Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- An undercurrent in Umno grows against Shahrizat over cattle scandal
- Keeping It In The Family! – How Taib ‘The Godfather’ Corruptly Controls CMS
- Umno is never wrong, others are
- Umno’s Cow Dung, No wonder fall in graft index
- Najib: Umno more democractic than opposition
- Under Pakatan, DAP will appoint non-Malay PM, claims Umno leader
- Two thumbs up from Dr M
- DAP yet to confirm attendance at hudud forum
- AirAsia: Stop harassing our staff
- Cops say no CBT element found in NFC probe so far
- UMNO is definitely NOT Racist!
- Shamala hilang hak penjagaan anak
- Mukhriz: Pakatan conspiring with foreigners to invoke ‘Malaysia Spring’
- The Battle Royale
- Mahathir And His 3M Team Are Worried And Here’s Why
- Umno Youth won’t support tainted candidates
- PKR’s reforms under fire
- Pembangkang 100 kali lebih rasis
- Gobala thrown out of Dewan
- Najib hints 13th GE around the corner
- Umno veeps ready for sacrifice
- DPM: Umno could have ruled on its own before independence
- Police ‘whitewash’ of NFC scandal ‘damage control’ for Umno, says PKR
- Umno MP accuses DAP of starting May 13 riots
- #OCCUPYPARLIMEN: Memorial service for death of Malaysian Parliament
- KJ: Opposition's 'repulsive' politics will bring down the country
- Dana NFC beli Mercedes, tanah dan cuti mewah?
- Khairy: PKR losing support
- The Assembly Tail
- PSC expected to table interim report with changes to 12 areas
- Why Najib can’t reform
- Habibah’s bra-zen broadside
- Asri: No new ideas from Umno
- Rep: PAS, where’s the RM600mil?
- Dr Asri: Umno nampak gelisah, masih gagal beri harapan baru
- RM10,000 a month to monitor Facebook ‘wall postings’
- Roused by racial jibes, Umno may forget Najib’s unity plea
- Khairy blushing over delegates’ crude remarks
- Fernandes declares war on Malaysia Airports over tax hike
- Mahathir-Najib made us debtors
- Nazri warns of 2008 repeat if Umno infighting continues
- Mend your ways, Umno
- The Mamak Dilemma – Shame, Opportunity, Assimilation, and an Identity Lost
- Peaceful Assembly: The BN Government's Misinformation
- It’s people’s right to disagree
- How Laws are enacted in Malaysia
- Perak MB wins suit again Suara Keadilan
- Perkasa, Mamak group bring traffic to a standstill
- NFC scandal: PKR reveals more dirt
- KLIA2 to cost RM3.6-3.9bn
| An undercurrent in Umno grows against Shahrizat over cattle scandal Posted: 01 Dec 2011 11:19 AM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - When Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil closed the Wanita Umno general assembly on Wednesday, it appeared as if she had successfully deflected blame from herself over the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) controversy. But it is believed that the cheers from the standing ovation that greeted her were mixed with silent jeers of disgust from the senior minister's detractors, many of whom are rallying for her resignation. Speaking to The Malaysian Insider after the assembly, several senior Wanita leaders said Shahrizat had become a "liability" to Umno and should exit the limelight before the NFC scandal "destroys us all". But they said most delegates were "too afraid" to speak against their chief for fear of losing their posts in the party. "She (Shahrizat) is using Wanita Umno to protect her but the issue (NFC) is not a Wanita (Umno) issue but a personal one involving her and her family. "As a Wanita Umno member, I am very disappointed. A lot of us are disappointed... why drag Umno into this issue?" said one Wanita Umno delegate from Perak. She added that she had remained seated when the sea of red-clad delegates rose to applaud Shahrizat during her winding-up speech. She said Shahrizat should have explained the issue to delegates instead of fishing for support by claiming the scandal was merely a ploy by the opposition to weaken Wanita Umno. "Do not forget, the first person to expose the issue about NFC's weaknesses was the Auditor-General, not the opposition. So why attack the opposition to hide your own weakness?" she pointed out. Shahrizat has been making headlines in recent weeks over the NFC controversy after its operations, run by a company owned by her husband, were described in the Auditor-General's Report for 2010 as being "in a mess". But instead of explaining the issue, the minister chose instead to deflect blame from her by saying it had nothing to do with her. She also countered the opposition's calls for her resignation by calling on PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to quit. Shahrizat reportedly earned wild support from members during her speech, with one Kelantan Umno leader even calling the opposition "cattle" for raising the NFC scandal. "But a lot of Wanita Umno members do not know the issue of the NFC... that is why they rose to support her. They do not know the issue. "Wanita Umno, they are all like that," the Perak delegate said with a sigh.
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| Keeping It In The Family! – How Taib ‘The Godfather’ Corruptly Controls CMS Posted: 01 Dec 2011 08:40 AM PST SARAWAK REPORT New research by Sarawak Report has produced further proof that Taib's claim that he "does no business in Sarawak" is shockingly untrue. To the contrary, we can name him as the 'Godfather' who blatantly controls most of the shares in Sarawak's largest public company, CMS. We can also show that he has further manipulated that power to produce maximum wealth for himself and his family, by ensuring that CMS does as much of its business as possible with other family firms. This practice is against stock exchange rules, because it is at the expense of other shareholders and the wider public. Mafia-style business boss This matter is all the more disgraceful, because CMS is a conglomerate that Taib himself created by privatising key assets that used to belong to the State of Sarawak. As Finance Minister and Chief Minister he caused valuable state interests like PPES, Steel Industries Sarawak and PCMS to be sold for knock down prices to CMS and then engineered extraordinary 'share-swaps' with cheap companies belonging to his own family members. This enabled the Taibs to take control of the majority of CMS shares by 1996! CMS continues to make its huge income from state monopolies and the massive public contracts handed to it (without proper open tendering) by Taib himself. By these means he has blatantly exploited his political power to enormously enrich himself.
Thus, although the Chief Minister has admitted it would be corrupt for him and his family to be involved in Sarawak business, our revelations show that this is exactly what he does on a massive scale through CMS, exploiting his political role to act as the mafia business boss of the State. Passing around the shares – and the top jobs! Our most recent revelations are based on the publicly recorded movement of shares within CMS. These show how huge chunks of the company have been passed round Taib's close family members, providing only one feasible explanation, which is that it is Taib himself who is controlling their ownership. To all intents and purposes, therefore, he created the company and he IS the owner! To cement this control over the company, Taib has also made sure that his family members occupy all the key management roles. However, again he has shifted round these positions between close family members, once more revealing the pattern of ultimate control by him. Onn Mahmud
Public documents show how in the early years, while his children were still students, the largest shareholder and main Director of CMS was Taib's brother Onn Mahmud. Onn was Taib's original key business proxy in Sarawak and abroad, until the brothers fell out in 2003. His name can also be found on all the documents relating to property companies linked to Taib's children in Canada and the US and also to Taib related companies in Hong Kong. According to research available at the London School of Economics, Onn acquired the family's first 27% stake in the publicly-owned CMS in 1989 for an undisclosed sum. This followed a shadowy deal with the Sabah Economic Development Corporation, which was reported as a 'share swop' between Sabah and Sarawak, but turned out to be a private acquisition by Onn (the Sarawak's Chief Minister's brother). According to CMS records, by April 2002 Onn, as Director and Group Chairman, owned over 30% of CMS shares. At that time Taib's two sons Sulaiman and Abu Bekir (Deputy Group Chairman and Group Executive Director) also owned a further 12% each.
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| Umno is never wrong, others are Posted: 01 Dec 2011 08:37 AM PST Where are the Umno screamers and banshees when government-linked businesses are slowly dismembered to enrich a few people? We would like to ask Ahmad: when Shahrizat (Abdul Jalil) facilitated the giving of the government grant of only RM250 million to Dr Salleh (Ismail), did she and her husband think of all those downtrodden Malays? They didn't, right? Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz, Free Malaysia Today Umno information chief Ahmad Maslan is grossly and perilously misreading the ground swell.Today, Malays attach blame to Umno for allowing the pillage and plunder of the country. Malays attach blame to Umno for the lot the Malays are now in. We would like to ask Ahmad: when Shahrizat (Abdul Jalil) facilitated the giving of the government grant of only RM250 million to Dr Salleh (Ismail), did she and her husband think of all those downtrodden Malays? They didn't, right? Even after that, they didn't think it was necessary to create other cattle breeders. After almost a month, the issue finally blew up in her face, and she suddenly recovered from the mad cow disease to disavow any connections to the National Feedlot Corpoartion (NFC) scandal. Similarly, when we paid an excess of RM6 billion for the purchase of the armoured personnel carriers (APCs), was the RM6 billion meant for the ordinary Malays? Where are the Umno screamers and banshees when MAS was slowly dismembered to enrich a few people? And when we were caught out, what did we do? We screamed this is a conspiracy by opposition politicians! It's never us – always others. If Ahmad listens closer, he will hear people saying: "Ahmad Maslan can shove his remarks up that part of his anatomy where the sun does not shine!" Corrupt to the core Umno is now associated with neglecting the Malays. Umno stands for arrogance and Umno stands for the mother of corruption. It's rotten to the core, according to former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad. In one of the meetings of ex-ministers, Mahathir, the political sifu, said: " Umno is corrupt from the top to the bottom." Mind you, it's not I who am saying this. It's Mahathir speaking, and Mahathir – the Malaysian Caesar – is an honourable man. Umno president Najib Tun Razak, in the pre-assembly briefing, put in succinctly. He said that you can now spot the Umno type a mile away – linen shirts, dark sunglasses (preferably Ray Ban), tinted cars, sashaying into coffee houses with eyes glancing around affixing on no particular person, but asking for attention. My favourite reaction is to put up my middle finger – in salute of 1Malaysia, of course. Because people know: the Umno types, like Ahmad, is an empty can. 'Malays will lose everything' Look at Ahmad himself? This height-challenged person is a braggart. In the early days when he became the information chief, he would begin his speeches telling about himself. About how he, a nobody, was suddenly fingered out by Najib to be a special officer in charge of Felda and in the 2008 general election chosen as a candidate and going on to become a deputy minister. Well, my answer is: maybe you have sputtered some magical incantations extracted from the seven layers of the heavens and seven layers of the earth to persuade Najib to select you. Frankly, I haven't had the time to fully absorb the inanity of Ahmad's recent speech about Umno's 3.4 million members. I am presented with his double whammy – a speech about Malays losing everything (economics, politics, religion and everything, wives and children included) if there is a hung Parliament and if DAP comes to power. That was a speech given at a forum discussing the Malay Agenda.
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| Umno’s Cow Dung, No wonder fall in graft index Posted: 01 Dec 2011 08:30 AM PST HORNBILL UNLEASHED Melissa Lee In what appears to be shaping up to be a massive Umno cover-up, Deputy Inspector General of Police Khalid Bakar insists that investigations have so far not revealed any element of corruption in the RM250 million NFC debacle. Khalid was seen to be doing "Umno-putra service" by suddenly making the comment that critics said was meant to assure Umno members that Women's Chief Shahrizat Jalil and her family were innocent of any graft in the cattle livestock project. Khalid's remarks and Umno's strident defense of Shahrizat comes smack in the face of another sharp decline in the internationally-followed Corruption Perception Index. Malaysia fell to 60th position from 56 last year, and the result marked the third straight year of worsening on the widely-followed graft index. "It is suspicious that on all days, Khalid would choose to reveal the progress of the police investigation on NFC today when the Umno AGM goes into full swing. It shows that Umno is still abusing the institutions especially the police to do their dirty work for them," PKR vice president Tian Chua toldMalaysia Chronicle. "As for the CPI, it is a real warning. Umno is dragging down the country. It is the source of the greatest corruption and its refusal to admit it and put a stop to it will bankrupt us all. It is not the Pakatan, as Muhyiddin claims, which is trying to accuse the BN of wrongdoing. The CPI results speak for themselves. The index is is managed by Transparency International, which is a well established organization. "But to the Umno elite, there is corruption everywhere except in their party. Malaysians especially Malays must reject this sort of mentality and they must reject Umno for their own sakes. Till now, Umno defends Shahrizat and uses the police to make excuses for them and then lie to everyone that they are not guilty. It just shows how corrupt and immoral they have become." 74 people interviewed According to Khalid, the police have so far interviewed over 74 people in connection with the probe, including Shahrizat's family although she herself has not been asked to give a statement. "However, we are still continuing our investigation into the issue and will call the minister to record her statement if the need arises," said Khalid. The project was awarded to Sharizat's husband and children in 2006 and the Auditor-General has warned that the project was in a "mess" and could downspiral even further. Shahrizat has denied any involvement in the scandal, saying NFC had "nothing to do with me" although few Malaysians would ever believe her family – which has no track record in cattle breeding – could have won the project without her influence. PKR leaders have led the charge on NFC, which was launched to enable everyday Malaysians to buy beef at affordable prices. However, a shocking trail of revelations show that instead of using the RM250 million soft loan to set up satellite cattle farms and structure an effective distribution and supply chain, Shahrizat's family allegedly bought two super luxury condos in Bangsar for RM6.9 million each, gave a RM3 million discount to a family-own firm, bought a Mercedes CLS350 and residential land in Putrajaya worth some RM3.3 million, channeled half a million ringgit to a family firm in Singapore, as well as paid huge sums to a tour agency for alleged family holidays. Shahrizat's husbang Salleh Ibrahim has not denied the transactions occured, but insisted there was no corruption and that all the deals had the approval of NFC. However, critics point out that it did not make sense for a pilot livestock breeding project to plumb for plush condos, a super-high-end Merc and upmarket residential land – not mention why were discounts given and holidays charged to public money.
