!

Inflation will definitely go up and the Consumer Price Index is now more than 4.7%.  As expected, food prices have gone up, some items by more than 7%.

Read more at: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=14088:a-government-of-the-cronies-by-the-cronies-and-for-the-cronies&Itemid=2

Bersih 2.0: All heads must rise to the challenge

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:23 PM PDT

The very government that preaches that it is a fair and just government warns of dire consequences if the rakyat proceed with Bersih 2.0 to express their anchored support for justice and fairness in governance. The Bersih Rally 2.0 is not a political rally. It is about democracy and civil liberties – the very fundamentals that this nation earned its independence from.

By J. D. Lovrenciear

The announced Bersih Rally 2.0 is already gaining much momentum as well as generating some heat.

The President of the Malaysian Bar Council must indeed be commended. A lady of resolute will, her passion for justice is exemplary.

Likewise, the newly minted Mat Sabu is a lion at heart. His immediate announcement of pledging 300,000 citizens to the planned peaceful march for justice encapsulates this man's commitment to society and its ethical existence.

On the other extreme we have voices crying out against holding this rally that is a signature event of Malaysians' demand for fair and clean elections. Some betray their very voices by making irresponsible statements. Others are giving extremely self-centered reasons why they do not want the rally to proceed.

Meanwhile, the very government that preaches that it is a fair and just government warns of dire consequences if the rakyat proceed with Bersih 2.0 to express their anchored support for justice and fairness in governance.

The Bersih Rally 2.0 is not a political rally. Far from it, it is also not the 'opposition' camps' revolution. It is about democracy and civil liberties – the very fundamentals that this nation earned its independence from.

Hence, heads of every faction of society must also rise to the challenge proactively. Religious heads – be they be Muslims, Christians, Catholics, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs – all of them must express their stand through public and press statements.

Heads of religions cannot disassociate themselves from the Bersih Rally 2.0 by maintaining that this has nothing to do with religion. Yes and no. Yes because it is not about the teachings and practices of one's faith. No because it involves basic human justice on earth. It is about ensuring that God's creation is not the victim of mortal man's deceit and sin.

Hence the Heads of religion must make their stand announced.

Likewise, Presidents and Heads of professional bodies must make an official statement of what and where they stand. They cannot stray away and claim that Bersih 2.0 has nothing to do with their professional institutions.

On the contrary, it has everything to do with professionalism and professional conduct. It is about justice. It hinges on ethics. When justice and ethics are compromised, there is zero professionalism.

The same too goes for NGOs. You cannot absolve yourself from Bersih 2.0 because you cannot live up to your NGO principles in an environment that is devoid of justice and fairness. So you too need to make a stand on behalf of your members.

The bottom-line is this is not about politics or politicking. This is not about opposition or ruling political parties. This Bersih 2.0 is about the fundamental right of live on this planet. It is about humanity. It is about the very conduct of our journey here on earth for a live hereafter.

If we do not correct what is wrong before our eyes; if we do not partake in and through peaceful means an agenda for the good of citizens and visitors; if we divorce ourselves from the realities of life surrounding us; if we cannot work together for the betterment of the nation's governance – then all else is lost. And the price we must pay will be high while still journey in life, failing which we will be held accountable in the hereafter.

Whether we are on the BN side or the opposition camp; whether we are political or a-political; whether we are professionals or otherwise; young or old; rich or poor – as long as we are Malaysians we owe each other that duty to come together in the best interest of government, opposition and all those who promise and hope for better day tomorrow.

That better day and hope is anchored in justice. For the world of tomorrow is going to built not on rising towers and spanking highways alone. Instead the future currency of progress and peace is one that is fashioned after true democracy, civil liberties and ethical principles.

The just world has dawned and we must all be a part of that endeavor. And drawing a leaf from Barack Obama:

For when we have faced down impossible odds, when we've been told we're not ready or that we shouldn't try or that we can't, this generation of Malaysians has responded with a simple creed that best sums up the spirit of a people – Yes, we can. Yes, we can. And together, we – all Malaysians, will begin the next great chapter in the Malaysian story, with three words that will ring from coast to coast: Yes, we have.

