Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- DPM: Govt to protect Bumiputeras' interest
- Thousands back Indian activist's fast against graft
- Khairy says up to bosses to decide on Rembau
- BN Ready To Face GE, Says Rais
- Penang refutes Tsu Koon, says investment decisions done quicker
- Don’t just ‘cari makan’, take a stand
- Alarming number of illegals
- Polls panel insincere public relations move, say activists, Malaysians
| DPM: Govt to protect Bumiputeras' interest Posted: 20 Aug 2011 03:54 PM PDT
(BERNAMA) - Assisting and safeguarding the interest and welfare of the Bumiputera remains the main agenda of leaders and the government today, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said "So, the Bumiputera need not worry if the word Bumiputera is not used or repeated numerous times when implementing policies or the New Economic Policy," he said when closing the two-day convention "Empowering the New Economic Model: A Bumiputera Economic Jihad", organised by the Gagasan Badan Ekonomi Melayu (GABEM) at Universiti Teknologi Mara, here Saturday, Aug 20.
25 resolutions to empower Bumiputeras The functions of Gagasan Badan Ekonomi Melayu (Gabem) as the driver and monitor of Bumiputera economic performance is to be continued and further enforced -- this was among the 25 resolutions taken at the the New Economic Model (NEM): Bumiputera Economic Jihad Convention held here Saturday, Aug 20.
|
| Thousands back Indian activist's fast against graft Posted: 20 Aug 2011 03:46 PM PDT
(REUTERS) - At least 10,000 people gathered yesterday to support an anti-corruption social activist who has galvanised much of India against the government with his hunger strike. Mr Anna Hazare, a 74-year-old activist, lay on a stage on his fourth day of fasting at an open ground in the capital, a hunger strike he says will continue until the government passes tougher anti-graft legislation.
|
| Khairy says up to bosses to decide on Rembau Posted: 20 Aug 2011 03:14 PM PDT
By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 — Khairy Jamaluddin has backtracked on his intention not to defend his Rembau seat and quit politics after a general election expected within the year, repeating that it is up to"my superiors in the party." The first-term Rembau MP said in Kota Bharu last night that the decision on the candidate was the prerogative of Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and he had the final say on the candidates who could give a win for Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN). The Umno Youth chief (picture), who in early January said that he wanted to take a break from politics, told The Malaysian Insider that "I have already made my preference known... clear, very clear." "But at the end of the day it is a team sport, we have to see what happens," he said in an interview. When the federal lawmaker was quizzed on whether he would stand down as Rembau MP, he said that "I promised my superiors in the party that I would not say anything more on the subject so I leave it to them to decide." In a function in Kota Bharu last night, Khairy said that what was crucial was to ensure victory for the party. "If there are members or leaders who are not selected as election candidates and want to sabotage other candidates, the movement will report to the leadership. "Now is no longer a question of whether the person is popular in the party or he/she is highly educated. What is important is whether the people accept him/her to ensure BN wins," he added. In the two years since capturing the prized Umno Youth leadership, Khairy has seen Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, who he defeated for the post and his deputy Datuk Razali Ibrahim appointed as deputy ministers by Najib. Khairy's planned retreat from mainstream politics had come despite his best efforts to defend the Najib administration in political forums both physical and virtual, taking on Pakatan Rakyat (PR) politicians and supporters on both political and policy matters. He remains Umno's most visibly centrist leader and credible purveyor of the prime minister's 1 Malaysia slogan of inclusivity. But it had appeared to isolate him further from a party that has been showing its hawkish tendencies and a Youth wing that traditionally leans even further right. However, Najib has recently praised Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth, which Khairy also chairs, for its efforts in pursuing programmes such as home ownership and career fairs aimed at easing the burden of this year's surging inflation. Khairy rose meteorically during Abdullah's administration, becoming the vice chief for Umno Youth and gaining infamy as part of the "Fourth Floor Boys" who were said to have the ear of the then prime minister.
|
| BN Ready To Face GE, Says Rais Posted: 20 Aug 2011 02:55 PM PDT
(Bernama) - The Barisan Nasional (BN) is ready to face the next general election (GE) which can be called at any time now, said Information, Communications and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim.