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| Najib: Umno more democractic than opposition Posted: 01 Dec 2011 08:22 AM PST (Bernama) - Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has stressed that Umno embraces democracy and is not scared of the democracy as alleged by its political adversaries. He said that was why when he took over the reins of the party and the government 30 months ago, he and his colleagues in the Umno Supreme Council, the Barisan Nasional (BN) Supreme Council and the Cabinet had decided to implement the reformation and transformation process. "In the party, firstly, we expanded the franchise of electors for Supreme Council members. We want more people in Umno to be given the right to choose their leaders," he said in his policy speech entitled "Umno Championing Transformation" at the opening of the general assembly 2011 at the Merdeka Hall, Putra World Trade Centre, here on Thursday. He said Umno's attitude in embracing democracy was precisely described by an English proverb, "the proof of the pudding is in the eating". On the contrary, Najib, who is also the prime minister and BN chairman, said it was the opposition parties who were actually not democratic like Umno. "We are not like our opponent. The first example, party A, the post of Ketua Umum (De Facto Leader), although he was not elected democratically, he has more power than the party president. "Second example, party B calls itself a democratic party, however, it is totally undemocratic. Is it democratic when the branch delegates choose 20 members of the central committee, and these central committee members then choose the top party leadership? This totally does not reflect the wishes of the majority of members. "For the third example, party C which purportedly champions the cause for a welfare state. Lahawlawala...., even for the post of spiritual leader it appears there is no democratic election, but he is more powerful than the president. "Even worse, is party A, where the husband is the General Leader (de facto leader), the wife is president, the eldest daughter is vice-president, while the deputy president ....hrmm, no need for us to explain," Najib said. He said that for almost six decades, Umno had been the pillar behind the success of the nation and records showed that Umno had never dominated or intended to dominate the component parties of the Barisan Nasional as alleged by the opposition. He said Umno was not embroiled in turmoil like the opposition which could not reach consensus on policy matters. "For example, on the Islamic state, Party A says, not ever, Party B says, over my dead body. And Party C says let's change to become a welfare state. This confuses the people," he said. Najib said compared to Umno, as the pillar of the BN, Umno took steps to work alongside and cooperate with component parties in pragmatic, realistic and honest manners. "We accept Barisan Nasional's partners as they are. We trust, depend on and understand each other even before the Independence. This has made us successful as the pillar in bringing prosperity to the country," he said. He said what was achieved today was not built in a short space of time but through struggles, sacrifices and hard work over the years. "It was developed by our fathers, who were Malays, Chinese, Indians, Ibans, Kadazans, and others, including Orang Asli and Siamese. Their ambitions, their dreams, were none other than to provide a better life for us. This is being continued by the present generation who strive for a brighter future for our children and grandchildren," he said.
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| Under Pakatan, DAP will appoint non-Malay PM, claims Umno leader Posted: 01 Dec 2011 08:05 AM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - The DAP will push for a non-Malay prime minister if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) comes to power, an Umno supreme council member has predicted when echoing his party's concerns that the Malays would lose power under the pact's rule. But if the Chinese-dominated DAP fails in its bid, it would then resort to appointing a "puppet PM", much like former Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, said Pasir Salak Umno division chief Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman. "They tried it in Perak. So if for the post of MB (mentri besar) they are also very keen, why not the PM's seat? "I am sure that is what they want. So if they can't they will compromise and put somebody to become their puppet, like Nizar," he told The Malaysian Insider during a brief interview on the sidelines of the Umno annual general assembly yesterday. Tajuddin explained that this would likely happen as under a PR government, the DAP would likely emerge as the most dominant party while its Islamist partner PAS would become a "nobody". "How many seats are PAS contesting? Less than 60. To form government, they would need seats from DAP and PKR. You know it is only natural — the dominant partner will be the one that holds the most seats," he said. Tajuddin's conjecture is part of the scenario that most Umno members trot out when discussing a possible loss of power to PR in future general elections. The outspoken parliamentarian also shredded PR's capability as an alternative government to Barisan Nasional (BN), saying that due to its lack of experienced leaders the country's economy would plummet and instability would ensue. He issued a warning to the Chinese community in particular, saying their businesses and livelihoods would suffer the most under a PR government. "Even the Chinese people, I want to tell you — you are not going to benefit anything. Under such an unstable situation, there will be no business. The share market will drop by 70 to 80 per cent. A RM5 share will go down to 50 sen and become toilet paper," he charged. "Who is going to suffer? Do you think Haji Hadi or Nik Aziz can run the economy of the country? Anybody in PAS? You check their credentials," he said, referring to PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat. Apart from PAS, Tajuddin also attacked the abilities of other PR personalities like its de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, DAP chairman Karpal Singh and DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua.
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| Posted: 01 Dec 2011 08:02 AM PST (The Star) - FORMER Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has given the thumbs up to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's presidential address. He lauded Najib for touching on the part of Umno's history which many were not aware of. "He has rightly pointed out that Umno is not a racist party. "Umno has worked with and supported other people," he said. Another former president Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi called on Umno members to heed the president's call to make way for winnable candidates. He said choosing candidates was not easy, thus all members must accept the president's decision, as his choice would be for the betterment of the party. "I've went through the process of choosing candidates ... let me tell you, it is not easy. "It is the president who will decide who will contest," he said on the sidelines of the party general assembly here yesterday. Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said it was interesting to observe that Najib stressing on love, duty and sacrifices in his speech. "These are the traits that Wanita members are known for," she said. Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said Najib obviously understood the demands of the young people. He said Najib knew that while it was important to keep reminding people of Umno's contribution to the country, it was no longer enough to secure the support from the young. "If the party has no vision and direction, the young will not support us," Khairy said. He was also impressed when the president spoke about the supremacy of ideas. "He gave an impression that he is willing to accept good and bright ideas even though they are proposed by young people." Puteri Umno chief Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said the call for Umno to engage the young people through new media was timely. "If we want to win, we must have the X factor'," she said, adding that the wing had set up its own cyber troopers group two years ago. "We are improving it and hope to contribute in our own way, not only physically, but through new media as well," she said.
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| DAP yet to confirm attendance at hudud forum Posted: 01 Dec 2011 08:01 AM PST (The Star) - The DAP has been invited to the forum on hudud and its implications on non-Muslims in Malaysia. "The purpose of the forum is not to challenge anybody. Rather, we just want to explore the law and what implementing it would mean to a multi-racial society like Malaysia," said Institite of Stategic Analysis and Policy Research (Insap) deputy director Kat Wong. She added that the opposition party has yet to confirm its attendance. Among those who will be speaking are lawyer Edmund Bon, Terengganu mentri besar's religious advisor Ustaz Kamal Saidi, Umno's Young Ulamas working committee chairman Ustaz Fathul Bari Mat Jahaya and International Movement for a Just World president Prof Dr Chandra Muzaffar. Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee and Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs founding chief executive Wan Saiful Wan Jan will moderate the event. The forum, organised by MCA think-tank Insap, is free and open to all. It will be held at Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur on Sunday from 9.30am to 2.30pm. To register, email: info.insap@gmail.com, fax 03-2161 3701 or call 03-2161 5621/6201.
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| AirAsia: Stop harassing our staff Posted: 01 Dec 2011 07:59 AM PST (The Star) - AirAsia has issued an official warning letter to Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad (MAHB) for allegedly harassing its staff. The company's commercial director Jasmine Lee claimed MAHB had told airline staff to remove the "Say No to Airport Tax Increase" stickers on their uniform. She claimed that the airport operator also removed posters at their sales counters at LCCT. "They even went to the check-in counters and told our staff not to wear the stickers and to stop sticking them on passengers' boarding passes. "We have sent an official warning letter to request that MAHB's officers stop unlawfully obstructing our staff from doing their jobs," she said, adding that the incident occurred from around 10am until lunchtime yesterday. AirAsia is protesting against the decision by MAHB to increase the airport tax by RM7 and RM14 at five airports nationwide which took effect yesterday. The airports are Langkawi International Airport, Penang International Airport, Kuching International Airport, Terminal 2, Kota Kinabalu International Airport and the low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) at KLIA. Lee also alleged that MAHB confiscated security tags from some staff working in restricted areas. "This incident will not deter us. We will continue to wear the stickers tomorrow and will put back the posters," she said. AirAsia CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes later tweeted: "Malaysian airport staff tearing down our posters and taking away airport passes of our staff. And using intimidation. Can someone tell them this is Malaysia and not a police state." MAHB senior general manager for operations Datuk Azmi Murad, who was present during the incident, denied any harassment or intimidation took place but admitted they removed the posters. "They were putting the posters in public areas and we took them down. Imagine if anyone could just walk in and start putting posters everywhere," he said. AirAsia has taken a full-page advertisement in The Star, urging the public to call MAHB and give their opinion on the increase in airport tax. "AirAsia views this increase as not justified as the current airport facilities are not up to par," said the advertisement.
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| Cops say no CBT element found in NFC probe so far Posted: 01 Dec 2011 07:58 AM PST (The Star) - Police investigations into the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) controversy have not revealed any element of criminal breach of trust so far. Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar said police interviewed 74 people, including family members of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. "We are still investigating and will call the minister to record her statement if the need arises," he said after launching the "joint patrols" programme between the police and the armed forces at Sungai Buloh yesterday. The NFC project came into the limelight following this year's Auditor-General's Report that it was in a mess. Opposition parties had also alleged that Shahrizat's family had a controlling stake in the project. Shahrizat's husband Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail, who is executive chairman of the project, came out to explain the alleged shortcomings on the project but found himself being probed by police when the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission referred the matter to them after receiving an initial report. The allegations against the NFC were regarding a RM9.8mil condominium bought with NFC funds.
