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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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• ‘Malaysia is afraid’
• GE13: PAS and PKR leaders don’t see eye to eye over seat allocation
• Anwar to contest in Ipoh Timor?
• ‘Lawyer in video was SUPP advisor’
• Malaysia's Najib says economy at risk from weak election result
• Halal Easter eggs and cat food: where big money meets religion
• Separate polls unlikely, say pundits
• Guan Eng rapped for his remarks — again
• Rafizi defends PKR’s choice of candidates
• GE13: Playing the victim is Anwar’s way of gaining sympathy, says Nalla
• ‘Check NG0s with political leanings’
• ‘PAS does not reject Anwar as PM’
• Africa's tax haven
• The stars favouring Pakatan
• When govt ‘hands are tied’
• Anwar says 'moving strategy' needed to make inroads
• Pakatan to fight Sabah BN alone
• Address minority issues, BN and Pakatan told
• Stop picking own candidates, Anwar told
• ‘Umno plots ‘sex attacks’, targets Nurul as well’
• Rafizi: Raja Petra is telling tales
• More voter excitement for GE13 as Bersih targets 85pc turnout
• I am not for sale, tweets Saiful
• Kulasegaran’s exit causes concern
• Candidate dilemma dogs MCA
• Police's deeds will be remembered
• GE13: Malaysians who choose not to vote
• Anwar no show, ordered to pay RM3,000
• Are Kula and Fong the sacrificial lambs?
• PBS leader tells Mahathir to ‘shut-up’
• GE13: Many unhappy over parachute candidates
• Hisham must condemn ‘Kill Tian Chua’ threat, says Ambiga
• Daim denies being alleged ‘chief conspirator’ in ousting Anwar
• BN leaders criticised for joining Perkasa demo
• Malaysian Private Eye's Last Case
• ‘Anwar sought Misuari’s help to win GE’
• ‘Anwar met Misuari several times’
• GE13: Opposition hits snag in Johor
• GE13: Selangor — the hottest battle of all
• Hisham blames opposition provocation for rising political violence

‘Malaysia is afraid’ Posted: 27 Mar 2013 08:47 PM PDT Sabah's population of 3.2 million includes 1.5 million documented and undocumented Filipinos and the backlash of the recent invasion has 'united' the Filipinos in Sabah and in Sulu. (FMT) - KOTA KINABALU: Sulu sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani today slammed the Malaysian security forces for restricting the movements of Filipino residents in Sabah to such an extent that these frightened individuals now want to return to the Philippines. "It is a psy-war by Malaysia to force the Filipinos to leave," Idjirani said, adding that with the end of the standoff a new reality had emerged for Malaysia. He said the Sulu sultanate was adamant on its claim for Sabah and this was seen as a threat to Malaysia. Idjirani said Sabah's population of 3.2 million included the 1.5 million documented and undocumented Filipinos and the "war" waged between the sultanate's army and the Malaysian securities forces had "united" the Filipinos. "Malaysia is now afraid. It knows that with the standoff now, the Filipinos are being united by the Sabah issue," Idjirani said. He said the sultanate through Manila will push for a United Nations-sanctioned referendum to be called on Sabah. "Malaysia is afraid that it might lose Sabah in a referendum should the UN call for one," he added. Thousands leaving Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Malaysia said thousands of Sulus who had entered Sabah illegally are taking up its offer to return home and "re-enter" Malaysia legally. The embassy, which has been monitoring the situation here following the shootout between armed Sulu insurgents and local securities forces on 1 March, said that it has been distributing the legal documents since March 12. Philippine ambassador Abdulhan U Jaujan said the Philippine government was offering the Sulus "a ticket home". "The offer is for those who had entered the state illegally or [residing] Suluks as well as Filipino nationals who were born in Sabah but have yet to obtain documents. "We are providing them with the legal travel documents, such as passports. We are also helping settle any fines imposed by the Malaysian Immigration Department including their transport costs," he said. Abdulhan said the offer was also extended to Sulus who were married to locals in Sabah. He said thus far more than 300 Suluks had left Sabah via Sandakan, the key entry and exit point for Filipinos living in Tawi-Tawi and Jolo in southern Mindanao. The Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), meanwhile, said its relief teams have been on standby in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu to give aid to the Filipinos fleeing from the tension and recent violence in Sabah. Thus far, the teams have assisted more than 3,000 evacuees from Sabah. READ MORE HERE

GE13: PAS and PKR leaders don’t see eye to eye over seat allocation Posted: 27 Mar 2013 05:17 PM PDT (The Star) - Rivalry between the Kelantan Pakatan Rakyat has surfaced as PAS and PKR leaders here jostle for seats in defiance of the agreed allocations decided by their respective party leaders. Guchil Hulu PAS branch head Muhamad Bustamam Yaacob is contesting as an independent against Guchil state seat incumbent, PKR assemblyman Tuan Zamri Ariff Tuan Zakaria. Muhamad Bustamam claimed he is challenging Tuan Zamri Ariff as he is going against the spirit of Pakatan. Sinar Online, quoting Bernama, had reported that Muhamad Bustamam also said grassroots members had urged him to take on Tuan Zamri Ariff. PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat criticised his decision, saying it would create a split in the Opposition coalition. The Kelantan Mentri Besar also said such a move by a PAS member was in violation of the pact on seat allocation. In the 2008 general election, Tuan Zamri Ariff defeated Barisan Nasional candidate Dr Shamsul Ikhwan Ashaari Azmi. Guchil, within the Tanah Merah parliamentary constituency, is the only seat won by PKR of the five it contested in 2008. Over in Bachok, incumbent MP Nasharuddin Mat Isa will not be defending the seat and the division is having trouble finding the right candidate. They need a strong opponent to contest against Barisan's Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussain, who is tipped to contest. Although Bachok PAS chief Datuk Omar Mohammed, 70, is the clear choice, former Bachok Umno youth chief Zaiyadi Awang Noh, who is a PKR member now, is lobbying too. Also in the fray is Bachok PAS Youth chief Ahmad Marzukh. Party insiders said that about 70% of grassroots members support Omar, a five-term assemblyman, to contest the seat. Sources added that grassroots members feel uncomfortable with Zaiyadi as many of his family members are still in Umno.

Anwar to contest in Ipoh Timor? Posted: 27 Mar 2013 04:15 PM PDT Umno mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia also says Anwar Ibrahim's proposed move to Perak is not well received by the state DAP K Pragalath, FMT It is speculated that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim will be contesting in the Ipoh Timor parliamentary seat, vacated by DAP strongman Lim Kit Siang. However, Utusan Malaysia reported that Perak DAP does not appear to support the move. Perak DAP chairman and Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham had declined to comment. Kit Siang would be contesting in Gelang Patah, Johor. Anwar, who is currently Permatang Pauh MP and PKR de facto leader, had announced last Wednesday that he is mulling over the options to contest in Perak or Selangor. Ipoh Timor is considered a safe seat for Anwar. Lim has been the MP for the majority Chinese seat since 2004. With over 80% Chinese voters in the constituency, Lim defeated Thong Fah Chong of MCA by polling 28,851 votes against Thong's 19,077 votes in the 11th general election. In 2008, Lim beat Liew Mun Hon of the MCA by polling 37,364 votes to Liew's 15,422 votes. Since Anwar's announcement, various PAS divisions have invited Anwar to contest in seats contested by PAS. The seats are Tambun, Lumut and Bagan Datoh. Meanwhile, Sinar Harian said Anwar's political career would end in Perak due to his indecisiveness. Sinar's columnist Yusof Harun said that Anwar's political end looms in the horizon as he is abandoning the Malay support that he enjoyed ever since his student days. The article noted Anwar was close with the Muslim Youth Movement (Abim) and PAS prior to joining Umno and had been contesting in Permatang Pauh since 1982. Yusof also quoted former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as saying: "It is okay if he wants to run away from Permatang Pauh. It clearly shows that his confidence in that seat is reducing." The columnist also speculated that Anwar may not have an easy ride if he contested the Lumut parliamentary seat, currently held by Transport Minister and MCA secretary-general Kong Cho Ha.

‘Lawyer in video was SUPP advisor’ Posted: 27 Mar 2013 04:11 PM PDT The video exposé by London based Global Witness has turned public focus from Sarawak DAP's internal strive to SUPP once again. Joseph Tawie, FMT KUCHING: Sarawak DAP has taken its nemesis Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP) to task over its 'deafening silence' regarding the 'candid' and 'explicit' interview given by SUPP "legal advisor" Alvin Chong in the covertly recorded Global Witness video which has garnered over 695,110 viewers on YouTube. The video, which was released two weeks ago and excerpts of which was aired over Al Jazeera, has given the state opposition additional leverage. Embattled SUPP, which is seeking to redeem itself in the upcoming parliamentary elections has in recent months gained better ground as a result of DAP's own internal strife. DAP had earlier this month incurred the wrath of the its grassroots when it sacked six of its 'influencial' branch officers in Miri and Senadian. But observers here said the Global Witness video interview with the Kuching-based lawyer Alvin, in which he arrogantly described how deals were inked, funds siphoned out of the country and the extend of Taib's crony practice, was enough to distract attention from DAP's issues. It has long been rumoured that SUPP's 'top leadership' were deeply involved in Taib's 'land development' policies and alleged corrupt dealings. In fact this was the premise on which the opposition built their strategy during the 2011 state elections which led to DAP and PKR winning an unprecedented 15 seats collectively. Several top SUPP personalities including its president George Chan, whose daughter was married to Taib's son Sulaiman – the Kota Samarahan MP – lost their seats. Chan, who had held the Piasau state seat for six terms lost it a 28-year old political greenhorn Ling Sie Kiong. Speaking to reporters here, Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen said: "The corruption issue raided by Global Witness has serious implications on the whole government administration. "It is putting Sarawak in a very bad light in the international community, and SUPP being part of the government should make its stand," said Chong who is tipped to contest in Stampin. Will SUPP sue Global Witness? He said that if the allegations are true, it meant that Sarawakians had lost out in the billions of ringgit through malpractice. READ MORE HERE

