Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Sack Musa, LDP reiterates
- Dr. Mahathir to sign MoU at business conference
- Assange faces day of judgment in London court tomorrow
- Fuel subsidies to cost RM15.9b for 2011, says MOF
- BN’s weakness exposed in PPSMI row
- Kedah Kita to go for 18 seats
- Another teen suffers NS abuse
- Abolishing UUCA needs political will
- Najib’s daughter on lavish shopping spree
- Election Commission will be PSC’s first witness
- Students Free To Think And Speak
- Train crash: A danger waiting to happen
- Share swap: MPs turn up the heat
- Pakatan to demand immediate reforms by EC tomorrow
- EC primed for polls in January
- Trouble brewing in Johor DAP with talk of EGM
| Posted: 01 Nov 2011 01:46 AM PDT Sabah's Liberal Democratic Party is convinced that 'someone' paid a group of individuals to disrupt its Sandakan assembly recently. (Free Malaysia Today) - Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) deputy president Senator Chin Su Phin has reiterated that the party could no longer cooperate with Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman. "The LDP will not compromise and we will continue to fight until the Chief Minister is replaced," said Chin despite a call by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Sunday for all Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties to support Musa. "He (Musa) is too much and has been using his power to suppress those who do not follow his instructions," said the outspoken senator who appeared to lay the blame for an incident during the party's 22nd general assembly in Sandakan on Sunday at the door of Musa. The incident was sparked by a group of about 100 people who gathered outside the hall shouting and clapping and mocking the event. They also barged into the hall and began shouting and clapping each time the name of someone was mentioned causing much confusion. The group appeared unconcerned by the presence of senior BN leaders including Muhyiddin, Musa, Umno vice president Mohd Shafie Apdal and Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Mansor who were all there as guest of the LDP. "The Deputy Prime Minister saw the incident himself and he knows what was going on. "He also said that problems within the Sabah BN must be resolved immediately. "We want to make our stand to the Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak that we in LDP can no longer cooperate with the Chief Minister. "It cannot be denied that the lack of cooperation among the state BN component parties is due to one person "The LDP will not compromise and we will continue to fight until the Chief Minister is replaced," Chin said.
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| Dr. Mahathir to sign MoU at business conference Posted: 31 Oct 2011 09:53 PM PDT (Mizzima) – During former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's three-day visit to Burma, which will start on Wednesday, he is likely to sign a memorandum of understanding on investments in Burma, according to Sein Win Hlaing, a member of CEC of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI). At the invitation of UMFCCI, the former Malaysian prime minister will visit Burma and attend a Burmese-Malaysian investment forum to be held at Traders Hotel in Rangoon from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday
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| Assange faces day of judgment in London court tomorrow Posted: 31 Oct 2011 07:10 PM PDT (AFP) - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange faces a day of reckoning Wednesday when the High Court in London delivers a ruling on whether he will be extradited to Sweden to face questioning over rape allegations. The 40-year-old Australian, whose whistleblowing website has enraged governments around the world, has been fighting a bitter legal battle ever since he was arrested in London last December on a European arrest warrant. The long-awaited decision, which has been deferred since the High Court heard Assange's appeal in July, is not necessarily the final chapter in the saga, but it will be difficult for either side to lodge an appeal. |
| Fuel subsidies to cost RM15.9b for 2011, says MOF Posted: 31 Oct 2011 06:42 PM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - The government will spend RM15.9 billion in petrol and diesel subsidies in 2011, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai told Parliament today. This is a significant increase from the RM9.6 billion spent last year, more than 50 per cent up. Lim said the government was looking out for the people, easing their financial burden through these subsidies, The Star reported. He said however that they needed to be careful that only those in need benefitted from the subsidies.
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| BN’s weakness exposed in PPSMI row Posted: 31 Oct 2011 06:29 PM PDT (Harakah Daily) - PAS said the controversy surrounding the teaching of science and mathematics in English (PPSMI) had only exposed the incompetency of the government with regards to formulating important policies affecting the country's future. According to information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, the on-going row on PPSMI was due to BN's inconsistent education policy, which he said would change every time a new Education minister took over.