And with that we will eventually march into our 13th General Election without suspicion and disputes to witness the emergency of a champion who will be accepted without arguments as our elected government by the people, for the people and with the people. It can be BN again. It can be PR as well. Or it could even be a BN-PR coalition. But it is an honorable battle fought with exemplary justice and fairness.

Hence, in a nutshell, every citizen of Malaysia must share in this role for a just and fair election. Not just leaving it to the government of the day. Not just pinning their hope on the opposition alone. Not abstaining with a mindset 'it is none of my business'.

 

NST drops to 73,000, B.Minggu loses 30% (ABC sneak peek)

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:15 PM PDT

Yesterday's post was of NST selling below 90,000 in ABC's report for 2009. Below is ABC's figures for 2010 - a sneak preview.

By uppercaise

ADVANCE LOOK at some ABC figures for 2010

report and graphics by uppercaise

• NST sells only 73,000 on the street
• Berita Minggu loses 90,000 copies over three years

These charts are based on figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulation report for July-December 2010 newspaper sales. An image of an advance report to publishers was emailed anonymously to this blog. I have not seen the full report myself, but the image looks genuine enough — and the report will be out soon anyway. (ABC compiles and audits newspaper circulation figures.)

Sales of all four traditional titles are in decline
• Berita Minggu dropped 30% drop since 2007;
• New Straits Times lost 26%
• Berita Harian and New Sunday Times both fell by 22%

Read more at: http://uppercaise.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/nst-sales-drop-2010-circulation-report/

Ditamas director: No choice but to sell property to Khir Toyo at RM3.5m

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:14 PM PDT

(Bernama) SHAH ALAM: A company director told the High Court here Monday, June 13 that he had to sell two plots of land and a bungalow here at a price of RM3.5 million to former Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo in 2007 for fear of jeopardising his housing projects in Selangor.

Ditamas Sdn Bhd (Ditamas) director Shamsuddin Hayroni said he had to do so after taking into considerations his position as a businessman in Selangor and Mohamad Khir's position as the then menteri besar.

"Mohamad Khir and I had discussed the price in 2004 and he wanted the property to be sold at RM3.5 million. I personally did not agree because it was too low and I told him that it should be at least between RM5 million to RM5.5 million.

"When I bought the property, it was priced at RM5 million and with renovation cost of RM1.5 million, the price should be RM6.5 million. I gave him a little discount and set the price at RM5.5 million, but Mohamad Khir did not agree with the price, saying that he could only afford RM3.5 million," he said when questioned by deputy public prosecutor, Abdul Wahab Mohamed.

Shamsuddin was testifying on the fourth day of the trial of the former menteri besar who is accused of acquiring for himself and his wife, Datin Seri Zahrah Kechik, 45, two plots of land and a bungalow at No. 8 & 10, Jalan Suasa 7/1L, Shah Alam from Ditamas through Shamsuddin.

Mohamad Khir is said to have paid RM3.5 million for the property in Section 7 here, which Ditamas had bought on Dec 23, 2004 for RM6.5 million.

Mohamad Khir, who is also Sungai Panjang assemblyman, is alleged to have committed the offence at the official residence of the Menteri Besar in Jalan Permata 7/1, Section 1, here on May 29, 2007.

When asked to explain further why he had agreed to sell the property at a lower price, Shamsuddin said he made the decision after discussing with his wife and after telling her that he had secured a major project in Selangor and that a menteri besar had wanted to buy his house at a price of RM3.5 million.

"I agreed because I was afraid of losing my position as a businessman in Selangor and feared that my housing project in the state would be affected," he said.

Shamsuddin also said that the property, which he bought under Ditamas Sdn Bhd, was sold to Mohamad Khir and Zahrah in 2007 and that the ownership was also transferred to the couple the same year.

He said Mohamad Khir gave him a cheque of RM500,000 as deposit on May 28, 2007 and a cheque for RM3 million for the balance on Aug 16, 2007 via his lawyer Doris Getrude Mayappen.

