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I was assaulted, says Chegubard
Police - Blast at BN ceramah caused by IED; second device found
Najib: Anwar yet to explain his meeting with Misuari
Ansari mulls setting up his own party after PKR snub
Anwar: SAPP and STAR were untrustworthy
‘PAS must apologise for Zul Noordin’s gaffes’
Tricky for BN in Kota Belud
PM’s post only for Muslims, says Hadi
PSM to PKR: Your sacrifice is laughable
YouTube a way to spread ‘new politics’
Parties woo Sabah’s Chinese ‘kingmakers’
"No one single race can rule Malaysia by itself: Tun Mahathir
Petrol bomb believed thrown at Sg Leman BN ops centre
Explosion rocks BN operations centre
Kiram clan expect more Sabah clashes after GE13
Hourly updates of haze situation now available on NEA website

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 03:44 PM PDT

(The Star) - PKR candidate Badrul Hisham Shaharin (pic), known as Chegubard, said that he was assaulted by PAS supporters on his way to the nomination centre.

"I am upset. I was greeted with jeers and curses. I asked our friends in the (PAS) Youth wing to step aside, but I was pushed around, slapped in the face and my wife was also pushed," said the candidate for the Sungai Acheh seat in Penang.

The incident arose when the PAS leadership also endorsed the Penang youth chief Mohd Yusni Mat Piah as their candidate, triggering a three-way fight between them and Barisan Nasional's Mahmud Zakaria.

The PAS leadership later ceded and Mohd Yusni withdrew his candidacy.

A video was circulated online of Badrul Hisham giving a ceramah where he said that he was shoved and slapped in the face when he was on his way to the nomination centre in Penang.

In the two-minute-long video, which appeared to be the tail-end of his speech, Badrul Hisham said that he was even more disappointed as it involved his own "political siblings".

He pleaded with the Pakatan Rakyat parties to close ranks and to work together.

Badrul Hisham tried to play down the incident, saying that "everything's fine and forgiven".

On another issue, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was filmed speaking in a recent ceramah, saying that PAS was forced to put up its own candidates in the seven seats which are overlapping with PKR due to some "moral issues" with the candidates from the party.

He claimed that some candidates had subscribed to communist teachings and one was selling "pil kuda" (psychotropic pills), which some of the pro-Umno bloggers claimed was Badrul Hisham.

"If they (the bloggers) have the guts, come and say it publicly and wait for my lawyer's letter.

"When I become the assemblyman, I will need the money which I can win from this lawsuit to open my service centre," said Badrul Hashim.

Police - Blast at BN ceramah caused by IED; second device found

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 03:39 PM PDT

(The Star) - The explosion at the Barisan Nasional ceramah in Taman Jawi Jaya late Tuesday was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED), police said.

Penang police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said the device was believed to be made by a group of professionals.

A second such device was also found in the area around 2am, and disposed by the bomb squad at 3am.

The explosives had a timer and wires in them, but no splinters inside, DCP Abdul Rahim told a press conference Wednesday.

A man was slightly injured after what was initially believed to be firecrackers exploded during the ceramah in Taman Jawi Jaya here.

The man, an unidentified party worker in his 30s, was walking past a rubbish dump when the explosion occurred around 10.15pm.

He was said to have sustained minor injuries.

At the time, Penang Gerakan chairman Datuk Teng Hock Nan was speaking at the ceramah, which was attended by about 3,000 people.

Najib: Anwar yet to explain his meeting with Misuari

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 03:01 PM PDT

Jessieanne Joannes, Borneo Insider

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has yet to explain why he had a recent meeting with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari, said the Prime Minister Tuesday.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak stressed that the people, especially those in Sabah, deserve to know the reason behind the meeting.

"The opposition has not explained the rational (of the meeting) and are keeping quiet till today," he told a crowd of thousands Barisan Nasional supporters during the meet-the-people programme, here.

Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air protem president Zamil Ibrahim had claimed that the meeting did take place and that it was monitored by the Philippine intelligence.

He claimed that the duo did not realise that they were being watched.

Anwar was said to be in shock when the Philippines' military intelligence revealed the meeting's agenda to the media.

In a news report, an intelligence officer was quoted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer on the alleged involvement of a Sabah leader, who is allied to the opposition coalition.

The Sabah leader was said to be vying for an electoral seat in the coming general election.

He also said the Lahad Datu intrusion has also sent the signal how precious Sabah is to the government.

