Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Police under probe over stolen cars
- Perkasa demands 67pc Bumi quota for PSD scholarships
- Malaysia questions treatment of Aborigines
- Concerns over lack of interest in OKU rights
- PKR denies being in financial quandary
- 3.9 million Malaysians yet to register as voters
- ‘Attack on Shi’ites a diversion tactic’
- LRT lobbying tests Najib’s resolve to push public tenders
- Truth buried in the printed pages
- No Chinese Reps in Cabinet After GE13?
- Najib explains why fuel prices remain unchanged
- Merit v manpower needs
| Police under probe over stolen cars Posted: 26 May 2011 11:04 PM PDT
Bukit Aman is investigating several police officers for their alleged link with a syndicate specialising in re-selling stolen vehicles. (Free Malaysia Today) - Bukit Aman police are investigating several of their own men over an alleged link with a syndicate selling stolen cars, sources said today. The officers are being investigated for allegedly handing over stolen cars which have been recovered by police, to the syndicate instead of returning them to their rightful owners. These stolen cars would then be re-conditioned and resold to unsuspecting second-hand car dealers or private owners. It is also alleged that the syndicate has contacts in the Road Transport Department who would ensure the "re-conditioned" cars would not be blacklisted. A source said that the syndicate's cover was blown open last year when investigators from an insurance company was preparing to reimburse a victim of a car theft. They had tracked down the stolen car which had been re-conditioned. "The insurance agency then found out that there were many cases where these stolen cars are on the road or being sold, and lodged a police report," the source said. Bukit Aman then swung to action and has been confiscating these "second-hand" cars since early this year. The source also said that more light was shed on the syndicate when police conducted a highly publicised raid at a warehouse at Taman Wahyu, Kepong, in July last year. There they uncovered a "mini zoo" of illegally traded wildlife. In the raid, police also recovered 42 stolen vehicles worth about RM1 million. Two men were arrested. Police had said then that the syndicate members would disguise themselves as insurance agents specialising in stealing impounded cars. Disciplinary unit When contacted, Bukit Aman CID director Mohd Bakri Zinin said today he could only reveal more details on Monday after a briefing from his men. Bakri said he had received several calls since the case was highlighted by DAP's Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng in a press conference earlier today. Lim, who lodged a report at the Sentul police district headquarters, claimed that over 60 cars have been confiscated by Bukit Aman's disciplinary division. It is believed that the syndicate has been operating for at least two years. Lim claimed that the fact that the disciplinary unit was looking into the case showed that police are investigating their own men. "The only role of the (disciplinary) unit is to investigate police wrongdoings. Under normal circumstances, stolen car cases are under a different department," he told FMT. Lim said he has been receiving more than 15 complaints from used-car dealers from Selayang, Serdang, and Kepong since December last year. "The latest complaint – from Setiawan, Perak – prompted me to lodge the report today because we now have documents to prove that the police may be involved in foul play," he said. He said that another owner was robbed of his Mercedes C200 Compressor on March 13, 2009, and had lodged a police report and made an insurance claim. "An undated letter from an Inspector Saiful Irwan Abdul Hamid from the CID department in Ampang Jaya district police headquarters stated that the car was found and returned to the owner, but he never got back his car," said Lim.
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| Perkasa demands 67pc Bumi quota for PSD scholarships Posted: 26 May 2011 11:01 PM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - Perkasa demanded today that the government set a 67 per cent quota for Bumiputeras in Public Service Department (PSD) scholarships to reflect their ratio in the population. "Seeing that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government, which is the ruling coalition, came into power because of majority support from the Malays and Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputeras, and also based on the federal constitution, this group must be prioritised in all allocations, including JPA scholarships," Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali told reporters today, referring to the PSD using its Malay acronym. "The quota now (for Bumiputeras) is 55 per cent," he said, after emerging from a discussion with PSD director-general Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Haji Abdullah here today. The president of the Malay rights group pointed out that the Bumiputera share of PSD's 1,500 overseas scholarships had fallen from 90 per cent in 2007 to 55 per cent in 2008, and has stayed there since. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz previously said the government had allocated 1,500 overseas scholarships to top students, but only 300 of the total were given based entirely on merit to students scoring straight 9A+. The remaining 1,200 overseas grants, he said, were distributed according to those qualified within four categories — Sabah Bumiputeras (five per cent), Sarawak Bumiputeras (five per cent), social composition or the population's racial composition (60 per cent) and socially handicapped (10 per cent). Nazri also said PSD had an allocation of 2,500 local scholarships and reiterated that in tandem with the prime minister's pledge last year, all SPM students who scored straight 8A+ and above were guaranteed a place in either local or foreign institutions. Today, Ibrahim accused MCA and MIC today of exploiting the PSD scholarship wrangling for political mileage. "When they fight for their race, they want to score political points," said the Pasir Mas MP.
