Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- IGP says no report from MACC on cattle condo scandal
- Obama tells Asia, US ‘here to stay’
- Hasan Ali: Muslims being converted by solar-powered talking bible
- Malays feel Penang under Chinese rule, survey shows
- Ad with Pope kIssing Imam pulled
- Bloody clashes looming over land grabs
- Evidence in ‘MACC robbers’ case missing
- ‘M’sia has trade relations with Israel’
- ‘Don’t politicise Tawau ISA arrests’
- Corporation paid RM26,400 to Shahrizat, says PKR
- Gerakan boss ‘forced’ out by Umno
- Koh to stay out of GE-13
- DAP: Ismail Sabri’s racism claims over Kedai Rakyat exposes baseless
| IGP says no report from MACC on cattle condo scandal Posted: 16 Nov 2011 04:55 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Tan Sri Ismail Omar today deflected questions on the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) "cattle condo" scandal, saying he has yet to receive any report from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). "So far, I've not received anything yet," he said when pushed for an answer by a group of reporters who accosted him as he was leaving the Selangor police contingent's Deepavali celebration here this afternoon. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) initially appeared surprised when asked to comment and pointed out that the matter was a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) case. When informed that the MACC had passed the case to the police to handle, Ismail said he would have to check on the matter before issuing any statement. He left the function at the Selangor police headquarters here without further comment. MACC said on Monday it would not probe the controversial RM10 million purchase of a condominium by the federally-funded NFC project, claiming it was a case for the police to handle as it involved an offence under the Penal Code. In a statement, the agency said it had already referred the case to the police, adding that this was in line with advice from the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board to only investigate offences under the MACC Act. PKR was first to claim of corruption in the purchase of the multi-million ringgit condominium belonging to the National Meat and Livestocks Corporation (NMLC), a company wholly-owned by Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil's family.
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| Obama tells Asia, US ‘here to stay’ Posted: 16 Nov 2011 04:51 PM PST (Reuters) ― President Barack Obama said today that the US military would expand its role in the Asia-Pacific region despite budget cuts, declaring America was "here to stay" as a Pacific power which would help shape the region's future. China voiced misgivings about Obama's announcement of a de facto military base in Australia and has longstanding fears that its growing power could be hobbled by US influence. Obama acknowledged China's unease at what it sees as attempts by Washington to encircle it, pledging to seek greater cooperation with Beijing. The US military, turning its focus away from Iraq and Afghanistan, would be more broadly distributed in Asia, particularly Southeast Asia, more flexible and help build regional capacity, he told the Australian parliament. "As we end today's wars, I have directed my national security team to make our presence and missions in the Asia Pacific a top priority," Obama said in a major speech on Washington's vision for the Asia-Pacific region. "As a result, reductions in US defence spending will not ― I repeat, will not ― come at the expense of the Asia Pacific." He added: "We'll seek more opportunities for cooperation with Beijing, including greater communication between our militaries to promote understanding and avoid miscalculation." Nervous about China's growing clout, US allies such as Japan and South Korea have sought assurances from the United States that it would be a strong counterweight in the region. A first step in extending the US military reach into Southeast Asia will see US Marines, naval ships and aircraft deployed to northern Australia from 2012. That deployment to Australia, which by 2016 will reach a taskforce of 2,500 US troops, is small compared with the 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea and 50,000 in Japan. But the new de facto US base in Australia expands the direct US military presence in Asia, beyond South Korea and Japan and into Southeast Asia, an area where China has growing economic and strategic interests. It will also put more US troops, ships and aircraft much closer to the South China Sea over which Beijing has sovereignty disputes with several countries. China questions US deployment to Australia China has questioned the new US deployment, raising doubts whether strengthening such alliances helped the region pull together at a time of economic gloom. Chinese newspapers today ran reactions ranging from restrained to stern. One said Beijing need not worry but another accused Washington of stirring regional trouble. Indonesia, southeast Asia's largest country and long wary of any expanded foreign military presence in the region, also warned that Australia deal came with risks. "What I would hate to see is if such developments were to provoke a reaction and counter-reaction precisely to create a vicious circle of tension and mistrust or distrust," Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told reporters. Obama said the United States would seek to work with China to ensure economic prosperity and security in the region, but would speak candidly about issues such as human rights and raise security issues like the South China Sea through which US$5 trillion (RM 15.8 trillion) in trade sails annually. China has broad claims over the sea, also rich in oil, minerals and fishery resources. Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei hold rival claims that have triggered several disputes in recent years. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pointedly visited the Philippines yesterday, saying that no claimant should resort to intimidation to push its cause. Obama also referred in his address to reforms undertaken by Myanmar's new civilian leaders, including the release of political prisoners. But he said they had to do more on human rights in order to secure better relations with Washington. Essential for US economy Obama said the increased focus on the Asia-Pacific region was essential for America's economic future. "As the world's fastest-growing region - and home to more than half the global economy - the Asia Pacific is critical to achieving my highest priority: creating jobs and opportunity for the American people," he said. In 2010, China was ASEAN's biggest trade partner, while ASEAN was China's fourth largest. ASEAN exports to China rose 39 per cent to US$113.5 billion last year. In comparison, the United States and ASEAN remain each other's fourth largest trading partners. US foreign direct investment to ASEAN was US$7.5 billion in 2010, accounting for 12.6 per cent of total FDI in the region, compared with Chinese investment of US$2.7 billion. Yesterday, Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the deployment of US Marines, ships and aircraft in Darwin, only 820km from Indonesia, which will allow the United States to quickly reach into Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. Today, Obama also cited increased US naval ship visits and training in the Philippines and Singapore, working with Indonesia to fight piracy, partnering Thailand for disaster relief and India's role in regional security. He flies to Bali late today, where he will seek to underscore a focus on Asia by becoming the first US president to participate in the security East Asia Summit.
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| Hasan Ali: Muslims being converted by solar-powered talking bible Posted: 16 Nov 2011 04:48 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Evangelical Christians are using high-tech devices such as solar-powered talking bibles to proselytize to Malay Muslims in Selangor, state lawmaker Datuk Hasan Ali said today. Hasan, who is in charge of the state's Islamic affairs portfolio, said the state's religious authority (Jais) had discovered that Christian missionaries were now spreading their gospel through technologically-advanced means apart from setting up welfare groups providing cash and other financial aid to single mothers and the destitute. He added that Jais's research showed Christian evangelists were spreading their faith to young Muslim students in free tuition classes and counselling sessions, besides distributing Christian pamphlets in public places, homes, universities and places that were ostensibly called "community centres" to carry out their evangelical work. The ex-PAS state commissioner disclosed this in a written reply to a question from Umno-Sungai Burong assemblyman Datuk Mohd Shamsudin Lias. According to a website called Book of Joe, the palm-sized radio-like device contains all the books in the New and Old Testaments and is fitted with batteries that will run for almost 10 hours before needing to be recharged, whether by the sun, a light bulb or a nine-volt AC adapter. It costs only US$99.95 (RM310). This latest disclosure, after a controversial August 3 raid by Selangor Islamic authorities on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) in Petaling Jaya, could trigger another Christian-Muslim conflict.
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| Malays feel Penang under Chinese rule, survey shows Posted: 16 Nov 2011 04:40 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Malay voters in Penang say the state is being run by the Chinese despite backing Lim Guan Eng over other leaders. A survey of 720 Malay voters by researchers Ilham Centre found that when the island was under a Gerakan-led administration until 2008, Malays saw the Barisan Nasional (BN) government as being led by Umno. "Lim Guan Eng (picture) is popular and respected for being humble, approachable and being on the ground. But because of the sentiment and prejudice from Umno, he is seen as a Chinese who is threatening Malays," said the study on perceptions of Malay voters towards Penang and its Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government. It said this showed the media has indoctrinated Malays to see the current administration as "a Chinese or DAP government." "It is seen as a DAP, not a Pakatan Rakyat government," the study concluded, despite nearly 30 per cent of respondents picking current Chief Minister Lim as the most popular and respected leader in the state. The Malaysian Insider reported last month that a survey commissioned by the DAP showed that less than a third of Malays now back the party, down from nearly 50 per cent just a few months after Lim took office in 2008. The DAP made a clean sweep of all seats it contested in the island and obliterated Gerakan in the process. But Umno has eroded Malay support for PR with repeated claims that the coalition is anti-Malay. Its newspaper Utusan Malaysia also claimed earlier this year that the DAP had conspired with the church to turn Malaysia into a Christian state. The DAP has tried to reach out to Malays by recruiting Malay leaders such as Transparency International Malaysia founder Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim and Zairil Khir Johari. Tunku Abdul Aziz is now a vice-chairman while Zairil, son of former Education Minister Tan Sri Khir Johari, is Lim's political secretary. The DAP secretary-general is followed by Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mansor Othman, state Opposition Leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim and Penang Umno chief Datuk Zainal Osman in popularity.
