Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- ‘Political links behind inaction on 6P mess’
- Assemblyman claims S'gor govt prevented Syabas from reducing non-revenue water
- Templer Park not under threat, says Selangor Exco Wong
- Genneva freeze not fair to investors, says Dr M
- Karpal leaves political fate to party delegates
- Stepping up the pressure on PAS
- BN: We can win Kelantan
- Democracy could breed violence, says Dr M
- Dr M: Demonstrations galore if PR loses GE13
- Ambiga to Najib: Debate with Anwar
- Pakatan won’t let go of Sabah
- Himpunan Hijau @ Dataran Merdeka
- Mustapa: Kelantan Umno to field ulama as candidates in election
- K'tan govt firm on implementing Islamic law on non-Muslims
- Kelantan refuses to budge from unisex hair salon ruling
- Set up Minority Affairs Ministry, says Hindraf
- MCA member slams leadership over education policies
- Najib’s message to Chinese voters
- DAP worried hudud will cover non-Muslims
- Muhyiddin lambasted for bad education policies
- General assembly will be a show of unity and discipline, says Najib
- Spike in new voters for Selangor ‘normal’, EC chief says
- Najib: Anwar's call for Australia to intervene in GE shameful
- Kelantan's hair dressing laws unlawful, says Karpal Singh
- Mohd Isa denies sexist remarks to Eli Wong
- Karpal Singh: Peaceful Assembly Act ultra-vires to Federal Constitution
- Maintain Constitution to preserve peaceful ethnic ties, says USM don
- Musa calls PKR ‘political bankrupts’, insists ICAC exonerated him
- Muhyiddin: Brace for Pakatan’s ‘psycho’ attacks in GE13
- Pakatan must do more for Penang Malays
- MB says poverty behind Muslim apostasy in Selangor
- Fernandez's remarks can strain ties between politicians, civil servants
- ICAC wants ‘transactional’ info for new probe, says Rafizi
- MCA leaders all riled up again, this time over a haircut
- Ex-minister Radzi a boss in ‘rogue’ 6P firm
- Pairin: Jeffrey doesn’t love me anymore
- Anwar sodomise case on Feb 15
- Beaufort MP to defend seat on PKR ticket
- Two ex-DAP grassroot leaders hit out at Selangor councillors Kok and Liu
- Traffic enforcement must not be privatised, says ex-IGP
- Nurul Izzah sues Utusan for defamation over apostasy row
- MCA lashes out at PAS’ gender laws
- Bersih happy with EC’s efforts
- ‘Anwar is an attention seeker’
- PKR confident of winning more in Penang
- Umno’s Alwi blames ulama for Malay disunity
- Where’s the billions in forest royalties?
- Internal rifts may cost PKR Indian votes
- Malaysian regulators find ‘issues’ in AirAsia audit
- Dong Zong shrugs off MPM outrage
| ‘Political links behind inaction on 6P mess’ Posted: 25 Nov 2012 07:53 PM PST
Tenaganita's Irene Fernandez says that political links is one of the reasons why the government is being silent on exploitation of foreign workers under the 6P programme Teoh El Sen, FMT The Malaysian government's inaction in solving the 6P amnesty programme "fiasco" is due to strong political links between errant agents and the BN, Tenaganita's Irene Fernandez alleged today. The migrant rights NGO's executive director was commenting on the revelation that former Home Minister Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, is a director of a government-appointed agent which is being investigated by the police for several human trafficking related offences. "The presence of a former minister in a company that has been found to have committed so many alleged crimes speaks volumes. This is yet another reminder of how urgent and imperative it is that investigations into allegations of corruption and state complicity in fraud involving the 6P programme be carried out independently, and openly," said Fernandez. "This tells you why there has been inaction. It is because of the strong political links to the regime and the government of the day. This is blatant fraud, but nothing is done," she said.
Fernandez also called upon Mohd Radzi, currently MP of Kangar, to declare his assets and how much money he has made from the company, SNT Universal Corporation Sdn Bhd. "I find it strange that a lawmaker does not know what his responsibility is in a company," she said. She alleged that Radzi, during his tenure as minister, was himself responsible for the victimisation of thousands of Bangladeshi workers. In 2006, the government lifted a 10-year freeze on the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers. Thousands were then recruited and cheated through an outsourcing process, said Irene. She said that the same "fraudulent" outsourcing companies were now given the opportunity to cheat again when they were appointed to act as agents under the 6P amnesty programme. "More than one year after the 6P was announced, thousands who have paid between RM3,000 to RM4,000 to these companies to be legalised remain undocumented. They are open to arrest, detention and whipping under the Immigration Act," she said. Bogus employers Fernandez said that many migrants continue to be threatened and abused by these agents, who insist on obtaining fradulent work permits through "bogus employers". Police and official reports have been lodged but nothing has come out of it. On Nov 23, FMT reported about Mohd Radzi's directorship in SNT Universal Corporation, which is being investigated for exploiting about 200 foreign workers, mainly Bangladeshis. SNT had allegedly falsely claimed that it is able to register foreigners under the 6P programme and getting work permits for them, setting up dozens of bogus employment agencies, and assaulting job-seeking foreigners. The last allegation is based on CCTV recordings. According to the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM), Radzi became a director of SNT on May 17, 2011.
However, Radzi's response was that "some friends" roped him into being an SNT director and denied knowledge of its activities. "I'm not involved in human trafficking," he said. "People ask me to become a director in all sorts of things. I have no connection with the company." Under the 6P programme, illegal foreign workers will either be legalised or deported without punishment. The six Ps represent the Malay words for registration, legalisation, amnesty, monitoring, enforcement and deportation. The government has appointed more than 300 companies to handle registration.
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| Assemblyman claims S'gor govt prevented Syabas from reducing non-revenue water Posted: 25 Nov 2012 05:51 PM PST
(Bernama) - A Selangor Barisan Nasional (BN) state assemblyman today claimed that the state government had prevented water supply company Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) from slashing the rate of non-revenue water (NRW) in the state since 2009. Sulaiman Abdul Razak, the assemblyman for Permatang, alleged that the state government had frozen Syabas' capital expenditure (capex), rendering it unable to implement maintenance work to reduce NRW. "As such, the state government cannot blame Syabas for the failure to reduce NRW; it should assume the blame itself," he told a news conference at the lobby of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly, here. In the house earlier, when replying to a question from Datuk Dr Karim Mansor (BN-Tanjung Sepat), Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said that an agreement among Syabas, the state government and the federal government required the water concessionaire to reduce the rate of NRW to 27 per cent in 2009, 19 per cent in 2012 and 15 per cent in 2015. "The rate of NRW in 2012 is 32.6 per cent. It is clear that Syabas did not focus on water resources management," Abdul Khalid said. There was a tense moment in the assembly when Abdul Khalid accused Sulaiman of being a Syabas agent when the latter sought an explanation on the NRW issue in Selangor.
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| Templer Park not under threat, says Selangor Exco Wong Posted: 25 Nov 2012 05:41 PM PST
(The Star) - The Selangor government has denied reports that the Templer Park Forest Reserve is under threat due to the construction of an elevated highway and luxury bungalows. State executive councillor Elizabeth Wong said the 800ha reserve had been untouched since 2008.
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| Genneva freeze not fair to investors, says Dr M Posted: 25 Nov 2012 04:02 PM PST
Zurairi AR, The Malaysian Insider Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad appeared today to defend gold trading firm Genneva Malaysia, and asked Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to lift the suspension of its assets. He made his remarks today despite a recent explanation by Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Awang Adek Hussin in Parliament that Genneva's liabilities exceeded its assets and that showed the company was unable to pay returns to its investors.  File photo of gold bars sold by Genneva. "Investigate first because if you stop the transaction, people's money will be locked out and they cannot use, they cannot even get the gold ... They deserve fair treatment." He also urged the authorities to regulate gold trading as he extolled the advantages of keeping and buying gold. Genneva's gold, which was advertised as syariah-compliant gold, was launched in December 2010 by Dr Mahathir, and a number of its traders were spurred on by the former PM's recommendation. Dr Mahathir, who was prime minister for 22 years before retiring in 2003, is an advocate of the gold standard and has urged for its adoption in global trade following the decline of the US dollar. In January at the International Conference on Global Movement of Moderates dinner, Dr Mahathir had urged struggling economies to value their currency to gold instead of the US dollar. "You don't really have to exchange gold but to value your currency against it. "Then you can have a business based not on speculation or manipulation, but on real value," he said, while predicting a return to a Bretton Woods-style fixed currency exchange in coming years. The Bretton Woods Agreement is an international trade agreement signed after World War II, which benchmarked the currencies of its signatory countries against gold and the US dollar. Genneva's bank accounts and other assets have been frozen by BNM since October 1, following suspicion that the company allegedly breached several banking and financial laws such as illegal deposit-taking, money laundering, tax evasion and appointing agents without licence, after several people lodged complaints with the police. Genneva has some 60,000 customers and a monthly turnover of RM2 billion, according to its traders interviewed by The Malaysian Insider last month, but the company's website states 50,000 customers and a turnover of RM3 billion. Bank Negara Governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz has also said the central bank was fast-tracking investigations into the controversial gold trading company so that its customers would not be kept waiting for too long. Genneva, Pageantry Gold Bhd, Caesar Gold Sdn Bhd, Worldwide Far East Bhd and Bestino Group Bhd are among 25 individuals and companies offering unlicensed activities that were placed on an investor alert list by the central bank last year, double the number from 2010 and the highest on record since 2003.
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| Karpal leaves political fate to party delegates Posted: 25 Nov 2012 03:57 PM PST
(The Star) - DAP chairman Karpal Singh, who is contesting for a seat in the central executive committee, is leaving his political fate to the delegates. "I have offered myself but it is up to the delegates to elect the best at the CEC election. "My fate is in the hands of the delegates everyone has a right to speak (but) I cannot please everyone," he said here yesterday. The Bukit Gelugor MP was commenting on a report claiming that a "grand design" by the "Lim Dynasty" faction aligned to party adviser and Ipoh Timur MP Lim Kit Siang and son, secretary-general Guan Eng, to oust him from the committee in the party's national elections next month. The report quoted former DAP grassroots leader Tan Tuan Tat as saying that the plan was hatched to protect the interest of a few as "the warlords don't want the Singh to be their king". He had said that they were extremely upset with Karpal's insistence on a "one man, one seat" electoral formula to face the next general election. Karpal said each time a party election came up, groups would be out to create stories.
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| Stepping up the pressure on PAS Posted: 25 Nov 2012 03:20 PM PST
(The Star) - BARISAN Nasional's confidence in giving PAS a good fight in Kelantan or even wresting the state is not just big talk and hot air, but is based on a real development that is currently shaping there. The state may be a PAS fortress but the party is increasingly on the back foot over the past year after a series of missteps compounded by Umno's increasing traction among voters. PAS' infamous prayer calling for Umno's destruction as well as its unwillingness to censure DAP's objection to hudud and PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar's comments on religious freedom have upset many Kelantanese. Add Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's popularity and a state Umno that remains united, many observers feel that Barisan and PAS are now almost evenly matched. "Defeating PAS is doable, but I don't want to appear overly confident," said state Umno chief Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, adding that Barisan is confident of winning at least 23 of the 45 seats in the state assembly. PAS may be entrenched in Kelantan, having been in power for 22 years, but it is not invincible. In the 2004 general election it was just one seat short of losing the state after it secured 23 state seats compared to Barisan's 22. In the 2009 Manik Urai state by-election, PAS retained the seat by a mere 65 votes while Umno managed to wrest the Galas state seat in a by-election the following year with a 1,190-vote difference. PAS' ceramah have always drawn large audiences but the numbers have dropped of late and the crowds at Najib's events in the state have been unexpectedly large. "PAS is beginning to feel the pressure and is now trying to revive flagging morale," said Mustapa. With the race to the finish line now in the final stretch, Mustapa noted a worrying trend. As seen during the recent PAS muktamar, which saw the party organising a prayer that among others called for Umno's destruction, PAS is increasingly resorting to attacking the religious faith of its foes to bolster its flagging image as a defender of Islam. This, said Mustapa, could raise tensions among the Malays, especially prevalent in the 1980s and the 1990s, which saw PAS supporters ostracising fellow Muslims due to opposing political beliefs. Mustapa's own popularity among many voters who see the straight-arrow politician as a potential Mentri Besar is also a factor for Barisan's rising momentum. Some believe Barisan should only field him in a safe seat instead of hedging its chances by having him contest both a state and parliament seat. It could help to convince many people who believe in him to vote for change. "That's a view I respect, but it is not the only view. I'm guided by my boss and wherever I am placed I will still have to work very hard for the people," said Mustapa.