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| Malaysia questions treatment of Aborigines Posted: 26 May 2011 06:19 PM PDT By Karlis Salna, AAP South-East Asia Correspondent, The Sydney Morning Herald Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Bali, Mr Aman lashed out at suggestions the 800 asylum seekers covered by the deal could be caned, saying Malaysia was a civilised nation. "Australians always have fears," he told AAP on Friday. Advertisement: Story continues below When asked if he could guarantee that asylum seekers would not be caned, he said: "We won't treat them like you have treated Aborigines." The comments come in the wake of criticism of the asylum seeker transfer deal linked to Malaysia's record on human rights. A series of Amnesty International reports have detailed how asylum seekers in Malaysia are subjected to abuse and extortion, and live in constant fear of deportation. Thousands are believed to be beaten and caned every year. "I don't know (why) you think that we cane those people," Mr Aman said. "We are a very civilised nation. If we are not civilised then you (Australia) are the ones to blame, because most of our politicians are Australian graduates.
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| Concerns over lack of interest in OKU rights Posted: 26 May 2011 06:17 PM PDT KUALA LUMPUR, May 27: The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) has criticised the government for not helping disabled people (OKUs) causing many of them failing to achieve in life. OKUs need opportunities, not merely sympathy
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| PKR denies being in financial quandary Posted: 26 May 2011 03:49 PM PDT
The party's secretary-general stresses that the eviction issue concerns the building's landlord and not PKR's coffers. (Free Malaysia Today) - PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution denied allegations that the party is in a financial quandary as the opposition lynchpin faces eviction from its current headquarters. The Machang MP maintained that the core problem with the eviction is the building's landlord as the party has been prompt in paying rent. "We are not in any financial problem. It is the owner who has a problem with the bank as we have been paying rent without fail," he told FMT. PKR is facing possible eviction from their headquarters located in upmarket Merchant Square Tropicana here after the building owner failed to service the bank loan. According to news reports, a bank auction notice has been put up near the Merchant Square premises, and the auction price of the building is estimated to be between RM460,000 to RM1 million per unit. The auction is slated for June 9. It is learnt that PKR is paying close to RM20,000 monthly to a company called Ainb-Tech Sdn Bhd to rent the premises. The PKR headquarters takes up eight floors. Some party leaders like vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar and former deputy president, Syed Hussin Syed Ali, have questioned the timing of the auction, hinting at a possible government conspiracy to harass PKR by whatever means. BN conspiracy? "PKR may have to relocate, the building we are renting will be auctioned. ROS sent a letter to shut down the party. Enforcement dates for both are on June 9. Coincidence?" said Syed Husin on his Twitter posting. Saifuddin, however, refused to be drawn into the speculation and insisted that the eviction mess is limited to the problem between the bank and the landlord.
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| 3.9 million Malaysians yet to register as voters Posted: 26 May 2011 03:34 PM PDT
(Bernama) - The 3.9 million Malaysians aged 21 and above have been advised to quickly register as voters so as not to affect their chances of voting in the coming general election. Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the advice was given as the process for voting eligibility would take two to three months.
