Rabu, 28 Ogos 2013

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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News


LDP in turmoil/ 27 exco members demand for SC meeting

Posted: 28 Aug 2013 12:24 AM PDT

(Borneo Insider) - The squabble within the Liberal Democratic Party has reached its second stage with 27 out of 34 Supreme Council members signing a written requisition for a Supreme Council meeting to be held.

They want the council meeting to be held this September 6 at its Headquarters in Kepayan so as to resolve the on-going leadership tussle in the party.

LDP deputy Secretary-general Ho Jia Lit announced this on Wednesday in the presence of the 27 which included its deputy president Datuk Chin Su Phin, sacked Secretary-general Datuk Teo Chee Kang and vice presidents, Datuk Pang Nyuk Ming and Datuk Lim Ming Hoo.

Also present was its suspended Wanita chief Nancy Lim and Youth chief, Chin Su Yin as well as publicity chief Albert Kok.

Ho explained that such a requisition is in accordance to the Party Constitution's Paragraph 40 (A) which reads:

"The Supreme Council shall meet at least once in every three months or, when directed by the President, or on the written requisition of at least one-third of the members of the Supreme Council.

"And, the presence of half the number of members of Supreme Council shall form a quorum for meeting of the Supreme Council. (Paragraph 40 (B)).

When asked whether there's any possibility that the Party President could ignore such a requisition, its Teo replied that this would not be possible citing that Paragraph 40 (A) of the Constitution made it clear.

"No one can depart from the provision in the Party Constitution, so long as at least one-third of the Supreme Council members requested by way of written requisition for a Supreme Council meeting to be convened, then there's no choice," he said.

Teo also clarified that the controversial resolution for a 'no contest for the top two posts' was not unanimous.

"In fact, at the moment, we do not have the confirmed minutes. (All we have is a draft minutes in Chinese.) Normally, the minutes will be confirmed and endorsed by the subsequent Supreme Council meeting but this has yet to be done," he explained.

He further observed that at the last meeting, when the Supreme Council members were asked to give a show of hands, there were at least four members who did not put up their hands.

Admitting that he was among those who agreed to the said resolution, Teo nonetheless said things had changed subsequently.

"Politics is very dynamic in view of the change of circumstances, the overwhelming voices of the grassroots for a leadership change and because of that we respect such wishes. In fact, that resolution has been superseded by events," he said.

Asked whether they consulted the party's founding president Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat before attempting to change the party leadership, Teo answered that there were consultations within the party leaderships, but not with Chong.

"I will leave my future in the party to all members and grassroot of LDP. And I believed despite of the challenges and crisis that we are facing currently, I firmly believe democracy will prevail," Teo concluded.

 

Mukhriz offers MACC help in RM2m probe

Posted: 27 Aug 2013 08:34 PM PDT

GLC GRAFT: MB says Kedah govt will accept outcome of investigation

(NST) - MENTERI Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir has offered his full cooperation to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in its probe into  alleged misappropriation of RM2 million involving a government-linked company during the Pas-led administration.

Mukhriz said he was shocked by the alleged incident and offered the state government's assistance in facilitating the probe whenever needed by the MACC.

He stressed that the state government would accept the outcome of the probe, including the possibility of the GLC officials facing criminal prosecution.

"I am shocked over the news report and we at the state government are offering our fullest cooperation in the MACC probe.

"The state government will not tolerate any corrupt practice or abuse of power. I have also made this stand clear to our executive councillors, assemblymen and civil servants," Mukhriz said while winding up the debate of motion of thanks on the opening address by the Sultan of Kedah Council of Regency chairman Tan Sri Tunku Annuar Sultan Badlishah.

He was responding to a Berita Harian front-page report yesterday that MACC was probing into an alleged criminal breach of trust (CBT) case involving the embezzlement of RM2 million from one of the GLCs in the state.

The investigation suggested that the money was siphoned from the GLC's account and used for political purposes during the 13th General Election in May.

Three officials from the GLC, including its chief executive officer and managing director, aged between 45 and 50, are being investigated.

MACC special operations department director Datuk Mohd Jamidan Abdullah was quoted as saying that the probe centred on corruption, CBT and money-laundering.

According to the report, the company director had withdrawn RM500,000 from the GLC account and transferred the money into his personal account, believed to be meant for his personal use and political party campaign.

Meanwhile, the second day of the state legislative assembly sitting saw opposition assemblymen being forced to concede that there were serious financial discrepancies and mismanagement in Kolej Universiti Insaniah (Kuin) during the previous administration.

State Education, Transportation and Public Works Committee chairman Datuk Tajul Urus Mat Zain (BN-Merbok) dropped a bombshell on the opposition bench when he divulged details of management flaws in Insaniah Holdings Sdn Bhd, which had cost Kuin millions of ringgit.

Insaniah Holdings was established by the Pas-led state government to generate income for Kuin but ended up draining millions of ringgit because of poor financial management, cronyism and nepotism.

