Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Mat Sabu mum on Utusan attack, says can’t recall Aug 21 speech
- Utusan says Mat Sabu wants to turn Malaysia into a republic
- Anti-Chinese sentiment gaining ground in Malaysia
- 'Lowering requirements may affect residential schools'
- Muhyiddin: Mohamad’s communist remarks insulting
- Penang BN to focus on 18 ‘critical seats’, says Koh
- Election Commission should fine-tune voting options list
- A-G denies Raja Petra’s bribe claims
- Sodomy II: Sperm sample not taken properly, says expert
- RM8bil joy for bumiputra contractors
- ‘Sabah getting a raw deal from Petronas’
- Malaysia's Petronas Chemicals Q1 net profit 737mn ringgit
- Malaysia Petronas 1Q Net Profit MYR19.35 Billion Vs MYR12.32 Billion
- Pakatan: MRT rail, property model is land grab
- Pakatan confident of ‘mission impossible’
- Biometric System Would Do More Harm Than Good?
- Harapan Komuniti receives death threat
- ACCIM claims MRT abused as front for land grab
- RBA briefed on bribery, deputy governor admits
- FBI Pressured to Stop Backing Malaysian Potentate
- WikiLeaks Releases Tens of Thousands More Classified Cables
- Sodomy II: Trial postponed to Sept 19-23
- Fuziah takes on TV3; PAS wants action against rogue MP
- Former MAS chairman sues news portal for RM200mil
- Pemandu admits land acquisition only way to recoup MRT cost
- Hisham defends decision to deport Uighurs
- New investigation into film maker that took millions from Malaysia
- Refugee unrest in Malaysia after deportation bungle
- Malaysia Prepares For Ageing Nation As World Population Reaches Seven Billion
- Bar Council Asked To State Views On Anwar's Action In Court
- On being detained at Kuala Lumpur airport
- Malaysia's Slowing Performance
- Malaysia's Opposition Chief: Country Needs to Prepare for Slowdown
- ‘Male Y’ DNA profile tainted, Sodomy II trial told
- Perak mufti says Malays must defend race
- MCA founder’s granddaughter lauds Guan Eng’s policies in Penang
- Najib: Auditioning for Umno warlords
- Malaysians abroad may soon be allowed to vote via post
- NEP under attack: Dr M to the rescue
- ‘Lab did not meet international standards’
- EC mulls using both biometric system and indelible ink
- Malaysia UNHCR Accused of Betraying Refugees
- Hishammuddin receives two live bullets, death threat
- Vell Paari’s Aussie firm crisis
- From POLITICO - Justin Smith steps down from FBC Media board
- Beng Hock’s family challenges RCI suicide verdict
- PAS ready to face lawsuit over 'UMNO hand' in church affair
- Bumi quota may bloat MRT project cost, say experts
- Anwar is like a Renaissance man who likes ‘naked men’, says Utusan
| Mat Sabu mum on Utusan attack, says can’t recall Aug 21 speech Posted: 27 Aug 2011 07:42 PM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - Mohamad Sabu has refused to comment on Utusan Malaysia's attack of his speech allegedly supporting communists, saying he can't remember all of it and will review it first. Mohamad was speaking at a political ceramah in Penang's Tasek Gelugor on August 21. The PAS deputy president told The Malaysian Insider yesterday that he has not read the Malay daily's report, and said that he won't "deny or confirm" whether what was reported was true. "I cannot recall everything that I said as it was said on August 21…the report in Utusan came out on August 27. "I am not denying or confirming anything. I just want to look back at the recordings…Utusan's reports are not always trustworthy," he said. During the Emergency (1948-1960), communist insurgents attacked the Bukit Kepong police station on February 23 1950, while the country was still under British rule. Utusan yesterday quoted Mohamad as saying that the communists who attacked Bukit Kepong police station were heroes insults those who fought for the country.
|
| Utusan says Mat Sabu wants to turn Malaysia into a republic Posted: 27 Aug 2011 07:39 PM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - Utusan Malaysia today launched a full-scale assault on Mohamad Sabu, accusing him rewriting history to turn Malaysia into a republic, over his alleged remarks praising communists. Mingguan Malaysia, the weekend edition of the Umno daily carried eight pages worth of comments and criticisms against Mohamad, ranging from top Umno leaders like Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar to ex-soldiers who had fought communists during the February 23, 1950 attack on the Bukit Kepong police station. The daily attacked Mohamad — who is popularly known as Mat Sabu — for allegedly praising the communists who attacked the police station in British-ruled Malaya during Emergency (1948-1960) "Awang sees what Mat Sabu says as an insult to the country especially with the coming National Day this Wednesday. But Awang is not surprised. Mat Sabu is actually carrying the aspirations of other parties who have always fanned their own agenda to rewrite the history and constitution of our country. "The strategy of some DAP leaders to engage in close ties with Mat Sabu has clearly worked...Awang will not be surprised if once the opposition takes over, he (Mohamad) will place Parti Komunis Malaya Leader (PKM) Chin Peng as a national hero and suggest that Malaysia be turned into a republic," Awang Selamat wrote today. Awang Selamat is a pseudonym under which editors of Utusan Malaysia write. The Malay daily interviewed Temenggong Kanang Langkau, one of the few army survivors from the attack on Bukit Kepong who demanded that the Internal Security Act be used on the PAS leader for his supposed remarks made during a recent ceramah. "This man is useless, is this what you call a former elected representative? Tell him if he wants to support Communists he does not have to contest in the general elections. "He is supports communists, therefore he is a communist. He should be banished," the former soldier told the Malay daily. Utusan aired its first report on Mohamad's alleged speech during a ceramah in Tasek Gelugor yesterday. The report also claimed that the PAS leader said the country's first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj and Umno's first president Datuk Onn Jaafar were not freedom fighters.
|
| Anti-Chinese sentiment gaining ground in Malaysia Posted: 27 Aug 2011 11:24 AM PDT By China.org.cn Recently, a racial incident again took place in a Malaysian school. A middle school history teacher in Johor told a student of Chinese descent to "go back to China." The incident came mere months after another case of schoolyard racism when a middle school principal insulted his Chinese students with similar remarks at the end of last year. Although racial remarks and activities are often punished firmly by the Malaysian authorities, these discordant voices continue to drum in schools in attempts of clearing out Chinese descendants. For the middle school principal, however, the only consequence for his behavior last year was being reassigned from his post. This did not appease the anger of the Chinese community. Moreover, it was shown to be a tacit approval for anti-Chinese sentiment by the government. This time, it is a history teacher who made such improper remarks. The saying goes: Take history as a mirror, and we can see the rise and fall of dynasties. Obviously, this history teacher does not measure up to his supposed expertise, and his ignorance is on clear display as he stirs up racial disputes. Malaysia is a multiracial and multicultural nation with Malays, Chinese and Indians as its three major ethnicities. All three settled on the islands almost at the same time; none is technically aborigines in Malaysia. However, the anti-Chinese sentiment has been deeply rooted. Malays account for 60 percent of the population, Chinese 26 percent and Indians 8 percent. The current administration implements preferential policies to Malays, which has further deepened the racial discrimination in the society. Chinese descendents in Southeast Asian countries constitute the majority of the foreign Chinese. Minorities in all, the Chinese descendents have still played important roles in the social and economical developments of these countries. Even in the hardest time, they did not leave the countries but stuck to their businesses there. As citizens, they made contribution to the social and economical restorations to the countries where they reside. This was especially the case in Malaysia. Therefore, "Go back to China" is no small thing. It reflects a lack of sensitivity to racism in Malaysia, as well as the lack of understanding for the local Chinese. The Chinese descendents do not want the government to simply adopt measures to deal with improper remarks or activities as a formality. They want a deeper, intrinsic kind of respect for their community. And instead of fanning the flames of racism and condoning anti-Chinese behaviors, they hope government would take on a meaningful role in maintaining the unity of the ethnicities. A politician once pointed out this of the Malaysian government: "If you knock it, it will shake. But if you knock harder, it will break. It looks well on the outside, but ill on the inside." Moreover, a Malaysian congressman confronted the government, saying it was a great shame that although his party had won an overwhelming 91 percent of parliament seats in the election in March, 2004, the prime minister did not take this chance to promote a national unity. On the contrary, ethnic separatists are more influential than ever, bringing a new crisis to the country. |
| 'Lowering requirements may affect residential schools' Posted: 27 Aug 2011 10:57 AM PDT By Rahmah Ghazali, NST KUALA LUMPUR: Revising the minimum admission requirements to residential schools for less fortunate pupils may cause a drop in the schools' performances, said an educational non-governmental organisation.
Parents Action Group for Education president Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said pupils in residential schools obtained stellar results in their Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR).
"We should encourage these students to do better, instead of coming up with mediocre work," she told the New Sunday Times. He said the new requirements would see students from low-income families needing to score only a minimum of 3As and 2Bs in their UPSR, whereas students from rural areas needed to achieve a minimum of 4As and 1B.
|
| Muhyiddin: Mohamad’s communist remarks insulting Posted: 27 Aug 2011 10:47 AM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 — PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu saying the communists who attacked Bukit Kepong police station were heroes insults those who fought for the country, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday. During the Emergency (1958-1960), communist insurgents attacked the police station in the 1950s, while the country was still under British rule. Muhyiddin said he was extremely disappointed with Mohamad who is more popularly known as Mat Sabu, for his August 21 remarks made at a Tasek Gelugot political gathering, as reported by a local daily. The report also stated that the PAS leader said the country's first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj and Umno's first president Datuk Onn Jaafar were not freedom fighters, Muhyiddin pointed out. In his statement released to Bernama Online, Muhyiddin said Mohamad was ignorant of the contribution made by past Malay leaders to lead the country to independence. He wants Mohamad to now apologise to all Malaysians for his remarks. Muhyiddin explained further that the Malay leaders Mohamad derided who ended up inspired Malays to oppose British rule and the Malayan Union. He said that they led to the formation of Umno and have always defended Malay rulers, Malay rights, Malay language and Islam.