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| Posted: 25 Nov 2012 03:18 PM PST
(The Star) - Barisan Nasional is confident of taking Kelantan in the next general election following good response from the people during visits by party leaders to the state. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said if there were to be a political tsunami there, it was not impossible for Barisan to get back Kelantan. He said this at a dialogue session at the National Undergraduate Leadership Convention here yesterday. A student asked if Barisan would be able to gain back the four states that were won by Opposition parties in the last general election. "That is our prayer and effort. We have worked hard and we have seen significant changes in many states, including Kelantan," he said. Muhyiddin, who is also Barisan deputy chairman, said that during his recent visits to the state, he witnessed an "extraordinary response" from the people towards Umno. He said the Kelantanese know how PAS would not be able to run the country, as was evident by the party's failure to resolve problems such as poverty, lack of infrastructure and poor welfare efforts. The gathering involved about 3,500 students representing 20 public institutions of higher learning, seven private colleges and 67 representatives of overseas Umno Clubs. In PASIR PUTEH, Kelantan Umno chief Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said Barisan would field several ulama as its candidates in both state and parliamentary seats in the coming general election, reported Bernama. He said they comprised those who had contributed to the party and the country. "We have identified their names," he said, adding that names of the candidates would be announced early to allow the people to evaluate their capabilities.
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| Democracy could breed violence, says Dr M Posted: 25 Nov 2012 03:11 PM PST
Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider Democracy does not guarantee security, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today, warning instead that it could lead to violence when minority groups rise to demand their rights. The country's longest serving prime minister pointed out that during elections, losing parties often do not accept their failures and would do their best to bring down the elected government. Dr Mahathir said that although it was through a democratic process that these parties had lost, they would turn around to use the same democratic system to negate the results of the polls by claiming that it had been tampered with. "Sometimes this leads to violence and killings, burning of houses and buildings... they would do anything to bring down the majority government," he told a luncheon talk for the International Forum 2012 held in conjunction with Umno's general assembly this week. "This is because in newly democratic countries, we do not fully appreciate the system... while we say we like democracy, we only like it when we win, not when we lose," he added. Dr Mahathir added that as democracy promotes equality of its people, this would lead to conflicts as many do not share the same ideals. These conflicts, if not settled properly, would lead to unending violence and loss of lives, he said. "So even democracy does not guarantee the security of the people," he said.
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| Dr M: Demonstrations galore if PR loses GE13 Posted: 25 Nov 2012 03:06 PM PST
Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad continued today to warn Malaysians of chaos on the streets if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) loses the coming polls, heaping all the blame on his long-time arch nemesis Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for allegedly using demonstrations to get his way. He said the opposition has already begun setting the stage for chaos, pointing to how Malaysians have been rallied by pro-PR groups to rise and reject the results of the election should Barisan Nasional (BN) retain Putrajaya. The former prime minister said, however, that he still believes BN may recapture its much-needed two-thirds parliamentary majority "at the moment", but, in the same breath, warned of Anwar's tactics should this prediction prove true. "Anwar's preparation (for the polls) is (by holding) public demonstrations. "Without Anwar, there are no demonstrations. "Ever since Anwar came out (of jail), there are demonstrations," Dr Mahathir told a press conference after attending a forum on war and conflict at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here. He pointed out that when Anwar, his former deputy, was still in government, the former Umno number two had been against public protests. "But once he is out... this (demonstrations) is the instrument to put him in Putrajaya," Dr Mahathir said.
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| Ambiga to Najib: Debate with Anwar Posted: 25 Nov 2012 02:55 PM PST
The Bersih co-chairperson wants the prime minister to accept the opposition leader's challenge to a debate, saying it will allow Malaysians to judge who is best qualified to lead the nation. RK Anand, FMT With the next general election being described as the most poignant in the nation's history, Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga feels that a debate between Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim is imperative. Now that Najib had indicated that the polls could be called even next month, she said the debate must be held as soon as possible. "It is absolutely necessary that a debate takes place. It will give Malaysians the opportunity to gauge which political coalition is best qualified to govern the nation," she told FMT. Noting that Najib was fond of talking about United States president Barack Obama, Ambiga urged the former to emulate the latter with regard to the practice of presidential debates in the US. "As far as Bersih is concerned, Najib ought to take a leaf out of his [Obama's] book and agree to the debate with Anwar," she said. She added that the debate could prove beneficial to both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat as it would provide a platform to put their respective policies and manifestos to the test. Anwar had repeatedly challenged Najib to a public debate but the latter had refused, citing among others that political debates was not part of the Malaysian culture. Sharing her views on this, Ambiga said the prime minister's refusal to engage in a verbal jousting match with the opposition leader spoke for itself. "When a leader refuses to debate, it means that he is not confident about his policies and manifesto, perhaps he can't defend [BN's policies], only he can answer [why he refuses to debate]," she added. Ambiga said that Bersih would consider initiating a public petition to determine if Malaysians wished to see the two leaders debate on issues of national importance. It is understood that the BN camp was also concerned about Anwar's renowned oratory skills and therefore pitting Najib against him in a televised debate would be political suicide. Meanwhile, Ambiga also took Najib to task for stating that the general election could be held next month during his address at the launch of the Himpunan Barisan 1Malaysia on Saturday. The Bersih leader was aghast that the prime minister continued to tease the nation with regard to the election date. "I find it very disconcerting and irresponsible. The prime minister should not toy with the citizens," she said, adding that Najib had placed the nation on election mode for years now.
Why fear international observers? Najib had asked why the opposition leader had remained silent when Pakatan captured five states in the 2008 general election and dismissed the latter's plea to Australia as shameless. "I am astounded that the prime minister thinks it is embarrassing," said Ambiga. "It is only embarrassing if there is something wrong with the electoral system," she stressed. Furthermore, she said that if the election was clean and fair, Putrajaya should not be concerned about the presence of foreign observers. Pointing out that Malaysia had participated as an observer in other elections, she asked: "Why do we participate in something which we do not believe in?"
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| Posted: 25 Nov 2012 02:51 PM PST
We're here to stay and fight for a better tomorrow for Sabahans, says Lim Kit Siang in response to calls for the opposition coalition not to contest in the general election. Queville To, FMT Sabah's go-it-alone opposition leaders Yong Teck Lee and Jeffrey Kitingan will not get a free ride from Pakatan Rakyat in the general election. Pakatan-friendly groupings in Sabah, Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS) and Pakatan Perubahan Sabah (PPS) led by independent MPs Wilfred Bumburing and Lajim Ukin, are keen to take on the Barisan Nasional in Sabah in the 13th general election. "I can assure you Pakatan is here to fight for a better tomorrow for Sabah," said DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang during a fundraising dinner at Star City Convention centre on Saturday. He was responding to calls by the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and STAR Sabah leaders for Pakatan not to contest in Sabah and allow the former to take on the BN here. Lim's blunt rejection of the call also short-circuits attempts by a local independent NGO, Demokrasi Sabah (Desah), to broker a deal for opposition parties to have a "one-on-one" fight with the BN and avoid a split in the votes that could give BN seats they would otherwise lose. Lim's speech before several of Pakatan's top leaders including PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, his deputy Azmin Ali, PAS deputy president Mat Sabu, DAP Sabah chief Jimmy Wong, Kota Kinabalu MP Hiew King Cheu, PAS Sabah Commissioner Aminuddin Aling and PKR Sabah chief Thamrin Jaini indicates no change in Pakatan's election startegy. Lim also used the opportunity to challenge Prime Minister and BN chairman Najib Tun Razak, who is also Umno president, to declare "zero-tolerance" for corruption by using the Automated Enforcement System (AES) during the coming Umno general assembly this week. "I challenge him to declare corruption as Umno's number one enemy," said Lim, adding that if the AES for corruption was introduced, those with unusual amounts of wealth must be charged and brought to court. Najib must prove 'best democracy' claim The veteran DAP leader said if any person fails to prove in court that the wealth was not obtained by lawful means, he or she should then be arrested and their properties seized. Noting that Malaysia's ranking in terms of global transparency had plummeted, he said that if there was no improvement, China would soon overtake Malaysia in this aspect. Lim challenged Najib to prove that he really believed in 1Malaysia by fighting for Ketuanan Rakyat (people supremacy) rather than the Ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy).
He said Najib must also prove that Malaysia really is the best democracy in the world by assuring a peaceful transition of power in the event the BN is defeated in the election. "He must declare that if BN and Umno lose the election, they must in a gentlemanly manner move out from Putrajaya," Lim said in response to Najib's defiant statement that since the government was not "broken" therefore there was no need to change it. Lim, the MP for Ipoh Timur, reiterated Mat Sabu's warning earlier that the BN was doing its best to break up the opposition and diminish its growing grassroots support across the nation. "But we will not fall into their trap and we are more united and stronger than ever," said Lim. Mat Sabu concurred with the widely-held notion that the opposition should work towards a one-on-one fight with the BN to stand any chance of winning more seats. He said PAS' struggle was not merely to become the government as trumpeted by the mainstream media. He said if this was true "it is better for PAS to join the BN and I will definitely become a minister".
