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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Ananda’s telco deal under Indian CBI spotlight
- ‘Racist Uthayakumar a BN agent’
- ‘Excuse me officer, we’re bumiputeras’
- MCMC to complete setting up 131 Wifi villages in Sabah this month
- DAP man’s son – from victim to suspect
- Kick out BN, Anwar tells poor
- Penang’s third link in the pipeline
- Lynas says paid Putrajaya for toxic waste cover
- PSD ordered to probe complaints on scholarships
- DAP reaches out to Malays online
- Umno wants Guan Eng
| Ananda’s telco deal under Indian CBI spotlight Posted: 21 May 2011 02:49 AM PDT The Indian Central Bureau of Investigation is looking into alleged discrepancies in the ownership change in Aircel by Ananda Krishnan's Maxis Communications. (Free Malaysia Today) - Business tycoon T Ananda Krishnan could face Indian investigations over his takeover of Chennai-based cellular company Aircel in 2006. The Indian Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is looking into alleged discrepancies in the ownership change in Aircel by Ananda Krishnan's Maxis Communications. The inquiry, as directed by the Indian courts, is to examine decisions taken by the Indian Telecom Ministry, including the decision to allow the takeover of Aircel by the Malaysian telco giant. A report in the New Delhi-based Economic Times today stated that the CBI is likely to name former Telecoms Minister Dayanidhi Maran and Maxis over the ownership change. Maran is now the Indian textile minister. The daily reported that a preliminary investigation is expected to be filed before July 6. "Yes, we are at an advanced stage of investigations into the case. We will be in a position to file the FIR (first information report) before July 6," a CBI official added. During the deal entered by Maxis to takeover Aircel in 2006, the Indian telco was owned by C Sivasankaran. CBI officials investigating the case believed that Sivasankaran was under pressure to strike the deal. According to the Economic Times report, the CBI is likely to allege in the FIR that actions of Maran in not clearing Aircel's application for licences and spectrum as a telecom minister caused Aircel to be sold to Maxis. CBI officials believed, the report added, the delay in granting licence and spectrum to Aircel was a 'ploy' to get them to sell to Maxis. "A person, who was close to the negotiations between Sivasankaran and Maxis at that time, confirmed that pressure was brought upon the former to dispose off his stake," add the report. CBI officials also claimed that Ananda Krishnan was close to the Maran family. Astro's deal under spotlight too Sun Direct is a part of the Sun Group owned by Kalanidhi Maran, southern India's largest vernacular language broadcaster. He is also minister Maran's brother. Economic Times said Dayanidhi Maran refused to comment on the matter.
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| ‘Racist Uthayakumar a BN agent’ Posted: 20 May 2011 06:04 PM PDT Perak DAP leader A Sivanesan shreds the HRP leader, calling the latter a racist whose logic of winning seats did not make sense. (Free Malaysia Today) - Human Rights Party (HRP) leader P Uthayakumar has been accused of being a Barisan Nasional agent out to destroy Pakatan Rakyat's chances of taking Perak and Putrajaya in the next general election. Perak DAP state vice chief A Sivanesan told FMT that HRP just wants to be a spoiler and they do not have the numbers to win the state and parliamentary seats that they have demanded. "Uthayakumar's political aim is always focused on attacking Pakatan and its elected representatives but not BN. Why doesn't he ask BN for the 15 parliamentary and 38 state seats? His political moves and actions indicate that he is a BN agent," he added. Sivanesan said he cannot make sense of Uthayakumar's logic of taking seven state seats and three parliamentary seats in Perak with only Indian votes. "He is a racist by only talking about Indian rights and will not get the support of the Chinese and Malay voters," added the Sungkai assemblyperson. Sivanesan said while Uthayakumar always degraded Pakatan's Indian elected representatives as being "mandores", these "mandores however do not betray the people like him." "He does not have the numbers (voters) to win the seats and he wants to threaten us by demanding to ride piggy-back on our support to win the seats. If they are so sure of getting all the votes of the Indian community then let them stand on their own and lose their deposits," he said. As for the Hindraf rally in 2007, Sivanesan said the huge turnout was because Uthayakumar and his brother Waythamoorthy had baited the Indians with the promise of monetary rewards. The brothers promised to file a Four Trillion British Pound law suit against the British government at the British court and claim US$1 million compensation for every Indian residing in Malaysia. "So, why was the lawsuit not filed to get the so-called compensation as promised. So, it was all a sandiwara on their part to get the support of the Indian community and now Indians have realised the ulterior motive of the brothers and have boycotted all their road shows," said Sivanesan. The DAP leader demanded that the brothers show all the accounts for the public funds collected in the name of Hindraf from 2007 till now. Uthayakumar had wanted to contest in 15 parliamentary and 38 state seats in the coming general election to safeguard the interests of the marginalised Indian community. He had also warned Pakatan that the coalition would lose Perak if it did not come to the negotiation table with HRP.