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| ‘Attack on Shi’ites a diversion tactic’ Posted: 26 May 2011 02:56 PM PDT Islamic authorities and the Malay mainstream media have joined forces to attack the Shi'ite community, a leader said. (Free Malaysia Today) - Raids conducted against the Shi'ite Islamic community are nothing more than a distraction from the bigger picture, a local organisation said. Ar-Ridha director Mohd Kamilzuhairi Abdul Aziz said that the Selangor Islamic Department (JAIS) had more pressing concerns than harrassing Shi'ite believers. "JAIS' actions are seen as an effort to shift public opinion from the increasing social problems that it is unable to overcome," he said in a press statement. Kamilzuhairi claimed that there were over 250,000 babies born out of wedlock; a number that was on the rise. "JAIS also has to curb the widespread use of alcohol," he said, adding that Malaysians were some of the heaviest drinkers in the world. He said that JAIS should have had its hands full tackling social problems, but was wasting its time attacking the Shi'ite community. He also warned that persecution by the state went against resolutions drafted by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) which supported the Shi'ite school of thought. On May 24, a group of JAIS officials and police officers gatecrashed a Gombak celebration organised by the Shi'ite community. Although given official permission with assurances that it was not a religious Shi'ite event, the authorities were nevertheless relentless. Four Shi'ite community leaders were also arrested.
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| LRT lobbying tests Najib’s resolve to push public tenders Posted: 26 May 2011 12:34 PM PDT By The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 — The award of a contract to upgrade the light rail transit (LRT) line to European engineering powerhouse Balfour Beatty has sparked intense lobbying which is testing Datuk Seri Najib Razak's commitment to public tenders.
According to a report in today's Singapore Straits Times, the intense lobbying over the contract could also delay the PM's plans to upgrade the chaotic transport network and inject fresh vigour into Malaysia's economy. It is also shaping up to be a test of Najib's resolve to make public tenders a hallmark of his administration, as opposed to the opaque system of the past, the Straits Times said. Syarikat Prasarana Negara has just completed an international tender for upgrading the LRT. But Prasarana's yet-to-be publicised decision to award the contract to the lowest bidder — a consortium led by European engineering powerhouse Balfour Beatty — is being hotly contested behind the scenes by the losing bidders, executives familiar with the situation told the Singapore Straits Times. "The rivals include Bombardier, which installed the city's existing light rail system, and Britain's Colas. According to executives close to the tender exercise, the lowest bid was Balfour Beatty's at RM590 million. The highest was Bombardier's at RM850 million," the Straits Times reported. How Najib handles the Prasarana award will signal whether he can break away from past practices and introduce a more level playing field in the award of contracts, analysts and private economists told the Straits Times. If the government decides to review the contract, it could raise speculation that the intense lobbying prompted him to step in. "There is a strong lobby with people close to the PM to change the decision," one industry executive closely involved in the tender exercise told the Straits Times. This executive said the Balfour Beatty consortium could face problems integrating with the existing systems installed by Bombardier. But parties close to Balfour Beatty said those concerns were misplaced. "These issues were considered by the Prasarana board before it came to the decision," said one engineering consultant familiar with the tender exercise. Prasarana had been forced last week to cave in to pressure from Malay rights groups when it revised pre-qualification criteria for several construction packages for the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT). The project owner said last week that contractors who wish to tender for elevated civil works, stations and depots work construction packages will be allowed to form joint ventures or consortiums among local companies. Prasarana had on March 30 imposed additional criteria on contractors taking part in the project tender which disallowed them from forming joint ventures or consortiums. But Perkasa was quick to accuse Prasarana of blocking Bumiputera contractors from participating by enforcing "strict" guidelines that would only benefited "rich non-Bumis", saying that MMC-Gamuda was "looting and monopolising" the project.
