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Crowd at opposition events do not reflect support: Tun Daim
‘Detain me, drag me to court ...’ – Dr M
Three Kedah PKR executive councillors quit all posts in party
Ex-IGP now a Pakatan advisor on security
‘Foreigners in police, armed forces’
Ex-IGP, ex-army chief ask relevant agencies to ensure political violence does not escalate
Sabah BN closes in on fence-sitters
No action against Norman Fernandez
Anwar says votes not guaranteed despite huge ceramah turnouts
Anwar’s innocence is just a drama – Dr Chandra Muzaffar
Three Barisan poll centres torched
Irate PAS leaders demand explanation from Johor DAP deputy chairman over call to reject ...
Question mark over local ISPs playing politics
Arrest warrant issued against Uthayakumar
Tightest of races in the heartland
Malaysian populist windfall fuels debt fears

Crowd at opposition events do not reflect support: Tun Daim

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 01:00 AM PDT

(The Sun Daily) - The large crowd gathered at opposition-organised events do not translate into support, said former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin.

The Umno stalwart said the crowd attending opposition-organised events could merely be curious onlookers, adding that many present are outsiders.

"This is a psychological campaign…they bring in outsiders to show that there is support but you know the voters here (Putrajaya) are only 15,000… those are not voters.

"They want to listen, that's normal. Anywhere you go, people want to listen, especially when you criticise the government," Daim told reporters after delivering his speech rallying support for Putrajaya incumbent Datuk Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor last night.

Daim was referring to the thousands of people who attended the ceramah by PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat who came to support the party's candidate Datuk Husam Musa's bid to represent the country's administrative capital last Friday.

Daim said he is confident that Barisan Nasional will "still win", adding that it would not be a problem if the coalition's machinery is strong and there is no element of sabotage.

Taking a swipe at the opposition, he said there is no need for "change", adding that the people are mature and want to see stability.

"These characters (opposition) can't even run the state. We gave them the opportunity to run the states and they messed things up and now they want to mess things up at Federal (level).

"I don't think the rakyat will accept it," he said.

Asked if he is worried about the younger generation being swayed by the winds of change, a sentiment played up by the opposition, Daim said the younger generation are neutral.

"Based on the feedback, the younger generation do not like both (BN and Pakatan Rakyat), so they will stay neutral. They are not happy with Barisan, worst still, unhappy with Pakatan," he said.

Daim said nothing much can be done to persuade the fence-sitters, adding it's their prerogative to vote.

"But of course we will encourage them to vote because that's the responsibility as a citizen but if they don't want, there is nothing we can do," he added.

‘Detain me, drag me to court ...’ – Dr M

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 12:44 AM PDT

(Bernama) - Detain me, drag me to the court! I will still repeat my statement that (DAP adviser) Lim Kit Siang is a racist and he is indeed a racist," alleged former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir said DAP chairman Karpal Singh's statement that he would be detained and charged in court if the opposition captured Putrajaya in the 13th General Election (GE13), was to stop him from revealing more details about Lim's character as a racist.

"I am shocked, I have turned pale (sarcasm)... because DAP chairman Karpal Singh wants to detain me due to my revelation that DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang is a racist.

"DAP only wants to contest in areas with a Chinese majority because they are only accepted by the Chinese and DAP's action clearly shows that they (DAP) are racist," he said when speaking at a gathering in Kampung Padang Jual, Johol, here, today.

Yesterday, Karpal was reported to have said the opposition would detain the former Prime Minister and charge him in court for accusing Lim Kit Siang as a racist, if the opposition took over Putrajaya after the GE13.

Mahathir alleged that apart from DAP, its ally PAS were also a racist party since they (PAS) only contested in Malay majority areas, especially in Kelantan and Terengganu, unlike UMNO and MCA who contest in all constituencies throughout the country, without preference for any race majority.

Mahathir also alleged that Kelantan Menteri Besar and PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Abdul Nik Aziz Nik Mat was a hypocrite since he had performed the Friday prayers at the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque in Putrajaya, to garner votes.

"Earlier PAS had said they would auction off Putrajaya but now they (PAS) are not interested in auctioning off Putrajaya but more interested in conquering the administrative capital of the country... why not build an administrative centre like Putrajaya in Kelantan," he asked.

Also present were his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali and BN's Johol state assembly seat candidate Abu Samah Mahat.