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| ‘Excuse me officer, we’re bumiputeras’ Posted: 20 May 2011 05:01 PM PDT Malaysians of Siamese descent are having a tough time convincing civil servants that they have bumiputera status. (Free Malaysia Today) - While the cabinet rolls out various policies under the "1Malaysia" concept, bureaucracy continues to reign its ugly head in the civil service. One such example is the status of Malaysians of Siamese descent who after three decades, continue to clarify to the public sector that they are actually bumiputeras by definition. Only about 60,000 strong, the community predominantly resides in the states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kelantan. Most lead an agrarian lifestyle but the younger generation has started to serve in the police force, military, civil service and some in tourism while a handful have become successful entrepreneurs. Despite their impressive forays into the civil service, it is the same sector which discriminates them. Due to the current intense political climate, politicians from both sides have began reaching out to them, as their votes are considered important in rural constituencies. Umno has also amended its constitution to admit Malaysians of Siamese descent as members, and some have played a leading role such as the Malaysia-Thai Association Perlis branch chairman Siw Chun Eam. A former Dewan Negara Senator, the Arau Umno division member, is leading a tireless effort to champion the plight of the community. Muhyiddin: Don't discriminate When Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin came calling on Thursday, Siw Chun made sure he got the message. Expressing gratitude to the government for various incentives and monetary aid, Siw Chun however lamented that many public officers continue to disregard the community's status as bumiputeras. "We have a tough time clarifying and dealing with the federal government departments over our status. It is as if the downline of the civil service is not responsive enough, What is said at the top, is not practised at the bottom," she said. She then spoke about the plight of several children who are stateless, as the national registration department cannot issue birth certificates since one of their parents is born in Thailand.
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| MCMC to complete setting up 131 Wifi villages in Sabah this month Posted: 20 May 2011 04:07 PM PDT (Bernama) - SANDAKAN: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is expected to complete the setting up of 131 WiFi villages in the state this month. MCMC director for Sabah and Labuan, Bukhari Yahya, said at the moment the project, which also covered the rural areas, had reached 50 per cent completion. "Upon completion, people in those villages will be able to access the Internet and are no longer left behind in terms of ICT development," he said. Speaking at a dinner organised by the MCMC here Friday night, Bukhari said the project was among the government's initiatives, through the Information Communication and Culture Ministry, to narrow the digital gap between the urban, rural and interior areas. He said 300 more WiFi villages would be set up in the state in the next phase of the project. Those using the service would only be charged minimally. On the 1Malaysia netbook project, he said, the MCMC had, so far, distributed 49,800 units in the state, mostly to students. - Bernama |
| DAP man’s son – from victim to suspect Posted: 20 May 2011 03:06 PM PDT By Athi Shankar, Free Malaysia Today BUTTERWORTH: A local DAP leader is confused why his son, who was attacked by a group of motorcyclists, has been remanded for a week in connection with the case. Bagan Luar branch chairman G Asoghan wanted to know why his son, Suria Pragasam, 26, the branch youth wing chief, was being "treated like a suspect when he was the victim." "Police should have detained the assailants not the victims," he told FMT. Asoghan could not get any official answer from the North Seberang Perai (SPU) district police headquarters either. The DAP man said he could not get in touch with the investigating officer, only known as Inspector Azlizan, district police chief Zulkifli Alias or other officers in SPU. He claimed that none of them responded to his numerous calls. He alleged that his request to meet with the relevant officers when he went to the SPU police headquarters in Kepala Batas was also turned down. "I was told that the investigating officer did not want to meet anyone until he finished investigating the case. This is unfair, the family has the right to know what is going on," he said. Attempts by FMT to contact Azlizan and Zulkifli were also futile. Until Friday, Asoghan was even prohibited from visiting his son at the Seberang Jaya Hospital, where the latter had been undergoing treatment since last Tuesday's incident. The distraught father then sought the assistance of Bagan Dalam assemblyman A Thanasekaran, a lawyer, to facilitate his visit. Following Thanasekaran's request, Asoghan was allowed to visit his injured son. |