Malaysia's Najib says economy at risk from weak election result Posted: 27 Mar 2013 12:29 PM PDT   (Reuters) - Najib's reformist ambitions are widely seen as having been curbed by conservative interests within UMNO. He has announced few major steps to roll back ethnic privileges that distort the economy and are seen as favoring the elite. Malaysian leader Najib Razak has warned that nascent reforms can't be done "overnight" and that Southeast Asia's third-largest economy risks slipping backwards if he does not win a strong majority in an election he must call within weeks. Prime minister Najib said a reduced parliamentary majority could weaken his drive to curb Malaysia's budget deficit and raise investment, and even cost him his job. "A strong government is necessary for us to accelerate the process of transformation in this country," Najib, who is also finance minister, told Reuters. The election, shaping as the closest in more than 50 years of post-colonial history, must be called by the end of April. "A weak government means instability and uncertainty and a country can ill afford that kind of scenario for the next five years given the external economic situation that's going to be between weak and rather uncertain." Convincing Malaysians that his government is "transformational", as 59-year-old Najib puts it, is crucial to the ruling coalition's chances. The ruling National Front is facing a confident opposition alliance led by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, who says Najib's reforms have stalled and who is tapping into a potent desire for change after 56 years of rule by a coalition led by the dominant United Malays National Party (UMNO). Najib's coalition, helped by economic growth that hit 5.6 percent last year and its own deep financial pockets, is favored to win against a fractious three-party opposition. But there is uncertainty over the outcome, helping make Kuala Lumpur's stock index Asia's worst performer this year. Najib has delayed potentially painful reforms to wean the country off dominant oil revenues and stem rising debt. He signaled that those steps would not be rushed through even if he formed a stronger government than the one that emerged from the 2008 election, when the National Front lost its two-thirds parliamentary majority for the first time. "If you try to do it overnight like some countries are doing, there's a massive contraction of the economy," he said. "We cannot afford that. We have to be mildly expansionary in our policies but fiscally responsible," Najib said. ARAB SPRING COMPARISON Malaysia's budget deficit fell to 4.5 percent last year from more than 6 percent when Najib took office. Its debt has crept up to around 53 percent of GDP -- close to a self-imposed limit of 55 percent -- from 43 percent in 2008. Najib has overseen a deluge of handouts to poorer Malaysians in what opposition politicians call thinly disguised vote-buying. Najib counters that the opposition's plans, including free university education, would send the deficit soaring. "The word 'change' has been abused so many times. As you know with the Arab Spring, there were no dividends," Najib said. Taking power in 2009, Najib staked his fortunes on reforms aimed at spurring growth, increasing transparency and dismantling policies that favor majority ethnic Malays but which have alienated minority ethnic Chinese and Indians. His flagship policy is the $444 billion Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), which aims to double per capita incomes to $15,000 by 2020. The ETP has won initial praise from investors, although it remains to be seen if private investment can play as bigger role as hoped. Najib's reformist ambitions are widely seen as having been curbed by conservative interests within UMNO. He has announced few major steps to roll back ethnic privileges that distort the economy and are seen as favoring the elite. Najib said that a "vast majority" of government contracts were now awarded through open tenders and that government spending was increasingly based on needs rather than race. Political pundits expect that an unconvincing election win for Najib will result in a leadership challenge later this year from within UMNO, possibly from his own deputy Muhyiddin Yassin, who is seen by markets as less reform-minded.

Halal Easter eggs and cat food: where big money meets religion Posted: 27 Mar 2013 12:02 PM PDT   (Sydney Morning Herald) - Halal mainly involves meat. Much of the non-meat food supply is intrinsically halal, and thus does not require certification, including milk, honey, fish, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and grains. Yet many producers and suppliers of such products pay for halal certification.  Cadbury will sell a mountain of chocolates this Easter, as it does every Easter. It has been careful to make sure that its products are certified as halal, even though it is not necessary. Hundreds of companies in Australia do the same. Halal certification has become a big business. The essence of halal is that any food is forbidden to Muslims if it includes blood, pork, alcohol, the flesh of carnivores or carrion, or comes from an animal which has not been slaughtered in the correct manner, which includes having its throat slit. Food labelled as halal invariably involves the payment of a fee. It does not extend to chocolate but Cadbury lists 71 products which are halal, ranging from Dairy Milk to Freddo frogs to Red Tulip chocolates. The website also states: ''We do not have any kosher-certified products.'' ''Cadbury also pay for halal certification on the Easter product range, even though Easter is a Christian celebration and nothing to do with Islam,'' says Kirralie Smith, who runs a website called Halal Choices. The website lists 340 companies in Australia that pay for halal certification, including Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, Franklins, Kellogg's, MasterFoods, Nestle and even Kraft's Vegemite. Halal Choices has received more than 250,000 visits since Smith, a Christian activist, created the website two years ago to draw attention to the incremental extension of sharia into Australian culture. ''[Cadbury has] a standard letter to people who complain about their halal certification which says they have been assured the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils [which issues halal certifications] are not involved in any illegal activity,'' Smith said. ''They might want to explain the $9 million in fraud involving the Malek Fahd school.'' (Last year the Malek Fahd Islamic School in Sydney was ordered to repay $9 million in state funding which the state and federal governments said had been illegally transferred to the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils. A federal government audit also questioned numerous payments made to AFIC by Islamic colleges in Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide.)  Read more at: http://m.smh.com.au/comment/halal-easter-eggs-and-cat-food-where-big-money-meets-religion-20130327-2gujc.html

Separate polls unlikely, say pundits Posted: 26 Mar 2013 08:37 PM PDT 'It's impractical and costly and will probably meet the resistance of EC, which has the final say.' Alyaa Azhar and Priscilla Prasena, FMT Political analysts have scoffed at the idea of holding state elections and the parliamentary election on different dates, saying it would be costly and impractical. Three analysts told FMT today that the Election Commission (EC) was likely to use its authority to prevent separate elections, proposed yesterday to Pakatan Rakyat state governments by Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim. "The EC has already made a statement saying that elections will be held simultaneously; so I don't see the possibility of having separate state and parliamentary elections," said Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia. "Even if the Pakatan states decide to dissolve their assemblies, the EC has full authority to decide when elections will be held. "State governments cannot hold their own elections. They can only advice the state rulers when to dissolve state assemblies." Yesterday, in a bid to pressure Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to call for the dissolution of Parliament, Khalid announced that Selangor would wait for its legislative assembly to dissolve automatically on April 22, and try to persuade the governments of Kedah, Kelantan and Penang to dissolve their respective legislative assemblies on the same date. Law professor Shad Saleem Faruqi of UiTM and Merdeka Centre chief Ibrahim Suffian agreed with Pandian that the EC would probably object to the proposal and scuttle the idea. Even in the unlikely event of EC supporting the proposal, Faruqi said, the financial cost of holding separate elections would make it unwise. READ MORE HERE

Guan Eng rapped for his remarks — again Posted: 26 Mar 2013 05:43 PM PDT (The Star) - Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has again come under fire for his remarks, this time for saying that he would not forgive the Penang Club for cancelling a book launch that he was scheduled to officiate. State MCA secretary Lau Chiek Tuan said such words should not have come from a chief minister's mouth. "As a chief minister, that was too rude. The club has a right to non-political involvement. Lim, as a lawmaker, should know that. "He has to abide by and respect the club's decision and forgive," said Lau. According to online news reports, Lim was scheduled to launch former journalist Kee Thuan Chye's book Ask for No Bullshit, Get Some More at the club on Feb 28. It was reported that the club told Kee it did not want to be "politically aligned". Lim said at the book launch at another venue on Saturday that he could forgive the club on a personal level, but he could not as the chief minister. "Tiada maaf bagi mu (No forgiveness for you)," he was quoted as saying. State Gerakan vice-chairman Wong Mun Hoe said it was not good for the chief minister to keep having quarrels with people. "For example, just because some non-governmental organisations had an alternative view to the proposed undersea tunnel project, he labelled them as dangerous NGOs'. "This is a dangerous label. Just because they disagree with his view, they are dangerous," he said, adding that Lim should not take it personally when others do not support or agree with him. "Could he explain what he means by not forgiving the club as the chief minister? "Is he trying to say that he is not a revengeful person, but on the other hand he would use the state administration's power to take revenge on the club? "When I read a statement like that, I get very upset. "I don't expect my chief minister to talk like that. "Whether I like him or not is another matter," said Wong. When contacted, Penang Club's lawyer Bala Mahesan said there had been a misunderstanding on the issue and he had been instructed to clarify the issue with Lim in the next few days. "The club president, committee members and members extend their humble apologies to the chief minister," he said.

Rafizi defends PKR’s choice of candidates Posted: 26 Mar 2013 05:36 PM PDT He denies that Anwar was making unilateral decisions. Priscilla Prasena, FMT PKR today rejected allegations that party boss Anwar Ibrahim was making unilateral decisions in the choice of candidates for the general election. Responding to a FMT report quoting grassroots leaders, PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli said candidates were chosen by a committee in a tough process to ensure that only the best were fielded. He acknowledged that the committee was headed by Anwar but said its decisions were preceded by "consultations at every level" of the PKR leadership. "The committee then goes through the list thoroughly and identifies the best potential winning candidates," he added. Yesterday, some divisional leaders of the party complained that Anwar was picking his close associates for candidacy instead of personalities with good records of service to the public. Rafizi said the candidates chosen by Anwar's committee would have gone through a "difficult and delicate" process of vetting. Among the criteria for selection was their "clout of influence" with the constituents they were supposed to represent, he added. He said these criteria did not include the strength of a potential candidate's friendship with Anwar. "This thorough process will definitely result in dissatisfaction among several leaders as they might feel that they could do a better job," he said. "Anwar spends time with local leaders to rationalise on his decision to pick the best candidates for his party. "At the same time, we can't please everyone, and there will be groups who will express their dissatisfaction." Rafizi also disclosed that about 20% of PKR's candidates would be from outside the party. He said these candidates also had to undergo the gruelling selection process.

GE13: Playing the victim is Anwar’s way of gaining sympathy, says Nalla Posted: 26 Mar 2013 05:35 PM PDT (The Star) - Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim always claims to be a victim of conspiracy whenever unfavourable allegations against him surface, said Senator Datuk S. Nallakaruppan. The Malaysian Indian United Party president alleged that playing the victim was Anwar's way of gaining public sympathy. He said another of Anwar's tactics was to use legal action as an intimidation tool. He cited Anwar's RM10mil suit against Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin over a "wife-harassment" issue. Nallakaruppan pointed out that despite taking Hamzah to court, Anwar failed to turn up for the first day of trial on Monday morning, resulting in an adjournment of the case until May. "For Anwar, suing is a form of strategic denial. This is a good tactic to gain trust and convince the people that he didn't do all those things," he told reporters here yesterday. The senator, who said he was once very close to Anwar and his family, described the PKR adviser as "trying to destroy the country". "His personal ambition is so overriding that he doesn't care if it will be at the expense of the country's peace and stability," he claimed. Nallakaruppan expressed belief that Malaysians were now aware of Anwar's true character. "He says everything is a conspiracy. But until today, has he admitted even one thing he has done? He can cheat all Malaysians but he cannot cheat me. I know him and his character very well," he said. He urged Anwar to apologise to the public and admit that there had been no conspiracy against him. "Ask for forgiveness from them and stop cheating the rakyat," he said.