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| Himpunan Hijau @ Dataran Merdeka Posted: 25 Nov 2012 11:30 AM PST
(The Malaysian OBserver) - Some 10,000 protesters gathered today in front of Dataran Merdeka to pressure the government to stop the controversial Lynas rare earth plant in Gabeng, Kuantan. Apart from that, this evening's gathering also marked the end of the 13-day walk of 300KM from Kuantan to Kuala Lumpur led by Himpunan Hijau chairman Wong Tat. Watch video at: http://www.mobtv.my/current_affairs-2462.html Ini lah semangat patriotik yang mencintai tanahair kita. Semangat menentang perosak alam LYNAS telah menyatukan berbagai bangsa tanpa mengira warna kulit, agama dan keturunan. Perjuangan yang mulia ini menyuarakan pencerobohan alam sekitar. Semangat patriotik bukan lah seperti mana berbunyi berjuang untuk Melayu, Agama dan bangsa, tetapi semangat patriotik adalah semangat berjuang untuk kesemua hak rakyat sehingga ke anak cucu cicit kita. |
| Mustapa: Kelantan Umno to field ulama as candidates in election Posted: 25 Nov 2012 11:17 AM PST
(Bernama) - The Kelantan Umno will also be fielding ulama as its candidates to contest for state and parliamentary seats in the coming 13th general election. State Umno liaison chairman Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said they comprised those who had contributed to the party and the country. "We have identified their names," he told reporters after closing the 1Cooperative 1Community programme here today. The International Trade and Industry Minister said the names of the candidates would be announced earlier to allow the people to evaluate their capabilities. Normally, the names of the candidates would be announced two days before nomination day, but this time the announcement would be made earlier, he added. |
| K'tan govt firm on implementing Islamic law on non-Muslims Posted: 25 Nov 2012 11:14 AM PST
(Bernama) - The Kelantan government remains firm on implementing Islamic law on non-Muslims despite strong objection from DAP national chairman Karpal Singh. State Housing, Tourism, Arts and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said the state government was prepared to face the risk of being sued by non-Muslims as each policy made in Kelantan was in line with the provisions in the Constitution. "I don't want to comment on Karpal's statement. Firstly, I did not hear it directly from him, and secondly, if Karpal sees this legislation, he will agree with me. He's a lawyer. "It's his right to sue the Kota Baharu Municipal Council (MPKB)...but read this law carefully, otherwise he (Karpal) will have to pay the (court) costs. We are not trying to be smart when we draw up a law or an act," he told a press conference at the MPKB building, here, today. Newspapers reported today that Karpal has called on the Kelantan PAS government to explain the enforcement of Islamic law on non-Muslims in the state. Karpal had said that non-Muslims in Kelantan who were issued summonses by MPKB based on Islamic law could challenge the summonses in court. It was recently reported that a Kota Baharu hair salon manager, Ong Lee Ting, claimed that she was issued with a summons 11 times by the local authority since 2010 because her non-Muslim women workers had cut the hair of non-Muslim men. As result, she was fined RM200 to RM350 each time and she also claimed that other hair salons also faced the same problem. Takiyuddin said the state government implemented the policy to protect women's honour, whether they were Muslims or not, in order to prevent them from being exposed to sexual harassment and prostitution. He said hair salons had often been reported to be doing business only as a guise but behind that, were involved in illegal and immoral activities. "Is a father willing to allow his daughter to be sexually harassed while at work or a husband willing to accept his wife being disturbed by male customers?" he asked. |
| Kelantan refuses to budge from unisex hair salon ruling Posted: 25 Nov 2012 09:02 AM PST  Unmoved by flak: State Local Government, Culture and Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan, at a press conference, holding up The Star which highlighted the municipal council's gender-segregation by-laws. (The Star) - KOTA BARU: Kelantan refuses to back down from enforcing its gender-segregation rules for unisex salons where women are prohibited from cutting the hair of men and vice-versa. State Local Government, Culture and Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said the by-law was enforced by the Kota Baru Municipal Council in line with the Islamic policies propagated by the PAS government more than 10 years ago. "It is in line with our government's policy to safeguard women and curb sexual harassment at work places," he said, adding that the rule applied to all districts in the state. Takiyuddin, who is PAS assistant secretary-general, cited the Local Government Act 171, Section 107 (sub section 2) and the Local Government Act, which stipulate that licences and permits can only be issued based on the local government's rules and conditions and can be revoked at any time. As far as the state government was concerned, the ruling for unisex salons was a non-issue, he said at a press conference at the council yesterday. "But we need to clarify the matter because the media has blown it out of proportion. "We need to provide the rationale behind the introduction of the by-law," he said while holding up Friday's copy of The Star. He said the by-law was introduced in 1991 when the councils froze the issuing of licences and permits to unisex salons state-wide in line with the PAS state government's slogan of "Growing with Islam" that applied to both Muslims and non-Muslims. Takiyuddin said the Kota Baru council decided to include stricter conditions in 1999 after it found salon operators continually violating certain conditions stipulated in their permits. "It is a known fact that hair salons and unisex establishments are the most convenient places for immoral activities. They provide a cover for men and women to engage in illicit activities. "If I were Chinese, I will never allow my wife to patronise such salons or even consider allowing my children to work in such places because of their reputation as a hotbed for immoral activities. "And even a Chinese wife will feel uneasy to allow her husband to go to such places. Frequenting such places will always lead to scandals," he said. He said there was nothing wrong for a woman salon worker to provide hairdressing services to a female patron or for a male barber to cut a male customer's hair. "But when a woman worker gives upper body massages to a male customer, one thing will eventually lead to another, ending with illicit activities," said Takiyuddin. He said that in Kuala Lumpur, there were special coaches provided by KTM Komuter and Rapid KL for women. "My question here is when it comes to salons, why is it a forbidden cut and when it comes to trains, why not call them forbidden coaches ... They are not forbidden, it is just man for man and woman for woman," he said.
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| Set up Minority Affairs Ministry, says Hindraf Posted: 24 Nov 2012 06:02 PM PST
The movement says that it will throw its backing to any coalition that sets up the ministry and endorses its five year blueprint. G Vinod, FMT Hindraf today demanded the government to set up a Minorities Affairs Ministry right after the general election. Hindraf national advisor N Ganesan said this at the movement's fifth anniversary gathering, held at the Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, to commemorate its hugely succesful November 2007 rally. "Let Hindraf run the ministry as we are the only NGO that is steadfast in our cause. "We will only throw in our support to the coalition that will endorse our demand and our five year blueprint," said Ganesan, addressing the nearly 2,000 attendees. In Nov 25, 2007, tens of thousands of Indians marched to the nation's capital seeking for a betterment of the Indian community plight but the incident was marred when police used heavy handed tactics to break the crowd. Following the Hindraf rally, the traditional Barisan Nasional supporters threw their backing to Pakatan Rakyat in the general election in the following year, denying the ruling coalition its customary two thirds majority at the Parliament, and delivered five states to the opposition. Hindraf's six demands 1) Stop displacing Indian plantation workers and provide reasonable compensation, as well as, offer skills training to them, 2) Resolve Indian stateless issue, 3) Provide equal education opportunity to all Indian students via meritocracy, 4) Provide equal job and business opportunities to Indians, 5) Stop police brutality and death in custody, and set up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), and 6) Stop institutionalised racism and ratify United Nations convention against racial discrimination. Ganesan said that Hindraf would be able to resolve the six issues affecting the Indian community through the Minority Affairs Ministry. He also urged the government to allocate RM4.5 billion annually to the ministry for that purpose. "And don't tell me that the amount is big. Budget 2013 is worth RM230 billion and the amount we seek is not even five percent of the budget," said Ganesan.
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| MCA member slams leadership over education policies Posted: 24 Nov 2012 03:22 PM PST
The grassroots leader vows to pull out from the party if MCA fails to change the outcome of National Education Blueprint. Leven Woon, FMT The 6,000-strong Dong Zong rally against the National Education Blueprint 2013-2025 today saw the surprise attendance of a grassroots MCA member from Kota Tinggi, Johor. Breaking ranks with the party leaders who had openly snubbed the rally, the Kota Kecil MCA chairman Tai Foo Him led three busloads of people to support the rally which was held in Padang Timur here. He told reporters that majority of 110 people who came with him were MCA members. He drew a mixture of cheers and boos when asked to speak at the rally where some of the protesters had carried banners reading: "Shameless MCA president betrays Chinese education" and "BN MCA, Corrupt and Abuse of Power". "I feel ashamed when I saw your placards condemning our party. I think our leaders must change," he said. "If they don't, then maybe it's about the time for us to change," he added, without elaborating. He then cited the example of Black American activism in the 1960s to encourage the crowd to continue the struggle.
Speaking to reporters later, Tai said the MCA leaders did not dare to speak out against the blueprint because they were afraid to lose their government positions. The branch chairman who joined MCA in 1989 also criticised the party for openly rejecting the rally. "MCA and the Chinese community are from the same root. Nevermind if you don't support the rally, but why oppose the rally?" he said. Tai warned that should MCA failed to change the outcome of the blueprint, he would pull out from the party. He also said he has done nothing wrong for the party to level a possible disciplinary action against him.
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| Najib’s message to Chinese voters Posted: 24 Nov 2012 02:46 PM PST
(Bernama) - Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the Chinese community who likes his leadership, must give solid support to Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) if they want him to bring more successes to the nation through the national transformation programme. The prime minister said this in a special interview prior to the 66th Umno general assembly next week, when asked to comment on remarks by political observers, that some parties in the Chinese community liked Najib's leadership but not his party and BN, and were divided over giving support. Najib, who is also Umno president, in the one-hour interview with Bernama and Utusan Malaysia, nevertheless, said he saw the wind of change blowing in the level of support towards the government including from among the Chinese community compared to 2008 because they liked the government's direction. Commenting further on the parties in the Chinese community who were still divided in their support of the government, he said: "If they want me as the PM who can bring transformation to the nation, as they had been convinced all these while, they must give their support to me." "Because a strong PM is a PM who has comprehensive support, so that more successes can be brought to the nation," he added. Najib said a prime minister without a comprehensive mandate was weak and could be disputed, including whatever innovation he wanted to implement because any change would face many challenges. "A leadership without political support is a leadership without moral strength. If a leader has no moral strength, the leader will find it hard to face challenges to bring about big changes to the nation," Najib said. Since becoming prime minister in April 2009, Najib has introduced numerous comprehensive transformation programmes encompassing the government delivery system and politics and economy which were starting to show very positive preliminary results. The prime minister said although Umno or BN had several weaknesses, yet they were much better if compared to the opposition pact. "So if they don't like UMNO or BN, at least we are solid, having the same aim and talking in the same tone compared to the opposition who are basically at odds, even in terms of ideology. They are also not in tune (among the opposition) as to who will become the PM. Najib also said in national political system, if the groups liked his leadership, whether they wanted to or not they must give support to his party, namely, Umno and BN. "Otherwise, another party will be PM and not me. This means, someone else they don't want will become PM. And the pillar in our system is whoever becomes the PM," he said. Commenting further on the increase in support from the Chinese community towards the current government, Najib said he was aware that a change in attitude took time. Conceding that the government had problems with Chinese voters, he said, nevertheless, the government should not shunt them aside but to intensify engagements to understand their needs and demands, and respond accordingly. He said he understood the Chinese in towns were not overly dependent on the government but they must be aware their successes as individuals and a community were the result of government policies. "The government created conducive surroundings where they can find business opportunities, opportunities to develop themselves. If they look at the future, they would also need a country that is well-administered. "So BN can do this and make adjustments to our policies they are unhappy about and the weaknesses they say we must correct… for example crimes in towns." He stressed that so long as the people were not satisfied with the rate of drop in crimes, the effort would be escalated to erase all their concerns. Najib also refuted allegations by opposition parties that Umno was racist when urging towards the unity of Malays, and purportedly, its struggle was only in the interest of Malays. "Malay unity does not mean we oppose other races because, as I had said, we must bring other communities together with us." "We have carried this spirit since long ago from the time of Tunku (Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj) and Tun Razak (Hussein). Why should we set aside what had been founded by our founding fathers." Najib stressed that the current Umno leaders, like its founding fathers who set up the Alliance and then BN, were aware the strength of the country hinged on cooperation between the communities. "This we must hold on to," he said, adding that several actions which gave the perception that Umno was racist should and would be corrected. Najib said, when the government introduced the 1 Malaysia concept, all communities understood better, that, in this country, all communities must benefit from the national leadership. He said, as a result of the efficiency in the administration of the country, the government could ensure quite a strong national economic growth, whereby, the third quarter of this year recorded a 5.2 per cent growth and 300,000 jobs were created. The increase in foreign direct investment continued to go up from RM5 billion in 2009 to RM29.3 billion in 2010 and RM36.6 billion last year. "All these achievements, people say went against the world economy," he said, adding that the nation developed a high level of confidence with the achievements. The prime minister said the policies and programmes of the opposition as contained in their "Orange Book" and 2013 Budget did not get rave reviews from economists. "If we ask investment bankers and their fund managers' financial analysts, they do not give a high valuation to what was forwarded by the opposition. This means that they only see BN as a viable government." He said the current national transformation programme to boost Malaysia into becoming a developed and high-income nation could not possibly be achieved in three or four years but needed a much longer time. "President (Barack) Obama also demanded another term as president (of the United States) because he said it was impossible to make amends on what was done during the tenure of (President George) Bush, in four years. Furthermore, Najib said if BN received a strong mandate from the people in the 13th general election, God willing, he would commit himself to using his post and the strength of moral leadership to carry out greater and grander achievements for Malaysia.
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| DAP worried hudud will cover non-Muslims Posted: 24 Nov 2012 02:35 PM PST
(The Star) - The DAP is worried that hudud law will be extended to non-Muslims, with the latest controversy involving hair salon operators in PAS-led Kelantan. Its chairman Karpal Singh said he was surprised that Kelantan decided to enforce a ruling prohibiting non-Muslim women from cutting the hair of men and vice versa. "The Kelantan Government has publicly declared that Islamic laws will not be extended to non-Muslims. PAS has also stated that hudud will only be applied to Muslims. "There's a lot of concern among the public on what has just happened in Kelantan. If hudud is allowed, they will come to be extended to non-Muslims," he told a press conference yesterday. Karpal, who is the Bukit Gelugor MP, said the municipal council ruling was unconstitutional. "In fact, it should be challenged in court. Those concerned should not pay the fines imposed. It is unlawful. "The municipal council in Kelantan is collecting fines on the basis of an unlawful law. "I hope that the PAS leadership will intervene on this matter and do something about it as soon as possible," he said. Karpal said Barisan Nasional should not be presented with issues that could be exploited with the general election looming, likening the law relating to hairdressers as an "unkind cut". On the upcoming two-day DAP national conference from Dec 15, he said 66 party members had been nominated for 20 positions in the central executive committee.