| Posted: 20 May 2011 03:03 PM PDT By Tashny Sukumaran, Free Malaysia Today KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has urged the poor to vote out Barisan Nasional which is on the verge of slashing subsidies. Speaking at a ceramah in Cheras Baru here last night, he flayed Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak for burdening the public but protecting the cronies and independent power producers. Umno, he said, must be ovethrown for "bowing to rich towkays" like T Ananda Krishnan, Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary and YTL. Despite the humidity in the multipurpose hall and insects which buzzed incessantly, Anwar had managed to keep his 1,000- strong audience from the nearby low-cost flats in rapt attention. The crowd clapped, groaned, laughed and chanted "Reformasi" as the opposition leader, known for his fiery oratory skills, took the government to task over several issues. "They give subsidies to poor people and call it opium but when they give it to the rich it is okay although they are the real opium addicts," he said in response to Najib likening petrol subsidies to opium. The prime minister had said that subsidies needed to be cut gradually in order to bring the budget deficit under control. The government plans to reduce the deficit from 5.6% to 5.4% this year, then down to 2.8% by 2015. However, Anwar argued that the subsidies could be maintained if the "dictatorial" BN clamped down on corruption.
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| Penang’s third link in the pipeline Posted: 20 May 2011 02:36 PM PDT By Andrea Filmer, The Star GEORGE TOWN: With the Second Penang bridge project almost 50% complete, Penang has turned its sights towards a proposed third link a Penang-Butterworth sea tunnel. The 6.5km tunnel, proposed by the Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG), will connect Gurney Drive on Penang island and Bagan Ajam in North Seberang Prai. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the project stemmed from a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between BUCG and the state government signed in Putrajaya on Thursday. It was one of eight agreements signed between Malaysia and China in the presence of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Chinese premier Wen Jiabao. Lim said BUCG is an established (state-owned) company in China whose projects included the Bird's Nest Olympic stadium in Beijing. "To get the attention of such a company is a vote of confidence from China on the re-emergence of Penang as a premier location of choice for investors," he said after the opening of the state assembly sitting byYang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas here yesterday. Central Seberang Prai district is currently connected to the island via the Penang Bridge; while the South Seberang Prai district will be connected to Batu Maung on the island by the 24km second link due for completion in November 2013. "The state is intent on pursuing this (third link) as it will place Penang on a strong and firm footing for the next 20 years," he said. Lim added the proposed tunnel would bring economic development to North Seberang Prai, Kepala Batas and Tasek Gelugor along with cutting down traffic congestion in the state. He said the proposed tunnel would be connected to a previously announced 4.2km road linking Gurney Drive to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway. The proposed bypass, along with another 4.6km tunnel road linking Air Itam to the same expressway, has been estimated to cost around RM4bil. |
| Lynas says paid Putrajaya for toxic waste cover Posted: 20 May 2011 01:44 PM PDT By Debra Chong, The Malaysian Insider Lynas Corp has revealed it deposited money with Putrajaya as an indemnity for potentially dangerous residue that may result from processing its radioactive rare earths in its Pahang plant, which is now under review. However, Lynas did not elaborate on the deposit. It also did not disclose the sum paid to the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) under the purview of the science, technology and innovation ministry in charge of approving and monitoring radioactive industries. "Lynas has also agreed to place funds with the Malaysian government to ensure safe management of any remaining residues as required by the AELB," the Australian miner told The Malaysian Insider in a statement. But AELB's director-general Datuk Raja Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan denied his agency had made the deposit a requirement. "It's got nothing to do with AELB. You got to check with Mida. Check