Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Najib betting on generous budget
- Stay away from M’sia, Zakir
- Speaker blocks debate on AG Gani Patail
- Mansor did not deny audio contents
- Bersih: We got funds only once
- Pro-Aspirasi sweeps to victory in campus polls
- Clip of DCM’s remarks on Guan Eng on the Net
- GE13 to show if Malays will ditch Umno, says Zaid
- PKFZ trial postponed as Liong Sik hospitalised
- Dr M called to testify in Liong Sik trial
- Another round of fun and games?
- Should Malaysia bear the burden of Australian radioactive waste?
- Najib May Extend Handouts as Malaysia Vote Nears
- Zahid: If not for infighting, UMNO can do better
- Gerakan says stands by claims Guan Eng is corrupt, tenancy doctored
- Former Usno members want seats
- Anti-hopping law against constitution, says Nazri
- NGOs demand NST apology for foreign plot claim
- BN, Pakatan going all out to woo new voters
- Businessman admits private jet loaned to Anwar, declines to reveal for how much
- DAP must help PAS win over Malays
- Khairy: Anwar lying about Pakatan’s need for private jet
- ‘Anwar approved attacks against Guan Eng’
- RPK sowing fear, says ex-comrade
- Anwar: Private jet is friend’s
- Zaid tells Dr M: I rather be an ungrateful Malay than a stupid one
- PR leaders: Tunku Aziz is a BN agent
- Photos of Pakatan leaders in private jet hits cyberspace
- Kepong Umno Youth chief stabbed, in critical condition
- Uproar against Ngeh and Nga at DAP convention
- Dong Zong duo get more flak
- Veteran newsman accuses Malaysiakini of being insincere
- Why Suaram’s status is suddenly so important
- Anwar: Dr M, Daim behind forex scandal
- Pakatan must prove its worth to win GE13, says Guan Eng
- Selangor govt confusing people on water issues, says Cassa
- Dr M: Hudud law will create injustice
- Dr M: Soros wants to install puppet PM
- Pakistan minister places bounty on anti-Islam filmmaker
- Liverpool, United add respect to rivalry
- Karpal: You don’t have be a Penangite to be CM
- Karpal gets support for anti-hopping bill
| Najib betting on generous budget Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:35 PM PDT
With the general election looming, the prime minister is expected to announce measures to help poorer families. (Reuters) - Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is expected to unveil a voter-pleasing budget on Friday, placing the priority on winning a tough election above addressing the country's rising debt burden. Economists say Najib will likely delay much-needed reforms to broaden Malaysia's tax base and reduce its dependence on oil revenues to at least next year, while announcing measures to help poorer families struggling with rising living costs. Strong revenues in 2012 mean Najib can afford to be generous in the budget for next year without alarming financial markets, but further signs of fiscal slippage would add to investor concerns over a steady deterioration in Malaysia's finances. Malaysia's public debt as a percentage of GDP is just short of its self-imposed ceiling of 55% – up from 43% in 2008 – while its budget deficit of 4.7% in the first half of 2012 is the third-biggest in Asia after Japan and India. Fitch Ratings said in August that Malaysia's public finances were weak compared with other countries on equivalent sovereign ratings (A minus) and on a par with heavily indebted countries such as Italy and Israel. "Very plainly this is going to be an election budget. It's going to be generous," said Irvin Seah, an economist at DBS Bank in Singapore. "At this point, the need for political support will take precedence over some economic considerations." Najib must call an election by next April and has already announced a series of handouts this year, including RM2.6 billion (US$847 million) in cash payments to poor families, to shore up support for the long-ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. Although the coalition is widely expected to win the election, it suffered its worst-ever performance in 2008 polls and faces perhaps the closest-ever election this time as the opposition gains ground. 'People-friendly' The economy grew at a brisk annual pace of 5.4% in the second quarter, but many lower-income and middle-class earners complain their salaries have not kept pace with rising living costs and surging house prices. "The budget will be people-friendly and will ensure the country will achieve its goal to become a high-income nation by 2020," Deputy Finance Minister Donald Lim told reporters yesterday. Helped by strong economic growth, Malaysia's revenues for 2012 are expected to top RM200 billion, well above the government's RM187 billion target. But public spending is also growing, raising doubts over whether the government can achieve its goal of keeping the fiscal deficit at 4.7% of GDP this year. Several large infrastructure projects, including the RM50 billion Mass Rapid Transit transport project in Kuala Lumpur, are helping insulate Malaysia from slowing activity around the world but also risk increasing its debt burden. Rating agencies Standard & Poor's and Fitch recently warned of rising fiscal pressures in Malaysia that could lead to a downgrade. "While we are relatively positive about Malaysia's growth and inflation outlook, we are concerned about its fiscal position," said Credit Suisse analyst Santitarn Sathirathai in a research note. The ratings agencies want the government to introduce a goods and services tax (GST) to widen its revenue base in a country where only about 10 percent of the workforce pays income taxes and to cut fuel subsidies that are among Asia's highest. Malaysian policymakers have signalled they plan to implement those reforms, but not before the upcoming election. Najib is expected to set the deficit target for 2013 lower than the 4.7% goal for this year. In one bow to fiscal discipline, he is unlikely to announce any corporate or individual income tax cuts. Gundy Cahyadi, an economist at OCBC Bank in Singapore, said the government will be hoping that the heavy spending now will pay off in coming years through higher revenues. "People forget that it's just like any business decision – you need to invest a lot at the initial stage."
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| Posted: 25 Sep 2012 04:05 PM PDT
The call is growing louder for the government to bar controversial Muslim preacher from coming here. Athi Shankar, FMT GEORGE TOWN: Hindraf Makkal Sakti and a local Gerakan leader have called on the government to bar controversial Muslim preacher Zakir Naik from Malaysia. Former president of Malaysian chapter of Transparency International, Tunku Aziz Ibrahim, meanwhile cautioned Zakir not to "come here and insult Malaysians". Hindraf national coordinator W Sambulingam was uncompromising with the movement's stand, saying that Zakir must be banned from the country. He said Zakir was known for pouring scorns on other faiths, pointing out that the controversial orator was banned in Canada and United Kingdom. He said Zakir would be a menace to the country's multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-culture and multi-language landscape. "He is a national threat against peace and harmony that we all cherish. He must be barred and banned altogether. "He is the last person that Malaysia wants," Sambulingam told FMT here today. Gerakan's Baljit Singh concurred with Sambulingam, saying that Malaysia had no place for religious fanatics like Zakir. He said the government should be sensitive to all religious sentiments as Zakir would likely insult other religions in his speeches. "His reputation precedes him," said Baljit, who heads Penang Gerakan's legal and human rights bureau.
He noted that all Malaysians had demonstrated a united stand in condemning the controversial US-made movie "Innocence of Muslims". Similarly, he called on all Malaysians to also speak out with one voice to compel the government to stop Zakir coming here. Zakir of Mumbai, India, is expected to address several forums across the country, including in PWTC, until Oct 7. "Malaysians should demonstrate their consistent stand against religious extremism. It's time for all Malaysians to oppose Zakir and stop him from coming here," said Baljit. "The government should not issue a visa to Zakir. The government should be sensitive to all religions," he added.
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| Speaker blocks debate on AG Gani Patail Posted: 25 Sep 2012 03:10 PM PDT
In a letter to Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, Dewan Rakyat secretary Rosmee Hamzah said that oral questions posed at the House should not be based on hearsay and insults. G Vinod, FMT Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai's application to submit an oral question to debate on the allegations contained in the controversial book "Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail Pemalsu, Penipu, Penjenayah" was rejected by the Dewan Rakyat. In a letter to Tan, Dewan Rakyat secretary Rosmee Hamzah said that any questions at Parliament should not be based on hearsay and insults. "Standing Order 23 (1) C states that oral questions should not be based on prejudice, slander, praises, insults, confusing terms or any issue which is trivial," said Rosmee. A copy of the letter was also sent to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia and Home Ministry secretary Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi. In August, former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) advisory panel member Robert Phang challenged Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail to deny the allegations made in the book authored by Zainal Abidin Ahmad. The book lists details on Gani's alleged criminal acts ranging from abuse of power, corruption to other criminal acts. "I challenge the MACC and the police to probe the allegations made against Gani by the author," Phang was reported saying. He also lodged a police report against Gani. Gani has come under fire from various quarters over the years, with even former Kuala Lumpur CID chief Mat Zain Ibrahim calling Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to establish a tribunal to investigate the alleged wrong-doings of the AG. The former policeman alleged that Gani had tampered with evidence during the Sodomy I trial in 1998 involving former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. "I believe Zainal, by himself, is unable to prove Gani's wrongdoings. But I can, and am able and ready to prove the allegations against Gani, in particular with regard to the falsification and fabrication in the investigation of the black-eye incident that is being debated until today," Mat Zain reportedly said.
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| Mansor did not deny audio contents Posted: 25 Sep 2012 03:04 PM PDT
PKR has identified the culprit who allegedly leaked the incriminating audio recording involving Penang DCM Mansor Othman. Athi Shankar, FMT GEORGE TOWN: Just when PKR thought the worst was over, the CAT has reared its ugly head again, much to the chagrin of the party's Penang chief and Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman. CAT here is not the "competency, accountability and transparency" tune routinely sung by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng about his Pakatan Rakyat state administration. In this instance CAT means "cocky, arrogant, tokong", a refence Mansor allegedly made to Lim. Ties between the two top state leaders are now at its lowest ebb, with Pakatan sources claiming that "Lim is really pissed off with Mansor". Mansor had allegedly voiced these words during a closed door meeting between him and come local Chinese leaders, including incumbent elected representatives. An alleged audio recording of the closed door meeting was aired during TV3′s prime time Monday night. If the audio recording was authentic, as claimed by TV3 sources, then Mansor could clearly be heard using the words "angkuh" (cocky) and "sombong" (arrogant). He also allegedly described Lim as a "tokong" (deity) to the Chinese community. When the CAT controversy emerged as a hot issue last month, Mansor denied he described Lim as "cocky and arrogant", but admitted saying "tokong" in a positive note. But, when asked today, Mansor did not deny the aired audio recording contents, instead suggested that the leaking and airing of audio recording were all tied up with the coming general election. He mused over how much the television station paid to obtain the audio recording. Whether or not Mansor's alleged description of Lim was spot on, the Penanti assemblyman has surely fueled Lim's wrath. Mansor now faces a tough political future in Penang so long as Lim, from Malacca, hangs around in the island-state. A PKR source said Mansor, who is a party vice-president, must now move out of Penang to safeguard his political interests, alleging that Lim could be "vindictive and vengeful." The source said PKR feared that Lim would order DAP leaders and members not to help Mansor's campaign in the coming general election. The leaked details of the meeting were first published in June postings of a blog "Gelagat Anwar", which sources said was being operated by some insiders close with a top state PKR leader. In its postings in June 16, 18 and 19, the blog revealed that state PKR deputy chief Law Choo Kiang, Bukit Bendera division deputy chief Felix Ooi, Bayan Baru deputy chief Tan Seng Keat, 2004 candidate for Bayan Baru Raymond Ong, Tanjung Youth chief Ng Chek Siang; Batu Uban chief Cheah Peng Guan and Mansor's assistant John Ooi were among those who attended the casual meeting. Notable absentees were assemblymen Jason Ong Khan Lee of Kebun Bunga, Tan Hock Leong of Machang Bubok, Sim Tze Tzin of Pantai Jerejak and Ong Chin Wen of Bukit Tengah.
