Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Missing: The Star's poll showing 99% support for Bersih
- PKR sacks 29 members for various disciplinary issues
- Malaysian opposition vows huge protest for reform
- Perkasa chief Ibrahim makes a U-turn
- ‘Stubborn’ Ambiga out to score political point, says Khairy
- Ibrahim Ali: I was misunderstood
- Malaysia to fingerprint voters to combat fraud
- Perkasa boss slams ‘old cow’ Kit, ‘rich’ Khairy
- Ex-Labuan MP fined for cheating
- Tian Chua to know his fate by next week
- UMNO Blogger warns Chinese away from Bersih
| Missing: The Star's poll showing 99% support for Bersih Posted: 20 Jun 2011 08:17 PM PDT
(Harakah Daily) - A poll on the July 9 Bersih rally by The Star's online edition has disappeared after registering more than one million responses.
Earlier, Harakahdaily reported that the poll result showed that 99% of respondents were in support of the rally called by electoral reform group Bersih in Kuala Lumpur next month. However, at press time (5.25pm), not only the question has been reverted to an earlier poll about Ron95 petrol purchase by foreign-registered cars, its result was also missing from its archives. Earlier, the result page for the poll showed a page with the message "Record not found". The question on the poll reads: "What is your view on the proposed Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9?", to which 99 percent of the respondents chose the answer "It should be allowed to go on", as opposed to the remaining option, "It should be cancelled".
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| PKR sacks 29 members for various disciplinary issues Posted: 20 Jun 2011 08:10 PM PDT
(NST) - Parti Keadilan Rakyat has released a list of 29 members who have been sacked for various disciplinary issues including contesting as candidates of other parties during the last Sarawak state elections, posting negative comments about party leadership on Facebook and taking part in activities organised by opposing parties. Its disciplinary bureau chairman Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong, who released the list, told reporters that the image of the party in the past one year has been affected due to MPs who left to become independent. The lists, he said, included two groups of people who were marked for disciplinary action after party elections last October and after the Sarawak polls in April. "This is a serious situation especially when we are facing the 13th general elections. It is also the season for choosing candidates so I hope all party members follow our constitution. If you are not satisfied, please use channels available in the party (to present grouses) instead of going to the media," he told reporters at the PKR headquarters here. "She said Facebook was a private (channel for) conversation. But as far as we are concerned Facebook is not private because many people have access to it." Those in the sack list however, will be given two chances to appeal, he said. Wanita PKR chief and Ampang MP Zuraidah Kamaruddin said this was the first time PKR released such lists. "These people still do not appreciate our gesture (not to name them). They continue to accuse us and make all kinds of claims. We want the public to know that they are no longer with the party and they should not be making statements on behalf of the party.
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| Malaysian opposition vows huge protest for reform Posted: 20 Jun 2011 06:40 PM PDT
(AP) - MALAYSIAN activists demanding electoral reforms vowed on Tuesday to hold a massive demonstration next month, raising fears of clashes with police in what could be the country's biggest street protest in nearly four years. Opposition-backed activists said they expect tens of thousands of people to march to the national palace in Kuala Lumpur on July 9 to demand sweeping changes in polling laws aimed at curbing fraud ahead of general elections widely expected within a year. Two other influential politicians - the outspoken youth leader of Malaysia's ruling party and an independent federal lawmaker - have responded with separate plans for two other counter-demonstrations on the same day, rattling Malaysian authorities who fear a day of widespread disruptions. Malaysian police have said they will try to block all three protests, which have the potential of taking a racial tinge because the supporters of the ruling party and the independent lawmaker are entirely Malays while the opposition ranks are made up of not only Malays but also ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities. Relations between Malays, who form nearly two-thirds percent of Malaysia's 28 million people, and the ethnic minorities have suffered in recent years over complaints by the Chinese and Indians that the Malay-dominated government discriminates against them. Although rallies are not uncommon in Malaysia, simultaneous large-scale protests by rival groups on the same day are unheard of.