with MITI," he told The Malaysian Insider when contacted. The Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (Mida) under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) had successfully pulled Lynas to set up shop here after China — the world's biggest rare earths producer — closed its doors to foreign firms to maintain its 97 per cent chokehold on the global rare earths market. In recent weeks, green groups here and in Australia have been lobbying their respective governments to nix the project ahead of Lynas's September start, citing the company's opaque plans on waste, storage and transport management across 3,000km from the Mount Weld mine in Western Australia to the Gebeng refinery. Lynas has repeatedly stressed it is committed to safety and transparency. In the same statement, the company refuted claims its rare earths cargo breached Australian safety laws and accused naysayers of having personal and political agendas to thwart its business plans. Lynas is among the world's biggest suppliers of rare earths, a group of minerals vital in the manufacture of high technology goods that is eco-friendly but creates toxic by-products in the process.
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| PSD ordered to probe complaints on scholarships Posted: 20 May 2011 10:03 AM PDT By Derrick Vinesh, Rahimy Rahim and Ng Cheng Yee, The Star BALING: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has ordered the Public Service Department to investigate complaints that some SPM top scorers were not offered scholarships. He said those who met the scholarship criteria set by the PSD but were "left out" should inform the department to have it corrected quickly. "The problem does not lie with the Education Ministry as we have already forwarded our list of scholarship candidates. "The PSD should look into the claims made by the MCA. If such cases have happened, they should find a way to rectify it," he told reporters after opening the Baling district education office here yesterday. Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said he attended a briefing by PSD director-general Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Abdullah a few days after the scholarship list was prepared. "It (the selection) was based on a formula that was used last year, which has specific categories and related percentages, as well as conditions of eligibility for those who qualified to receive the scholarships," he said. Muhyiddin said a similar formula was used last year without any hitch, adding that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak generously extended the scholarships to those who scored 8A+ as well since then. Of the 1,750 scholarships offered last year, 971 went to bumiputra students. A total of 4,298 unsuccessful candidates appealed last year and out of them were 1,218 with at least 9A+. Muhyiddin said it was important to ensure that the Government's decision was duly implemented. "It must also be clear that the recipient must have obtained straight A+. I was told that some of them scored straight As, but it comprised three A+, four A- and three As. These students do not meet the scholarship criteria." On Wednesday, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong had said that government officers who failed to follow Cabinet directives was one of the main reasons why top students failed to get scholarships. Meanwhile, MIC vice-president Datuk S.K. Devamany said the party wanted an independent committee to investigate the scholarship distribution. |
| DAP reaches out to Malays online Posted: 20 May 2011 09:43 AM PDT By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider Unable to shake off its tag as a Chinese chauvinist party, DAP is now hoping to make a splash in the Malay online media landscape with a news portal, a step it says it should have taken "a long time ago." Just days after vice chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim's admission that the party has failed to attract Malay support, DAP will launch a Bahasa Malaysia language website — Roketkini.com — in the hopes of making itself heard among Malays. "Right now, there is a huge void for us in the Malay media. You don't hear anything about DAP except for us being attacked," said political secretary to the party's secretary general Zairil Khir Johari. The largely Chinese party has been repeatedly accused by the Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) and Malay media of practising racial politics. The Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia has continually attacked DAP for trying to usurp Malay political power. It also printed an unsubstantiated report recently alleging that church leaders had plotted with DAP to install a Christian as prime minister and turn Malaysia into a Christian state. Roketkini, said Zairil, will not only be a website, but a "brand for