|
| Penang BN to focus on 18 ‘critical seats’, says Koh Posted: 27 Aug 2011 10:21 AM PDT By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 — Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) is focused on regaining and retaining 18 "critical" state seats in the next polls, as state coalition chief Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon believes they are crucial to winning back the state. Koh was chief minister from 1990 until the political tsunami of March 2008 — when Pakatan Rakyat (PR) won 29 out of the total 40 state seats in the state. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng replaced him. "Of the 11 seats BN has won in March 2008, there are six seats which we won by less than the 600 vote margin. We have to first defend this. Then there are seven seats which we lost by less than 2000 vote margin, have to try and win back these seats. We also have five seats which we lost less than the 3000 majority margin. "So we are talking about critical seats altogether of 18 that we have to work very hard on. That's our target we are working on this.18 critical seats," Koh told The Malaysian Insider in an exclusive interview. The six seats won by BN by less than a 600 vote margin are Telok Bahang, Pulau Betong, Bayan Lepas, Sungai Acheh, Seberang Jaya and Sungai Dua. The seven seats BN lost by less than a 2000 vote margin are Bukit Tengah, Tanjung Bungah, Pulau Tikus, Padang Kota, Datuk Keramat, Batu Uban and Pantai Jerejak. The five seats BN lost by less than a 3000 vote margin are Penanti, Sungai Bakap, Sungai Pinang, Seri Delima and Air Itam. "I'm not going to claim that we will win. Neither am I going to claim that we will lose because a lot depends on what happens between now and the GE. After March 2008, any politician with the right sense will not make claims after another... In politics there's no absolute surety. (But) we have to try our very best," added the Gerakan president. The DAP won 19 state seats in the last polls, PKR won 9 and PAS won 1, while Umno won 11 seats. BN coalition partners Gerakan, MCA and MIC however were completely wiped out. Koh is also facing heat as state BN chief, as there have been calls from within the coalition demanding that the mild-mannered politician step down. BN leaders have said this was necessary if the coalition is to have any chance of wresting back Penang from PR. The Princeton graduate has been viewed as indecisive and a symbol of the BN leadership that was rejected by the voters in 2008. BN chairman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has spoken behind closed doors on the need to rejuvenate the Gerakan leadership with younger talent and acknowledges that BN component parties need new blood if inroads are to be made in Penang, where DAP's Lim is a formidable opponent. Najib is due to pay a visit and speak at the Han Chiang High School in Penang on Sept 29 in what is seen as an attempt to woo the majority Chinese voters on the island. The school field was the site of a massive PR rally on March 6, 2008, two days before Lim swept to power in the state. The visit is seen as part of Najib's latest strategy to go to the ground every weekend before calling elections ahead of the BN mandate expiring in 2013.
|
| Election Commission should fine-tune voting options list Posted: 27 Aug 2011 10:10 AM PDT (The Star) - FOR nearly one million Malaysians based abroad, postal voting will soon become a reality. The Elections Commission (EC) has rightly been commended for this move, which respects the right of voters to vote even when based overseas, makes it convenient for them to do so, and helps them maintain ties with their home country. So far, only full-time Malaysian students as well as civil servants and their spouses abroad may cast postal ballots, with many others employed in the private sector left out. Widening the option of postal voting is definitely an improvement, but the EC should go further. The procedure for postal voting takes time, is circuitous, and thus may raise doubts about the security and confidentiality of the ballots. Each Malaysian embassy abroad would hand out the ballots for marking by voters, who then return them to the embassies, which then send them back to Malaysia where they are transported to the respective polling centres of the voters' Malaysian addresses. Current technology evident in the biometric system being considered for all polling centres suggests that we can do better. Can the EC devise a practical and secure means of voting online from abroad? It would be good to know that the EC has at least explored the options to see what is possible. For now, Malaysians based abroad who had not been able to vote but are now hoping to do so must first register for postal balloting. This is only reasonable as they must first be on record as postal voters. It is also only fair, since voters should show their interest in casting their votes by registering before being given postal ballots. The EC has still to decide whether to recommend indelible ink, biometrics or both to Parliament to help secure the integrity of voting in the coming general election. The decision should result from a thorough consideration of what is best, not from any pressure from critics or interested parties. Only then can the EC earn the respect of all. |
| A-G denies Raja Petra’s bribe claims Posted: 26 Aug 2011 08:08 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Attorney-General (A-G) Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail has denied claims by blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin that he was being bribed by former Ho Hup Bhd deputy executive chairman Datuk Vincent Lye in exchange for help in a boardroom tussle. Raja Petra had alleged on his blog Malaysia-Today on August 23 that Lye had "bribed" Gani and used Ho Hup funds to pay for renovation work at Gani Patail's second wife's house in Negeri Sembilan. (Read more here: http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/42988-now-lets-see-what-the-macc-is-going-to-do) In his first response to Raja Petra's claims, Abdul Gani told The Malaysian Insider that he had never accepted any money from the construction company. "I didn't take a single cent from Ho Hup. I have a rule; I don't take money," he said. When asked whether he owned a house in Seremban, he replied: "I don't have a house in Seremban or anywhere in Negri Sembilan." "I don't know what to say … all these things happened in 2009 but the case was from 2010, so it doesn't make sense," he added, apparently referring to the charges filed against Low. Raja Petra had insinuated that the A-G used his influence on behalf of Lye to have his boardroom rival Datuk TC Low charged in court in January this year for non-timely disclosure of his interests in the company. The blogger had also posted pictures on the website of what appears to be a computer-generated invoice dated July 13 2009 from a company in Petaling Jaya to Ho Hup for installation of lighting fixtures for "AG's Bungalow at Seremban 2 — Sri Carcosa"; a handwritten invoice dated July 13 to Lye for renovation work for Sri Carcosa in Seremban 2; a cash payment voucher from Ho Hup dated August 12 for work done for "AG Tan Sri Ghani Patail Bangalow at Seremban 2 — Sri Carcosa" worth RM18,000; and a cheque made out to the renovation supplier for RM18,000.
|
| Sodomy II: Sperm sample not taken properly, says expert Posted: 26 Aug 2011 05:20 PM PDT (THE STAR) - A DNA expert told the High Court yesterday that sperm samples taken from Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan's rectum had not been properly extracted by a chemist. Dr Brian Leslie McDonald said the differential extraction process (DEP) carried out by the chemist was not properly conducted due to the presence of Mohd Saiful's DNA. Describing the chemist's findings as speculative, he said a detailed process was necessary to ensure the sperm was isolated from other cells belonging to the complainant. He said that in order to get the proper results, the samples had "to be cleaned a couple of times."  Dr McDonald pointed out that the report prepared by the chemist did not indicate where the swabs came from. He said doctors at Hospital Kuala Lumpur did not use the same numbering system for the samples as used by the chemist. "We have to assume where the swabs came from as this was not reflected in the chemist's report," said Dr McDonald. He said samples must be verified whether they came from the anal and rectum areas in sodomy cases. Giving his opinion on the results of the samples taken from Mohd Saiful, Dr McDonald said the two swabs - taken from Mohd Saiful's high rectum and one from the low rectum - showed no degradation despite being examined after more than 90 hours. "The evidence found was pristine as there was no evidence of degradation, and this is inconsistent with its history." he said. He explained that in the low rectum swab, there was a mixture of two samples, which included Male Y. "The second high rectal swab had a mixture of Male Y and the complainant," he said, adding that the "dominance is by the complainant." "And the one from the low rectal was inconclusive," said Dr McDonald. On Thursday, Dr McDonald said the samples should have been smeared onto a glass slide, air-dried and immediately frozen at -20C to stop the growth of bacteria from destroying the sperm cells. The hearing was adjourned to Sept 19.
|
| RM8bil joy for bumiputra contractors Posted: 26 Aug 2011 05:18 PM PDT (THE STAR) - More than RM8bil worth of projects will be awarded to bumiputra companies as part of the MY Rapid Transit (MRT) project, according to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. He said several packages in the RM20bil project had been specially allocated to bumiputra contractors. The packages are civil and infrastructure works, Tenaga Nasional Bhd power supply, centralised procurement, tunnel and underground works, and MRT systems, he said after chairing the fifth Bumiputra Agenda action council meeting yesterday. Meanwhile, the Bumiputra Agenda Coordinating Unit (Teraju) in the Prime Minister's Department said procurement strategies for the MRT project had been approved by the one-stop procurement committee headed by Najib, who is also finance minister. Since its inception, Teraju has been working to increase bumiputra participation in the mega project by securing opportunities for bumiputra contractors under Class D, E, and F and ensure "economies of scale" in the centralised procurement. Teraju said packages worth RM200mil had been set aside for contractors in Class D, E and F to undertake civil and infrastructure works. Meanwhile, at a breaking of fast at the Foreign Ministry, Najib said the Government would ensure democracy flourished in the country and would not tolerate anarchy. The Prime Minister said the Government would provide space for dissent but would not allow riots and disturbances to public order. "We have always championed democracy from day one but will not tolerate anarchy and riots. "We know the way forward is for us to allow room and space for dissent but at the same time to uphold the rules and laws," he said. Also present were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and members of foreign missions, including ambassadors and high commissioners. Najib said the Government would review many things, including censorship laws and ensure that there would be space for society to show dissent in an orderly manner. He said events happening around the world showed that law and order could not be taken for granted. "Who would have imagined the event (riots) in London, a cradle of democracy. "If such a homogeneous society can break down, what more a diverse society like Malaysia which is very plural. "I am not saying that everything is perfect in Malaysia ... we are far from it but are working on it," he said.
|
| ‘Sabah getting a raw deal from Petronas’ Posted: 26 Aug 2011 01:56 PM PDT
By Queville To, FMT KOTA KINABALU: Petronas,which gets a major portion of their wealth from Sabah, was taken to task for spending on luxury projects such as the Sepang F1 racing circuit and a '5-star' hospital for the rich . PKR Sabah secretary Dr Roland Chia said Petronas gets a major portion of its wealth from Sabah,but it is spending money millions on lavish peojects in the Peninsula while Sabah is right at the bottom in the country's poverty index. Chia said Petronas had neglected its corporate social responsibility (CSR) to Sabah and has instead indulged in unnecessary projects. He said Petronas should be using its billions of ringgit following the oil price hike for more meaningful causes, rather than sponsoring sports cars to participate in the F1 Circuit, or continue to finance the accumulated losses incurred by the Prince Court Medical Centre (PCMC) in Kuala Lumpur. Sabah, the largest gas producer and the fourth largest crude oil producer in the country, has been short – changed and many feel Petronas should do more for the state. "I urge Petronas to channel their CSR funds for more meaningful causes rather than building a half-a-billion ringgit elite hospital in Kuala Lumpur and continuing to finance the Prince Court Medical Centre. "The money can be used by sponsoring community buses for rural school children who needed to walk for 10-20 km to reach their schools in Sabah and Sarawak," he said. Critics have complained that Petronas spent RM544 million on PCMC and this contrasts with the RM47 million the company spent over the last 36 years from 1975 to 2011 on its Education Sponsorship Programme (PESP) in Sabah, which works out to RM1.3 million a year. "This is utterly ridiculous. Sabahans are living in poverty … their overty index is among the highest in the country and Petronas under the BN government has got their priorities absolutely wrong." On losses incurred by PCMC, Chia noted that in its most recent annual financial report ended April 2010, the hospital, wholly owned by Petronas, suffered a net loss of RM451 million on the back of a RM82 million revenue. According to records, the luxury healthcare facility had liabilities and current liabilities of RM749.4 million while its reserves were RM178.3 million. The hospital which was launched in 2007, made a loss of RM203 million on revenue of RM24 million in 2009 to put its accumulated losses over the two years at RM654 million.