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| Truth buried in the printed pages Posted: 26 May 2011 12:24 PM PDT By Jeswan Kaur, Free Malaysia Today Not so long ago "don't believe all that you read in the newspaper" was said in jest. Now, unfortunately there is a ring of truth to this statement. Ask just about anyone what they think about the mainstream media and chances are you will get a look of disgust. The mainstream media is owned by political parties and their glossed-over news coverage has given rise to the alternative media. The Barisan Nasional (BN) has a stake in all the country's premier' newspapers such as New Straits Times (NST), The Star, Utusan Malaysia, Tamil Nesan and Sin Chiew Jit Poh through its investment companies The Utusan Melayu Group is owned by Umno and publishes three Malay language dailies. The major English newspapers, The Star and New Straits Times, are also owned by the political parties. The Star is owned by the MCA while NST is owned by Umno. Besides The Star, MCA also controls four other dailies – Sin Chew Jit Poh, Nanyang Siang Pau, China Press and Guang Ming Daily. Private interests aligned with the MIC control Tamil newspapers such as Makkal Osai and Tamil Nesan. Under such tight leash, the mainstream media are left with no space to engage in a fair and free reporting. They end up parroting all that the government of the day says. Take, for example, the incident in 1995 where an investigative team from The Sun newspaper investigated the circumstances leading to the deaths of 59 detainees, mostly Bangladeshis, in an illegal immigration detention camp. These detainees died of beri-beri, a symptom of malnutrition and typhoid, which is easily preventable. The team's report stating that it was a case of criminal neglect on the part of the police who ran the camp was spiked hours before it went to print. Bias reporting continues But what the NST did is nothing new. Be it the by-elections or general election, these mainstream newspapers do a good job of serving their political masters and betraying the trust of their readers. The NST is not the only culprit. The government-owned Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) channels have long forgotten the importance of reporting without fear or favour. RTM1's Berita Wilayah aired at 5pm daily is a classic example of how reporting is manipulated by the "powers that be". The one-hour news has all things good to say about the BN government's "remarkable" job in serving the people when the truth really is otherwise. Likewise, the television stations including those owned by Media Prima do not have the guts to report the truth. At best, they do a fantastic job of glossing over BN and condemning the opposition parties. |
| No Chinese Reps in Cabinet After GE13? Posted: 26 May 2011 12:16 PM PDT By Dajmarizal Zolkipli. Malaysian Digest In a country that is currently working hard to push for a racial unity, the cohesive pronouncements from BN 's two main honchos somehow emphasized BN's obsession with race politics.
The same goes for Najib's statement. Now the Chinese are forced to be more obliged to vote for MCA or else there will no longer be Chinese ministers in the Cabinet. This also has given rise to the question of whether we need to have Chinese representatives in the government for their voice to be heard. The rakyat is also more aware on the importance of maintaining unity among races and BN has lost touch with this collective standpoint even with Najib's introduction of 1Malaysia. While the rakyat is crying out for unity, BN leaders have failed to make significant progress to strengthen the camaraderie among the diverse cultures of this country. |
| Najib explains why fuel prices remain unchanged Posted: 26 May 2011 12:13 PM PDT By Mergawai Zulfakar, The Star "This means the Government will have to consider alternative measures when we decide not to increase the price of fuel," he added. (the 11.13am online version)
TOKYO: The plight of the rakyat was uppermost in the Government's mind when it decided not to increase the price of RON 95 petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the decision was made despite the heavier financial burden on the Government. "I hope the rakyat will appreciate the Government's decision because we are only thinking of their plight although from the macro economic point of view, maintaining such a huge subsidy does not constitute good governance. "It may be a bit difficult for the people to understand this but for those who know elementary economics, they will understand," the Prime Minister told reporters here yesterday at the end of his trip to Japan where he delivered an address at the Nikkei International Conference and met Japanese captains of industry. Asked how long the Government would be able to sustain the subsidy, Najib said: "I don't know, nobody knows. It will depend on the price of oil on the world market." He said the Government would do its best to look at creative ways of managing the increase in subsidy. Najib said the Government had initially budgeted RM11bil for subsidies this year but with the increase in global oil prices, the amount in direct subsidies had ballooned to RM20bil. "This means the Government will have to consider alternative measures when we decide not to increase the price of fuel," he added. On claims that the Government's decision pointed towards a general election soon, Najib replied: "People can always connect these two. That is the normal game in Malaysia anyway. "So it does not surprise me. What is important is that we are always concerned about the plight of the rakyat and that is always uppermost in our mind." Najib also said that during his meeting with Japanese businessmen, he told them the Government would continue to maintain its investor-friendly policies. He also announced that Japanese companies would invest RM3.8bil by the end of next year. "These are confirmed investments although I cannot reveal the details yet. "For long-term investments, Japanese companies will invest RM5.22bil between 2013 and 2015 in various projects," he said. |