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| Posted: 31 Oct 2011 06:26 PM PDT It is shortlisting candidates for six parliamentary and 12 state constituencies. (Free Malaysia Today) - Kita will contest six parliamentary and 12 state seats in Kedah in the coming general election. Zamil Ibrahim, who leads the party's Kedah chapter, revealed this today at a function to announce the manifesto Kita will use in the state. The federal seats are Alor Star, Kuala Kedah, Merbok, Sungai Petani, Padang Serai and Kulim –Bandar Bahru and the state seats are Derga, Bakar Bata, Kota Darulaman, Gurun, Bukit Selambau, Tanjung Dawai, Pantai Merdeka, Sidam, Bakar Arang, Kuala Ketil, Lunas and Kulim. Kedah has 15 federal and 36 state seats. The constituencies that Kita has chosen are racially mixed and have not been traditional strongholds of any party, according to Zamil. He claimed that Kita was capable of replacing PKR and DAP in Kedah. "PKR and DAP won the last time due to a political tsunami, not due to their strength," he said. "They never had a firm political presence in Kedah. We are capable of turning the tables against them next time. We can fish in trouble waters." He also claimed that Kita was experiencing a surge in local support. Kedah Kita has 1,000 members. Zamil said Kita was prepared to work with any party to form the next state government, but not at the expense of its election promises. "If we were to join the next state government, we would ensure that our election promises would be fulfilled within two years. We would not compromise on that."
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| Posted: 31 Oct 2011 06:20 PM PDT A teenager was allegedly punched and kicked in the stomach by National Service trainers in the Tasik Cini camp. (Free Malaysia Today) - An 18-year-old boy from Labis, Johor has claimed that he was assaulted by 11 National Service (NS) trainers and that despite him having lodged a report no action had been taken against them. Tan Hao Hong said today he was hospitalised after he was punched and kicked following a misunderstanding with one of the trainers named "Sam". The alleged assault took place on Aug 29. Tan claimed 'Sam' held grudges against him since he first joined the NS programme in Tasik Cini, Pahang. "I was playing with him..held his hand and put it on my legs. The person got angry and then punched me in the stomach and asked me to visit him in a room," Tan said in his police report lodged at the Brickfields police station today. The police report was made into copies and distributed to the media at Parliament lobby here. Tan came with his father and they were accompanied by DAP lawmakers including Seputeh MP Teresa Kok who acted as his translator. "At about 2230 hours, I went and met the trainer and when I arrived at the room I was punched by him. Then came 11 other trainers to beat me up," explained Tan. Shocking abuse He also claimed the trainer had asked him to give him five sticks of cigarettes. Tan said he went and complained to the camp's supervisor and was later taken to the Kuantan Hospital for treatment.He was warded for a day. Tan suffered injuries on the head, stomach and neck.
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| Abolishing UUCA needs political will Posted: 31 Oct 2011 06:17 PM PDT In welcoming the Court of Appeal decision to nullify a section of the UUCA, law professor Azmi Sharom says abolishing the act altogether was another matter. (Free Malaysia Today) - Universiti Malaya's associate professor of law, Azmi Sharom, said the Universities and Universities Colleges Act (UUCA) 1974 is unlikely to be abolished altogether. While welcoming the Court of Appeal declaration that Section 15 (5) (A) of UUCA is unconstitutional, he said the judgment and abolishment of the act altogether were different issues. "The judgment is correct from a constitutional point of view and makes judicial common sense," said Azmi. "But abolishing the UUCA is another matter. "Abolishment needs political will and that is up to the government," said Azmi who is also UM's Academic Staff Association president. In a 2-1 judgment yesterday, the Appeals Court declared Section 15 (5) (A) of UUCA 1974 unconstitutional as it violated Article 10 of the Federal Constitution. In April 2010, Muhammad Hilman Idham, Woon King Chai, Ismail Aminuddin and Azlin Shafina Adza were suspended for campaigning during the Hulu Selangor by-election. Judges Hishammuddin Yunus and Linton Albert ruled in favour of four former students of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia who were suspended for campaigning for the opposition. Low Hop Bing was the dissenting judge. The High Court had earlier dismissed the students case against the university, prompting them to appeal.
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| Najib’s daughter on lavish shopping spree Posted: 31 Oct 2011 06:08 PM PDT An Australian report claims that the premier's daughter spent RM180,000 in a high-end deparmental store in Perth. (Free Malaysia Today) - Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's family is in the limelight once again, this time over a costly shopping spree Down Under. According to a report in the West Australian newspaper, Najib's daughter was believed to have spent a whopping RM180,000 (AU$ 60,000) in David Jones, a high-end department store. The same report also said that one first lady purchased WA pearls worth AU$150,000. But the report did not name the person. Last week, Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, had gone to Perth to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Goverments Meeting (CHOGM). In the past, Rosmah had courted controversy for allegedly purchasing extremely costly jewellery items, including a ring worth tens of millions, and designer handbags. Since becoming prime minister in 2009, Najib's wife has been a favourite target for the opposition, with some accusing her of meddling in state affairs as well. Commenting on the West Australian report, PKR's Badarul Hisham Saharin said: "The public is facing hardship due to the rising cost (of living). This regime has failed to address this and at the same time will possibly introduce taxes which will burden the public further." Barisan Nasional leaders are also fuming on the quiet. "The PM and Umno claim that BN component parties are liabilities and so forth, but it is things like this which are the real danger," said one component party leader, who declined to be named.
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| Election Commission will be PSC’s first witness Posted: 31 Oct 2011 05:59 PM PDT PSC's Pakatan representatives say they do not want to be part of a 'toothless' committee and will bring up suggestions for reforms. (Free Malaysia Today) - The Election Commission (EC) will be the first witness when the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for electoral reform meets tomorrow. And the PSC hopes that EC chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof will show up for the meeting as the PSC was a parliamentary committee which held some stature. The Pakatan Rakyat representative in the PSC, Anthony Loke, told a press conference today that the panel is not certain who will represent the EC tomorrow but it hopes that it would not be "any regular officer". "We hope they (EC) will not say that they did not get enough notice as we have already informed them that they will be interviewed since our first meeting few weeks ago," said Loke, the DAP Rasah MP. Besides Loke, the other opposition representatives in the committee are Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) and Dr Hatta Ramli (PAS-Kuala Krai). Azmin said that he hoped Abdul Aziz himself will show up as the PSC was a parliamentary committee which held some stature. The opposition representatives also said that they hoped the EC will be committed to implementing reforms. They said that the PSC has a six-month deadline to come up with suggestions for electoral reforms, but the same time-line should not apply to the EC if it was serious in implementing reforms. "These changes do not need any amendments to the law… cleaning up the electoral roll, for example, is something the EC can embark upon now without waiting for the PSC's suggestions," said Azmin, who is PKR deputy president. He said the opposition did not want to be part of a "toothless" committee, adding that they will make a few suggestions at a meeting today.
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| Students Free To Think And Speak Posted: 31 Oct 2011 05:20 PM PDT By Christopher Leong, Vice-President of Malaysian Bar The Malaysian Bar welcomes yesterday's majority decision of the Court of Appeal striking down section 15(5)(a) of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 ("UUCA") as unconstitutional. The decision is a victory for freedom of speech and expression, enshrined in Article 10(1)(a) of our Federal Constitution. In a country that over the years has seen the gradual erosion of fundamental liberties by legislative, executive and judicial action, the Malaysian Bar commends Justice Mohd Hishamudin b Haji Mohd Yunus and Justice Linton Albert for their courageous and progressive stand in giving meaning to Article 10(1)(a) and taking a step forward in restoring our lost liberties. Section 15(5)(a) of the UUCA has long prevented public university students of all ages from being actively involved in a significant aspect of the democratic process. It has prevented these Malaysians from expressing their views or doing anything that may reasonably be construed as expressing support for, or sympathy with, or opposition to, political parties. Section 15(5)(b) and Section 15(5)(c) of the UUCA prevent the same in respect of unlawful organisations or organisations that the Minister specifies as being unsuitable to the interests and well-being of the students or the university. In the past, the wide and repressive scope of section 15(5), in particular section 15(5)(a), has inexplicably been publicly justified on the grounds of the need to maintain public order and morality. Generations of Malaysian public university students have thus been unduly shackled, and our democracy has been the poorer for the loss of their voices in the public sphere. Universities – as with all institutions of higher learning – must embrace and espouse, as one of their primary duties, the development of critical thinking by their students and the encouragement of robust debate. This is vital to ensure a continuous stream of thinking Malaysians who are able to advance and build our nation. The Malaysian Bar is also heartened by the courage and determination of the four young Malaysians: Muhammad Hilman b Idham, Woon King Chai, Muhammad Ismail b Aminuddin and Azlin Shafina bt Mohamad Adza, in insisting on their rights to freedom of speech and expression under the Federal Constitution. The Malaysian Bar notes that section 15 of the UUCA does not merely seek to deprive a section of Malaysians of their freedom of speech and expression; it also denies them, in section 15(1) of the UUCA, of their fundamental right of freedom of association. We call upon the authorities to accept the principles underlying the decision of the Court of Appeal, and to therefore repeal sections 15(1), 15(5)(b) and 15(5)(c) of the UUCA. |
| Train crash: A danger waiting to happen Posted: 31 Oct 2011 05:01 PM PDT By Michael Kaung, FMT KOTA KINABALU: The morning after the train crash outside the Kota Kimabalu International Airport here has provoked fear and anger among city residents, with many saying that "it was an accident just waiting to happen". Widespread dissatisfaction and complaints have been brewing for years now over the railway line that has been plagued by controversy since the government approved a contract to upgrade the tracks a few years ago.
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| Share swap: MPs turn up the heat Posted: 31 Oct 2011 03:37 PM PDT By Syed Jeymal Zahiid, FMT KUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya has failed to give a convincing explanation on the controversial share swap between AirAsia and national carrier MAS in Parliament as lawmakers from both sides took to task the government's failure to allay fears that the deal will lead to a monopoly. Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat MPs claimed that the swap, done under the "Comprehensive Collaborative Framework (CCF)" supposedly aimed at turning MAS' fortunes around, was a one-way traffic that benefited the budget carrier only. Wee Choo Keong (Independent-Wangsa Maju) and Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Kuching) claimed that AirAsia was profiting from Firefly's cancellation of its Johor Baru-Kuching-Kota Kinabalu route as a result of the swap. Chong alleged that fare had been increased while flights to East Malaysia decreased in frequency. Wilfred Bumburing (BN-Tuaran) accused AirAsia of forcing MAS out of the Sabah-China flights, the state's most lucrative route. "Don't just give big words like the CCF. What does it mean, how does the collaboration work? The government has so far failed to explain how the framework is helping," asked Wee during the Transport Ministry's winding up on the 2012 Budget debate.
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| Pakatan to demand immediate reforms by EC tomorrow Posted: 31 Oct 2011 03:00 PM PDT By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) representatives in the parliamentary select committee (PSC) for electoral reforms plan to demand that the Election Commission (EC) implement several key Bersih 2.0 demands when it is summoned for a hearing tomorrow. PKR's Gombak MP Azmin Ali said demands like the use of indelible ink, the cleaning up of the electoral roll and a 21-day campaign period do not require amendments to current election laws. "We do not want the PSC to be a toothless panel. There is no need to wait for the PSC to complete its work for six months in order to implement these reforms. "If the EC is sincere and serious about reforming the election process, it will do the necessary," he told a press conference in Parliament today, adding that the EC is the panel's first witness. The PKR deputy president said PR MPs will also list several demands to the PSC's remaining members during its meeting this afternoon — to ensure the panel is impartial and firm in its decisions; that the panel obtains a guarantee from the government that elections will not be called before its work is complete; to ensure the formation of the panel was not a mere ploy to delay electoral reforms; and to allow space for Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenavasan to voice her requests. "We want the panel to urge a guarantee from the government that it will not dissolve Parliament and call for elections while we are still conducting our investigations. This will make a mockery of the entire process," said Azmin. The PSC was mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak shortly after the tumultuous Bersih 2.0 rally for free and fair elections and has been given six months to complete its findings and suggest electoral reform recommendations. The PSC will, however, be dissolved along with Parliament if polls are called before its six-month probe is completed.
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| EC primed for polls in January Posted: 31 Oct 2011 02:57 PM PDT By G Manimaran, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 – The Election Commission (EC) is ready to carry out the 13th general elections by early next year. Deputy chairman Datuk Wira Wan Ahmad Wan Omar told The Malaysian Insider in a recent interview the EC will be conducting a briefing exercise for its 222 electoral officers — one for each parliamentary seat – and is expected to complete it by end of this month. The Malaysian Insider understands the EC started the briefings in Selangor, Perak and Kelantan last month. In 2008, national polls were called five months after the EC's training session for its electoral officers. Wan Ahmad refused to say if the EC was in the final round of preparing for the general elections this time. "We are ready to carry out our duty … carrying out preparations," he replied. "Many of the initial preparations have been taken care of, are complete … and much more will be done with the cooperation of other government agencies," he said, but did not elaborate further. Putrajaya has formed a bipartisan parliamentary select committee to review election laws following the controversial July 9 rally led by Bersih 2.0, a 62-member civil society movement demanding cleaner and more transparent polls. But civil society groups have been pressuring the EC to take the initiative after the government refused to guarantee it will wait for the parliamentary panel's decision before calling for polls. According to the EC's figures, there are 12.2 million voters at present compared to 10.9 million in Election 2008. The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government's mandate will expire only in May 2013, but speculation is rife that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will call early polls to avoid falling victim to an anticipated public backlash due to global economic woes.
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| Trouble brewing in Johor DAP with talk of EGM Posted: 31 Oct 2011 08:42 AM PDT (The Star) - TROUBLE is brewing in Johor DAP with talk that an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) may be called to oust state chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau over candidate selection for the coming general election. Sin Chew Daily reported that the speculation started when former Johor DAP Youth chief Teo Eng Ching and her husband, former state DAP Youth deputy chief Chang Teck Chee, were dropped from the list. In the 2008 election, Teo and Chang contested and lost the Labis parliamentary seat and Bekok state seat respectively. Teo and Chang were not picked as some quarters had complained that the couple owed the state Youth's foundation. Dr Boo had requested the couple settle the financial issue before considering them for selection. However, Dr Boo's request angered Teo's father Teo Chin Liang, a party veteran who was said to have canvassed members to call for an EGM to oust Dr Boo. However, sources said they failed to meet the quorum, which needed the support of at least 60% of the branches or branch delegates. Sources said another group was emerging to fight the group calling for the EGM. Chang said he and Teo had announced that they would not contest in the election and that he had not heard anything about an EGM. On his financial issue, Chang merely said it had been passed on to the party headquarters and he had submitted related documents. Dr Boo declined to comment but said the state DAP was "stable and united".
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