|
| Malaysia's Petronas Chemicals Q1 net profit 737mn ringgit Posted: 26 Aug 2011 12:24 PM PDT By Business Recorder KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Petronas Chemicals: Net profit 737 million ringgit ($247 million) for the quarter ended June 30, 2011. The Company had on March 2 2011, announced the change of financial year end from March 31 to Dec. 31 beginning from April 2011. As a result, there is no equivalent comparative quarter. Results driven by strong prices seen across most petrochemical products and partially offset by a stronger Malaysian ringgit against the US Dollar. |
| Malaysia Petronas 1Q Net Profit MYR19.35 Billion Vs MYR12.32 Billion Posted: 26 Aug 2011 12:21 PM PDT By Jason Ng, Dow Jones Newswires KUALA LUMPUR -(Dow Jones)- Malaysia's state-owned oil-and-gas firm Petroliam Nasional Bhd. Friday reported a 57% rise in its first-quarter net profit, but said growth is likely to slow from the second quarter, and may continue to be sluggish going into 2012. Malaysia's only Fortune 500 company and the country's most profitable firm, also known as Petronas, said net profit for the quarter ended June 30 rose to MYR19.35 billion, compared with MYR12.32 billion in the year-earlier period. Revenue was higher at MYR72.97 billion from MYR58.56 billion. |
| Pakatan: MRT rail, property model is land grab Posted: 26 Aug 2011 12:17 PM PDT By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has accused Putrajaya of using the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) as an excuse to acquire prime land after it was revealed that the government will rely on property development to foot project costs. DAP international secretary Liew Chin Tong said the modified rail-and-property model was just "land grab by another name" and accused the Land Public Transport Authority (SPAD) of putting revenue considerations before the needs of the public. He told The Malaysian Insider that the regulator's focus on how to maximise returns through property redevelopment rather than public transport requirements was akin to putting the cart before the horse, and called an example of "worst planning practices". "You should look at transport needs and how to cater for that before anything else," Liew said, adding that this called into question whether the alignment of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) line had been determined by property development propositions rather than demand. "The most important thing is to think how to get people to work (riding the MRT)... The number one priority is to ensure this is the easiest way to work so you don't have a peak hour (congestion) problem." PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli said the viability of the entire MRT project was now suspect given the risky nature of property developments, especially since the government will incur "huge public debt" financing them. He pointed out that returns from such developments were not guaranteed as the outlook for the high-end property market was "quite gloomy" and there was already a property glut in the Klang Valley. "This is the danger of the MRT project if it's not managed properly," he said. Rafizi also questioned the timeline for property development on the acquired land and whether it would take place before or after the MRT is scheduled to begin service in 2016. "When is this so-called redevelopment for [capital expenditure] and [operating expenditure] going to take place? 2017? 2018? In the meantime, the public has to fork out more money while waiting for the returns," he added. PAS central committee member Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said there was a need for the Najib administration to open up the project to parliamentary scrutiny as the reliance on property development showed that not enough thought had gone into how to finance the MRT. "If this an afterthought? Have they not said it was a PFI (privately financed initiative) in the first place?" he said. The Kuala Selangor MP said that the RM50 billion bill for the project would "go through the roof" now as the original estimate had not taken into consideration the massive cost of redeveloping properties the government plans to acquire. Dzulkefly added that if land acquisition was the single most dominant factor that determines the success of the MRT, Putrajaya should be "humble" enough to engage the Selangor state government on land acquisition matters cordially.
|
| Pakatan confident of ‘mission impossible’ Posted: 26 Aug 2011 12:06 PM PDT
By B Nantha Kumar, FMT PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Rakyat is gearing to launch a powerful offensive in Malacca, which is considered a Barisan Nasional stronghold, in the next general election. Although political pundits predict that BN would retain power, PKR and PAS were aiming to win more seats in the state assembly. Sources revealed that the two opposition parties alongside DAP would bank on "Umno's arrogance" in running the state to pull in the votes. In the 2008 general election, BN won 23 seats while the opposition won five – all by DAP. DAP contested eight but won the Bachang, Ayer Keroh, Kesidang, Kota Laksamana and Bandar Hilir state seats. PAS contested 13 seats while PKR fielded seven candidates. Time time around, a Malacca DAP leader said Pakatan was confident of capturing at least 14 of the 28 state seats up for grabs. While political analysts dismissed this as "mission impossible", the opposition believes that with the right campaign strategy, it could turn the tide against BN. In the next general election, DAP plans to increase its tally to six while PAS and PKR were aiming to seize four seats each. "DAP is confident of retaining five seats. They are also eyeing the Duyong seat, it is the only state seat they lost in the Kota Melaka parliamentary constituency in the last general election," a party insider told FMT. The Duyong seat was won by BN candidate Gan Tian Loo with a slim 806 vote majority defeating DAP's Damian Yeo Shen Li. However, there were several issues which needed to be ironed out before DAP could contest the seat. Speculation was rife that PKR wanted the seat as part of a swap plan. DAP leaders on the other hand were adamant about contesting in Duyong. |
| Biometric System Would Do More Harm Than Good? Posted: 26 Aug 2011 11:36 AM PDT By Syed Zahar. Malaysian Digest As the story goes, during the height of the space race in the 1960s, NASA scientists realized that pens could not function in space since there's no gravity to make the ink flow down to the ball of the pen. They needed to figure out another way for the astronauts to write things down. So they spent years and millions of taxpayer dollars to develop a pen that could put ink to paper in a weightless environment. Meanwhile, their crafty Soviet counterparts at RESA simply equipped their cosmonauts with pencils.
|
| Harapan Komuniti receives death threat Posted: 26 Aug 2011 10:59 AM PDT By Stephanie Sta Maria, FMT PETALING JAYA: Harapan Komuniti, the organisers of the thanksgiving dinner raided by the Selangor Religious Islamic Department (JAIS) on Aug 3, received a death threat yesterday morning. The source who informed FMT of the incident was unable to provide any details except that the handwritten note was written in Malay and contained a warning to Christians that Muslims would not "lose". Harapan Komuniti lodged a police report at the Sea Park police station at about 10pm last night. When contacted Harapan Komuniti's management appeared upset that the news had reached the media and declined to comment. The source told FMT that the NGO was remaining tight-lipped over the incident as it was "devastated" that the home had now become an innocent target of irresponsible individuals. "They are fearing for the lives of those under their care, especially the children," the source said. "And the last thing they want is for this incident to be spun by media with agenda which could worsen the situation." Being harrassed JAIS raided the dinner held in the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) on Aug 3 after allegedly receiving a complaint that proselytising activities were being carried out there. Harapan Komuniti has denied this and inisted that the dinner was held for HIV/AIDS supporters. JAIS has since summoned the 12 Muslims present at the dinner for questioning earlier this week. |
| ACCIM claims MRT abused as front for land grab Posted: 26 Aug 2011 10:49 AM PDT
By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 — The country's largest Chinese business association has accused the regulator and the owner of the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) of abusing the Land Acquisition Act to acquire a prime land bank for property development by "favoured parties". In a no-holds barred letter sighted by The Malaysian Insider, the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Malaysia (ACCCIM) told the transport minister that the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd (Prasarana) should stop the abuse and focus on developing an efficient public transport system instead.