Three Kedah PKR executive councillors quit all posts in party

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 10:29 PM PDT

(The Sun Daily) - Three Kedah PKR state executive councillors not fielded to contest the 13th General Election (GEZ13) today announced their immediate resignation from all posts in the party.

Datuk S. Manikumar, Lim Soo Nee and Tan Joon Long alias Tan Chow Kang claimed that they had been betrayed by the party leadership.

"We were betrayed," declared Manikumar, who was the Kedah PKR vice-president III, speaking also for Lim and Tan.

Manikumar was also the Cabang Merbok PKR deputy chairman; Tan was the Kedah PKR vice-chairman, Sungai Petani PKR vice-chairman and head of the Keadilan team for the Kedah and Perlis Chinese; and Lim was the Kedah PKR Complaints Bureau chief.

Manikumar said they unanimously agreed to quit all their posts in the party because they had been betrayed by certain leaders in the party.

Manikumar said this had created uncertainty in Kedah politics because there was a drop in overall support in 10 constituencies contested by the PKR in Kedah.

Manikumar is the incumbent for the Bukit Selambau state seat which he won in a by-election in 2009 with a majority of 2,403 votes.

"I was not given the opportunity to defend the seat," he told a media conference here.

The trio will remain as PKR members but would not participate in party matters, including attending meetings. Manikumar said they were disappointed because they were not given any explanation by the PKR top leadership why they were dropped as candidates.

He said they were among the five top state leaders and were also in the state leadership council. Even the Kedah PKR chairman Datuk Wan Salleh Wan Isa himself was not notified about their being dropped, he said.

Tan said he was too disheartened to cooperate with PKR after having been isolated by the party.

Lim said the decision to resign was taken after a discussion with Wan Salleh, and he was advised to go ahead.

"I resigned not because I was dropped as a candidate but for other reasons. I expected to be dropped as a candidate," he said.

Ex-IGP now a Pakatan advisor on security

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 10:22 PM PDT

He and ex-army chief Hashim decry political violence.

Lisa J. Ariffin, FMT

Former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan has joined Pakatan Rakyat's security advisory council in the wake of violence ahead of the May 5 general election.

He told reporters today that he was invited into the panel by ex-army chief Hashim Hussein, who is the PKR candidate for the Johor Bahru parliament seat.

"We wish to categorically state that political violence has no place in our democratic process," the two said in a joint statement.

"We are alarmed that the minister of home affairs minister publicly announced that these incidents would worsen."

The council will assist Pakatan in ensuring a peaceful transition of power should the opposition pact win the coming election.

It will also advise Pakatan on matters of national security.

Musa said he would advise the council on how to engage with the police.

He called on the police to be fair in their investigations into reported cases of violence during the current political campaigning and advised members of the public not to succumb to provocation.

"If a provocation happens, do not take the law into your own hands," he said, adding that the best way to deal with the situation would be to gather evidence that could be useful to the police.

Musa said he had no political affiliation and would have advised Barisan Nasional if it had sought his opinion on security matters.

‘Foreigners in police, armed forces’

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 07:57 PM PDT

The Pakatan de facto leader claims to have found documents to prove the existence of dubious voters in the police and armed forces.

G Lavendran, FMT

Pakatan Rakyat supremo Anwar Ibrahim has claimed that certain documents were discovered showing that there were Bangladeshis, Filipinos and Indonesians in the police and armed forces.

The documents were found near a shophouse, which the Election Commission claims is its store.

Speaking at a press conference here, Anwar said a truck carrying important documents was stopped by the EC task force in Putrajaya and moved to another location in Sungai Chua, Kajang.

He said EC claimed that the premise the truck was taken to was an EC store and it was moved there only for safe-keeping.

"We found documents in the trash and around this premise that the EC claims is their store. It surely doesn't look like one.

"These documents show 42 voters within the police and army that are of Indonesia, Bangladesh and Phillipines nationalities. How is this even possible? We don't have foreigners in our police and armed forces," he added.

Anwar urged the EC to speed up investigations and take stern action against the perpetrators.

"The fraud cases within the electoral roll has to be cleared. EC must stand strong and continue to do so without taking sides as it will only lose its credibility. A lot of proof has surfaced over time. EC must answer and resolve all ambiguity as soon as possible," he added.

Anwar also urged the police to act more professionally in handling violence during the campaign period leading up to the general election.

