Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Wall St falls on dashed euro zone hopes
- Najib: Appreciate history of Umno's struggle
- Don’t be scared by doomsday predictions
- KLCC threatens flashmob organisers with injunction
- ‘We have proof that MB lied’
- PRM has not confirmed on creating Third Force with NGOs, says President
- DAP winning over Malay voters
- Political branding just rhetoric
- ‘Umno agent in PAS’ gets a drubbing
- Paranoid Musa afraid of being exposed
- Malaysian Civil Liberty’s Movement chief barred from entering Sabah
- Pas and DAP not in sync over casino
- PKR-DAP showdown over seat
- Include hudud in manifesto, PAS dared
- Civil servants to get up to 13% pay rise from Jan 1
- ‘Apologise or hell will break loose’
- Air crash more than historical event
- Bill to redevelop Kampung Baru tabled in Dewan Negara
- MCLM chief barred from entering Sabah
- Respect elders, ‘newcomer’ Rama told
- Indelible ink: Scholars reject call for new fatwa
- Hospitals in Malacca out of medicine
- Pudu project must go to bumiputras
- Cleaning up not only about removing the dead, EC told
- EC, the ‘democracy killer’
- KL property investment ranking slips in new survey
- Act fast on Alstom bribery scandal probe, TI-M tells MACC
- With Selangor award, Utusan paints Hasan as PAS-Umno matchmaker
- New Causeway toll likely fodder for Pakatan in Johor
- Malaysia backsliding in graft war, says Kit Siang
- RCI for Sabah now, not after polls
- Heat over satellite dish crackdown in Sabah
- Court sets Dec 12 and 13 for sodomy trial submissions
- Export slump may hit Malaysia growth in 2012, says ADB
- 'CCM being abused to prop up Isa'
- Zaid Ibrahim’s KITA opts out of polls, to back Pakatan
- ‘We won’t surrender an inch’
- Nurul Izzah: ‘Balai Polis Kerinchi’ a voter in Lembah Pantai
- PM: Asia has fastest growing defence expenditure
- No charge for KR1M
- Pua ‘shoots’ down ‘arrogant’ Zahid
- Kit Siang demands Najib, Cabinet explain CPI rankings slide
- Fernandes: We didn’t ask for new baggage system
- MACC panel: Foreigners not needed
- Malaysia Moving Steadily Toward Cloud
- Chua told to apologise over latest anti-Islam jibe
- Karpal: Datukships put DAP in ‘awkward spot’
- Choose wrongly at nation’s peril, Najib warns voters
- Ex-Perlis MB denies graft claims over power plant
- "Pekida and Govt must work together to ensure survival of BN"
| Wall St falls on dashed euro zone hopes Posted: 08 Dec 2011 07:46 AM PST (Reuters) - Wall Street fell yesterday after the European Central Bank dashed hopes that policy-makers were preparing a financial "bazooka" to contain the debt crisis, and Germany rejected some proposals to add power to the euro zone's bailout fund. US markets have been on edge all week in anticipation of a summit deal that would come to grips with the euro zone's growing debt crisis, and pave the way for greater action by the ECB to hold down bond yields. But actions from Europe — both early and late in the day — were a stark disappointment. Before the market's open, ECB President Mario Draghi discouraged expectations that the central bank would massively increase its purchases of government bonds after a crucial Brussels summit today. Shortly before the closing bell, Germany rejected some measures in draft conclusions from the summit, including giving the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) a banking license and issuing common euro-zone debt. US stocks and the euro fell sharply following the news. "It looks like it's (the opposition) coming from Germany. That just spells more trouble ahead in the days to come," said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Rockwell Global Capital in New York. More than 44,500 S&P E-Mini futures contracts traded between 3.40pm and 3.45pm, when the Germany headline appeared. This was the busiest five minutes of the day, other than the last five minutes of trading, which typically has the highest volume. The S&P financial sector index was the biggest loser, falling 3.7 per cent. That followed sharp losses in European banks' shares as sources told Reuters the European Banking Authority (EBA) sees the capital shortfall at European banks at €114.7 billion (RM482 billion). Shares of Morgan Stanley (MS.N), a barometer of risk aversion due to its perceived exposure to Europe's crisis, fell 8.4 per cent to US$15.88. The latest developments from Europe overshadowed a cut in the bloc's interest rate to a record low one per cent and extra liquidity provisions for banks. The Dow Jones industrial average tumbled 198.67 points, or 1.63 per cent, to end at 11,997.70. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 26.66 points, or 2.11 per cent, to 1,234.35. The Nasdaq Composite Index lost 52.83 points, or 1.99 per cent, to close at 2,596.38. The decline comes after three days of gains for US stocks when the S&P 500 tried and failed to stay above its 200-day moving average, which has been a key level for investors to watch this year, and one that could prove tough to break. But yesterday's pullback, concentrated in economically sensitive areas, was a far cry from the wild swings of recent months when uncertainty over Europe has dominated headlines. That is being seen as a sign of resilience by many investors who are hoping for seasonal strength into the end of the year. Yields on European sovereign debt spiked. Ten-year Italian government bond yields rose 44 basis points to 6.51 per cent — the day's high. German Bund futures hit a session high of 136.89, up 109 ticks on the day. Earlier, data showed US jobless claims fell more than expected in the latest week, a sign the labor market recovery was gaining momentum. Claims slid to a nine-month low. About 7.55 billion shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE Amex and Nasdaq, slightly below the daily average of 7.95 billion. Declining stocks outnumbered advancing ones on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq by a ratio of slightly more than 6 to 1.
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| Najib: Appreciate history of Umno's struggle Posted: 08 Dec 2011 07:29 AM PST (Bernama) - Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has urged the people to appreciate the history of Umno's struggle so that they would acknowledge its capability in helming the Barisan Nasional (BN) government. The prime minister said by looking back at history, the people would realise the immensity of Umno's struggle all these years. By appreciating history, the Malays would realise that they had no reason to forsake Umno, he said when opening Wisma Umno Langkawi in Kuah, here, today.
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| Don’t be scared by doomsday predictions Posted: 08 Dec 2011 07:25 AM PST (Global Times) - The yuan has gone through seven days of consecutive depreciation, sending confusing signals around the world. The doomsday prediction for China's economy has resurfaced again. It appears that uncertainty has become a popular tune in evaluating the country's economic future. Yet the rules may be unfit and the results inaccurate when measuring China's large scale economic growth by Western concepts. The economic components in the West are much simpler, while business activity and implication here in China are more complicated.
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| KLCC threatens flashmob organisers with injunction Posted: 07 Dec 2011 07:34 PM PST The organisers however say they will urge their friends to wear yellow and shop for yellow items at the KLCC this Saturday afternoon. (Free Malaysia Today) - The organisers of a protest campaign against the Peaceful Assembly Bill have been forced to change their activity from holding a flashmob to shopping for yellow items this Saturday after a legal threat from the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) management today. The organisers of the Free to Assembly campaign were issued legal notice via Facebook today by lawyers representing the KLCC management, stating that they will be applying for a court injunction to stop the flashmob from taking place this Saturday. KLCC management – which runs the Suria KLCC shopping complex and the KLCC Park – is claiming that the two previous protest gatherings by the opponents of the Peaceful Assembly Bill have disrupted business operations of the tenants ot KLCC. The lawyers for the KLCC management added that it has come to their knowledge that another gathering is to be held this Saturday at the KLCC shopping centre and that this had raised concerns among the tenants. The lawyers urged the organisers – seven of whom they had named in their legal letter – to immediately revoke their invitations to others to participate in the gathering. They added that they have noted that so far 3,555 people have been invited through the Facebook and have urged the organisers to similarly uninvite these people from gathering. The lawyers said that if the organisers failed to do so in 24 hours, they will then take all necessary action, including filing an application for an injunction to restrain the organisers from proceeding with the gathering on Saturday. Organisers unmoved, to buy yellow items They also said that the attempt by the KLCC management was perhaps the first time in Malaysia, if not also the world, "where a flashmob is seen as a major threat that warrants a court injunction". "We reject completely the KLCC's accusation that our gatherings in the KLCC could have had "eroded and impeded the regular shoppers and visitors and members of the public to the premises and thereby disrupted the business operations of [the KLCC's] tenants". "None of the tenants operate in the KLCC Park. Rather than disrupting their businesses, our friends who attended have supported them by spending in the mall," they said in a statement today. The organisers said that they will not stop inviting their friends to gather public places, adding that they will not respond to the 24-hour notice by the KLCC.