us to hold forums, talks and other events in Bahasa Malaysia to reach this demographic." Zairil, who will sit on the board of advisors for the website, added that even though the website would cater mostly to an urban crowd, it was still the best tool for reaching rural Malays. "DAP does not have grassroots in rural areas. So even though we have a Malay version of our party newspaper Rocket, it is difficult for us to distribute it. "The website will actually solve distribution problems for us and even though lower-income Malays may not have a computer, most of them still access the Internet somehow," he said. Roketkini will launch on Monday and lean heavily on Facebook to market itself and interact with readers. Editor Wan Hamidi Hamid said that "it doesn't matter whether they are Mat Rempits, they will still have a Facebook account." "Many of them are carrying laptops and using Facebook because they are so cheap now, cheaper than smartphones," the veteran journalist said. He said they were able to use mobile internet or WiFi services that are now readily available at cafes and even food stalls. Party strategist Liew Chin Tong also said that the young urban vote was the future as 72 per cent of Malaysians were under the age of 40 and made up half of all eligible voters. He added that 65 per cent of Malaysians lived in urban areas.
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| Posted: 20 May 2011 09:39 AM PDT By The Malaysian Insider Many people have ridiculed former Biro Tatanegara chief (BTN) Tan Sri Nordin Kardi for suggesting that the Democratic Action Party (DAP) is a good fit for Barisan Nasional (BN). According to the one-time advisor to Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Lim Kit Siang and company should join BN because their aspirations for a "Malaysian Malaysia" can be achieved under the prime minister's 1 Malaysia. That is a mixture of hyperbole and rubbish by the man who, as head of BTN, nurtured the chauvinism we witness in Umno today. On the face of it, DAP joining BN is like the US Democrats teaming up with the Tea Party or the new reformers in Egypt joining up with Hosni Mobarak's gang — an idea best kept in the category of impossible dreams. But truth be told, elements of the Najib administration have been talking about bringing DAP into the fold for more than a year, ever since they realised that MCA and Gerakan have lost their pull with the Chinese. These elements include corporate figures close to Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Presumably, they have offered to bankroll this endeavour. Under this plan, the main approach would be made to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. Those in Najib's circle believe that the carrot would be that Guan Eng could remain as the chief minister and would get the full financial backing of the federal government to develop Penang. Senior positions in the Cabinet would also be offered to Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh to break down any resistance they have to joining up with their sworn enemies in BN. A key principle of this plan — and its weakest — is the belief the old guard of DAP want to taste being in government before their passing and that Guan Eng will want to stitch up his political career before his father leaves the scene. Underlying this "let's get DAP in plan" is also the grudging respect for the party's dynamism and the philosophy of Najib's father that to make BN stronger, space must be made for more political players — even adversaries. In recent months, some Najib insiders have again raised the value of getting DAP to join BN and have touched base with possible individuals who can broach the subject with the DAP leadership. Once again, the imperative seems to be to snag the Chinese vote and kill off Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and Malaysia's nascent two coalition system. On the surface, this plan does not have the broad support of Umno or BN component parties, especially the MCA and Gerakan. In fact, both these parties hinted at their animosity towards Lim Guan Eng's government in Penang by trying to block several infrastructure projects signed during Chinese Premier's Wen Jiaobao's visit here. In all likelihood, it is a plan hatched by some of Najib's insiders and corporate players, who feel it will be a major boost for Najib if he manages to bring DAP into the fold and destroy PR in one fell swoop. The PM appears aware of this idea, grand to some and utterly ridiculous to others. Ridiculous because the DNA of DAP and BN is as dissimilar as can be. One is a political party which wants to abolish the ISA, OSA and a slew of restrictive legislation, while the other is a coalition which believes that its hold on power is synonymous with the continued existence of these laws.
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