‘Check NG0s with political leanings’ Posted: 26 Mar 2013 03:44 PM PDT The new NGOs in Penang have broken from the traditional mould and are seen as lackeys of political parties.  Hawkeye, FMT GEORGE TOWN: The chances are that if you throw a stone in Penang you are most likely to hit an NGO. In the last five years, the island has seen a mushrooming of non-governmental organisations. The traditional NGOs champion causes like the disabled, environment and other social ills. But the new ones have dubious leaders and most of them are shadows of political parties. One man who is very concerned with the unwanted rise of NGOs is Penang Malay Congress president Rahmad Isahak. He wants the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to probe the rise of several NGOs here since 2008. Rahmad said many of the new NGOs seem to be involved in the political and socio-economic issues in the state. He said that the formation of new NGOs is healthy as it shows an acceptance of civil society and democracy here. But at the same time, the issues and individuals behind such groups are seen as dubious at best, Rahmad claimed in an interview. The new NGOs seemed to be championing political issues rather than the conventional norms such as the rights of the disabled or protecting the environment. They seem to have exploited the loopholes in the ROS guidelines to form and name organisations, without any clear reference to how many members they have, submission of accounts and other criteria imposed by our watchdog of societies. Dubious names Therefore, the congress is encouraging ROS to investigate such organisations to ascertain if they are sincere and genuine, he added. He said dubious organisational names have appeared in media reports together with individuals, who were previously unheard of in the local NGO scene here. The new NGOs have organised protests – some turning violent, lodging police reports for all kinds of issues and in some instances, have tried to intimidate politicians such as the recent vandalism of a vehicle carrying PKR vice-president Tian Chua in Penang, Rahmad said. "This is an undesirable attitude for those claiming to be NGOs. Such groups form the focus of a civil society where dialogues and forums are seen as the best platform to champion their struggle or objectives." Since Independence, Penang has been the home to an active collection of NGOs and civil societies with the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) as the leading light. In the last decade, some NGOs in Penang have gone on to form the Penang Forum platform which meets on certain occasions to discuss issues dear to them. Rahmad said the congress is appreciative of the contributions made by the likes of CAP and other NGOs such as the environmental group, SAM, but he is distrustful of the newer NGOs which seemed to be more interested in politics. READ MORE HERE

‘PAS does not reject Anwar as PM’ Posted: 26 Mar 2013 03:40 PM PDT Shah Alam MP, Khalid Samad, dismisses allegations that PAS is unhappy over Anwar Ibrahim as the choice candidate for PM. Lisa J. Ariffin, FMT PAS is solidly behind Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim as the candidate for prime minister should Pakatan Rakyat win federal power in the next general election, said Khalid Samad. The Shah Alam MP said the party's silence on the matter was to take the focus off Anwar as an individual, not because they disagreed with supporting him as PM. He also dismissed allegations that the party has been 'bowing down' to its coalition partners and deviating from its original goals for the sake of holding Pakatan together. "PAS does not bow down to anybody. Pakatan works on consensus. Whatever needs to be done or is being done, has to be agreed by all three parties," said Khalid. "PAS has been playing down the issue because it would create a problem when BN is consistently indulging in character assassination of Anwar to discredit Pakatan. "The final decision of who becomes PM will be endorsed by Pakatan and accepted fully by the coalition. If DAP and PKR support him, there is no reason for PAS not to," he added. "We will place the names of leaders on the table and decide who is best choice for PM. If two parties voice their support for Anwar, then it will most likely be Anwar." 'Our is battle to change the government' Khalid said PAS is cautious in voicing support for Anwar as he "may lose in the area he is contesting" and Pakatan would then "not be able to deliver the candidate it said would be PM". READ MORE HERE

Africa's tax haven Posted: 26 Mar 2013 11:45 AM PDT   (Foreign Policy) - A new report from the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development shows that the picture of who is investing the most in the continent is a bit different than you might expect.  Discussion of BRICS investment in Africa tends to conjure up images of Chinese-built superhighways and controversial mining projects. On his first trip to Africa, President Xi Jinping has defended his country's growing influence on the continent ahead of a BRICS summit meeting in South Africa.  But a new report from the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development shows that the picture of who is investing the most in the continent is a bit different than you might expect. For one thing, China isn't even East Asia's top investor in Africa -- that would be Malaysia:  A 2010 article from Consultancy African Intelligence described Malaysia's investment in Africa as "dispersed both in terms of the countries and the industries targeted" and noted that "Malaysian firms – such as Petronas and Telekom Malaysia - accounted for more than 1/2 of mergers and acquisitions between Asian and African multinational corporations (MNCs) between 1987 and 2005, with the largest recipients having been Mauritius and South Africa." Reuters reports that "Malaysia sent 24 percent of its outward FDI to Africa in 2011, mainly to Mauritius in that year." What's so attractive about Mauritius? Well apart from a stable democracy and what are apparently lovely beach resorts, it's also an emerging tax haven -- though the governmentobjects to the label -- as the Wall Street Journal reported last year:  Read more here

The stars favouring Pakatan Posted: 26 Mar 2013 11:41 AM PDT   There are so many wrong-doings practiced by the powers-that-be that all who favour good governance should vote in Pakatan Rakyat. Selena Tay, FMT  Of late, many political observers, analysts, economists and corporate figures have predicted that Barisan Nasional will win big in the coming 13th general election. Logically, if one looks at the political scenario, the odds are heavily stacked against Pakatan Rakyat due to two major factors: the BN federal government's control of the mainstream media and the dirty electoral roll. It is as if Pakatan is in a boxing match with hands tied and being blindfolded at the same time. Concerning the mainstream media, this has been fully utilised to portray that it is good for the rakyat for BN to stay in power as many economists and corporate figures opine that "BN's continuity will bring peace, stability, progress and economic prosperity for everyone" whereas Pakatan has been painted as being in total disarray with daily bickerings among its top leaders. Other current major issues purposely ignored by the mainstream media and the pro-BN economists and analysts include the video expose on land grabs, the second statutory declaration of the late private investigator P Balasubramaniam and the actual cash handout of RM1.35 a day to the BR1M recipients (which has always been highlighted as the RM500 gift of the generous BN federal government). Therefore everyone is urged to vote for BN because a change in government will herald disaster and doom for the nation. However it is also common knowledge that although Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak seems to command large crowds at his functions, many of those who attend had to be ferried to the event by buses sponsored by BN. But if Pakatan has enough support, then it will be possible to overcome the votes from the civil servants, pensioners, teachers, police, armed forces, Felda and Felcra settlers and the phantom/alien voters. Really it does seem to be a tall order for Pakatan! Nevertheless, this columnist is convinced that Pakatan will win the 13th general election and had in October last year predicted in Facebook that the new Pakatan federal government will come into power in April/May 2013. It would be too long to go into details here but suffice to say that the metaphysics formula going into the calculation of Pakatan's victory is similar to the formula of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio's ascendancy into the papal office as Pope Francis I. Cardinal Bergoglio has had his turn and soon it would be Pakatan's turn to ascend the heights of power. We will have to wait and see. Clean ballot paper Even with the stars favouring Pakatan , it is still incumbent upon the rakyat to vote wisely and one of the things that every sensible voter should do is to look out for the dot by making sure that the ballot paper handed to us is really, really clean, not torn nor marked with dots nor smudged. This is because if there is a dot anywhere near or on the column of XYZ party for example, then that is considered a vote for XYZ. If we then vote for our preferred ABC party, then a problem may arise during the vote-counting process. Therefore this little piece of information here is for everyone to know so that we can have as close as possible to a fair voting process. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/03/27/the-stars-favouring-pakatan/

When govt ‘hands are tied’ Posted: 26 Mar 2013 11:39 AM PDT   (The Sun Daily) - "Najib has no direct authority to order Taib to step down. It (the decision to resign) depends on him (Taib) alone." The government's hands are tied when faced with the moral predicament of asking elected leaders to vacate their post while under investigation for graft-related charges, said Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president Datuk Paul Low. Low noted that this is the "political reality" in Malaysia as compared to the ideal situation of an elected leader voluntarily stepping down to facilitate investigations. As an example, he cited recent reports of Indonesia's Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum's decision to resign from his position last month after being named by the republic's anti-graft body as a suspect in a case involving the construction of a multimillion-dollar sports complex in the city of Bogor, West Java. Indonesian media had also reported that all Democratic Party officials had, prior to Anas' resignation, signed an "integrity pact" to give up their posts if named as a corruption suspect similar to a mechanism introduced by TI-M and signed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak recently. Low said that unlike the situation in Indonesia, there is no written legislation or moral compulsion for any person holding office in Malaysia to take such steps as in the most recent case involving an ongoing probe by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud based on a recent video exposed by London-based NGO Global Witness. The video, which has been making its rounds on social media since last week, allegedly showed members of Taib's family explaining to a "foreign investor" the mechanisms to circumvent existing laws to obtain logging licences and how to profit from such deals. The licences are issued by Sarawak's Ministry of Resource Planning and Environment which is headed by Taib. "In Indonesia, the lawmaker involved (Anas) reports directly to the president. In this case (Sarawak), the chief minister (Taib) is not appointed by the prime minister (Najib), but by the people who voted for him. "Therefore, Najib has no direct authority to order Taib to step down. It (the decision to resign) depends on him (Taib) alone," Low told theSun. Taib, in response to the video, had reportedly denied all allegations against him, insisting instead that he was "framed" by quarters who may be out to tarnish his reputation and implicate his family members who were featured in the 16-minute clip. During a press conference at TI-M's headquarters here yesterday, Low also called for the Sarawak state government to initiate an independent probe into the allegations raised and for its findings to be made public.

Anwar says 'moving strategy' needed to make inroads Posted: 26 Mar 2013 11:37 AM PDT   (fz.com) - PAS and Keadilan have also agreed to field some strong and formidable candidates in Johor    Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim defended the move of Pakatan Rakyat heavyweights to contest in different parliamentary constituencies, saying that it is necessary in order to make inroads.   At a press conference this evening, Anwar said that the parachuting of DAP's parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang (Ipoh Timur) and strategist Liew Chin Tong (Bukit Bendera) to Johor, is to shore up support for the opposition.   Similarly, suggestions for Anwar to contest in a parliamentary constituency in Selangor or Perak were aimed at expanding Pakatan's base.   Asked if the move will backfire on Pakatan, he said that on the contrary, it is expected "increase participation" and contradict Umno's claim that DAP is unable to entice Malay voters.   "At the same time, PAS and Keadilan have also agreed to field some strong and formidable candidates in Johor," he added.   "The suggestion that I go to Perak is of the same strategy to generate interest although Umno would say that I'm afraid of losing in Permatang Pauh," he said.   Anwar's announcement that he may contest in other constituencies had generated fiery criticism, particularly from former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who said that it indicated his former deputy was running away from defeat.   Read more at: http://fz.com/content/anwar-says-moving-strategy-needed-make-inroads

Pakatan to fight Sabah BN alone Posted: 25 Mar 2013 07:46 PM PDT Sabah Pakatan will not engage in any more talk with local parties and will focus instead on solidifying its agenda with Lajim Ukin and Wilfred Bumburing's groups.  KOTA KINABALU: Pakatan Rakyat will walk alone in Sabah and that means no more discussions or negotiations with local parties. It also means that Sabah will once again see multi-cornered fights in almost every constituency in the state. In the 2008 general election, Sabah had the most number of constituencies with multi-cornered fights. Many had hoped that this time round the situation would be different. Disclosing Sabah Pakatan's decision, its chief Anwar Ibrahim said the coalition will not engage in any more talk with local parties and will focus on solidifying its agenda in Sabah together with its new allies Pertubuhan Pakatan Perubahan Sabah (PPPS) and Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS). PPPS is led by Beaufort MP and former Umno warlord Lajim Ukin and APS by Tuaran MP William Bumburing. Bumburing was formerly the deputy president of UPKO, a partner in Barisan Nasional. Both Lajim and Bumburing and some of their key supporters quit BN in July last year throwing their support behind Anwar. Since then there have been reports of trouble within Sabah PKR as a result of Lajim's 'incursion'. But Anwar has balked at such talk. With the increasing influence of Lajim and Bumburing in the picture, negotiations with local parties have also been slowly but surely sidelined. Yesterday, following a Sabah Pakatan coalition meeting, Anwar told reporters that Pakatan will take on Sabah BN on its own. "Our meeting is to solidify our stand and agendas in Sabah, all three member parties and our alliances, APS and PPPS are on same page. "There are no other parties. Many of their (other parties') statements conflicted with our stand in Pakatan so we will continue with our agendas for changes (alone)," he said. SAPP and STAR alone Anwar is believed to be alluding to both Sabah Progressive Peoples Party (SAPP) led by former chief minister Yong Teck Lee and State Reform Party (STAR) chairman Jeffrey Kitingan. Both parties have been, from time to time, rumoured to be 'in negotiations' or 'being financed' by BN or its agents. Both have denied these rumours saying that the speculations were engineered by PKR, a Pakatan member. SAPP and STAR have refused to budge from their Sabah for Sabahans and Borneo Agenda stand. READ MORE HERE