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| Posted: 07 Dec 2011 07:32 PM PST A logging company wants the police to investigate Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob and Umno secretary Rahim Abas for alleged cheating. (Free Malaysia Today) - A police report has been lodged against two Pahang Umno leaders, including Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob, for allegedly cheating a logging company over the ownership of a plot of land in Pekan, Pahang. Seruan Gemilang Makmur Sdn Bhd (SGM) shareholder Lee Sin, who filed the report today, alleged that Adnan and Rahim Abas, the Pahang Umno secretary, committed a criminal offence when they previously claimed that the 10,000 acre land belonged to the party. Lee claimed that he had obtained several documents from Umno members during the party's recent annual assembly that proved that Adnan and Rahim had "lied" and cheated SGM. He said one of the documents, which was shown to the media, indicated that Umno had failed to pay premium for the plot of logging land. This, according to Lee, meant that Umno never owned property as the state land authority would have reclaimed it. The letter dated Dec 28, 2002 sent from the land office to the Pahang Umno office was the approval for a final time extension to pay up RM4.8 million in premium for the land. "We want the police to investigate and ascertain the rightful owner of the land and take action against the two leaders if it is found that they committed a crime," said Lee, adding that his personal investigations revealed that Pahang Umno never owned any land in the state. Did MB act on his own? Lee said it should also be investigated if Adnan, who is also Pahang Umno chairman, had acted on his own or received a resolution from the Umno board of trustees. "If he had acted on his own, wouldn't it be against the regulations of the Registrar of Societies for Pahang Umno to issue a court action against our company?" he asked.
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| PRM has not confirmed on creating Third Force with NGOs, says President Posted: 07 Dec 2011 03:59 PM PST (Malaysian Digest) - Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) President Dr Rohana Ariffin today said that the party has not confirmed any move to join forces with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to offer itself as the 'third force' for the next general election. Referring to a statement made by PRM's vice-president Koh Swe Yong in the Sun Daily yesterday, Dr Rohana said it was a statement made in his own capacity, and not a statement by PRM's central administration. "Not a statement made by the party... it's a statement made by Koh's own capacity."The authenticity of PRM comes from statements made by the party's three leaders – president, deputy president and the secretary-general," she said when contacted by Malaysian Digest today. She said, as far as the party is concerned, the decision to work with other groups is still in the process of discussion. She added that the same goes for the decision on the three parliamentary seats in Balik Pulau, Selayang and Petaling Jaya Selatan as to whether it is just a suggestion or an open negotiation because the party wishes to avoid three-cornered fights. "We are still in the process of negotiation and have not confirmed anything yet... We are still working it out," she said when asked to comment on the possibility of the party working together with NGOs and contesting in the three parliamentary seats. Nevertheless, Dr Rohana said other parties should not misconstrue the party's suggestion to contest in the general election. However, she said for now PRM is planning to reestablish the party again by reactivating the branches in few states of the country. "But for now our main focus is to rebuild the party by activating its branches in various states including Kedah, Penang, Pahang and Johor," she said. Yesterday, the Sun Daily reported a statement from Koh that PRM is planning to join forces with more than 10 NGOs to offer themselves as the third force in the next general election. However, according to a report in China Press on Dec 5, the third force's (parties not under Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat) candidates will be contesting under the PRM banner, and the party has identified three parliamentary seats in the Klang Valley to contest in.