The revelations prompted Datuk Phahrolrazi Zawawi (Pas-Pengkalan Kundor) to concede that Kuin and Insaniah Holdings top management, appointed by the Pas administration, had caused massive damage to the previous state government.

The former state executive councillor said he was stunned by the findings and called on the state government to initiate a White Paper to investigate the discrepancies and mismanagement in the state-owned institutions.

"There is so much speculation over the alleged discrepancies in Kuin.

"I am proposing that the state government consider calling for a White Paper to investigate the allegations as we (the opposition) are also eager to know the truth."

The state legislative assembly later passed a bill to amend the State Syariah Criminal Enactment to curb the spread of Shia teachings in Kedah.

The bill was passed with 21 votes from the floor.


Facebook says no to Putrajaya’s request for details on 197 users

Posted: 27 Aug 2013 05:21 PM PDT

Elizabeth Zachariah, TMI

Facebook had rejected, on 7 occasions, requests from Putrajaya for information on 197 users.

Data revealed in the first ever Global Government Requests Report by the social networking site showed the Malaysian government did not receive any information from them.

"We scrutinise each request for legal sufficiency under our terms and the strict letter of the law, and require a detailed description of the legal and factual basis for each request.

"We fight many of these requests, pushing back when we find legal deficiencies and narrowing the scope of overly broad or vague requests," said Facebook's General Counsel Colin Stretch.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) could not be reached for comment.

The report showed that 74 countries had requested information about more than 37,954 accounts on Facebook and that the vast majority of these requests relate to criminal cases, such as robberies or kidnappings and national security.

The statement said these government requests include basic subscriber information, such as name, the date when they joined Facebook, IP address logs and actual account content.

At least half the requests came from The United States (20,000 to 21,000 accounts).

Neighbouring Singapore had requested information on 117 Facebook users and received 70% of the information it requested.

READ MORE HERE

 

Russia warns of ‘catastrophic consequences’ if Syria hit

Posted: 27 Aug 2013 05:16 PM PDT

(AFP) - Russia today warned a military intervention in Syria could have "catastrophic consequences" for the region and called on the international community to show "prudence" over the crisis.

"Attempts to bypass the Security Council, once again to create artificial groundless excuses for a military intervention in the region are fraught with new suffering in Syria and catastrophic consequences for other countries of the Middle East and North Africa," a foreign ministry spokesman said.

"We are calling on our American partners and all members of the world community to demonstrate prudence (and) strict observance of international law, especially the fundamental principles of the UN Charter," ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a statement.

Earlier Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said that Moscow regretted Monday's decision by the US to postpone a meeting on the Syria crisis, as Western powers mulled military action over last week's chemical attack in Syria.

The scrapping of the meeting, which was due to take place at The Hague later in the week, is the latest sign of a new peak in tensions between Moscow and the West over the possibility of military strikes against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

"It arouses regret that our partners decided to cancel the bilateral meeting" involving senior diplomats from both sides, Gatilov said on Twitter.

"Working out the parameters of a political solution in Syria would have been especially helpful right now, when military action is hanging over this country," Gatilov said.

In such a climate, it was especially important to work in concert to try to organise the repeatedly postponed peace conference bringing together the Damascus regime and the rebels, Lukashevich said.

"However, the United States' decision to postpone the meeting in The Hague is sending precisely the opposite signal to the opposition, encouraging their intransigence as they await outside intervention," he said.

Lukashevich said convening the peace conference was now a "most urgent task."

Western countries including the United States are considering their response to an alleged chemical weapons attack by Assad's regime on August 21.

Russia has said it believes rebels were behind the incident and has warned any military action without UN approval would violate international law.

On Monday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned the "hysteria" over the claimed chemical attack and said the West had yet to come up with proof that Assad's regime was behind it.

He also said Russia would not get involved in a military conflict in Syria.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told British Prime Minister David Cameron in a telephone call on Monday there was no evidence yet that the Syrian regime had used chemical weapons against rebels, Cameron's office said.

Pro-Kremlin Russian newspaper Izvestia on Monday published an interview with Assad who ridiculed as "nonsense" the idea his regime used chemical weapons and warned the United States of failure if it attacked Syria.

Russian officials are now comparing the possible use of force against Syria to the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, which was vehemently opposed by Moscow as based on flawed intelligence that Saddam Hussein's regime possessed weapons of mass destruction.

"Deja-vu," Alexei Pushkov, the head of the Russian parliament's foreign affairs committee wrote on Twitter.

"It feels like in the White House it's still (George W.) Bush, (Dick) Cheney and (Donald) Rumsfeld and in Downing Street Tony Blair," he said, referring to the former US president, vice president, defence secretary and British premier during the Iraq war.

"The faces change. But not the politics," he added. 

 

Errant LDP sec-gen Teo sacked

Posted: 27 Aug 2013 05:10 PM PDT

LDP president VK Liew says Teo Chee Kang had breached the party's constitution regarding his duties as a secretary-general. 