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| Ad with Pope kIssing Imam pulled Posted: 16 Nov 2011 04:23 PM PST (Malaysian Digest) - PARIS: United Colors of Benetton announced Wednesday it is pulling an ad featuring a doctored picture of the pope kissing a male Muslim cleric on the same day the ad was unveiled in response to criticism, CNN reported. The ad featured a fake picture of Pope Benedict XVI kissing Ahmed Mohamed el-Tayeb, imam of the Al-Azhar mosque, a prominent Muslim house of worship in Cairo, Egypt.
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| Bloody clashes looming over land grabs Posted: 16 Nov 2011 04:12 PM PST The Sabah Land and Survey Department is yet to explain why it gave away a surveyed NCR land to a private company. (Free Malaysia Today) - Rampant land grabs in Sabah are making folk in rural areas restive with visible indications of impending violent clashes between the "new" owners and natives. Warning of possible bloodshed over these "illegal" land grabs, United Borneo Front (UBF) chairman Jeffrey Kitingan has urged Chief Minister Musa Aman to intervene immediately and prevent the issue from boiling over. "I urge the chief minister to use his good office to intervene immediately before serious and bloody clashes erupt between the natives, who are defending their land rights, and employees of private companies, who are driving away the natives based on the company's so-called 'approval' from the government," he said yesterday. According to Jeffrey, who is the brother of Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan, two such cases needed the immediate attention of the state government. He said that one of the cases is in the Sukau area of Sandakan where at least two farmers' homes have been demolished, which prompted the villagers to confront the authorities and prevent another house from being razed. According to Jeffrey, an elected representative was seen in his car directing the demolition, saying: "'Potong lah… apa lagi mau tunggu'" (cut down… what else are you waiting for?). Declining to name the representative, he said the man quickly disappeared when more and more villagers started to arrive at the scene. "I visited the area and was surprised to see houses among matured oil palm plantation and coconut trees in the disputed area. "It had been fully planted and developed by the villagers who have occupied and applied for the land more than 20 years in 1989," he told a news conference here. The villagers claimed that they had even been supplied with fertiliser and seedlings by the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) government, which ruled from 1985 to 1994, when they opened up their land. As in many similar cases, their land applications were registered but no titles were ever issued. According to Jeffrey, a company was allowed to apply for the same area and given approval by the Land and Survey Department leading to the current dispute. He said that the private company with its financial, manpower and material resources has the upper hand and is driving away the natives by destroying their homes and plantations and sometimes offering them money to leave. The department has so far failed to satisfactorily answer why it had approved the land to the company when it had already been applied for and occupied by the villagers much earlier, he added.
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| Evidence in ‘MACC robbers’ case missing Posted: 16 Nov 2011 03:44 PM PST One month after three senior Malaysian Anti-Corruption Comission officers were charged with a robbery involving close to RM1 million in KLIA, police found that evidence has gone missing. (Free Malaysia Today) - Police have lost evidence related to the high-profile robbery case where three Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers have been charged. An official police statement released late last night confirmed that RM11,700 and a wallet have gone missing from Menara 2 of the Selangor police headquarters in Shah Alam. It was learnt that the wallet also contained an MACC identification card and a credit card. A police report was made about the missing items at about 8pm on Nov 15. "The missing items is not the US$300,000 cash which was reported to have been robbed in the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Sept 15. The missing cash evidence is the money which was seized and belonged to two of the three suspects who were arrested and have been charged in court," said the statement, issued by the Selangor police's CID department. Police have launched an investigation on the missing items. The case has been classified under Section 201 of the Penal Code for "causing disappearance of evidence of an offence committed, or giving false information touching it, to screen the offender" and Section 457 for… housebreaking by night in order to commit an offence punishable with imprisonment". It was learnt that there have been no arrests so far. Disciplinary action A source told FMT that the investigating officer of the MACC case had discovered the loss of the items from his office more than a week ago. "An attempt was made to investigate the missing evidence internally, but the officer was later ordered to lodged a police report on the matter," said the source. It was understood that the missing evidence was vital to the court case and these new developments could cause a discharge not amounting to acquittal for the three MACC officers facing robbery charges. It was also learnt that the police officer in charge of the items could be facing disciplinary action over what is believed to be a breach in police procedures.