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| Muhyiddin lambasted for bad education policies Posted: 24 Nov 2012 02:20 PM PST
An Indian NGO rep tells some 6,000-strong crowd at the Dong Zong rally that Muhyiddin is a failed education minister. Leven Woon, FMT The Dong Zong rally against the National Education Blueprint kicked off today with various speakers training their guns at the ruling government, including one who labelled Muhyiddin Yassin as the "dumbest education minister in the world". Dubbed as "Peaceful Appeal Against National Education Blueprint", the rally saw more than 6,000 people gathering the Padang Timur here since 10am, many holding umbrellas under the hot Sunday weather. The protesters also displayed banners that among others read: "Safeguard SJK (C) and SJK (T)", "Guarantee existence and development of multi-stream schools", "Education blueprint stumbling block to unity" and "National school syllabus to fuse Chinese school". Both Barisan Nasional and the MCA were targeted by the protesters, as several placards were spotted reading: "Shameless MCA president betrays Chinese education", "BN MCA, Corrupt and Abuse of Power".
Thasleem Mohd Ibrahim, who heads the National Indian Rights Action Team (NIAT), said in his addressing speech that the people respected Bahasa Malaysia as the national language and only demanded the rights to learn mother tongue. He criticised Muhyiddin, who is also the deputy prime minister, over his controversial policies such as the introduction of the Interlok novel to secondary school students and the National Education Blueprint. "What does he know? He knows nothing about education. He is the most stupid education minister in the world," he said, drawing the protesters' applause.
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| General assembly will be a show of unity and discipline, says Najib Posted: 24 Nov 2012 12:33 PM PST
(Bernama) -- The 2012 Umno General Assembly is set to give a signal that the party is thoroughly prepared for the general election, that it has risen stronger, more disciplined, more solid and capable of assuring a better future for all Malaysians under the Barisan Nasional (BN). Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the gathering of 5,447 party delegates should portray a party which was prepared in the true meaning of the word. "Whether in terms of the image of our party, direction of the party, unity in the party, organisation, right up to the grass root, (the assembly) should portray a party which is already firm, strong and has a high fighting spirit and motivation to ensure a major victory for Umno and BN," he said. In a special interview with editors of Bernama and Utusan prior to the general assembly next week, the Prime Minister also stressed the importance of organisational discipline towards giving strength in ensuring the success of the party. Najib said, "If we have organisational discipline, I believe it will give us strength, a very great strength because we have the number which must be buttressed with the strength of party discipline. "If we do not receive an order following the chain of command, it means we have gone against discipline and as a consequence we can lose in a war." He said the focus of the debate must lead towards the positive attitude of Umno on its direction and confidence in the leadership, and subsequently to provide answers to accusations thrown by the opposition at the Umno and BN leaderships. Taking PAS as an example of a party hiding behind its Islamic image, Najib said, "This must be discussed by Umno and if possible we come up with strong arguments, so we can emerge as the main party among the Malays". The prime minister said Umno's situation was better compared to a year ago and "surely is better than the pictures which we see in the opposition pact which show parties not sharing the same aspirations, fragile ties and much of what they tried to hide all these while have been exposed". He said the difference in directions and opinions among the opposition was becoming obvious with the issues of who should be prime minister, views on freedom to change religions and opinions on practices not in line with Islam. "If we look between the two, Umno and BN had boosted confidence while the opposition parties had raised more question marks and controversies which can be questioned by voters," he said. Asked about his effort to revive Umno after BN's poor performance in the general election in 2008, Najib said, "I hold on to the principle of getting up after falling down and continuing to work hard after being successful". As such, he said when he took over the leadership of the party and government, he was committed to do whatever possible to revive Umno and BN, starting with the 1 Malaysia concept: People First, Performance Now as a master philosophy of his administration. He said his administration policies were inclusive by upholding social justice and forwarding new ideas which were more creative. "I truly understand, in this 21st century, supremacy can be obtained by those parties who win in contests of ideas. "This is why many programmes which we implement today were never thought of before. From 1 Malaysia People's Shop, 1 Malaysia Clinic, Urban Transformation Centre, Rural Transformation Centre, 1 Malaysia People's Taxi, 1 Malaysia People's Aid, et cetera," he said.
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| Spike in new voters for Selangor ‘normal’, EC chief says Posted: 24 Nov 2012 12:30 PM PST
(TMI) -- The controversial huge jump in first-time voters for Selangor is regular and to be expected as the country's richest state is a magnet for Malaysians seeking better jobs and lives, Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof has said. Abdul Aziz credited the spike to Selangor's status as a very popular state among Malaysians, saying that many voters are attracted by the job opportunities available to work and stay there. He was responding to the Selangor government's doubts and suspicion over the spike in the number of voters in its state assembly (DUN) and Parliamentary constituencies. "Throughout Malaysia, from 2008 up to 2012, three million new voters have been registered. "Out of the three million, 400,000 are from Selangor, because Selangor is a very popular state, so many people like to work (and) live in Selangor and they use (an) address in Selangor," he told The Malaysian Insider in a phone interview when contacted yesterday. The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government had recently carried out a study which showed the figures of newly-registered voters in constituencies held by one of the three political parties within its alliance — PKR, DAP and PAS — had steadily increased with every passing quarter this year, at 563,471; 600,406; and 625,210 respectively. Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said in a statement on Friday that the state could not trace 28 per cent of its 497,084 voters who were registered in last year's fourth quarter. The PKR man also pointed to the incomplete electoral maps of five state assembly areas as justification for Selangor's worries. But Abdul Aziz said that a big chunk of Malaysia's newly-registered voters in the past four years use addresses in Selangor when registering with the EC. When registering voters, the EC has to follow the address as recorded in identity cards (IC) — now called MyKads. Voters can change their voting address if they change their MyKad address and inform the EC. Abdul Aziz said Selangor's popularity made it natural for some Parliamentary areas in Selangor to have an increase of new voters by 30 to 40 per cent. Other places like Ipoh, Johor Baru and Malacca have a percentage increase in new voters that is more or less like Selangor's, he said. "The increase of voters in Selangor, Parliament or ADUN (areas) in Selangor, are also happening in other places, other states. Not only in Selangor. "This is normal," he said. The commission chief also attributed the significant jump to the hard work of both the EC and political parties in registering those who are eligible to vote. "PKR, DAP, PAS are very active in registering voters in Selangor...They contribute a lot in terms of (registering) new voters in Selangor," he said, referring to the parties in PR. He said another 600,000 people in Selangor are eligible to vote, but have yet to register. Political parties have been working to get more citizens registered as voters, ahead of the 13th general elections that is expected to be the country's most intensely-contested polls. In the 12th general election, the three federal opposition parties had swept a total of 36 seats, with PKR taking the lion's share of 15 seats; and the DAP and PAS taking 13 and eight respectively. Selangor is said to be a state with hot seats because of its large number of newly-registered voters, as well as being the country's wealthiest state. The Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition is said to be eyeing the country's wealthiest state in the upcoming elections, with its chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak recently pledging to cancel a controversial condominium project in the Batu Caves area if BN wins back Selangor. Najib, who is also Umno president, has repeatedly vowed to win back Selangor for his BN coalition by all means necessary.
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| Najib: Anwar's call for Australia to intervene in GE shameful Posted: 23 Nov 2012 10:53 PM PST
(THE STAR) - Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has described Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's request for Australia to intervene in the general election as a shameless act. The Prime Minuster questioned Anwar's lack of confidence in Malaysia's electoral process when the opposition won five states in the last elections. "Now they say there are 12-year-olds in the electoral roll. If so, show us the proof so we can address the problems, don't ask a foreign country to intervene, don't bring shame upon our country," Najib told a gathering of 1,500 NGOs at the Putra World Trade Centre. Anwar had petitioned for Australia to intervene in the elections but foreign minister Bob Carr rejected the request. In an interview, Anwar said people who are ineligible to vote, some of whom were 12-years old, were in the electoral list. Commenting on Australia's rejection of Anwar's request, Najib said: "Luckily the Australians are wise and said no way, not our business', because they know they have good relations with us and they know Malaysian leaders. "But he (Anwar) goes here and there to cucuk (provoke), his cucuk is never-ending." Najib said Malaysia was now becoming an example to many nations and in fact, some were jealous of its success and achievements but certain parties in the country were finding fault with the government and making a hue and cry abroad. "Don't talk about inside the country, the Bangsamoro also looked up to Malaysia (to end the conflict in the southern Philippines; (for) 40 years, more than 100,000 had died," he said. Malaysia facilitated the peace process between the Bangsamoro and the Philippine goverment which culminated in a peace accord being signed by the conflicting parties last month. "Here, people look for fault in us, (whilst) others are worse. "In the Unites States, even the presidential election had problems, voters could not find their names at voting booths, late decisions, but nobody said there was big cheating going on, or the selection of (Barack) Obama for the second term was not valid, none..," he said. Blasting the opposition who often questioned and disputed the government, Najib said they, however, kept quiet when the opposition wrested five states from the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the last general election in 2008.
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| Kelantan's hair dressing laws unlawful, says Karpal Singh Posted: 23 Nov 2012 06:06 PM PST
(The Star) - The DAP wants the Kelantan government to intervene in the municipal council by-laws prohibiting women from cutting men's hair in the state. Chairman Karpal Singh said he was surprised that the state decided to enforce such a ruling on non-Muslims. "The state government has publicly declared that Islamic laws will not be extended to non-Muslims. PAS has also stated hudud will only be applied to Muslims. "There's a lot of concern among the public on what has happened in Kelantan. If hudud is allowed to be applicable to Muslims, there will come (a time that it will) be extended to non-Muslims," he told a press conference in Air Itam on Saturday. He was responding to reports that hair salon operators in the PAS-ruled state were being fined for breaching the by-laws which prohibit a woman from cutting the hair of a man and vice versa. Karpal Singh said the ruling was unconstitutional and could be challenged in court. "In fact, it should be challenged in court. Those concerned should not pay the fines. It is unlawful. "I hope that the PAS leadership will intervene and do something about it as soon as possible," he said adding that Barisan Nasional should not be presented with issues that it can exploit now that the general election is looming.
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| Mohd Isa denies sexist remarks to Eli Wong Posted: 23 Nov 2012 04:27 PM PST
(The Sun Daily) - Batang Kali assemblyman Mohd Isa Abu Kasim today denied he had uttered sexist remarks towards Bukit Lanjan assembly person Elizabeth Wong during yesterday's state assembly sitting. "I did not make any such statements. Hansard (the transcript used during assembly sittings) can prove that I did not say it when it is released," he said during the afternoon sitting of today's assembly. He also claimed that Hannah Yeoh (DAP - Subang Jaya) was oversensitive over the remarks he said. "I only commented on Wong's work in maintaining our forest reserves. I don't have any other intentions," he said. He was responding to Yeoh's appeal to Rodziah Ismail (PKR -Batu Tiga) to send Selangor state assembly persons to undergo gender sensitivity training, adding that Mohd Isa needs "an emergency crash course". According to news portal Malaysiakini, Mohd Isa told Wong, who is exco member in charge of tourism, consumer affairs and environment, to take care of her own forest even as she takes care of the forest reserves around Selangor's vicinity yesterday. Rodziah, who is chairperson for welfare, women's affairs and science, technology and innovation committee, then replied that the state government has viewed gender discrimination seriously. , there has been allocation of provisions to conduct gender sensitivity training, including the programme "Ada ada dengan gender?" that was launched this year.