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| Posted: 07 Dec 2011 03:52 PM PST Seen as a Chinese-based party, DAP is making slow but steady inroads into the Bumiputera community, according to party leaders. (Free Malaysia Today) - DAP appears to be gaining ground in seemingly uncharted territory: the Malays. Despite having been around since the mid-60s, the party has been perceived as a predominantly Chinese-based party, causing many Malays to shy away from it. This perception, however, according to DAP members, is changing, albeit slowly but surely. Party member Zairil Khir Johari said that the DAP was only recently able to tap into the Malay grassroots after the 2008 general election. "Before 2008, the Malay support for DAP was almost non-existent," he said, adding that the alternative political choice was usually the Islamic-based PAS. "If you joined the opposition, if you had problems with the government, the natural appeal would be PAS. They have (access to) the suraus and the mosques, which DAP does not have. "Umno would have its ketua kampung (village chief), while PAS has the religious (advantage), but if the DAP wanted to open a branch in a village, it would be so artificial," said Zairil, who is also DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng's political secretary. DAP's lack of a large Malay support base for the past 40 years, Zairil claimed, was partially because it was an "urban-based" party; it was more attractive to the city-living Chinese. The government's control of the mainstream media did not help the party either. According to Zairil, the Umno-linked Malay-based media groups such as Utusan Malaysia blacks out anything DAP-related, unless it was negative. These factors, according to Zairil, made sure that even urban Malays were kept unaware of the DAP's handiwork. However, the party's entry into the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, coupled with access to the alternative media, appears to have helped its position, Zairil claimed. He said that the party has been able to open a few Malay branches in Penang, with forays into Perlis as well. Though acknowledging that its Pakatan allies – PKR and PAS – were there to attract Malay voters, DAP president Karpal Singh said that the party needed to make its own effort in reaching out to the Malays. "PKR and PAS are there, but we shouldn't rely on them. We have to go ahead with our own Malay support. Recently, there have been some Malays who have joined us." "They're not shying away from the DAP… but they're not coming in at the extent that we'd want," he said. Karpal said that the DAP had seen some Malay representation over the years, such as through former Bayan Baru MP Ahmad Nor and current Senator Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim. Even so, he said these efforts into the Malay heartland were not enough.
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| Political branding just rhetoric Posted: 07 Dec 2011 03:49 PM PST Political observers believe that the rakyat are now able to see past political rhetoric and are demanding 'responsible' candidates. Stephanie Sta Maria, Free Malaysia Today An impending and critical 13th general election has spurred the country's two political coalitions to start branding of candidates. Barisan Nasional (BN) has hammered the word "winnable" over the heads of its future candidates with Umno president, Najib Tun Razak, defining them as those accepted by the new generation. Pakatan Rakyat, having recovered from a series of blows, has promised to field "principled" candidates whom PKR president, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, described as those who hold true to the principle of struggle and are not tempted by wealth. But neither terminology has impressed political observers who unhesitatingly stripped both brandings down to their rhetorical basics . Associate Professor of the Political Science School in Singapore Management University, Bridget Welsh, called it nothing more than politicking as well as an indication of the different broad orientations of both coalitions. "One is driven to win at all costs and hold on to power while the other is trying to portray itself as the political high ground," she noted. "The focus of both sides should not be on terminology but on efforts to select and groom strong candidates." "Malaysian voters are sceptical of both sides and are less interested in the talk than they are in the evidence and delivery of strong viable candidates who can improve governance and represent people well." Political analyst, Khoo Kay Peng, said should such candidates be found and fielded, they would be better pitched as "responsible" or "effective" rather than "winnable" or "principled". "Politics is not about winning but serving," he said. "Right now, political parties are hard-pressed to come up with something new and convincing enough to garner solid public vote and support."