Shamsuddin said he was forced to buy the two plots of land from Syarikat Permodalan Kebangsaan Berhad chief executive officer Saiful Aznir Shahabudin at a price of RM6.5 million on Dec 23, 2004 after being told to do so by Mohamad Khir.

"Initially, Mohamad Khir was the one who was interested in the property and asked Datuk Sumadi Ismail (a friend of Saiful Aznir's father who introduced Mohamad Khir to Saiful Aznir) to purchase them, but when Sumadi said he had other commitments, Mohamad Khir asked me to buy the house. He was the then menteri besar and I did what he told me to do," Shamsuddin said.

Earlier, landscape designer Nasir Ismail maintained his testimony that he was paid more than RM6 million by Mohamad Khir for renovation work on his luxury home in Shah Alam.

He said this when questioned by lawyer A.Athimulan who suggested that he did not have any document concerning the transaction.

Nasir, however, admitted that he did not keep any document or receipt and could not remember clearly about the payments made for the renovation work.

He also said that he could not remember the actual date of each payment made by Mohamad Khir, except the fact that he was paid in cash.

Athimulan also submitted to the court an agreement worth RM1.5 million signed by Nasir and Mohamad Khir in May 2007, which he said was the actual contract between the two of them and that the renovation work had only taken place that year.

Nasir, however, defended his earlier testimony and stressed that the renovation work for Mohamad Khir's luxury home in Shah Alam began in 2006 and that he was paid more than RM6 million.

The trial before Judge Mohtaruddin Baki continues on Tuesday.

Two Singapore women made to strip, do squats by JB immigration

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:12 PM PDT

The Malaysian Insider

SINGAPORE, June 14 — Two Singaporean women who drove to Johor Baru for supper were questioned by Malaysian immigration officials, handcuffed, thrown behind bars and made to do squats while naked, the Singapore Straits Times reported today.

The two women said they had driven into Johor Baru without getting their passports stamped, through an unmanned immigration lane.

Following their punishment, they were allowed to return to Singapore after 48 hours with a warning.

"We thought it was a small issue, we didn't think something like that would happen," the Straits Times quoted one of the women, a manager in an insurance company who wanted to be known only as Ms Chang.

A Malaysian immigration spokesman in Johor Baru confirmed that two Singaporean women had been detained for an immigration offence.

Chang, in her late 30s, had been driven to Johor Baru by her friend, a property agent in her late 20s, who wanted to be known only as Lim, at about 1.30am last Thursday, the Straits Times reported.

Lim was driving her new Nissan Latio. It was the first time she had driven to Malaysia, although she had been driven there before by friends, according to the Singapore newspaper.

"We just wanted to go for supper, polish my car and explore a bit," she said. "I just bought my car a month ago, so we thought we'd make it an adventure."

At the Malaysian immigration side of the Causeway, they drove into a lane that was not manned.

'There wasn't anyone at the station and the green light was on," Lim told the Straits Times.

"I pressed the intercom and couldn't hear anything because of the static, so I just continued driving when the barrier opened."

Chang told the daily they drove on because they thought that Malaysia's newly introduced biometric system — which has been in the news — would be ahead.

The women realised that they had proceeded without getting their passports stamped, and immediately did a U-turn.

By 2am, they were back at the checkpoint and explaining their mistake to the officers there. But they said the officers did not buy their story, although they pointed out that their Singapore passports would show that they had just entered Malaysia, the newspaper reported.

Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/two-singapore-women-made-to-strip-do-squats-by-jb-immigration/

Honorable Prime Minister, perception is not reality for you?

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:10 PM PDT

By J. D. Lovrenciear

If you say perception is not reality, are you then suggesting that it is an illusion?

 

What the Prime Minister certainly misses very grossly is that perception is not plucked from the thin air. Neither is it a blinded vision inflicted by others. Perception is not all about what people just think about an issue. It is a precipitate of experiences stretching over periods of time. It is all about one's experiences about what you say, do, do not say and do not do. In short, the rakyat's perceptions about you and/or BN are a result of your thoughts, words and deeds over time.