|
| RBA briefed on bribery, deputy governor admits Posted: 26 Aug 2011 10:41 AM PDT
By Richard Baker and Nick McKenzie, The Age Federal police last month charged NPA and sister firm Securency with Australia's first foreign bribery offences, alleging that millions of dollars paid to the companies' agents in Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia were used to bribe officials. Eight former NPA and Securency senior executives have also been charged. THE Reserve Bank of Australia board was briefed twice in 2007 on information implicating subsidiary Note Printing Australia in overseas bribery, deputy governor Ric Battellino (pictured) admitted yesterday. Mr Battellino's admission came as he and RBA governor Glenn Stevens faced questions from the House of Representatives' economics committee on the bribery scandal involving the bank's currency printing firms NPA and Securency. At the committee's meeting in February, Mr Stevens said it was unlikely any RBA officials knew of bribery allegations involving its banknote businesses prior to The Age revealing corruption concerns about Securency in May 2009. Under questioning from Liberal MP Kelly O'Dwyer and Greens MP Adam Bandt, Mr Battellino confirmed the details of a report by The Age this month, which revealed the board of NPA and senior RBA officials were, in May 2007, presented with strong evidence implicating the company and two of its agents in the bribery of officials in Malaysia and Nepal in return for contracts. The 2007 information included an admission from an NPA agent that he had paid bribes and requests from another agent to be paid excessive commissions into a third-party bank account. Mr Battellino said the information presented to the NPA board raised issues ''about bad business practices in relation to agents and, as a result of that, they took some very hard decisions''. But instead of referring the bribery evidence to the Australian Federal Police for investigation, the RBA and the NPA board decided to handle the matter internally by sacking the agents, calling in the Reserve Bank's audit team and later contracting law firm Freehills to conduct an inquiry. Mr Battellino said the RBA board was briefed on the internal inquiries into the NPA bribery matters in July and August 2007. The RBA board was told Freehills had been unable to find any breach of Australian laws, he said. Asked by Ms O'Dwyer why neither the NPA board nor the RBA called the police in 2007, Mr Battellino said: ''There was no basis to. This was an investigation that was started by the NPA board as part of an ongoing control around the way the business was being run. They pursued that to its logical conclusion. You have to accept it is a very serious matter for any organisation to call in police to have staff investigated and my guess is that most organisations would not do that.'' Freehills did not have the AFP's powers to formally question people, issue search warrants to seize evidence or seek co-operation from overseas police. The RBA has twice refused freedom-of-information requests from The Age for the Freehills report. Federal police last month charged NPA and sister firm Securency with Australia's first foreign bribery offences, alleging that millions of dollars paid to the companies' agents in Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia were used to bribe officials. Eight former NPA and Securency senior executives have also been charged. Mr Battellino confirmed to the committee yesterday that Abdul Kayum, the Malaysian agent specifically referred to in the 2007 bribery information, had also last month been charged with corruption offences by Malaysian authorities investigating NPA's 2004 central bank contract. A former assistant governor of Malaysia's central bank was also charged with accepting a bribe from NPA. The alleged kickbacks paid by NPA's Nepal agent, Himalaya Pande, to secure a 2002 central bank contract are still being investigated by the AFP and by Nepal's anti-corruption agency. The NPA board in 2007 was chaired by former RBA deputy governor and former Australian Prudential Regulation Authority chief Graeme Thompson. |
| FBI Pressured to Stop Backing Malaysian Potentate Posted: 25 Aug 2011 07:30 PM PDT By World-Wire Western NGOs are increasing the pressure on the United States' federal police for its ties with Malaysian potentate Abdul Taib Mahmud ("Taib"), one of South-East Asia's longest-serving and most corrupt politicians BASEL, SWITZERLAND/SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON, D.C., August 25, 2011 –-/WORLD-WIRE/– In a letter to FBI Director Robert Mueller, the Swiss Bruno Manser Fund and the San-Francisco-based Borneo Project are calling on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to cut ties with Wallysons Inc., a US company controlled by the Malaysian Taib family. The NGOs are asking the American federal police to suspend the rental contracts for the Abraham Lincoln Building in Seattle, which is owned by Wallysons Inc., and houses the FBI's Seattle Division headquarters. FBI Director Mueller is also asked to ascertain if the Taib family's US investments are in line with the country's anti-money-laundering legislation, and to freeze all Taib family assets in the United States. "While the the fight against public corruption should be one of the FBI's top priorities, it is renting premises from the Taib family, one of South East Asia's largest corruption networks. We are seriously concerned that the FBI appears to be unduly backing the Taib family and its illicit foreign assets," the Bruno Manser Fund wrote in a statement. Copies of the letter have been sent to a number of US government agencies and top politicians, including the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, the Secretary for the Treasury, Timothy Geithner, the Attorney General, Eric Holder, and the Judiciary Committees of congress who oversee the FBI. In March 2011, the NGOs had approached the American federal police on the matter and organized a street protest in front of the FBI's Seattle Division Headquarters. The FBI had left their complaints unanswered and refused to receive a NGO delegation. Wallysons Inc. is one out of five US companies blacklisted by the Bruno Manser Fund for their close association with the Taib family. 75-year old Abdul Taib Mahmud ("Taib") has been governing Malaysia's largest state, Sarawak, since 1981, a position which he has abused to amass a fortune estimated at several billion US dollars. Most of Taib's wealth is believed to stem from the destructive logging of Borneo's tropical rainforests. In June 2011, the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission announced it had opened a corruption investigation against Abdul Taib Mahmud. For more information contact: Bruno Manser Fund, Socinstrasse 37, 4051 Basel / Switzerland
|
| WikiLeaks Releases Tens of Thousands More Classified Cables Posted: 25 Aug 2011 04:52 PM PDT
(Malaysian Digest) - WASHINGTON: The WikiLeaks organization said on Thursday it was releasing tens of thousands of previously unpublished US diplomatic cables, some of which are still classified, reported Reuters. "We will have released over 100,000 US embassy cables from around the world by the end of today," said a message on WikiLeaks' Twitter feed. The Twitter page is believed to be controlled by Julian Assange, WikiLeaks' controversial Australian-born founder and chief. According to the report, the cables which the website said it is dumping onto the public record appear to be from a cache of more than 250,000 State Department reports leaked to the group. WikiLeaks began releasing the cables in smaller batches late last year, but until now had made them public in piecemeal fashion. By late afternoon on Thursday, the WikiLeaks website said it had published 97,115 of the 251,287 cables it possesses. It did not specify its motives for releasing such a large amount of material at once.
|
| Sodomy II: Trial postponed to Sept 19-23 Posted: 25 Aug 2011 04:14 PM PDT
(The Star) - The sodomy trial of Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been postponed, and will be held from Sept 19 to 23. Earlier Friday, DNA expert Dr Brian Leslie McDonald told the High Court that the process used by a chemist did not ensure that the sperm extracted from the rectum of complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan was pure and not mixed with other cells. During examination in chief by counsel Ram Karpal Singh, Dr Mcdonald told the court, in his opinion, the differential extraction process (DEP) carried out by Dr Seah Lay Hong, who was the prosecution witness, was speculative. He added that the sperm examined by Dr Seah did not comprise purely sperm heads and there was the existence of other cells there. McDonald, the fourth defence witness, had testified Thursday that Dr Seah's testing procedure did not follow international standards. Anwar, 63, is charged with sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful, 26, at Desa Damansara Condominium in Bukit Damansara, between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.
|
| Fuziah takes on TV3; PAS wants action against rogue MP Posted: 25 Aug 2011 03:39 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders in Pahang are baying for blood after TV3 featured PAS's Hulu Langat MP Che Rosli Che Mat in a primetime news segment supporting the controversial rare earth plant currently being built near Kuantan. PKR vice president Fuziah Salleh, who has led calls against the RM700 million refinery being built by Australian miner Lynas Corp, has demanded a retraction and an apology from the Umno-owned broadcaster and also local rival Datuk Ti Lian Ker, who is Kuantan MCA chief, for alleged defamatory remarks made against her. Pahang PAS has also called for its federal leadership to haul up Che Rosli to explain his sudden outburst that was televised on Wednesday night. Kuantan MP Fuziah said the clip "is just a concerted plot by the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration to continue their agenda of protecting Lynas for their own benefit and not for the rakyat." PAS state information chief Suhaimi Md Saad told The Malaysian Insider that Che Rosli's actions were unacceptable as the nuclear scientist could have used party channels or even voiced his support for the plant in party organ, Harakah. "We know he supported the plant when we first discussed the issue in 2009. But after consulting other experts, PAS's stand was to oppose the project. But now he has gone into the enemy's camp to attack his own party," he said. TV3 ran a news piece by environmental journalist Karam Singh Walia quoting radiology safety and health expert Dr Ahmad Termizi Ramli and Che Rosli claiming that Fuziah had been misleading the public by comparing the project with nuclear facilities. Che Rosli went on to accused PKR of spinning the issue for their own benefit, and that he was "ashamed" that they would resort to arguments that have no scientific or academic basis. But Fuziah said in a statement today that Che Rosli was only speaking in terms of radiological hazards whereas she and the residents living around the plant in the Gebeng industrial zone have consulted at least half a dozen experts in fields such as public health, chemical engineering, nuclear physics and environmental law.
|
| Former MAS chairman sues news portal for RM200mil Posted: 25 Aug 2011 03:33 PM PDT
(Bernama) - Former executive chairman of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli has filed a RM200mil suit against a news portal over the publication of a article on the airline suffering losses of RM8bil. He named The Malaysian Insider Sdn Bhd, its chief executive officer Jahabar Sadiq and journalist Shazwan Mustafa Kamal as defendants. Tajudin, who was the MAS executive chairman between 1994 and 2001, filed the suit last Aug 18 at the Civil High Court registry here through the legal firm of Lim Kian Leong & Co. The case has been set for case management before judge Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal on Sept 19. In the statement of claims, Tajudin stated that the portal had published defamatory words in an article, with the title "MACC clear A-G of graft allegations", on May 31, 2011. He claimed that the article was published after the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) revealed the outcome of its graft probe against Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail. Tajudin claimed that the article was published with the intention of reflecting that he was implicated in the investigation against the Attorney-General. Tajudin claimed that the portal also repeated the defamatory words in other articles, despite a letter sent to it to not do so. He said The Malaysian Insider, when responding to his letter, stated that the words in the article were not defamatory and that they had obtained the information from multiple sources. Besides general damages of RM200mil, Tajudin is also seeking aggravated damages and interests.
|
| Pemandu admits land acquisition only way to recoup MRT cost Posted: 25 Aug 2011 09:19 AM PDT
By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 — Putrajaya's powerful efficiency unit has admitted that the Najib administration needs to acquire and develop land along the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) route as it cannot afford the multi-billion ringgit project otherwise. In a letter sighted by The Malaysian Insider, Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) chief executive Datuk Seri Idris Jala told Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Malaysia (ACCCIM) president Tan Sri William Cheng that the government was pursuing a "rail-and-property" model as it would not be able to recover the cost of the first line between Sungai Buloh and Kajang through fares alone. "For the government to manage the project efficiently and sustainably, fare box revenue will not be sufficient to finance the high capex and opex for the MRT network," Idris said in the letter dated August 23, written in response to Cheng's queries about the acquisition of Jalan Sultan land. "Increasing the fares is not an option as the government wants to act responsibly by providing the rakyat with an affordable means of transport. Instead, the government is adopting a prudent approach towards a sustainable financial model for the MRT through a modified rail-plus-property model." The government has said a Ministry of Finance unit called Dana Infra will raise funds for the MRT, which is the country's most expensive infrastructure project to date, but has yet to give any details of the funding apart from saying it will develop the land along the route. The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department pointed out that Hong Kong's MTR Corporation, which has successfully applied the model to its Mass Transit Railway (MTR) network, would not have an "effective means of recouping the vast sums spent on developing the MRT" without revenue from property development as earnings from fares only made up 35 per cent of total revenue. He stressed that Singapore's MRT operators, who rely heavily on fare box revenues with minimal contribution from commercial activities, were considered an exception rather than the norm. But Malaysia would be using a modified version of the rail-and-property model with "some amount of land acquisition" as the Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) line would traverse built-up areas unlike Hong Kong, which had access to several tracts of mainly reclaimed land that allowed for integrated station and property development, Idris said. "The government is thus not acquiring land banks for the MRT Co. nor abusing the Land Acquisition Act for this purpose," he assured, referring to the new project owner effective September 1. However, Idris also revealed that land along the SBK corridor that will be developed by government-linked companies (GLCs), including the Rubber Research Institute (RRI) and Kuala Lumpur International Financial District (KLIFD) sites, would not go directly towards offsetting the capital expenditure for the MRT. The minister added that he would let the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) respond to Cheng's concerns over the land acquisition on Jalan Sultan in Chinatown, which traders there see as a threat to the historic enclave. "These involve technical details such as the design of the alignment, constructibility, the need for station integration and so forth and why land above ground is acquired (in respect to the National Land Code) even if the MRT tunnels are below for safety and security concerns," he said. "On this score, perhaps we may also see a more positive development from the proximity of the MRT line to Chinatown where opportunities for revitalisation and restoration of the area would benefit the Chinese community in this part of Kuala Lumpur."