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| Bersih: We got funds only once Posted: 25 Sep 2012 02:42 PM PDT
(The Star) - The Bersih movement had received funds from the George Soros-linked Open Society Foundation only once, which was for an electoral delineation project last year, said Bersih chairman Datuk S. Ambiga. The group is now "fully supported" by Malaysians, she told a press conference here yesterday. Present were representatives from five other non-governmental groups the Centre for Independent Journalism, Lawyers for Liberty, Merdeka Centre, Southeast Centre for E-Media and Suaram. Ambiga said the Open Society promoted democracy and there was "nothing wrong" receiving funds from it. "All these about him being responsible for the (1997/98 Asian economy) collapse should be looked at again," she said, in an apparent reference to a report in an English newspaper that blamed Soros for wrecking the Malaysian economy in 1997/98 through currency speculation. Ambiga said there were many sides to the story, with some saying that locals not Soros were responsible for it. Ambiga said another English daily had written a "one-sided and irresponsible" report that two global funders and nine organisations were part of a "plot to destabilise the Government". She has demanded an apology from the paper within 48 hours. In a statement released at the end of the press conference, Bersih and the other groups claimed that the report in the daily was a crude attack on civil society in Malaysia.
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| Pro-Aspirasi sweeps to victory in campus polls Posted: 25 Sep 2012 02:27 PM PDT
(The Star) - The pro-establishment group, Pro-Aspirasi, has won with huge majorities in campus elections in seven public universities. It won in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) and Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM). In UPM, Pro-Aspirasi took 39 of the 47 seats while Pro-Mahasiswa bagged seven. Pro-Aspirasi candidates also swept 34 of 36 seats in UUM, 18 of 20 seats in UMT, 22 of 24 in UMP and won every seat in UPNM. Fifteen public universities held their campus elections yesterday. Pro-Aspirasi is seen to be pro-establishment while Pro-Mahasiswa is perceived to be anti-establishment. However, in Universiti Malaya (UM), conflicting reports have emerged about who actually won the campus elections. Although the Pro-Mahasiswa student group claimed that it had won 22 of the 43 seats contested, edging out its rival which had 19 seats, Pro-Aspirasi insisted that it had actually won 21 while Pro-Mahasiswa only bagged 20. Two more seats were tied between the two groups. Marwan Kahar, chairman of Penggerak Mahasiswa, which is in the UM's Pro-Aspirasi camp, claimed that the Pro-Mahasiswa supporters had jumped the gun in declaring their win. "Of the 22 candidates they claim are theirs, two candidates are actually independent. "We'll leave these two candidates to decide which side they'll be on," he said. However, Pro-Mahasiswa alleged that their rivals actually only garnered 17 seats instead of 19 because the other two seats were won by independents. The UM campus polls results are unofficial as it is subject to a 24-hour objection period and a further 24-hour appeal period. The final results will only be known tomorrow. In Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Pro-Mahasiswa won 18 out of the 28 seats while Pro-Aspirasi bagged 10. Pro-Aspirasi won most of the 45 seats contested in the three Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) campuses in Penang and Kelantan. At the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), deputy rector (Student Affairs) Datuk Dr Mizan Hitam said the election results could not be formally announced due to a technical problem during the e-voting process. "Some votes were not captured due to the incomplete encryption process," he said, adding that a re-election exercise was expected to be carried out in a week's time.
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| Clip of DCM’s remarks on Guan Eng on the Net Posted: 25 Sep 2012 02:15 PM PDT
(The Star) - An audio clip, purportedly of Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mansor Othman describing Lim Guan Eng as "cocky and arrogant", has been leaked on the Net. The recording was posted by YouTube user akulah7704, with slide photos of Mansor and the chief minister flashed on the screen, under the title Pendedahan Penipuan Timbalan Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang (Exposing the lies of Penang deputy chief minister). Mansor, who is state PKR chief, had allegedly remarked that Penangites viewed the chief minister as a tokong (deity). On Monday night, TV3 aired on its prime time news bulletin the recording of the remarks, said to be made at a party meeting in March to discuss the general election. Speaking to reporters here yesterday, Mansor said action would be taken against those who leaked the minutes of the meeting. "There have been some findings on the investigations," he said, declining to disclose more information. "This is a party matter. Action will be taken," he said, after presenting mock keys for low-cost units to 57 families affected by the third phase construction of the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway here. Mansor said the surfacing of the audio clip was a smear tactic because of the looming general election, reiterating that he had not seen the news programme. "I know there was a news report but I did not see it. I was away at the time. "The elections are coming, that is all I have to say." Asked to comment on the issue, Lim said: "TV3 likes to twist and turn." bGr-exGnlAg SEE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGr-exGnlAg
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| GE13 to show if Malays will ditch Umno, says Zaid Posted: 25 Sep 2012 02:05 PM PDT
Jahabar Sadiq, The Malaysian Insider The next general elections will reveal if the majority Malays are ready to abandon "the path chosen for them by Umno for the last 55 years" and seek other answers to the problems they face, says political maverick Datuk Zaid Ibrahim. The former Umno minister said he sensed the Malay nationalist party was fearful of the community's changing mindset, which has prompted Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to castigate "so-called ungrateful Malays" recently. His comments came as a Universiti Malaya survey showed that the Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) will continue to govern the country despite rising support for Pakatan Rakyat (PR). "This election, more than the previous ones, will show if the Malays and the Bumiputeras are ready to abandon the path chosen for them by Umno for the last 55 years," Zaid said in an email to The Malaysian Insider. "This election will show if they are now ready to trust themselves. For so long, they have implicit and absolute trust in their leaders. The question is will they continue to do that or will they seek alternative answers to the many problems they face in their daily lives," he added.
The original Alliance comprising Umno, MCA and MIC was expanded to become BN in the 1974 election, after the 1969 race riots that cost Tunku Abdul Rahman his job. Umno was later deregistered in 1988 after a leadership split led to the discovery of illegal branches. The current Umno is officially registered as Umno Baru. A splinter group in 1951 later became known as PAS, which advocates an Islamist state. BN suffered historic losses in Election 2008, losing five states and its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority. The defeat prompted Tun Abdullah Badawi to resign a year later as prime minister in favour of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who has been tirelessly campaigning to win back support for the ruling BN. Najib has promised reforms but has yet to indicate when he will call for the election, which must be held by middle of 2013. Former prime minister Dr Mahathir (right) has said November would be ideal for a snap election and, while calling the Malays "ungrateful" and "lacking intelligence", warned that the greed of a few power-hungry Malays in the opposition would see the country's dominant race lose its political power. In his lengthy tirade against the Malays in the Mingguan Malaysia weekly on Sunday, Dr Mahathir expressed sadness that the Malays were now purportedly split into three factions and said that this has resulted in them "begging" for support from the other races. "Who brought on this disaster? No other than the Malays themselves, greedy Malays, Malays lacking in intelligence, Malays easily influenced by lust, easily dominated by hatred when agitated," he continued in typical no-holds-barred fashion.
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| PKFZ trial postponed as Liong Sik hospitalised Posted: 25 Sep 2012 01:57 PM PDT
Hafidz Baharom, The Malaysian Insider Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik's cheating trial involving the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal was today interrupted suddenly when the former minister fell ill midway through his testimony and was rushed to the hospital. "My client has been taken ill, and we would like to request a postponement because he is suffering from low blood sugar and needs to be rushed to hospital for treatment," Dr Ling's defence lawyer, Wong Kian Kheong, told the court. Judge Datuk Ahmadi Asnawi said the hearing will resume on Friday.
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| Dr M called to testify in Liong Sik trial Posted: 25 Sep 2012 01:52 PM PDT
Hafidz Baharom, The Malaysian Insider Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been issued a court order to testify in defence of former Cabinet minister Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik's ongoing cheating trial involving the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ), a source disclosed today. "He's been subpoenaed. For the week starting October 8," a spokesman for the defence team told reporters at court, referring to Malaysia's fourth and longest-serving prime minister of 22 years. Dr Mahathir, who was in office from 1981 to October 2003, had previously been implicated in the multi-billion ringgit land scandal that began as a project aimed at turning Port Klang into a regional transport hub. In his previous testimony last July 13, Dr Ling told the court that Dr Mahathir had been kept "fully involved" throughout the entire conception process of the PKFZ project. "The PM was kept fully involved in everything I did. He (Dr Mahathir) was so kind... he knew I was onto something good so I could fly overseas anytime. "Because when I have meetings with shipping agencies abroad, I cannot wait for Cabinet to approve my leave so he would let me go," he said then when asked to explain how the idea for PKFZ had come about. "In any government, if the PM supports you, three-quarters of the battle is won... and he (Dr Mahathir) was so supportive," he added. The former transport minister who served for 17 years from January 1986 to May 2003 launched into a lengthy tale behind the conception of the PKFZ, which he said was mooted to save the country's busiest port from further decline and to lift it to become one of the world's top 10 ports. The former MCA president is charged with deceiving the Cabinet into approving the purchase of 999.5 acres of land for the PKFZ project, which had resulted in wrongful losses for the government. He also faces two alternative charges of deceiving the Cabinet into believing that the terms of the purchase — at RM25 psf plus 7.5 per cent interest — were acknowledged and agreed to by the Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH) despite knowing that there was no such agreement. Dr Ling faces a possible jail term of up to seven years, or a fine, or both, if convicted on the first charge under Section 418 of the Penal Code. The alternative charges carry a lighter sentence of five years' jail, or a fine, or both. The trial before High Court judge Datuk Ahmadi Asnawi will resume this Friday.