Address minority issues, BN and Pakatan told Posted: 25 Mar 2013 07:41 PM PDT Neither coalition has shown any genuine interest in tackling their plight, say two Hindu American right groups. Athi Shankar, FMT Two Hindu American right groups called on Malaysia's main coalitions of political parties to urgently address minority rights issues ahead of the 13th general election. In a joint statement, Washington-based Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and California-based Malaysian American Foundation (MAF) pointed out that neither Barisan Nasional nor Pakatan Rakyat have initiated any pro-active steps to resolve inequality in Malaysia. Despite its portrayal as a model Muslim democracy with a highly successful economy, HAF-MAF alleged that Malaysia had instituted deeply divisive policies that institutionalised discrimination against the country's ethnic and religious minorities. "The Indian-Hindu minority, in particular, faces systematic inequality, but neither political coalition has shown any genuine interest in addressing their plight," said HAF director Samir Kalra Kalra, who is also a senior fellow for human rights. Posted on the HAF website, the joint statement stated that Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy's ongoing hunger strike was to draw national and international attention to the disparaging conditions facing the majority of the Indian-Hindu community in Malaysia. Local Hindraf branches are currently holding candle light vigils across the country calling on either BN or Pakatan, or both to endorse Hindraf's five-year blueprint, which outlines permanent solutions to end marginalised Indian plight. "Ahead of the upcoming election in Malaysia, the hunger strike renews focus on religious discrimination in Malaysia," stressed the HAF-MAF statement. "Waythamoorthy's effort is a means to bring world attention to the suffering of the Indians." Article 153 of Federal Constitution MAF co-founder Muralitharan Samy said that since independence in 1957, successive Malaysian governments had refused to provide basic civil rights to the Indian population. Most of them who were originally brought to Malaysia as indentured labourers by British colonialists since early 1800s, remained politically silent until 2007 when they first challenged the Malaysian government's discriminatory policies. READ MORE HERE

Stop picking own candidates, Anwar told Posted: 25 Mar 2013 07:38 PM PDT PKR division leaders say wrong candidates picked by Anwar Ibrahim to contest in the general election may result in sabotage. B Nantha Kumar, FMT PKR's preparation for the 13th general election has hit a snag with several party division leaders complaining that they were not consulted before the potential candidates were picked and made public. They also claim that party de-facto chief Anwar Ibrahim was making unilateral decisions in picking candidates and this would lead to a "major problem" after nominations. "There would be factions after nominations. Those not picked but promised seats would pull back. I do not rule out sabotage. If the candidate does not meet expectation of members then, members will refrain from campaigning and this is trouble for PKR," said a party division leader who declined to be named. He claimed that Anwar was not picking candidates based on their track record but was giving out seats to those close to him. "Anwar is very talented, he is a good orator but his judgement on the selection of candidates is flawed," said a division chairman from Selangor who did not want to be named. "Just look at Hulu Selangor. It is speculated Anwar would field his close friend Khalid Jaafar as PKR candidate in the constituency. The chances of Khalid winning the seat is slim because he is not well liked by the locals," he added. The source said Khalid, Anwar's former speech writer, was defeated in the tussle for the Bukit Katil parliament seat in Malacca during the 2008 general election. "Now, he is trying his luck in Hulu Selangor," said the party insider, adding that PKR was capable of taking back the seat from MIC if it fields a strong candidate. In 2008, PKR won Hulu Selangor when Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad defeated MIC president G Palanivel with a 198 vote majority. However, the seat returned to BN in a by-election following the demise of Zainal in 2010. The source said another example of a wrong PKR candidate was in the Pasir Salak parliamentary seat. "Party members are not happy with Anwar naming Musthapa Kamil Ayub as the candidate. So why pick him? Anwar should talk to grassroots leaders before making announcements on candidates," he added. READ MORE HERE

‘Umno plots ‘sex attacks’, targets Nurul as well’ Posted: 25 Mar 2013 04:01 PM PDT PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution claims that he was shown footages by several Umno agents purportedly aimed at implicating several senior party leaders.  G Vinod, FMT Umno agents are planning to reveal more videos on senior PKR leaders, purportedly linking them to sexual misconduct, said PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution. Speaking at a press conference held at the party headquarters, Saifuddin said that the Umno agents are now targeting four PKR leaders. "They are targeting Anwar (Ibrahim) and Nurul (Izzah Anwar). The other videos supposedly implicating other leaders such as Khalid (Ibrahim) are still being manufactured," said Saifuddin, who was flanked by PKR communications director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. Saifuddin said he received a call from some people about three days ago and was told about the videos and photographs. The Machang MP, together with other leaders, said that he met the agents in Kuala Lumpur, and was shown two videos and photographs. "I don't know who these people are but they seem to be in the know of production work. It looks like they want to inflict maximum damage on us nearing general election," said Saifuddin. Recently, pro-Umno blogger Papagomo, or his real name Wan Muhd Azri Wan Deris, released a video, purportedly showing Anwar engaging in homosexual activity. The Permatang Pauh MP later filed a RM100 million defamation suit against the blogger. Game of perception Saifuddin dismissed the allegations levelled against the PKR leaders, saying the agents were attempting to perpetuate the culture of slander nearing the 13th general election. Asked on what demands the agents made, Saifuddin refused to divulge details, saying the agents employed the carrot and stick approach. When asked if he was rattled by the video clips shown, Saifuddin said, "We don't feel threatened at all. It's part and parcel of politics." Saifuddin said that he believed that the agents merely wanted PKR to know that they have such material, which may be published during the general election. "It's a game of perception. They just want us to fall in their trap," he said. He later criticised Umno and Barisan Nasional for employing dirty tactics in order to win the general election. "When we ask for debate, you reject our request. When we launch our manifesto, you launch a (sex) video," he said. Saifuddin also urged Malaysians to reject the slanderous attacks and not to be tricked by the ruling government's dirty tricks. "All this attacks only make us stronger and propel us to move forward. The people will definitely make a wise choice for a better Malaysia by voting for Pakatan Rakyat," he said. READ MORE HERE

Rafizi: Raja Petra is telling tales Posted: 25 Mar 2013 03:17 PM PDT PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli dismisses the blogger's claims that PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim had sought Nur Misuari's help to win parliamentary seats in East Malaysia. G Vinod, FMT PKR today dismissed blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin's allegation that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim had sought the help of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to win Muslims votes in Sabah and Sarawak. "I have read his article but not a shred of evidence was produced. Dia cerita ikut kepala dia saja (He is just telling tales)," said PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli. Yesterday, Raja Petra, in his article titled 'The Untold Story of the Lahad Datu Incident', alleged that Anwar had sought MNLF founder Nur Misuari's help to win at least 30 parliamentary seats in East Malaysia. The former deputy prime minister claimed to have urged Nur Misuari to convince Filipino Muslims in Sabah to vote for Pakatan Rakyat. In return, Anwar promised citizenship and jobs for non-Malaysian Filipino Muslims residing in East Malaysia. READ MORE HERE

More voter excitement for GE13 as Bersih targets 85pc turnout Posted: 25 Mar 2013 02:55 PM PDT Boo Su-Lyn, TMI Voters are getting more enthusiastic over Election 2013 compared to the last general election as Bersih 2.0 aims for an 85 per cent voter turnout to mitigate electoral fraud. Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, co-chairman of the electoral reform group, told The Malaysian Insider today that Bersih's "Jom 100" campaign has seen greater awareness about the upcoming national polls among people of all races and ages in both urban and rural areas.  "People are raring to go and raring to vote," said Ambiga (picture). "There's a lot of enthusiasm on the ground... people are getting more aware about their voting rights. I also ask the question, did you vote in 2008? They say no. Are you gonna vote this time? And they say yes," added the former Bar Council president. Election 2013, which will be held in weeks, is expected to be the most keenly contested election in recent times, with analysts saying that the outcome is in doubt for the first time in Malaysian history after the historic 2008 general election that saw Barisan Nasional (BN) lose its two-thirds parliamentary majority. There are 13.3 million registered voters, or 83 per cent, out of 16 million eligible voters, according to the Election Commission (EC). In Election 2008, 76 per cent out of 10.7 million registered voters turned up to vote, amounting to about 8.16 million voters. Ambiga said she hoped for at least an 85 per cent voter turnout, pointing out that five to 10 per cent could make a difference. "Any increase will help reduce or mitigate the fraud," she said. The lawyer said Bersih told Malaysians that they should not assume that their favoured candidates would win and that voting would help reduce electoral fraud.  "We don't want people to think there are no solutions to the fraud. There is in fact a very effective, not complete solution, but an effective way of reducing it," said Ambiga. READ MORE HERE

I am not for sale, tweets Saiful Posted: 25 Mar 2013 02:30 PM PDT The tweet message comes in the wake of claims from Datuk T that there were attempts to buy them over to retract allegations that Anwar was the man in a sex video released two years ago. K Pragalath, FMT Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's ex-aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan has claimed that he cannot be bought over, reported Utusan Malaysia. Anwar was charged in in 2010 for allegedly sodomising Saiful and was acquitted last year. The prosecution team had appealed against the acquital. In a Twitter message to Anwar, Saiful wrote: "I'm not for sale. Even if you are the prime minister, I will not bow to you. The truth will prevail, the false will fall. That is Allah's promise." Last Thursday, Risda chairman Rahim Thamby Chik claimed that businessman Shazyl Eskay Abdullah was offered a blank cheque to retract allegations that Anwar is the individual in a sex video. Rahim, Shazryl and Shuib Lazim, known as the Datuk T trio revealed the video in 2011. Saiful also claimed that Anwar was using his father, Azlan Mohd Lazim, to counter the alleged sodomy. "Anwar's move to use my father is wrong and would backfire. May Allah continue to give me the strength and patience," he said. On March 8, Azlan claimed that Anwar did not sodomise Saiful and the sodomy episode was a political conspiracy. Saiful through his lawyers refuted Azlan's claims. Three days later, Azlan joined PKR. READ MORE HERE