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| ‘Umno agent in PAS’ gets a drubbing Posted: 07 Dec 2011 03:45 PM PST A PAS-linked blogger launches a vitriolic attack on a veteran party leader following an article in Utusan Malaysia which praised the latter. (Free Malaysia Today) - A PAS-linked blogger did not mince his words when he labelled a veteran party leader as an Umno agent within Pakatan Rakyat. According to the blogger, who uses the monicker Tulang Besi, it is an open secret that Selangor exco for religious affairs Hasan Ali works for the other side. In a posting on his blog Malaysia Waves, Tulang Besi commented on an article in the Umno mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia which praised the PAS leader. Among others, the daily described Hasan as a fighter, who is not afraid of losing his position in order to safeguard Islam and Malay unity. "Since Umno's defeat in several states (in the last general election), when has Utusan praised any Pakatan leader?" asked Tulang Besi. "The praise heaped by Utusan (on Hasan) is akin to the devil commending someone for his religious devotion," he added. Continuing his attack on Hasan, the blogger pointed out that it is the PAS leader who lobbied the party president to join hands with Umno. "Hasan also spreads Umno's cheap propaganda amongst PAS members. He is a 'munafik' (hypocrite) of the highest order and may Allah punish him for this," he said. Tulang Besi also accused Hasan of attempting to sabotage Pakatan on numerous occasions and that his people were involved in the conspiracy to engineer the downfall of Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim.
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| Paranoid Musa afraid of being exposed Posted: 07 Dec 2011 11:05 AM PST Umno-led Sabah Barisan Nasional has come under attack for its 'stupid' act of denying civil activist Haris Ibrahim entry into Sabah. (Free Malaysia Today) - The Sabah Umno-led Barisan Nasional leadership came under heavy condemnation for barring civil activist-cum-lawyer Haris Ibrahim from entering Sabah but did nothing to stem the flow of hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants into the state. Political activist Daniel John Jambun, who was among those at the airport to receive Haris, was fuming that the state government had barred Haris instead of illegal immigrants and criminals from the state. "Why BN did not use this power to deny entry to those illegal immigrants? Haris came here to promote good governance and civil society." "He is a lawyer with the people's interest at heart." "(Chief Minister) Musa (Aman), please explain yourself," he demanded. Sabah lawyer Peter Marajin said the incident proved that the leadership in Sabah is 'paranoid and afraid of being exposed' and being examined by civil society movements like MCLM. "Umno is scared of its own shadow..," said Marajin who is also a supreme council member of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP). He said the the state government had clearly failed in its priorities when exercising its immigration powers. Haris, who is also the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) president, was denied entry into Sabah as soon as he landed from Kuala Lumpur at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport here at 3.15pm yesterday. Haris, who had been to the state recently to help stage the anti-Peaceful Assembly Bill protest here, was met by immigration officers at the airport and handed a letter that stated he was refused entry into the state on the instruction of Chief Minister Musa Aman who is in charge of all immigration matters in the state. Barring Haris is 'unacceptable "Let me tell Musa, the message that we wanted to send to the people here would reach them." "Though I am physically barred from entering Sabah, today's technology will do this for us," he said Civil activists in the state in unison censured the Umno-led coalition for denying entry to Haris.