(FMT) - Sabah's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has sacked its secretary-general Teo Chee Kang who recently declared that he will take on party president VK Liew in the October polls despite supporting a 'no-contest' resolution by its supreme council in June.

Liew said the sacking took immediate effect. He said Teo was terminated because he had breached the party's constitution.

Liew added that Teo's membership in LDP, however, will be maintained.

He said Teo will also stay in his post as Special Task Minister in Chief Minister Musa Aman's administration "for now."

"My secretary-general has now gone public to declare his intention to contest in the party's election and has accepted nominations for the top post.

"He has cited various reasons including legal points which I respectfully beg to differ with.

"Suffice for me to state here that he has breached the party's constitution regarding his duties as a secretary general – that is, amongst others 'to carry out the instructions of the supreme council'.

"In this regard, I think and I believe he has failed, neglected and/or refused to carry out the instruction as stated above on the resolution passed by the supreme council recently.

"Having considered all options, it becomes clear that it is no more tenable for Teo Chee Kang to remain as the party's secretary general as he is no longer able to carry on the business of the party in accordance with the party's constitution.

"Having consulted the party's stalwarts, I make the decision to relinquish him as my secretary general whom I appointed in 2006," he told a press conference here late yesterday.

READ MORE HERE

 

BN leaders come to Waytha’s defence

Posted: 27 Aug 2013 05:05 PM PDT

But, they say the deputy minister must check his facts before making any future statements. 

Lisa. J. Ariffin, FMT

There is no need for deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department P Waythamoorthy to quit his government post over his remarks on the police killing of suspected criminals in Penang last week.

Several non-Umno BN leaders believed there was "no reason" for Waythamoorthy to resign despite calls to do so by Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaffar.

"The only mistake he made was that he should've asked for a proper investigation over the matter before accusing the police of not following procedures when firing at those gangsters," Kedah Gerakan Youth Chief Tan Keng Liang told FMT.

"I don't think there is a need to step down. Why should he step down?" he asked.

"He should have checked his facts first before making accusations," he reiterated.

Labis MP Chua Tee Yong said the progressing political scenario should enable Cabinet ministers to "state their stand" on an issue.

"However, he must also acknowledge collective responsibility. It is important that he makes statements after getting the facts," he said.

Asked if Waythamoorthy should step down from his ministerial post, Chua said there was "no need to".

"If he said it is based on the sentiments of the public, then it is not correct. But if he is highlighting a relevant issue, then it should be investigated," he said.

Tan said there was no pertinent need for Waythamoorthy to resign as "people are bound to make errors in life and become emotional in a matter".

"It's a learning curve for him (Waythamoorthy) as a new deputy minister to check before barging at the police or some others in future," he said.

"I don't think there is a need for him to resign at this state. There is just no reason to."

READ MORE HERE

 

Asian stocks sink, oil prices climb on Syria fears

Posted: 27 Aug 2013 04:55 PM PDT

(AFP) - Asian markets fell sharply Wednesday, while oil prices rose and emerging-market currencies sank, as the West stepped up preparations for a possible military strike on Syria over a chemical attack.

The losses extended falls on Tuesday and followed drops on Wall Street and in Europe as investors ran for cover, while emerging-market stocks and currencies came under renewed pressure.

Adding to the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are concerns about a looming row in Washington over the US debt ceiling, which could leave the country in political deadlock.

Tokyo tumbled 1.51 percent, or 203.91 points, to 13,338.46 as the dollar eased against the yen and Sydney shed 1.05 percent, or 54.0 points, to close at 5,087.2.

Seoul clawed back some early losses to end flat, edging down 1.32 points to 1,884.52.

Shanghai was off 0.11 percent, or 2.27 points, at 2,101.30 while in the afternoon Hong Kong was down 1.68 percent.

Emerging markets in Asia — already seeing selling because of the expected wind-down of the US Federal Reserve's massive stimulus programme — were also suffering.

Jakarta was downl 2.28 percent, Kuala Lumpur was off 1.42 percent and Mumbai slipped 1.82 percent.

Manila was down 3.88 percent as traders grow jittery before the release of economic growth data on Thursday.

The West, led by the United States, is edging closer to a targeted strike on Syria, which is accused of carrying out a gas attack on August 21 that killed hundreds of civilians.

"We are prepared. We have moved assets in place to be able to fulfill and comply with whatever option the president wishes to take," US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told the BBC on Tuesday.

The possibility of more turmoil in the oil-rich region saw crude prices extend gains.

New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate for delivery in October, jumped $2.95 to $111.96 a barrel in afternoon Asian trade. The contract hit an intra-day high of $112.23.

Brent North Sea crude for October was up $2.81 at $117.17 after peaking at $117.22.

Kathy Lien of BK Asset Management said: "The possibility of a military strike on the country (Syria) is growing by the minute and investors are worried that it could destabilise the region."