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| Perkasa chief Ibrahim makes a U-turn Posted: 20 Jun 2011 06:18 PM PDT
After stirring the hornest' s nest, Ibrahim Ali claims his words were twisted and taken out of context and that he was merely advising the Chinese community. (Free Malaysia Today) - Now Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali has latched on to politicians' favourite phrase "I was misquoted." On Sunday, he was reported to have made racist threats against the Chinese community. But after stirring the hornest 's nest, he is back-pedalling by saying what he really meant was that he was advising the Chinese community to stay away from the Bersih rally slated for July 9. Ibrahim said he merely "advised" the Chinese community not to participate in the planned rally and denied any insinuations against the community or that a racial clash could occur. The Pasir Mas MP said his observation was that the Chinese community traditionally shied away from joining street demonstrations and his statement merely encouraged them to do the same when the rally was held. "I said it was better for the Chinese to stay home and if they need to, stock up on food… what does that mean? That means that usually, when there are street protests, I do not see the Chinese participating," he told reporters in Parliament here. "The Chinese never participate in street demonstrations as far as I am concerned. So this demonstration… I foresee those participating will be the Malays from PAS, Umno and us so it will be a clash among the Malays… so in order to prevent it from spreading to the other races, I said that it is better for the Chinese to stay back, that is all," he added. Transitional government On Sunday, Ibrahim, who declared himself to be a "war general" leading a counter rally against Bersih, was quoted as saying that his outfit should not be held responsible for any untoward incidents should Bersih continue with its protest on July 9. He was also reported to have warned the Chinese against joining the rally, asking them to stay home and "stock up on food" in reference to the Emergency period imposed during the racial riots of 1969 that left scores dead. It was reported by online news portal The Malaysian Insider whom Ibrahim accused of twisting his words and "spinning" the issue. "The Malaysian Insider twisted my words to say that if the Chinese come out, there will be problems and we will attack them and that is why they should stay at home. I did not mean that… that is the meaning of the idiot from The Malaysian Insider," he said.
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| ‘Stubborn’ Ambiga out to score political point, says Khairy Posted: 20 Jun 2011 05:28 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Khairy Jamaluddin said today Bersih chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan's refusal to meet the Election Commission(EC) ahead of a July 9 rally is proof that "she is raising the stakes politically." The Umno Youth chief, who will also lead his own public rally in the city on the same day, said that the group pursuing electoral reforms "has scored a moral victory" in forcing the EC to come to the table but was insistent on making a political point. "She is being stubborn. She can be cooperative but she wants to see this take place. If she won't even discuss with the EC before dismissing them as powerless, then it is disingenuous to say you are pursuing reforms," the Rembau MP told The Malaysian Insider. Ambiga had declined the EC's offer to discuss electoral reforms saying the commission had admitted it lacked the authority to act on blatant abuses and that the reforms needed to be tabled in Parliament anyway. Khairy said today that it was meaningless for Bersih to talk about being independent as it clearly was looking to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to champion its cause in Parliament. "Why not meet the EC first, there is still two weeks before July 9? Then decide if any progress can be made. But she is clearly not interested and simply wants to make a political point. "All Malaysians want to avoid a confrontation but she has raised the stakes politically," he added. Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties and activists are gearing up to march next month in the second such rally by Bersih, the first being in 2007 when up to 50,000 were reported to have gathered in the capital, with many being dispersed by water cannons and tear gas fired by the police.