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| UMNO is definitely NOT Racist! Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:50 PM PST On the basis of the many ridiculous and "kurang ajar" statements made by Mahathir, Muhyiddin, Najib and the UMNOputras in the past and in the current UMNO assembly, it is natural and reasonable to label them all as racists. But let us analyse the facts to see if this is a logical label. By Ken At the current UMNO assembly, Muhyiddin proclaimed that UMNO is NOT racist. He uttered this statement in spite of the fact that he, the Deputy Prime Minister of multi-racial Malaysia, has unequivocally declared that he is "Malay first" and "Malaysian second". Muhyiddin's "Malay first" declaration, while confirming that he is not a nationalist (and unfit to be DPM), does not confirm that he is a racist, and he may be right that UMNO is not racist. And Muhyiddin's mentor and guru, Dr. Mahathir, has also argued repeatedly that parties such as DAP are racist but not UMNO. However, on the basis of the many ridiculous and "kurang ajar" statements made by Mahathir, Muhyiddin, Najib and the UMNOputras in the past and in the current UMNO assembly, it is natural and reasonable to label them all as racists. But let us analyse the facts to see if this is a logical label. According to Mahathir, Najib, Muhyiddin and other UMNOputras, the Malays are far behind the other races in wealth and development and also form the majority of the poor. General observation and anecdotal data do suggest that there may be truth in what these UMNOputras say about widespread poverty among the Malays. Why is it that the Malays have not prospered in spite of the NEP for more than 40 years? How is it that Mahathir who wielded total control over all, including the Sultans, for 22 years (and who continues to indirectly control) could not rectify the poor state of the Malays in spite of all the power he had? If he could not, who else can or will ever? Why is that a large proportion of Malays are still poor in spite of all the development since independence? Surely, there must be a logical explanation for the continued poor state of these Malays. A racist is someone who does all he can for another of his race on the basis of ethnicity, and ignores, disadvantages or undermines others, even if deserving, solely because of racial difference. Thus, if UMNO were racist, it would have done all it could to help the poor Malays. With the ever-powerful Mahathir as PM for 22 years, UMNO as the government for more than 50 years and NEP in force for more than 40 years, even casual support on the basis of race or otherwise, would have uplifted the poor Malay significantly. Mahathir and UMNO didn't have to generate the required wealth through ingenuity and hard work for this task - Mother Malaysia is and has been well endowed with oil, gas, timber, land other natural resources to provide hundreds of billions for the benefit of the Malays and her other children. But somehow, all this huge wealth never found its way to the poor Malay. If UMNO were truly racist, the fate of the poor Malay would have changed, but this has happened, at best, only in a marginal way. A racist would be troubled by the plight of his race and would be prepared to make all possible sacrifices, including sharing his wealth. Has any UMNOputra shared his wealth with the poor Malay? None worthy of mention. Instead, UMNOputras have become very rich and the gap between them and the poor Malay has widened - the gap between the rich and poor in Malaysia is widest amongst the Malays compared to other races. The UMNOputras have plundered the wealth of the nation under the pretext of helping the poor Malays, and amassed billions for themselves, their families and friends. There are many Malay corporate empires which are very large and prominent - Mahathir empire (Mines, YTL, San Miguel, etc.), Najib empire (CIMB, etc.), Badawi empire, Daim empire, Taib Muhamad empire, Syed Al-Bukhary empire, etc. If the UMNOputras were racist, they would not have focused on amassing such huge wealth for themselves but would instead have focused on sharing the available wealth with their race. What is strange is that while claiming to champion their Malay race, the UMNOputras almost always establish business partnerships with non-Malay businessmen, knowing that these non-Malay cronies would use the opportunity to also amass wealth at the expense of the Malays and other Malaysians. If the UMNOputras were truly racist, they would not collaborate with the non-Malays. It is simply not logical to do so if "Ketuanan Melayu" is the goal and mission. Equally, if the UMNOputras were racist, why would the Chinese cronies (whose race is often UMNO's target for racism rhetoric and drama), collaborate with them? What is clear is that UMNO and its leaders, Mahathir, Muhyiddin, Najib, etc. are NOT racist. They are just evil and corrupt. They are a despicable lot who are prepared to sell their race, religion and nation for money. Money is what matters to them, not moral and ethics and certainly not race and definitely not religion (this lot is guilty of all the major sins in Islam, from corruption, cheating and stealing to adultery and gambling). The poor Malay is merely an official license for UMNO to rob and plunder the nation. UMNO is definitely NOT racist - UMNO is totally CORRUPT and EVIL and beyond redemption!!! The kampong Malays must be made aware of these facts for GE13. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shamala hilang hak penjagaan anak Posted: 30 Nov 2011 08:09 PM PST (Utusan Malaysia) - Seorang wanita Hindu, S. Shamala hilang hak penjagaan terhadap dua anak lelakinya hasil perkahwinan dengan bekas suami yang kini beragama Islam selepas Mahkamah Rayuan hari ini mengetepikan keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi yang memberikan hak penjagaan kepadanya. Panel tiga hakim diketuai oleh Datuk Zainun Ali yang bersidang bersama Hakim Datuk Alizatul Khair Osman Khairuddin dan Hakim Anantham Kasinather memutuskan demikian sebulat suara selepas membenarkan rayuan Dr. M. Jeyaganesh, 42. Mualaf tersebut merayu terhadap keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi pada 20 Julai 2004 yang memberikan hak penjagaan terhadap Saktiswaran, 10, dan Theiviswaran, 9, kepada ibu mereka. Shamala sebaliknya mengingkari perintah lawatan yang diperolehi lelaki itu dengan melarikan kedua-duanya ke luar negara. Hakim Zainun ketika membacakan keputusan ringkas itu berkata, mereka terikat dengan keputusan Mahkamah Persekutuan bahawa Shamala, 38, yang menghadapi tindakan menghina mahkamah tiada hak mengemukakan litigasi. Tindakan tersebut dikeluarkan oleh Mahkamah Tinggi pada 6 Mei 2004 selepas dia melanggar perintah penjagaan sementara yang membenarkan Jeyaganesh atau nama Islamnya, Muhammad Ridzwan Mogarajah melawat anak-anak mereka. Muhammad Ridzwan diwakili oleh Muralee Menon manakala Shamala yang kini dipercayai berada di Australia, tidak diwakili selepas peguamnya yang terdahulu menarik diri. Dengan keputusan itu, semua konflik melibatkan Shamala dan bekas suami termasuk isu penukaran agama dua anak lelakinya dan permohonan wanita tersebut untuk mencabar persoalan undang-undang, selesai buat masa ini.
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| Mukhriz: Pakatan conspiring with foreigners to invoke ‘Malaysia Spring’ Posted: 30 Nov 2011 07:56 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir accused Pakatan Rakyat (PR) today of colluding with foreign powers to flare up violence and invoke the "Malaysia Spring" that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently predicted for the coming polls. Calling the Opposition Leader "desperate", the Umno deputy minister told his party's annual general assembly here that "Anwar Ibrahim himself has flared the seeds of revolution ala Arab Spring" to topple the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration. He said the opposition has been using street protests to conspire against BN and went a step further to allege that a death was even "faked" during the Bersih 2.0 July 9 march for free and fair elections. "Actually, my honourable delegates, whether you realise it or not, the opposition is the new tool of the foreign powers. "The opposition gets a lot of funding and lots more of other support to attain their objective of what they have coined as regime change. Question I am asking is, are we going to allow the new era of colonisation to happen here?" he thundered to the sea of delegates gathered for the assembly today. Anwar had recently predicted the coming of a "Malaysia Spring" in the next general election, confidently telling US newswire Bloomberg in an interview that PR will wrest Putrajaya from BN. "We're taking over the government at the rate we're going," he was quoted as saying in the interview carried on the newswire early last month. The opposition leader, who is facing the prospect of possible conviction for the second sodomy charge in his career, had cited the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9 as a sign of growing support towards PR. The march for free and fair elections, organised by the election watchdog group, drew thousands of protestors to streets of the capital but turned chaotic at midday when police launched tear gas canisters and water cannons to disperse the crowd. Over 1,500 arrests were made.
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| Posted: 30 Nov 2011 07:49 PM PST Back to our country. Many people think that the major battlefields in the coming general election will be in Selangor, Perak and Kedah. To be honest, the place that will determine the final outcome is none other than BN's stronghold in Johor. By TAY TIAN YAN PKR and Umno have successively held their general assemblies. And the timing offers an excellent opportunity for people to make a comparison between the two. PKR's assembly was anything but momentous. Safe for the challenge by Youth leader Shamsul Iskandar that Umno amend the Constitution to ensure only Malays could become the country's prime minister, which did manage to arouse some controversies, the assembly was otherwise largely uneventful and uninteresting. But that does not mean PKR is devoid of its characteristics. Just the opposite, the party made a wise strategic move by holding its general assembly in Johor Bahru. Wait a minute! JB? The stronghold of Umno? Was PKR looking for trouble? Not exactly. The strongest point of the rival could also be its most vulnerable part. The clash of German and Soviet tanks in Kursk during World War II is a point in question. The Germans' fortress was on the west of Kursk. However, they opted to launch their attack from the south and north in an attempt to encircle the Soviet troops and wipe them out. The Soviet troops almost could not resist the 6,000-strong tank invasion from the south and north, and it was pretty clear that the Russians were very likely to be crushed anytime. But then the Germans halted their assault due to supply disruption. Seizing the opportunity, General Georgy Zhukov mobilised his troops to counter-attack the Germans on the west. With most of their troops now bogged down in the north and south, the Germans were unable to redeploy their men to defend and were defeated, spelling a prelude to their eventual surrender. Back to our country. Many people think that the major battlefields in the coming general election will be in Selangor, Perak and Kedah. To be honest, the place that will determine the final outcome is none other than BN's stronghold in Johor. States like Perak, Selangor, Kedah and Terengganu are most definitely the frontline states that will see very heavy gunfire. While both BN and Pakatan may lose or gain some seats in these states, or perhaps some state administrations may even change hands after the election, the outcome is nevertheless unlikely to alter the parliamentary tectonic plate post-2008. Johor is the biggest unknown. It is indeed a powerful fortress state for BN on peninsular Malaysia, but no one can tell whether it will remain BN's most assured asset. BN's two other fortresses--Sarawak and Sabah--are basically heavily secured lots that are extremely unlikely to tip. Johor provides a different picture. It is not that segregated as the two states in East Malaysia while the people have higher political awareness and better access to information. Unmoved in March 2008 does not mean Johor will remain unmoved in the coming general election. Moreover, the state has a relatively high ratio of Chinese population: Over 30% in most constituencies and 40% in some. Besides Bakri that is already in DAP's embraces, constituencies like Kluang, Gelang Patah, Tebrau, Pasir Gudang, Labis, Johor Bahru, Pulai, Tanjung Piai, Segamat and Sekijang are all no longer BN's sure bets. If BN loses this important battlefront, its hopes of retaining Putrajaya could be dashed. The weakest part of PKR and Pakatan in general lies in its poor organisation and fighting spirit in Johor, as well as their lack of substantial support among the Malay society. That said, it will be the parties' strategies and real strengths that will eventually decide the final score.
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| Mahathir And His 3M Team Are Worried And Here’s Why Posted: 30 Nov 2011 05:40 PM PST Worse still, almost 99.99% of UMNO members think there's nothing wrong with the RM250 million scandal which saw the taxpayers money were used instead to purchase luxury condo, overseas trips, plots of land, half a million ringgit Mercedes Benz CLS 350 CGI and whatnot. Envy of Shahrizat's new found fortune, the delegates from UMNO Wanita openly urged Najib administration to allocate (more like giveaway) projects to the women wing as well. Finance Twitter It's been 50 years since a U.S. Secretary of State stepped foot in Myanmar, now shattered and isolated after decades of military rule. Hillary Clinton's upcoming visit to the country, which was formerly known as Burma, is something many never expected to see especially after years of paranoid authoritarianism and Soviet-style economic management under military junta. However one can only do so much under international isolation and finally the new president, U Thein Sein, a former general, admitted he needs international legitimacy and recognition. Surely the new president has to agree to a democratization process, though it could come at a snail-pace speed, and Clinton's visit is all about that – to see and hear the commitment from the military government. But Myanmar, seen as a pariah-state by the West, immediately attracted comparison with another country, Malaysia, for the wrong reason. Suddenly, Malaysia, under Najib Razak administration, become the laughing stock because its citizens now have less freedom compared to Myanmar, thanks to the recently rushed Peaceful Assembly Law. Mahathir Mohamad, former premier who ruled with iron-fist, immediately voiced his support for the controversial law, as expected. However there're other interesting yet mind-boggling opinions from Mahathir that you should pay attention. In fact, this is good news to the opposition and to a certain extent, Najib's camp. Mahathir, together with his 3M members are actually panic. Mahathir is a master in mind games and he likes to play reverse psychology with his enemies. He claimed he was confident Arab Spring, in referring to Middle East style revolts, was unlikely to spread to Malaysia – but in actual fact he was deadly worried that such uprising could happen anytime. If it's easier for the world to end in 2012 than for such revolts to happen in Malaysia, why on earth would the old man waste his time and breath on such minor topic? He knew it could happen, what more with the blatant super-corruption scandals, one after another being exposed with very little interest from the government to combat it. The latest RM250 million NFC Cowgate scandal was awarded to Shahrizat's family, led by her husband and three children, all of whom know nuts about cattle-rearing except eating beef-satay. It's amusing that Shahrizat shamelessly, proudly and arrogantly declare that her family deserves it because they were hard-working.
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| Umno Youth won’t support tainted candidates Posted: 30 Nov 2011 05:27 PM PST The Youth wing also wants names of shortlisted candidates to be announced earlier. (Free Malaysia Today) - Umno Youth will not support any candidate who is tainted by money politics or those who resorted to under-hand tactics to be nominated. Its assistant secretary Megat Firdaus Megat Junid said: "We will support any winnable candidate but we hope they are not cable (connected) candidates, sympathy candidates, extorting candidates, or even golden handshake candidates." Megat Firdaus was speaking while supporting the motion put up earlier by Md Alwi, the Kok Lanas state rep and Ketereh division leader. Megat Firdaus called for names of shortlisted candidates to be announced earlier so that those who failed to make the list have time to settle their differences and help the party in the next general election. He also suggested Umno leaders who become saboteurs to be severely punished.
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| Posted: 30 Nov 2011 05:25 PM PST A delegate says that Umno's transformation is in line with Islam wile PKR's reforms are akin to allowing homosexuality. (Free Malaysia Today) - PKR's reform agenda received a thrashing from a Kelantan delegate at the Umno annual general assembly today. "We (Umno) transform. On the other side, it is reform. When you reform, your basic fundamentals go missing. You can't go back to the original," said Md Alwi Che Ahmad when moving a motion to pass the presidential speech delivered earlier this morning by Umno president, Najib Tun Razak. The Kok Lanas state rep and Ketereh division leader equated the reform efforts by PKR to allowing homosexuality. "Men marry men and women marry women. Is it reforms to have men's trousers with zips at the side instead of in the front?" he said. Md Alwi added that transformation refers to efforts to change as and when needed but it would eventually return to its original form. He earlier listed the various transformation plans under the Najib administration, giving it an Islamic twist. "One is Hijrah," he said referring to the pilgrimage made by Prophet Muhammad from Medina to Mecca. The other example was the status of the Al-Aqsa mosque.