On Wall Street, the Dow fell 1.14 percent, the S&P 500 lost 1.59 percent and the Nasdaq tumbled 2.16 percent, while Paris and Frankfurt each lost more than two percent.

In forex trade, the dollar sat at 97.25 yen in Asia on Wednesday, up from 97.01 yen late in New York but well down from levels above 98.00 yen in Tokyo Tuesday.

The euro bought $1.3381 and 130.21 yen compared with $1.3391 and 129.88 yen.

India's rupee continued to suffer, slumping almost four percent to 68.74 against the dollar — another record low — as fears over Syria compounded domestic economic woes and expectations the US will wind down its stimulus programme.

The unit later picked up slightly to 68.45.

The Indonesian rupiah dived to 11,418 against the dollar from 10,925 rupiah, while the greenback was at 44.79 Philippine pesos from 44.43 pesos.

"The situation with Syria has been playing havoc with currency markets for the last few days," said Kenichi Hirano, market adviser at Tachibana Securities.

"Any action by the US is not likely to be protracted. But wrangling over the national debt could go on for quite a while, as we've seen in the past."

Dealers are increasingly concerned about a repeat of the 2011 debt ceiling stand-off that brought Washington close to defaulting on its repayments and preceded a downgrade of its AAA sovereign rating.

Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said this week the $16.7 trillion limit will be reached in mid-October, raising the chances that Republicans and Democrats will engage in another game of brinkmanship.

Gold cost $1,424.10 an ounce, near a three-month high, at 0700 GMT on Tuesday, up from $1,410.75 late Tuesday. 

 

Bidders refuse to bid; help owners save houses

Posted: 27 Aug 2013 02:25 PM PDT

http://www.fz.com/sites/default/files/styles/1_landscape_slider_photo/public/Bidders%20at%20Taiping%20High%20Court%20auction%20house_Azril%20Annuar.jpg 

The bidders at the High Court Auction House 

(fz.com) - The bidders not only showed solidarity in not bidding for any of the Taman Suria Permai, Taiping houses that came up on the block but even tried to discourage Megat and couple Lee Chek Chuan and Ng Siew Imm from repurchasing their homes.

Four houseowners who were supposed to have their homes auctioned yesterday had a last-minute reprieve by none other than the bidders to their houses. 

The potential buyers at the Taiping High Court auction house refused to bid for the properties of Jonathan Ng and his small group of victims who are victims of a procedural breach in the Banking and Financial Institutions Act (Bafia) and the National Land Code (NLC).
 
Prior to the start of the auction, Ng and the other victims including Wong Chun Mun, Megat Azmi and couple Ng Siew Imm and Lee Chek Chuan pleaded to the other bidders to not purchase their properties.
 
It was a heart-wrenching scene when Ng's mother, Susan Cheong, broke in tears telling everyone that they have lived in their homes for 10 years and have become the victim of an alleged cheating scheme thought up by their property's developer, KS Properties Sdn Bhd.
 
"We were cheated of our homes. We have fully paid. But they're trying to take our homes away! Please! Don't buy our house, we don't have a place to stay!" begged a tearful Cheong.
 
Another victim, Megat Azmi also appealed for compassion, showing a picture of his ill baby, saying that he has not slept for month trying to raise funds for his house.
 
"Please, please… I just want my house back… Please… please don't fight with me when I start bidding," said Megat Azmi, who finally caved in to the demands of debt collection agency Gale Force Sdn Bhd by repurchasing his home.
 
The bidders not only showed solidarity in not bidding for any of the Taman Suria Permai, Taiping houses that came up on the block but even tried to discourage Megat and couple Lee Chek Chuan and Ng Siew Imm from repurchasing their homes.
 
They informed Lee that they are not interested in his home and will not contest but the couple went ahead, saying they just wanted to get on with their lives.
 
"How long can we suffer? This time around we are lucky no one wanted to contest against us when we began our bid. We paid RM108,000 again yes but how many times must we go through this kind of pain? We don't want to go through this again," said Siew Imm.

Read more at: http://www.fz.com/content/bidders-refuse-bid-help-owners-save-houses#ixzz2dEqzh7g5

 

Action against parent in Seri Pristana issue is unfair and unjust, say politicians

Posted: 27 Aug 2013 01:05 PM PDT

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/assets/uploads/resizer/kulasegaran-mugshot_540_619_100_270_309_100.jpg 

(TMI) - "The arrest has angered the public who want to know when the unfairness and injustice will end," DAP's national vice-chairman M. Kula Segaran (pic) said.

The arrest of a parent for allegedly intimidating the headmaster of SK Seri Pristana has angered the public, with many calling the move "unfair" and "unjust".

Yesterday, police arrested a parent for allegedly threatening Mohd Nasir Mohd Noor, about a month after the school had ordered non-Muslim pupils to have their recess in the shower room.

He had allegedly gone to the school on July 25 at 2.30pm and threatened to kill Mohd Nasir.