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| Malaysian Civil Liberty’s Movement chief barred from entering Sabah Posted: 07 Dec 2011 08:30 AM PST (Borneo Post) - Malaysian Civil Liberty's Movement (MCLM) chairman Harris Fadilah Mohd Ibrahim received an 'unwelcome' treatment from the state government upon his arrival at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) Terminal 2 here yesterday. Harris, a Malaysian blogger and believed to be a close friend of Malaysian blogger Raja Petra, was prevented from entering Sabah upon his arrival on AirAsia flight AK 5106 at 3.10pm at the KKIA Terminal 2. It was learnt that upon arrival, Harris was immediately taken to the airport Immigration office by an immigration officer and was served with a notice. Speaking to reporters through a handphone of one of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) members, Harris said the notice was addressed to him, dated December 7, on behalf of the Sabah Immigration director. "I have just been handed a notice of refusal of entry into the state of Sabah, dated today and address to me on behalf of the Immigration Sabah director. "The notice says that the reason that I have been barred is that pursuant to Section 65 (1) (a) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, the state authority has directed that no pass be issued to me to enter the state of Sabah as such part required under Section 66 for me to enter the state. "The reason for my refusal to enter Sabah today is because the state authority has directed that no pass be issued to me," he said through the handphone. According to Harris, the officer who spoke and handed the notice to him claimed that the instruction came from the Immigration Department and they do not know the reason why he was refused a pass to enter. "They also did not explain to me what the section is about, only that I have been refused to enter the state of Sabah," he added. In a disappointed voice, Harris asked why he, as a Malaysian was barred and prevented from entering another state in Malaysia? "Why a Malaysian cannot enter Malaysia?" "Why is the Sabah government afraid of? Why are they afraid of one person from Peninsular Malaysia that they have to refuse me from entering Sabah?" he asked. It was learnt that Harris was invited by SAPP members to exchange and learn about the struggle of MCLM. Harris also said that this was the first time he had been barred from entering Sabah and twice being barred from entering Sarawak, during the Sarawak state election. "The reason I flew into Sabah is to deliver a message to the people of Sabah and now we will show the Sabah government that with technology, we can deliver our message to the people without me being physically present," he said. Harris was then deported back to Kuala Lumpur on the next flight at 4.20pm the same day. Meanwhile, SAPP deputy president and Likas assemblyman Datuk Liew Teck Chan with about 15 SAPP members were earlier, at the KKIA Terminal 2 to great and welcome Harris. After learning that Harris was prevented from entering the state, SAPP members then staged a five-minute peaceful protest in front of the arrival hall at Terminal 2 before they dispersed peacefully. According to Liew, the party had invited Harris to gain more understanding of the MCLM's movement in regards to politics and economy. "He, Harris, has been in the United Kingdom for some time, so we want to learn from him as he is well knowledgeable," said Liew. |
| Pas and DAP not in sync over casino Posted: 07 Dec 2011 08:17 AM PST (New Straits Times) - Inconsistent answers from Pas and DAP assemblymen on the fate of the casino in Genting Highlands drew flak from the backbenchers who claimed that the opposition was afraid to lose votes if they had a common stand on the issue. Pas assemblymen Syed Hamid Syed Mohamad (Kuala Semantan) and Syed Mohammed Tuan Lonnik (Beserah) said that the party could not tolerate gambling and would close the casino if the opposition took over the state. "Tell me which religion allows gambling? We (Pas) can never compromise on gambling and that is why we want to stop such activities (in Genting Highlands)," said Syed Hamid. However, Leong Ngah Ngah (DAP-Triang) said the matter should be discussed further while Choong Siew Onn (DAP-Tras) said any decision on the issue should only be made after the opposition won the state in the next general election. They were responding to a question raised by Datuk Chuah Boon Seong (BN-Mentakab) when debating on next year's budget in the state assembly yesterday. |
| Posted: 07 Dec 2011 08:15 AM PST TUSSLE: Opposition coalition parties say their candidate would be best suited to win Johor Jaya constituency (New Straits Times) - A tussle seems to be brewing between Johor DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) on who should contest the Johor Jaya state seat in the next general election. State PKR chief Datuk Chua Jui Meng said that their candidate was more suitable because the seat was contested by Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) in the last general election. "Since PRM had merged into what is now PKR, that seat should be contested by us," said Chua while admitting that the relationship between PKR and DAP "could be much better". His statement is in contrast with what Johor DAP chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau said on Monday that they wanted to field more candidates in Johor, including in seats contested by PKR in 2008. This, Dr Boo, said included the Johor Jaya state seat which was supposedly allocated to PKR. He had