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| Another round of fun and games? Posted: 25 Sep 2012 12:43 PM PDT
(Free Malaysia Today) - In view of the impending 13th general election, the budget to be presented this Friday will certainly have many goodies to woo the voters but, according to Dzulkefly, whatever is doled out now will be regained a hundredfold and more by the incumbent government via the GST (goods and services tax) if it continues to win at the polls. Last week, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has asked the rakyat to give him a fresh full-term mandate in the coming 13th general election. He must have thought that we, the ordinary rakyat, have failed in our maths. The reason why this columnist makes this statement can be explained as follows: Najib took the oath of office on April 3, 2009. By Oct 3 this year, he will have been prime minister for three and a half years. And if the polls are held in March next year, it will be nearly four years that he has been prime minister. If we were to give him a fresh full-term mandate, he will have been prime minister between eight and a half to nine years overall. Do we want another round of fun and games pertaining to the polls date? Certainly not this columnist! Another round of this silly game will truly drive a lot of businessmen and investors up the wall. For the sake of good governance, it is time to end this tiresome game although the prime minister himself seems to be enjoying all the speculation going around. Many business owners certainly do not find it amusing nor entertaining. The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has earlier this year issued a statement that they preferred the polls to be held fast. "Of course, the polls date is the prime minister's prerogative but he seems to enjoy taunting the rakyat with it," said Dzulkefly Ahmad, the PAS Kuala Selangor MP. In the meantime, three businessmen from an Asian country are having a good laugh at our expense. Their conversation was overheard by this columnist at the food court in a popular tourist spot in Kuala Lumpur. The first businessman was heard saying, "Look at Malaysia's massive national debt. Who would have thought that they would incur so much debt when they have so much natural resources?" The second businessman commented that Malaysia, however, did quite well in the recent Olympics. The third businessman remarked that while that may be so, the transport system in Malaysia has seen very little improvement. "If the current incumbent government continues to win at the polls, then Malaysia will continue to lag behind in Asia," added the third businessman. Slipping further No one in the 1960s and 1970s would have thought that Malaysia would be lagging behind some of its Asian neighbours years later. It is definitely a sorry state of affairs for Malaysians. And the only way forward for Malaysia to mount a serious challenge in the international stage in terms of economy and finance is to vote in a better government. Otherwise, we will continue to fall behind and slip further down the rankings. In the World Economic Forum (WEF) rankings, we have slipped from 21 to 25. We have also seen a deterioration in the Government Budget Balancing Ranking by slipping from 96 to 110 whereas in terms of inequality of wealth, even Indonesia at 36.8 fares better than Malaysia which stands at 46.2. Our heyday seems to be slipping away. We must have a slogan like: "Stop Corruption, Save Malaysia." Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/09/26/another-round-of-fun-and-games/ |
| Should Malaysia bear the burden of Australian radioactive waste? Posted: 25 Sep 2012 12:33 PM PDT
In other words, the Australia-based Lynas Corporation's wastes will not be an Australian problem. Instead, they will be a Malaysian and South China Sea regional problem. Australian Mining The radioactive waste generated by an Australian-owned rare earth extraction factory in Malaysia has generated a firestorm of controversy. The factory – the world's largest – is owned by Lynas Corporation, and will extract rare earths from materials shipped in from Western Australia. The factory is at Gebeng, near the city of Kuantan in Malaysia. The population of the metropolitan area is about 700,000. The factory is located very near to the South China Sea. At full capacity, it will be the world's largest rare earth extraction plant: about 22,000 tonnes of rare earth elements per annum will be extracted from material shipped in all the way from Mount Weld, Western Australia. The wastes from production will include radioactive thorium and uranium and their radioactive decay products such as radium and radon. The wastes will not be shipped back to Australia for safe disposal since Australian authorities have explicitly refused to accept them. Lynas has been granted a temporary operating license (TOL) for two years, and a generous 12-year tax exemption. But the project lacks an International Atomic Energy Agency-recommended long-term waste management plan, and there is no "permanent disposal facility" (PDF) for the wastes. Critics are alarmed by the fact that no Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) has been done, no long term waste management plan exists. Meanwhile, wastes are to be stored temporarily onsite. Lee Bell of the National Toxics Network estimated (based on the experience of China) that 22,500 tonnes of radioactive waste (containing water) will be produced per annum. Non-radioactive wastes include:
 Construction has gone ahead at Lynas' rare earths factory, despite concerns about radioactive waste. EPA/Ahmad Yusni Lynas also plans to have liquid discharge of 500 tonnes per hour into the nearby Balok River which flows into the South China Sea. The site is on reclaimed swampy, peat land with a high water table. What's more, it was actually flooded during the monsoon season of 2011-2012. Lynas' "Radioactive Waste Management Plan"¹ is as follows. Wastes generated are to be processed into synthetic gypsum for the manufacture of plaster board; gypsum for the manufacture of cement; magnesium-rich gypsum fertilizer for plantations, crops and for soil remediation; and carbon-enriched magnesium gypsum fertilizer to rejuvenate acidic soils. Lynas alleges that any material remaining can either be "disposed safely in a secure municipal landfill" if classified as non-scheduled wastes or "disposed at a licensed facility" if classified as scheduled wastes by the Malaysian Department of the Environment. Wastes are also to be commercialised as road building material, failing which it will be "permanently isolated" (whatever this means). The public lacks confidence in the regulatory authorities because of experience with the earlier Asian Rare Earth (ARE) project in Bukit Merah, Malaysia. This was partly owned by Mitsubishi. Its aim was to extract the rare earth yttrium from monazite ore. Read more at: http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/features/should-malaysia-bear-the-burden-of-australian-radi
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| Najib May Extend Handouts as Malaysia Vote Nears Posted: 25 Sep 2012 12:29 PM PDT
(Bloomberg) - "This will likely be another populist budget and the last spending spree before elections are called," said Chua Hak Bin, an economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Singapore, who has covered Malaysia for more than a decade. "Measures to seriously tackle the fiscal deficit and rising public debt will likely be absent. Fiscal reforms will have to come next year, after the general election."
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's efforts to build support ahead of national elections may spur more handouts to the poor and bonuses for civil servants, limiting progress in reducing the 2013 budget deficit. The country will probably post a shortfall of 4.3 percent of gross domestic product for next year, according to the median estimate of eight economists in a Bloomberg News survey before Najib presents spending plans on Sept. 28. The deficit would exceed 4 percent for a sixth year after a 4.7 percent gap projected by the government for 2012. Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings have recommended tighter public finances after Najib, 59, raised state salaries, handed cash to low-income households and unveiled rail and road projects to spur growth. The ruling coalition won re-election in 2008 by the smallest margin since 1957, and its five-decade grip on power will again be tested in a vote due by early 2013. "This will likely be another populist budget and the last spending spree before elections are called," said Chua Hak Bin, an economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Singapore, who has covered Malaysia for more than a decade. "Measures to seriously tackle the fiscal deficit and rising public debt will likely be absent. Fiscal reforms will have to come next year, after the general election." While the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index has fallen about 2 percent from its record close on Sept. 4, retailers such as Aeon Co. (M) Bhd. and Padini Holdings Bhd. may benefit from measures to boost incomes, according to Maybank Investment Bank Bhd. Record BudgetMalaysia's 2013 budget will be 259 billion ringgit ($84 billion), bigger than last year's record 232.8 billion ringgit, Citigroup Inc. estimates. The government, which joins counterparts from Thailand to the Philippines in increasing spending to protect their economies from the European debt crisis and a faltering U.S. recovery, proposed in June to expand the 2012 annual allocation by 13.4 billion ringgit. The spending boost has helped support Southeast Asia's third-largest economy even as the global recovery faltered, with expansion accelerating to 5.4 percent last quarter as construction and consumption climbed. Stronger domestic demand, particularly investment spending, is helping lift tax revenue and prevent the fiscal deficit from worsening, Chua said. Low Cost"Spending can be front-loaded, to coincide with elections, without harming the structural fiscal position," said Aninda Mitra, a Singapore-based economist at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. "The Malaysian government's low cost access to local-currency finance, its net external creditor status and recent reforms of its public-sector enterprises provide a cushion against near-term fiscal risks." Over the "medium-term," the rating implications of the drawdown of the current-account surplus amid "a continuing absence of structural fiscal reforms" remain a concern, he said. The cost to protect Malaysia's sovereign debt from non- payment has more than halved since last year's budget. Five-year credit default swaps fell to 91 from 213 on Oct. 3, 2011, according to data provider CMA, which is owned by McGraw-Hill Cos. and compiles prices quoted by dealers in the privately negotiated market. Najib may announce this week measures to make housing more affordable and highlight large construction projects underway, according to Citigroup. He may also repeat a one-off cash handout of 500 ringgit to low-income families, a measure from the 2012 budget, and give a half-month bonus for civil servants, said Lee Heng Guie, chief economist at CIMB Investment Bank. The prime minister will probably delay implementing a goods and services tax next year, United Overseas Bank Ltd. said. Political Bang"Expenditure will likely be reallocated to groups that deliver the best political bang for the buck," said Kit Wei Zheng, a Singapore-based economist at Citigroup. "With the threat of credit rating downgrades, unless progress is made on fiscal consolidation, the budget will have to walk a tight-rope between populism and fiscal prudence." Read more at: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-09-25/najib-may-extend-handouts-as-malaysia-vote-nears-southeast-asia |
| Zahid: If not for infighting, UMNO can do better Posted: 24 Sep 2012 09:31 PM PDT
(Harakah) - Top UMNO leaders continue giving mixed signals about the party's chances of surviving the next general election, which must be called within the next nine months. Quoted by Malay daily Sinar Harian, UMNO vice president Zahid gave a less optimistic prediction, saying UMNO would likely perform better than 2008 but not as good as 2004, when BN won by a landslide majority.