Kulasegaran’s exit causes concern Posted: 25 Mar 2013 01:57 PM PDT   (Free Malaysia Today) - Perak DAP members are pinning for the return of their unsung hero Kulasegaran to once again be their vocal voice but the party veteran might not return. The departure of DAP veteran leader M Kulasegaran from Perak to Johor has cast doubts on the bargaining and political clout of the 20% Indian members in the state party. Some Indian party leaders have expressed fear that their political voice may not be heard in DAP as their "Indian Godfather" moves his base to Johor. Kulasegaran was instrumental in ensuring that the voice of Indian members was heard in the silver state after the 2008 political tsunami. According to a DAP source, it was Kulasegaran who brought in Teluk Intan MP M Manogaran, Sungkai assemblyperson A Sivanesan, Tronoh and Buntong lawmakers V Sivakumar and A Sivasubramaniam respectively, into the Perak political arena. The source said Kulasegaran, who is close to party superemo Lim Kit Siang, ensured that an executive post be given to Sivanesan and that the state speaker post goes to Sivakumar by the newly minted Pakatan Perak state government in 2008. Kulasegaran also advocated that the post of Ipoh City mayor should be given to an Indian but it failed to materialise. The Ipoh Barat MP also ensured that Indian representation in the DAP silver state had at least a minimum of two parliamentarians and four state lawmakers. One party leader even opined that the Ipoh Barat MP might come back to Perak to defend his seat as Kulasegaran only wanted to challenge Segamat incumbent cum MIC deputy chief Dr S Subramaniam in Johor. However, with the PKR Gelang Patah parliamentary seat given to Kit Siang and in the exchange the DAP Segamat seat was instead given to Johor PKR chief Chua Jui Meng. Perak DAP members are pinning for the return of their unsung hero Kulasegaran to once again be their vocal voice but the party veteran might not return as the bad political experience of Perak still remains in his mind. Team A vs Team B It was smooth sailing between Kulasegaran and party secretary Nga Kor Ming before the 2008 general election as they were united in their political standing. But after the win of the silver state, cracks appeared in the friendship which saw DAP being divided into two camps with Nga and Ngeh Koo Ham in Team A and Kulasegaran in Team B. What was disheartening to Kulasegaran was that two of the three Sivas (Sivanesan, Siva Kumar and Sivasubramaniam) that he had groomed had betrayed him and crossed over to Team A. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/03/26/kulasegarans-exit-causes-concern/

Candidate dilemma dogs MCA Posted: 25 Mar 2013 12:37 PM PDT   (fz.com) - MCA's candidate conundrum over the Pandan parliamentary seat foreshadows similar headaches awaiting the party in other constituencies, particularly its traditional power base of Johor.   The dilemma for MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, who is responsible for drawing up the party's proposed candidate list, was laid bare for all to see in February.   Over Chinese New Year festivities, Chua announced that Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, his predecessor as party president, will not be fielded to defend the Pandan parliamentary seat for Barisan Nasional. Instead, Ong will be replaced by 39-year-old lawyer Gary Lim whom Chua said represented the party's young talents without political baggage.   Ong however insisted on remaining Barisan's candidate.   In selecting MCA's candidates, Chua has to weigh the merits of offering "fresh faces" or incumbent candidates who are either big names in their own right or more familiar to voters.   There is no sure-win formula to that given the unique political dynamics and needs of each constituency.   Johor Umno leader Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed weighs in on the dilemma MCA faces in fielding candidates in Johor, where the party won half the 15 parliamentary seats it holds.   Validating the views of political pundits, Nur Jazlan notes that Chua may be reluctant to field Ong for a parliamentary seat in order to thwart a potential challenge for the party's top job later on.   The record shows that Chua and Ong have been bitter rivals during the protracted MCA leadership crisis of 2008 which ended with Chua ousting Ong from the presidency.   MCA is due to hold party elections six months after the 13th general election. Aside from Tee Keat, Chua will also have to decide what to do with the "Ong brothers", former MCA president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting and the latter's brother Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan.   Ka Ting and Ka Chuan are members of parliament for Kulai in Johor and Tanjung Malim in Perak, respectively.   Although Ka Ting is not keen to stand as a candidate, factions aligned to the former minister are said to be adamant on nominating their own candidate instead of endorsing Chua's choice.  "Soi Lek wants to put his man in Kulai so there is a [disagreement], so for nothing they may lose the seat. Read more at: http://fz.com/content/candidate-dilemma-dogs-mca

Police's deeds will be remembered Posted: 25 Mar 2013 12:34 PM PDT   (Bernama) - Your good deeds will be remembered for all time. The government will continue to look after the welfare of members of PDRM and the armed forces.  AN INSPIRATION TO EVERYONE: Transcript of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's speech at the 206th Police Day celebration yesterday FIRSTLY, let us together raise our thanks to Allah SWT, for with His blessings, we are able to gather at the guard of honour and parade in conjunction with the 206th Police Day celebration this morning. I would like to take this opportunity to convey my appreciation and gratitude to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) for inviting me and wife to join this glittering and meaningful ceremony. Indeed, our beloved Malaysia will not be in the present state -- a country that is becoming more and more successful, a modern industrialised country with medium-high income -- without peace and stability made possible by the noble sacrifice of patriots from the Royal Malaysia Police and the Malaysian armed forces. Since the eras of Emergency until the confrontation, your good selves and predecessors have been loyal and relentless in answering the clarion call of the beloved motherland. We hold in high regard the 10 fallen national warriors, eight of them members of the PDRM, who had made the ultimate sacrifice for the country. Let us make their sacrifice the example of an absolute sacrifice and an inspiration to us. Indeed, your service will not be in vain as mocked by certain quarters. On behalf of the government, the people and the country who are indebted to you, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all of you who are still adorning and had adorned the security forces' uniforms. Your good deeds will be remembered for all time. The government will continue to look after the welfare of members of PDRM and the armed forces. The government's commitment to the welfare of PDRM officers and men cannot be denied. The government of the day has always fulfilled its promises. We walk the talk. As announced at the Civil Service Premier Gathering, or MAPPA, recently, effective Jan 1, 2013, the government has agreed to harmonise the ranks in PDRM to match the structure in the civil service in line with the levels of posts or salary grades. This entails changes in the scope of job functions, rank structure and qualification in the PDRM. For example, an assistant commissioner of police (ACP) on Grade 48 will have the post harmonised to the civil service Grade 52, while a superintendent on grade 41 will have the post harmonised to Grade 48. As for the harmonisation of other ranks, firstly, a corporal on Grade 17 in PDRM will have the post harmonised with Grade 22 in the civil service. Secondly, a sergeant on Grade 17 will have the post harmonised with Grade 20 in the civil service. The government has also streamlined the rates of PDRM allowances, such as the housing, entertainment and fixed allowances. In the quest to improve the welfare of PDRM officers and men, I would like to announce that the government has agreed to approve the implementation of a group insurance scheme that will benefit 112,145 police officers and men. NKRA to reduce crime The government would also like to congratulate PDRM for its success in reducing the crime rate by 27 per cent in the past three years since the implementation of the National Key Results Areas (NKRAs). Hence, the government will ensure that PDRM's capacity is upgraded and restructured to meet the demands of crime-fighting. Indeed, we cannot be complacent. Instead, we should redouble our efforts and cooperation with various quarters to ensure that the crime rate can be reduced to a minimum level by 2020. Thus, the police will be transformed from a security force to a people-oriented police service. This is because the police service will not succeed without the support of the people. PDRM's era as a paramilitary police has ended. Today, PDRM should change to a community-service policing service endowed with high professionalism and integrity. Thus, I would like to urge the people to work hand in hand with the police and authorities, for the security and stability of the country is a joint responsibility. The government will always give support and encouragement to PDRM in ensuring the rule of law, and that peace and public order are maintained. Declaration of Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (Esszone) To provide a legal basis for the setting up of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) and to protect the democratic rights and process for the people of Sabah and to strengthen security, public order and prosperity in eastern Sabah, I would like to announce that I have received the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as enshrined under the Preservation of Public Safety Ordinance 1962, to declare the setting up of the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone, comprising 10 districts -- namely Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Beluran, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau -- effective today. The 10 districts will be administered by a committee that will be formed under the Public Security Regulations 2013 promulgated by the home minister. The committee, which will also be known as the Eastern Sabah Safe Zone Committee, will be headed by the Sabah chief minister and assisted by a chief executive officer and members who will be named later. The chief executive officer, who will be a member of the public, will be responsible for coordinating and safeguarding the functions and activities of the security forces and government departments and agencies in implementing all initiatives in Esszone. The committee, which will be based in Lahad Datu, will be responsible to a steering committee headed by me as the head of government. I would also like to inform you that, today, three cabins that will be used to serve as the headquarters of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) have arrived in Lahad Datu. This means that Esccom will become functional in several days. Apart from this, seven police posts will be set up in eastern Sabah. All these have been verified by the chief secretary to the government, which I have discussed the matter with, the home minister and the inspector-general of police. The seven posts will be in Pulau Bum Bum, Pulau Gaya, Pulau Banggi, Pulau Mabul, Tambisan, Tanjung Labian, and Cenderawasih in Felda Sahabat, while the Sandakan police headquarters will also be beefed up. It is anticipated that the areas will get cabins that will be used for the posts in early April. This means the implementation is very fast by capitalising on pragmatic methods. By setting up the Esszone Committee, the government is adopting a holistic approach and not purely a military approach to protect eastern Sabah and find a solution to the intrusion issue. Let me reaffirm that the declaration is not an emergency declaration under Article 150 of the Federal Constitution. Secondly, it will not deter a fair, transparent and democratic general election process at all. Thirdly, the regulations imposed under the ordinance will not give additional powers to the police. The police's existing authority is adequate to deal with the situation. Fourthly, anyone who feels that his rights have been undermined can take the government to court through legal process. And finally, life will go on as usual in the designated areas but with heightened security to ensure the people's wellbeing. Hence, I would like to explain that the Security Offences Act (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), which is applied to conduct investigations and make arrests in all cases involving the terrorists in Sabah right now, is merely procedural. It was not enacted as an act to give power to declare a security area like the Internal Security Act 1960. People arrested under Sosma will be charged under ordinary laws and subjected to trial just like in other criminal cases. The Attorney-General's Chambers will hold a news conference today to answer questions pertaining to the legal aspects. Resettlement Realising that the vulnerability of several settlements to the easy infiltration of illegal immigrants and stateless persons was the primary cause of the Sulu terrorist intrusion into Lahad Datu and other parts of eastern Sabah, I would like to announce that the government will launch an initiative to resettle people living in several locations in eastern Sabah to maintain public safety. The initiative, under Part III of the Preservation of Public Security Regulations 2013, will enable the government to resettle any individual or a group of people, particularly any individual or a group of people who are illegal immigrants or stateless persons, in a safe and suitable area determined by the government. It must be emphasised here that the decision to resettle any individual or a group of people is for the sake of maintaining public security. In undertaking this resettlement, the government will take into consideration the safety and wellbeing of not only the people to be relocated but also the people living in the designated area of resettlement. Apart from this, the government will consider all resettlement aspects, including the sources of income of the people involved, and hold discussions with district, native or village chiefs of the community living in the designated area of resettlement. The need to discuss with district, native or village chiefs is to ensure that the interests of the people already living in the area of resettlement are protected. As I have mentioned earlier, in pursuing the government's goal of ensuring the people's fundamental rights and the rule of law will be preserved and protected, the government will ensure that the resettlement: WILL not prevent any aggrieved citizen in the designated area from challenging the government's decision on the resettlement; and, WILL not prevent any citizen from exercising his right as a voter in any parliamentary or state election. Realising that the resettlement will involve Malaysians, either as those to be resettled or those already living in the area of resettlement, the government will help those citizens whose rights under the Federal Constitution have been undermined by the relocation. Under the resettlement initiative, the government will provide a place to live and ensure the safety of the people relocated. This is because the government is aware that the relocation decision will give a major impact on the future of those involved. Migration to a new place involves adapting to a new environment. On humanitarian grounds and to ensure that the people involved can benefit from the relocation initiative, the government will ensure that public healthcare, medical services and sanitation will be provided to the people living in the area of resettlement, besides opportunities for basic education and employment. The government will provide training and equipment, if necessary, to the people living in the area of resettlement to start life anew. Towards this end, the government will request for cooperation, assistance and contribution from organisations or bodies locally or abroad. I would like to announce that the resettlement initiative is not only to benefit those to be relocated but also those living in the surrounding areas, for the government will carry out programmes for their welfare and wellbeing. Although the initiative is confined to eastern Sabah for the time being, it does not mean that western Sabah is being neglected. For the time being, the need for safety is now more pressing in the east. The initiative will be extended to the whole of Sabah at a suitable time. On the whole, I would like to stress that the government has never doubted the loyalty of Malaysian citizens of Suluk descent. They are citizens who enjoy the rights provided for by the Federal Constitution and the other laws of the country, and the government will continue to protect their legitimate rights and champion their welfare. I would like to praise the people of Kampung Senalang in Semporna for their bravery and sacrifice in overcoming a terrorist on March 3. In their attempt to defend themselves and the country, the terrorist was killed. Their deed and bravery are most appreciated. Conclusion To conclude, I would like to congratulate the Royal Malaysia Police on the 206th anniversary celebration. It culminates a long journey for a towering organisation. Let us join hands to chart a better future for us, and our children and grandchildren. The people of Malaysia and I dream of having a professional, effective and exemplary police service. A service endowed with exemplary police officers and men, equipped with adequate and latest equipment, and a well-trained force having world-class skills to implement the 21st-century policing service. We dream of a high-income developed country where the streets, housing areas and public places are free from crime to ensure that Malaysians and their families throughout the country do not fear that their safety is at stake. Let us come together to make this dream a reality. Thank you.