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| Pembangkang 100 kali lebih rasis Posted: 30 Nov 2011 05:23 PM PST Cuma orang yang bersikap terlalu rasis sahaja, sepanjang masa, apabila satu pihak bercakap tentang satu kaum, dia kata kita rasis, kata timbalan presiden Umno. (Free Malaysia Today) - Timbalan Presiden Umno Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin hari ini menolak tanggapan awam bahawa parti itu bersifat rasis kerana hanya mempertahankan hak sesuatu kaum sahaja. Sebaliknya beliau menganggap pihak yang melakukan tohmahan itu jauh lebih rasis berbanding Umno. "Cuma orang yang bersikap terlalu rasis sahaja, sepanjang masa, apabila satu pihak bercakap tentang satu kaum, dia kata kita rasis. "Padahal mereka tidak sedar dia 100 kali lebih rasis daripada kita," katanya kepada pemberita selepas ucapan perasmian oleh Presiden parti Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak pada Perhimpunan Agung Umno di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC) di sini hari ini. Katanya, walaupun Umno jelas merupakan parti politik tunggal bagi kaum Melayu, namun parti itu sanggup bekerjasama dan berkongsi kuasa dan memperjuangkan hak kaum lain demi perpaduan. Katanya, sebagai tunjang perjuangan Melayu, Umno tetap bersedia sama ada parti itu berada dalam keadaan kuat atau lemah. Beliau berkata perkara yang sama turut dinyatakan Presiden Umno pagi tadi yang menyatakan Umno sejak pilihan raya umum pertama tahun 1955 lagi berkesempatan menguasai majoriti 51 kerusi Parlimen namun tidak berbuat demikian kerana lebih mementingkan perpaduan kaum.
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| Posted: 30 Nov 2011 05:04 PM PST By Patrick Lee, FMT KUALA LUMPUR: Independent MP N Gobalakrishnan was thrown out of the Dewan Rakyat after he continuously interrupted the sitting. Dewan bailiffs escorted the Padang Serai MP out of the House on Deputy Speaker Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar's orders, after the former had been advised to keep quiet. "If the Speaker cannot respect (me), why would we want to sit here (in Parliament)?" he yelled as bailiffs approached him. At the time, Gobalakrishnan was trying to invoke a Standing Order against Permatang Pauh MP (PKR) Anwar Ibrahim for a supposed slight against him. Anwar had been debating the Parliamentary Select Committee's (PSC) electoral reform report at around 12.15pm when Gobalakrishnan interrupted. The one-time PKR MP then proceeded to attack his former boss, demanding an answer over the party's 2010 elections. Gobalakrishnan did not relent in his salvos at Anwar, even when Wan Junaidi told him that PKR's elections had nothing to do with the debate over the PSC. Though outwardly unaffected, Anwar snidely remarked: "Don't drink before you enter the Dewan." This caused Gobalakrishnan to explode, and demanded that the deputy speaker take action against Anwar. "He said I was drunk! Anwar said that I was drunk! I want to invoke the Standing Order against him!" he shouted over and over again. 'Anwar must come clean on 2010 PKR elections' Wan Junaidi was not impressed with Gobalakrishnan's outburst. He then ordered the bailiffs to physically carry the raging MP out. Gobalakrishnan, however, did not stop there. After being escorted out of the Dewan, he charged into the MP's lounge and started to verbally attack nearby PKR MPs, targeting Kuala Langat parliamentarian Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid. The two were then seen shouting at each other in the MP's lounge. Beruas MP (DAP) Ngeh Koo Ham then intervened, leading a fuming Abdullah Sani out of the lounge.
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| Najib hints 13th GE around the corner Posted: 30 Nov 2011 04:53 PM PST (Bernama) - KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has again hinted that the 13th general election (GE) will be held very soon. Najib, who is also the Umno president, in his speech at the opening of the Umno general assembly 2011 here today, reminded all party members to close ranks to face the election. He called on the Umno members to get down on the ground as it was almost time to go to the polls. The call was greeted with loud applause from the delegates. Earlier, in his message on Nov 29, he wanted the party leadership at the divisional and grassroots levels to put in extraordinary efforts to face the 13th general election. The prime minister also told the delegates not to take the 13th general election for granted because the challenge would certainly be extraordinary and the most difficult that the biggest political party in the country would face. The Umno general assembly today was attended by 2,711 delegates. - Bernama | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Umno veeps ready for sacrifice Posted: 30 Nov 2011 04:49 PM PST By Syed Jaymal Zahiid, FMT KUALA LUMPUR: Umno's three vice-presidents said today that they would withdraw from contesting in the coming general election if the party leadership believed they could not win. One of them, Hishammuddin Hussein, said this was the kind of sacrifice Umno needed from its members as it prepares for an election that would test its ability to survive. He cited the willingness of former Terengganu menteri besar Idris Jusoh to "sacrifice himself" and not contest. Zahid Hamidi said he and the other vice-presidents received a text message from Idris informing them of his decision. The other vice-president is Shafie Apdal. In his address to the Umno general assembly this morning, Umno president Najib Tun Razak made clear that the meeting would be the last before the 13th general election. He indicated that the party was in need of a transformation that would include a shift in winning methodology and the deployment of only "winnable candidates". "Not a problem whatsoever, three of us," Hishammuddin told reporters during the break following Najib's speech.
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| DPM: Umno could have ruled on its own before independence Posted: 30 Nov 2011 04:46 PM PST By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider
Umno was strong enough to have formed the government on its own before the country's independence, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today. The Umno deputy president said his party could have succeeded in doing so, but stressed that it had "willingly" agreed to work with other races to achieve a "shared" goal. "Umno is most definitely not racist. We could have built a government on our own, but we decided to share," Muhyiddin (picture) said in reply to questions from reporters here, adding that during the first elections Umno won the majority of the votes. "People, some media do not realise that there are some parties out there who are a hundred times more racist than us," said the deputy prime minister. Muhyiddin echoed party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak's remarks, who said today that Umno was not racist and that it was responsible for Malaysia's "social stability." The prime minister said the Malay party had willingly co-operated with component Barisan Nasional parties MCA and MIC for a "bigger purpose" back in the 1950s to form a government and gain independence. Najib has repeatedly pleaded with Umno delegates to adopt a more moderate approach, but his pleas appear to have gone unheeded.
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| Police ‘whitewash’ of NFC scandal ‘damage control’ for Umno, says PKR Posted: 30 Nov 2011 04:44 PM PST By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider PKR accused the police today of performing "damage control" on Umno's behalf after a senior policemen gave an update on the ongoing investigations into the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) project. Deputy Inspector General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar said no element of criminal breach of trust had been found so far in the probe. "Why issue such a statement when investigations are still continuing... and just as the high profile Umno general assembly gets underway?" PKR vice president N. Surendran said in a statement today. He called Khalid's statement a "whitewash" and noted that Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, whose family was awarded the project, has not had her statement recorded yet. "It seems Deputy Inspector General Police Khalid expects the public to believe that there is no criminal wrongdoing by any person, despite public funds being used to purchase luxury condos, overseas trips, luxury cars and prime land," he added. Khalid had said this morning police had interviewed over 74 people in connection with the probe, including family members of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat. "However, we are still continuing our investigation into the issue and will call the minister to record her statement if the need arises," he said. PKR has repeatedly attacked the project with various allegations that "loans" of over RM84 million were given by the NFC to companies owned by Shahrizat's family including RM13.8 million for two luxury condominiums in Bangsar. 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.
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| Umno MP accuses DAP of starting May 13 riots Posted: 30 Nov 2011 04:42 PM PST By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider Umno's accusations that the DAP is anti-Malay spread to Parliament today when a lawmaker accused the opposition party of starting the May 13, 1969 race riots. Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Ipoh Timor MP Lim Kit Siang described Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's accusation yesterday that the DAP was anti-Malay and anti-Islam as "slanderous lies" and one of several "hate speeches" made at Umno's ongoing general assembly. But Lenggong MP Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah stood up and interrupted Lim (picture), the DAP parliamentary leader, by repeatedly shouting "May 13, Ipoh Timor." "It is true," he said, referring to Muhyiddin's speech when opening the Umno Youth and women's wing assemblies. "May 13, who moved it? May 13, Ipoh Timor. Who moved on May 13?" After MPs from PAS and PKR stood up to defend their Pakatan Rakyat (PR) colleague, other Umno MPs shouted that the DAP "cheats Malays" and "PAS is a warrior for DAP." They also accused PKR deputy president Azmin Ali (Gombak MP) and PAS political bureau member Khalid Samad (Shah Alam) of being supporters of "the racist DAP." The May 13 race riots, which some reports say killed over 2,000, were sparked off after opposition parties had denied the Umno-led Alliance its customary two-thirds majority in Parliament. A victory parade in Kuala Lumpur led to a reaction by Malays and a state of emergency being declared.
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| #OCCUPYPARLIMEN: Memorial service for death of Malaysian Parliament Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:57 AM PST THE MALAYSIAN PARLIAMENT The Parliament leaves behind 28 million heartbroken Malaysians, including the Fisherman, the Postal Worker, the Nasi Lemak Mak Cik, the Kindergarten Teacher, the Retired Old Man, the Teenage Boy, the Unemployed Fresh Graduate and many others of who looked to it as a place where their voices could be heard.
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| KJ: Opposition's 'repulsive' politics will bring down the country Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:48 AM PST (The Sun Daily) - Umno Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin today warned that the country is not spared from having to face a modern version of "Enam Jahanam" in the form of "repulsive" politics practised by the opposition. Taking inspiration from a classic Tan Sri P. Ramlee's movie of the same title, which tells the tale of six despicable bandits, Khairy in his opening speech at the wing's general assembly today, listed six ways that the opposition will bring down the country. A total of 942 delegates and Umno Youth excos were gathered for the opening of assembly at the Dewan Tun Hussein Onn in the Putra World Trade Centre. The six ways are by: >> destroying the democratic system, >> destroying the system of administration, >> destroying national dignity, >> destroying the country's history, >> destroying ethnic identity, and >> destroying the country's economic prosperity. Khairy, who is MP for Rembau, claimed that the opposition coalition will destroy the current democratic and administration system led by Barisan Nasional (BN), partly due to its inability to reach a consensus on certain issues, namely on hudud. "Imagine what will happen to the administration of law in this country under the Pakatan rule. "PAS wants to implement hudud, but DAP says hudud 'over my dead body'," he said to cheers from the floor. He also said Pakatan Rakyat is not ready to take over the country's administration as it has yet to even come up with a shadow cabinet. "What they have are three supervisors for one portfolio – three heads, one body," he said in reference to Pakatan Rakyat de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang. Touching on national dignity, Khairy stressed that Umno and BN have never painted a bad picture of the country's leadership in the eyes of others. "We take pride in the origins of our country, in our achievement and our national symbols. "The opposition's unbridled thirst for power is very different to our culture and attitude as Malaysians with national pride," he charged, before repeating claims that Lim had made disparaging remarks against Johor while on a working visit to Singapore, purportedly in hope of scaring investors away. Khairy also took a swipe at PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu for allegedly distorting history, based on his statements related to the Bukit Kepong incident. "Our most bitter enemies are hailed as heroes, while those who died in defence of our country are insulted," he claimed. Saving his best salvo for last, Khairy rounded up his speech by responding to his counterpart from PKR, Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin's challenge for Umno to amend the constitution and guarantee the rights of Malays to become prime minister. "It is evident that they are unnerved by DAP's dominance in the coalition, even turning to Umno to rescue them," he claimed. Shamsul Iskandar had issued the dare during PKR's 8th National Congress last week, but Anwar later clarified that the statement was taken out of context. Meanwhile, Khairy also touched on the need for youths to become agents of change and spearhead Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's transformation plans. "If we are slow to transform, the people will not forgive us," he stressed. Earlier, BernamaTV cameraman, the late Noramfaizul Mohd Nor, who was shot and killed while covering a humanitarian mission in Somalia, was honoured with the 2nd "Anugerah Kesatria Terbilang". The award presented by Khairy was accepted by his wife, Norazrina Jaafar.
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| Dana NFC beli Mercedes, tanah dan cuti mewah? Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:37 AM PST (Harakah Daily) - Pengarah Strategi PKR, Mohd Rafizi Ramli terpanggil untuk terus menyenaraikan perbelanjaan-perbelanjaan boros bersifat peribadi yang didakwa dibuat keluarga Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil. Ini, katanya memandangkan Ketua Wanita Umno itu langsung tidak menunjukkan tanda-tanda insaf setelah PKR membuat pelbagai pendedahan mengenai penyelewengan dana NFC. Rafizi mendakwa pada 9 Disember 2009, keluarga Shahrizat menggunakan wang dari pinjaman mudah RM250 juta untuk membeli sebuah kereta mewah Mercedes Benz CLS 350 CGI berharga RM534,622. Beliau juga mendakwa, dana sebanyak RM3,363,507 telah disalurkan melalui NMLC untuk membeli dua bidang tanah di Putrajaya iaitu PT1886 dan PT1887, Presint 10, Putrajaya. "Kebarangkalian tanah-tanah ini dibeli untuk membuka ladang ternakan lembu di Putrajaya adalah tipis," ujarnya dalama satu kenyataan. Jelasnya, semakan bayaran-bayaran yang dibuat melalui cek dari akaun 141640000066107 CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad di bawah nama NFC menunjukkan bayaran yang besar dan berulang kali dibuat kepada Impian Global Network Services (IGNS). Menurutnya, siasatan PKR menunjukkan IGNS adalah sebuah syarikat pelancongan yang menawarkan pakej percutian di Phuket, Kuching, Banding, Singapura dan Bali (sila lawati laman http://impianglobalnetworkservices.blogspot.com/ ) Dakwanya lagi, antara bulan Januari hingga Julai 2010, 15 cek berjumlah RM455,423 dikeluarkan kepada IGNS (butiran seperti di bawah). Ini, jarnya menimbulkan tanda tanya bagaimanakah sebuah syarikat yang sepatutnya menguruskan ladang ternakan lembu menjadikan perbelanjaan pakej percutian sebagai perbelanjaan bulanan. "Apakah ia telah disalahgunakan untuk membiayai percutian ahli keluarga menteri dan rakan-rakan mereka?" soalnya.