He said the uprise in violence is getting more serious.

"The police can't keep blaming us for everything. They have to conduct proper investigations and tell people the truth.

"Supporters of both sides have to behave and show support to their respective parties by voting for the candidates on polling day and not disrupt the peace and harmony of the country," he added.

Don't be over confident

Anwar advised Pakatan supporters to stay calm and not fall prey to provocations.

"We have to be more mature, we are still expecting the debate with caretaker prime minister Najib Tun Razak. We have till May 4, so let's all be patient," he said.

"We feel that the general election is a platform for debate and the contestation of ideas from both sides. The people should be given the opportunity to decide based on facts from both the caretaker government and the opposition," he added.

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 07:51 PM PDT

(The Star) - Former Chief of Army, Jeneral Tan Sri Md Hashim Hussein and former Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan have called on all relevant agencies to ensure that political violence did not escalate before and after the elections on May 5.

In a statement on Monday, they said they were concerned about the escalating violence over the past few weeks.

"These bombs, Molotov cocktails, arson, wielding of parangs and metal rods are unprecedented in Malaysian election campaigns.

"We are alarmed that the Minister of Home Affairs stated publicly that these happenings would worsen more than a month ago, in what we consider an endorsement of political violence, and that these incidents have indeed occurred.

"However, we applaud the police force, especially the Penang police force for taking swift action to pre-empt any further violence and setting up a task force to investigate the incidents," said Hashim.

He said that, on his invitation, Musa, had agreed to join the Pakatan Rakyat Security Advisory Council.

"As people who have spent a great part of our lives protecting and serving Malaysians to ensure peace and safety in our country of ours, we wish to categorically state that political violence has no place in our democratic process.

"Elections must not only be free and fair; they must also be conducted peacefully and in an orderly manner," he said.

He said the council aimed to assist and support this process, advise on relevant national security matters and "to resolve any arising conflicts to ensure that the transition of power is smooth, peaceful and orderly, thereby guaranteeing and promoting democratic practice."

"We also discussed the efforts of Pakatan Rakyat to improve the armed and police forces of Malaysia, which include a RM500m allocation to the Military Veterans' Small Entrepreneur Fund, increased funding to the Armed Forces Fund Board (AFFB) and a Soldiers' Dividend to remunerate non-pensionable veterans.

For the police, Pakatan Rakyat aims to increase police salaries by 15% in stages, increase personnel at the Crime Investigation Department (CID) and allocate additional funds to strengthen police force capabilities. Remuneration must be equitable and fair, recognising performance and length of service, he said.

"We hereby call for urgent and immediate measures by the agencies concerned to closely monitor the situation. It is their responsibility to ensure that political violence does not escalate both before and after the elections on May 5," he said in the statement that carried both their names.

Sabah BN closes in on fence-sitters

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 04:42 PM PDT

(The Star) - Sabah Barisan Nasional is sensing a convincing victory as its candidates close in on fence-sitters who comprise less then 30% of the total 981,814 voters in the state.

With five-days of campaigning left, Barisan officials said they have swung a good percentage of the middle ground in their favour and hoped to hasten it in the last 72 hours before the May 5 polls.

They believed that the initial count of fence-sitters was about 32% among the Kadazandusun and Murut voters and up to 57% with the Chinese, with Muslim bumiputeras more or less decided.

One observation by them was that the Kadazandusun and Murut voters could be convinced to switch to Barisan in the final days of campaign but it may be tougher to rope in the Chinese.

"I believe the majority of the Chinese will make a firm choice a day or the night before polling.

"It is hard to assess because the Chinese-based parties don't rely on party membership for support as they have only small number," said a senior Barisan leader.

He said gauging the Chinese would depend on how their clan associations, traders and hawkers' associations or non-government organisations, school boards and other groups felt about Barisan and the opposition parties.

The Chinese fence-sitters could always swing to one-side at the last minute, dealing a crucial blow to any party candidate.

Among the Muslim bumputeras, the margin of fence-sitters was negligible as the view of the Barisan official was that they had decided to be either "with us or against us" or throw their support to their family connections by blood or marriage.

"Generally, it will be up to the candidate to bring them back to the Barisan side," he added.

Coalition candidates have been constantly reminded to make their ground assessment accurately as the multi-cornered fights in some areas may not be in their favour.