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| Karpal Singh: Peaceful Assembly Act ultra-vires to Federal Constitution Posted: 23 Nov 2012 03:49 PM PST
(Bernama) - Lawyer Karpal Singh, acting for applicant Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, told the High Court here Friday that the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 had completely prohibited the right to assemble, by way of street protest. The senior lawyer said the provision under Section 4(1)(c) was not intended to "restrict" but more to "prohibit" the right to assemble. "Any street protest, actually, was a moving assembly and the Act should not completely prohibit it," contended Karpal by pointing out on the provision of Section 4(1)(c) of the Act, which he argued, was inconsistent and contravened with the provision of Article 10 (1)(b) of the Federal Constitution. He said the Act defined a street protest as an assembly that was in movement. "Even Article 10(1)(b) clearly stated that all citizens have the right to assemble peaceably, without arms," he noted. He further submitted that the word, 'restriction', should be interpreted as reasonable restriction as stated in Article 10, and the constitution was the supreme law of the country. "Any law passed after Merdeka Day, which is inconsistent with the constitution, should be declared void," said Karpal, who urged Justice Kamardin Kashim to allow Anwar's application with costs. Kamardin set Nov 30, for respondent (prosecution) to reply to the applicant's submission Friday. In a related development, Anwar's co-counsel, Ram Karpal Singh, said if the court ruled in Anwar's favour, one of the charges under the Peaceful Assembly Act would be dropped, leaving only two charges still pending at the Sessions Court. Anwar, 64, together with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, 48, and Rembau PKR branch chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin (third accused), 34, were charged last May 22, with taking part in street demonstrations which allegedly led to chaos in the city. The three also faced a second charge of conniving with Tangam Raju, Rajesh Kumar Gejinder and Farhan Ibrahim, by inciting them to remove steel barricades at Jalan Raja here on the same day. They are the first to be charged under Section 4(2)(c) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, which carries a fine of up to RM10,000, upon conviction. Last July 2, the trio were charged with conspiring with Tangam, Rajesh, Farhan and five or more supporters of 'Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih 3.0)' to defy a magistrate's court order dated April 26, against holding a rally at Dataran Merdeka from April 28 until May 1, this year.
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| Maintain Constitution to preserve peaceful ethnic ties, says USM don Posted: 23 Nov 2012 03:34 PM PST
In his presentation earlier, Sivamurugan had referred to Articles 3, 152, 153, 18, 18 (3) of the Federal Constitution, saying that these articles have to be preserved. Ida Lim, The Malaysian Insider The Federal Constitution should be kept as it is because the country's supreme law is a core part for the preservation of ethnic relations in multi-racial Malaysia, Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, a Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) professor, said today. "The Constitution and the Rukun Negara have to continue to be a reference... in the process to preserve ethnic relations," Sivamurugan said in a presentation at the Barisan 1 Malaysia gathering at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) today. He acknowledged that there may be different interpretations of the Federal Constitution. "But we have to preserve what has already been agreed under the Constitution. The Constitution is not based on each individual's comfort, when we like we follow; when don't like we don't follow," he said. In his presentation earlier, Sivamurugan had referred to Articles 3, 152, 153, 18, 18 (3) of the Federal Constitution, saying that these articles have to be preserved. "Don't we ever try to change because that is the foundation of the management of ethnic relations," he said. Last week, The Malaysian Insider reported that a UK-based study on discrimination and equality in Malaysia showed that the country should repeal or amend two constitutional provisions protecting the special rights and land of the Malays to avoid discrimination on the basis of race or ethnicity. The study was jointly conducted by international charity organisation Equal Rights Trust (ERT) and local rights group Tenaganita. The four-part study said the existence of Articles 89 and 153 of the Federal Constitution were among the strongest causes behind racial discrimination in Malaysia as both had purportedly failed to meet the original intention for positive action. Instead, the provisions had "violated international law standards", it was said in the executive summary of the "Washing the Tigers: Addressing Discrimination and Inequality in Malaysia" study published on the ERT website last Monday.
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| Musa calls PKR ‘political bankrupts’, insists ICAC exonerated him Posted: 23 Nov 2012 03:29 PM PST
Leslie Lau, The Malaysian Insider Datuk Musa Aman accused the opposition of "rehashing the same old story" and called them political bankrupts for trying to press Hong Kong to reopen a graft probe for which he said he had already been cleared. "From the very start, I had the greatest confidence in the integrity of the ICAC and that I would be exonerated. Now the ICAC has cleared me. That brought an end to the pain and suffering my family has to endure for the past years," he said in a statement last night, referring to Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption.  Musa said PKR was using the same complaint to gain political mileage. — File pic Rafizi Ramli, who led the party's four-member fact-finding mission there, said it was not immediately clear what the ICAC plans do with the new evidence but expressed confidence that the case would likely be reopened. In PKR's report to Hong Kong's graftbusters, three reasons were listed to encourage the world-renowned ICAC to reopen the RM40 million graft probe against Musa and Chia — separate claims from two Sabah MPs that the money was not a political donation to Umno as claimed; and the receipt of a luxury vehicle from Chia by Umno minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz, possibly for corrupt reasons. Chia's alleged link with Musa first exploded in the media following an April article by whistleblower site Sarawak Report, which had claimed that the former was caught trying to leave the Hong Kong International Airport with the RM40 million in Singapore currency. At the time, Chia had allegedly told the authorities that the money was meant for Musa. The issue hit the headlines again last month when Nazri told Parliament that Musa had been cleared of corruption in the matter after Malaysian and Hong Kong anti-graft authorities found that the money was a "political donation" to Sabah Umno and was not meant for Musa's personal use. Musa said he did not understand why PKR could not accept the truth. "What more do they want? They are trying again to use the same complaint to gain political mileage. "They are rehashing the same old story. I think I am entitled to conclude that the opposition is a political bankrupt. We are entitled to treat their recent rehashed allegation with the contempt it so richly deserves. "I remain humble, but surely there is a limit to one's humility and patience." he said in the statement.
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| Muhyiddin: Brace for Pakatan’s ‘psycho’ attacks in GE13 Posted: 23 Nov 2012 03:26 PM PST
(The Malaysian Insider) - Umno members must brace themselves and be more aggressive to counter the opposition's psychological attacks if they want to ensure the party and the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) remain in power at the next general election, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin warned in an interview published today in Utusan Malaysia. The ruling coalition's No. 2 told Umno delegates, who will be attending the party's annual general assembly next week here, not to rest on their laurels but raise the ante because the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) opposition pact has stepped up its game in its quest to wrest Putrajaya at the 13th general election (GE13) due soon when the BN's mandate expires next April. "They want to psycho the rakyat's thinking, they are ready to take over and topple the government. As an Umno leader, we cannot just listen and be silent," Muhyiddin told the Umno-owned daily. "We know Anwar Ibrahim is campaigning. He takes the plane. DAP takes the bus, goes from corner to corner one by one. They have arranged their strategies, we know," he pointed out, referring to the PKR de facto leader and its political partner in the three-party alliance set up four years ago after Election 2008 to counter the BN machinery. Muhyiddin, who is also deputy prime minister, said the federal opposition has become "power mad" in its bid to take control of Putrajaya, alleging that it has permitted things that are considered "haram", or forbidden by Islam, but did not specify the acts. He said the PR will use all kinds of tactics, such as swearing oaths and making all sorts of allegations against the Election Commission (EC), notably claiming that the voter roll is "not right", in its attempt to "condition the people's mind that if BN wins, it's through fraud". The opposition parties have taken part in two controversial public rallies in the capital city over the last two years, backing the independent electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 in pushing for the voter roll to be cleaned up of dubious entries ahead of the next national polls. Yesterday, Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim highlighted the PR state government's doubt over a 28 per cent spike in registered voters in PR-controlled areas, which he claimed could not be traced by the state's audit. Khalid, who is from PKR, said he would be writing in to the EC for an explanation soon. "This is a war from a strategy aspect and others," Muhyiddin told Utusan in a message to Umno delegates ahead of the party's assembly, which begins next Tuesday. The powerful Umno politician hoped his message will reach Umno members and fire them up so they will not relax their guard until the elections are over. "There is not time to rest, we must rise all the time until our task is complete after the elections," he said.
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| Pakatan must do more for Penang Malays Posted: 23 Nov 2012 02:51 PM PST
The Malays in Penang want a Malay Deputy Chief Minister to look after their interests To this, the congress' president Rahmad Isahak said it was becoming clear that both PKR and PAS have failed to maintain Pakatan Rakyat's hold on the Malays. Hawkeye, FMT The Penang Malay Congress has called on DAP to consider appointing a Malay to become the next Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) I if the present leader, PKR's Mansor Othman, relinquishes the post in favour of contesting a parliament seat. The rumour mill is working overtime in Penang now since PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim announced last week that Mansor, a party vice-president, will contest the Nibong Tebal parliament seat. The seat is presently held by Tan Tee Beng who had won the seat under the PKR banner in 2008 but has since become an Independent. Anwar declined to comment on whether Mansor will be allowed to defend his present Penanti state seat on the mainland. To this, the congress' president Rahmad Isahak said it was becoming clear that both PKR and PAS have failed to maintain Pakatan Rakyat's hold on the Malays. Moving Mansor out of Penang, stengthens the congress' belief that Pakatan is concerned about the Malay ground here and confirms that the Malay electorate is disappointed with them, Rahmad said. Mansor has been underfire for the last three years for failing to champion Malay issues well, and he is often seen as being subservient to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. To arrest an alleged decline in Malay support, Rahmad said Pakatan needs to revamp its present leadeship allocation. A Malay DAP candidate, who wins in the next election, should instead be made the DCM I as this will demonstrate to the people that the party is committed to the Malays, Rahmad said. Talk is that Penang DAP will consider fielding at least two Malay candidates here to challenge the perception among the Malay community that it is a Chinese party. DAP's failure to field any Malays may also give rise to a number of independent candidates – sponsored by Malay civil groups where 23 organisations have sprouted up in Penang since 2008. Rahmad said the Malays in Penang have become restless due to the inability of the DAP-led state government to effectively address their socio-economic issues. The community's grouses are over the lack of affordable housing, erosion of their heritage and culture values, made worse by the demolition of traditional villages on the island and the lack of quality jobs despite a record number of fresh investments. "If you ask a critically minded Malay if they support Pakatan, they remain speechless. It is not because Pakatan failed them, it is because the issues of the community has gone unnoticed by the inexperienced government for the past four years." The Malay dilemma The Malays are now venting their anger on PKR and PAS for failure to convince DAP over the critical need to look at the community's issues. Even during Barisan's era, the Malay community here has been stirring up issues and expressing their anger, Rahmad said in an interview. The Malays are in a dilemma here because if they support Pakatan, there is a preception out there that their issues will not be effectively resolved unless a strong-willed Malay leader is appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister I, Rahmad said. On the other hand, it is pointless to support Umno as the party is part of the Barisan Nasional coalition, which is finding it increasingly difficult to regain acceptance in Penang, he said.
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| MB says poverty behind Muslim apostasy in Selangor Posted: 23 Nov 2012 12:27 AM PST
(Bernama) - Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the issue of apostasy among Muslims in Selangor is caused by poverty and efforts are being taken to address it. Khalid who is also the state executive councillor for Islamic affairs said he would combine aid by Islamic Trust Fund and Selangor Zakat Board to better care for the welfare of Muslims. He said this in reply to a question from Datuk Dr Hasan Mohamed Ali (Independent-Gombak Setia), who asked about efforts to convert Muslims in Selangor in the state assembly here today. Khalid said Islamic law enforcement agencies need to monitor how other religious missionaries draw Muslims and look into ways to save the faith of Muslims. To a supplementary question from Ng Suee Lim (DAP-Sekinchan) who asked how many Muslims had been apostatised since Pakatan Rakyat ruled, Khalid said he did not have the data as apostasy was an issue for individuals and families did not publicise it. However, there were still 10 cases relating to apostasy undergoing the court process in Selangor, he added.
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| Fernandez's remarks can strain ties between politicians, civil servants Posted: 23 Nov 2012 12:19 AM PST
(Bernama) - The Administrative and Diplomatic Officers Alumni Association said the remark by Petaling Jaya City Council member Derek Fernandez can strain the harmonious working relationship between politicians and civil servants. Its president Tan Sri Sallehudin Mohamad urged Fernandez who likened civil servants as 'monkeys' while commenting on the transfer of the mayor to withdraw his remark in order to protect the harmonious relationship. "The civil service is the pillar in the administration of any country. The responsibility entrusted is indeed noble and heavy a burden. "The civil service expects sincere cooperation and positive support from all parties in the government, including political leaders appointed by supporters," he said in a statement here today. Fernandez was quoted as saying in an English newspaper: "Let's see who the candidates are. If they are going to nominate some monkeys, we will reject."