He said the statement by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on Friday that the GE could be called at anytime must be viewed seriously and not as "empty talk". He said the country was undergoing tremendous changes in terms of administration, mindset and economic transformation under the leadership of Najib. "And with these changes... we (BN) are ready (to face the GE). In fact, the election machinery in all state and parliamentary constituencies have been asked to get into gear," he said. He told this to reporters after attending a breaking of fast and alms giving function at the Simpang Durian mosque near here yesterday. Rais, who is also the MP for Jelebu, said the the election machinery in his constituency had also be in activated and that various programmes would be carried out after the Aidilfitiri towards facing the GE. |
| Penang refutes Tsu Koon, says investment decisions done quicker Posted: 20 Aug 2011 02:34 PM PDT By Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 — Investment agency InvestPenang has dismissed former Penang chief minister Senator Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon's claims that the state's economic success now should be attributed to his previous administration. InvestPenang chairman Lee Kah Choon said today it was "ridiculous" for Koh to suggest that it took investors years to decide on whether to invest in Penang. "By then the technology will be obsolete, the product will not fit into the supply chain for the overall manufacturing process and it is against the Just In Time (JIT) philosophy the manufacturing world is practicing currently," Lee told The Malaysian Insider today. "All in all, if any deal is to be struck, it will be done within 12 months," added the former Gerakan deputy secretary-general. Lee was responding to Koh's accusations in The Malaysian Insider that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was "unfairly" taking credit due to Barisan Nasional (BN). Koh, who was Penang CM from 1990 until March 2008, lamented that the "solid foundation" of various development projects laid down by his administration was handed over to Lim who, according to Koh, then skilfully "used" the media to claim ownership to the success of various initiatives. According to Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (Mida) statistics, Penang topped total capital investments in manufacturing projects in 2010 by attracting RM12.24 billion, up nearly five times compared to RM2.17 billion in 2009. Mida statistics also showed Penang was second only to Selangor up to May 2011, getting RM4.49 billion in approved manufacturing projects, or just below the RM4.74 billion Selangor received for the same period. Lee expressed surprise at Koh's contention that Mida took up to five years to decide on on incentives to be given to potential investors. "The Mida that InvestPenang is working with make decision in weeks and not years," said Lee. " In short, to say that investment decision takes months to be made is sleep talking. To say that Mida is indecisive in making incentive decision is both erroneous and unfair," he added. Lee, who relinquished all party posts when Gerakan lost Penang in Election 2008, pointed out that no investors withdrew from Penang when it fell to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) during the elections then.
|
| Don’t just ‘cari makan’, take a stand Posted: 20 Aug 2011 12:44 PM PDT By Jeswan Kaur, FMT Fighting for what is just and right has its 'price', one which not many are willing to pay, especially writers or journalists. It explains then why the mainstream media had nothing favourable to write about July 9, 2011, the day when Malaysians fearing nothing joined hands in demanding electoral reforms. The conventional media instead lambasted the rally, themed 'Walk for Democracy' and organised by election watchdog Bersih 2.0 as being a destructive force aimed at disrupting unity among the people. Writing what the political masters dictate explains why the mainstream media has failed to regain its lost respect and credibility among the conscientious Malaysians. But then for a former newspaper man-turned-poet and novelist, the rally had every merit to it. So much so that Abdul Samad Muhammad Said or better known through his pen name A Samad Said made sure he was among the many Malaysians who supported the cause championed by Bersih. Pak Samad, as he is populary called, was a former editor of the Berita Harian in the 1960s and 70s. In May 1976, he was hailed as the Pejuang Sastera (Literary Exponent) by the Malay literature communities and linguists. In 1979, he was awarded the Southeast Asia Write Award and in 1986 he was bestowed the title of 'Sasterawan Negara' or national laureate, in appreciation of his contributons to the nation's literary heritage. So when Samad made news in connection with the election watchdog Bersih 2.0, it took many by surprise. In spite of the heavy police control on July 9, Samad, a poet and novelist, managed to walk, that too barefoot after his footwear went missing in a scuffle when the police fired tear gas towards the protesters at the Kuala Lumpur Sentral, to Istana Negara. He was only 200 metres away from the national palace gates when apprehended by the police. Prior to the rally, the Barisan Nasional government filed sedition charges against Samad and other leaders of the Bersih 2.0 coalition of NGOs. Stop the 'carma', take a stand However, arrest was the least of Samad's worry. Instead, he urged intellectuals to stop being 'carma' (cari makan) and dare take a stand against cruelty and injustice. He did not mince his words when he castigated the mainstream media which demonised the rally. "Writers seldom