said that Johor DAP would not give way to any other party within the coalition because in 2008, the PRM candidate was beaten with a huge majority of over 10,000 votes. In 2008, MCA's Tan Cher Puk defeated PRM's Md Nashir Wahab. Chinese voters make up 48 per cent of the voters there, the others being Malays (44 per cent), Indians (7.5 per cent) and others (0.5 per cent). Meanwhile, on the internal revolt faced by Dr Boo from a segment of DAP members in Johor, Chua said that PKR was concerned about it. Chua, who is also PKR supreme council member, expressed his hope that Dr Boo would manage to overcome his "difficulties". "I understand what he is going through but the problem is between Dr Boo and DAP and we (PKR) don't want to add to his burden. "I know he (Dr Boo) is currently under a lot of pressure and I hope he will manage to overcome it," said Chua when met at the Johor Baru Chinese Press Club on Tuesday night. On Sunday, about 20 members of the Bakri DAP division gathered at the car park of the Wetex shopping mall in Muar to protest against Dr Boo. They were carrying several banners accusing Dr Boo of being autocratic and wanted state DAP secretary Tan Chen Choon to become the party's candidate for the Bentayan state constituency in the coming general election. The seat is now held by DAP's Gwee Tiong Hiang but his membership was recently suspended for allegedly misusing party funds to buy a vehicle for his own company. The members also called on DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng to interfere and take action against Dr Boo. Chua insisted that he would assist Dr Boo in his time of crisis and that PKR and DAP would always work together. "Sink or swim, we (PKR and DAP) must be together in the same boat." Chua said he had requested for all Johor PKR members to refrain from making statements on the current situation faced by Dr Boo and Johor DAP. He also stressed that all quarters within the loose alliance of DAP, PKR and Pas must abide by the agreement not to issue any statement on distribution of electoral seats for the coming general election. Meanwhile, DAP deputy election director Anthony Loke said DAP, Pas and PKR had set up a three-member panel to discuss seat allocations for the general election. The three are Cheras member of parliament, Tan Kok Wai; PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and Pas secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali. "Currently, discussions are ongoing I will not say anything more," said Loke. However, PKR vice-president Tian Chua said the party had already finalised the seat allocations before November as they had anticipated the 13th general election to be called at the end of this year. "All I can say is some new faces will be fielded," he said when contacted on Tuesday. Pas election director Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli said discussions were under way. "I do not want to reveal whatever has been discussed as it is an internal matter." On Monday, Bayan Baru member of parliament Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim had revealed that some independent members might not seek re-election in the next general election. He said the matter was discussed during a recent meeting of the independent caucus.
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| Include hudud in manifesto, PAS dared Posted: 07 Dec 2011 08:03 AM PST (The Star) - MCA has continued with its call that PAS must include its intention to implement its own brand of hudud law in its manifesto for the next general election. The Islamic party must be fair to voters so they could be fully informed about their choices before making their decision, said MCA Young Professionals Bureau chairman Datuk Seri Chua Tee Yong. "Voters deserve the right to know what kind of Government they are voting in," he told reporters after launching the Malaysia Youth 4 Ecogreen Initiative here yesterday. He said PAS must also listen to its own member, PAS Supporters Congress chairman Hu Pang Chaw, who had emphasised that if the party wanted to implement hudud law, it must hold more forums and seminars to allow the public to better understand the issue. Chua also refuted PAS' claim that MCA did not invite the party to its public forum on hudud on Sunday. "MCA did send the invitation," he said. Kelantan MCA secretary Tan Ken Ten said both DAP and PKR could not stop the implementation of hudud in the state, as shown by the case of a coffeeshop owner who was fined by the Kota Baru Municipal Council when her employee unintentionally uncovered her arms while serving a customer. "This is not only unfair but also proves that the implementation of hudud law will affect non-Muslims," he said, adding that the reasons given by the enforcement officers were ridiculous because staff would have to fold up their sleeves when they work. "Previously, Pakatan Rakyat also declared that the implementation of hudud law was not possible. How are PAS and PKR going to explain this?" "They choose not to respond to these type of issues to keep their marriage of convenience alive," he said. Johor MCA vice-chairman Jason Teoh Sew Hock said DAP's absence at the hudud forum was mainly due to its ambiguous stand. "(DAP secretary-general) Lim (Guan Eng) and his colleagues chose to become political deserters as, apparently, they are unable to change PAS' intention to implement hudud law. "Probably his absence was because he was not brave enough to face the challenge given by MCA, which requested Pakatan Rakyat to list hudud law in their Buku Jingga or Orange Book," he said.