The Administrative and Diplomatic Officers Alumni Association said the remark by Petaling Jaya City Council member Derek Fernandez can strain the harmonious working relationship between politicians and civil servants.Its president Tan Sri Sallehudin Mohamad urged Fernandez who likened civil servants as 'monkeys' while commenting on the tranfer of the mayor to withdraw his remark in order to protect the harmonious relationship. "The civil service is the pillar in the administration of any country. The responsibility entrusted is indeed noble and heavy a burden. "The civil service expects sincere cooperation and positive support from allparties in the government, including political leaders appointed by supporters," he said in a statement here today. Fernandez was quoted as saying in an English newspaper: "Let's see who the candidates are. If they are going to nominate some monkeys, we will reject." Read more: Fernandez's remarks can strain ties between politicians, civil servants - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/fernandez-s-remarks-can-strain-ties-between-politicians-civil-servants-1.175861?localLinksEnabled=false#ixzz2D3zVL56z The Administrative and Diplomatic Officers Alumni Association said the remark by Petaling Jaya City Council member Derek Fernandez can strain the harmonious working relationship between politicians and civil servants.Its president Tan Sri Sallehudin Mohamad urged Fernandez who likened civil servants as 'monkeys' while commenting on the tranfer of the mayor to withdraw his remark in order to protect the harmonious relationship. "The civil service is the pillar in the administration of any country. The responsibility entrusted is indeed noble and heavy a burden. "The civil service expects sincere cooperation and positive support from allparties in the government, including political leaders appointed by supporters," he said in a statement here today. Fernandez was quoted as saying in an English newspaper: "Let's see who the candidates are. If they are going to nominate some monkeys, we will reject." Read more: Fernandez's remarks can strain ties between politicians, civil servants - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/fernandez-s-remarks-can-strain-ties-between-politicians-civil-servants-1.175861?localLinksEnabled=false#ixzz2D3zVL56z |
| ICAC wants ‘transactional’ info for new probe, says Rafizi Posted: 22 Nov 2012 09:04 PM PST
Zurairi AR, The Malaysian Insider Hong Kong graftbusters may renew their probe into the murky RM40 million "political donation" to Sabah Umno if provided with evidence to show the funds were transacted on the island, PKR's Rafizi Ramli said today. "I'm very confident that the case will be re-opened. From our discussion with ICAC, they have given an easy evidence test," the PKR strategy director said in a press conference here, referring to the Independent Commission Against Corruption. "And we do have evidence, documents. That's why we need to return in two weeks," said Rafizi, who led a team of PKR lawmakers to Hong Kong on Wednesday in a bid to get authorities there to renew their investigations into the matter. Rafizi and his team were reluctant, however, to divulge details on the evidence, other than to say it met the ICAC's requirment, for fear of jeopardising their sources and the investigation. "There are like three or four files," Rafizi said, refusing to elaborate further. Yesterday, the PKR team furnished fresh evidence to the ICAC on Datuk Musa Aman's RM40 million graft case and were invited to return with more proof on the Sabah chief minister's alleged money-laundering link with businessman Michael Chia. According to Rafizi today, the team had met with the Acting Chief Investigator of ICAC Martin Chan Chi-wah, after an immediate appointment was requested by senior Hong Kong legislative councillor James To Kun-sun. The PKR lawmakers also met with their Hong Kong counterparts To, Leung Kwok-hung and Raymond Wong, who are part of the legislative council's Security Panel, to which the ICAC answers. In PKR's report, three reasons were listed to encourage the world-renowned ICAC to reopen the RM40 million graft probe against Musa and Chia — separate claims from two Sabah MPs that the money was not a political donation to Umno as claimed; and the receipt of a luxury vehicle from Chia by Umno minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz, possibly for corrupt reasons. "They did give us a reference number and I think that by practice here, all cases are opened once a report is lodged," Rafizi said yesterday in a phone call to The Malaysian Insider. The fact-finding mission, which had just touched down from Hong Kong, also included PKR MPs William Leong and Lee Hoy Sian, and Perak assemblyman Chang Lih Kang. Chang and Leong also revealed that HK representatives whom they met were greatly concerned that the island's image as a financial capital will be tarnished by allegations of graft and money-laundering. "They hope we can bring justice in Hong Kong and Malaysia," Leong said. "It is the responsibility of anyone to help ICAC in investigating money laundering cases ... so that Hong Kong will not be made into a 'paradise of money-laundering'," Chang added. Chia's alleged link with Musa first exploded in the media following an April article by whistleblower site Sarawak Report, which had claimed that former was caught trying to leave the Hong Kong International Airport with the RM40 million in Singapore currency.
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| MCA leaders all riled up again, this time over a haircut Posted: 22 Nov 2012 08:56 PM PST
MCA has been at loggerheads with Islamic values since it launched an intense campaign to stop PAS's appeal among non-Muslim voters (Harakah Daily) - Chinese-only party MCA has continued its current campaign to woo back non-Muslim support, and today it urged DAP to forget about Pakatan Rakyat - all because the Kota Bharu Municipal Council enforced a long-existing rule which disallows unisex services at hair saloons. The rule, which has been welcomed by many including non-Muslim women and housewives who fear the rampant misuse of unisex hair saloons as prostitution dens, is stated under Section 107(2) of the Local Council Act.
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| Ex-minister Radzi a boss in ‘rogue’ 6P firm Posted: 22 Nov 2012 08:52 PM PST
However, he denies involvement in human trafficking. Teoh El Sen, FMT Former home minister Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad is a director in a company that is under police investigation over several offences related to human trafficking. The company, SNT Universal Corporation Sdn Bhd, is a government-appointed agent in the 6P amnesty programme. Police suspect it has exploited hundreds of foreign workers, mainly Bangladeshis. Investigators are focusing on the possibility that SNT has committed several offences, including falsely claiming that it is able to register foreigners under the 6P programme and getting work permits for them, setting up dozens of bogus employment agencies, and assaulting job-seeking foreigners. The last allegation is based on CCTV recordings. According to the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM), Radzi became a director of SNT on May 17, 2011. Radzi expressed surprise when an FMT reporter informed him of the CCM record. He said "some friends" roped him into being an SNT director and denied knowledge of its activities. "I'm not involved in human trafficking," he said. "People ask me to become director in all sorts of things. I have no connection with the company." Radzi was the Minister of Home Affairs between 2006 and 2008. Under the 6P programme, illegal foreign workers will either be legalised or deported without punishment. The six Ps represent the Malay words for registration, legalisation, amnesty, monitoring, enforcement and deportation. The government has appointed more than 300 companies to handle registration. Early this month, the Selangor Council Against Human Trafficking (Mapmas) released CCTV recordings showing the violence that SNT employees had allegedly perpetrated against the job-seekers. Mapmas said it got hold of the recordings with the help of a whistleblower and that the victims of the recorded assault represented only a fraction of some 200 claiming to have been cheated by SNT. The videos are now on YouTube. Police said this week that they had arrested three foreigners in the case and were on the hunt for another suspect. The evidence regarding bogus employment agencies resulted from investigations carried out by FMT and Mapmas official Abdul Aziz Ismail. It was found that these companies had no business infrastructure and were apparently set up for the sole purpose of obtaining fraudulent work permits to be used in the 6P programme. One of the recurring names in these companies is Md. Shahidul Islam, said to be a Bangladeshi man whose nickname is Babul. Babul's name also appears in a police report against SNT that accuses it of cheating and assault. Authorities have yet to explain how he is able to run a 6P management company when the Home Ministry prohibits foreigners from doing so. 'They made use of my name' Mampas' Abdul Aziz, a veteran labour activist, today condemned Radzi for accepting a director's position in SNT. "During his time as the Home Minister, the government brought in some 500,000 Bangladeshis and they were abandoned at the airport and sold to a third party," Abdul Aziz said. "So, if you talk about Mohd Radzi, he failed during his tenure. And now he is getting himself involved in something like this. It is totally unethical and immoral." In his interview with FMT, Radzi recalled that he was asked to be a director of SNT around the time the government announced the 6P programme. "I don't even know where this company is," he said. "Maybe I have been there once, when it was about to be formed. It checked out with the Home Ministry. Now it has gone a bit funny, huh?" He said it was the first company he joined after leaving his cabinet post. "I looked at the company and thought they were just doing some registration for these workers, allowing them to go home or something like that. They asked if I wanted to be part of it. So okay-lah." He said that a few months ago, when he found out that the 6P programme was not doing well, he told the company he wanted to quit it. Asked if he knew the other SNT directors, he said: "I may be able to recall this Babul something. I think that's him." He said he felt betrayed. "They made use of my name. Now it appears that I should have checked what sort of company this was. I'm disappointed."
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| Pairin: Jeffrey doesn’t love me anymore Posted: 22 Nov 2012 06:10 PM PST
It is now an open secret that the KadazanDusuns in Keningau and even Tambunan are clamouring for change, but Joseph Pairin Kitingan refuses to acknowledge the shift. Calvin Kabaron, FMT Embattled Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Joseph Pairin Kitingan has increased his attacks on his brother Jeffrey. He sees Jeffrey as the man who will send him into retirement. Speaking to reporters at the end of recently-concluded PBS congress here, Pairin accused the younger Kitingan of not loving him and of breaking the unity within the KadazanDusunMurut communities. He also said Jeffrey was uncooperative and hurled half a dozen more accusations against his younger brother. For the record, as of yesterday, Pairin, 72, seemed to still want to be renominated as Barisan Nasional candidate in both the Keningau parliamentary and Tambunan state seats. It is now an open secret that the Kadazandusuns in Keningau and even Tambunan are clamouring for change. But Pairin, being the longest (and uninterrupted) serving state assemblyman in the country, refuses to acknowledge the shifting ground. In fact he loathed to entertain the idea of people wanting change. "I am ready to contest both seats," said Pairin who is also a deputy chief minister and Sabah's minister of infrastructure development. On possibility in the election, he quipped: "Are the people ready to chuck me off?" He said that while it was up to the people in Keningau and Tambunan to decide, it must be noted that he has "done a lot more in terms of fighting for the people" via PBS. "I would say that I have a lot going and I have done a lot more in terms of fighting for the people in the context of our (PBS) struggles all this while. And that is something which needs to be considered…," said Pairin, obviously already on the defensive about his chances in the coming general election. But he quickly qualified that he however would be guided by the requests from the constituents and the party. Asked about rumours and reports that he would only contest one seat this time, the seasoned politician retorted: "Did I say that? No, I did not. I have always been open for these two (seats) and of course I am also guided by requests from the ground, my division and the party. Which means to say, it is still very much an option. He may go fo both, or may go for only one. Many local observers from Tambunan claimed that it is Pairin's trademark to be seen as open for any option, and that like other wise politicians, he could be saying one thing and doing another thing later. "I won't be surprised at all that Pairin would eventually contest in Tambunan only. I am not even surprised if he does not contest at all at the coming general election. Once the truth set in him, he would be guided by it," one seasoned observer who wished to be known only as Mark. Pairin, meanwhile, said he had taken note of Jeffrey's signal "to send him into retirement by contesting against him". "Well that is Jeffrey's wish all the time, right from the time he has been against me, that has been his wish. He wants me to retire and now he doesn't care anymore. "He doesn't love his brother, he doesn't have any feeling, any consideration, he just wants a place to go to because he is now the leader in STAR (State Reform Party), an imported party from Sarawak. Now he is happy leading a party," Pairin said. Jeffrey has on numerous times and in his speeches before this told the people that he had nothing against Pairin as a brother and that he loved him like any brother does to his own brother. "It is not that I love Pairin less, but it is because I love the people and Sabah more…," Jeffrey had said everytime such accusations were hurled at him by Pairin or PBS leaders. But Pairin did not let up on Jeffrey yesterday. He spewed: "That is why Jeffrey has been changing parties all the time because he is not wanted in all these parties and he cannot work with anyone." Jeffrey was always popular But the facts however tell a different story. When in the AKAR party, Jeffrey was very popular. He was in fact appointed as the "President's Representative" by its late president Mark Koding when the latter left for a theology study in Australia. That appointment was challenged by another deputy president of AKAR at that time, Pandikan Amin Mulia, who saw himself as more senior. This threw the party into turmoil, and eventually Pandikar dissolved the party for Umno. In Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), Jeffrey got the highest number of nomination for the presidency, leaving out incumbent Joseph Kurup with only two nominations from the party divisions.
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| Posted: 22 Nov 2012 05:01 PM PST
(Bernama) - The Court of Appeal has fixed Feb 15 for case management of the prosecution's appeal against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's acquittal on a charge of sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan. Court of Appeal deputy registrar N. Kanageswari set the date for another case management after the matter came up before her for case management in chambers today. Deputy Public Prosecutor Najib Zakaria appeared for the prosecution while Anwar was represented by Ram Karpal Singh. Ram Karpal told reporters that both the prosecution and defence needed more time to go through and verify the notes of evidence which were in compact discs (CDs). He said, there were about 22 volumes of CDs which were "very bulky and technical".