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| ‘M’sia has trade relations with Israel’ Posted: 16 Nov 2011 03:28 PM PST International Trade and Industry deputy minister Mukhriz Mahathir says it began in 1996 and continues till today. (Free Malaysia Today) - Though Malaysia does not recognise Israel as a state because of its support for Palestine, locally-based companies nevertheless have trade relations with the Jewish state. International Trade and Industry deputy minister, Mukhriz Mahathir, confirmed this when he revealed that Malaysia has had bilateral trade relations with Israel since 1996. "Much as I despise anything the Zionist do and despite not having diplomatic relations with Israel, there is trade between companies in both countries," said Mukhriz, the son of former prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Mukhriz said on micro-blogging site Twitter: "Upon request from large foreign investors here, in 1996 the Cabinet instructed MITI to approve import from and export to Israel." He added that the bilateral trade is in the electronics and machinery sectors and that it involved large foreign companies operating in Malaysia.
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| ‘Don’t politicise Tawau ISA arrests’ Posted: 16 Nov 2011 03:23 PM PST As the government comes under fire for using the soon-to-be abolished law to detain alleged terrorists, critics are told to let the police do their job. (Free Malaysia Today) - MCA today urged PAS and others not to politicise the recent arrest of suspected terrorists in Tawau, Sabah, under the Internal Security Act (ISA). MCA Youth secretary-general Chai Kim Sen said the Islamic party should allow the police to investigate the matter thoroughly, instead of "quickly jumping to the defence of these people". "It should be left to the police to decide whether the persons arrested are missionaries or terrorists," Chai said in a statement. He added that the police had a reason to believe that Tawau was being used as a transit point for weapons from the Philippines. FMT reported yesterday that at least 10 people were arrested in Tawau under the ISA by a special team from the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters. No further information was given by the police on the arrest. Sabah PAS had reacted by stating that those arrested were either its members or supporters, and had called upon the police to release them immediately, or charge them in court. It was reported in the local media that those arrested were suspected terrorists from Indonesia and the Philippines. "If they are indeed missionaries and PAS members, how and why does PAS count foreign citizens as among its members?" asked Chai. He also asked if it was possible for some Sabah PAS members to have been in contact with Islamic militants in Indonesia and the Philippines. "The security of our country is at stake here… PAS and its allies in Pakatan Rakyat should not politicise the issue further by making up lies and distorting the truth," he added. Meanwhile, the Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) condemned the police and the government over the use of the ISA in Tawau. GMI and Suaram also said that the number of those arrested in Tawau could be as many as 14.
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| Corporation paid RM26,400 to Shahrizat, says PKR Posted: 16 Nov 2011 01:39 PM PST By Karen Arukesamy, The Sun Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil received a payment of RM26,400 from the National Feedlot Corp (NFC), which is owned by her family, a Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) leader claimed yesterday. In revealing more details of the alleged mismanagement of funds in the company involving the RM250 million soft loan given by the government for cattle farming, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution said yesterday NFC transactions showed a sum of money had been paid to Shahrizat in 2008. "In 2008, when NFC was newly set up, it had paid Shahrizat RM26,400. If it was true that the company has nothing to do with Shahrizat, she should not have any transactions or dealings whatsoever with the company," he told a press conference at the parliament lobby. However, he said there was no details of transaction. Saifuddin also highlighted several irregularities identified in the transactions of the NFC. He said NFC had also made a payment of RM398,640 to Shahrizat's husband, Datuk Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail, who owns the company, and her son Wan Shahinur Izran Mohamad Salleh, the manager of the company in 2009 for rental of the NFC office in Mont Kiara. "Shahrizat should answer why the people's money was used to pay rental to NFC directors," said Saifuddin, who also alleged that NFC donated cows worth thousands of ringgit to several Umno leaders. "In September 2009, NFC donated cattle worth RM5,281 to Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Mansor and RM2,640 to one identified as 'YB Yunus' in the documents," he said. The Yunus stated in the document is believed to be a state assemblyman. "In 2008, NFC had also sold cattle worth RM70,000 on credit to former federal territories minister Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique, who only paid the price in full in 2009," Saifuddin said. Despite all the payments and "generosity" of NFC, it has yet to pay back the RM250 million soft loan from the government, Saifuddin said. "Since