The parent denied the accusation, saying he had not gone to the school on that particular date.

The parent had earlier lodged a report on July 30 against Mohd Nasir and the school for allegedly taking photographs of his 10-year-old daughter in school.

This happened twice on July 29, when the headmaster had led a man to take photographs of the girl in school.

Last Friday, two policemen went to the parent's home around midnight and caused a "commotion" but did not reveal what they wanted.

Yesterday, when the parent went to give his statement at a police station, he was told that he was being arrested. They put him in an identification line-up where he was picked out by two teachers from the school.

Politicians from both sides of the divide have lashed out at the police and the Education Ministry, questioning why no action has been taken against the headmaster and the school so far.

"The arrest has angered the public who want to know when the unfairness and injustice will end," DAP's national vice-chairman M. Kula Segaran (pic) said.

"What happened to the report made by the parent against the headmaster? Was there an investigation?" asked MIC's Vel Paari.

The school found itself embroiled in controversy following its directive to non-Muslim pupils to have their recess in the shower room during Ramadan month.

Another parent Guneswari Kelly had exposed the issue after she posted pictures of the students having their meals in the shower room online. She has since taken her nine-year-old daughter out of the school after finding out that she was being subjected to verbal and emotional abuse by teachers and other students.

The whistleblower herself has received death and kidnap threats and has lodged a report over the issue. Kula Segaran noted that so far, police and the ministry have not taken any action on the report made by Guneswari as well as the bullying of her daughter.

Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/action-against-parent-in-seri-pristana-issue-is-unfair-and-unjust-say-polit 

The 'taikos' behind Indian gangs

Posted: 27 Aug 2013 12:59 PM PDT

http://www.mysinchew.com/files/preview/292x300..gang1.JPG 

(Sin Chew Daily) - The 04 gang which blatantly challenged the police's authority of late is like other numbered gangs in the likes of 08, 36 and 18, having its origins in Chinese triads and was once dominated by Chinese. These gangs have now evolved into an Indian-centric presence with Chinese assuming the roles of "gold masters."

Criminologist Dr P. Sundramoorthy told Sin Chew Daily there are more than a hundred secret societies and gangs in the country, many of which have departed from their erstwhile closely-knit organisational structures with many gang members splintering to form independent units, resulting in a single gang splitting into many smaller factions.

Bukit Aman's CID director Datuk Hadi Ho Abdullah pointed out that about 70% of gang members in the country are Indians, with Chinese and Malays making up the remaining 25% and 4.77% respectively.

"There are more and more rival gang factions in the country, especially the Indians, of which 04, 08, 18, 21 and 36 are the more prominent ones."

Taking over

It is understood that Indian gang members started by working for Chinese gang leaders to carry out illicit activities before they slowly took over the dominant roles in such organisations. Today, Indians have become the mainstay of secret societies in Malaysia, making up almost 71% of all gang members.

According to police sources, the most ferocious and violent Indian gang is not the 04 that has made a lot of hoohahs recently, but the 36, considered a splinter unit from the old-time Chinese gang Hong Men.

Chinese members are still found in 36, but they are more like the "gold masters" involved in lawful businesses including real estate investment.

36 started to become active during the 1970s, and along with gang 18, has been said to be among the most active in drug-related activities.

Diversification

The gang 04, five of whose key members perished in crossfire with the police lately, had its origins in Hua Kee, a very active secret society back in the 1980s.

According to police sources, after being taken over by Indian members, 04 broadened its scope of activities from collecting protection money and fighting for areas of dominance initially, to robberies, murders and other serious crimes as well as possession of firearms and weapons.

Some of the 04 members are even professional assassins, including the five killed by the police recently.

04 is currently most active in Penang, Perak and other areas in northern Malaysia while slowly gaining grounds in the coastal areas of Selangor such as Klang, Banting and Kuala Selangor.

The other active secret societies in the country include 77, 24, 44, 969, 08, 21 and the "Five Colours" gang. It has been estimated that there are more than 20 Indian-dominated gangs in the country.

Meanwhile, the gang that is most active in the central region is gang 18 while 04 is expanding northwards from here.

08 is the biggest among the secret societies with members scattered all across the country although they are most active in and around Rawang, Gombak and Selayang in Selangor.

Going online

These secret societies have been using the online media to recruit new members in recent years and Facebook has now become an important tool to rope in youngsters.

Indian secret societies are very influential in the Indian society here. Like Chinese secret societies, they are also closely associated with the economic, cultural and even political spheres of the Indian society, and have far-fetching influences in the day-to-day living of many Indian Malaysians.

These secret societies source their recruits mainly from schools, especially secondary schools. Most of the gang members are in their 20s and 30s, and they run in a pyramidal mode through collecting protection money from students to sustain the gangs' operations.

As a matter of fact, almost six or seven out of ten Indian Malaysians are related to secret societies in one way or another. From this we can see that the gangs have powerful infiltration and influences in the Indian community.