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| Gerakan says stands by claims Guan Eng is corrupt, tenancy doctored Posted: 24 Sep 2012 08:03 PM PDT
Opalyn Mok, The Malaysian Insider Gerakan said today it stands by its accusations that the Penang chief minister is corrupt and that a tenancy agreement of his rented residence that was publicly revealed was doctored. "We will not retract what we have said and we will not apologise," said Penang Gerakan deputy chief H'ng Khoon Leng. He said Gerakan has been raising the issue regarding the Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's rented residence before the latter moved in. "We have also raised so many other issues that Lim evades from answering or responding to our allegations over the years in countless press conferences," he said. He said if Lim could not come clear with all issues raised including his rented bungalow and the controversial sale of the Taman Manggis land, then it shows that he has something to hide. "For the past three years, I have been saying that he (Lim) is corrupt but now when the elections is near, he suddenly wants to take action against me for saying this," he said. "In many press conferences, even on my Facebook profile, I have always said Lim is corrupt but it was ignored. Now, he suddenly wants to clear his name just because the general election is around the corner?" H'ng said. He said Gerakan was not afraid of Lim or the Penang state government as the issues raised are a matter of public interest and should be revealed to the public. "We based our allegations on facts and our own investigations. The issues we raised are not mere stories we made up out of nothing," he said. This morning Lim, through his political secretary Ng Wei Aik, had threatened to take action against H'ng, Gerakan Youth vice-chief Tan Kah Leong and Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng for alleging the tenancy agreement was doctored. Ng said Lim would also take action against H'ng for saying he (Lim) was corrupted if H'ng does not retract the statement within 24 hours. Ng was responding to statements made by H'ng, Kah Leong and Tee Beng that the tenancy agreement for Lim's rented residence was doctored as the landlord's name was obscured and the stamp duty was not clear. The tenancy agreement showed recently listed the rental of the house at RM5,000 a month. Lim is entitled to a RM4,000 a month housing allowance, and his office said the chief minister had been making up the balance of RM1,000 out of his own pocket.
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| Former Usno members want seats Posted: 24 Sep 2012 07:18 PM PDT
These members who have joined Umno believe it is time to 'reactivate the synergy between Umno and Usno'. (FMT) - KOTA KINABALU: Disgruntled former members of Usno in Sabah are wanting their pound of flesh from Umno, whom they claim has shown little regard for Usno historical alliance and its loyalty. Usno, which was once the backbone of the Sabah Alliance government under chief minister Mustapha Harun – from 1967 until 1976 – was the reason Umno arrived in Sabah. Usno, under Mustapha, gave Umno a shortcut entry into Sabah politics to form the government through Barisan Nasional. According to former Usno secretary-general Onn Ariffin, Usno had agreed to allow Umno into Sabah believing that the two could unite the fragmented Bumiputeras under the peninsula-based party. But that has not been the case. The Usno established by Mustapha in Kampung Ayer, Kudat, on Oct 26, 1961 was dissolved in 1991 to allow all its leaders and members to join Umno en bloc. Said Onn: "It has been 20 years since Usno allowed Umno into Sabah. Umno is here due to the blessings and sacrifice of Usno… "[But gratitude has been slow]… there are still grumblings about former Usno leaders not having opportunities to be in the political frontline." Reminding Sabah Umno chief Musa Aman of Usno's history, Onn called on the state leadership to provide room for former members who were "still capable and trusted by the people". "The leaders must allow these people to continue their struggle on Umno's platform and not ostracise or sideline them. These people are still capable and trusted by the people. "It is important for us to expose winnable leaders who have been silent all this while, " Onn said in a statement here. He also urged the Umno state leadership to take stock of the fact that the brand name "Usno" was being flogged by many parties to woo voters. "The election is nearing and we must accept the fact that the name Usno is stuck in the heart of Sabahans and has a high value as a party with a distinguished heritage in the state political history despite it not being in existence for so long. "It is now time to reactivate the synergy between Umno and Usno and whatever differences and negative thinking between them should be set aside," Onn said.
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| Anti-hopping law against constitution, says Nazri Posted: 24 Sep 2012 03:48 PM PDT
(The Star) - ANY law that prohibits an elected representative from moving from one party to another would go against Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which protects the freedom of association, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz. "Article 10 of the Federal Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of association. Any individual is free to join any party without having to vacate their seats as a penalty," he told Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) in a written reply. Karpal had asked the Government whether it would support Pakatan Rakyat MPs idea in proposing a change to the Federal Constitution to bring in an "anti-hopping law". Nazri said any proposed amendments to the Federal Constitution was a policy issue which needed to be studied as a whole, next to other related laws. "The Federal and respective state constitutions, as well as the Elections Act 1958, only authorise the Election Commission to determine whether or not a seat is vacant after receiving notice from the speaker of Parliament or a state assembly." He also noted that existing laws do not empower the EC to determine penalties against elected representatives who change parties.
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| NGOs demand NST apology for foreign plot claim Posted: 24 Sep 2012 03:35 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Six organisations are demanding an apology from the Umno-linked New Straits Times newspaper for claiming they were part of a plot to destabilise the government. The newspaper was given 48 hours to apologise, failing which the non-governmental organisations would consider legal action. In its September 21 front-page story, the NST had reported that a number of NGOs including human rights group Suaram and electoral reform organisation Bersih had received funds from foreign sources as part of a plot to destabilise the government. Activists said today they are now the target of a smear campaign after a number of newspapers aligned with Barisan Nasional (BN) published stories alleging organisations like Suaram and Bersih took foreign funds as part of a plot to destabilise the country. It is understood the stories appearing in mainstream newspapers and television news programmes are based on a skeleton plan produced by Putrajaya. Activists had previously acknowledged to The Malaysian Insider that many of their organisations had received funds from foreign and local sources, but said the money was meant to help finance their respective causes such as to promote democratic practices and campaign for human rights. They said the funds and their sources were not part of any plot, as suggested by the NST headline. A host of local non-governmental organisations were named in the NST report, including Suaram, Lawyers for Liberty, Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih) and the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ). A similar story also appeared in MCA-owned newspaper The Star. Both stories quoted sources and unnamed investigators probing the financial background of the NGOs. The stories pointed out that RM20 million had been received by the NGOs between 2005 and last year from foreign sources such as the Washington-based National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the New York-based Open Society Institute (OSI). It was not stated why the organisations were under investigation and what they had been doing to destabilise the government or the country. But many of these organisations have been involved in recent years with campaigns for electoral reforms and for human rights. Today, six of the NGOs named said the report was unfounded and written in bad faith. "We are taking this very seriously. The matter is in the hands of our lawyers," Bersih co-chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan told reporters today. "We expect to see a response from New Straits Times within 48 hours, failing which we will take all the necessary steps and all the steps that are open to us under the law." The demand was also endorsed by Suaram, CIJ, Lawyers for Liberty, Merdeka Center and the Southeast Asian Centre for E-Media (Seacem). On Sunday former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad suggested that currency speculator George Soros was attempting to usurp political power from the BN government by appointing his own leader as the next prime minister of Malaysia. Dr Mahathir made the statement when asked to comment on several local NGOs that were in the limelight recently after the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry called on the Registrar of Societies to investigate Suaram, which had received funds from Soros-linked organisations. Today, The Malaysian Insider reported that Soros not only funds pro-democracy groups in Malaysia, but has also funded activities of the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) which was led at one time by his chief Malaysian critic's daughter, Datuk Paduka Marina Mahathir. The US citizen has been in the limelight lately after government-friendly mainstream newspapers and a television station said his Open Society Institute (OSI) had funded pro-democracy groups out to destabilise the BN government under Datuk Seri Najib Razak. The media did not offer proof of any destabilisation efforts.
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| BN, Pakatan going all out to woo new voters Posted: 24 Sep 2012 03:15 PM PDT
(The Star) - Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat political parties are going all out to win the hearts of about 2.9 million newly-registered voters in the coming general election. Tanjong Karang MP Datuk Seri Noh Omar said Barisan MPs would change their approach towards voters. "Normally, MPs would be present at events where the constituents invite us for. This time, we will seek out the constituents and check on their needs instead of waiting for an invitation from them," said Noh, who is also the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister. Hulu Selangor MP P. Kamalanathan said the focus was on youths, with a continuous effort in resettlement of rural youths in urban areas through specialised programmes. "The president (Datuk Seri G. Palanivel) has been travelling around the country to reach out and let the public know of Government initiatives for the community, especially for Malaysian Indians," said Kamalanathan, who is also MIC information chief. MCA vice-president Gan Peng Sieu said the party's groundwork had always been a continuous affair, though it was more intense during the election period. "There will probably be more roadshows, campaigns and a mega rally closer to the election date, as the purpose would be to dispel the lies and fabrications against the party, which has even involved character assassinations," he said. The 2,920,828 new voters registered between 2008 and June 30 this year form about 22% of the electorate, or one in five of 13.1 million voters. Gombak MP and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali said his party would not succumb to gutter politics, but would promote its policies to let the public decide. "We will offer the rakyat, especially the youths, with clear policies on various aspects like education and economy and how we intend to address national issues," he said, adding that the Pakatan Rakyat would finalise its budget by Friday. Parit Buntar MP Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said PAS would focus on "bread and butter" issues such as household income and cost of living during the run-up to the polls.
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| Businessman admits private jet loaned to Anwar, declines to reveal for how much Posted: 24 Sep 2012 02:41 PM PDT
(The Star) - A businessman has admitted to providing a private jet to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim but declined to say for how much. TJets Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Mohd Taufik Omar also denied being the jet's owner. "My company only manages the private jet," said the 48-year-old. "As it is a private jet, it should remain a private matter." Pressed to reveal if he was the real owner, Mohd Taufik said: "Am I that rich? I am just trying to cari makan (earn a living)." Mohd Taufik was asked to comment on the buzz in cyberspace following an expose by blogger John F. Seademon that Mohd Taufik was the businessman who had loaned the jet to the Opposition Leader. Bloggers were abuzz over the "jet-setting ways" of Pakatan Rakyat leaders, following PKR vice-president Tian Chua's tweets on Sept 15 showing photographs of the Dassault Falcon jet and several Opposition leaders enjoying its posh setting. Earlier yesterday, Anwar had said a "KL businessman" owned the jet. Anwar said he had asked the businessman if he had any interests in Selangor, Penang and Kelantan, to which he categorically said "no". Mohd Taufik, who is Malaysia Judo Association president, is also the chairman of LD Sports Sdn Bhd, Kenangan Nilam Sdn Bhd, Asiana Inspirasi Sdn Bhd, KN Capital Sdn Bhd and T Corp Labuan. He is also the director of Health Solutions (SE Asia) Sdn Bhd, CltlTower Sdn Bhd, Aliran Modern Sdn Bhd and Vasseti Bhd. Anwar admitted to having borrowed jets from Arab businessmen when he was invited to lecture at Georgetown University in the United States and from the Saudi royal family for a medical trip to Germany. Tian Chua said Pakatan leaders could now enjoy trips on private jets, adding that some friends had chartered the jet with the registration number N990BB. PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, who was also among the Pakatan leaders on board the plane, said they had used the jet on Sept 15 and 16 to travel to Labuan, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.