|
| Hisham defends decision to deport Uighurs Posted: 25 Aug 2011 09:16 AM PDT
By Husna Yusop, The Sun The decision to send back 11 Chinese Uighur Muslim refugees to China last week was justified as they were involved in criminal activities, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein. Commenting on international human rights groups criticising Malaysia for repatriating the Uighurs to China on Aug 18, he told a press conference today that there were still five others detained on suspicion of human trafficking.The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' office in Kuala Lumpur has reportedly voiced regret that the deportation was done without allowing them access to UN officials. "We get condemnations all around in anything we do. But, these people were wanted by the China government. We have to be on the side of justice and, at the end of the day, what is most important to me is the safety and stability of our people and our country," he told reporters after the ministry's monthly Speaking after attending the ministry's monthly assembly, Hishammuddin said it is best to leave the matter to the authorities as they were still under investigation. "We can argue and debate the whole day. Those with views can come and engage us, we can discuss. The rights of the press to report must not come in the way of investigations that are on-going," he said. In another development, Hishammuddin denied reports that the ministry has ordered for UNHCR cardholders to register under the 6P Programme on Monday. "It was not ordered by the ministry. That's not true. From what I've discovered, it was the decision of all those refugees to register at that particular time. It was reported that about 10,000 refugees and asylum seekers flooded the Immigration Department in Putrajaya when they were given an 11th hour notice to register themselves under the programme. Overwhelmed and ill prepared, immigration officials reportedly had little choice but to turn back a large number of the refugees and asked them to return the next day. Hishammuddin said the ministry officers have been instructed to engage UNHCR to come up with proper planning for the refugees so that there will not be any bottlenecks. "If they tell us in advance they want to come in big numbers, we can make the necessary arrangement," he said adding the original decision was for the registration to be in staggered.
|
| New investigation into film maker that took millions from Malaysia Posted: 25 Aug 2011 09:13 AM PDT
By Ian Burrell, The Independent Press corps in Kuala Lumpur all knew FBC had close links to the Malaysian government with special access. One of America's most prestigious magazines, the 154-year-old The Atlantic, has become the latest high-profile news organisation to launch an investigation into its relationship with a media company that was allocated millions of pounds by the Malaysian government. The Washington-based magazine and website is "reviewing all transactions" it had with FBC, a media company that also produced television programmes for the BBC and the business channel CNBC. The Independent revealed this month that FBC had been hired by Malaysia in a "global strategic communications campaign". The FBC programmes broadcast on BBC World News dealt with contentious issues including Malaysia's treatment of its indigenous peoples, its management of rainforests and its controversial palm-oil industry. The BBC said: "FBC has now admitted to the BBC that it has worked for the Malaysian government. That information was not disclosed to the BBC as we believe it should have been when the BBC contracted programming from FBC. Given this, the BBC has decided to transmit no more programming from FBC while it reviews its relationship with the company." The Atlantic has ordered a "full review" into its own relationship with FBC. Justin Smith, president of Atlantic Media Co, publisher of the magazine, has resigned from the board of FBC. FBC's founder Alan Friedman, a long-term friend of Mr Smith's, blogged for The Atlantic from this year's World Economic Forum in Davos. Mr Friedman also encouraged The Atlantic to host an event in March in which the Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Razak, was interviewed by a correspondent of The Atlantic. Natalie Raabe, director of communications for The Atlantic, said Mr Smith's role at FBC was unpaid and "largely nominal". She said that the magazine was "reviewing all interactions it has had with FBC and its chairman," including blogs Mr Friedman wrote about Indonesia. "We have found several instances in which Friedman wrote positively about the Indonesian government and its representatives. Our internal process will seek to determine whether Friedman was representing Indonesia at the time he wrote for TheAtlantic.com." She said the company was also examining blog comments made by Mr Friedman on Malaysia and had now attached an online reference to inform readers that he was working for the Malaysian government "at or around the time he wrote them". FBC also made a half-hourly weekly programme for CNBC, part of the American NBC network. Many of its episodes featured Malaysia. CNBC has withdrawn the programme "indefinitely" and "immediately initiated an examination of FBC and its business practices". Since publication of The Independent's investigation, the newspaper has been contacted by numerous correspondents based in Kuala Lumpur, who complained that the broadcasters should have taken action earlier. One senior international journalist with a decade of experience in Malaysia, said FBC's relationship with the Malaysian government was "common knowledge among the press corps in KL". He said: "The real scandal is the failure by BBC and CNBC to police the outsourcing of their programmes. They need to answer some hard questions." The BBC said it had "acted swiftly to suspend the broadcasting from FBC" and pointed out that "all independent TV companies who produce programmes for BBC World News have to sign strict agreements". A former correspondent for a prominent US magazine said that correspondents became accustomed to seeing FBC granted access to "notoriously press-shy" senior political and business figures who would not speak to other sections of the media. "Knowing FBC and their modus operandi, it was pretty clear how it happened," he said. The Independent has established that FBC also hired the Washington-based American lobbying company APCO Worldwide for the purpose of "raising awareness of the importance of policies in Malaysia that are pro-business and pro-investment as well as the significance of reform and anti-terrorism efforts in that country". FBC denies impropriety in any of its programme-making. Its lawyers said in a letter that "at no time have the television programmes made for the BBC ever been influenced or affected by our client's commercial activities". It said that FBC ran production and commercial divisions, which "are and always have been quite separate and distinct". The BBC, CNBC and the media regulator Ofcom continue to investigate. |
| Refugee unrest in Malaysia after deportation bungle Posted: 25 Aug 2011 01:42 AM PDT By Kirsty Needham, The Sydney Morning Herald THE United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Malaysia has admitted thousands of refugees have been incorrectly issued letters by the Malaysian government marked ''return to home country'', raising widespread fears of deportation. The Refugee Convention principle of ''non-refoulement'', and Malaysia's commitment that 800 refugees from Australia would not be returned to the country from which they fled, underpin the federal government's defence to a High Court challenge to the Malaysia deal. Up to 10,000 refugees descended on an immigration office in Putrajaya, a suburb of the capital, Kuala Lumpur, on Tuesday after the UNHCR was told, at late notice by the Malaysian government, that refugees must immediately register under a new biometric system designed to record illegal and legal migrant workers. Witnesses who spoke to the Herald said RELA - the vigilante force that was banished from Malaysian streets this year because of human rights concerns - was then called in by the immigration department as chaos erupted. Advertisement: Story continues below A co-ordinator of the Malaysian human rights group Suaram, Andika Wahab, told the Herald that the situation was shocking and he saw RELA members carrying sticks. ''I didn't see RELA beat individuals, but I saw RELA hit the wall and push people. The situation was very overcrowded,'' he said. The refugees became alarmed at about 4pm when it was realised that, after having their fingerprints taken, some were being issued letters stamped: ''Return to home country''. ''They feared they would be deported to Burma,'' he said. A spokeswoman for the UNHCR in Malaysia, Yante Ismail, said the document should have been given only to migrant workers, and not refugees. ''When the UNHCR learnt about this yesterday, we immediately raised this matter with the government, who will now rectify the document for all UNHCR-registered refugees and asylum seekers,'' she said. ''Understandably this has created confusion among refugees and asylum seekers, and this has created great anxiety among this population,'' Ms Ismail said. She said the force used by Malaysian police was proportionate. She said the police had taken women, children and the elderly to the front of the line to avoid physical danger. Because ''overwhelming numbers'' turned up on Tuesday, refugees would now be processed in batches instead, she said. Refugee groups said yesterday they still had not received an explanation for the letters. Dr Irene Fernandez, the executive director of the refugee group, Tenaganita, said it was ''problematic'' that refugees were given the wrong letters. Dr Fernandez said RELA ''became quite abusive, started pushing them and not treating them well''. The opposition immigration spokesman, Scott Morrison, was kicked out of Federal Parliament yesterday after questioning the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, over a Malaysian website report that RELA had beaten ''children, mothers and the elderly'' in the queue. He later said, ''the beatings that have been reported and the fact that refugees have gone to be registered and received papers that say: 'Return to home country','' were serious issues for the Malaysia swap. The Greens Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young, said: ''there is no guarantee people who are found by the UNHCR to be refugees in need of protection will not be returned to their home country at the whim of the Malaysian government.'' Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/refugee-unrest-in-malaysia-after-deportation-bungle-20110825-1jcj2.html#ixzz1W3lLrv54 |
| Malaysia Prepares For Ageing Nation As World Population Reaches Seven Billion Posted: 24 Aug 2011 10:53 PM PDT Based upon the projection rate and current trend, the Malaysian population is expected to reach 35 million by 2020, with 3.4 million being senior citizens. (Bernama) -- Although mankind is some two million years old, the world's population has grown slowly during most of human history. |
| Bar Council Asked To State Views On Anwar's Action In Court Posted: 24 Aug 2011 10:45 PM PDT
(Bernama) -- The Bar Council was today asked to state its views on the action of Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who has chosen to give his evidence from the dock in his ongoing sodomy trial. Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin told Bernama he was curious to know what was the Bar Council's stand on the matter.