Ram Karpal said, both sides had not finished verifying the notes of evidence, so the court gave them time to sort them out, adding that the process was time-consuming. On Jan 9, this year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court acquitted and discharged Anwar of sodomising Mohd Saiful, 26, at a Desa Damansara condominium unit in Bukit Damansara here, between 3.10pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008. Anwar, 65, was charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code, which carries a jail sentence of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.The prosecution subsequently, filed on Jan 20, this year, a notice of appeal against the opposition leader's acquittal from the sodomy charge. On July 9, this year, the prosecution filed its petition of appeal which contained nine grounds. The 80-page written judgment by High Court judge Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah revealed, there was penile penetration but it was uncorroborated by other evidence. He said the court could not be 100 per cent certain on the integrity ofsamples taken for DNA testing from Mohd Saiful as the samples could have been compromised before they reached the chemistry department for analysis.
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| Beaufort MP to defend seat on PKR ticket Posted: 22 Nov 2012 04:47 PM PST
(The Sun Daily) - Beaufort MP Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin yesterday confirmed that he will defend his seat in the 13th general election on a PKR ticket. "I have discussed with Pakatan Rakyat (leaders) … I will contest under PKR but I am not a party member. I have a new party (in Sabah) but it has not been (officially) registered," Lajim told theSun when met in Parliament yesterday. The former Umno Supreme Council member had left the party in July to be a PR-friendly independent MP and was later stripped of his position as deputy housing and local government minister. Lajim's departure, along with Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing and several other local Barisan Nasional leaders, has been touted as a signal for an impending wave of support for PR in Sabah. The duo had then respectively announced the formation of PR-aligned movements – Sabah Coalition for Change (PPS) and Sabah Force for Change (APS). On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Seri Muhyiddin Yassin, during a walkabout in Kota Kinabalu, reportedly described Lajim as a "traitor" and declared that BN would go all out to reclaim the Beaufort seat. "Lajim has let the people down, and he was stupid to have left Barisan but we need to look forward and ensure this district continues to be developed," he said. In response, Lajim said: "It is OK … The mission for BN is to get more seats and strengthen its government, but in Sabah, people have already said they want change." Asked for comment on his decision to set up a new party instead of joining existing peninsula-based PR component parties, Lajim said it is a "normal" move for politicians in Sabah. "Most important is the policy of the party … It must benefit the people. The party must be able to provide development in Sabah," he stressed. Lajim said the winning party must also be able to resolve issues surrounding an influx of illegal immigrants in the state, a long-term concern which he claimed BN had failed to address. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had on Aug 11 announced the establishment of a five-member Royal Commission of Inquiry, headed by former Sabah chief judge Tan Sri Steve Shim, to probe the state's long-standing immigration problem.
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| Two ex-DAP grassroot leaders hit out at Selangor councillors Kok and Liu Posted: 22 Nov 2012 04:35 PM PST
(The Star) - Two former DAP grassroot leaders have hit out at Selangor executive councillors Teresa Kok and Ronnie Liu, claiming that they were experts at "cover ups". Sacked Serdang DAP member Yap Kon Min said he had three letters of complaint to Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, and each time, the matter was delegated to Kok and Liu. "I received replies for each of my three letters, all dated May 23, from the Mentri Besar's office saying that Kok and Liu will look into the matter. "But it has been six months and there were no developments," he told reporters Friday. Yap had lodged complaints against Kajang councillor Lee Kee Hiong, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, Petaling Jaya councillor Tiew Way Keng and Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching on three separate issues. Yap said Lee and Lim had filed separate legal suits against him, which would be heard next month. "I've been sued, and I will fight it out in court. People say that I've taken money from MCA (to expose DAP leaders), but I swear that I have not taken a sen," he said. He said Kok and Liu, who are also top leaders in Selangor DAP, have shown disrespect to the Mentri Besar by disregarding his directives. "Before 2008, DAP always criticised the Barisan Nasional state government. But what has happened now? DAP leaders are worse and they are only good at sweeping everything under the carpet," he said. Former Pantai Sepang Putra DAP branch chairman R. Vellasamy, who was sacked from the party in April, said DAP's top leadership were only interested in seeking publicity. "When the Batu Caves issue came up, Lim Kit Siang and Kok went. But last year, the Sri Mahamariamman temple in Sepang was under threat of being demolished but none of them came. "Why? Because they did not go to Batu Caves to help the temple, but to get publicity," he said. The Batu Caves temple management had threatened to sue the state government unless construction of a 29-storey condominium project next to the Unesco heritage side is shelved. The planned project was temporarily halted following orders from the state government to conduct soil testing.
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| Traffic enforcement must not be privatised, says ex-IGP Posted: 22 Nov 2012 04:15 PM PST
Nomy Nozwir, The Malaysian Insider Putrajaya should not privatise law enforcement as it will create the impression the government is only interested in making money, former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said, after Parliament approved the roll-out of an outsourced automated system to catch and penalise speeding motorists. The retired police officer is the latest to weigh in on the controversial Automated Enforcement System (AES), which has drawn ire from the public and opposition lawmakers alarmed at the profit motive built into the concession agreement awarded to two private companies to install and manage the speed trap cameras over the next five years. "To me, enforcement cannot be privatised," Musa told The Malaysian Insider. "This will only create the perception that the government only wants to make profit on the people [sic]," he added in a telephone interview.. The 60-year-old agreed with critics who have pointed out that the AES has many flaws that have yet to be addressed, including a 17 per cent minimum profit margin to the two concession holders — ATES Sdn Bhd and Beta Tegap — which would need to issue a whopping 2.72 million speeding tickets each over the next five years just to recoup their reported RM700 million investments. He noted that there may be difficulties with enforcing fines issued by the private companies should the public challenge the summonses they receive in court. He said there are two types of summonses, the first being fines that cannot be compounded and the second fines that can be compounded. Musa said the latter type of summonses should rightfully be handled by government enforcement agencies such as the police and the Road Transport Department (RTD). The AES is handled only by the RTD, not the police who have their own speed trap cameras. "The public will have two ways, first pay at RTD counters and second, stand trial in court and let the court decide," he said.
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| Nurul Izzah sues Utusan for defamation over apostasy row Posted: 22 Nov 2012 04:12 PM PST
Zurairi AR, The Malaysian Insider PKR's Nurul Izzah Anwar filed today a defamation suit against Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia, claiming the newspaper had twisted her remarks at a recent forum to endorse apostasy among Malays — a highly sensitive issue in mainly Muslim Malaysia. In the suit filed at the High Court here, the opposition rising star named the Malay daily's editor, Datuk Aziz Ishak, and Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Berhad as the defendants. The Lembah Pantai MP is demanding the paper publish an apology on its front page over the reports she said have elements of "fitnah aqidah" or faith defamation. Nurul Izzah is also asking for a permanent injunction against the daily to bar it from publishing further similar articles. She did not specify an amount for compensation. The first-term lawmaker is represented by lawyers Mohd Hanipa Maidin and Datuk Sulaiman Abdullah. Hanipa, who is also PAS legal adviser, told reporters he hoped the court will expedite the case. The PKR vice-president has been under attack from several religious hawks and Umno politicians following her remarks at a public forum on "Islamic State: Which version, whose responsibility?" in Subang Jaya on November 3. The conservatives alleged that her remarks meant she supported Muslims renouncing Islam and turning "murtad" or apostate. But she has reportedly denied that she is supporting apostasy among the country's Malay-Muslim community, who make up some 60 per cent of the 28 million total population and whose vote is crucial to form the next government at the 13th general election due soon. Umno, the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition's mainstay, has some three million members but the Malay-Muslim vote is split three ways with the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact's Islamist party PAS and its urban-based reform ally PKR drawing increasingly greater support. Race and religious issues are inseparable in Malaysia, where the Malays are constitutionally defined to also be Muslims. The country's supreme law states that Islam is the religion of the federation but also provides for other religions to be practised freely.
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| MCA lashes out at PAS’ gender laws Posted: 22 Nov 2012 04:07 PM PST
The summonses issued to non-Muslim hair salon owners in Kelantan by the PAS-led government has earned MCA's ire. Patrick Lee, FMT MCA has come down hard on the PAS-led Kelantan state government for targeting non-Muslims in their enforcement of the state's conservative moral code. Wanita MCA secretary-general, Chew Lee Giok, highlighted a recent case where hair salon operators in Kota Baru were fined after their female workers cut the hair of male customers. "The summonses by the Kota Baru Municipal Council against a Chinese female hairdresser for styling a man's hair puts paid to claims that PAS' hudud enactments will not affect non-Muslims," she said. She said that though these cases were few in number, it was nevertheless a sign of encroaching Muslim moral authority. The Star today reported that hair salon operator Ong Lee Ting had been slapped with 11 summonses for flouting gender segregation by-laws since she opened her shop in 2010. She also told the daily that her business licence was going to be revoked because of the large number of summonses issued. The report added that Ong was fined under Section 107 (2) of the Local Council Act by-law, which "prohibited a woman from cutting a man's hair and vice-versa regardless of religion". With this, Chew ridiculed PAS' claims that hudud enactments would not affect non-Muslims. Quit Pakatan, DAP told Hudud refers to provisions in Islamic law that provides for penalties that are considered harsh, including removal of limbs for theft, and the stoning to death for fornication. Many PAS leaders have pushed for hudud to be implemented in Malaysia, despite both Muslim and non-Muslim concerns. Meanwhile, MCA central committee member Loh Seng Kok challenged the DAP to leave Pakatan Rakyat if it aims to remain true to Malaysia's Chinese and non-Muslim communities.
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| Bersih happy with EC’s efforts Posted: 22 Nov 2012 04:05 PM PST
With the setting up of a special unit to rid the rolls of dubious voters, Bersih hopes that the EC will ensure free and fair elections for all. Alyaa Azhar, FMT Polls watchdog Bersih today expressed its appreciation to the Election Commission (EC) for its initiatives to discuss with members of parliament the existing inconsistencies in the electoral roll. It also registered its gratitude at the commission's move to set up a special unit to rid the voter roll of dubious entries. It further hoped that the special unit would be set up after the EC consults various stakeholders and took into consideration the feedback from various electoral reforms groups. Bersih also urged the EC to publish frequent updates on the progress of this unit to ensure that the public is thoroughly informed, ahead of the elections. With regard to the new regulations concerning overseas voters, Bersih expressed its view that the EC should resolve the issue before the end of the current parliamentary session next Friday. The coalition of NGOs for fair and free elections, however, reiterated its objection to the condition set by the EC for overseas voters to return to Malaysia at least once every five years. EC deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar had reportedly said that the condition was so that the voters must show their loyalty to the country and for them to be well-informed about the country's political course. But Bersih objected to this "condition" stating that it "is unfair". "Such a ruling cannot be forced on voters merely based on the EC's assumption that a Malaysian who lives abroad does not keep abreast with national politics," Bersih said in its statement. Bersih was also of the opinion that the EC is going in the right direction. "We view the latest moves by the EC as a step in the right direction, but only if the commission carries out these actions with the clear aim of ensuring free and fair elections for all Malaysians," it said.
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| ‘Anwar is an attention seeker’ Posted: 22 Nov 2012 03:58 PM PST
Several BN leaders are appalled at Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's attempt to get Australia to observe Malaysia's general election. G Vinod, FMT An MIC leader today chided Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim for seeking attention, especially with his call to Australia to observe the coming general election. MIC vice-president SK Devamany was referring to Anwar's move to request the Australian government recently to observe the polls, claiming there were a lot of irregularities in the electoral roll. However, Australia's Foreign Minister Bob Carr had rejected the former deputy prime minister's request, saying they cannot and would not influence how Malaysia runs its election. "It's very hard for Australia to do anything about how they're run, as hard as it would be for Malaysia or another government to have a say in how Australian elections are run. "We're not the election authority for Malaysia," Carr was reported as saying. Election Commission (EC) chairman Abdul Aziz Yusof also criticised Anwar, saying the electoral body had instituted several measures to improve the nation's election process. Taking Anwar to task, Devamany said that times have changed and the world community is watching each other's conduct in the information age. "No point trying to seek attention from other people. They are watching us all the time," he said. As for Anwar's accusation, the deputy minister said that the Barisan Nasional government is transparent and the former could always voice his grouses to the EC. "He can always use his position as the opposition leader to get things done. But being the attention seeker he is, Anwar will devise new tactics to keep himself relevant. "No wonder some Pakatan Rakyat leaders are seeking PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to become prime minister if the opposition bloc wins the federal polls," said Devamany. Risk of being colonised again Echoing Devamany's sentiments, People's Progressive Party (PPP) president M Kayveas said that it was dangerous to get foreign powers to be involved in Malaysia's election. He also said that with foreign powers' aid, the party benefiting from them would be indebted to the former and thus, put Malaysia at risk of being "colonised" again.