Menurutnya, pada 21 Julai 2010, NFC memindahkan sejumlah RM588,585 ke akaun milik Meatworks (Singapore) Pte Ltd milik keluarga menteri. "Tindakan ini bertentangan dengan fungsi NFC tatkala Ketua Pemuda Umno mendakwa bahawa NFC tidak mempunyai sebarang urusniaga dengan Singapura kerana daging mentah Malaysia tidak boleh dieksport ke Singapura. "Jika itu keadaannya, kenapa sejumlah besar wang dipindahkan ke Singapura?" tanya beliau. Justeru, katanya Shahrizat Jalil hanya ada dua pilihan sama ada menjelaskan satu persatu perbelanjaan-perbelanjaan itu di Perhimpunan Agung Umno dalam masa terdekat, atau terus mengheret Umno dan Barisan Nasional ke dalam kancah skandal peribadi beliau. Rafizi menambah, pihaknya akan mengaturkan beberapa siri laporan polis serentak di seluruh negara untuk mendesak pihak berkuasa segera menyiasat penyelewengan dalam pendedahan terbaru itu.
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| Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:31 AM PST (The Star) - UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said that PKR had suggested amending the Federal Constitution to stipulate that only a Malay can be Prime Minister because it knew that its support among the Malays was declining. The proposal (made by PKR Youth head Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin) also reflected its fear that a Pakatan Rakyat government would be dominated by the DAP, with the Prime Minister coming "not from PKR or PAS". "Barisan does not need this constitutional amendment because we have full confidence in the spirit of goodwill, friendship and cooperation among the component parties," he told the Umno Youth assembly. "We believe that Umno can offer leadership to all Malaysians." Khairy said the Opposition's populist promises were "a sure recipe" for bankruptcy. They would do or say anything to gain power, he added, and likened them to Enam Jahanam (The Six Damned), the villains of a P. Ramlee film upon whom revenge is then wrought. He also said the Opposition were out to destroy the country's democratic system by instigating people to take to the streets to manufacture a Malaysian version of the "Arab Spring". Khairy noted that PKR deputy president Azmin Ali recently said the party would "break prison walls" to free Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim if the opposition leader was found guilty of sodomy. "These are not the words of a democrat. They have absolutely no regard for law and order or the integrity of the judicial system. To them, democracy is but a political tool to be used seasonally if and when it serves their purpose," he said. He said that many in the Opposition showed little national pride and respect for the flag. "They were even willing to distort history by hailing enemies as heroes while those who died defending the country were insulted," he said.
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| Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:18 AM PST The scene is a small terrace house, somewhere in Kelana Jaya. Ten year old Mary and her younger brother Timothy approach their father who is sitting in the living room flossing his teeth after a large meal. Azmi Sharom "Papa, Timmy and I would like to tell you something" "Oh, really, both of you want to gather together and say something?" "Yes, we think it is a very important issue and we would like to express ourselves to the whole family". "I see, so you want to assemble peacefully. You are not going to get violent are you?" "Of course not Papa!" "Good. Good. Very well, you can't say I am a wicked and authoritarian father. I am in fact very liberal; much more liberal than other fathers, for example that Mr Hlaing from Myanmar. I am very happy to give you the space to get together with your brother and express yourselves to your little hearts' content". "Oh thank you Papa. You are such a kind and understanding Papa". "I know, I am, all my buddies tell me. However, I just have a few teeny tiny conditions" "What are they Papa"? "There are some places in the house where you cannot gather. The kitchen is one. It is a very sensitive area where food is being prepared and I don't want you to get in the way of your mother who is busy cooking there. Also you can't gather in the dining room because that is where we eat. The living room is off limits due to the fact that the television is there and you would be interrupting the quiet enjoyment of the family by making noise when we are trying to watch TV. The garage is a no go zone. If you go tramping around in there you might jolly well scratch my car and we can't be having that can we?" "I suppose not Papa. Is there any where else we can't gather?" "Let me think. Of course! You can't assemble in the toilet". "In the toilet? Why not?" "You know very well that I suffer from incredible bouts of gas and I need the toilet to be free at all times so I can relieve the build up". "So, where on earth can we gather"? "Your bedroom". "How can the other family members know what we are complaining about if we are stuck in our bedroom"? "You silly little thing. If the rest of the family want to hear what you are saying they'll just have to go to the bedroom isn't it? Except little Annie. She's too young and I don't want her getting confused by what you have to say" "Are those all your conditions Papa"? "No, I have one more. If any of the family members complain about what you are saying, then I won't let you speak". "That is not fair. You know that big brother Abe never agrees with us and he is bound to complain. He is your favourite and you always listen to him no matter how stupid his views are" "Now, now, you are being over emotional. I don't have any favourites and it is irresponsible for you to say so. See, I let you speak and you say irresponsible things. There are limits to freedom you know". "Your limits have no limits papa. This is too much." "Alright then, if you are unhappy with my rules you know what you can do." "What" "You can go to your room and talk to yourself over there". Mary and Timothy trudge unhappily to their bedroom. Suddenly their father calls to them. "Wait! Wait! Mary, I said you can go to your bedroom. I did not say that you and Timmy can go there together in a procession. When you walk in a group you block up the hallway and that is very bad. There's a good girl. Now off you go and when you are finished, go make me a cup of tea".
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| PSC expected to table interim report with changes to 12 areas Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:14 AM PST By Pauline Wong, The Sun The Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reform is expected to table an interim report in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow. Sources said the report recommends changes to the electoral process in almost a dozen areas, including use of indelible ink, the setting up of a royal commission, improvements to the nomination process and cleaning up of the electoral roll, which should be implemented before the next general election. An official representing PSC chairman Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili (pix), however, told the press the report could not be divulged before it is tabled in Parliament. Sources said, however, that among the PSC's recommendations are that: >> the EC's independence be improved by increasing its manpower and maintaining its scope of power; >> a Royal Commission be formed to investigate claims that foreigners have been registered as voters, especially in Sabah; >> indelible ink be used for the next general election in the face of concerns that a voter may vote more than once; >> the serial number on the ballot paper be removed to ensure anonymity of the votes, (serial number to be maintained only on the counterfoil of the ballot paper); >> the withdrawal of nominations be disallowed; >> the objection process on nomination day be annulled; >> allowing members of the armed forces and police and their spouses to vote earlier; >> allowing doctors, nurses and journalists to apply to be postal voters; >> voters living or working far from their constituencies, (East Malaysians in peninsula or vice versa) be allowed to vote without having to return to their constituencies; >> the EC takes measures to facilitate Malaysian voters living overseas to exercise their right to vote. (Currently, only civil servants and their spouses posted overseas and full-time students overseas have the privilege.); >> any changes to a voter's polling centre should be accompanied by a statutory declaration from the voter. (This arises from complaints from voters that their voting centres were changed without their knowledge.); and >> cleaning up the electoral roll of deceased voters, voters with identical MyKad numbers, those aged above 90, voters who are not local to the constituency, multiple voters in one address and ineligible voters. Commenting on the report, DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng said the party viewed it as "a step forward." "The report shows progress towards free, fair and clean elections," Lim, adding that more needs to be done for electoral reform, but since it is an interim report, the DAP has given it interim acceptance. He said the opposition will later continue to push for more reforms, among which will be to reduce the legal voting age from 21 to 18 years.
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| Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:12 AM PST The nature of reform is about moving away from how things are done, therefore, reforms by definition upset people. They would not be reforms otherwise. If it was easy and effortless, it would have been done a long time ago. Praba Ganesan, The Malaysian Insider When at a duty-free zone, you have to buy. No matter how broke you are — and I was then very broke — there is an unbearable shame leaving the facility without buying anything. In that instance I was at the hyperstores inside the Clark Freeport Zone, Luzon in the Philippines just before the millennium. In the spirit of keeping up with the times I bought then what seemed a bargain. Coffee nuts, very cheap coffee nuts. Not coffee beans, you can't make a drink from these nuts, you just have to munch them. The bargain was, when you buy one pack, you get five packs free. One pack was cheap enough, but getting five other packs free gave me a buzz. I was shopper extraordinaire. Of course that feeling fades rapidly when you try to actually eat the nuts. I've never opened the other five "free" packs, and if other purchasers felt as bitter in the mouth as I did then, there must be tonnes of those free "packs" in a long forgotten landfill. Those packs remind me of the Najib administration's reform zeal in politics and economy. It was on full display, with the rushed passing of the Peaceful Assembly Bill two days ago. Ask me anything, as long as I don't need it It must have started with a meeting, as most things do in Malaysia. A meeting after "jamuan pagi" ("morning tea", over here tea is a full-on meal) of course. The prime minister would have asked the young men in the room (they are always young and male) how to tackle the need to reform without Barisan Nasional (BN) risking one vote come election day. Of course in the world of reasonable persons it would not have seemed a ridiculous request. The nature of reform is about moving away from how things are done, therefore, reforms by definition upset people. They would not be reforms otherwise. If it was easy and effortless, it would have been done a long time ago. It is like saying white landowners were pleased by the redistribution of their plantation lands to their former slaves during America's post-civil war reconstruction period. That they thought aloud: "How splendid, why did we not think of that before?" And walked on with peace in their hearts. Of course, to clarify matters, reform cannot just be confrontational, just for shock value. It has to be planned, managed and done in stages that the bitter pill can be swallowed over time, and the need to shock does not overwhelm the actual need to see the process through. To its functional end. A reform is successful when a generation later, looking back, most people would be of the consensus that it was the right thing to do. But as they say, this is Malaysia (TIM, my friend). Rather than slog to an equitable and progressive proposal, the young men in the nice conference room have to stay true to type; promise what they can afford to give (free coffee nuts, anybody?), and set out to manage perception (language, terminology, public relations blitz, media overdrive, etc). Between the excitement of giving stuff and the streams of consultant speaks drowsing them to new heights, they feel a sense of national service — before they head off for the buffet lunch at the five-star hotel. They reckoned since people were upset about the old laws, giving them new laws will ease the pressure on government. So let's have a slew of new laws, and repeal the old ones. But hold on to your seats, they want the new laws to do exactly what the old law did, perhaps a bit more if possible. No point enacting laws that don't help your side stay in power, is there? They are perplexed that people are upset despite them being given new laws with new names. Didn't Abdullah Ahmad Badawi end corruption with a single mighty swing of turning the Anti-Corruption Agency to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission? Malaysians are just not grateful, they'd sigh.
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| Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:12 AM PST (The Star) - TANJONG Karang Wanita chief Datuk Habibah Mohd Yusof (pic) said PAS Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin had claimed at a ceramah that Wanita Umno head Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil had a bra costing RM26,000. "If Kak Ijat's bra costs RM26,000, I wonder how much mine would cost since my size is bigger," she added, almost bringing the house down. As the laughter subsided, she continued: "I am really amazed. This PAS man has a special ability to see through clothes. I advise all the Wanita delegates to beware of him from now on." "Or maybe, this former Perak Mentri Besar has feelings for Kak Ijat. After all, she is the Malaysian Aishwarya Rai," Habibah said, referring to the famous Bollywood star. "All this shows the opposition are out of ideas and resorting to personal attacks," she added to applause, both hearty and merry. Habibah said that Wanita was very popular with the rakyat and it was the cause of the opposition envy. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:07 AM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - A nervous Umno has failed to bring a new ideas to voters ahead of a general election expected soon, says Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin. The maverick scholar, who has a large following here, told The Malaysian Insider the senior partner in Barisan Nasional (BN) must understand the youth do not just need material wealth but also assurances of their rights and freedom. "Umno must give a clear idea, one that is compelling according to the current era, place and generation. "The current generation is different from those in the past. They will not be attracted by just cash and handouts," the former Perlis mufti said after attending the start of Umno's general assembly as the party's guest yesterday. Asri, who is now a research fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, cited other Muslim countries such as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia who are "rich and have no money problems but what they need and want are rights and freedom." Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has promised a raft of reforms over the past few months but the opposition and civil society have said his "political transformation programme" has fallen short. Although a parliamentary select committee has been meeting to discuss electoral reforms, the Peaceful Assembly Bill passed this week is said to be "even more repressive" than previous regulations while the repeal of the Internal Security Act has been delayed to March.