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| DAP must help PAS win over Malays Posted: 24 Sep 2012 02:31 PM PDT
A Penang PAS branch chief opined that DAP lacks an understanding of Islam and if it is to allay local Malay fears, it must give PAS greater leeway. Hawkeye, FMT GEORGE TOWN: There is no need for Penang DAP to field Malay candidates in the next general election, says a PAS grassroots leader. Instead, DAP should focus on ensuring that it can help its alliance partners, PAS and PKR, to achieve resounding victories in the election, former state PAS Youth chief Mohamed Hafiz Nordin said. Hafiz, who is now a party branch head in Butterworth, said PAS has the capabilities and electoral support to represent the Malay and Muslim interests in Penang. "It is just that the PAS grassroots feel they are overlooked here as the party only secured one out of the five seats it had contested." He was responding to statements by state DAP committee member Zulkifli Mohd Noor that the Malays should stand on the socialist party's ticket in view of the fact that PAS and PKR are perceived by many quarters to be politically weak in Penang. Zulkifli's statement was echoed by a civil group, the Penang Malay Congress president Rahmad Isahak, who stressed that the best way for more Malay voices to be heard in the state administrative matters, was through DAP, as the others lacked credibility here. This was also in view of the fact that Umno through Barisan Nasional has consolidated its hold on the Malay support here. According to Rahmad, the political dimension of the Malays here, particularly on the island, differs from other parts of the country. On the island, the Malays generally perceived themselves to be isolated due to the current socio-economic conditions where they are struggling to cope with rising living costs, brought on by expensive housing and a limit on quality jobs, Rahmad claimed. Such a perception was also based on the fact that the present state government only has two Malay representatives, while the Malay population number is just slightly behind the Chinese, Rahmad said. Lack of respect To this, Hafiz said the conditions can be changed if PAS was given leeway to contribute in the state. "The one state executive councillor's post or religious portfolio was not accorded to the party. It shows a lack of respect. "DAP should allow PAS to handle religious matters, as the present arrangement is not working out well due to the lack of attention and expertise by the present state exco member (Abdul Malik Abul Kassim)." Pakatan Rakyat has 29 seats in Penang versus Umno's (BN) 11, of which DAP has 19, PKR nine and PAS one. In the last election, DAP contested 19 and won all while PAS only won one out of the five it contested and PKR secured nine out of 16.
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| Khairy: Anwar lying about Pakatan’s need for private jet Posted: 23 Sep 2012 06:33 PM PDT
(Malaysian Digest) - Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has rubbished Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's explanation that Pakatan Rakyat needed to use a specially-chartered private jet to travel from Kota Kinabalu to Labuan as there were no flights available. Anwar, in a Press conference in Parliament today, had explained that the Pakatan entourage needed to use a private jet on their September 16 trip to East Malaysia as there were no connecting flights available from Labuan to Kota Kinabalu that day. Khairy, however, dismissed the claims and said a simple check would show that there were indeed flights available.
@font-face p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal div.Section1 The Malaysia Airlines flight schedule tweeted by Khairy earlier today. Pix: Twitter/Khairykj Producing Malaysia Airlines' flight schedule, Khairy said it was evidence enough that there were flights catered to Kota Kinabalu from Labuan that day.
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| ‘Anwar approved attacks against Guan Eng’ Posted: 23 Sep 2012 04:38 PM PDT
Independent Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng claims the opposition leader had condemned the Penang chief minister in 2009. Athi Shankar, FMT GEORGE TOWN: Independent Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng claims that PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim had once condemned Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, calling him "kurang ajar" (rude or insolent). Tan alleged that Anwar told him this in a private discussion during a break from a parliamentary session in 2009. He also alleged that Anwar gave him the green light, when he was in PKR, to reproach Lim for his wrongdoings and mismanagement in Penang. Tan had apparently called for a private meeting with Anwar in the Parliament house to find out whether the latter was upset with his (Tan's) constant criticisms of the Pakatan Rakyat state government. When he sought the clarification from Anwar during the November parliamentary sitting, Tan said his former political boss told him that he was not upset, but welcomed it. He said he decided to seek the clarification after he was told by some PKR colleagues that the opposition leader was unhappy with his stinging criticisms against the Lim's administration. Tan claimed Anwar told him that "this young boy [Lim] is kurang ajar. He needs to be taught some lessons". Tan said he started publicly criticising Lim only after receiving Anwar's approval. "Anwar had given his blessings to me to attack Lim. So I was naturally confused when some PKR leaders told me that Anwar was upset," he told FMT. However, Tan said he became frustrated and upset when Anwar failed to shield him against Lim's attacks on him. "Anwar just dumped me. He just washed his hands off me," said Tan.
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| RPK sowing fear, says ex-comrade Posted: 23 Sep 2012 04:28 PM PDT
Haris Ibrahim takes offence at a Malaysia Today article claiming that racism has become worse. K Pragalath, FMT Social activist Haris Ibrahim has accused Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin of fear mongering with his statement that racism in Malaysia has reached a new height. Haris apologised to followers of his blog for an article he posted last January, in which he defended Raja Petra, popularly known as RPK, against accusations that the latter had turned his back against the struggle to oust Barisan Nasional from power. In a blog posting referring to a Sept 21 Malaysia Today article, Haris accused RPK of trying to "sow the seeds of fear". The offending article came under the headline "Cina sudah kurang ajar! Dah lupa 13 Mei ke?" (The Chinese have become rude! Have they forgotten 13 May?") It declared: "Racism in Malaysia has reached a dangerous level never seen before since May 1969." In response, Haris said: "The only thing racist in this country is Umno, BN, Dr M and the mainstream media. "And now, of course, RPK's untiring efforts to sow the seeds of fear." Haris's article argued that the various races in the country had become more united, offering as evidence the Bersih gatherings and other recent public protests against the ruling regime. "Did the tender scenes of the makcik in the Ganesha temple in Jalan Pudu putting bits of salt in the mouths of those anak bangsa Malaysia of all ethnicities and gender, seeking refuge in the temple after being hit by tear gas and chemical-laced water, smack of racism?" he wrote. "Have the anti-Lynas campaigns been racist? No!" Haris and RPK were founders of the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement, one of the objectives of which was to identify election candidates for Pakatan Rakyat. Haris quit the movement early this year.
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| Anwar: Private jet is friend’s Posted: 23 Sep 2012 04:00 PM PDT
The deal to shuttle Anwar and other Pakatan politicians to East Malaysia, apparently came with no strings attached. Patrick Lee, FMT A friend, according to Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, arranged for the him and other Pakatan Rakyat MPs to travel on a private jet to East Malaysia earlier this month. Speaking to reporters in the Parliament lobby, he did not disclose the "friend's" name, though Anwar added that the trip came with no strings attached. "I asked him, because I was concerned that he had some interest in Penang, Kedah, Selangor or Kelantan…He said no, it was not tied to anything, so I said okay. "He is not that involved [in politics]. I've known him for some time. He said he will do this for a friend, because he understands the problem of logistics," he said. Anwar was referring to a series of articles and blog posts critical of the Permatang Pauh MP travelling in a private jet on Sept 15 and 16. The criticisms were based off photographs taken and later uploaded to the Internet by PKR vice-president Tian Chua, who accompanied Anwar on the trip. Anwar said: "Why did we ask Tian Chua to take these pictures? Because I didn't want people think that this was a secret." He added that the coverage of this matter was an attempt by Umno and the MCA to frighten businessmen from helping Pakatan Rakyat politicians. He also asked why Umno chose to harp on this issue when there were alleged matters of corruption and irregularities that needed tending to.
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| Zaid tells Dr M: I rather be an ungrateful Malay than a stupid one Posted: 23 Sep 2012 03:02 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Former Cabinet member Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said today he would rather be ungrateful than stupid, as he mocked Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for suggesting that Malays who were unappreciative would cause the community to lose political power. Dr Mahathir told Umno's Utusan Malaysia in an interview published yesterday that Malays were "ungrateful" and "lacking intelligence", warning that the greed of a few power-hungry Malays in the opposition would see the country's dominant race lose its political power. The former PM also alleged that "if any of these Malay (opposition) parties win the elections and form the government, this government would have to follow the dictates of other (races)." Responding on Twitter this morning, Zaid said: "I rather be called ungrateful Malay than a stupid one, who doesn't think, who follow blindly the dictates of arrogant Malay leaders." Zaid was part of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's Cabinet but was sacked in 2008, a few months after he resigned as minister in protest against the government's decision to use the Internal Security Act (ISA) to arrest an opposition politician, a blogger and a journalist. He became a PKR member before eventually quitting, and is now the leader of an opposition-aligned party, while continuing to push for political and law reforms. Dr Mahathir has become in recent months a vocal campaigner for Datuk Seri Najib Razak's Umno, and his growing influence has seen the party shed many of its reform plans in favour of playing the race card. Yesterday, in his lengthy tirade against the Malays, the former prime minister expressed sadness that the Malays were now purportedly split into three factions and said that this has resulted in them "begging" for support from the other races. At another function, Dr Mahathir also suggested that currency speculator George Soros was attempting to usurp political power from the Barisan Nasional (BN) government by appointing his own leader as the next prime minister of Malaysia. The former prime minister made this statement when asked to comment on several local NGOs that were in the limelight recently after the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry called on the Registrar of Societies to investigate Suaram, which has received funds from Soros. Commenting on this, Zaid also mocked Dr Mahathir on Twitter yesterday by saying that if English football club Manchester United won their match against Liverpool yesterday, it must also be because of Soros. "If Man U wins then Soros must hav a hand in this." In another tweet, he added: "Malays must be really stupid to believe the Jewish conspiracy to install puppet PM."
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| PR leaders: Tunku Aziz is a BN agent Posted: 23 Sep 2012 02:57 PM PDT
Md Izwan, The Malaysian Insider Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders have labelled Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim a Barisan Nasional (BN) agent who lacks credibility following recent reports where the former DAP vice-chairman has openly criticised his former party and leaders. The opposition leaders yesterday slammed Tunku Aziz as a traitor in response to the latter's statement on Friday about his plan to tour the country to open the minds of the people, especially opposition supporters, to make the right decision during the upcoming general election. Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai described Tunku Aziz's actions as representing BN, saying the latter was now an agent of the ruling coalition for his attacks against DAP and PR leaders. "He is now like a BN agent, attacking PR and DAP every day. I pity him for due to his treachery, many have avoided him," Tan told The Malaysian Insider when contacted yesterday. Tan also describe Tunku Aziz as weak and not having any credibility and integrity left. He also accused the former DAP leader of ill intentions for his accusations about the DAP without any basis and proof. Kuala Selangor MP and PAS leader Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad expressed shock over Tunku Aziz's statement, saying the latter's decision to tour the nation was a waste of time. Dzulkefly also regarded Tunku Aziz's actions as being those of a BN agent because of its wide coverage in BN-controlled newspapers and television channels. "This is a wasteful action and a treacherous attitude," he said. "If we look at the coverage given to him by Umno and BN-controlled media, it is clear he is a BN agent," he added. Rasah MP Anthony Loke agreed with his colleagues that Tunku Aziz was no longer credible. "He is no longer credible and his words have made people lose respect for him," Loke said. He added Tunku Aziz's accusations about the DAP were baseless and without proof, expressing confidence that people could judge Tunku Aziz for themselves. Tunku Aziz had in May announced his departure from the DAP over a conflict of opinions with other party leaders over the Bersih 3.0 rally on April 28. Following his departure, Tunku Aziz has been increasingly vocal and critical towards the opposition PR especially the DAP, stirring discontent among his former colleagues.