Some of these gangs may organise dinners where old and new members come together and mingle, although few would actually hold solemn induction ceremonies like the Chinese secret societies, as this would only invite the attention of the police.

Protection money

According to some Indian Malaysians contacted by us, secret societies normally would approach the businesses for "protection money" which most businesses willingly offer in exchange for peace.

They told Sin Chew Daily these gangs have their respective areas of dominance and crossfire could take place if one gang is trying to take over another gang's area.

To the Indians, joining a secret society is easy but leaving it is extremely difficult and could cost one's precious life.

According to some familiar with the Indian secret societies in Negeri Sembilan, the most powerful gang there is 18, followed by 36, 21, 08 and 24.

In Perak, Indians also dominate the secret societies which have become very active since the beginning of this year. They are involved mainly in firearms and drug deals as well as sex industry and illegal gambling.

Unproportionally high

Hindraf's national advisor N Ganesan told Sin Chew Daily the police's decisive actions against Indian criminals would not help resolve the crime issue but would instead complicate things further.

Almost 90% of criminal suspects gunned down by the police during the past three months have been Indians, and given this unproportionally high percentage, Ganesan questioned, "Do you think there are only Indian criminals in this country?"

He said the rights of Indian Malaysians must never be denied and it is imperative for the government to probe the police actions, including claims that they had shot the five suspects in Penang out of necessity on self defence.

He said while the Indian society does not endorse crime and agrees that criminals must be brought to justice, the police must also be impartial while carrying out their duties.

When asked whether the challenges posed by the gang 04 in the form of graffiti would serve to aggravate the confrontation between secret societies and the police, Ganesan said he was not sure how things would develop from there, but he feared the issue could only get worse because of this.

He told Sin Chew Daily the big bosses of these secret societies might not necessarily be Indians, and in fact most of the Indian gang members are only minor lackeys, while the police should go after the big fish instead.

The frightening 71%

Posted: 27 Aug 2013 12:52 PM PDT

http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/straitstimes.com/files/imagecache/story-gallery-featured/20130821/gang21e.jpg 

(Sin Chew Daily) - The question is, what are the root causes of crimes? Without solving the root causes, crackdown operations would only be palliative moves that would not solve the underlying problems.

In addition to political disputes, public security has become the hottest issue affecting the people of the country over the past few months. A series of shootings, robberies and gang revenge attacks have filled the air with the offensive smell of blood, causing panic in the society after the general election.

Many domestic security problems are caused by the disputes among secret societies. They are engaged in "territory" fighting, drug trafficking, prostitution, smuggling activities, money laundering, fraud, robbery, revenge and killing. As Author of the book McMafia: Crime without Frontiers, Misha Glenny described, the world is not only flat, but it is also dark as secret societies have gone international and national resources of some countries have been dominated by gangs.

The temptation of money has led secret societies to commit a variety of crimes. Misha Glenny pointed out that globalisation and the prevailing Internet allowed secret societies to rapidly expand and become "multinational enterprises" like McDonald's. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and many other anti-crime organisations, the economic output of secret societies have actually accounted for 15% to 20% of the world's GDP today!

Secret societies are international and interracial. However, the quiet evolution of local gangs over the past few decades, particularly the "rise" of Indian gangs, is a phenomenon that should not be neglected.

Indians accounted for 7.3% of the country's total population. According to the figures released recently by the police, Indians have become the mainstay of secret societies in Malaysia, making up almost 71% of all gang members. The huge number of gang members, the brutal means being used, as well as how active they are have shocked the country. For instance, during the funeral of two Indian members of Gang 04, a few hundred of Indian young people, believed to be members of the same party, had actually paraded in the streets with banners bearing the Gang 04 logo. It was reported that they had also lighted firecrackers and ignored the presence of the police. Such an unusual phenomenon has not only reflected the rampancy of gangs, but also how severe the challenges are for the police.

Extraordinary actions are needed in desperate times. Therefore, the police has recently launched a massive crackdown operation, which is generally supported by the public. The question is, what are the root causes of crimes? Without solving the root causes, crackdown operations would only be palliative moves that would not solve the underlying problems.

Seventy one percent gang members are Indians. In the face of the cold and frightening figure, in addition to shock and fear, the people must also be aware of the lessons and potential crisis reflected by the figure. Namely, the plight of the Indian society has gone so serious until is no longer a problem that must be addressed by the Indian community. In fact, it has evolved into a very serious national issue affecting the whole country. The result of lax law enforcement has not only affected the people, but as well foreign investment.

As we all know, the greatest plight of the Indian community is poverty. And poverty is closely related to education and racial policies. An undeniable fact is, the Indians have become the greatest victim of the lopsided polices. Therefore, to relieve the plight of the Indian community and solve gang crime problem, it must be started from policy and institutional reforms. Otherwise, everything is just empty talk!