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| Rep: PAS, where’s the RM600mil? Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:01 AM PST (The Star) - KELANTAN Wanita Umno delegate Dayang Samiah Awang Damit wants the state government to disclose what it did with the RM600mil the Federal Government gave to improve the state's water supply. "Our water is still dirty. Where is the RM600mil?" she asked when debating the Wanita chief's policy speech at the wing's general assembly yesterday. Kelantan people, she said, still remembered the many promises made by PAS throughout the years. "We remember how Barisan Nasional was accused of being cruel to the Kelantan people. "The Federal Government has been providing aid to the state through various ministries, yet there is no word of thanks from them." Kelantan, she said, was ripe for the picking for Barisan as the people were fed up with the PAS government. "They are ready to return to Barisan. We just have to work harder," she said, adding that PAS and PKR had never been sincere to the Malays and Islam. Dayang Samiah also urged the Government to clamp down on false reports on Internet blogs and websites. "These blogs and websites have smeared our leader on the cow issue. In fact, these groups are the cows," she added. A delegate from Johor, Ramlah Ismail, said Wanita Umno was prepared to take a bigger part in the coming general election. "Wanita Umno members are the most loyal in the party and we have at least 30% of our members who are winnable' candidates."
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| Dr Asri: Umno nampak gelisah, masih gagal beri harapan baru Posted: 30 Nov 2011 09:52 AM PST Oleh G Manimaran, The Malaysian Insider Umno, parti teras Barisan Nasional (BN) selain kelihatan dijangkiti "satu kegelisahan" masih gagal membawa harapan baru yang jelas bagi rakyat menjelang pilihan raya umum, kata Prof Madya Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin. Asri yang berada di ibu negara sebagai tetamu Perhimpunan Agung Umno 2011 berkata, Umno perlu menyediakan satu harapan yang jelas ataupun satu harapan lebih baik berbanding sekarang jika mahu memikat pengundi dalam pilihan raya umum ke-13. Ia merupakan antara tiga perkara ditekankan oleh beliau dalam perbualan dengan The Malaysian Insider malam tadi. Perhimpunan Agung Tahunan Umno memulakan tirai dengan persidangan tiga sayapnya semalam - salah satu agenda difokuskan semalam ialah keperluan kelangsungan parti tersebut dengan mengekalkan kuasa pada pilihan raya umum ke-13. Kelmarin, Presiden Umno Datuk Seri Najib Razak mahu ahli-ahlinya bertindak "luar biasa" untuk menang pilihan raya umum ke-13. Timbalannya Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin pula mengajak ahli-ahlinya berjihad menghadapi pilihan raya umum kali, yang disifatkannya sebagai "ibu kepada segala pilihan raya." "Berdasarkan pemerhatian saya di sini sejak beberapa hari ini , saya nampak Umno belum dapat memberi satu harapan atau memberi harapan yang lebih baik berbanding sekarang. "Bermakna, Umno kerana memberi harapan baru yang jelas, satu harapan yang orang kata sebagai 'kunci pengikat' mengikut zaman, tempat dan generasi semasa. Harapan generasi sekarang berbeza dengan generasi masa lalu, mereka tidak boleh ditarik dengan diberikan wang tunai, ganjaran tetapi lebih daripada itu," kata bekas mufti Perlis ini, yang kini merupakan felo penyelidikan Pusat Pengajian Islam Oxford. Asri dijemput menghadiri perhimpunan kali ini sebagai tetamu. Najib akan merasmikan perhimpunan itu pagi ini dengan menyampaikan ucapan dasarnya. Mengulas lanjut, Umno dan BN kena faham bahawa generasi semasa khususnya golongan muda tidak hanya memerlukan material semata-mata untuk melangsungkan kehidupan mereka. Sebaliknya, kata beliau, mereka memerlukan satu jaminan ke atas hak dan kebebasan. "Kita ambil negara Bahrain dan Arab Saudi, mereka kaya, tiada masalah wang, tetapi yang mereka perlukan, mereka mahukan hak dan kebebasan. "Ini yang kerajaan perlu sediakan. Di Malaysia, Umno dan BN perlu sediakan, bukan setakat beri wang tunai dan sebagainya," kata Asri yang secara langsung merujuk kepada transformasi politik yang cuba dibawa oleh Najib. Sebahagian rakyat merasakan bahawa transformasi politik dijanjikan Najib pada 15 September lalu masih belum mencukupi. Najib menjanjikan pemansuhan beberapa undang-undang, antaranya Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri tetapi digantikan dengan dua akta yang baru tahun depan. Ekoran perhimpunan Bersih 2.0 Julai lalu, Najib akhirnya tunduk kepada tekanan lalu membentuk jawatankuasa pilihan khas Parlimen mengkaji sistem penjalanan pilihan raya. Kelmarin, pentadbirannya membawa Rang Undang-undang Perhimpunan Aman 2011 bagi menggantikan Seksyen 27 Akta Polis, tetapi ramai melihat ia sebagai mengekang kebebasan awam dan dikritik hebat.
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| RM10,000 a month to monitor Facebook ‘wall postings’ Posted: 30 Nov 2011 09:50 AM PST It took six months for the Tourism Ministry to provide a detailed breakdown of the RM1.8 million spent on six Facebook applications. (Free Malaysia Today) - Tourism Ministry paid data entry personnel "more than what journalists earned" in the country to monitor 'wall posts' messages on its six Facebook sites over eight months. Revealing this in parliament, Rasah MP Anthony Loke said the ministry spent RM80,000 to manage the 'wall posts', to delete obscene posts, content control, and to give feedback on tourism campaigns and promotions to interested Facebook users. The money was part of RM200,000 allocated to manage marginal functions on six Facebook applications for eight months. "This is the expenses just to reply Facebook queries… just to do data entry for the ministry, one can earn more than journalists do in a month," quipped Loke. The ministry had spent a controversial RM1.8 million on six Facebook pages to promote Malaysia, an issue which was highlighted by Loke in June this year. Almost six months after the issue was raised, Deputy Tourism Minister James Dawos Mamit provided a cost breakdown of the RM1.8 million to Loke last week. According to Dawos,"RM80,000 was allocated for eight months for data management and monitoring where the person or persons answered to queries over the ministries' campaigns and updated the database". Loke said that the ministry's Facebook pages did not attract many users and hence such exorbitant costs were unjustified. "You have seven or 13 comments (to attend to), there are only a few updates…its scandalous and the cost cannot be justified," he said.
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| Roused by racial jibes, Umno may forget Najib’s unity plea Posted: 30 Nov 2011 09:49 AM PST By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider Datuk Seri Najib Razak will face difficulty trying to preach his unity and transformation agenda today to an Umno general assembly that has already rejected his pleas for moderation, an analyst has said. Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) chief executive Wan Saiful Wan Jan predicted the Umno president would likely adopt a more diplomatic approach when criticising Pakatan Rakyat, refrain from using racial slurs and would instead "sound Umno's clarion call for unity" to rally his troops ahead of the coming polls. But, he said, this approach may not go down well with party conservatives who have already been roused over the past two days by speeches demonising PR as anti-Malay, anti-Islam, "agents of Christianisation", "bapok" (transvestites), "bangsat" (bastard) and "pondan" (effeminate). As such, Wan Saiful said Najib is now in a quandary as he would likely face a "resistant Umno" if he adopts an overly-progressive stance and push for change and moderation. "The battle now is between Najib and Umno. If he pushes the party towards progressiveness and change, there is a likelihood there will be a large movement that will retaliate and reject him," he told The Malaysian Insider. He said Najib would have to find the balance between his roles as the president of a race-based party and the prime minister of a multiracial country. "I suspect he will do both things: try to say that he is protecting the interests of the Malays but, at the same time, claim he is the PM for all Malaysians," said Wan Saiful. Political analyst Ong Kian Ming agreed that Najib would likely avoid racial slurs or resort to demonising PR with "anti-Islam" accusations, but said the prime minister would also have to make references to how Malays have to stand united under Umno's banner. "He has to play the more neutral role of the diplomat. He would likely point to the larger weaknesses of PR and it is most important that he highlights his various transformation programmes that he has put in place," he said. Najib's deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, set the tone for the general assembly by exploiting the race card when opening the party's Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings' annual meets on Tuesday night. In a fiery speech, the deputy prime minister told Umno to defend the Malay race, culture and institutions from PR, which he accused of being an anti-Islam and anti-Malay force. The Youth assembly yesterday saw delegates engage in more PR-bashing, with leaders resorting to name-calling when warning that the Malays would lose power under the pact's rule. Professor Dr Jayum Jawan warned against public backlash if Najib does not reprimand party leaders today for resorting to foul language to unite its members. "This will not endear him to the electorate. This is the 21st century, not the 1960s or 1970s. He must cover this ground," he said. "They are the ruling party... they should set the standard for others and avoid personal attacks and such language. They should be parading their successes instead of bashing the opposition," he added. Umno is currently holding what is likely to be its last general assembly before a general election expected early next year.
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| Khairy blushing over delegates’ crude remarks Posted: 30 Nov 2011 09:47 AM PST However the Umno Youth chief says it is unfair to allow the remarks of "one or two" delegates taint an otherwise "quality" debate session. (Free Malaysia Today) - Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin conceded that some of the remarks made by the delegates in attacking the opposition at its AGM here today were inappropriate. The Rembau MP was forced to admit and defend them despite having earlier boasted of his wing's progressive shift in mindset in his policy speech. Delegates from the Youth wing took turns to bash Pakatan Rakyat, particularly the Chinese dominated DAP, using derogatory terms like "bapok" (transvestites) and "pondan" (effeminate) to describe PKR and PAS. Attack on the DAP became the focal point of the wing's debates where most delegates accused the party of being anti-Islam and anti-Malay, with one delegate claiming repression on the Malay community of Penang under the control of party secretary-general and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. But Khairy said it was unfair to allow the remarks of "one or two" delegates taint an otherwise "quality" debate session. "Maybe one or two things were a bit inappropriate, but if you look at it in totality, it was quite good," he told reporters after delivering his winding up speech. The Rembau MP, seen as among the small band of progressive leaders in a party still dominated by Malay hardliners, said observers must assess the overall quality of the debates which he said touched on various pertinent issues like the economy and reforms. The ongoing Umno AGM is seen as the party's important preparation for the 13th general election, an electoral battle party leaders admit will be a test to Umno's as well as party president Najib Tun Razak's survival. The prime minister, who will officiate the AGM tomorrow, had said that this assembly will debate on ways to prepare Umno for the elections, including discussions on the "winnable candidates" tactic that it will employ come national polls.
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| Fernandes declares war on Malaysia Airports over tax hike Posted: 30 Nov 2011 09:46 AM PST By Lee Wei Lian, The Malaysian Insider Hot on the heels of lambasting Malaysia Airports over the cost of KLIA2, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes vowed yesterday to fight the government-linked company over the recent 28 per cent airport tax increase. AirAsia also kicked off an anti-tax hike campaign and many of its customers received emails yesterday asking them to "say NO" to the tax hike for international flights that takes effect today. "AirAsia views that this increase is not justified as the current airport facilities are not up to par," read the email. "Let MAHB (Malaysia Airports) know what you think about this Airport Tax Increase. Have your say today." AirAsia also gave out the email of MAHB's managing director, Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad. The airport tax, also known as passenger service charges, is collected by AirAsia from its customers and subsequently paid to MAHB. Fernandes, AirAsia's CEO, made an emotional appeal on Twitter last night, beginning with the airline's origins and concluding with a battle cry. "To all Malaysians. AirAsia has made flying affordable for all. Before it was just for the rich. We won't allow Malaysia Airports to keep wasting money and increase charges for you. We will fight. Our campaign starts tomorrow," he tweeted. Airport taxes and fees are regulated by the Transport Ministry, and it recently gave MAHB the green light in to raise passenger service charges by 28 per cent and aircraft parking and landing charges by nine and 18 per cent respectively over three years. Following the Transport Ministry's decision, AirAsia questioned whether the increases were justified based on the quality of the airport terminals. MAHB, on the other hand, argued that its airport charges are already the lowest in the region. The next review by the government is due in 2014. Airport taxes at Penang, Kuching and Langkawi will rise from RM51 to RM65, while the low cost carrier terminals (LCCTs) at KLIA and Kota Kinabalu will go from RM25 to RM32.