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| Photos of Pakatan leaders in private jet hits cyberspace Posted: 23 Sep 2012 02:36 PM PDT
Travelling in style: Anwar and DAP vicechairman Tan Seng Giaw pictured in the private jet (inset) during a trip with other Pakatan Rakyat leaders. (The Star) - Photographs of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and several Pakatan Rakyat leaders travelling on a private jet have caused a stir in cyberspace. While some bloggers and Barisan Nasional officials criticised their "travel style", Anwar and his team maintained it was merely an easy mode to travel across Sarawak and Sabah. The pictures, originally tweeted by PKR vice-president Tian Chua on Sept 15, were uploaded by several blogs. Apart from Anwar and Tian Chua, those seen in the aircraft included DAP vice-chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw, PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, PAS treasurer Dr Hatta Ramli and Terengganu PKR chief Abdul Rahman Yusof. Some of the blogs even suggested that the aircraft may have been registered to a United States bank. A posting in novandri.blogspot.com said the Opposition leaders had accused the Barisan government of being wasteful while they often portray themselves as being prudent and travel only on low-cost airline AirAsia. "Many supporters were impressed but, unfortunately, this is all an act. "The latest story about Anwar travelling in a private jet with other Opposition leaders will surely leave a negative perception on the people," said the blogger. Kota Belud MP Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said it was ironic that the Opposition, who accused Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and the Government of being wasteful, actually used a private jet for campaigning. "Even if the service was paid for or arranged by a certain party, the rakyat has the right to know who did it and whether it was a local or foreign sponsor," he said. Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang said: "Even if it was a loan, they must realise there is no free lunch in this world." Reacting to the criticisms, Anwar tweeted on Saturday: "What's the issue? A friend arranged for a private jet." Defending her father, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar tweeted: "What's the issue with a jet trip loaned by a friend? Ain't ours, ain't public funds." Tian Chua said they were travelling to several places in Sarawak and Sabah over the weekend of Malaysia Day, adding that it was cheaper and time saving to charter the jet than to fly commercial.
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| Kepong Umno Youth chief stabbed, in critical condition Posted: 23 Sep 2012 02:31 PM PDT
(The Star) - Kepong Umno youth chief Datuk Norizan Ali, 41, is in critical condition after he was stabbed in the stomach outside his home early Monday morning. Ampang OCPD Asst Comm Amiruddin Jamaluddin said the incident was believed to have occurred at about 4am after he returned home from watching football with friends at a mamak stall. "It is believed he parked his car about 20m from his double story house at Jalan Dagang 2/4, Taman Dagang when he was approached by two men believed to be foreigners. "We are not sure if there was a struggle, but he suffered injuries before the suspects left," he said when met at the Ampang Hospital. He added that none of the victim's belongings were reported missing and police are still in the dark over the matter and hope to get more details after he regains consciousness. It is learnt that Norizan is now undergoing surgery after he suffered stab wounds to his stomach. One of his fingers was almost sliced off. The case is currently being investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder.
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| Uproar against Ngeh and Nga at DAP convention Posted: 23 Sep 2012 02:08 PM PDT
(The Star) - A commotion broke out at the Perak DAP convention with delegates accusing two of their leaders of blocking members from forming new branches. A disgruntled delegate demanded that state chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and secretary Nga Kor Ming explain the matter. There had been talk that the cousins had been using their influence to strengthen their hold in the party. The delegate claimed he had found out from the national headquarters that Ngeh and Nga had rejected the application for new branches to be set up. Other delegates also pounced on the two men, criticising them of using the Chinese media to attack members for holding party activities. A delegate also lambasted Ngeh over his controversial tweet over the film trailers of the Innocence of Muslims movie, pointing out he should have been more considerate and not hurt the feelings of the Malay community. When contacted, Ngeh brushed aside the grouses, saying there should be proper procedures when dealing with party matters. "The issues raised were old ones, for which I had already made the necessary clarifications," he said, declining to elaborate.
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| Posted: 23 Sep 2012 02:04 PM PDT
(The Star) - The MCA has slammed the top two leaders of the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia for "using" the organisation to further their personal agenda. Party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said Dong Zong chairman Yap Sin Tian and his deputy Chow Siew Hon had caused a split in the Chinese community instead of bringing them together in developing Chinese education. "We feel it is time to evaluate these two leaders; whether they are suitable to lead Dong Zong," he said after a briefing on Chinese school issues here yesterday. The session was attended by 250 representatives from the board of directors and parent-teacher associations of Chinese schools in Johor. On the Sept 26 rally, which is seeking to oust Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong as the Deputy Education Minister, Dr Chua said the "whole purpose of the 926 rally is to damage the MCA and Barisan Nasional". He said the party had all along been cooperating with Chinese schools to resolve their issues. Later, in JOHOR BARU, the MCA president said the Chinese community should realise the importance of having a good command of at least three languages to have a competitive edge. Aside from the importance of the mother-tongue, he said the community should know two other languages too. "Having a good command of least three languages serves as an added advantage in the competitive world as well as the chance to contribute to the nation better," he said at a dinner on Saturday for SJKC Pei Chih, Taman Desa Cemerlang, to raise funds for a new RM1.5mil multi-purpose hall. Dr Chua recounted his experience in 1992 when he visited Shenzhen, China, where he faced difficulty in understanding the government officials' English. "But the situation is so much better now," he said. "Recently, I visited China again, and I must say that their command of English is better than some of us. "Although China, as an economic giant, still uses Chinese as their main language, they have come to realise the importance of learning another language," he pointed out. Dr Chua also debunked claims by certain parties that the Government did not care about Chinese education, citing how it had helped in the development of Chinese schools besides recognising qualifications from 820 universities in China. After his speech, Dr Chua announced a RM200,000 donation to fund the school hall.
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| Veteran newsman accuses Malaysiakini of being insincere Posted: 23 Sep 2012 01:56 PM PDT
(The Star) - Veteran journalist Y.L. Chong has challenged Malaysiakini to reveal its annual financial report. He said that while the portal operators claim to promote transparency, accountability and media independence, they neither announced the value of shares nor declared dividends. He was responding to comments by Malaysiakini CEO Premesh Chandran that co-founders and staff of the news portal owned 70% of the shares. Chong quit Malaysiakini 11 years ago following the top manage-ment's refusal to publicly declare its links to currency speculator George Soros. The issue surfaced again recently following reports that Malaysiakini and Suaram were among several anti-establishment organisations that allegedly received foreign funding. The two main contributors are the American-based National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and Soros-linked Open Society Institute (OSI), which had been financing groups supporting its interests and objectives around the world. Chong questioned if Malaysiakini revealed its annual financial statements to its staff. "When I was serving as news editor, I was verbally told during top management meetings that I am also a shareholder. "But I never received in black-and-white how much shares I owned. "And until today, Malaysiakini has never revealed the value of its shares,'' he said. Chong said as the news editor, he was privy to information raised at Malaysiakini's meetings. "I learned that Malaysiakini had then received 10% downpayment of RM188,000 from MDLF (Media Development Loan Fund) for a 10% interest in Malaysiakini,'' he said. "I want Premesh to declare how much is the 70% shares owned by Malaysiakini co-founders and staff worth now,'' he said. In an immediate reaction, Premesh said Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd owned Malaysiakini and the company files its annual returns yearly with CCM (Companies Commission of Malaysia). "This includes all details of shareholders. The par value of the shares is RM1,'' he said, adding that all staff who owned shares had been issued share certificates. However, he said, they had not issued any dividends to shareholders.
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| Why Suaram’s status is suddenly so important Posted: 23 Sep 2012 01:39 PM PDT
By showing that Suaram is a company, the Najib administration can tell the French authorities that Suaram has not legal standing to bring the Scorpene inquiry, says Raja Petra. Free Malaysia Today The ongoing government onslaught on human rights watchdog Suaram is a carefully planned tactic undertaken by the Najib administration to defend itself against a French inquiry into the Scorpene submarine deal. The government intends to show to the French authorities that Suaram is a profit-motivated company and not an international NGO as it had claimed itself to be at the French courts. "As such, Suaram has no locus standi in the 'class action suit' [over the alleged corruption in the Scorpene deal]," popular blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin said today in a posting in his Malaysia-Today portal. Raja Petra said that the French investigation into the sale of the two submarines to Malaysia was launched mainly because of an application made by Suaram, which had applied to the French court for the investigation to be launched on the basis that it was an international NGO. He said that Suaram had claimed that it has suffered damage because France sold the two submarines to Malaysia. He added that Suaram was also seeking compensation. "Suaram has managed to convince the French court that it is an international NGO and therefore has locus standi to take this 'class action suit' against the Malaysian government." Raja Petra also attached a document submitted to the French authorities to indicate that Suaram was "an international NGO that was eligible to sue for compensation as it had personally suffered damages because of the obvious phenomenon surrounding the corrupt sale of these submarines". "The Malaysian government, therefore, now has to defend itself against a possible legal action. "And to do that, it has to bring into question Suaram's status as an international NGO. And if the Malaysian government can prove that Suaram is not an international NGO but is a registered company [and hence profit-motivated], then it may be able to torpedo the submarine investigation," he said.
Raja Petra said that the Malaysian government has to "rip to shreds Suaram's status" so that it can argue that "not only is Suaram a profit-motivated company and not an international NGO but also it has no locus standi in this class action suit". In recent weeks, Suaram has come under intense attack over its funding and organisational structure. The government has accused it of being funded by foreign powers to "destabilise the peace of the country". Last week, Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that six government agencies are taking action against Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd, the operating entity of Suaram, for breaching five sections of the Companies Act 1965. Suaram has consistently denied any wrongdoings.