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| PKR confident of winning more in Penang Posted: 22 Nov 2012 03:54 PM PST
Penang PKR has brushed aside suggestion by critics that it 'could be a casualty' in the next election. Athi Shankar, FMT GEORGE TOWN: Penang PKR is confident of adding to its current nine seat tally in the State Legislative Assembly in the next general election. State party information head Johari Kassim said their election machinery was well-oiled and all ready to rumble with Barisan Nasional in the next election. "We have equal fighting chances in all seats that PKR will contest in the next polls," he told FMT. He suggested the absence of former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Umno-BN candidature and election campaign this time would help PKR and Pakatan Rakyat's chances to win some Umno-held seats in Kepala Batas and Tasek Gelugor federal constituencies. He said internal infighting among Umno local warlords in both areas could also prove to be the tonic to boost PKR chances. With an effective strategy, credible candidate and a little luck with a vote-swing, he predicted PKR would have a fighting chance to capture state seats of Bertam and Pinang Tunggal under Kepala Batas, and Teluk Air Tawar in Tasek Gelugor. The three seats were among seven in the state that PKR lost to Umno in Penang in 2008 general election. The other state seats it lost were Seberang Jaya (Permatang Pauh federal constituency), Sungai Acheh (Nibong Tebal), Teluk Bahang and Pulau Betong (Balik Pulau). Johari also believed PKR could capture these seats too. In the last election, PKR contested four federal and 16 state seats. It won all its parliamentary duels in Permatang Pauh and Nibong Tebal in mainland, and Balik Pulau and Bayan Baru in the island. 'PKR is not a weak link'
It won state seats of Penanti (Permatang Pauh), Machang Bubok (Bukit Mertajam), Sungai Bakap (Nibong Tebal), Bukit Tengah and Bukit Tambun (Batu Kawan); all in mainland and, Batu Uban, Batu Maung and Pantai Jerejak (Bayan Baru) and Kebun Bunga (Bukit Bendera). In recent months, PAS, which contested two federal and five state seats in the last election, had been loudly staking a claim to contest in Sungai Acheh. It's also learnt that the DAP would want to contest in Bayan Baru. However, although he declined to comment on it, Johari said Pakatan would likely retain the status quo on the coalition seat formula.
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| Umno’s Alwi blames ulama for Malay disunity Posted: 22 Nov 2012 03:49 PM PST
It's unfair to call Umno evil, says the Kelantan opposition leader. Hawkeye, FMT KOTA BARU: Kelantan opposition leader Alwi Che Md Ahmad has singled out religious scholars and preachers as being the main culprits causing disunity among the Malays. He said some ulama, particularly those affiliated with PAS, had been using Islam since the 1990s to split the community, and the situation had become so bad that rival groups of Malays could not even stand the sight of each other. He was commenting on last Friday's controversial prayer to damn Umno, which was recited by Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and his younger brother Nik Abdul Radzi at the Stadium Sultan Muhammed IV in Kota Baru. The occasion was a political rally that was part of Pakatan Rakyat's campaign for support in the coming general election. Alwi acknowledged that PAS supporters in Kelantan saw Umno as evil because it had withheld royalties from Petronas' exploitation of the state's oil and gas resources. However, he said, the perception was unfair considering the amount of good Umno had done for Malaysians, including Kelantanese. He cited the construction of key infrastructure in the state as well as welfare programmes for the poor. If Umno was indeed evil, he added, the party would have barred public hospitals from treating Nik Abdul Aziz when he suffered a heart attack in 2004. Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak even visited Nik Abdul Aziz in hospital, he pointed out. Alwi said Nik Abdul Aziz had become a portrait of contradictions. "Here is an 82-year-old man who is ailing, yet chooses to remain in power by holding on to political posts for some 20 years," he said. "Why can't he retire from politics to concentrate on offering sermons and religious instruction to his followers? The answer is simple. He is a politician first and an ulama second. "The whole of Kelantan knows that Nik Abdul Aziz is ailing. Yet he refuses to draw up a succession plan and allows the state to be administered by auto-pilot."
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| Where’s the billions in forest royalties? Posted: 22 Nov 2012 03:40 PM PST
Despite the billions derived from logging, oil and gas royalties, Sarawakian natives have remained poor with minimal infrastructure. Joseph Tawie, FMT KUCHING: Where has the RM14.4 billion in forest royalties derived from logging Sarawak's rainforest since 1980 gone? Posing this question in the current sitting of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, assemblyman See Chee How said the revenue seemed not to have filtered down to the masses, as the state was still grappling with poverty. "What has happened to all the forest royalties that the state received from all the trees chopped down since 1980? "The state government likes to claim that logging [and now oil palm] has brought development to the rural people. But, if so, why is there still so much poverty and deprivation in Sarawak? "Why is there so much growing inequality? Where did it all go?" asked See, the Batu Lintang assemblyman. See said the official statistics indicated that between 1981 and 2009, the Sarawak state government collected RM14.4 billion in forest royalties (for the years 1981-2003, and 2009). "This cumulative figure, which does not include the 2004 to 2008 figures, constitutes revenue from forest royalty alone and does not include cumulative income from other revenue streams like forest premium, hill timber premium, timber premium, and various other timber and timber industry tariffs. "If these figures are included, it is likely that the cumulative revenues from timber would amount to over RM15 billion. "However, in May 2011, a consultant with the United Nations, Philip Khoo, estimated that forest royalties alone collected in Sarawak from 1980-2006 amounted to about RM19 billion. "If this is the case, why is Sarawak still lacking in basic infrastructure? Why is there still so much poverty and growing inequality in Sarawak even as the forests have disappeared before our very eyes?" asked See, who is also Sarawak PKR vice-chairman. See said that much of rural Sarawak still subsists on dangerous logging roads, and has little telephone coverage. Electricity connectivity from the state grid is poor and fresh piped water remains a pipe dream for thousands. He said schools are provided by the federal government, and although there is a fairly generous number of rural primary schools, secondary schools remain a different story altogether with 12-year-old kids having to go to towns as boarders to be in secondary schools. Hospitals are also provided by the federal government, but in the interior of Sarawak — Ba'Kelalan, Batu Danau, Telang Usan, Kemena, Kakus, Belaga — there are no hospitals, despite promises made 15 years ago. "And we have not even begun talking about the need for improved hospitals in Sri Aman and other parts of the state." "So, where have all the forest royalties gone to? Does not the continued existence of poverty [estimated at between 5% and 30% by experts) and inequality in large swathes of the rural and Bumiputera population of Sarawak point towards huge leakages of state funds that have only enriched certain quarters?
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| Internal rifts may cost PKR Indian votes Posted: 22 Nov 2012 03:28 PM PST
Indian leaders may jump ship if they are not picked as candidates in the coming general election, says a source. B Nantha Kumar, FMT Infighting, backbiting and sabotaging among Indian leaders in PKR could result in the party losing Indian support at the upcoming 13th general election. The internal rift among these leaders could also play a role in thwarting Pakatan Rakyat's ambition of taking over the federal government after the polls. The opposition pact is made of PKR, DAP and PAS. Speaking to FMT, a PKR source admitted that there would be "major party hopping" among Indians in PKR before and after the general election. Declining to be named, the source said many Indians in the party were waiting for PKR to officially announce its list of Indian candidates to contest under the PKR banner in the coming general election. "If their names are overlooked as a candidate, then they would jump ship to the Barisan Nasional or quit PKR without joining anyone… they have already made plans to this effect." "Unlike PAS and DAP which have a long tradition and faithful members, PKR is a new set-up. Most of its members are from BN component parties. They ran from there to PKR. They ran because they were sidelined in their respective BN component parties. So when the same thing happens here, they would run again," said the source. He said the problem among Indian leaders in PKR is "everyone wants a seat to contest". "Of course, both Malays and Chinese in PKR also face the same scenario but Indians are the worst," said the source, who is very close to the party leadership. He said PKR Indian leaders in their eagerness to win brownie points have also resorted to "attacking" each other in the mainstream media. Tip of the iceberg "Some are sending their supporters to Parliament to lobby for seats. For example, I was told that more than 60 candidate profiles have been submitted for the Bukit Melawati state seat in Selangor despite the incumbent M Mutiah declaring interest in defending the seat. "This is just the tip of the iceberg. The factions in the party are heading for a showdown," the source said. He claimed that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim had often met party Indian leaders to get feedback on ways to boost Indian support for Pakatan, but not much was done on the ground to put the plans into action. "But, this is not enough to woo Indian votes. The Indian leaders in the party are not united. If they are, then they can put up a strong front and lobby for votes of the community. There are several camps within the party and each camp is pressuring Anwar for seats.
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| Malaysian regulators find ‘issues’ in AirAsia audit Posted: 22 Nov 2012 03:25 PM PST
The low-cost carrier had failed to meet regulatory standards, according to local news report. (AFP) - Top budget airline AirAsia has had its right-to-fly extended by six months rather than the standard two years after an audit by Malaysian regulators found "some issues", an official said today. The government official said the Department of Civil Aviation had decided to extend the low-cost carrier's air operator's certificate until March 31 next year, at which point it will need to reapply. The certificates, which allow carriers to use aircraft for commercial purposes, are usually granted for two years. "The department already audited AirAsia, and they only approved six months for AirAsia," the official told AFP. "AirAsia needs to apply again for renewal… next year," he added. The official said the carrier, Asia's largest low-cost carrier by fleet size, faced "some issues… that have been found" but did not elaborate further. Local daily SunBiz reported today, quoting sources, that AirAsia had failed to meet regulatory standards. The daily said an audit showed "shortcomings in AirAsia's flight operations procedures and practices, including flawed communications between flight operations and pilots, an outdated manual and flight operations not in keeping with the manual". SunBiz also reported that AirAsia's head of flight operations had been removed from their post and replaced. AirAsia did not immediately return requests for comment. "The fact that they have not grounded AirAsia aircraft shows that it's not a serious safety issue, but this action still serves as a warning," a source told SunBiz. Rapidly expanding AirAsia has become one of the airline industry's biggest success stories, rivaling national carrier Malaysia Airlines, which has been struggling to get out of the red. Group CEO Tony Fernandes acquired the then-failing airline a decade ago. He has set up subsidiary budget carriers in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Japan.
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| Dong Zong shrugs off MPM outrage Posted: 22 Nov 2012 03:20 PM PST
It doesn't expect trouble at Sunday's rally. Leven Woon, FMT Dong Zong (United Chinese Schools Committees Association) has chosen to disregard expressions of outrage over its plan to hold a rally this Sunday, saying it sees no reason to beef up security for the event. "Every organisation has the right to adopt its views on certain issues," said Dong Zong's deputy president, Chow Siew Hon, in response to yesterday's statement from the Malay Consultative Council (MPM), which denounced the upcoming rally as an "irresponsible act". "We believe the Malays are generally a peace loving group," Chow added. "They might have emotions over certain issues, but we don't expect anything drastic." MPM, which claims to be an umbrella group for Malay NGOs, is planning an education convention as a counter measure to the Dong Zong protest against the National Education Blueprint. A spokesman for the Malay group, Kamaruddin Kachar, said yesterday that Dong Zong's demands went against the Razak Education Report of 1956 as well as the Education Act. He said his group would invite the Prime Minister to its planned convention. Dong Zong opposes the National Education Blueprint as being unfavourable to Chinese education. Chow said PAS, PKR, DAP and the Sabah Progressive Party had agreed to send representatives to Sunday's rally. "We expect at least the vice chairmen to turn up," he said.
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