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| Mahathir-Najib made us debtors Posted: 30 Nov 2011 09:44 AM PST The growing national debt has left oil rich Sabah and Sarawak liable to almost RM80 billion in combined owings. In 2009 when Najib took over the reign's from ex-premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the national debt stood at more than RM362 billion. Now our national debts stands at RM437 billion. Awang Abdillah, Free Malaysia Today Umno has seen good leaders and bad ones. How bad is bad leadership depends on what kind of characteristics and value system he picks up. If he picks the extreme form of negative values then the nation is in deep trouble. Umno, since Independence and until 1981, saw three late prime ministers who made positive contributions to the country. They each proved to serve the national interests first which is the essence of good governance. But things began to change in 1981 after the fourth premier – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad – took over. Under his reign good governance took a backseat and things went from bad to worse and now under Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, we're sinking from worse to the worst. Over the past 30 years we have witnessed how Umno and Sarawak's Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) have spewed their bad and evil traits without any feelings of remorse . Abuses of power, corruption, plundering and looting of state and national wealth were done on a massive scale. The national debt keeps on growing at a rapid pace . Drowning in debts In 2009 when Najib took over the reign's from ex-premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the national debt stood at more than RM362 billion. Now our national debts stands at RM437 billion. In contrast our expected revenue for 2012 is only about RM186.9 billion! If the debt is to be shared by all the 13 states of Malaysia, then each state will bear a debt of RM39.7 billion directly or indirectly. Knowing this, is it worth supporting the Umno /Barisan Nasional government, anymore? Instead of giving us returns for exploiting our wealth, Sarawakians and Sabahans are now burdened with RM39.7 billion debt each. Global history has repeatedly shown us how a bad leader had acted alone. We had (Germany's Adolf) Hilter, (Iraq's) Saddam (Hussein) and (Philippines' Ferdinand) Marcos – all of them acted alone and individually to create havoc upon mankind and their people. These are called dangerous leaders – which is of the worst kind.
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| Nazri warns of 2008 repeat if Umno infighting continues Posted: 30 Nov 2011 09:43 AM PST By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider
Continued infighting among Umno members in their scramble to become election candidates could lead to a possible repeat of the 2008 electoral debacle when the next polls arrives, warns a senior party leader ahead of its annual congress today. Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said members have not learned from the mistakes of 2008 where he said incessant "infighting and backstabbing" pushed the party and the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) to lose its two-thirds federal majority and four states. He accused members of being unwilling to sacrifice themselves for party and national good, claiming "they have no qualms at all to ensure that a candidate loses if it is not them (if they are not chosen)". Nazri (picture), a senior Cabinet minister in the Najib administration and Padang Rengas MP, singled out Umno's state chapters of Perlis, Terengganu and Sabah as examples of heavy infighting. "You know, it is a perennial problem whenever we approach the election, there is always going to be problems about candidates. "In the election, if the opposition wins the seat, it is not them winning but Barisan Nasional losing. Meaning, there is no unity among us... there is sabotage and the party machinery cannot run properly and then we lose," he told The Malaysian Insider. "So Umno members need to be reminded again and again and again and again because they have no qualms at all to ensure that a candidate loses if it is not them," he said. Nazri was responding to Datuk Seri Najib Razak's pre-general assembly briefing two nights ago to Umno's top echelon where the party president urged members to prioritise unity above self-interest and the general election above the party election. Najib, who is also prime minister, sounded the election war drums and called on all members to be reminded of the importance of fielding "winnable candidates" in an election he predicted would be "extraordinary". "So this (infighting) has to stop. We were hoping that what happened in 2008 would make them realise (their mistakes)... but I don't think they have realised, they have not realised," Nazri said.
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| Posted: 30 Nov 2011 09:40 AM PST For a long time now, Umno has been 'in the red' due to the sheanigans of its top leaders, who seem to have little or no shame in indulging in acts that go against the very grain of the party. For a long time now, Umno has been "in the red" due to the sheanigans of its top leaders, who seem to have little or no shame in indulging in acts that go against the very grain of Umno, that is to uphold the aspirations of Malay nationalism and the dignity of race, religion and country. Jeswan Kaur, Free Malaysia Today Should the country's largest poltical party, the United Malay National Organisation or better known as Umno pride itself for having become larger than life, if best, for the sake of its survival, think again. As the party stands today, the despicable power-play and miserable antics of its top guns have only proved otherwise. The recent occurences involving Umno's bigwigs are a clear reflection of the tattered image the party is left with. The most recent controversy involves Umno Wanita chief, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil who having lost her parliamentary seat in the 2008 general election to youngster Nurul Izzah Anwar of PKR made a "comeback" into politics via the "backdoor" after being appointed a senator. Three years down the road and Shahrizat, who is the women, family and community development minister has made news for the wrong reason. Currenty embroiled in a fiasco involving allegations of misuse of state funds, Shahrizat has to prove that she is worth every vote. Lashing out at the opposition for trying to ruin her political career will not do. Shahrizat, instead, has to come clean with the rakyat on why and how her husband Dr Mohamed Salleh Ismail became the NFC director. The NFC first became embroiled in controversy when its operation was criticised in the Auditor-General's Report for 2010. The report, released last month, criticised the RM250 million federally-funded cattle project, pointing out that it was now "in a mess". It also said production in 2010 was only 3,289 head of cattle or 41.1% of the target set. The "helping hand" lent to Shahrizat by Umno deputy chairman and deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin is not going to absolve Shahrizat, a lawyer by training, of wrongdoing. Muhyiddin's declaration that the public should be the best judge of the NFC fiasco and that there is no reason for Shahrizat to resign, in spite of pressure mounting for her to do so, has only proven that cronyism is still very much the order of the day in this country. Umno in the red For a long time now, Umno has been "in the red" due to the sheanigans of its top leaders, who seem to have little or no shame in indulging in acts that go against the very grain of Umno, that is to uphold the aspirations of Malay nationalism and the dignity of race, religion and country. And whilst Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak keeps reiterating calls to reduce ethnic tensions and protect minority rights, the truth as ironical as it is, is clear that Umno is doing otherwise by consciously stoking racial sentiments. Time and again the race issue is raised by Umno using its general assembly platform, forewarning the non-Malays not to "mess" with the Malay rights laid down in the Federal Constitution. It was in 2006 that then Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein at the Umno Youth assembly warned the Article 11 Group of bringing up the issue of Article 11 and Article 121 (A) of the Federal Constitution. Hishammuddin was also against the setting up of the Inter-religious Commission. The Article 11 Group undertook a nationwide campaign to make people aware of their rights to religious freedom. In 2006, Hishammuddin had said: "Umno Youth opines that questions and issues relating to Islam should be heard and decided by the syariah court and not the civil court in line with Article 121 (A) of the Federal Constitution." He added: "Do not make fun, question and challenge the position of the Malays and Islam in this country. Any movement, in whatever form or name, even in the name of religious freedom, freedom of speech or press freedom, will not be allowed to challenge the rights as enshrined in the country's constitution."
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| The Mamak Dilemma – Shame, Opportunity, Assimilation, and an Identity Lost Posted: 29 Nov 2011 10:53 PM PST I have no disrespect for the Malay culture which is beautiful. We can all learn a thing or two from Malay adat. However, I do hold a grudge against the deliberate extermination of one's own heritage. I further find it offensive when Indian Muslims, in their eagerness to convert, use Machiavellian means to identify themselves as Malay. It demonstrates a lack of dignity and self-worth. By Mohd Ikhram Merican "How shall a man escape from his ancestors, or draw off from his veins the black drop which he drew from his father's or mother's life?" - Ralph Waldo Emerson For some time now I've felt that the Indian Muslim or Mamak community at large suffers from a pitiful cultural and identity crisis. Being a Muslim of Indian origin, I have first-hand experience with the dilemma afflicting this community that has contributed so much to the culture, politics, and economy of Malaysia for well over a few centuries. I also worry that so many members of this, my community, are shedding their identity by becoming over-zealous converts. Some of the offensive and snide remarks by an individual with clear Indian ancestry at the on-going UMNO General Assembly have motivated me to finally pen this letter. My ancestral beginnings in Malaysia start with my great-grandfather, K.K Daud, in Penang in the early 20th century; although I suspect earlier generations were already making trade excursions to the Malay Peninsula. My grandfather, D Mohamed Ibraheem, born in India, was brought to study at the Methodist Boys School in Penang. He was a scholar, a sportsman, and a gentleman. These exact traits, decades later, were to become my obligation at my Alma Mater, the Victoria Institution. My grandfather was a linguist of sorts. He learned Latin, was sufficiently proficient in Malay, and a master in English and Tamil. All of his children bore a combination of Tamil and Muslim names, a testament to his pride as a Tamilian and an unashamed celebration of his Indian roots. He worked hard, contributed to Penang's economy, was a well respected member of his community, and raised a good family. For all intents and purposes, he was well assimilated into the fabric of Penangite society. He did not have to shed his cultural identity to do this. My father and his generation, like their preceding generations, spoke excellent Tamil. Most of them were privileged to have an English education. A significant number of them have gone on to becoming prominent captains of industry in Malaysia and abroad. None of them coveted handouts from the government or needed to shake-off their "Indian-ess" to progress in Malaysia. It was never an option. Their parents worked hard to educate them. My generation does not speak Tamil as well as the previous generations. Most of us speak English or Malay. Suddenly it has become important to be seen as practicing Malay culture. Article 160 of the Constitution states that a "Malay" is a person who professes the religion of Islam, habitually speaks the Malay language, conforms to Malay custom and -
Many Indian Muslims have used or would like to use this provision to "convert". I have no disrespect for the Malay culture which is beautiful. We can all learn a thing or two from Malay adat. However, I do hold a grudge against the deliberate extermination of one's own heritage. I further find it offensive when Indian Muslims, in their eagerness to convert, use Machiavellian means to identify themselves as Malay. It demonstrates a lack of dignity and self-worth. Naturally, I feel sick when I read of the charades of UMNO politicians, academicians, and community leaders masquerading as Malays, spewing hatred against other races, sometimes against their own roots. Even when they're challenged as to their real identity, they shamelessly defend their false Malay roots. For some, Tamil is still spoken in whispers, in the privacy of their homes, like it were a "dirty" parlance. Why? For special rights? For economic handouts? My grandfather worked very, very hard for providence. So did the men of his generation. The early Indian Muslim traders who came to these shores were an industrious lot who earned their bread. They contributed to Malaysia's rich heritage without becoming cultural orphans. They cherished their roots. Hardship and experience polished them. It earned them monopolies in certain trades that last till today. This legacy is being destroyed. A culture and heritage is disappearing only to be replaced by a false sense of security. In the process, the Indian Muslims are offending not only their own race and the Chinese, but many Malays too. In the long run, we as a community will isolate ourselves from our roots and the nation in which we want so much to assimilate with. "Distinguished ancestors shed a powerful light on their descendants, and forbid the concealment either of their merits or of their demerits." - Gaius Sallustius Crispus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peaceful Assembly: The BN Government's Misinformation Posted: 29 Nov 2011 10:47 PM PST By Kua Kia Soong, Director of SUARAM In justifying the bulldozing of the Peaceful Assembly Bill yesterday, the BN government has said that it is in line with similar laws in the European countries which respect democracy. This is a devious attempt at misinformation which must be debunked.
Debasement of our Constitutional Right Firstly, Malaysians should realise how much the BN has debased our fundamental liberties since Independence in 1957. Our federal constitution, by the way, was crafted by the Reid Commission set up by our former colonial master and our fundamental liberties enshrined in it were based on international human rights already existing at the time. Our right to assemble peaceably under Article 10 was severely circumscribed by the Police Act 1967, giving the police wide discretionary powers to the police to regulate assemblies, meetings and processions by requiring a licence to be obtained for peaceful assemblies. Amendments to the Act in 1987 further extended police powers to stopping and dispersing activities in private places. It also provided the police with power to use force against participants when closing down events, whether in public or private places. This was exactly what the police did in 1996 when they dispersed, arrested and detained NGO activists at the Asia-Pacific conference on East Timor (APCET). I was one of the unfortunate victims of this law. Since 2007, section 98 of the Criminal Procedure Code allows the government to use court orders to stop public assemblies. The police have the power to arrest individuals named in court orders if they enter the identified areas of planned assemblies. Through the years, the police have used these powers to selectively arrest human rights defenders while letting off far-right mobsters such as we saw at APCET in 1996, Suqiu in 2000, Kampung Medan in 2001, the Article 11 fora in 2006, the cow-head fracas in 2010, to name but the most salient examples of double standards by the police. SUHAKAM in its 2007 public inquiry report reiterated the constitutional provision that "peaceful assemblies should be allowed to proceed without a licence."
Whichever European country's model the government is supposed to have followed in drafting the Peaceful Assembly Bill, the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is ultimately the authority on this fundamental liberty. The right to peaceful protest is enshrined in the ECHR. The police do not need notification of the protest. As long as the public highway is not blocked off completely and there is no threat of violence, there will be no criminal offence. If the police do require conditions, they are obliged to give reasons for the conditions. If they have acted unlawfully, the police can be sued under the Human Rights Act. As long as the organisers' intention is for peaceful assembly, the possibility of violent counter-demonstrations is not a reason for prohibiting processions. The state is expected to protect peaceful protestors and to take reasonable and appropriate means to enable lawful peaceful assemblies.