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| Anwar: Dr M, Daim behind forex scandal Posted: 23 Sep 2012 01:36 PM PDT
Referring to the foreign exchange scandal that erupted in the 90s, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said that he instructed Bank Negara to stop speculating in the currency market. G Vinod, FMT Bank Negara got involved in foreign exchange speculation under the direction of the finance minister before me, with the blessings of the then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said this at Parliament today. Anwar served as finance minister from 1991 to 1998. His immediate predecessor was Umno veteran, Daim Zainuddin. Earlier, Deputy Finance Minister Donald Lim told the Dewan that Malaysia lost RM5.7 billion when Bank Negara was said to be involved in the forex scandal. When Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng asked whether action was taken against officers involved in the matter, the deputy minister told the Penang chief minister to refer the matter to Anwar as he was serving as the finance minister then. The hall soon erupted and Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin pointed out that on April 27, 1993, DAP MP Lim Kit Siang had said that Anwar must take responsibility for the billions lost. Anwar stood up to defend himself, saying it was he who instructed Bank Negara to stop speculating on the currency market in 1993. He also said Kit Siang was right to ask the question at that time and said that he had admitted to the DAP veteran that Bank Negara made some losses in the scandal. "Then Bank Negara governor, Jaafar Hussein resigned despite not being directly involved in the matter, together with Nor Mohamed Yakcop who was then in charge of the Forex Trading Unit. "But when I was jailed in 1998, Nor Mohamed was promoted to become a minister," said Anwar.
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| Pakatan must prove its worth to win GE13, says Guan Eng Posted: 22 Sep 2012 06:29 PM PDT
Liza J. Ariffin, The Malaysian Insider Pakatan Rakyat (PR) needs to convince voters of its ability to form a formidable federal government and to cooperate as a unified pact to win its place in Putrajaya in the coming polls, Lim Guan Eng said today. The DAP secretary-general accused the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) of perpetuating three "myths" about the opposition to spread doubt over its readiness to govern — that PR leaders cannot work together much less co-operate when in power; PR is not capable of administrating a nation; and PR does not have the people's interests at heart and are only power crazy. Lim said the Najib administration has been using "extremist, racial and religious rhetoric" to mask failures of the BN government and to win votes in the upcoming general election. The Penang chief minister also moved to dispel three "lies" he claimed were spun by the government to distract attention from BN's failure to fight corruption and its lack of "competency, accountability and transparency in governance". "The first lie is that Malaysia would go bankrupt if PR wins because we can not afford to deliver all our promises," Lim said today during the Perak DAP state annual convention in Ipoh. "Our competent performance in the four PR states clearly disproves this lie as no PR states went bankrupt, instead recorded large surpluses," he added. Lim said the second lie was MCA's claims that a PR victory would lead to an Islamic state under PAS, while Umno claims a Christian state would be formed under DAP. "This lie by MCA and Umno is self-contradictory. The clearest rebuttal is that there is no mention of an Islamic or a Christian state in the PR's common policy," he said. Lim then claimed BN's third lie was a reoccurrence of the May 13 racial riots if there is a change of government. "Such threats are intended to frighten non-Malays even though BN and Umno know that a change of government can only happen if the Malay voters desire change as Malays form the majority of voters," he said. "The 2008 general elections show that Malaysian voters are mature and there were no racial incidents even though there was a change of state governments in five states. "As the last three Bersih rallies have shown, the desire for clean elections has strong support from Malays who made up the majority of the peaceful demonstrators," he added. Lim, however, believed Putrajaya's "reliance on playing extremist racial and religious sentiments will be rejected by Malaysians". "I believe that Malaysians would choose a new government that delivers on economic performance, prosperity for all and reversing the brain drain and reject an unchanged government that exploits race and religious extremist sentiments to hide its corruption and cronyism," he said. Lim then urged PR leaders to emphasise integrity, clean leadership and good governance to reflect good performance in PR states. "We must institutionalise open tenders and publicly declare our assets to show we have nothing to hide just as PR leaders have done in Penang."
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| Selangor govt confusing people on water issues, says Cassa Posted: 22 Sep 2012 06:19 PM PDT
Cassa says most people in the state are not sure who is right and wrong. (Bernama) - Wat-er confusion! The Selangor government is confusing the people over water issues in the state to suit its political agenda, and at the expense of consumers and the economy, a prominent consumer activist charged today. Consumer Association of Subang and Shah Alam (Cassa) president Jacob George said, based on feedback he had received, most people in Selangor were confused over who was right and wrong. Amidst this confusion, he said the state government had also injected, as an after-thought, a new dimension to the water issue – that water tariffs would increase if the federal government went ahead with building the Langat 2 water treatment plant. George also lamented that a number of executive councillors (excos) in the Selangor government were formerly non-governmental organisation (NGO) activists who had been looking at things negatively, no matter how well-intentioned the federal government plans were, to improve conditions in the country. "I have been involved with various NGOs for 37 years. I could see their game-plan [over water issues], their strategies and that's why they are bringing up irrelevant matters just to block what the federal government is trying to do," he told Bernama in an interview. In addition, George claimed the state government was also bringing in issues between it and Puncak Niaga Holdings Bhd into the picture, whereas they should be resolved in a different platform. He said this unnecessary time-wasting should have been spent on resolving the impending water crisis in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. "So, why is the state government doing all these? Don't mix these up and place it in one basket. This is not right. This is for our future, not just for the people of Selangor but for our neighbours [in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya], as well, because it [water crisis] would have serious implications," he added. On the Langat 2 treatment plant which the state government was opposed to, the Cassa president said, all studies by experts showed the project had to be implemented without further delay due to a serious shortfall in treated water production, as the existing 34 plants in Selangor were operating at maximum capacity. Here again, he said, the state government confused consumers by stating that the reservoirs were full of water, and that there was no crisis even in the future, although the argument was about adequate supply of treated water. What the federal government was concerned about, he noted, was with long-term planning addressing an impending water crisis, given the rapid population growth and the needs of industries. "The plans are for 10, 15 or 20 years ahead, and when you talk about water, there's definitely going to be problems. It is a global issue now, and every country is facing it, coupled with weather, environmental and pollution problems setting in," he said. Cassa snubbed George said projects like the Langat 2 plant could not be implemented overnight and further delays fuelled by politicking, could push the cost of the project higher by as much as 70%. In the first place, he said, there was no need to politicise the issue as it was a human rights issue, and in facing an issue such as consumer rights, all sides must remain level-headed and focus on the core issue. George revealed that Cassa had offered to mediate in the federal-state conflict over the issue but the Selangor government had snubbed the offer, although the federal government gave positive response. "We have sent many letters to them (Selangor government), giving them the feedback from consumers and they didn't respond even once. So, we know that they don't want Cassa to intervene but that's their choice. "We accept it but don't say that we don't know the ground feeling. We have gone to the ground, talking to various groups of society and everyone agrees that a water crisis is just round the corner," he said. He also took to task the National Water Services Commission (Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara or SPAN), for its relatively muted silence over water issues in Selangor, and this added to the confusion, as well. "Cassa is very disappointed with the stand taken by SPAN and public perception of SPAN is rather negative, as if it doesn't exist. Many times, we have inivited them to debates on water issues, but they didn't attend. "If they continue to be disinterested in playing a role, then it defeats the purpose of setting up SPAN. "SPAN, with all its powers, should be in the forefront in trying to resolve such issues and the confusion arising from them. So far, they have failed to do this," claimed George.
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| Dr M: Hudud law will create injustice Posted: 22 Sep 2012 06:17 PM PDT
The former prime minister says hudud with its shortcomings cannot fit into multi-racial countries like Malaysia. Leven Woon, FMT Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad made his strongest ever objections on hudud law today, saying that its implementation will create an unjust judiciary system in Malaysia. Speaking at the Islam and Women's Health forum today, he said hudud with its shortcomings cannot fit into multi-racial countries like Malaysia, as it only punishes the Muslims. "In hudud, if you steal, you can have your hand chopped off. But they want to chop off only Muslims' hand, not the non-Muslim who steal same amount of money. Surely it's not justice," he told the audience during the question-and-answer session. He also took a swipe at the hudud's condition on rape offence, whereby four witnesses are required to convict a perpetrator. "Today we have the modern equivalent tool of DNA. You can collect evidence of rape through collecting DNA samples and compare them with the offender. "Surely, we can accept circumstantial evidence even if there are no four witnesses. "In Islam, the most important thing is justice. When you judge, you must make sure justice has been served. If you judge knowing clearly that this is unjust, then I think it is un-Islamic," he said. Mahathir' comment came amid repeated statements by PAS lately to implement the stringent law should it come into federal power. Earlier, the longest-serving prime minister said that the hudud debate came about because certain individuals wanted to be stringent to show they are more "Islamic". "There is no mention in the Quran about stoning to death, or shooting with M16 gun, but this is regarded as the most appropriate [by some individuals]. "This shows we prefer the most extreme interpretation of Quran as against the norm of the day," he said. "In Islam, certain things are compulsory and certain [things] are optional; if we don't accept the optional ones, that is not wrong for us," he said.
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| Dr M: Soros wants to install puppet PM Posted: 22 Sep 2012 06:15 PM PDT
(FMT) - American tycoon George Soros is funding several NGOs and companies in Malaysia to influence local politics and gear the country towards a regime change, claimed former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. "He tries to control our politics, and select his people to be the prime minister," Mahathir told reporters here after a forum on "Islam and Women's Health" He was commenting on the recent reports by Umno-controlled newspapers that the US-based National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is funding local NGOs and online news portal Malaysiakini. TV3 aired a similar report on Thursday suggesting that the foreign funding, such as Soros' Open Society Foundation, uses the NGOs to topple governments around the world and replace them with Soros' proxies. Mahathir said such a move was always done in the name of "promotion of democracy and freedom". "So apparently we don't have freedom here. Soros wants a puppet prime minister, that's why he wants to see a regime change in Malaysia," he said. NGOs such as human rights pressure group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) have been bearing the brunt of criticism over its funding and organisational structure. The government has accused it of being funded by foreign powers to "destabilise the peace of the country". On Tuesday, Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that six government agencies are taking action against Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd, the operating entity of Suaram, for breaching five sections of the Companies Act 1965. Suaram has consistently denied any wrongdoings, while Pakatan Rakyat leaders such as Lim Guan Eng labelled the authorities' action on Suaram as "clear act of political revenge". Suaram is instrumental behind the Scorpene corruption trial in France, a deal which allegedly implicated Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. The case also involved Altantuya Shaariibuu, a Mongolian interpreter and model who was murdered near Kuala Lumpur in 2006.