They are also cautious in predicting a near clean sweep of the 60 state and 25 parliamentary seats for Barisan as last-minute mood swings have turned the tables in past elections.

No action against Norman Fernandez

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 04:14 PM PDT

DAP's disciplinary committee chairman says the Johor DAP deputy chief was exercising his freedom of expression.

K Pragalath, FMT

The DAP disciplinary committee will not be taking action against Johor DAP deputy chief Norman Fernandez over his call to reject PAS in the polls on the grounds of freedom of expression.

"He said it on his own personal capacity. It is his personal opinion, not the party's.

"He is not even a candidate," said DAP disciplinary committee chairman Tan Kok Wai who is also the incumbent Cheras MP.

Tan said this in response to MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek's dare to DAP to act against Fernandez.

Chua said DAP's inaction would vindicate MCA as Fernandez have been saying the same against PAS.

Chua added that if Fernandez is not expelled, then he is "telling the truth".

"Coming from a senior DAP leader… It carries a lot of weight. (This means) a vote for DAP is a vote for PAS," Chua was reported as saying .

In an article published in a blog called Outsyedthebox.com published on Saturday, Fernandez urged the non-Muslims not to vote for PAS who are insisting on the implementation of hudud law and an Islamic state.

"I for one have finally made up my mind, and I am convinced that PAS does not deserve my vote," he said in the statement titled "Johor cannot gamble and risks its future with PAS".

Fernandez, a lawyer, described PAS' repeated pronouncements of its Islamic state and hudud agenda during the election period as "an utter contempt and disregard for the common manifesto of Pakatan Rakyat".

Anwar says votes not guaranteed despite huge ceramah turnouts

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 03:27 PM PDT

Syed Jaymal Zahiid, The Malaysian Insider

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim admitted today that the huge turnouts at Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) rallies may not necessarily translate to votes.

The PKR de facto leader, however, said the large numbers could reflect some "measure of enthusiasm" that can be taken as a positive sign for the federal opposition pact ahead of the May 5 polls.

"Not necessarily, you are right there," replied Anwar when asked if he felt the crowd size at PR's nightly ceramahs could indicate growing support for the bloc.

"But the size of the crowd, it is clearly resounding. It will reflect some measures of enthusiasm because we don't provide buses, we don't provide free food, we don't provide RM20 allowance and some others do," he added.

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 03:23 PM PDT

(The Kuala Lumpur Post) - Former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Dr Chandra Muzaffar revealed that he lost faith in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after several incidents that were orchestrated to convince the people that the latter was victimised by the government.

In a forum organised by Majlis Perundingan Melayu (MPM – Malay Consultative Council) last Friday, Dr Chandra told the audience he started to doubt Anwar's innocence after he was told that the latter was injected with HIV virus.

Dr Chandra recollected what had transpired then and said: "After we formed Adil (a non-governmental organisation) as a social platform, there were talks that Anwar was injected with HIV virus.

"I doubted it immediately because if the incident had really happened, then I would say that the person who did that actually did not know the consequences.

"I told the guy who informed me about the incident that he should be extra careful with Anwar because HIV virus is only going to affect the body after five to 10 years. So this won't affect Anwar's political life," he said.

Another example, said Dr Chandra, was when Anwar claimed he was poisoned with arsenic when he was in prison.

"I was among the earliest to read the medical report, which was given by his wife Dr Wan Azizah (current president of PKR).

"When I finished reading the report, I told her that there is nothing (in the report) suggesting that Anwar is actually being poisoned.

"The only thing is the arsenic level was very high. This could be due to (excessive) digestion of certain vegetables. I'm pretty sure doctors would have known about this," Dr Chandra said, adding he started to feel more doubtful about Anwar's integrity.

The forum, themed 'Pakatan Tidak Sepakat' (Disunity within Pakatan), was organised to enlighten the public on how Pakatan Rakyat (PR) have been hypocritical over numerous issues in order rule the country.

Among other notable speakers were academician and former International Islamic University Malaysia deputy rector Prof Datuk Dr Sidek Baba

Blogger Syed Akbar Ali, who also attended the forum, had put the details of the arsenic incident in his blog.

The blog site known as Outsyed The Box, had posted an article on the issue which was initiated just before the 1999 general election to create negative perception towards the ruling government.