|
| On being detained at Kuala Lumpur airport Posted: 24 Aug 2011 10:42 PM PDT By Imran Khan, Guardian Malaysia didn't want me to enter the country to gather evidence about how ethnic Indians were treated by colonial Britain. In the Hollywood film The Terminal Tom Hanks plays (with obligatory mangled foreign accent) a character who is trapped in New York's JFK airport. Last week, I had a similar experience at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Malaysia. Whereas Tom Hanks's character spends years trapped, I was only there for a few hours. The episode was both humiliating and enlightening. I had been engaged by a Malaysian lawyer, Waytha Moorthy, to look into taking action against the British government for its role in the exploitation of Indian Hindus during Malaysia's period as a colony, and its failure to protect their rights when independence was declared in 1957. Ethnic Indians make up just over 6% of Malaysia's 28.3 million people, while Muslim Malays account for just over 61% and ethnic Chinese some 25%. A coalition led by the United Malays National Organisation has ruled since independence, which, according to Moorthy, had led to widespread human rights violations and discrimination of the Indian Malaysian population. About 70% live in abject poverty and one in six are effectively stateless as they are denied a birth certificate. Moorthy originally lodged his action on the 31 August 2007, the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's independence. However, the claim stalled following the arrest of the lawyers involved under a draconian piece of legislation called the Internal Security Act. Moorthy had demanded compensation for Indian Malaysians whose ancestors were brought in by the British government as indentured labour. The claim was that, after granting independence, the British had left the Indians without representation and at the mercy of the Malays. So, the plan was to visit Malaysia and gather evidence and claims that would form the foundation of the case. A recent case involving individuals tortured by British soldiers in colonial Kenya gave fresh impetus to the proceedings. My pending arrival in Malaysia had receivedadvance publicity from local police who had sought to intimidate organisers of the venue where I was expected to meet potential claimants. There was, therefore, some trepidation when I presented myself to the immigration desk on arrival at KLIA. As soon as my passport was handed over at the immigration desk, the slow cogs of government bureaucracy moved into action. Without explanation I was taken to the immigration office. KLIA is an impressive building; made of polished steel and glass it has a central hub with four long offshoots. It is populated by the ubiquitous outlets that make most airports seem identical. However,, the immigration office was a more spartan affair. Teams of immigration officers sat behind desks shouting the names of those refused entry to come forward and explain their reasons for trying to enter. Handing my passport over to one of them I noticed the large sign on the back wall of the office – "Service with a smile" it said. True to their motto a pleasant immigration officer smiled while she told me that I had been refused entry. I asked for an explanation and was told that the immigration department had no problem with me – the decision to refuse me entry had come from the very top. I asked for written reasons. The officer agreed that I should be given them but none were given. It was not until I was in transit in Dubai that I found out that I had been classed as a "prohibited immigrant". I still have no idea what that means and despite the involvement of the British consulate and the British government cabinet office, I found myself stranded, waiting for my return flight. It was clear that the decision was a political one – I had been refused entry to stop me doing work that the government of Malaysia did not want to take place. Thousands were expected to attend meetings that had been organised. I was to see the ways in which government policies had affected the lives of Indian Malaysians in all parts of the country. Yet, like many governments which seek to stifle opposition, its actions are often irrational because, while refusing me entry into the country, it had allowed my colleague who had been travelling with me to do so. He is now meeting all those potential claimants and collecting evidence to progress the claim. Meanwhile, sitting in the immigration office at KLIA gave me a glimpse of how differently people are treated in Malaysia. Sitting beside me awaiting interrogation were men – predominantly young, on their own and originating from Pakistan, India or sub-Saharan Africa. They would be summoned to their meeting with an immigration officer via an intermediary – always a Malaysian of Chinese origin wearing a coloured paper bracelet to signify that he had clearance to come into the airport. He would order his charge in terms which reminded me of a master/servant relationship – a click of the fingers, a terse command, the use of their surname only. These men appeared to be workers entering the country through the patronage of their Chinese bosses. It didn't take much imagination to work out how they would be treated once they left the airport terminal. These were the lucky ones. Those sharing my predicament were marched off to a detention centre before being sent back to their country of origin. Thankfully, I was told that I had been spared such a fate. Nevertheless, the experience was a humiliating one. Without a passport or able to leave the terminal I could not check in; I was escorted to the aircraft to be seated; my passport was handed over to the aircraft crew who viewed me with suspicion and contempt. I have often thought that lawyers, as well as doctors, should consider what it is like to be in their clients' position so that it can inform their approach. This was one occasion when I truly felt what it must be like for detainees all over the world – coming up against foreign jurisdiction; facing a decision which may be wrong and unjust; being treated without dignity; occupying a twilight world of ever-changing time zones and feeling utterly powerless. Having returned to the UK, I am even more determined to ensure that the issues raised by the case are highlighted beyond the borders of Malaysia. Like many in Britain, I had only thought of Malaysia as the country advertised in brochures. Every day, buses pass my office window in central London emblazoned with adverts encouraging us to visit Malaysia, illustrated with montages of sun and sea. Few people are likely look beyond that image or get to see the reality that exists underneath. For me, a country that, on the face of it, is engaged in widespread, institutional discrimination and human rights abuses should rightly be condemned. Even more so when it refuses its citizens access to legal representation.
|
| Malaysia's Slowing Performance Posted: 24 Aug 2011 10:25 PM PDT By Greg Lopez, Asia Sentinel In the 70 years since World War II ended, East Asian economies, including Malaysia, appear to have largely got performance right. Malaysia was also one of 13 countries identified by the Commission on Growth and Development in its 2008 Growth Report to have recorded average growth of more than 7 percent per year for 25 years or more. Malaysia achieved this spectacular performance from 1967 to 1997. However, since the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 and1998, Malaysia's economic performance when compared to previous decades has been lackluster and most macroeconomic indicators are trending downwards. This was confirmed by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak himself in the publication on March 30, 2010 of the New Economic Model – Part 1. This was a very brave move but a necessary one by the premier as he acknowledged publicly the failures of Malaysia's current economic model in order to demonstrate urgency for reforms.
|
| Malaysia's Opposition Chief: Country Needs to Prepare for Slowdown Posted: 24 Aug 2011 10:17 PM PDT By James Hookway, Wall Street Journal KUALA LUMPUR—Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said Thursday the country's export-driven economy needs to prepare for the prospect of a double-dip recession in the U.S. and Europe, and steel itself for a prolonged period of weakness in the global economy. Mr. Anwar, a former finance minister, said Malaysia should focus on building up budget surpluses to better buffer itself from any further volatility in the global economy. "That's what we did during my time as finance minister: We built up the reserves and we were able to withstand the shock a lot better as a result," Mr. Anwar said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. He said Prime Minister Najib Razak needs to focus on weeding out corruption and waste to make the country more efficient. "And we need to educate Malaysians about what is going on so they can prepare," Mr. Anwar said. The Muslim-majority, resource-rich country ran a budget deficit equivalent to 5.6% of gross domestic product in 2010, down from a record 7% the year prior as Mr. Najib spent freely to help stimulate the economy during the worst of the global economic slump. This year, Mr. Najib has said he aims to reduce the deficit to 5.4% of GDP. Mr. Anwar, 64, lost his job as Malaysia's finance chief and deputy prime minister when he clashed with former leader Mahathir Mohamad on the direction of Malaysia's economic policy in 1998. An economic liberal, Mr. Anwar pressed for reforming Malaysia's heavily state-influenced economic system. He was later arrested and convicted of sodomizing two male aides—allegations he denied and called a political stunt—before the convictions were overturned in 2004. Now the leader of Malaysia's multi-ethnic opposition alliance, Mr. Anwar is again on trial for violating Malaysia's strict sodomy laws—this time for allegedly having sex with another male aide. Again, Mr. Anwar denies the allegation brought by 26-year-old Saiful Bukhari Azlan, saying the legal case was drummed up by Mr. Najib to destroy his political comeback. By law, Mr. Najib must call fresh elections by 2013. Mr. Najib, though, denies having anything to do with Mr. Anwar's trial, which this week is focusing on complex forensic DNA evidence legal experts say could determine its outcome. Mr. Anwar said that apparent inconsistencies in the prosecutors' case could provide him a legal lifeline. The opposition chief also said he sees a further decline in the value of the U.S. dollar and euro, saying "we have not seen the end of it." Mr. Anwar said he is worried, too, about whether China can continue being an engine of growth for the relatively healthier Asian economies. "You've got to wonder how sustainable it is," he said. |
| ‘Male Y’ DNA profile tainted, Sodomy II trial told Posted: 24 Aug 2011 08:41 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - A local scientist had flubbed a crucial DNA profiling test that the prosecution had used to link Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to a charge of sodomising his former aide, an Australian DNA expert told the High Court today. The defence team's fourth witness, Dr Brian McDonald, said government chemist Nor Aidora Saedon had made a major miscalculation in her test that had led to Anwar being wrongly marked as "Male Y" whose DNA profile was allegedly found in complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan's anus. "What you have is evidence of a mixture of profiles. She reported them as a single profile," Dr McDonald told the court. He said she had messed up a fundamental guideline on how to perform the DNA profiling test, which gave her the wrong reading. The opposition leader's sodomy trial was given an indepth review of DNA analysis, including a deeply detailed explanation of how to mark and read the results. "If these were tests done in school, she'd have failed them," he told an amused court.
|
| Perak mufti says Malays must defend race Posted: 24 Aug 2011 06:36 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria has denied claims that he is undermining the Najib administration and insisted today that the Umno president must find a way to unite the Malays. The Perak mufti told The Malaysian Insider that his advice to Datuk Seri Najib Razak was not influenced by any party but due to concern that "division among Malays is happening for a fact." "We must defend our race and Najib must find a way to reunite Malays," Harussani (picture) said. Several blogs and people on micro-blogging site Twitter have questioned Harussani's statement yesterday that the prime minister's weak government was the cause of Malay disunity, with some claiming that the Muslim scholar's statements seemed to be slanted towards Najib's deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Although Harussani acknowledged that he has come under fierce criticism since yesterday, he held to his stand that "division among Malays is a fact, you can see it for yourself." "When I speak, people will attack me. But I will not stop giving advice to anyone including the prime minister," he said. He had revealed during a religious forum yesterday that he met and advised Najib on the need to address "weak government, corruption and lack of trust."