GE13: Malaysians who choose not to vote Posted: 25 Mar 2013 12:12 PM PDT Lai Voon Loong refuses to vote because he is cheesed off with politicians. He will vote 'only if someone like Mahatma Gandhi' is contesting.  (The Star) - Even with most of the country gripped by election fever, some people still have various reasons – or perhaps excuses – for not voting. PROBABLY all of us have friends or relatives who choose not to exercise their right to vote, for what they think are very good reasons. Voting is often seen as a responsibility, and sometimes lauded as a privilege, for it allows citizens to have a say in the future of their country. All Malaysian citizens above the age of 21 have the right to vote under Article 119 of the Federal Constitution. Yet well over two million people have neglected or refused to register as voters. Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof was quoted as saying there are a total of 16 million eligible voters in the country, yet there were only 13.34 million registered voters as of December, as reported recently by Bernama. If voting means having a (small) say in how the country will turn out, does it follow that those who decline to exercise their right, should have little or no right to complain about things? Despite such logic, there are still many who have all kinds of reasons not to vote. A 2008 study on voters' attitudes by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, available on the EC website, found that the main reasons for eligible voters not to register include "not wanting to queue and wait to register", and also, "not having time away from work". However, all the respondents in that study did not believe that they "did not care". Is that a self-contradiction? Not MY concern – yet Musician Izal Azlee, 28, says even though he does care about what's happening in the country, he feels disillusioned by what he has been seeing. He believes that no matter who he votes for, things will never change. "For example, piracy is so blatant, and even though every state has its own state government, you can still get pirated goods everywhere," says Izal. Law professor Dr Azmi Sharom says the fear that one's vote can be 'traced' and 'punished' is not realistic because an 'astronomical' amount of time, money and effort would be needed to do that. "So to me, if they can't even overcome such small matters, then how can they overcome other bigger issues like corruption? Whatever they implement, even though there are laws, people will still do whatever they want to do." Izal is one example that shatters the prevailing stereotype of people who do not vote because they are apathetic or apolitical. He asserts that he does follow current issues and keeps himself updated on the goings-on in the country. But he also says that as long as these issues do not affect him personally in his daily life, he is fine with them. "But of course, I'm married now, and when I have a child, I would fight for free education which I think everyone deserves," says Izal. "As I get older, I'm becoming more aware of these things. I do want change, but to me, it's more about my everyday life." He also cites one more example of why he remains disillusioned. "Whenever elections are near, you will get all kinds of goodies," says Izal. "Suddenly you find that there are no more potholes in the roads. But after the elections, things will go back to the way they were for another four years." 'Politics is bad' Photographer Lai Voon Loong does not care about politics or politicians. But isn't politics important to decide on the future of the nation? "Yes, I am definitely concerned about my future, and even more for my kid's future," he says. "But I haven't seen anything useful coming out of politicians' mouths except empty rhetoric." He believes politicians are "power hungry, money grabbing and untrustworthy megalomaniacs" (plus some other unprintable adjectives) who "don't give two hoots about what's going to happen to my kid." Lai used to work as a press photographer and has attended many political events on the Barisan as well as the Pakatan side. "I have attended enough political events to see for myself the rhetoric that they spew. It's always us versus them, and who gets caught in between? The rakyat!" On the Barisan side, he hears about how leaders always say, "I did this and did that and the rakyat should be thankful". Whereas, on the Paktan side, he hears, "It's always BN's fault, never their fault." Yet, shouldn't responsible citizens try to evaluate what both sides are saying and then decide which is a better choice among imperfect politicians? Or is Lai expecting politicians to be saints? Lai replies, "I wish there were more Mahatma Gandhis in this world. He is someone I will definitely vote for." But at present, he feels that he has no real choice. "I am plain disgusted with both sides." Fear and faith There are other reasons for not voting too. When one of us asked our friends on Facebook why people were not voting, the answers were: > My friend's place only got bulan vs keris (PAS vs Umno) ... so recently she (a Chinese) told us she might draw X on both sides... sigh... > My place (in Petaling Jaya) sure win one ... my vote will not make any difference, just adding another vote... places that will need those votes are Johor, Pahang, Terengganu, Malacca and Negri Sembilan. > Find the REAL politicians with integrity, who put their COUNTRY before their own pockets, their own egos and their own race and religion, whatever their political affiliations, and vote for them. There must be some who are not crooks ... > I think I might want to reserve my vote due to my job as a political journalist. >Personally, I don't get the sense that my political party is working for me; perhaps they're more active in the rural areas or their presence is felt more by the poor. As such, the middle to upper classes don't feel the love and therefore don't feel the obligation to love them back. > I don't feel very patriotic. I am tired of the way religious fundamentalism seems to be increasing on both sides. I am dreaming of freedom, of migrating overseas. Kamala N, a Malaysian based in the Middle East, wants to vote but has doubts about the system. "The government said that those overseas can vote by registering at the embassies. But the announcement to register was apparently sent out on Jan 2 only, when most people were away, and the closing date was on Jan 4! "Many Malaysians here were unhappy, and they decided against voting because (the) system does not seem transparent. The word is that the votes will be flown back to Malaysia and used at certain areas rather than an individual's registered voting area." Another reason that people don't want to vote is that they fear their votes can be "traced", resulting in some kind of punishment. However, law professor Azmi Sharom (who has a column in The Star) says that such fear is not a good excuse for not voting. "People have to get real," he says. "The amount of time, money and effort needed to trace who each person voted for would be astronomical. Truly, the fear is all in the mind," says Azmi, who believes it is all just a case of apathy. "We have had the same Federal Government for over 50 years and they look immovable, so some people may say 'Why bother?'," he says. "But if we look at the 2008 elections, the jubilation that came after it was not so much because there was a new Federal Government – there wasn't – but because people felt that their votes counted (in making a difference)." Azmi adds that this is why a fair and clean election process is of absolute importance, to ensure that every vote counts. People will be able to accept the results if they believe the process is fair. "If you lose faith in the election process, it will lead to apathy and worse, the eventual downfall of a peaceful democratic system," he says.

Anwar no show, ordered to pay RM3,000 Posted: 24 Mar 2013 06:57 PM PDT (Bernama) -- The High Court here today ordered Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to pay RM3,000 in cost to Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin, following the postponement of a RM10 million suit filed by the former. Judge Rosilah Yop made the ruling after dismissing an application by Anwar's lawyer, R. Sivarasa, for hearing of the case, which was scheduled for today, to be postponed as his client was in Sabah. Sivarasa said his client was in Sabah since yesterday for various activities for the coming general election. Rosilah set May 2 for hearing. Anwar had filed the suit on Aug 22, 2008 over Hamzah's allegation that he (Anwar) had harassed his (Hamzah's) wife in 1998 which was published in a Chinese daily, Kwong Wah Jit Poh, on Aug 19, 2008, with the title 'Anwar Harassed My Wife'. Earlier, Rosilah dismissed Anwar's application to bring a compact disc which he claimed was relevant to the case to the forensic for analysis before the trial began. Rosilah said that could be done during the trial.

Are Kula and Fong the sacrificial lambs? Posted: 24 Mar 2013 06:11 PM PDT DAP sources say that Ipoh Barat MP and Batu Gajah MP are being sent away to their political doom because they oppose the Perak DAP leadership. G Vinod, FMT While many laud the move by DAP to send its top guns to contest in Johor, several members felt that there is more to the decision than what meets the eye. Several DAP insiders told FMT that the decision was a calculated move to finish off Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan and Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran's political careers. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a DAP insider from Selangor said that all those who opposed Perak DAP chairman Ngeh Koo Ham and secretary Nga Kor Ming are being sidelined or moved to other places to strengthen their grip on the state. "All those opposed to the cousins are being targeted. Kulasegaran and Fong are being sent away to Johor as they fell out of favour with the state leadership," said the DAP leader. The DAP insider also said that the Ngeh-Nga faction had effectively sidelined the outspoken Fong in Perak. "Fong is a very good MP but she is also quite vocal in the party, which displeased the duo," said the DAP insider. The DAP insider added that it is highly possible that the Fong and Kulasegaran would be told to contest in tough seats in Johor, to ensure that they would not get re-elected to Parliament. On why the DAP national leadership is not doing anything about it, the DAP insider said," They feel the people will support any candidates chosen. They are intoxicated by the massive support." Another DAP source,from Perak, echoed the same sentiments and said those aligned to the Ngeh-Nga faction felt they have no need for Fong in the state any longer. Fong isolated However, the source felt otherwise and defended the vocal MP. "In 1999, Fong was the only DAP candidate that won a parliamentary seat in Perak. Even veterans Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh were defeated in Penang . "She was only in her 20s then but she was an effective MP . However in 2008, Fong almost quit due to the pressure from Ngeh-Nga faction but Lim persuaded her to stay on. "Just because DAP candidates won big in the 2008 general election, some leaders in the state feel she is no longer important for Perak," said the source. READ MORE HERE