the time NFC received the money, it has not made any repayments to the government, either the principle amount or the 2% interest imposed for the loan." "If it was truly a loan as claimed by the Umno leaders, then the company should have at least paid RM5 million a year in the form of interest to the government, which it had not done," he said, adding that NFC has also not recorded any liability for the 2% interest rate for the soft loan as claimed by the government. The NFC came into the spotlight following the release of the 2010 Auditor-General's Report which highlighted several concerns about the project. Following this, several other allegations about the project were highlighted by PKR, including that National Meat and Livestocks Corporation (NMLC) - a company wholly owned by Shahrizat's family - had purchased a RM9.8 million luxury condo using the soft loan from the government. The minister herself has come under increasing pressure to step down, with PKR's women's wing planning nationwide protests, and even Barisan Nasional Backbenchers deputy chief Datuk Bung Mokthar Radin calling for her to quit. However, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Tuesday said Shahrizat need not resign as she was not directly involved in the matter. However, he said the company must come forward to clarify the issue following the recent disclosures. |
| Gerakan boss ‘forced’ out by Umno Posted: 16 Nov 2011 01:35 PM PST By Tarani Palani, FMT KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has forced Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon to not contest in the next general election, said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. Expressing sympathy for his predecessor, the DAP leader said: "It is an orchestrated campaign to remove him and they (Barisan Nasional and Umno) have succeeded." "What Umno wants Umno gets," he told reporters in the Parliament lobby. Lim said Koh was forced to leave as it was obvious that the latter still had intentions to contest in the coming elections as Koh retained his other positions as a federal minister and party president. "I feel sympathy for him because he has been pushed out by Umno… It is clearly a mission accomplished by Umno because they don't want him and they have carried out a campaign against him," he added. The embattled Gerakan president announced this morning that he would not contest in the upcoming elections. He would however retain his other positions as minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Gerakan president and Penang BN chairman. MORE TO FOLLOW HERE. |
| Posted: 16 Nov 2011 01:31 PM PST By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon announced today he will refrain from contesting in the 13th general election, ending the guessing game over the "ultimate sacrifice" he had promised party delegates last month. Koh however confirmed that he will continue to hold on to his political posts, including that of Gerakan president, Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) chief and BN national vice-chairman. It was rumoured he would resign as Penang BN chief today and appoint a successor to the throne. In explaining his "ultimate sacrifice", Koh said he meant that he would continue devoting his time and energy to campaign for his party's candidates in the coming polls. "When I talk about sacrifice, I am talking about time and energy for the party," he said. "I want to campaign for our candidates to win, instead of focusing on winning a seat just for myself." Koh added today's announcement was based on a "personal decision" and had received the blessings of the party's central leadership, insisting that he was not succumbing to any political pressure. "No, I am not under any pressure and I will resist any pressure. It is undue and unfounded," he said, adding that he had informed Datuk Seri Najib Razak of his decision and the prime minister had accepted it. On his political posts, Koh said he would only decide if he would resign as party president after the 13th general election. He added that by virtue of being party president, he would continue to hold on to the post of BN national vice-chairman. He also explained that under Article 23.2(A) of BN's constitution, the post of Penang BN chief was by appointment of the BN supreme council chairman (Najib), in consultation with the supreme council. "Better to follow procedure," he said. Koh added that his fate as a minister in the Prime Minister's Department lies in Najib's hands, but stressed that he would not cling to the post for personal interest. He said his decision today is the first step in the party's renewal and transformation agenda titled "Gerak Bersama Rakyat" (move with the people) aimed at readying Gerakan for the coming polls.
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| DAP: Ismail Sabri’s racism claims over Kedai Rakyat exposes baseless Posted: 16 Nov 2011 01:29 PM PST By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider The DAP today denied Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's accusation of racism in the opposition's repeated attacks on Kedai Rakyat 1 Malaysia (KR1M). The Bera MP added that it was "unfortunate there are Bumiputeras like (PKR vice-president) Nurul Izzah (Anwar) and (PAS research chief) Dzulkifli (Ahmad) who 'bark' on behalf of DAP (malangnya ada bumiputra spt nurul izah & zulkifli 'menyalak' bagi pihak DAP).
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