"In 1999 (14 long years ago – how old were you then) Anwar Ibrahim created the scare that someone was trying to kill him. He was in prison and they said he was being poisoned with arsenic. This arsenic poisoning scare happened just weeks before the 1999 General Elections.

"There was some hue and cry because Wan Azizah made the announcement that she had secretly smuggled out some of his urine in a small bottle and had sent it to the Gribbles Pathology Laboratory in Melbourne, Australia to prove that her husband was being poisoned. Well it was a lie," the blogger wrote further.

Three Barisan poll centres torched

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 02:26 PM PDT

(The Star) - Three Barisan Nasional district election centres in Kampung Manggol, Kampung Gelam and Kampung Machang here were reported to have been torched by unknown culprits over the past four days.

The most serious damage was said to have occurred in Kampung Manggol near Malau, where banners, four tables and 1,000 posters of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Kubang Pasu parliamentary candidate Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum and Jitra candidate Aminuddin Omar were burnt in the early morning fire yesterday.

Kampung Manggol district election centre worker Haslis Saad said he was informed of the fire by a passer-by at 5.20am.

"I usually close the operations centre at 4am daily and go back to my house about 400m away. The fire happened just half an hour after I got home," he said. He later lodged a police report.

A nearby trader claimed that he saw a man on a motorcycle bearing an Opposition party flag roaming near the centre earlier.

Kubang Pasu OCPD Supt Ibrahim Mohd Yusoff confirmed receiving the police reports.

Aminuddin described the attack on the Barisan operations centre as undemocratic and uncivilised.

Kedah Barisan chairman Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said round-the-clock surveillance would be put in place.

Irate PAS leaders demand explanation from Johor DAP deputy chairman over call to reject ...

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 02:15 PM PDT

Asked about Johor DAP chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau's remark that he should have called up the Archbishop, the Bishop or even the Pope in the Vatican City to get their opinion on the matter before making his statement, Fernandez said: " I spoke to God."

(The Star) - With polling day just a week away, irate PAS leaders have asked Johor DAP deputy chairman Norman Fernandez (picture above) to explain his statement urging voters to reject the Islamist party.

However, Fernandez has reiterated he would continue to express his personal views on sensitive issues such as hudud and public interest cases.

"This is a democracy and everyone is entitled to their opinion. If PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali and PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa can give their opinions, why not me?" he asked.

In an article written in the syed outsidethebox.blogspot.com blog on Saturday, Fernandez said the DAP must realise that PAS was no longer an honest, viable partner of Pakatan Rakyat and must be courageous enough to admit it.

Urging the people of Johor not to gamble and risk their future with the Islamist party, he said he had made up his mind and was convinced that PAS did not deserve his vote.

PAS Ulama Council chief Datuk Harun Taib described Fernandez's statement as "a step backwards" for Pakatan Rakyat.

"What he had said does not make any sense as PAS and DAP are Pakatan partners and we are united," he said.

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu described Fernandez's statement as an attempt to scare the Johor Chinese voters from supporting the party.

"Attempts to scare them (non-Muslims) won't work, because the wave of support towards Pakatan is strong," said Mohamad, adding that any change in policies involving Islam which could affect non-Muslims would only be done through consultation if Pakatan wins power.

PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub dismissed Fernandez's statement, saying it was his personal opinion and did not reflect the stand of Johor DAP.

In a statement issued yesterday, Fernandez, a lawyer, said he did not have an agenda or had timed the release of his views.

The lawyer said he felt the need to express himself after PAS leaders started issuing all sorts of uncompromising statements on hudud.

Fernandez said he has always been expressing his views via his blogs.

"I respect everyone's views and comments but I will stand by mine as it is my own opinion and not the party's," he added.

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

Stop confusing the people, Boo urges Fernandez

(THe Star) - Johor DAP chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau (picture above) has told his deputy Norman Fernandez to stop making statements that could confuse the people.

He said while Fernandez could have his own opinion, as a leader, he should have kept that to himself, especially during the elections.

"As a senior leader, he should have been more careful, especially during this critical period as such comments will cause confusion," he said yesterday.

Dr Boo said as a Catholic, Fernandez should have called up the Archbishop, the Bishop or even the Pope in the Vatican City to get their opinion on the matter before making his statement "as he should not speak for all Catholics".

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said he would leave it to the Johor DAP to handle the matter.

"He (Fernandez) is not a candidate and he has also stated that it was an individual view, and not the party's," said Lim.

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

Fernandez brands PAS man Suhaizan Kayat a 'warped zealot'

(The Star) - Johor DAP deputy chairman Norman Fernandez, who is urging voters to reject PAS, has singled out the party's national information chief Suhaizan Kayat (picture above) as a "warped zealot".

He reminded voters that Suhaizan had made a declaration banning Muslims from wishing Christians a "Merry Christmas".

"This warped zealot is standing as the PAS candidate in the mixed constituency of Simpang Renggam and Kempas, where he goes to garner non-Muslim votes," he wrote in an article posted on syedoutsidethebox.blogspot.com on Saturday.

The controversial Johor PAS Youth chief had contested and lost the Parit Sulong parliamentary seat in 2004 and the Kempas state seat in 2008.

Suhaizan also advocates the setting up of the hudud law.

Fernandez said Johor PAS continued to be silent and refused to make an open stand if it supported hudud in Johor and if it would change the weekend from Sunday to Friday.

When contacted in Petaling Jaya, Suhaizan said he regarded Fernandez's statement as an "old story".

Question mark over local ISPs playing politics

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 01:05 PM PDT

Since nomination day, Harakahdaily has come under severe DDOS (distributed denial of service) attacks. But lately, our IT team found that there was more to it.

Having tested broadband services from all local internet service providers (ISP), we discovered that only YES4G and Time Internet have no problems accessing our web.

Users of ISPs such as TM Broadband, Unifi, Streamyx, Maxis, Celcom and Digi however have complained of unusually slow speed when accessing the Harakahdailyportal.

A pageview chart screened by us also revealed that connection was being 'dropped' every now and then when using these ISPs.

"If the matter is true, such dirty tactics must be stopped. ISPs should focus on their job to deliver the best service to its customers any desired websites without restriction," said Zulkifli Sulong, Harakahdaily's editor-in-chief.

Harakahdaily is not alone. Malaysiakini's IT team reportedly observed similar trend. The portal today questioned whether ISPs had been ordered to reduce access or restrict some websites.

Malaysiakini chief executive officer Premesh Chandran was equally serious in urging ISPs to butt out of politics.

"ISPs should stay out of politics and make sure their staff do not follow illegal instructions which undermine the accessibility of their networks. They should also ensure shared gateways are free of tampering and restrictions," said Premesh.

Harakahdaily's readership has meanwhile overtaken other major news sites, including UMNO-owned Utusan Malaysia's internet edition.

As a precaution to future attacks, all our news will be also posted in full on our popular Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/harakahdaily.

"Users who find it hard to access our portal, please tell your friends to get our news from our Facebook page as well," said Zulkifli.

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

Suggestions from MT admin:

1. Encourage public to make a complaint to SKMM/MCMC if they experience difficulty accessing internet

http://aduan.skmm.gov.my/

2. Educate public to use online proxy browser (bypass internet censorship)

http://tinyurl.com/cmh5ejm

3. Educated public to use Tor Browser (bypass internet censorship)
https://www.torproject.org/

Arrest warrant issued against Uthayakumar

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 12:51 PM PDT

(FMT) - The Sessions Court today ordered for an arrest warrant against the HRP leader for being absent from court, despite having a valid medical leave certificate.

The Sessions Court today ordered for an arrest warrant to be issued against Human Rights Party leader P Uthayakumar for being absent from court.

The judge, Ahmad Zamzani Mohd Zain, ordered for the warrant despite Uthayakumar's aide, S Thiagarajan producing a valid medical certificate to the court for his ailment.

When contacted, Uthayakumar said that he had obtained a medical leave certificate from the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital (HUKM) on April 2 for suffering from prolapsed disk and small tumour on his backbone.

"The consultant neurosurgeon, Dr P Shanmugaraja gave me a leave of absence from April 2 to May 17 for my medical condition and Thiagarajan produced the document to the court today.

"However, the deputy public prosecutor argued that I was busy campaigning for the general election and the judge immediately issued a warrant of arrest," said Uthayakumar.

The HRP pro-tem secretary general is being tried under the Sedition Act for a letter issued to former British prime minister Gordon Brown, alleging there is ethnic cleansing in Malaysia.

Uthayakumar dismissed the notion that he was using the medical leave for campaigning, saying that much of his election work was done at his office.

"We never had any ceramahs outside my office. Even yesterday, I only had a ceramah in a house in Klang attended by about 30 people. After that, I attended a temple function.

"I normally go back home immediately after my work to rest. I'm now taking painkillers to subdue the pain," he said.

Tightest of races in the heartland

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 12:06 PM PDT

(ST) - People attending a PAS rally in Kuala Kangsar, Perak. As many as 15 of the 59 state seats in Perak were won by slim margins in 2008, indicating that the contest for votes is likely to be just as tight this time.

RICE farmer Rosdee Haron sips a hot brew at the local coffee shop as he surveys the half-finished mosque down the road. It bears the bright blue banner of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).

"Just for the elections," he mutters.

Titi Serong is located in the north-western district of Kerian, which was considered a BN stronghold until 2008, when it delivered almost all its votes to the opposition, helping to make Perak one of three states clinched by the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) alliance.

Mr Rosdee's sceptical comment may mean that BN has some way to go before it can expect to swing the tide in its favour in Sunday's general election.

Perak, the second-largest state by area in peninsular Malaysia, used to be among the country's richest states due to its strong tin deposits. But commodity prices have slumped, and last year, Perak's mean monthly household income was ranked the fourth-lowest among the nation's 13 states.

Besides, new voters make up a fifth of the 1.4 million people eligible to vote - a factor not relished by incumbent governments, which are always leery about the anti-establishment sentiments of younger folk. There's another factor in play - next-door Penang is perceived to have prospered under the opposition Democratic Action Party's (DAP) rule.

BN's response to the challenge has been robust.

First, it sought early-mover advantage by identifying its candidates much in advance, giving them time to cover the ground. Second, it adopted so-called "man-to-man marking" so as to persuade opposition-leaning voters to change sides.

And last Friday, Prime Minister Najib Razak made a brief stop in Kerian to canvass for votes.

Barely a year after losing Perak, BN regained control of the 59-seat state assembly when three PR assemblymen defected.

The government has poured more than RM1.4 billion (S$570 million) into Kerian, building or renovating markets and mosques, and improving roads in a bid to regain influence in this Malay heartland. "If we win Kerian, we win the state," says Mr Shalimin Shaffie, political secretary to Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir.

The Perak PR manifesto also makes special mention of Kerian district, promising to protect its Islamic heritage by setting aside funds to build and operate several modern Islamic research centres there if Pakatan wins power.

Over in the state capital of Ipoh, Mr Zambry has gone on a charm offensive, hosting regular tea sessions and stepping up the pace of weekly state executive council meetings.

"For the first time in history, we don't have any backlog of files," he tells The Straits Times.

But the goalposts of electoral success may have shifted somewhat since 2008.The people in Kerian have seen up close what they consider to be a credible performance by the DAP in Penang.

Malaysian populist windfall fuels debt fears

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 12:01 PM PDT

(Channel News Asia) - It has never been more lucrative to be a voter in Malaysia, where political rivals are showering the public with cash in a desperate electoral battle, stoking concerns over rising national debt.

With the May 5 elections expected to be Malaysia's closest ever, the long-ruling coalition has given billions of dollars in new cash, pay rises and other handouts to civil servants, the poor, elderly, farmers and students.

The opposition, which holds four of 13 states, has likewise made a range of state-level payouts, and promises still more perks if it wins federal power for the first time in Malaysia's 56 years of independence.

The bidding war began shortly after the opposition stung the Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition in 2008 elections, but has spiralled of late.

"It's been a windfall for Malaysians these past five years," said Francis Loh, president of Malaysian democratic rights group Aliran.

The bonanza has seemed farcical at times.

Barisan recently denounced opposition campaign pledges as a blueprint for insolvency.

But Prime Minister Najib Razak promptly upped the ante with billions in new promises of his own -- sparking opposition outrage that he copied their ideas.

The unprecedented giveaways attest to the high stakes of an election in which a ruling elite is desperate to retain power and its rich perks, while the opposition fights to make the most of its best shot yet at governing.

But warnings are emerging that Malaysia is at best endangering a goal to become a "developed nation" by 2020 and at worst courting disaster.

"Today's politicians are bent on planting the seeds of an economic crisis for our children to inherit," said Wan Saiful Wan Jan, who runs the IDEAS think-tank.

If Malaysia meets financial catastrophe in the future, "economic historians may well trace back the root cause to this general election," he added.

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

Isnin, 29 April 2013

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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