| Posted: 26 May 2011 12:09 PM PDT By Terence Fernandes, the Sun DEPUTY Education Minister Datuk Wee Ka Siong has been on the receiving end of brickbats on "Twitterjaya". Unlike his minister, Wee is an active member of the social media network and has been fighting a losing battle trying to convince some of his 5,500-plus followers and others that all is above board in the awarding of Public Service Department scholarships to top SPM scorers. Wee took pains to explain that full PSD scholarships would be given to straight A+ students – not merely straight A's. However, he also put himself out there by stating that 363 straight A+ scorers had failed to secure scholarships, taking the PSD to task for denying Malaysia's crème de la crème the opportunities they deserve. The government promised last year that all students who scored eight 8A+ and more in the 2010 SPM will get a PSD scholarship. The problem is, it did not specify what courses they will be offered, hence there are bound to be disgruntled students who did not get their chosen field of study despite doing their part – studying hard and acing their exams. Hence, there is this perception that every year, there are more than a few who slip through the cracks. One example is Selwyn Jong of Kuching who scored 9A+ but instead of a university placement, was given matriculation – a place he could have secured with 5As. Another example is P. Kugnethran from Selangor who scored 12A+. Instead of getting the medical course he so wanted, Kugnethran was offered a diploma in animal husbandry from Universiti Putra Malaysia while those with less than stellar results won choice courses at top varsities abroad. Selwyn and Kugnethran approached the MCA and MIC respectively to intercede for them and get them the courses they feel they deserve. It is learnt that Selwyn's case is pending while Kugnethran has managed to secure a spot to do medicine. While one lauds those who helped this youth to fulfil his dream, such episodes are repeated every year. The announcement of the SPM results is followed by dissatisfaction over the awarding of PSD scholarships. Accusations of biasness make its rounds at this time every year. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz explained the awarding of PSD scholarships this way: There are two primary categories – the overseas degree programme (PILN) for 1,500 selected students and the local degree programme (PIDN) for 2,500 students. From the 4,000 PILN and PIDN scholarships awarded, 2,183 spots (55%) were allocated for bumiputras and 1,817 (45%) for non-bumiputras. He was reported as saying that only 8,857 from the 16,900 students who applied for PILN scholarships met the PSD requirements, with 7,277 (43.1%) of them being bumiputras and 9,623 (56.9%) non-bumiputras. Only 1,500 PILN scholarships were offered and 300 were given on merit. "Unsuccessful applicants have the PIDN option which offers 2,500 spots," he said. Should they fail both, students will still be eligible for the 8,000 scholarships at matriculation or diploma levels. Question is, what exactly are the PSD scholarships criteria? They cover extra curricular activities and aptitude tests including an interview – where it is learnt non-bumiputra students often do not do as well. While one agrees that limited seats would mean not everyone will get what they ask for, PSD director-general Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Abdullah's explanation that scholarships are offered based on "manpower needs" leaves much to the imagination. It also illustrates that each official – minister and public servant alike – has his or her own reasons and interpretation about what constitutes an eligible PSD applicant. If manpower needs is the criteria, it does not explain why there are top scorers who do not get the best courses and underperformers who do. Granted, an all-rounder who scores 6A+ may be more eligible than a kaki bangku who scored full marks; but is it right to penalise a child who's only calling is the classroom and not the football field as well? And does 8A+ by a son of a tapper in a rural estate have more value than 12A+ by a son of a doctor in the big city? Is it therefore acceptable that there are limited spaces for PSD scholarships – to the tune of only 4,000 spots when there are double that number who qualify? If we check the leakages in public procurement, could we not have enough to ensure all our top scorers have a shot at being the best that they can possibly be? Is it illogical to expect your government to ensure that everyone has a chance? After all, what message are we sending to our youth when we say: "Study hard and you'll get a place in university to study whatever you want"? In Brunei, the cream of the crop are sponsored for overseas studies while the rest are given spots in local varsities. OK, so this may not be the best example, but one gets the drift. Every year, we lose top students to Singapore which uses the carrot of the prestigous Asean Scholarships to attract the best brains of other countries. Due to the additional incentive of secured jobs and attachments in the public and private sectors, many Asean scholars continue to live in and contribute to Singapore's growth. The fact that there are 600,000 Malaysians (of course not all of them are Asean scholars) living in and contributing to the island republic's growth is an indication that we have not been doing enough to keep our best at home. As the bar for excellence is raised and the government is spending time, effort and money to stop the brain drain, it is unfathomable how some policies contradict these efforts. It seems that some people are not talking to each other, leaving a confused state of affairs for our children. |
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