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| Ibrahim Ali: I was misunderstood Posted: 20 Jun 2011 05:24 PM PDT
"I am talking to the reporter. You want to talk to me, you talk to me after this. Do not interrupt me. I can see you after this... bloody idiot," he said. (The Malaysian Insider) - Under attack for his race riot insinuations over the Bersih rally, Datuk Ibrahim Ali came out saying he's "misunderstood" and his statement on the Chinese was advice and not a threat. Repeatedly blaming The Malaysian Insider for twisting his statement on Sunday out of context, an angry-looking Ibrahim told Parliament reporters he is willing to be investigated for sedition since he has done nothing wrong. He explained that when he told the Chinese community to stay home and stock up on food on the day of the Bersih rally, he was not insinuating that they would be attacked or that the gathering would turn into a bloody racial clash. "I said it was better for the Chinese to stay home and if they need to, stock up on food... what does that mean? That means that usually, when there are street protests, I do not see the Chinese participating. "The Chinese never participate in street demonstrations as far as I am concerned. So this demonstration, I foresee that it will be the Malays from PAS participating and then Umno and us so it will be a clash among the Malays... so in order to avoid from it spreading to the other races, I said that it is better for the Chinese to stay back, that is all," he said. The Malaysian Insider reported the Pasir Mas MP as saying on Sunday during he launch of Perkasa's counter-protest against Bersih that the Chinese community should stay indoors on July 9 and stock up on food as "anything could happen". Several lawmakers across the political divide have lambasted Ibrahim for turning the rally, which calls for free and fair elections, into a racial issue. "TMI twisted my words to say that if the Chinese come out there will be problems and we will attack them and that is why they should stay at home. I did not mean that... that is the meaning of the idiot of The Malaysian Insider," he said.
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| Malaysia to fingerprint voters to combat fraud Posted: 20 Jun 2011 05:18 PM PDT
(AFP) - MALAYSIA has unveiled plans to fingerprint voters to combat fraud in the next elections, under pressure from activists planning a mass rally next month over claims of rampant vote-rigging. Opposition parties and electoral campaigners say the July 9 protest will highlight allegations that the electoral process is rife with double-voting and other irregularities that stifle the opposition. The next polls are not due until 2013 but the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, which denies charges that it unfairly influences the Election commission (EC), is widely expected to go to the people by next year. EC chairman Abdul Aziz Mohamad Yusof said it plans to record voters' fingerprints to verify their identities before allowing them to cast their ballots, according to national news agency Bernama. 'Then (a voter) will be considered to have voted, and the individual concerned cannot go to another polling station with the identity card to again cast his or her vote,' he was quoted as saying late Monday. Andrew Khoo from electoral campaigners Bersih welcomed the move but said that technical difficulties could hamper the process as many Malaysian identity cards are believed to contain faulty chips. 'In principle that may well be one of the ways to combat double voting,' he told AFP. 'But we would need to look at how they plan to implement it.'
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| Perkasa boss slams ‘old cow’ Kit, ‘rich’ Khairy Posted: 20 Jun 2011 05:05 PM PDT
Ibrahim Ali criticises his critics, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin. (Free Malaysia Today) - Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali lashed out at DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang, calling the veteran politician an "old cow". He also took the "rich" Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin to task, and welcomed the latter's call on the police to investigate him under the Sedition Act. Khairy had urged the police to investigate Ibrahim following his comments on Sunday after the Perkasa boss launched Gerak Aman to counter the Bersih 2.0 rally scheduled for July 9. During the launch, Ibrahim had warned the Chinese to stock up on food since anything could happen on that day. His remarks also irked Lim, who criticised the authorities for not acting against Ibrahim. Commenting on this, the Perkasa boss said: "I am very proud to hear the criticisms from Lim. I feel that I am great." "To me, he (Lim) is like an 'old cow' that wouldn't have tender meat even after boiling. We know who Lim is since May 13," he added, referring to the racial riots which took place in 1969. In rebuking Khairy, Ibrahim questioned why Umno Youth was holding a rally without support from MCA, MIC and Gerakan Youth wings. "He is BN Youth leader in name only," he mocked. Khairy had announced last week that Umno Youth would also hold a peaceful assembly on July 9 to submit proposals for reforming the elections. "Umno Youth's assembly without a police permit is also against the law. Is Khairy willing to do that or is it just a gimmick?" asked Ibrahim. 'He became rich fast' The Perkasa boss also accused Khairy of assuming the duties of the inspector-general of police. "Why doesn't Khairy instruct the police to investigate the allegations of money politics against himself that was levelled by the Umno disciplinary committee and his role in ECM Libra?