Further, his and his BN coalition's numerous attempts to re-orientate the public perception that is not favorable to the BN parties, as owed up by the PM himself, appears to hinge on propaganda instead of educating the rakyat.

As Everett Martin (1929) points out, education aims at independence of judgment whereas propaganda offers ready-made opinions for the unthinking masses.

Of course it is clearly understandable why the PM is taking this option. Educating the masses takes time as it is a slow process involving human development and thinking. The government cannot afford this given the imminent General Elections. So rather than teach or tell people how to think, the only option is to tell people what to think. In short, it is all about 'mass effects'.

Now that is not perception management. It is pure propaganda. The symptoms that are cascading like a deluge from the BN quarters clearly affirm that propaganda is the preferred modus operandi.

As pointed out by Jay Black (2001): One, we are witnessing an undue reliance on authority figures and spokespersons to affect people's thinking rather than using empirical validation to establish truths and conclusions.

Two, is the fixed view of people, institutions and situations into broad, all inclusive categories of friends of BN and enemies of BN that is often held by BN and its leaders.

And three, a greater emphasis on conflict rather than on cooperation among people, institutions and situations. The ongoing anti-Bersih 2.0 stances are fine examples here.

Rather than take the propaganda highway, the Prime Minster should have been better advised by his hired public relations bandwagon that persuasion would have been a more justifiable route.

Why persuasion and not propaganda? As Thomas H. Bivens (2004) explains, "persuasion is not unethical by nature. Instead, it is time-honored, democratic tradition based on guidelines formulated by the Greeks over 2,000 years."

But that persuasive communication must be anchored on solid evidence that is transparent and can withstand the test of time. In other words truth, nothing but the truth matters if persuasive communication is to succeed within the perimeters of ethics.

The TARES Test, i.e. the five principles of ethical persuasion (Sherry Baker and David L. Martinson; 2001) must be fully subscribed by the PM and his BN.

For the benefit of the Honorable PM and his team-mates, here are the five principles: to be truthful at all times; the spokesperson or mouthpiece must be authentic; the persuader must respect the rakyat whom he or she intends to influence; there must be equity in the persuasive appeal; and social responsibility must be exercised for the common good.

Hence, perhaps the Honorable instead of lambasting that perception is not reality, he should have humbly borrowed a leaf from Barack Obama who wrote in his "A more perfect Union":

I believe that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together – unless we perfect our (political) union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction – towards a better future for (you and me), our children and our grandchildren.

And with that, join the rakyat in its Bersih 2.0 rally. Or at the least, give the rakyat your full assurance that you will guarantee their safety.


What hypocrisy!

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:08 PM PDT

To us common people, a promise is a promise. To renege a guarantee made not to censor internet is a big slap to the integrity of the government.

By Dr. Hsu

For internet users, and those who store or download certain files from file sharing sites, the government decision to block these sites comes as a shock.

There are no doubt that certain files stored in these sites are infringing copyright act, but to impose a blanket block of these sites is like using a sledgehammer to kill a fly.

Many people store their legitimate files on these sites. Even scientific files are stored and shared.

Sometimes, if a person wants to share a file with his uncle or brother or sister or friend overseas, it would be too tedious to send the file via email, if the file is big.

For example, yahoo allows  a person to send an email with a 20meg limit. To send  friends or relatives certain big files more than 20 meg, a person can upload and store the files in these file sharing sites and the intended person/s can then download it and view. Scientific files/medical files are stored for the same reason.

A person can post his wedding video on these sites for his classmates all over the world to view it. That is how file sharing sites function.

Those who use file sharing sites are not profiting from monetary gains, since most  downloads are free.

It is like you buy a harry Potter book from the bookstore and after finishing it, you lend it to someone else. It is perfectly legitimate, as long as you don't make any monetary gains from it. You can also start a book club, and invite people to share books that they have bought by keeping these books in the library of the book club.

File sharing sites are like book clubs.

Read more at: http://hsudarren.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/what-hypocrisy/

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