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| Pakistan minister places bounty on anti-Islam filmmaker Posted: 22 Sep 2012 02:18 PM PDT
(AFP) - A Pakistani official on Saturday placed a US$100,000 bounty on the head of the maker of an anti-Islam film that has sparked a wave of violence and anger, as Muslims mounted fresh protests worlwide. Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour also called on the Taliban and Al-Qaeda to join the hunt and help accomplish the "noble deed." Bilour spoke to reporters in the northwestern city of Peshawar a day after violent nationwide demonstrations against the "Innocence of Muslims" film left 21 people dead and more than 200 injured. "I announce today that this blasphemer who has abused the holy prophet, if somebody will kill him, I will give that person a prize of $100,000," Bilour said, urging others to shower the killer with cash and gold. "I also invite Taliban and Al-Qaeda brothers to be partners in this noble deed," he added. "I also announce that if the government hands this person over to me, my heart says I will finish him with my own hands and then they can hang me." Protests against the low-budget film, which mocks Islam, have erupted across the Muslim world, leading to more than 50 deaths since the first demonstrations on September 11. A French satirical magazine's publication this week of cartoons mocking the Prophet Mohammed has further stoked anger. The producer of the film, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, is reportedly a Los Angeles-based 55-year-old Egyptian Copt and convicted fraudster, currently out on parole. US media reports say Nakoula wrote and produced the film, using the pseudonym Sam Bacile before being identified. Police questioned him before he went into hiding with his family. Thousands of Islamist activists in Pakistan staged demonstrations again Saturday but there was no repeat of the previous day's widespread violence. More than 5,000 protesters, including hundreds of women, marched towards the parliament in Islamabad chanting "We love our Holy Prophet" and "Punishment for those who humiliated our Prophet". Some 1,500 people from the hardline Islamist Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Sunni religious groups rallied in front of the US consulate in the eastern city of Lahore, chanting "The US deserves only one remedy — jihad, jihad" Smaller protests took place in the southwestern city of Quetta, as well as in Peshawar, where six people died in Friday's protests, and in the southern port city of Karachi, where 15 people were killed Friday. Witnesses estimated that more than 45,000 people joined Friday's nationwide rallies, mainly members of right-wing religious parties and supporters of banned terror groups. Those numbers, however, were still considered small in a country of 180 million. Four more people died overnight from wounds they received during the protests, taking toll of those killed across Pakistan on Friday to 21, health officials said. The combined total of wounded in Karachi, Peshawar and the capital Islamabad was 229. In Nigeria, meanwhile, tens of thousands of people protested in the second city of Kano, burning images of US President Barack Obama and stomping on the American flag. The procession of men, veiled women and children stretched for several kilometres (miles) through the city, the largest in Nigeria's mainly Muslim north. They shouted "death to America, death to Israel and death to the enemies of Islam". There were no reports of violence. The demonstration was organised by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, a pro-Iranian group that adheres to the Shiite branch of Islam. In Lebanon, thousands of supporters of the Shiite Hezbollah movement took to the streets in the southern town of Bint Jbeil. Women in black chadors carried colourful Islamist flags alongside young children holding the Koran, the Muslim holy book. Hezbollah parliamentary representative Nawaf al-Moussawi told the crowd the film was "... not merely a trivial creation carried out by a group, but American politics intended to be disseminated to the Western world." He also warned against reprisal attacks on the Christian community. In east Jerusalem about 500 Palestinians, accompanied by a marching band, protested against both the film and the cartoons in the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo. In Germany, 1,500 people staged a peaceful protest in the western city of Dortmund, a day after similar demonstrations in other German cities. A German far-right group's threat to screen the video has prompted heated debate over whether or not the authorities should ban the film on security grounds. In neighboring Austria, about 500 people protested outside the US embassy in the capital Vienna. In France, riot police were out in force in several parts of Paris to enforce a ban on protests, a week after an unauthorised demonstration against the film led to 150 arrests. Social networks had been awash with appeals for French Muslims to defy the ban and hold fresh protests. French police have arrested a man in the western city of La Rochelle for having allegedly called on a jihadi website for Stephane Charbonnier, chief of satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, to be decapitated. |
| Liverpool, United add respect to rivalry Posted: 22 Sep 2012 02:15 PM PDT
(AFP) - Matches between Liverpool and Manchester United have always contained incredible history and rivalry, on and off the pitch. But when the two sides meet at Anfield on today, there will be a huge amount of respect on show at the end of what has been an emotional fortnight for Liverpool. The match is the first at their home ground since the release of a damning report into the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death before an FA Cup tie on April 15, 1989. The report absolved the fans of any blame, slamming the police and politicians for overseeing a cover-up of the facts. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said his side were ready to cope with all that comes with the day. "I'm very much looking forward to it," he said. "It's a game I've grown up watching all of my life," he said. "Two massive clubs and it's a great opportunity to be involved in such a game. "But, first and foremost, it's a great opportunity for us as a club to commemorate and to pay tribute to the families and the people involved with Hillsborough, and show and pay our respects to the families at the game. "Hopefully we can then go on and get three points, which would set off what would hopefully be a great day for us." United manager Sir Alex Ferguson took the unprecedented step of writing a letter to his fans, urging them to show their respect by not singing the kind of offensive chants a minority of their supporters have indulged in, in the past. "Our rivalry with Liverpool is based on a determination to come out on top – a wish to see us crowned the best against a team that held that honour for so long," he said. "It cannot and should never be based on personal hatred. Just ten days ago, we heard the terrible, damning truth about the deaths of 96 fans who went to watch their team try and reach the FA Cup final and never came back. "What happened to them should wake the conscience of everyone connected with the game. Our great club stands with our great neighbours Liverpool today to remember that loss and pay tribute to their campaign for justice." When the two sides met last year, there was a huge moment of controversy when Liverpool's Luis Suarez was alleged to have racially abused United full back Patrice Evra. Suarez was later banned for eight matches and when the two sides met again at Old Trafford, they refused to take part in the pre-match handshake. This time, the two teams have promised to shake hands while former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has suggested they go even further. "It would be nice for Luis Suarez to put some flowers at the United end regarding (the) Munich (air disaster, when seven United players were among 21 people killed), and for Patrice Evra to do so at the Kop," Fowler said. "The two clubs do have a rivalry, but some things are far more important than football and this is one of them." Six players have been sent off in the past 11 matches between the two and Ferguson said it was crucial his side behave well. "There's a great atmosphere, fantastic, and the kind of atmosphere you want to be involved in," he said. "It does get emotive, but you just have to handle that".
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| Karpal: You don’t have be a Penangite to be CM Posted: 22 Sep 2012 02:10 PM PDT
(The Star) - DAP chairman Karpal Singh has fended off criticisms that Lim Guan Eng should not be the Chief Minister because he is not a Penangite. He said election laws were clear on this issue, adding that an election candidate only needed to be a resident and a Malaysian citizen to stand in any state. "To stand as a candidate in any state in Malaysia, one just has to be a resident that is the qualification and, of course, a citizen of the country. "The Lim family has a residence in Penang. No doubt, (Penang Chief Minister) Lim (Guan Eng) was born in Batu Pahat but his connection with Penang is sufficient for him to be the right choice for the post of Chief Minister," he said here yesterday. Karpal was responding to a statement by former DAP vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim that the Penang Chief Minister should be a local instead of Lim, who is from Batu Pahat. In a recent ceramah, Tunku Abdul Aziz, who quit DAP in May, had called on Penangites to ensure that their Chief Minister come from among the crop of local leaders instead of someone "parachuted" in from other states. Tunku Abdul Aziz had said that Chow Kon Yeow, who is the state DAP chairman, should have been the Chief Minister, adding that he was a "nice man" and "not arrogant". When contacted, Chow said it was up to the people to "choose the party the Chief Minister is from". Asked about the meeting between DAP leaders at the Red Rock Hotel after the party took over the state, during which Lim had allegedly nominated himself for the top post, Chow said this was the consensus reached among them. Penang Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow, who was born in Batu Pahat, said everybody had the freedom to express their views and opinions on the matter. "Let the voters decide on who they think is right," said Teng. Penang Chinese Town Hall chairman Datuk Lam Wu Chong said there was no such rule that the Chief Minister must be a local-born Penangite. However, a Penang-born engineer, who only wanted to be known as James, said he would prefer to have a local as a Chief Minister. "It would be better if we are led by a Penangite as the person shares a similar sentiment about the state and can easily meet our expectations," said the 31-year-old.
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| Karpal gets support for anti-hopping bill Posted: 22 Sep 2012 01:57 PM PDT
The DAP national chairman will table a private member's bill to stop party-hopping and he has got an unlikely ally in an independent MP. Athi Shankar, FMT GEORGE TOWN: DAP national chairman Karpal Singh will table a private members' bill to stop party hopping in Parliament next week and he has got an unlikely ally in independent MP Tan Tee Beng. Tan, the Nibong Tebal MP, has declared his support for Karpal's initiatives to amend Articles 10 and 48 of the Federal Constitution to pave way for the anti-hopping legislation to stop party-hopping. Tan said he would back Karpal because he does not believe in political coup d'etat to form governments by defections. "I am against turning around the government and country through this bad tactic. It's an unethical practice and a dangerous trend. "The government should only be formed through legitimate elections," he told FMT. Karpal said that he would table a private member's bill during the budget sitting of the final parliamentary session of the year that would start next week to amend both constitutional provisions. Both provisions are considered as stumbling blocks against legislating anti-hopping law to prevent elected representatives from defecting from one party to another. Tan won Nibong Tebal seat under PKR ticket in 2008 general election but left the party in March 2010 to become an independent MP. Tan said he was always against part-hopping and he insisted that he only left PKR due to political differences with party supremo Anwar Ibrahim. He said he had never declared himself as a BN-friendly independent unlike other defecting MPs. "It's my critics and media who claimed that I'm BN-friendly. I have never said it," he said. Fall-out with Anwar
He pointed out that his fall-out with Anwar was over the unwarranted "916 episode" where the PKR supremo leader wanted to capture Putrajaya via defections of 30 Barisan Nasional MPs, mostly from Sabah and Sarawak. "I never agreed with Anwar on Sept 16 date. I told him that I would rather prefer to be opposition MP than take over the government by default," said Tan. He said this can be clarified with PKR MPs – Ampang's Zuraida Kamaruddin, Balik Pulau's Yusmadi Yusoff, Indera Makhota's Azan Ismail, Kelana Jaya's Loh Gwo Burne and Telok Kemang's Kamarul Bahrin Abas – as they were witnesses over his argument with Anwar in the opposition leader's Segambut home.
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Umno was founded in 1946 to oppose the Malayan Union established by the British colonialists to unite all states in the Malay peninsula, which were mainly agrarian then. Umno's second president, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, together with allies MCA and MIC negotiated Malaya's independence in 1957 and later formed Malaysia with Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore. Singapore was then expelled in 1965.
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