take a stand. Most of them are 'carma' and are always prepared to not take a stand. This has caused all the evil to grow and spread tremendously." "For the mainstream media, Bersih is dirty. I'm also surprised, why these experienced pressmen who have won awards here and there, can smear Bersih. I know they are from the 'carma' group. "Fortunately there is still a small number of writers who dare to take a stand, who know that Bersih is pure," Samad told the 250-strong audience who filled the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall auditorium under the close watch of several plainclothes policemen on July 3, days before the rally took off. Have Samad's words awakened the consciousness of the mainstream media writers or have they dismissed his call for them to fight injustice as a spur of the moment remark? Indeed, there is truth in every word uttered by Samad. To stand up against injustices or to perpetuate them, is for every writer to ponder. The 76-year-old unassuming Malacca-born poet then went a step further saying he would boycott all government events, his way of protesting the government's crackdown on the rally protesters. Paying the price for 'truth' Samad together with Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan and other activists was instrumental in organising the 'Walk for Democracy'. On June 28 this year, the septuagenarian Samad was hauled up for 90-minutes by the police who questioned him about his poem 'Unggun Bersih' (The Bersih Fire) recited at the 'launch' if the Bersih 2.0 rally on June 19. Besides 'Unggun Bersih', Samad composed two other poems, 'Peludah Warna' and 'Semarak Menyala', supporting the call by Bersih 2.0 for free and fair elections.
|
| Posted: 20 Aug 2011 12:41 PM PDT By Martin Carvalho, The Star PETALING JAYA: The ongoing biometric registration exercise for foreign workers has revealed an alarming scenario of over a million illegals compared to legal workers. Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the exercise should not be viewed lightly as the presence of too many illegals could undermine national security. The exercise, which also includes the registration of foreigners at entry points, could help weed out undesirable elements from making Malaysia their base or transit point, he said. "The presence of more illegal workers compared to the legal ones is a concern. "But we will be able to effectively deal with this through the 6P programme," he said here yesterday. Earlier in a statement, he said comprehensive data collected via the registration exercise would make it easier for the police and Immigration Department to investigate cases related to militant activities or human trafficking. He cited the handing over of three Babbar Khalsa International militant suspects to India last Tuesday and the arrest of 16 Chinese nationals under the Internal Security Act earlier this month as examples of the Government's effort in combating the global menace. He said the war against the syndicates and violent militant groups should not be viewed lightly. "Thousands of innocent lives have been sacrificed due to human trafficking and violence. I will not allow Malaysia to be seen as a transit or a safe haven for terrorists and human trafficking syndicates," he said. Hishammuddin also chided certain groups, in particular the opposition, for making allegations against the Government with regards to efforts to enhance national security via the registration exercise. "I am aware that many allegations have been made against our effort. However, they are unaware that it is being done in their best interest," he said. As of Friday, a total of 2,088,358 foreign workers had been registered, of whom 1,135,499 were illegals. The registration exercise for legal foreign workers began on July 13 and will carry on indefinitely while the exercise for illegals started on Aug 1 with the two-week deadline extended until Aug 31. |
| Polls panel insincere public relations move, say activists, Malaysians Posted: 20 Aug 2011 12:37 PM PDT By Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider Some activists and Malaysians who joined the Bersih rally have dubbed the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reform as an insincere public relations exercise by Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Their remarks came after the prime minister said last Friday that the timing of general elections would not depend on the panel's proceedings. "It appears that the PSC is not sincere and appears to be just an attempt to appease the people without seriously wanting to hear what the committee does," human rights lawyer Edmund Bon (picture) told The Malaysian Insider yesterday. Bon, who is also the Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism & Human Rights (MCCHR) campaigner, added that Najib's statement on federal polls has confused voters. Women's rights activist Ivy Josiah said Najib's remarks showed that the PSC was merely a "wasteful" public relations move. "It's insulting the intelligence of Malaysians," Ivy told The Malaysian Insider. "It's very disrespectful to all of Bersih's efforts...Citizens turned up (at the Bersih rally on July 9) because we want a fair and even playing ground," added the executive director of the Women's Aid Organisation (WAO). Ivy also challenged the PM to specify the reforms that he had promised to implement immediately. Najib formed the panel some five weeks after electoral reform movement Bersih 2.0 took to the streets of the capital city on July 9 to call for free and fair elections. Nearly 50,000 people braved tear gas and water cannons at the rally despite a police lock down on the city.
|
| 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