"We have lost a few lives during the standoff but all this are the sacrifices we have to do to protect the peace and sovereignty of the state," he said.

Najib, who earlier launched the RM59,665,880 worth bridge in Kuala Penyu, disclosed that the opposition are opportunists who are always looking for ways to spread their lies and empty promises to lure the people from supporting the government.

"They have different political ideology and philosophy, they do not have good track record as proof, they will say something today and something else tomorrow.

"These people cannot be trusted and what Barisan Nasional has achieved today is evidence that only the ruling coalition can provide you continuous development," he said.

Describing the BN team as "the good people", he said it was only right to show the support towards these group of candidates by rooting their votes for BN on May 5 (polling day).

Najib, who is also BN chairman and Umno president, added that the BN government could offer two important things to the people – peace and stability.

"It is through the peace and stability that we so enjoy now that we are to bring greater development nationwide. It is also because of this that investors are interested and confident to do business in the country," he said.

Also present at the event were Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and other BN leaders.

Ansari mulls setting up his own party after PKR snub

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:54 PM PDT

(Borneo Insider) - KOTA KINABALU: The tussle for the Tuaran parliament seat may see Tuaran PKR division chief Ansari Abdullah leaving the party to set up one of his own after the 13th General Election (GE13).

Ansari has been claiming Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS) chief Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing had betrayed him by not giving the Tuaran seat to him.

"When he (Bumburing) mentioned his intention to join Pakatan Rakyat, we had discussed the issue of seat allocation and he had said I only want a "small car" while the "big car" is yours," Ansari (picture) told reporters at his office, here, Tuesday.

However, Bumburing has since denied Ansari's allegations and said it was Ansari who had demanded for the Tamparuli state seat, while the PKR leadership offered him (Ansari) the Sulaman state seat.

Ansari obviously reckoned his chances wer better in the Kadazandusun majority Tamparuli seat rather than the Muslim-bumiputera Sulaman seat which he lost several times in the past.

Ansari said his daughter Erveana Ansari's decision to contest the Tuaran seat was to challenge the opposition and added that he was ready to face any action taken against him by the party.

"However, I have not received any letter," he said.

Ansari said Bumburing who is involved in a four-cornered fight would not receive the support of about 6,000 PKR members in Tuaran because their votes would go to the 'real' PKR member.

Bumburing will be facing Barisan Nasional's (BN) Datuk Madius Tangau, Samin @ Jasmin Dulin (Parti Reformasi Sabah) and Erveana.

Anwar: SAPP and STAR were untrustworthy

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:49 PM PDT

Alexander Chen, Borneo Insider

PKR has always been saying that local Sabah opposition parties SAPP and STAR were untrustworthy to use their de facto leader, Anwar Ibrahim's own words.

On Tuesday, he said negotiations with the SAPP had broken down when the latter insisted on contesting more seats in the state "than what we thought they deserved".

"STAR took on a very combative position, at times saying that if they win, they would have the option of whether to support BN or PKR — we do not accept this," he said.

Anwar was at a Press conference in Petaling Jaya to announced that the overlapping contests with PAS in some six seats, had been resolved when he was asked about Sabah.

He said the entry of Sabah-based parties Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and State Reform Party (STAR) in the opposition's battle for Sabah, had been expected.

But was Anwar really telling the truth or was he lying, a political analyst who wished to remain unnamed queried.

The last time around, a few days before Nomination Day, Anwar said he was willing to sort matters out with SAPP, but nothing materialised.

According to sources who were at that Press conference then, it was not Anwar who put forward the idea of late talks.

"Rather, it was in the form of a question posed by a reporter, and Anwar truing to be seen as accommodating, replied that PR could still talk with SAPP," said the analyst.

"But the leaders he chose to talk with SAPP never carried out his instructions," he added, saying he suspected that one particular leader feared he would not get to contest in Tawau if SAPP teamed up with PR.

‘PAS must apologise for Zul Noordin’s gaffes’

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:34 PM PDT

MIC defends the Perkasa leader's candidacy in Shah Alam.

G Lavendran, FMT

MIC today blamed PAS for Zulkifli Noordin's perceived racism. Defending the character of Barisan Nasional's direct candidate for the Shah Alam parliament seat, MIC Central Working Committee (CWC) member KP Samy noted that Zulkifli was a member of PAS until 2008, when the party sacked him for contesting in the 2008 election under the PKR ticket.