|
| MCA founder’s granddaughter lauds Guan Eng’s policies in Penang Posted: 24 Aug 2011 04:06 PM PDT The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 — Lim Guan Eng received praise from an unexpected source today when the granddaughter of the MCA's first president and daughter of the country's longest-serving finance minister said the Penang chief minister should be given his due for the state's prudent management of public funds. Tan Siok Choo (picture), the daughter of Tun Tan Siew Sin and granddaughter of Tun Sir Tan Cheng Lock — both of whom were former MCA presidents — told BFM radio this morning that it was good that Lim had shown what could be done by eliminating waste and implementing open tenders. "For my father... he was always very particular that government funds should be looked after like your own funds. I think it is in a way, currently, very good that Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister of Penang, has shown what can be done if you eliminate waste and if you have an open tender. "The fact that he has been able to run Penang without much contribution from the federal government and yet turn in, yet attract one of the highest rates of investment, I think speaks for itself. "And this is barring the fact that when my father was in politics, Kit Siang never had a good word to say about my father. So there is history between our two fathers but I think one must give Guan Eng his due," she told the radio station's Morning Grille programme. Siok Choo's father Siew Sin was finance minister from 1959 until 1974. Guan Eng's father Kit Siang became an MP for the first time in 1969 and eventually became parliamentary opposition leader. Her remarks today come as the DAP is increasingly being seen as the party of choice for the country's Chinese community while the MCA, the party founded by Siok Choo's grandfather Cheng Lock, appears to be floundering. Recently, international news magazine The Economist also praised Guan Eng's open tender policies and credited his administration with helping Penang regain its lustre as a "global city" by lifting the state's economy to beyond that of a sweat shop industry. The international weekly dubbed Penang "the first custom-made city of globalisation" and credited Guan Eng for boosting the port city's revival by axing a racial special treatment economic policy in the state to create a more level-playing field that appeals to foreign investors.
|
| Najib: Auditioning for Umno warlords Posted: 24 Aug 2011 03:54 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's three-days-a-week-pressing-the-flesh campaign is as much aimed at reconnecting with voters as it is targeted at convincing Umno that he has the tools to lead Barisan Nasional (BN) to victory. His recent problems and questions about his leadership — which have been raised by the opposition, some Umno warlords, the Perak mufti and the chattering class — have made it necessary for Najib to chart an election-like stumping strategy of leaving his office three times a week to meet the electorate.The PM is banking on his charisma and ability to dole out cash to boost his administration which has been battered by poor handling of Bersih, tepid action against corruption, flip-flops on reforms, racial and religious strife and personal issues linked to the Scorpene submarine deal and the RM24 million ring. His advisers believe that the electorate will like what they see and hear when Najib hits the road, convinced that brand Najib will win over doubters. But an equally important target for him are the Umno warlords, who have been grumbling about the lack of money/contracts; about the PM's indecisiveness and personal issues of the First Family and pandering to non-Malays and lack of concern for the Bumiputera agenda. Najib knows that he has to hush these noises if Umno is going to do well at the polls. He also has to moderate expectations, talking down winning two-thirds majority, knowing that if he does not deliver on a high target he will be vulnerable at the party polls. For now he does not have to worry about Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the man whose attacks led to the fall of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Dr Mahathir's friends say that while the former prime minister has some issues with Najib's leadership, he is not interested in leading any campaign against the PM. So, it's up to Najib now to do whatever it takes to deliver a victory for Umno and BN.
|
| Malaysians abroad may soon be allowed to vote via post Posted: 24 Aug 2011 03:48 PM PDT By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider All Malaysians living abroad may soon be able to vote in elections via post, Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof said today. Abdul Aziz said the commission was looking into the possibility of amending election regulations to allow this, adding that it would "hopefully" be implemented before the 13th general election. "We want it such that so long as you are Malaysian and you have valid identification, you can vote. "Hopefully this can be done for the next election," he said during a media briefing here today. At present, election regulations only permit civil servants, full-time students and their spouses living abroad to vote via post. Abdul Aziz (picture) stressed however that those living abroad must first register themselves as voters via Malaysian embassies in the respective countries they reside in before applying to the EC to become a postal voter. "The EC will consider their application before approving," he said.
|
| NEP under attack: Dr M to the rescue Posted: 24 Aug 2011 03:34 PM PDT
(FMT) - PETALING JAYA: Dr Mahathir Mohamad has defended the New Economic Policy (NEP), the controversial socio-economomic restructuring affirmative action programme launched in 1971. Taking the critics, including Anwar Ibrahim, to task, the former premier said NEP had been denigrated by opposition politicians to the point that it appeared to be the worst policy ever conceived and implemented. "While (prominent economist) Ramon Navaratnam blames NEP as being the cause of foreign investors not coming to Malaysia, Anwar condemned it for the abuses and corruption involved in its implementation," he said in a blog posting. "Anwar loudly proclaims that NEP benefits only the cronies of the government and that the contracts, Approval Permits (APs) and licenses given out under NEP involve corruption. "He makes it sound as if NEP did not benefit the Malays and other bumiputera at all," he added. However, Mahathir admitted that a few of the recipients of APs, contracts and licenses might know the leaders of government or were members of Umno "And there may be corruption involved in some cases but the charge is not warranted because in most cases, the benefits of NEP has been enjoyed by almost every Malay and bumiputera. In fact indirectly and in some cases directly it has benefited the non-bumiputera as well," he said. Giving them education For example, Mahathir said, every Malay child was helped in his or her education with free text books and often with free meals. "Schools are built in the remotest areas where before there were no schools. Hostels are built for mostly Malay and other bumiputera children so that they can live a better life and are able to study in better surroundings then in their homes in the villages," he added. For the qualified, the former premier noted, tertiary education was readily accessible, with huge numbers of scholarships. As a result, he said, many of the children of poor families or of families unable to pay high fees, now held university degrees, were highly qualified and many were professionals. "Before only 5% of the doctors in Malaysia were Malays and bumiputera, now 40% of them are Malays," the doctor-turned-politician said, adding that it was the same with other professions. "Just count the number of students in public universities in the country and those abroad on scholarships and one will appreciate how NEP has benefitted the Malays and other bumiputera in education," he said.
|
| ‘Lab did not meet international standards’ Posted: 24 Aug 2011 02:08 PM PDT
By Teoh El Sen, FMT KUALA LUMPUR: The Chemistry Department of Malaysia, which did tests on DNA samples in the Anwar Ibrahim Sodomy II trial has never received an accreditation as it did not meet international standards.
Anwar's defence team today alleged that the laboratory had applied for an accreditation from the American Society of Crime Lab Directors (ASCLD) but had failed to receive it since 2005. "The department did the DNA test on Anwar's DNA sample in 2008 when, all this while, it had failed to meet the ISO 17025 standard… it was given two extensions to apply for accreditation by the ASCLD. It only received a legacy accreditation, which is merely like a probation " Anwar's counsel Sankara Nair told reporters outside the court. (ASCLD accredits laboratories and regulates international standards.) "This affects the credibility of the DNA testing and the work methods of the department's laboratory. This amounts to misleading the court," he said, adding that chemist Dr Seah Lay Hong had earlier testified that her lab had met ISO 17025 standard. Earlier, Australian DNA specialist Dr Brian Leslie McDonald said that having an accreditation was important and meeting certain standards ensure that labs around the whole have standardised results. The 60-year-old consultant molecular geneticist from Sydney said that accreditation also gives recognition to a lab that has complied with standard guidelines. Asked by defence lawyer Ram Karpal Singh Deo whether such accreditation is required in a Malaysian context, McDonald said: " I don't know, I would think if the government asks a lab to conduct tests, you must be accredited."Prosection wants evidence expunged "This evidence is inadmissible… It should be expunged," said Mohd Yusof, who had an exchange of words with Ram. Referring to a letter that Ram had produced, Mohd Yusof said: "This is 2010, the test was conducted in 2008." McDonald, who is also an ISO assessor for the Australian body of accreditation National Association of Testing Authority, earlier explained how forensic DNA testings worked. He said that in general, accreditation of a forensic laboratory should be disclosed, adding that it is an "obligation", especially if its evidence is used in court.
|
| EC mulls using both biometric system and indelible ink Posted: 24 Aug 2011 01:55 PM PDT By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider The Election Commission (EC) may use both the biometric system and indelible ink for the elections, laying to rest the ongoing squabble over the superiority of either mechanism. However, EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof said the commission was still studying the legal implications of both systems and whether they could be used on a "voluntary" or "mandatory" basis. But he noted that if voters were not required by law to use the new system, it would render the entire exercise pointless. "That is why we want to make sure everyone uses it," he said. Asked if the EC would propose its recommendation to the parliamentary select committee (PSC) for polls reform to be formed in October, Abdul Aziz said the commission hoped to do so. When asked if the changes would be implemented for the coming polls, he said: "Insyaallah." He said if the changes were to be made mandatory, amendments to election laws were needed to be passed in Parliament. The commission, he said, was now preparing the framework for the PSC, which is due to be presented to the Cabinet by September 7. |
| Malaysia UNHCR Accused of Betraying Refugees Posted: 24 Aug 2011 01:45 PM PDT
By Ko Htwe, The Irrawaddy The Malaysia United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is accused of betraying refugees by conspiring with Putrajaya Immigration Office to take their fingerprints and send them back to their own countries, it has been claimed. On Tuesday, several UNHCR-affiliated organizations in Malaysia instructed refugees to provide fingerprints at Putrajaya Immigration Office, claims Shwe Zin, a Burmese refugee living in Malaysia. "I arrived at the immigration office in the morning and was made to queue up. Then when my turn came, I had my fingerprints and a photo taken. And then I was given a printed document written in Malay that said to go back to our own country," said Shwe Zin. Many registered refugees came to the immigration office to give their fingerprints but did not know the details of what was going on, she added. Many refugees received a document entitled "Pulang Ke Negara Asal" which translates as "Returning Home," "Leaving" or "Going back to native country." However, others were registered and given an alternative document which allows them to stay in Malaysia. "I think I made a mistake by giving my fingerprints. It is impossible for me to go back [to Burma]," said Shwe Zin, adding that UNHCR staff were present in the immigration office. "The UNHCR is tricking us because they want to settle corruption dealings with refugee processes. I don't know why some refugee receive different documents," said Kyaw Htoo Aung from Malaysia, who works for worker affairs. An official from Putrajaya Immigration Office in Malaysia refused to give further details when contacted byThe Irrawaddy, but just said that it was an "enforcement event." Malaysia is currently running the 6P Program to tackle illegal migrant numbers in a bid to settle social problems and crime related to illegal foreigners. Although the Malaysia UNHCR was officially against the scheme, after Aug. 23 the organization is legally obliged to assist with the 6P registration. UNHCR refugee card holder Myat Ko Ko sent a letter to UNHCR officials asking why the organization was not upfront about its involvement in the fingerprint campaign, and questioning its commitment to protecting international human rights and refugees affairs. "As a result of the UNHCR and Malaysia [government] fingerprint program addressed to all the ethnic Burmese refugees in Malaysia, all of them are in trouble and the UNHCR should surely have given an announcement about it," he wrote. The Irrawaddy repeatedly tried to contact the UNHCR office in Malaysia but there was no reply. The Malaysia UNHCR has been accused of discriminating between refugees and corruptly selling resettlement registrations for profit, according to refugees in Malaysia. "While I met with the Malaysian authorities, my friend told me not to give a thumbprint on the document when the [UNHCR] called us. It is an act of cheating. They made the plan in secret but the problem is now widely known," said Yan Naing Tun. Australia and Malaysia's recent agreement to swap 800 asylum seekers who came to Australia for 4,000 refugees living in Malaysia was widely criticized by human rights groups, as Malaysia is not a signatory of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. The Malaysian government has cooperated with the UNHCR on humanitarian grounds since 1975 even though Malaysia has not signed the UN Convention Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees. Burmese refugees have since been sent to third countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, France, New Zealand, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway. |
| Hishammuddin receives two live bullets, death threat Posted: 24 Aug 2011 04:10 AM PDT
The home minister says the items were in an envelope posted to his office in Putrajaya. (Bernama) - Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein today received two live bullets with a threatening note in an envelope posted to his office in Putrajaya. The envelope, which was received at 2pm, also contained a booklet in which the handwritten note was slipped in. Met by reporters after attending a breaking of fast at the Al-Ikhlasiyah mosque di Pantai Dalam here, Hishammuddin, however, declined to say what were the contents of the note. "I can confirm that I received two live bullets together with a threatening note today. This is the first time I have experienced such a thing. "The envelope was received by an aide of mine and he has since lodged a police report," he said. Hishammuddin, however, said it would not dampen his spirit to continue discharging his duties as entrusted to him. "I view this as something serious. However, it will not deter me from carrying out my duties as entrusted to me by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. "This might be the work of some frustrated people, probably because they are not happy with the work we (home ministry) are doing. But I am unfazed by this threat," he added.