Perkasa to rap youth chief for telling Najib to quit

Posted: 27 Aug 2013 10:36 AM PDT

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Youth chief Irwan Fahmi Ideris's blog posting also caught the main body of the right wing Malay rights group off guard that they now want to call him for an explanation over his statement which he repeated to The Malaysian Insider.

(TMI) - According to Irwan, Barisan Nasional (BN) was voted into power by the Malay community with the help of the Indians, but Najib had failed to defend the two ethnic groups.

Even despite the usual strident rhetoric, the youth wing of Perkasa shocked many with a call, asking Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to step down.

Youth chief Irwan Fahmi Ideris's blog posting also caught the main body of the right wing Malay rights group off guard that they now want to call him for an explanation over his statement which he repeated to The Malaysian Insider.

"I did not know that Perkasa Youth had such powers to ask the prime minister to resign," the Malay rights group deputy president Datuk Abdul Rahman Abu Bakar told The Malaysian Insider, expressing shock that Irwan made such a bold statement.

He said he will speak to the Wira Perkasa leader soon to explain himself.

Irwan's statement takes one step further the criticism from his boss, Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali, who has been critical of Najib's election strategy, saying recently that the group will not align itself to any party after Election 2013.

Ibrahim had also lamented this to Perkasa patron Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in a meeting last month where Najib received brickbats for Barisan Nasional's poor performance in the May 5 general election.

Perkasa officials said Dr Mahathir had understood the group's move to be neutral in coming elections despite a majority of its members being from Umno. But the group has never before asked Najib to step down.

Irwan told The Malaysian Insider this week that at a recent meeting with Najib, Perkasa had urged the Prime Minister to make immediate reforms to protect Malay voters who had elected Barisan Nasional (BN) into government.

Irwan, however, said the Prime Minister has refused to heed the group's call.

"Najib has not changed. We have given him time but now things are getting worse... crime cases, the issue on the use of the word Allah - all these happened in the run-up to the polls when other incidents also took place, like the repeal of the ISA," he said in reference to the government's decision to repeal the Internal Security Act (ISA) and Emergency Ordinance as part of its transformation programme ahead of the 13th General Election.

"The best thing that he can do now is to step down since things are getting worse instead of getting better," he added.

Irwan made the call in a Sunday blog post entitled "Sudah Cukup Segalanya Digadai, Hj Najib Wajar Meletakkan Jawatan" (Enough of selling out, only fair that Najib resigns) and accused the prime minister of failing to manage the country's affairs.

According to Irwan, Barisan Nasional (BN) was voted into power by the Malay community with the help of the Indians, but Najib had failed to defend the two ethnic groups.

"The Malays, with the help of Indians, gave him the power to lead. The Chinese only gave him 8% of the votes.

"This is Wira Perkasa's stand… I do not know what is the stand of the Perkasa leaders. This is the most that we can do. We too contributed to BN's win."

In his blog posting, Irwan had also written, "1Malaysia, BR1M, clearly FAILED by handing out additional provisions to vernacular schools."

"This is because the leaders wanted to win 26% of its votes from the Chinese. It is evident that this failed to work with the Chinese, as although more Chinese voters turned up, only 8% chose the government.

"Meanwhile many Indians supported the government. But the crime rate attributed to the Indians is increasing."

Irwan also criticised the slogan 1Malaysia and the 1Malaysia People's Assistance (BR1M) programme. He called these campaigns "bribery that has been made lawful by the government".

Irwan added, "unfortunately the nation's highest leaders are still appointing people that should not be there. Shouts of 1Malaysia are obviously by their lackeys, so I want to ask if 1Malaysia is successful. In my opinion, it is clear that it failed." 

Altantuya case goes to Federal Court

Posted: 27 Aug 2013 10:28 AM PDT

http://www.thestar.com.my/~/media/Images/TSOL/Photos-Gallery/Nation/2013/08/28/main_mf_2808_p18_1.ashx?w=620&h=413&crop=1& 

(The Star) -  Deputy solicitor-general II Datuk Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah (pic) confirmed that he filed the notice of appeal on the day of the judgment last Friday.

PETALING JAYA: The Altantuya Shaariibuu case will go to the Federal Court after the prosecution filed a notice of appeal against the acquittal of two policemen accused of murdering the Mongolian woman.

Deputy solicitor-general II Datuk Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah (pic) confirmed that he filed the notice of appeal on the day of the judgment last Friday.

However, he said that the prosecution team was still working on the appeal petition as they only received the written judgment on Monday.

He declined to comment further, saying that it could be sub judice to the appeal.

When asked which points of the court of appeal judgment that the prosecution would likely appeal against, he replied: "All."

The prosecution was appealing against the Court of Appeal decision to overturn the Shah Alam High Court's guilty verdict in the trial of Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar and C/Insp Azilah Hadri.

Sirul Azhar and Azilah were freed when the three-person bench ruled that there were serious misdirections by the judge who had heard the case.

However, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail had stated that the prosecution was dissatisfied with the decision as non-direction or misdirection by the trial court judge was not the fault of the prosecution.