"Zulkifli made all those racist statements while he was in PAS," Samy said. "How could he have said all those things without their support and approval?"

Zulkifli, a leader of the Malay interest group Perkasa, is facing PAS' Khalid Samad in the Shah Alam contest. He joined the group following his sacking from PKR in 2010.

In speaking of "racist statements", Samy was referring to remarks that Zulkifli made about Hindusim in a lecture that was videotaped and recently uploaded to the Internet. It caused an uproar among Hindus—including MIC members and supporters—prompting Zulkifli to explain that the lecture was delivered in 2003, when he was still in PAS.

Samy did not mention racially sensitive statements that Zulkifli made subsequent to his sacking from PAS.

There been several calls for Zulkifli to apologise to the Hindu community over the videotaped lecture, but Samy said his apology alone would not be sufficient.

"PAS must have encouraged that behaviour," he said. "If not, I'm sure he wouldn't dare say things like that.

"So, PAS also has to apologise."

Samy accused Pakatan Rakyat of attacking Zulkifli's character out of contempt for his decision to stand for election as a BN candidate, apparently ignoring the many statements Pakatan leaders have made against him in the last couple of years.

The Hindraf deal with BN

Samy also commented on the public reaction to the forging of a deal between BN chief Najib Tun Razak and Hindraf leader P Waythamoorthy.

"There's nothing wrong with Waythamoorthy showing support for BN," he said. "He didn't get what he was fighting for when he took sides with Pakatan Rakyat."

He was referring to the Hindraf blueprint, a set of demands for policies to help lift Malaysian Indians out of their economic and social misery.

"Waythamoorthy had contacted Pakatan about 23 times and even begged to get the blueprint approved, but he got nothing in the end," he said.

READ MORE HERE

Tricky for BN in Kota Belud

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:26 PM PDT

Almost half of the Kota Belud parliamentary constituency in Sabah are Dusun Christians but none of the political parties saw it fit to field a Christian candidate.

(FTM) - KOTA BELUD: It will be an uphill battle for Sabah Barisan Nasional secretary Abdul Rahman Dahlan to retain his Kota Belud parliamentary seat in the 13th general election.

Abdul Rahman is in a five-cornered fight in Kota Belud, the birthplace of Umno in Sabah.

In the 2008 general election, he won the seat with a 3,020-vote majority garnering 17,842 votes against his sole opponent, then Saidil Simoi of PKR. Saidil chalked up a respectable 14,822 votes.

But this time, it will be tricky for Abdul Rahman, even though the Sabah Umno state deputy chief Salleh Said Keruak has expressed confidence of BN retaining the parliamentary seat and sweeping the three state seats within the Kota Belud constituency.

The three seats are Tempasuk, Kadamaian and Usukan. Salleh is contesting in Usukan

Abdul Rahman's predicament began when he had to fend off a strong opposition from his own Umno party via Lamsil Hamidsor. Lamsil is contesting as an Independent against party's wishes. He has since been expelled.

Many here believe that Lamsil is a plant sponsored by dissenting voices within Kota Belud Umno who are silently campaigning to deny Abdul Rahman a second consecutive win.

In 2008, Abdul Rahman was "plucked" from adjacent Tuaran to replace Salleh as MP, much to the angst of the locals. He won nevertheless but with a much reduced majority from previous BN's victories.

Abdul Rahman, an Umno loyalist, is also finding it very hard, if not impossible, to neutralise the surging support for PKR young candidate Munirah Majilis, who incidentally is Salleh's second cousin.

On top of that, is the ground reality in Kota Belud, where the Dusun community makes up the bulk of the voters.

Muslim candidates in Christian turf

Their votes are expected to be split between PKR and another surging opposition party, the State Reform Party (STAR) through its candidate Jalumin Bayogoh.

Added to this is the sole Christian Independent candidate in the fray, journalist activist Kanul Gindol, who is perceived to be the under-dog in the five-cornered tussle.

Then there is the possible protest votes from the Iranun communities in Tempasuk who were denied a chance for any seat.

Iranun leader Pandikar Amin Mulia had been lobbying hard for the community to be given either the Tempasuk seat or parliamentary seats.

Many among the Iranuns are now supporting fellow Awang Laiman Ikin, the PAS candidate for Tempasuk.

For Parliament, their votes could go either to Munirah or Lamsil, something that Abdul Rahman is already aware of.