|
| Vell Paari’s Aussie firm crisis Posted: 23 Aug 2011 03:53 PM PDT
Claims of misappropriation of funds, missing files, non-payment of salaries (The Malay Mail) - An internal financial crackdown of MIC central working committee member S. Vell Paari's Western Australia-based 4WD auto company is underway following allegations of misappropriation of millions of ringgit, missing accounting files and "stolen" intellectual property manuals. Three Australian authorities, in the meantime, are investigating his company for non-payment of staff salaries, unpaid superannuation — a retirement and pensions programme — and alleged violation of investment procedures. Vell Paari told The Malay Mail international audit firm KPMG was conducting forensic examination on the finances of OKA Motor Co., the trading name of Reymer Pty Ltd, that Vell Paari controls. The audit is also to protect the company's intellectual property in the form of manuals to manufacture all-terrain trucks and tour buses. The manuals, valued at RM80 million, were discovered missing recently, he said. Vell Paari said millions in company funds have also been siphoned out of Australia into a private account in Europe. In the case of the manuals, he said, sabotage was suspected. "The manuals that were stored in a computer server are currently being rebuilt." On the missing accounting files, he said except for those over the past two years, files from previous years had gone missing. The son of former MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu was speaking to The Malay Mail on claims his auto company had collapsed. "The company has not collapsed. Matters have come to a standstill until we have cleared this mess," he declared. He said: "Majority of the employees have now been paid their salaries except for those whose claims have to be verified by the auditors. "Payments to certain creditors are also disputable and I suspect their accounts are shady. We are putting everything in order and are co-operating with the authorities to get to the root of the problems." He said the irregularities came to light in an internal investigation into complaints of nonpayment of staff salaries over the past two-and-a-half-months. Vell Paari said an email sent to him by an employee raising concerns over non-payment of salaries triggered the internal action. "I suspected irregularities as we had money from sales of allterrain vehicles while the company was still focused on research and development on a new range of vehicles. "It was then we discovered millions have been siphoned out of Australia into a private account." He claimed OKA chief financial officer Tom Ksserkas had owned up to the auditors that he had misappropriated company funds. The chief executive officer, Arthur Gold, resigned soon after the forensics audit was commissioned, he added. He accused both men for the current state of affairs. "I was not responsible for the unpaid wages. "I might be company chairman and have other ventures in Australia but I don't get involved in daily operations as I spend most of my time in Kuala Lumpur. Further, I don't have a working visa there." Vell Paari said he expected a full report from the auditors soon after which he would make police reports against those responsible. In the meantime, he said, operations at the plant in Bibra Lake have ground to a halt to facilitate investigations. At least 20 workers have been retrenched. He said he was liaising with Fair Work Ombudsman that is looking into allegations of unpaid salaries. "I am aware the workers had also lodged a claim with the Australian Taxation office for unpaid superannuation. "A complaint has also been filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and I am in touch with the authorities." Vell Paari said moves were in progress to relocate the manufacturing plant to Malaysia. He said he has hired a new COO, an Indian national with expertise in armoured and non-armoured vehicles for Indonesian military, to head the operations in Malaysia from October.
|
| From POLITICO - Justin Smith steps down from FBC Media board Posted: 23 Aug 2011 03:39 PM PDT Ben Smith and I report on the main site how The Atlantic has become the latest media company to get tangled in the scandal surrounding FBC Media, a British company on whose board Atlantic Media Co. President Justin Smith sat until the bad press moved him to resign.
"I have directed a full review of The Atlantic's dealings with him, and the responsibility at The Atlantic for any problems it might uncover will be mine. It is my job to safeguard at all costs The Atlantic's reputation for editorial integrity."
|
| Beng Hock’s family challenges RCI suicide verdict Posted: 23 Aug 2011 02:13 PM PDT By Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 — Teoh Beng Hock's family applied for a judicial review against the royal commission of inquiry's (RCI) conclusion that the political aide committed suicide in 2009. The application was made at the High Court today. The family's lawyer Gobind Singh Deo pointed out that there was no testimony on what happened to Teoh, between 3.30am and 7am on July 16, 2009, the crucial hours before he was eventually found dead outside the then Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office in Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam. "If you do not know for sure what happened, how can you come to these findings?" asked Gobind at a press conference after filing the application for leave today. The RCI, which was chaired by sitting Federal Court judge Tan Sri James Foong, found that Teoh was driven to suicide after relentless questioning by anti-graft officers. The five-man panel wrapped up its report on June 15 after having heard testimony from 70 witnesses in its bid to unravel the mysterious circumstances behind Teoh's death. Former Court of Appeal judge Datuk N.H. Chan has called the three judges on the five-man panel "three blind mice" for concluding that Teoh killed himself despite lacking expert opinion. A copy of the judicial review provided to the press today quoted the RCI as saying in its report: "We believe something had happened between 3.30am (after Teoh Beng Hock's statement was recorded) and 7.00am (the earliest estimate of his time of death) on July 16, 2009, that drove Teoh Beng Hock to suicide." Teoh's family said it was obvious that the RCI did not know what had happened to Teoh at that time before the former aide to Selangor executive councillor, Ean Yong Hian Wah, plunged nine floors to his death. Gobind also questioned the lack of action against three MACC officers whom the RCI said had pressured Teoh into committing suicide.
|
| PAS ready to face lawsuit over 'UMNO hand' in church affair Posted: 23 Aug 2011 01:07 PM PDT (Harakah Daily) - PAS president Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang has given his backing to secretary general Mustafa Ali over the latter's claim that UMNO had a hand in the controversy surrounding the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) and the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC). The claim has infuriated Selangor UMNO, who threatened to file a RM10 million suit against Mustafa if he refused to apologise. Mustafa however twice rejected the demand for apology, saying he had ample proof to be presented in court.
|
| Bumi quota may bloat MRT project cost, say experts Posted: 23 Aug 2011 11:41 AM PDT By Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 — A 30 per cent Bumiputera quota for the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) construction packages may swell the cost of the multi-billion ringgit rail project, say experts. RAM Holdings chief economist Dr Yeah Kim Leng said some small Bumiputera contractors may not be able to leverage on economy of scale in terms of equipment and resources. "The smaller ones don't have that scale economy. Costs will be higher," Yeah told The Malaysian Insider. He said six out of the 16 packages for elevated civil works and stations, as well as the Kajang depot work package, were reserved for Bumiputeras. Twenty-eight firms including heavyweights such as Sunway Bhd, IJM Bhd and MRCB have been shortlisted for the construction of the first phase of the MRT project. Political analyst James Chin pointed out that the Bumiputera quota would increase costs due to a smaller pool of competitors. "The Bumiputera portion will be confined to Bumiputeras only. If you know that the competition is for Bumiputeras only, they'll increase prices because they (the government) cannot buy from anyone else," Chin told The Malaysian Insider.
|
| Anwar is like a Renaissance man who likes ‘naked men’, says Utusan Posted: 23 Aug 2011 11:25 AM PDT
By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 — Utusan Malaysia mocked Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today and likened him to Renaissance era artists such as Michaelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci who "like fully naked men and handsome young boys." Its assistant chief editor Datuk Zaini Hassan wrote in the Umno-owned newspaper that the opposition leader's "32-page statement was as usual, complete with quotes from the Quran, former South African President Nelson Mandela, Shakespeare and many others," in reference to Anwar's unsworn testimony from the dock during his sodomy trial on Monday."Anwar wants to be known as The Renaissance Man of the new millennium. He has even written a book called The Asian Renaissance," Zaini wrote in his Cuit column today. He stated in the Malay daily that Michaelangelo and Leonardo "like fully naked men and handsome young boys" and asked readers to look up their works, such as the statue of David and the sketch of the Vitruvian Man — both naked depictions — on online encyclopedia Wikipedia. Anwar is currently fighting a sodomy charge levelled against him by his former aide Mohamed Saiful Bukhari Azlan who was 22 when the alleged incident happened in 2008. The former deputy prime minister said in a nearly two-hour testimony from the dock on Monday that this second sodomy charge was a "conspiracy by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak" and denied ever having sex with Saiful. PKR later said that its de facto leader's decision to enter an unsworn statement in his defence was an act of protest against "the legal and political establishment's" trumped-up charges, following in the footsteps of Mandela, who also took the same course of action when charged with treason in 1963. But Zaini mocked the Permatang Pauh MP, writing that "Anwar using Mandela's words? Does he want to be known as the Malayan Mandela?" "He wants his speech to be in high language, with jargon and philosophy, making reporters dizzy... unlike his former boss Dr Mahathir who would use simple language, whether Malay or English," he wrote in the Malay daily.
|
| You are subscribed to email updates from Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan