Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- OECD Predicts Britain's 'Return To Recession'
- WikiLeaks wins Australian journalism award
- Gearing up Umno for coming polls battle
- SapuraCrest-Kencana's management structure in place
- Tan brothers look to 'conquer' Penang
- Dr M: All civil freedom ‘must be limited’
- Shahrizat says NFC issue ‘has nothing to do with me’
- IDEAS chief says he accepted MCA hudud forum invite in ‘good faith’
- Anwar takes some of the blame for defections in PKR after 2008 polls
- Anwar slammed over ‘cover-up’
- Najib: How can you break down the prison?
- Nazri: Peaceful Assembly Bill will be passed on Tuesday
- Reforms possible only if Umno wins GE, says Najib
| OECD Predicts Britain's 'Return To Recession' Posted: 27 Nov 2011 09:08 PM PST (Sky News) - Britain is facing a double-dip recession in the first half of next year, and will need to print more money, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has said. In its semi-annual report on the outlook in its 34 member states, the international economic research group (OECD) said weak international demand and fiscal consolidation has halted the recovery in the UK. The OECD expects the downturn to be "modest", with 0.03% decline in output for the current quarter of this year and 0.15% contraction in the first quarter of 2012. Technically six months, or two consecutive quarters, of negative economic growth indicate a recession. The organisation also said the Bank of England should expand its quantitative easing programme to £400bn - effectively pumping a further £125bn into the economy by buying government bonds - to support growth. It warned that unemployment could reach 9% by 2013, but that inflation would fall below the 2% target. The Paris-based group said the overall global outlook has worsened since its last report and that the euro area, which is one of the UK's major trading partners, is also facing a mild recession. It said a split in the single-currency area would result in massive wealth destruction, bankruptcies and a collapse in confidence in the region, as well as a deep depression in the world economy. The economic report comes on the eve of George Osborne's Autumn Statement, in which he is expected to reveal raft of measures including a £30bn infrastructure plan . The Chancellor told Sky News that it was clear from the OECD report that "these are very difficult times for many countries in the western world" and that the deep downturn in Europe would be a challenge for Britain. "We've got to weather the current economic storm but we've got to lay the foundation for a stronger economic future, " he added. The OECD forecast for Britain goes a step further than the growth downgrade from the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC). In its latest quarterly economic report, the business lobby group has slashed its prediction for UK output growth for the rest of this year, as well as 2012 and 2013. It expects growth to be "very weak" until mid-2012 due to the impact from the eurozone debt crisis, and has revised its prediction of gross domestic product (GDP) rise next year to 0.8%, less than half the 2.1% it had expected previously. Although it expects unemployment to increase by 150,000 over the next 12 months, the group has warned against "unjustified gloom about the UK's economic prospects", adding that conditions will gradually improve over time. The BCC's chief economist David Kern told Sky News: "What we are saying is that in spite of this economic situation we are in, the deficit cutting programme was the right thing to do. "The Chancellor and the Government have gained a lot of credibility in the financial markets and I think tomorrow the Chancellor will be able to cash in on that credibility." The BCC also expects the Bank of England to keep the base interest rate at 0.5% until the final quarter of 2012, but pump a further £50bn into the economy through quantitative easing. It added consumer spending would decline by 1.2% in 2011 but begin to grow from 2012. The services sector, which includes businesses ranging from hairdressers to accountants, has already seen its fastest fall in activity for two and a half years as consumers rein in spending, according to the Confederation for British Industry.
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| WikiLeaks wins Australian journalism award Posted: 27 Nov 2011 06:50 PM PST
(AFP) - SYDNEY: WikiLeaks has been recognised in Australia for its "outstanding contribution to journalism", with founder Julian Assange lashing out at "cowardly" Prime Minister Julia Gillard in an acceptance speech. The anti-secrecy website was lauded at the annual Walkley Awards, where winners are chosen by an independent panel of journalists and photographers, for its courageous reporting of secret US cables. "WikiLeaks applied new technology to penetrate the inner workings of government to reveal an avalanche of inconvenient truths in a global publishing coup," the Walkley trustees said in bestowing the award Sunday evening. "Its revelations, from the way the war on terror was being waged, to diplomatic bastardry, high-level horse-trading and the interference in the domestic affairs of nations, have had an undeniable impact." The whistleblowing website has published thousands of cables in which US diplomats give their often candid views on world leaders, to Washington's acute embarrassment. Assange, an Australian citizen who has previously blasted Canberra for not doing enough to protect him in the fallout from the leaks, was scathing of the government in accepting the accolade in a pre-recorded video message. "The Gillard government has shown its true colours in relation to how it's handled US pressure on WikiLeaks," he said in footage shown on SBS television which broadcast the awards. "Australian journalists are courageous, the Australian population is supportive, but Julia Gillard is a cowardly Australian prime minister. "As Australians we shall not despair, as long as we can speak out, as long as we can publish, and as long as the Internet remains free, we will continue to fight back, armed with the truth," he added. Assange has spent much of the last year under virtual house arrest in Britain since he was detained in December 2010 over claims of rape and sexual assault made by two women in Sweden. He has strongly denied the allegations against him, claiming they are politically motivated and linked to the activities of WikiLeaks. The former computer hacker is currently appealing a decision against his extradition to Sweden to face the charges.
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| Gearing up Umno for coming polls battle Posted: 27 Nov 2011 06:31 PM PST The 62th Umno general assembly may the last assembly before the country casts its votes. No matter when the announcement for the 13th general election will be made, the 62th Umno general assembly scheduled to begin tomorrow until Dec 3 at the Putra World Trade Centre here will become the platform to drive the party towards election preparedness. By Ahmad Shukran Shaharudin, Bernama Although the current parliamentary terms ends in March 2013, various quarters, ranging from the governing party to the opposition, as well as political analysts, had anticipated that the next general election would be held sooner. However, to get a straight answer about the actual date for the next general election from Prime Minister Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who is also Umno president, is probably the most difficult task to do at the moment. When he was asked in a recent interview with Bernama on whether this year's Umno general assembly would be the last assembly before the 13th general election, the prime minister spontaneously said: "Who said so? Maybe not." Nevertheless, Najib had, of late, been advising party members to be prepared to face the next general election, and hence, giving some kind of a signal that he seriously wanted the party's election machinery to be fuelled up for the election. Umno Information chief Ahmad Maslan said it would be a "big loss" if the topic of general election were not raised at the assembly since many believed that the polls was just around the corner. "I hope the delegates will discuss the topic in detail, especially on how to win back those lost seats, strengthen our positions in existing seats and wrest back the lost states," he was reported as saying at a media conference last week. Umno party election, which was supposed to be held during this year's assembly, had been postponed for 18 months. It was reported that the decision was not made on purpose, but was aimed at strengthening the party, prevent sabotage, foster unity and resolve the party's internal issues before facing the biggest challenge – the general election. Malay agendas The first time Umno supreme council decided to postpone the party polls was in 1999 where it was postponed to May 2000 to enable to party to focus on the 1999 general election. Debaters for this year's assembly had also been reminded to avoid making statements that would touch the sensitivities of other races while discussing the Malay agendas. Even more than that, they were also reminded to raise important issues and not to simply criticise others without giving supporting facts and suggestions. Among those who had given the reminders was Ahmad, who was reported as saying that in the context of 1Malaysia, the Malay agendas could still be expanded properly without hurting the feelings of other races in the country. "However, it would be wrong if we talk about the 1Malaysia concept without touching about the Malay agendas," he said. A total of 5,447 delegates will attend the Umno general assembly this year comprising 2,627 delegates from 191 divisions nationwide, 944 from Wanita, 942 from Youth and 934 from Puteri.
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| SapuraCrest-Kencana's management structure in place Posted: 27 Nov 2011 04:40 PM PST Both Sapura and Kencana have a common shareholder in the Employees Provident Fund with a 10.1 per cent stake and 7.8 per cent stake respectively in the companies. (Business Times) - SapuraCrest Petroleum Bhd executive vice-chairman and president Datuk Seri Shahril Shamsuddin will be group president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the new merged entity between the company and Kencana Petroleum Bhd. Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir, who is Kencana CEO, will be the enlarged group's executive vice-chairman, according to letters sent by the former and Shahril to their respective staff. |
| Tan brothers look to 'conquer' Penang Posted: 27 Nov 2011 04:36 PM PST (Business Times) - For a while now, there has been speculation about who would partner Ivory Properties Bhd in its multi-billion ringgit Bayan Mutiara project in Penang. |
| Dr M: All civil freedom ‘must be limited’ Posted: 27 Nov 2011 04:33 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Too much freedom will destroy society, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has charged, saying that civil freedom should have its limits. "All freedoms must be limited, the problem is determining the limits," he said today during a luncheon talk with foreign officials attending the Umno general assembly here. Dr Mahathir said in Malaysia there were increasing calls for "freedom of sex", citing this as a kind of "abuse of freedom" which could destroy society. "Society becomes primitive, backwards if there is too much freedom. A good amount is good, but too much freedom no," the former prime minister said. The Najib administration recently pledged a slew of reforms to allow more space for civil liberties. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak tabled in Parliament last week a Bill regulating public assemblies. The proposed law has been criticised by opposition leaders as well as civil society groups as "haphazard" and they have demanded that it be withdrawn completely. Provisions of the Bill concerning the notification period for an assembly was amended after last Friday's Cabinet meeting.
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| Shahrizat says NFC issue ‘has nothing to do with me’ Posted: 27 Nov 2011 04:30 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Faced with increasing public pressure, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil said today she will address the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) controversy during Umno's general assembly this week, even though it has "nothing to do with me." "It is not a problem if the NFC issue is debated... I will answer during Wanita Umno's assembly," she told reporters here. "I will send a clear message to those people out there," said the federal minister, referring to Pakatan Rakyat (PR). Shahrizat refused to elaborate further, saying the NFC issue "had nothing to do with me." The NFC is managed by Shahrizat's husband and children. "I am being patient, as a woman I have to be calm... they (PR) are doing this because they are afraid of Wanita Umno's strength," Shahrizat said today. The NFC has been dogged by allegations of corruption and fund misappropriation after it made it into the pages of the Auditor-General's Report for 2010, which described the project "as a mess". Among others, PKR has alleged that the NFC funds were used for Shahrizat's personal expenses and that of her family, as well as to buy multimillion ringgit condominium units at the luxurious One Menerung in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. Shahrizat's husband and NFC boss Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail has defended the purchase of the condo as well as denied the alleged failure of the project. PKR scoffed at Mohamad Salleh's remarks, saying he had failed to deny a single allegation and had merely offered explanations for the many discrepancies involving the NFC. Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar has denied the NFC was ever discussed in Cabinet, claiming it was handled by the Cabinet Committee for High-Impact Projects, which was then chaired by Datuk Seri Najib Razak. PKR had alleged that the funds meant for the NFC were used to fund umrah packages and set up two Singapore-based companies, both owned by Shahrizat's family.
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| IDEAS chief says he accepted MCA hudud forum invite in ‘good faith’ Posted: 27 Nov 2011 04:27 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) chief executive Wan Saiful Wan Jan clarified today that his participation in the MCA forum on hudud does not mean he has anything to do with "any attempt to smear any political parties". "I accepted the invitation in good faith, based on the understanding that it will be an open discussion on the topic. "I did not expect the MCA president to suddenly turn the forum into a propaganda briefing," Wan Saiful said in a statement. MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said last week that the party will convene a forum for its members on December 4 to counter PAS's claims on hudud. "We will discuss PAS's insistence to implement hudud and also disprove DAP and PKR assertions that hudud will not affect non-Muslims," he was reported as saying. Among the speakers at the forum are human rights lawyer Edmond Bon, Wan Saiful and Islamic Renaissance Front research fellow Ahmad Fuad Rahmat. Dr Chua had cautioned that hudud would have a big impact on everybody if PAS managed to implement the policy. Wan Saiful said he was invited by the chairman of the MCA research body Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research (INSAP), Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan Onn, to be the moderator of the forum.
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| Anwar takes some of the blame for defections in PKR after 2008 polls Posted: 27 Nov 2011 04:23 PM PST (The Star) - Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has accepted some of the blame for the defections that have plagued the party after the 2008 election. "I admit that I am partly to be blamed because I endorsed their candidacies," he said. "But, at that time we lacked candidates and some even declined to become one. "Those who aspire to be our candidates, but have only the intention of becoming rich can forget about receiving the authorisation letters from the president," he said at the closing of PKR's Eighth National Congress here yesterday. Anwar predicted that the coming general election would be a "defining battle" for the country's political landscape. "We are better organised now compared with the last time," he said. "Traitors have left and the cooperation with the DAP and PAS is improving, which is a good sign for us in our effort to capture Putrajaya." Anwar claimed that he had been handed a booklet purportedly issued by Umno, containing instruction to spread lies and slanders about him and the PKR. He said this only confirmed his suspicions that Umno was fearful of him and was using everything it had to destroy the PKR. Earlier, Johor PKR chief Datuk Chua Jui Meng claimed that floods in Johor were because of the state's poor forest management, saying that only 15% of the forests were intact. He praised Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim for increasing the state's cash reserve to RM1.2bil after the last general election against the RM400mil recorded during his predecessor Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo's tenure. Meanwhile, Khalid pointed out that the rakyat could judge on the government they wanted. They could decide whether to trust the government or not by looking at its delivery and performance. According to Khalid, about 70% of Malaysians earned less than RM4,000 a month while 15% earned more than RM30,000 a month. He said the country would be peaceful if the wide income gap was reduced. Khalid, who described this as a major issue, said it was caused by poor management, corruption and abuse of funds.
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| Posted: 27 Nov 2011 04:21 PM PST (The Star) - MCA Youth took a swipe at PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for allegedly covering up the party youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Akin's recent gaffe at the PKR Youth Congress in Johor. Anwar's attempt to cover up for Shamsul by saying the remark did not reflect a PKR or Pakatan Rakyat agenda was pitiful, said the youth wing's secretary-general Datuk Chai Kim Sen. On Friday, Shamsul had in his speech challenged Umno to make changes to the Federal Constitution to stipulate that only Malays can be prime minister. He said Umno should do this to prove its claim of being a party that championed Malay rights. Chai said Anwar was using a "good cop, bad cop" tactic in trying to keep both the Malays and non-Malays happy. "Knowing that Shamsul's remarks will make non-Malay voters unhappy, he quickly tried to fix things up by saying that it is not a PKR or Pakatan agenda," he said.
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| Najib: How can you break down the prison? Posted: 27 Nov 2011 03:27 PM PST If we do not respect the law, there will be chaos in the country, says the prime minister. (Bernama) - Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak today reminded the people, including opposition party leaders, not to wantonly break the law as it will lead to chaos in the country. "We have laws. We must respect the law. If we do not respect the law, there will be chaos in the country. How can you break down the prison?" he told a news conference after opening an international forum at the Putra World Trade Centre, here. Najib was responding when asked to comment on the remark by PKR deputy president Azmin Ali last Friday that PKR would break down the prison walls to free PKR adviser Anwar Ibrahim if he is jailed. Asked whether Azmin's remark was a threat, the prime minister said it was only a political statement. Azmin, who is also Selangor PKR chief, said last Friday when opening the PKR Youth and Wanita congress in Johor Baru that PKR would even break down the prison walls to free Anwar. The High Court has set Dec 8 to hear the submissions at the end of the defence case in Anwar's sodomy trial.
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| Nazri: Peaceful Assembly Bill will be passed on Tuesday Posted: 27 Nov 2011 12:12 PM PST By Hemananthani Sivanandam, The Sun The controversial Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011, which the government has agreed to amend, will be debated at committee level before being voted on in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said there will be eight amendments to the bill and that MPs could bring their proposals for consideration. "The (tabling of the) second reading has been done (last Thursday by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak) so we will debate it at the committee level in Parliament on Tuesday and it will be voted upon. "All MPs are welcome to bring their suggestions and if it is okay, we will include it," Nazri told theSun when contacted. Asked to comment on plans by the Malaysia Bar Council which plans to organise a Walk for Freedom 2011: Peaceful Assembly Bill cannot and must not become law! on Tuesday, Nazri said the council is free to go ahead with it. "It's not my problem. They have to talk to the police but I can assure that it is not going to change in any way. "The bill has been tabled, will be debated and be passed on Tuesday," he stressed. Nazri, who is also Padang Renggas MP lambasted Bar Council President Lim Chee Wee and his former counterpart Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan for organising the walk. "We will accommodate any amendments (to the bill). That shows we listen to the people. I would suggest to Chee Wee to register the Bar Council as a political party and stand for elections. "It is easier if they register as a political party, rather than hide under the pretext of an NGO," he said, before quipping that either Ambiga or Lim should stand in his constituency. It was reported on Saturday that the government will carry out eight amendments to the bill, including amending the controversial Section 9(1) which makes it mandatory for an organiser to give a 30-day notification to the police prior to holding an assembly in an undesignated venue. Nazri said the 30-day notification is deemed to be too lengthy and the Cabinet decided to shorten it to 10 days. "The 10-day notification is required because the police will need to engage with the people involved in these undesignated areas. "For an example, if someone wants to have an assembly in front of (DAP stalwart) Lim Kit Siang's home, we certainly need to ask him because he's the house owner so that requires time. "Also, people cannot simply pick places where they want to demonstrate. What if there is a counter-demonstration? This requires (organisers) to inform the police to protect them because suddenly, if a fight breaks out and the police is not notified then the people will blame the police," said Nazri. He however said that people are free to demonstrate at any time at designated areas. "For example at Padang Merbok, it's a designated place, so people can go ahead…no problem," he added. Nazri said following the amendments to Section 9(1), other amendments will also be made to four other sections, which involved timeline of notification such as to parties with interests and appeal to the Home Minister. He added that the government also supported the proposed amendments to Sections 6(2)(b), 7(a)(iii) and 21(1)(c) which involves the removal of the word "discontent" from them. "The Cabinet feels that we need to drop that word, the fact that people assemble shows that they are unhappy about something so we have decided to drop that word," said Nazri. Meanwhile the Bar Council said it would continue with its Walk for Freedom on Tuesday. Bar Council President Lim told theSun whilst it is "mildly positive" that the government is considering the provisions to the bill, the reduction of the length of time for various notices required under the Bill and omission of the word 'discontent' reflects what is fundamentally wrong with the process of the bill "It is being rushed with unholy haste into law without adequate public consultation. There is no good reason why this Bill cannot go through the same process of a Parliamentary Select Committee as electoral reforms -- both are important constitutional rights," Lim said. He also said that according to media reports, the Cabinet is adamant about prohibiting assemblies in motion or processions, except for existing provision on funeral processions. "This is outrageous! From our research, we know not of any other jurisdictions, which prohibit processions. "The government cannot now rob us of this right of assemblies in motion which is presently not prohibited in the Police Act. "The present prohibition of procession robs us of a right which presently exists under section 27 of the Police Act which regulates "assemblies, meetings and processions," he said. Lim said in the United Kingdom, a distinction is drawn between static assemblies for which no notice is required and procession (assemblies in motion) for which notice of six clear days is to be given unless it is not reasonably practicable to give any advance notice. "In Finland, only 6 hours is required. Even Myanmar now has a Peaceful Assembly and Procession Bill which allows peaceful assembly and procession by holding flags with prior permission from the authorities five days in advance," he added. |
| Reforms possible only if Umno wins GE, says Najib Posted: 27 Nov 2011 12:04 PM PST By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider The government's political and economic reform plans can only take place if Umno delivers a solid win in the upcoming national polls, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today. Calling it a small challenge for Barisan Nasional's (BN) biggest component party, the prime minister said Umno needed to work together with its partners to deliver results in order to be re-elected in the general election. |
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