Meanwhile, the entry of Gindol, 47, in the five-cornered tussle could pose grim possibilities for PKR and STAR alongside the BN.

Local observers said Gindol's participation may now swing the votes from the Christians who comprise 50% of the electorate.

This poses a threat to attempts by all three parties contesting to get the already-agitated Christian voters in the area.

READ MORE HERE

PM’s post only for Muslims, says Hadi

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:19 PM PDT

PAS president reiterates party's stand, but says non-Muslims can become ministers.

(Bernama) - PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has reiterated the party's stand that only Muslims can be the prime minister of this country.

He, however, said anybody can be a minister, regardless of whether the person was a Muslim or a non-Muslim if the opposition pact formed the next government after the May 5 general election.

"Non-Muslims can work with Muslims to administer this country on condition, No. 1, the prime minister must be a Muslim.

"The person in charge of policies must be a Muslim in an Islamic nation. If he is a non-Muslim, then he should embrace Islam.

"For instance, for the Works Minister's post, if the person picked is a non-Muslim, but he has the knowledge and expertise in road and building construction, we will appoint him, but we will not appoint a non-Muslim to take charge of mosques," he said in his ceramah here late last night.

Hadi, who is defending the Marang parliamentary seat and the Rhu Rendang state seat, also belittled the BN-led state government's efforts to transform the Kenyir Lake as a duty-free zone.

He also said the construction of the Kemaman Zoo was a sheer waste of public funds.

Much of Hadi's speech at the ceramah centred on raising outdated issues and openly criticising BN's top leadership and state leaders, including Menteri Besar Ahmad Said.

PSM to PKR: Your sacrifice is laughable

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:15 PM PDT

PSM claims that it had sacrificed more than PKR to help the latter's bid to win the GE13.

K Pragalath, FMT

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) today took a swipe at Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim over his "laughable" sacrifice to hand over two constituencies to PSM, further straining ties between the two allies.

"Anwar's statement that the decision to hand over the two seats – Kota Damansara and Sungai Siput – to PSM is a 'big sacrifice for PKR' is so laughable. How can a seat never contested by PKR suddenly become a big sacrifice?" PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan in a press statement.

"In fact, the only party which did sacrifice was PSM which, after fighting 11 years under Barisan Nasional rule for its logo, has now given it up in the larger interest of Pakatan Rakyat in its bid to capture Putrajaya ," he said.

Arutchelvan, who is contesting as PSM candidate in Semenyih, was commenting on Anwar's statement that PKR made a "big sacrifice" in allowing PSM to contest the Sungai Siput parliamentary and Kota Damansara state seats.

"It was a tough decision and we [PKR] have to work hard to win concession from the Pakatan component parties," Anwar said yesterday.

PSM is contesting the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat and three state seats – Kota Damansara and Semenyih in Selangor and Jelapang in Perak.

PKR has given PSM the approval to contest Sungai Siput and Kota Damansara, but is fielding its own candidate in Semenyih while DAP is putting up its candidate in Jelapang.

In Kota Damansara, PAS is also fielding a candidate against PSM's incumbent Nasir Hashim. Nasir is facing a six-cornered tussle with Umno's Halimaton Saadiah Bohan, PAS's Ridzuan Ismail and three other independents.

Arutchelvan also said that Anwar should not have commented on the PSM-DAP tussle over Jelapang.

READ MORE HERE

YouTube a way to spread ‘new politics’

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 12:03 PM PDT

(TMI) - In the video, Sim and Zairil discussed the values of "new politics" where it is no longer about criticising different views by different people but to celebrate the difference in views as this could bring about new ideas.

As the election campaign on the ground heats up, several politician have taken to putting their message on the YouTube video-sharing site to reach a wider audience in Election 2013.

The MCA's Frankie Gan Joon Zin has uploaded video clips of him singing songs with his electoral team apart from distributing video CDs in Kuala Lumpur's Bukit Bintang federal seat where he is the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate.

Then, there's the plethora of video clips of various ceramahs and skits that either praise or mock the parties contesting the May 5 general election.

But two young DAP candidates have taken a different approach to appeal to the new generation of voters by espousing the values of "new politics" through a recently released candid video.

Parties woo Sabah’s Chinese ‘kingmakers’

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 11:58 AM PDT

(Today Online) - "Long before the 2008 'political tsunami' took place in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah has already experienced three changes of government ... and the Chinese votes were at the heart of it all."

While they make up only about an estimated 15 per cent of the 980,000-strong electorate in Sabah, Chinese voters could play a pivotal role in the coming elections — a fact underlined by Prime Minister Najib Razak's presence at a dinner organised yesterday by the Federation of Chinese Associations of Sabah, on the first day of his visit to Malaysia's third most populous state.

Despite a marked decline in the number of Chinese in Sabah over the last few decades, the Chinese community — the majority of whom live in the urban centres of Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau — remains the largest non-indigenous group in Sabah, making up about 9 per cent of the three-million population.

Politicians here said they are going all out to win over the Chinese voters, who have been dubbed as the "kingmakers" in Sabah politics.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat candidate Roland Chia, who is contesting in the Chinese-majority state seat of Inamam, said: "Long before the 2008 'political tsunami' took place in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah has already experienced three changes of government ... and the Chinese votes were at the heart of it all." Sabah is currently held by the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

Former Chief Minister Yong Teck Lee of the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) pointed out that including himself, Sabah has had three Chinese chief ministers. "That's proof that the Chinese have played a major role in the politics of Sabah," he said.

But he added that Sabah's social fabric is "not quite the same" as compared to that of Peninsular Malaysia. "There is not much racial polarisation here and to take your political fight along racial lines here won't take you far," he said. Indeed, inter-ethnic marriages among the 32 officially recognised ethnic groups are rampant here.

To win their hearts and minds, Chinese Sabahans TODAY spoke to want concerns such as cost of living and security to be addressed. There is also unhappiness about the large droves of illegal immigrants who are purportedly given identity cards.

"No one single race can rule Malaysia by itself: Tun Mahathir

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 11:54 AM PDT

(NST) - "No one single race can hope to rule Malaysia by itself," said Tun Mahathir Mohammad here yesterday.

In his speech at a private dinner with Perak's businessmen, the 87-year-old former Prime Minister said neither Malay, Chinese or Indian could single-handedly steer the country's leadership.

"It has to be ruled by all three (major races) together with the people in Sabah and Sarawak.

"Only then, this country can be peaceful, grow and develop for everyone to enjoy its wealth," he said.

He said despite being a nation of different race and religion, peace was still maintained due to the spirit of togetherness.

He pointed out that the country had progressed and was considered to have reached developed status because all three races as well as the people in Sabah and Sarawak were willing to work together in a coalition to form government.

He said Barisan Nasional was formed on this concept.

"There is a willingness to share and the voice of each race can be heard for decision to be made for the well-being of all parties," he said.

He said the opposition parties, DAP, Pas and Parti Keadilan Rakyat ( PKR ), tried to copy by forming a coalition.

"But theirs is a fake coalition.

"Pas is aiming to impose Hudud laws in the country, including on non-muslims but DAP cannot accept this.

"While PKR is only aiming to make their de facto leader (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) Prime Minister," he said.

Mahathir said it was not easy to govern a multi-racial nation and expressed hope that the public would not fall for the opposition's attempts to "demonise" BN.

"I hope this time, the people would choose BN," he said.

Petrol bomb believed thrown at Sg Leman BN ops centre

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 11:52 AM PDT

(NST) - SEKINCHAN. Fire almost broke out at the Ops centre for Barisan Nasional (BN), at Parit 9, Sungai Leman early today. It is believed that a petrol bomb was thrown at the centre at 4am this morning.

(Utusan) - Bilik Gerakan Barisan Nasional (BN) Parit 9, Sungai Leman di sini nyaris hangus dijilat api setelah dilempar bom petrol dalam kejadian kira-kira pukul 4 pagi ini.

Kejadian itu disedari oleh salah seorang penduduk kampung yang kemudiannya bertindak menghubungi Jawatankuasa Kemajuan Kampung Kerajaan Persekutuan (JKKKP) setelah melihat api mula menyambar kain rentang BN.

Pengerusi JKKKP Parit 9, Sungai Leman, Zulkefli Hassan berkata, kebakaran itu berjaya dipadam oleh para petugas parti sekali gus dapat menyelamatkan bilik gerakan itu daripada hangus.

Premis tersebut merupakan sebuah balai raya yang berusia lebih 30 tahun itu.

Ekoran kejadian itu, satu laporan polis telah dibuat di Balai Polis Sekinchan awal pagi ini

Explosion rocks BN operations centre

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 11:50 AM PDT

(Bernama) - An election campaign talk attended by about 3,000 people today was marred by an explosion at the Nibong Tebal Barisan Nasional (BN) operations centre in Jawi, seriously injuring a security guard, and causing panic among the people.

The explosion was believed to have triggered off at the rear area of a stage that was set up for campaign talks, situated next to the operations centre.

During the explosion at 10.15pm, about 3,000 people were gathered to listen to a political talk by Penang Gerakan chief Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan. Police have not ruled out foul play.

A witness who wanted to be known as Micheal, 39, said he had arrived at the location about 10 minutes before the explosion and was listening to the talk when the blast occurred near a pile of rubbish. He added that he and his wife ran as fast as they could to leave the scene of the blast.

"The blast sounded just like a bomb and everyone was caught by surprise. The situation turned chaotic and I saw an injured person being carried away," he said.

Another witness who only wanted to be known as Ahmad, 58, said he was standing close to the stage when the incident happened. "The impact of the explosion saw rubbish strewn all over the place. Fortunately I was not hit by the flying debris," he told reporters at the scene.

Penang deputy police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar said the security personnel, in his 30s, was injured in his right leg and was sent to the Sungai Bakap Hospital for treatment. He was reported to be in stable condition.

"We have called in the bomb and forensic unit to investigate the explosion and determine what was used for the explosion," said Abdul Rahim adding that a thorough probe would be carried out.

Meanwhile, state BN chief Teng Chang Yeow said the blast had tarnished democracy and expressed hopes that political campaigns would not be marred by similar incidents in the future.

Among those present at the centre were Penang Umno liaison chief Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman, MCA Wanita Chief Tan Cheng Liang and People's Progressive Party (PPP) Liaison chief Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mohan.

Kiram clan expect more Sabah clashes after GE13

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 11:48 AM PDT

(TMI) - The Sulu Kiram clan expects clashes with defence forces in Sabah to resume soon, noting that Datuk Seri Najib Razak is afraid of offending the state's Suluk population in view of the May 5 general election, a Philippines daily reported today.

The Philippine Star quoted Kiram clan spokesman Abraham Idjirani as saying that clashes will resume soon after some 1,000 Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters allegedly land in Sabah to reinforce the sultanate's forces in Lahad Datu.

"At the moment, the Malaysians are very busy with their upcoming election and do not want to disturb Sabah where there are more than 600,000 Bangsa Suluk residents and voters," he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Idjirani said the Bangsa Suluks in Sabah have kept strong ties with the people of Sulu.

"Prime Minister Najib (Razak) is afraid of offending them," he said. "It might cost him votes."

Idjirani added the Sulu commander in Lahad Datu, Agbimuddin Kiram, confirmed the arrival of the fully-armed MNLF fighters who have brought anti-tank weapons but said they have yet to link up.

Hourly updates of haze situation now available on NEA website

Posted: 23 Apr 2013 11:46 AM PDT

(Today Online) - SINGAPORE — Hourly updates of the haze situation here are now being made available by the National Environment Agency (NEA) — more than a month ahead of the traditional dry season when the region's burning activities are more pronounced. The service, which began yesterday, comes after forest fires in Sumatra over the past few days.

Air quality remained good yesterday, as the three-hourly Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings between 7am and 7pm fluctuated between 40 and 46, reaching the peak at 2pm. As at 7pm, the reading was 44. Readings below 50 are classified as "good", higher than 50 is "moderate" while anything above 100 is "unhealthy". The level of PM2.5, or very fine particulate matter, was between 24 to 28 micrograms per cubic metre, yesterday.

Although air quality has mostly remained good since the beginning of this year, the smoggy conditions and burning smell experienced across the island last Friday led to many concerns that the haze was back.

According to the NEA yesterday, Singapore is "unlikely to be affected by significant trans-boundary haze" as the increase in rainfall over the last few days which has "helped to suppress hotspot activities" is expected to continue "for the next few days". However, it added that "brief slight haziness" is possible, especially during the mornings. "This is due to the accumulation of particulate matter and/or mist as the low-level winds are forecast to be light and variable," said the agency.

The NEA also said that while the region's burning activities occur throughout the year, these will be more pronounced during the traditional dry season, which typically lasts between June and October.

Read more at: http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/hourly-updates-haze-situation-now-available-nea-website

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

Rabu, 24 April 2013

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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