He also disagreed with the Court of Appeal's findings that the prosecution's failure to call former Deputy Supt Musa Safri to testify during the trial had struck a significant blow against the prosecution's case.

"DSP Musa's testimony had no relevance as the whole narrative of the prosecution's case had unfolded in the trial before the High Court," he said in a statement.

At the outset, it was the prosecution's case that former political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda had conspired with the two officers to kill Altantuya.

90 workers head to Malaysia

Posted: 27 Aug 2013 10:20 AM PDT

http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/bs017.jpg

Bangladeshi workers in queue at Shahjalal International Airport before they leave for Malaysia    

2000 are expected to go each week 

Rabiul Islam, Dhaka Tribune 

Ninety Bangladeshi workers traveled to Malaysia Tuesday under a government-to-government arrangement, which will see them joining work in the country's plantation sector for a migration cost of around Tk30,000.

A Malaysian Airlines flight (MH-103) carrying the workers left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 1.10pm, Md. Zahidul Islam, assistant director at the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), told the Dhaka Tribune over phone Tuesday.

Eighty-three more workers are scheduled to go to Malaysia on Wednesday, the official added.

"We hope a total of 2,000 workers would go to Malaysia every week from now on," expatriates' welfare secretary Zafar Ahmed Khan told this correspondent at his office on Tuesday.

The secretary said, "We have held meetings with Malaysia's Human Resource Minister and Interior Minister last week, and the labour migration to Malaysia would be expedited under G-to-G system".

Malaysia has also initiated a move to use the same method to recruit from Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, Zafar mentioned.

Earlier Tuesday morning, BMET organised an inaugural ceremony for the Malaysia-bound workers at Haji Camp in the capital's Ashkona.

Speaking as the chief guest, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain urged the recruiting agencies not to create confusion among jobs seekers.

He said a section of private recruiting agencies at home and abroad was claiming that the government would not be able to send workers.

The minister said labour migration to Malaysia has resumed and it would continue. Migration cost would not exceed two months' wages of a worker, he added.

Mosharraf also called upon expat workers not to flee their workplaces, as they would become illegal and face punishment.

Earlier, 198 workers went to Malaysia under the same arrangement.

Meanwhile, a lottery has selected around 30,000 workers to be sent to Malaysia.

The government has also created a database of around 1.5 million workers from across the country.

Nation’s biggest ever crackdown soon

Posted: 27 Aug 2013 10:11 AM PDT

http://www.thestar.com.my/~/media/Images/TSOL/Photos-Gallery/Nation/2013/08/28/main_sy_2808_4a_.ashx?w=620&h=413&crop=1& 

Once arrested, the illegal immigrants will be deported immediately.  

(The Star) -  The authorities will conduct raids mainly in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang and Johor which have been identified as the dens for illegals.

PUTRAJAYA: Come Sunday, the authorities will be hunting down an estimated 500,000 illegal immigrants in the nation's biggest ever operation to flush out unwanted foreigners.

The operation will involve some 135,000 personnel from the Immigration Department, police, Armed Forces, Rela, Civil Defence, National Registration Department and local councils.

The Immigration Department is the lead agency.

The authorities will conduct raids mainly in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang and Johor which have been identified as the dens for illegals.

Once arrested, they will be deported immediately as the Immigration Department does not want its 12 detention centres around the country, each with a capacity of 1,000 people, to be overcrowded.

Employers found hiring illegals could be charged under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Amendment 2010).

Immigration director-general Datuk Alias Ahmad said the department would seek the cooperation of foreign missions through Wisma Putra to issue the illegals with travelling documents to speed up their deportation.

The operation was targeting those who registered under the Illegal Immigrant Comp­rehensive Settle­ment Prog­ramme or 6P but did not turn up for further processing, including legalisation and voluntary deportation, he told The Star.

During the registration, which was conducted for three months ending in October 2011, about 1.3 million of the estimated two million undocumented foreigners registered.

Of those registered, 500,000 applications for legalisation were processed while 330,000 were repatriated.

"We have given them more than a year to take up the offer.

"It is now time for full enforcement," Alias said, adding that the majority of the targets were Indonesians who would be deported from the Pasir Gudang Port in Johor.

It is understood that the others include Bangladeshis, Myanmar nationals, Vietnamese and Nepalese.

Alias said the operation would be like "a cat and mouse" game, but "we are fully prepared for it".

"We are aware that they know we are coming for them, and come Sunday, they will suddenly disappear."

"They can hide, but how long can they hide?

"This is not a one-off crackdown but a three-month non-stop operation throughout the country," he said.

Alias warned that people found guilty of hiring or harbouring illegals may be fined up to RM500,000 and jailed a maximum of 20 years.

He said the authorities would also come down hard on errant employers because they had been given ample time to register and legalise their foreign workers.

"There is no point in surrendering the illegals now," Alias added. 

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

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