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| Ex-Labuan MP fined for cheating Posted: 20 Jun 2011 04:08 PM PDT
The Court of Appeal in Sabah has overturned a decision by the Kota Kinabalu High Court to set aside a former MP's conviction and sentence. (Free Malaysia Today) - If former Labuan MP Suhaili Abdul Rahman had any plans of returning to politics with a vengeance, they were blown away when the Court of Appeal ruled against him in a case stretching back more than 15 years. The Court of Appeal here yesterday overturned the High Court's decision to set aside Suhaili's conviction and sentence for failing to declare he was bankrupt when making a loan application in 1996. Federal Court judge Md Raus Sharif, who sat together with Court of Appeal judges Sulong Matjeraie and Mohamed Apandi Ali yesterday, allowed the prosecution's appeal against the High Court's verdict last year. In an unanimous decision, the three judges held that the High Court was wrong in its decision as the criminal offence remained although Suhaili's bankruptcy status was later annulled. "The Sessions Court's decision in convicting and imposing the fine on the respondent (Suhaili) is reinstated," said Md Raus, and ordered Suhaili to pay the RM10,000 fine. The court made the decision after hearing arguments from deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Bache from Putrajaya and Suhaili's counsel Rakhbir Singh. Suhaili, 48, was fined RM10,000 in default one month's jail by Sessions Court judge Duncan Sikodol on March 10, last year, after the former pleaded guilty to acting as a guarantor for a RM110,000 loan and a RM50,000 overdraft sought by Syarikat Saraequity Sdn Bhd to buy an apartment on the second floor of Api-Api Centre here, without informing the Malayan Banking Bhd Kota Kinabalu branch that he was a bankrupt. The charge stated that Suhaili had committed the offence at the bank's premises on April 3, 1996. He was charged under Section 109 (1) (m) (iii) of the Bankruptcy Act 1967 which provides for a jail term of up to two years or a fine, or both. Suhaili filed a notice of appeal on March 16 and the High Court set aside his conviction and sentence and ordered the fine already paid by the latter to be returned.
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| Tian Chua to know his fate by next week Posted: 20 Jun 2011 03:30 PM PDT
House Speaker says he is currently deliberating on the matter and is in consultation with legal advisers. (Free Malaysia Today) - PKR vice-president Tian Chua will know by next week if he will remain as Batu MP, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia said today. Pandikar said he is currently deliberating on the matter and is in consultation with legal advisers and will decide next week after the issue was raised by Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali via a letter. Last week, Minister in the Prime Minister Department Nazri Abdul Aziz said lawmakers from the ruling coalition had initially wanted to submit a motion urging the House to decide on the matter immediately but hit the breaks in the last minute, saying the move was "ungentleman like".
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| UMNO Blogger warns Chinese away from Bersih Posted: 20 Jun 2011 10:29 AM PDT
(TMI) After a similar threat from Perkasa's Datuk Ibrahim Ali Sunday, the Chinese community was yesterday warned against participating in next month's Bersih rally via an email thread making its rounds to several media organisations here. [Watch video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhru48BS82k - MTadmin] The email, sent by a self-proclaimed nationalist and blogger with the pseudonym "Panglima Perang Cyber" (cyber war commander), came with an attached video found on Youtube.com of the infamous May 1998 racial riots in Indonesia that caused the deaths of hundreds. "Are the Chinese in Malaysia willing to accept the same fate as their brethren in Indonesia if our country goes into chaos? "So let us 1 Malaysia Malay, Chinese and Indians reject the Bersih demonstration for the good of our grandchildren. Watch the video below," the email read. The email was delivered to the inboxes of 18 pro-Malay and pro-BN Facebook groups and carbon copied to media organisations like The Malaysian Insider, Berita Harian, Utusan Malaysia, Kosmo! and PAS organ Harakah. The Malaysian Insider traced the writer to a blog site at http://penembak-tepat.blogspot.com/ where he/she described his/herself as a "defender of the country" who fights wholeheartedly for religion, race and the nation in the cyber world". Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/blogger-warns-chinese-away-from-bersih/
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MISSING ... The results of the poll as at 9.30 am today
The number of respondents is possibly the highest recorded by any online poll conducted by the online edition of The Star, which boasts of the highest number of visitors among other mainstream dailies with internet presence.
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