It is only right that the police should be notified if there is to be a peaceful assembly since they are the keepers of the peace and the far-right are the main threats to democracy today. However, it is unconstitutional to criminalise a peaceful assembly or procession simply on the ground that the organisers had failed to give notice to the police. The Peaceful Assembly Bill is thus an unnecessary restriction on our right to assemble peaceably and out of step with modern democratic societies. Important events are forever breaking out which spur people to protest over particular issues and peaceful protests provide a forum for the peoples' voices to be heard. There should be a notice period of 48 hours if only for administrative purposes with provision for waiver in spontaneous demonstrations. Fundamentally, the spirit of Article 10 of our constitution demands that the police should not be given the power to prohibit any peaceful assembly or procession.
Under the guise of "reform", the BN government is attempting to pull the wool over our eyes by introducing old poison in new bottles. Mark my words – they will do the same with the ISA with their new Act "against terrorism". As for reforming our political institutions to honour the right to peaceful assembly, the government should simply amend the existing Police Act and other laws to be in line with Article 10 of the Constitution. As the perceptive philosopher Uma Thurman coolly put it: "Kill Bill…" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It’s people’s right to disagree Posted: 29 Nov 2011 10:44 PM PST By P Ramakrishnan, Past President of Aliran The Minister in the Prime Minister's department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, doesn't seem to understand basic things concerning democracy. His notion of democracy is woefully dismal and disappointing. His ignorance on issues of democracy is alarming!
His stand seems to suggest that only political parties and politicians have the right to disagree and speak up and if you are not in either of these categories, you don't have the right to criticise or disagree. This is utter nonsense. This right to disagree or criticise is not the monopoly of a political party or politician. This God-given right is the birth-right of every individual, and it is enshrined in the Constitution. The right to freedom of assembly, the right to speech of expression and the right to freedom of association are the inalienable rights of every citizen. There are no caveats placed on these rights. Nazri, therefore, has no right to insist that one must belong to a political party to disagree with the Barisan Nasional's policies. The Constitution has no such provisions barring citizens from speaking up or championing a cause. In a democracy, citizens have a role to play and participate in every aspect of governance without belonging to a political party and without being a politician. Nazri must be reminded that, according to A.d. Benoist, "The highest measure of democracy is neither the 'extent of freedom' nor the 'extent of equality', but rather the highest measure of participation." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How Laws are enacted in Malaysia Posted: 29 Nov 2011 10:35 PM PST By Hakim Joe Malaysians need to know this as part of their right and privilege as a citizen of the country. Only then are we able to understand how Parliament works and how laws are passed. The Parliament is divided into two houses i.e. the Dewan Rakyat or the Lower House and the Dewan Negara or Senate. First of all, Parliament only meets from Monday to Thursday when in session. These sessions are published online and viewers can check them at The Dewan Rakyat is made up from the elected representatives in a General Election of a Parliamentary seat (as opposed to a State seat). The Senate, which consists of 70 members, is made up from 2 each selected from every state (total of 26) and the remaining 44 It must be noted that the original Constitution of Malaysia, drafted before Merdeka, only provided for 16 individuals to be appointed by the Agong instead of the current 70 individuals. The intent was to place them in the minority so as to protect the states' interest against federal encroachments. With 44 members or 62.8%, getting anything passed in the Senate is but a formality for the government. The term of office is 3 years and senators may only be reappointed once, consecutively or non-consecutively. A proposed Act of Law begins its journey when a particular government minister or ministry prepares a first draft with the assistance of the Attorney General's Department. This draft is known as the Bill and the year it was drafted shall be appended to it at the rear. When the government minister or ministry finalizes drafting the Bill, it shall be sent to the Cabinet for its first discussion session. During this time, the first amendments (if any) shall be made and only after it has been agreed upon shall the Bill be introduced into Parliament. A Bill may originate from either of the Houses with one exception, the "Money Bill". Subject to Article 67 of the Federal Constitution, the "Money Bill" must originate from the Dewan Rakyat and can only be introduced by a Minister. The House, which a Bill is originated, shall send it to the other House once the Bill has been passed. After the other House passes the Bill, it must then be presented to the Agong for his assent under the Article 66(3) of the Federal Constitution. Prior to the 1983 Malaysian Constitutional Crisis, the Agong may withhold his assent to any Bills that have passed both Houses. However, Mahathir pushed forward a set of amendments to Article 66 of the Constitution that set the time limit of the Agong to veto a Bill within 30 days. Nowadays Article 66(4) states that the Agong must assent to the Bill by causing the Public Seal to be affixed thereto. This must be completed within 30 days from the date a Bill is being presented to him. The Federal Constitution provides that a Bill will automatically become law at the expiration of the 30 days period specified in the like manner as if he had assented thereto, should the Agong, for whatever reason, fails to give his assent to the Bill within the specified period. Nonetheless if the Agong disagrees with the Bill, HRH can return it to Parliament with a list of suggested amendments. Parliament must then reconsider the Bill and its proposed amendments and return it to the Agong within 30 days, if they pass it again, either adopting The first reading of the Bill happens when the minister or his deputy submits it to Parliament. This is a formality and only the title of the Bill will be read out. No draft copies of the Bill are distributed out. The Speaker will then set a date and time for the Second Reading and this is usually within the next few days unless the government maintains that all three Readings be done immediately. Usually draft copies of the Bill will only be distributed out to all Members of Parliament a few days before the Second Reading. However, in the event that the government requests that all three Readings be completed immediately, the draft copies will be distributed promptly and be debated, as it is, on the same day. This is usually executed to prevent the Opposition from discussing it amongst themselves and/or to keep the public from getting involved in the proceedings. The Speaker may disallow it but this has never happened before as the government appoints the Speaker to his position. However, the Speaker reserves the privilege to appoint or limit any number of MPs to be included in the debate during the Second Reading.\ Regardless of whatever happens in the course of the debate during the Second Reading, the government can summon for the Third Reading at any time they desire. Once again the Speaker may veto it and once again it has never happened before. The Third Reading is the actual voting process and a two-thirds majority is required to pass the Bill. Should the Bill be passed, it is sent forth to the Dewan Negara, where the three Readings are carried out again. The Dewan Negara may not formally reject any Bill but choose not to pass the Bill, but this only delays its passage by a month, or in some cases, a year. Once this stipulated period expires, the Bill is considered to have been passed by the Senate. With 44 members and 2 members from any government-controlled state, getting any Bill past Dewan Negara is rather "a piece of cake" and can actually be accomplished under 5 minutes. Additionally, the Dewan Negara is not affected by the elections for the Dewan Rakyat, and senators continue to hold office despite the Dewan Rakyat's dissolution for an election. After the Second Reading, any Member of Parliament can call for a Special Committee to discuss the technical details of the Bill or be submitted before a Parliamentary Select Committee for review. Nevertheless, the Speaker can disallow it and promptly call for the In some rare cases, the government actually prepares a Government White Paper containing particular proposals that will eventually be incorporated into a Bill. White Papers are an informal name for a Parliamentary Paper expressing a proposed government policy or action on a topic of current concern, or a Bill seeking passage through Parliament. This actually happened to the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971. The Opposition is also permitted to propose any Bills to Parliament and these are identified as the Private Members' Bill (PMB). To present a PMB, the MP in question must seek the leave of the House to debate the Bill before it is moved in Parliament. Originally, the Lastly, no laws shall come into force until it has been gazetted or published in the Government Gazette under the Article 66(5) of the Federal Constitution. Only once that has been completed shall the Bill become Law. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Perak MB wins suit again Suara Keadilan Posted: 29 Nov 2011 07:09 PM PST (Bernama) - The Kuala Lumpur High Court today ruled that nine words in an article published by Suara Keadilan, a PKR newspaper, on Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir were libellous. Judge Hue Siew Kheng made the decision in chambers in the presence of lawyer Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin representing Zambry as the plaintiff and lawyer Jamie Wong representing PKR, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and three others as the defendants.
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| Perkasa, Mamak group bring traffic to a standstill Posted: 29 Nov 2011 06:18 PM PST Protesters accuse CM's political secretary Ng Wei Aik of humiliating Bangladeshi married to a local and call for his sacking (MORE PHOTOS AT LINK BELOW). (Free Malaysia Today) - About 300 protesters from Perkasa and Suara Anak Anak Mamak Pulau Pinang caused a massive congestion when they marched against the flow of traffic at noon today. Their target: Komtar assemblyman and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's political secretary Ng Wei Aik who has been accused of humiliating a Bangladeshi married to a local woman. The protesters demanded that Ng quit immediately as Komtar assemblyman and also called on Lim to sack Ng as his political secretary. Police detained 11 people including the protest leader, Perkasa's north-east district chief Mohd Rizuad Mohd Azudin, for the commotion. All were released after having their statements recorded at the city police headquarters. The protesters gathered outside Continental Hotel in upper Penang Road at 12 noon before marching against the flow of traffic in the direction of Komtar, a kilometer away. Once they reached the Komtar in Lebuh Teck Soon, the protesters, with some sitting on the road, chanted anti-Pakatan Rakyat, anti-Ng and anti-Lim slogans for over an hour.
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| NFC scandal: PKR reveals more dirt Posted: 29 Nov 2011 06:16 PM PST PKR wants Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to explain the RM534,000 Mercedes Benz and RM3 million land parcels in Putrajaya. (Free Malaysia Today) - Opposition PKR affronted by Umno women's wing chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's lashings against its party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has comeback with more muck on the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) scandal. This time PKR has questioned the ownership and expenses involving Shahrizat's RM534,000 Mercedes Benz and two lots of land in Putrajaya worth RM3 million. PKR strategic director, Rafizi Ramli who disclosed these details to reporters in parliament today said he was also seeking for Shahrizat to clarify monthly payments to travel agencies which ranged from RM1,000 to RM120,000. "We were anticipating her response and hoped that she would be more humble but since that was not the case, we decided to add more misappropriations", said Rafizi alluding to to Shahrizat's tit-for-tat response to allegations of misappropriations of public funds by her family involving NFC. This morning Shahrizat told Umno Wanita delegates that if she had to resign because of her husband, Wan Azizah should resign for Anwar's misdeeds. Shahrizat has maintained that her husband is innocent of any misdeeds unlike Anwar who was found guilty of sodomy charges. Shahrizat, also the women, family, community development minister, was commenting on PKR women wing's chief Zuraida Kamaruddin's call, last week, for her to resign. Shahrizat's husband Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail is the NFC chairman. Shahrizat's family has been accused of misusing a RM250 million government soft loan given for the NFC project.
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| Posted: 29 Nov 2011 05:27 PM PST (Bernama) -- The new low-cost terminal (LCCT), KLIA2, with world class facilities to handle about 45 million passengers yearly, is expected to cost between RM3.6 billion and RM3.9 billion and will begin operations in April 2013. Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) managing director/chief executive officer, Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad, said aerobridges would be installed to cater to the needs of all passengers including the disabled, pregnant women and children. "We hope the airlines operating here will support our decision by using the aerobridges, as the cost works out to only 25 sen per passenger and the public has indicated they are willing to pay for the use of aerobridges. "It will be up to the airlines whether or not to use the aerobridges," he told reporters after a tour of the construction site of the KLIA2 complex here today. Bashir said work on the 257,000-sq metre KLIA2, which began in October 2009, was now 42 per cent complete and would have 68 gates, more than sufficient to cater to passengers as required by industry standards. He said a new third runway was being built to cater to aircraft like the A380, the world's largest passenger airplane. KLIA2 was only 1.5km away from the current main terminal building of KLIA, and a new flyover was being built to link the main road from KLIA to KLIA2, which means KLIA2 would be nearer than LCCT, he said. On whether there were cost overruns and delay in the operation of the airport, he said, more time was needed to build what was surely be the world's largest purpose-built terminal for low-cost carriers with superior facilities "KLIA2 is being built at the lowest cost per passenger with aerobridges and enhanced passenger convenience, including a fully-automated baggage system," he said. It will have 6,000 covered multi-storey parking, four hotels, transit hotels, a skybridge and a larger commercial space for retail outlets, he said. The current Express Rail Link (ERL), which runs from KL Sentral to the main terminal at KLIA, will be extended by 2.2km, to link up with KLIA2. He said MAHB has given AirAsia, the main user of the KLIA2, a special dispensation to build its headquarters with an apron access as well as Tune Hotel. Bashir said passenger service charges would not be increased but MAHB has the option to discuss them with the government every five years and the next round of discussions could only be held in 2014. He denied suggestions that public funds were used to construct KLIA2, saying that MAHB had raised funds for this project from the market which included RM3.1 billion sukuk program, of which RM600 million was still undrawn. Bashir said MAHB was exploring the possibility of raising capital from the market whereby it has an option to do a private placement of up to 10 per cent without seeking shareholders' nod at the annual general meeting. On reports saying he might be removed, Bashir said, "How do you want me to respond to the question?" He also said that in all its dealings with the government, shareholders, stakeholders as well as airlines including AirAsia, MAHB has always been open, transparent and professional. On complaints by AirAsia chief, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, that the low-cost carrier was in the dark on the progress of KLIA2, Bashir said, MAHB conducted weekly meetings with all its airline partners where everything was discussed and that there was no reason for them not to know what was going on. Bashir said that MAHB was in talks with Qantas on the possibility of it resuming operations from KLIA. He said MAHB conducted open tenders to award projects for the KLIA2.
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