PBS leader tells Mahathir to ‘shut-up’ Posted: 24 Mar 2013 06:08 PM PDT The more Dr Mahathir defends Project IC, the closer the opposition gets to usurping Barisan Nasional in the coming polls. Queville To, FMT KOTA KINABALU: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad may be the best thing that has happened to the opposition in Sabah, according to a state Barisan Nasional coalition member. Mahathir's continued comments on the clandestine 'Project IC' that was in operation during his tenure is only serving to rile up voters in the state against the BN, said Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) supreme council member Chin Tek Ming. Chin fears his party could suffer at the polls because the former premier's unguarded comments justifying the granting of citizenship to immigrants in the state was only angering Sabahans more. He urged the 87-year-old Mahathir to think carefully before he gave his opinions on such a sensitive subject as he was only spurring the hatred of Sabahans since he was the prime minister at the time tens of thousands of ineligible immigrants were granted citizenship. "Think to yourself, who was the prime minister at the material time. And who was the deputy prime minister then? Don't comment and incur the wrath and hatred of Sabahans," he urged. Chin, who is also Luyang PBS division chief, said Mahathir cannot just absolve himself of blame by saying that a few government servants had acted illegally but he was unaware of it at the time. He said senior government officers would not dare to do such things as getting involved in the distributing of Malaysian identity cards to foreigners if not given orders by someone senior in government. "Don't treat Sabahans as fools. We were and still are victims of this misfortune. Look at what is happening in Lahad Datu that had cost the lives of our enforcement team who also have families." READ MORE HERE

GE13: Many unhappy over parachute candidates Posted: 24 Mar 2013 03:13 PM PDT (The Star) - The move by PKR to field parachute "strategic candidates" in Johor has created rumblings among local leaders and grassroots in the state. At least three seats are expected to be contested by outsiders namely Johor Baru, Batu Pahat and Pasir Gudang. Several PKR leaders in Batu Pahat have even set up a Facebook page "Support Syed Hamid Ali for Batu Pahat" after talk surfaced that an NGO leader Datuk Idris Jauzi may be fielded there. Syed Hamid is the Batu Pahat PKR chief. PKR Johor Baru division chief Tan Poh Lai is expected to be snubbed for the Johor Baru parliamentary seat in favour of former army chief Tan Sri Hashim Hussein while Johor PKR deputy chief Dr Ahmad Faidhi Saidi is likely to be overlooked for the Pasir Gudang seat with former army deputy chief Datuk Ghafir Abdul Hamid tipped to contest there. In their Facebook postings, Syed Hamid's supporters said they would reject a parachute candidate. "Macam mana boleh potong jalan? (How can you cut queue?) Syed Hamid has been serving the people in Batu Pahat for years," Tan Leok Soo posted on the page. A large poster stating that Batu Pahat PKR rejected parachute candidates was also posted on the page with a long thread of supportive comments and likes for the post. Tan, who is also the state PKR treasurer and deputy Wanita chief, confirmed that she has been asked to step aside for Hashim due to "strategic reasons". "I do not mind that the leadership wants to field another candidate for this seat but I hope they will allocate a seat for a woman candidate," she said. Her elder brother Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong has been slotted by PKR to contest the Wangsa Maju parliamentary seat in Kuala Lumpur.

Hisham must condemn ‘Kill Tian Chua’ threat, says Ambiga Posted: 24 Mar 2013 02:55 PM PDT Boo Su-Lyn, TMI Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan has urged Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to censure Umno supporters for threatening to kill PKR's Chua Tian Chang, or risk being blacklisted by polls watchdog Bersih 2.0 for condoning political violence. Party workers shouted "Kill Tian Chua" when the Umno vice-president urged them to rally behind Barisan Nasional (BN) and "eliminate traitors" like PKR vice-president Chua, better known as Tian Chua, whose allies in Pakatan Rakyat (PR) have been accused of instigating the Sulu invasion of Sabah. "He (Hishammuddin) should come out and make amends and put things right, and confirm that he does not support the crowd's response," Ambiga (picture) told The Malaysian Insider today. "He should come out strongly against political violence of any sort... failing which, he will go on our list of politicians who encourage political violence," said the Bersih co-chairman. Ambiga said last Saturday that any Election 2013 candidate deemed responsible for violent incidents during political events would be "named and shamed" by Bersih 2.0 on social media sites like Twitter. Hishammuddin admitted yesterday that political violence in the country was worsening, but accused PR of exploiting the situation to sow hatred for the government and the police. He also noted that more incidents of violence might occur during the campaign period of Election 2013, which is expected to be held in weeks, due to the shortage of policemen. Ambiga said today that Hishammuddin should have stopped the crowd immediately when they threatened Tian Chua, pointing out that the Umno vice-president had control over his party supporters. "It is intimidation. When it's a threat to kill, that is an offence under section 503 of the Penal Code that deals with criminal intimidation. He, above all people, should know that," said the former Bar Council president. "This goes for all those who are out there campaigning, speaking to their supporters. They have to make it very clear they will not countenance any form of violence or violent behaviour. I expect those who are running for the elections to behave like leaders and to set the right example," added Ambiga. The lawyer also called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to condemn the kill threat against Tian Chua, pointing out that Najib had pledged ethical conduct in Election 2013. "This is all part of ethical conduct in campaigning. It's important for a statement to be made that all those who are campaigning must do so responsibly and ethically," said Ambiga. READ MORE HERE

Daim denies being alleged ‘chief conspirator’ in ousting Anwar Posted: 24 Mar 2013 02:46 PM PDT Ida Lim, TMI Former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin has denied claims that he was the "chief conspirator" in getting his then successor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim removed from the Cabinet in 1998. Daim also denied that their relationship had turned sour at any point. "There was no fallout between us until he started accusing me of being a chief conspirator. "When Anwar claimed that I was the conspirator, he knows the truth that I played no part, no role whatsoever. I knew nothing about the case until I was told about it," Daim (picture) told the New Straits Times in an interview published today. Daim also brushed off speculation that his motivation for allegedly ousting Anwar — then the finance minister — was to secure his business interests. "That was his line, that he was this super hero fighting crime and corruption and, therefore, had to be brought down. If you know the things about him that I know, that line of his is hilarious, and the cheek of it all, to claim righteousness. "I had then retired and what business interests did I have? I had to sell all my assets before joining the government in 1984," the former Umno minister said. Daim, who was the country's finance minister from 1984-1991 and 1999-2001, also told the English-language paper that he sold a local bank owned by him when he joined the Cabinet for the second time. He had played a crucial role in steering Malaysia out of the 1998 Asian financial crisis. Later in his reply on the same issue of business interests, Daim claimed that his former colleague in Umno had falsely accused him of trying to procure contracts, before asking for proof that he had received contracts from the government. "Anwar, through his accusations, repeated the lie that I wanted this contract and that contract, and that because he was in the way, I got rid of him. A lie repeated many times, unfortunately, becomes a truth." When asked again if there was a fallout between him and Anwar, Daim said: "There was no particular fallout, I was his scapegoat, among many other scapegoats. I was his friend, Dr Mahathir defended him..." READ MORE HERE

BN leaders criticised for joining Perkasa demo Posted: 24 Mar 2013 02:22 PM PDT A Gerakan politician says that by joining the demonstration, the BN leaders are acknowledging that Perkasa is a force to be reckoned with. Athi Shankar, FMT GEORGE TOWN: Barisan Nasional leaders are lending credibility to Perkasa by joining a demonstration in Esplanade organised by the Malay supremacist group yesterday. Baljit Singh, who heads the state Gerakan legal and human rights bureau, said participation of BN leaders would give a wrong perception that the coalition was collaborating with Perkasa. Among those present were state BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow, state Umno's deputy chairman Musa Sheikh Fadzir and secretary Azhar Ibrahim, state MIC deputy chief L Krishnan and Teluk Bahang assemblyman Dr Hilmi Yahaya. Baljit said BN leaders should have realised that they cannot be seen standing side-by-side with leaders and members of an organisation that espoused racial supremacy. He said Perkasa's Malay agenda contradicted BN concept of 1Malaysia, recalling that BN leadership had on countless occasions denied links with the Ibrahim Ali-led NGO. Moreover, he told FMT that Perkasa was despised by non Malays. "Public perception is important in politics. By joining a protest that included Perkasa, BN leaders are lending support to the group. "BN may just lose more non-Malay votes," warned Baljit, who boycotted the event as a protest against Perkasa participation. Themed "Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu Pulau Pinang", thousands of NGO members gathered at the Speaker's Square as early as 3pm yesterday to demonstrate against the Pakatan Rakyat government. Earlier the crowd walked for nearly two kilometres from Masjid Kapitan Keling to the Esplanade, carrying banners and chanting slogans against the state government and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. Arguably the biggest demonstration held by NGOs to date against Lim's five-year leadership, the protest included a long convoy of youths on bikes waving BN and NGO flags. Penang Perkasa chairman Yusoff Suhaimi, who was in thick of action, claimed that some 120 NGOs jointly organised the rally. "The NGOs attending the demonstration are under the Sekretariat Penyatuan Rakyat Pulau Pinang umbrella, which was called by me under the Penang Special Affairs Department (Jasa) secretariat,' he said yesterday. READ MORE HERE

Malaysian Private Eye's Last Case Posted: 24 Mar 2013 02:21 PM PDT (Asia Sentinel) - All of the information - the emails, the deposit slip, the purchase agreement for the flat - were sent to Asia Sentinel.  Tale of murder, bribery, double cross and a plot against Anwar Ibrahim follow private eye to the grave As if the long-running tale of the grisly 2006 murder of a Mongolian party girl wasn't already complicated enough, evidence has emerged that a recently deceased private detective who once tied Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to the crime, was the focus of an attempt in 2011 to blame opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for the allegations against Najib.  The plot almost backfired, however, when the private detective, Perumal Balasubramaniam, who died March 15 of a heart attack, set out on a vain months-long attempt to entrap the prime minister into acknowledging he was personally behind the plot. There is no evidence that Najib participated in the plan to discredit Anwar and he may have not even known of it. In any case, Najib wasn't born yesterday, and he refused to meet Balasubramaniam despite the fact that a number of United Malays National Organization figures including a deputy cabinet minister attempted to intercede on Balasubramaniam's behalf. The story began in 2008 when Bala, as he was generally known, published a sworn statement based on his professional relationship with one of Najib's best friends that Najib had had an affair with the Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu, who was murdered in October 2006 by two of Najib's bodyguards. Bala was almost immediately pressured to reverse his statement on threats of harm to his family, hustled out of Malaysia and promised RM5 million (US$1.6 million) to keep his mouth shut. Bala described the 2011 bribe attempt to the Kuala Lumpur-based website Malaysiakini in August 2012, saying it was carried out by Deepak Jaikishan, then a close friend of Rosmah Mansor, the prime minister's wife. However, Bala's allegations went largely below the radar. Depak has since become a bitter and public critic of Najib and Rosmah.  Well before the meeting with Malaysiakini, however, Bala approached Asia Sentinel through his lawyer, Americk Sidhu, and provided detailed evidence of the bribe attempt, along with a request that publication be held off until he gave his approval while he attempted for weeks to arrange a meeting with the prime minister. Approval was never forthcoming. He went to Asia Sentinel, he said, because he wanted to give the evidence to a regional publication that could not be accused of bias against the government, rather than local websites, which were regarded as allies of the opposition. Read more and download documents at: http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5277&Itemid=178

‘Anwar sought Misuari’s help to win GE’ Posted: 24 Mar 2013 02:17 PM PDT Blogger Raja Petra claims that Anwar promised citizenship and jobs to Filipino Muslims in Sabah, in the event Pakatan Rakyat wins federal power. G Vinod, FMT Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim sought the help of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari to win the general election, alleged blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin. In his latest post titled 'The Untold Story of the Lahad Datu Incident', Raja Petra claimed that Anwar had met Nur Misuari and his top military commanders on July 16, 2012 in Indonesia. He also said that Anwar had good ties with Nur Misuari for a long time, since the former's tenure in the government. The meeting, Raja Petra added, took place at the Crowne Plaza Jakarta Hotel and was arranged by an Indonesian MP close to Anwar. The blogger alleged that Anwar had sought Nur Misuari's help to win at least 30 out of the 57 East Malaysian parliamentary seats to wrest federal power from Barisan Nasional (BN). "Pakatan Rakyat was confident of winning at least 82 to 85 of the 165 seats in West Malaysia. It is the 57 seats in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan that Anwar was not confident [about]," said Raja Petra. Therefore, the blogger claimed that Anwar urged Nur Misuari to convince Muslims in East Malaysia, particularly those from Sabah, to vote for Pakatan in the 13th general election. He was claimed to have made the request as there are many Filipino Muslims in both states, holding Malaysian citizenship and voting rights. In return, Raja Petra claimed that Anwar had promised that Sabah and Sarawak would be given autonomy, once Pakatan wins federal power. "The states will be given 20% oil royalty which will ensure that Sabah and Sarawak become wealthy, with an estimated RM4 billion a year for each state. "Anwar also promised that the non-Malaysian Filipinos in East Malaysia would be given Malaysian citizenship, or at the very minimum permanent resident status so that they could seek employment in Sabah," alleged Raja Petra. The blogger claimed that Nur Misuari had agreed to Anwar's terms and appointed Ibrahim Omar as his coordinator, or "unofficial ambassador" to Sabah to help Anwar garner the support of the Filipino Muslims in the state. READ MORE HERE

‘Anwar met Misuari several times’ Posted: 24 Mar 2013 02:12 PM PDT Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein confirms rumours that the opposition leader met the Moro National Liberation Front chieftain several times. Leven Woon, FMT Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein today revealed that Opposition Leader and PKR chief Anwar Ibrahim met up with Philippines' Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari several times before the Lahad Datu incursions. "I was told that he has met with (Nur Misuari) several times, but I cannot confirm how many times they have met," he said. "But whether it was Anwar or third parties who wanted to take advantage of the situation, I would like to remind them that the people, especially those in Sabah, are with us," he told reporters after launching the Gombak BN Youth machinery today. He said this when asked to comment on reports, especially in pro-Umno blogs, that suggested that Anwar's meetings with Nur Misuari allegedly had links with the invasion of Lahad Datu by followers of the self-claimed Sultan of Sulu in February. Hishammuddin said the government's upcoming measures to get to the bottom of Lahad Datu incursions, be it in the form of a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) or a white paper, would provide a platform for the authorities to investigate individuals and third parties over their roles in the invasion. "It could be an RCI, it could be white paper, we must decide on this because the incursion is a very complex issue. "And when I say third parties, it does not only involve individual like Misuari who has been making comments, but also organisations like (Philippines Islamic militant group) Abu Sayyaf and (regional terrorist group) Jemaah Islamiyah," he said. A group of self-styled Royal Sulu Army, claiming to be the followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, landed in Lahad Datu village of Kampung Tanduo on Feb 9 to lay claims over Sabah. They clashed with Malaysia's security forces earlier this month after a month of futile negotiations. Since then, 63 Sulu gunmen have fallen while 408 of them have been arrested. Misuari first came into media limelight over the incident when he offered to mediate between the Sulu gunmen and the Malaysia forces. Since then, he had been accused of instigating the Sulu siege in a bid to slow down the Southern Philippines peace deal, of which he denied. Umno bloggers have suggested that a timeline showing Anwar's meetings with Misuari, as well as his mentions of Sabah in his ceramahs, indicated that he had prior knowledge of the Sulu invasion. The bloggers also mentioned a leaked intelligence report from the Philippines which mentioned the Anwar-Misuari meetings. Anwar however has denied any such knowledge although he admitted meeting Misuari. Earlier this week, he told a ceramah that the BN government would be targeting him over the Lahad Datu issue for political purposes. READ MORE HERE

GE13: Opposition hits snag in Johor Posted: 24 Mar 2013 11:56 AM PDT (The Star) - Adding a further dent on Pakatan Rakyat's lofty hopes is the sudden "disappearance" of Johor PKR chief Datuk Chua Jui Meng, who was not named as candidate for the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat which the latter had been lobbying for. The Opposition's hopes of making inroads in Johor at the coming general election has hit a snag early on with several of its heavyweights reluctant to do battle in Barisan Nasional's bastion state. Adding a further dent on Pakatan Rakyat's lofty hopes is the sudden "disappearance" of Johor PKR chief Datuk Chua Jui Meng, who was not named as candidate for the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat which the latter had been lobbying for. PKR officials do not where Chua is or what he is up to, with some saying that he is on "protest leave" to show his displeasure at being overlooked for the seat. Chua was absent at the event when Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim introduced DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang as the Gelang Patah candidate last Monday. Chua's griping aside, DAP's Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan has said that she will not contest in the southern state. Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran, another of DAP's leaders said to have been identified to contest in Johor, has not opposed the proposal publicly but party insiders say he had voiced his preference not to follow Lim to Johor. Sources said Fong and Kulasegaran, who have clashed with Perak DAPchairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and secretary Nga Kor Ming, have been identified to contest in Kluang or Kulai, and Segamat, respectively. Johor Jaya PKR branch chief and legal bureau head Jimmy Puah said many were questioning Chua's disappearance from state PKR events with the general election drawing near. "We are having mixed feelings as we are excited about campaigning for the general election but it affects our morale when the leader is not around," he said, adding that he had heard that Chua was "on leave" in Kuala Lumpur. Fong, whose husband is Johor DAP secretary Tan Chen Choon, told The Star yesterday that she would not contest in Johor. "As I have said many times before, speculation that I will be fielded in Johor is not true and is just a rumour," she said. Kulasegaran, a DAP vice-chairman, said he would leave it to the party to decide where he should contest. "I have not been informed of any decision on where I will contest," he added.

GE13: Selangor — the hottest battle of all Posted: 24 Mar 2013 11:53 AM PDT (The Star) - The intense battle for Selangor is not surprising. It is, after all, the golden goose of the nation. Economically, it has drawn in large sums of investments from abroad and locally. Barisan Nasional is getting its arsenal ready while Pakatan Rakyat gears up to defend its turf. ONE thing is certain for the coming general election the hottest battleground will be in Selangor. Barisan Nasional has indicated over the past few years that it will go all out to wrest the state from Pakatan Rakyat. Pakatan, however, is determined to defend its turf and hold on to power for a second term. A sign of commitment to Barisan's pledge can be seen in the strength of the state leadership, with Umno being led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak himself while MCA, MIC and Gerakan are represented by a federal minister and two deputy ministers. MCA is helmed by Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai. Gerakan is led by Deputy Foreign Minister A. Kohilan Pillay. MIC's charge in the state is spearheaded by party president Datuk G. Palanivel, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Department. The intense battle for Selangor is not surprising. It is, after all, the golden goose of the nation. Economically, it has drawn in large sums of investments from abroad and locally. Selangor Barisan coordinator Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed has aptly described it as "the heartbeat of the country". Barisan is expected to focus its campaign around thorny issues such as illegal sand-mining, the perceived water crisis, a lack of affordable housing, high land premiums and unfulfilled electoral promises by Pakatan. It will be interesting to watch how PKR, PAS and DAP respond to these issues, as it will the first time they will be defending their position as a state government. Open battle In 2008, some 21.5% of state seats and 13% of Parliament seats were won with a majority of less than 1,000 votes. Many more were secured by slim margins. With these statistics, almost half the state could be considered hot seats. Judging by these numbers, there could be several scenarios. Pakatan commands about 60% of the state seats now. If all goes well for them, it is possible for them to lead the state by a two-third majority as they only need an additional six seats from their current tally. But with the Barisan election machinery in overdrive, it is more likely that either Barisan or Pakatan will form the state government with a slim majority. In Pandamaran, state exco member and incumbent assemblyman Ronnie Liu will face a stiff challenge from his former special assistant Tee Boon Hock if he chooses to defend his seat. If Liu and Tee lock horns, they are expected to be joined by Klang MCA Youth chief Ching Eu Boon. He will be the main beneficiary of a three-cornered fight with the votes split between Liu and Tee. In Gombak Setia, sacked state exco member Datuk Dr Hasan Ali would want to show his former party that he is far from finished. The young turks It will be a battle of the youths, as most of the candidates from both sides will be below 40. Most of the Pakatan incumbents are first term wakil rakyat. They will face the young guns of Barisan such as Selangor Youth Council deputypresident Badrul Hisham Badrudin, Selangor Youth Secretariat (Serang)president Budiman Mohd Zohdi, Selangor Anti-Irregularities Federation (GAPS) president Hamdizun Khairuddin, and Sepang MCA chief Ng Chok Sin. Selangor Gerakan chief A. Kohilan Pillay will take on DAP's Gobind Singh Deo in Puchong, while the four state seats contested by Gerakan will feature new faces. New mentri besar? There is speculation that Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim will move from the semi-rural seat of Ijok to urban Bukit Lanjan, replacing state exco member Elizabeth Wong. The rationale is that the former corporate leader can connect better with urban voters, who have different needs and expectations from the rural electorate. Wong is tipped to move to a parliamentary constituency. Gombak MP and Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Azmin Ali is expected to have an easy win. Some of his supporters are lobbying for him to succeed Khalid as mentri besar. This has not been well received by Khalid's camp. Although the speculation has been going on for several years, no senior PKR leader has come out to endorse either Azmin or Khalid as mentri besar. Barisan has so far kept its choice of candidate for mentri besar under wraps. Other developments In Pandan, PKR's Rafizi Ramli is still guessing who his opponent would be. Will it be incumbent Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat or Pandan MCA legal bureau chief Gary Lim? Conspiracy theorists are working overtime there, with some even speculating that Ong would contest as an independent should he be dropped from the candidates' list. In Kapar, PKR's incumbent MP S. Manikasavagam is determined to defend the seat despite facing internal pressure from some factions within his party. He will face off with MIC central committee member A. Sakthivell, whose posters can be seen all over the constituency now. A dentist, Dr V. Nedunchelian, has announced his intention to contest as an independent. To complicate matters, Sementa assemblyman and Kapar Barisan chiefDatuk Abdul Rahman Palil has proposed a swap of seat between Umno and MIC, with Umno taking the Kapar parliamentary seat in exchange for the Sementa state seat.

Hisham blames opposition provocation for rising political violence Posted: 24 Mar 2013 11:50 AM PDT   (The Malaysian Insider) - Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein admitted today that political violence in the country is worsening but accused the opposition of exploiting the situation to sow hatred towards the government and the police. The home minister said that the federal opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) was quick to allege the ruling party's involvement in such incidents as well as accuse the police of bias when it purportedly refused to arrest the perpetrators. "I see it getting worse and the way to deal with it (is for) all the relevant parties (to work together). I know the police has made plans to ensure the process of the general election goes through safely but the police on the ground is never enough. "If they (opposition) want democracy and freedom, then why disrupt the process by making allegations like insulting the police and calling them names? "Maybe, it is to create anger or provoke a reaction," he said. The Umno vice-president also admitted that more incidents of violence were possible during the Election 2013 campaign period due to the shortage of manpower in the police force. He, however, promised that the authorities would do their best to prevent any untoward incidents from taking place during national polls which is expected to be held within weeks. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/hisham-blames-opposition-provocation-for-rising-political-violence/

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