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| Civil servants to get up to 13% pay rise from Jan 1 Posted: 07 Dec 2011 08:00 AM PST (The Star) - A new civil service remuneration scheme has been unveiled giving government employees a pay rise of 7% to 13% effective Jan 1. Public Service director-general Tan Sri Abu Bakar Abdullah said the increments for the civil servants would be based on four principles: hierarchy: talent and experience; their position and subject matter expertise; and their performance. He said the increments would be performance-based, which also means that if the top civil servants do not do enough to merit bonuses, there would be no pay rise for them either. The performance of the top-level civil servants will be evaluated through their Key Performance Indicators. Citing an example of how a top management officer would be paid, he said a doctor with a salary range of between RM4,431 and RM6,439 is now eligible for a salary of between RM4,520 and RM8,840. However, the doctor will not immediately move to the new maximum rate if he is currently earning RM6,439. He will instead earn a similar salary and continue to enjoy increments of up to RM8,840 (37% higher than the previous ceiling) even before he is promoted to the next grade. Giving an example for the lower category staff, he said: "If a driver earns between RM1,222.51 and RM1,882 under the current scheme, he can earn between RM1,245 and RM2,965 under the new scheme."
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| ‘Apologise or hell will break loose’ Posted: 07 Dec 2011 07:25 AM PST A DAP leader has called on P Ramasamy to apologise to Karpal Singh with immediate effect. (Free Malaysia Today) - Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy must apologise for labelling Karpal Singh as a party godfather. Or else all hell would break loose during the party's state convention this Sunday, warned Seri Delima DAP assemblyman and Karpal's protégé RS Nethaji Rayer. Rayer also chided Ramasamy for being ignorant of Karpal's immense contributions over the past 45 years. "Withdraw your remarks and apologise to Karpal publicly," he told the academic-turned-politician If he fails to do so, Rayer insisted that the party consider taking disciplinary action against Ramasamy. "Karpal is the party national chairman. "Ramasamy should not hit out in the press that the party does not need godfathers. "He should retract his statement and stop behaving like a warlord. "If he can't show respect, he is not fit to be the DCM," he told reporters here. 'Don't forget the past' Rayer also accused Ramasamy of being absent- minded, conveniently forgetting that if it was not for Karpal's intervention, he would not have been appointed as DCM. Rayer said he was present at the Penang General Hospital when Ramasamy visited Karpal there after the 2008 general election. He claimed that Ramasamy practically begged Karpal to get him appointed as DCM. He said Ramasamy was appointed as DCM only after Karpal spoke to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. "Don't forget that Prof Rama. Don't be kacang lupakan kulit," he said. Rayer said veterans like Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal and Ipoh Timur MP Lim Kit Siang were godfathers due to their sacrifices and contributions. He said Karpal and Lim underwent various tribulations including being detained under the Internal Security Act, charged with sedition and other cooked up allegations. On the contrary, he said Ramasamy had no such battle scars. Unprecedented announcement Rayer noted that the current controversy was caused by Ramasamy's unprecedented announcement regarding his choice of candidates for the next election. On Nov 28, Tamil newspaper Makkal Osai published Ramasamy's "announcement" that the party will field three Indian women – D Kamachi, P Kasturi (daughter of the late DAP stalwart P Patto) and an unknown lawyer from Penang, K Mangaleswari. Ramasamy was also quoted as saying that parliamentarians M Kulasegaran (Ipoh Barat), Gobind Singh Deo (Puchong), Charles Santiago (Klang) and M Manogaran, and assemblymen A Sivanesan (Sungkai), A Sivasubramaniam (Buntong), V Sivakumar (Tronoh) and P Gunasekaren (Senawang) were certain of contesting in the coming general election.
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| Air crash more than historical event Posted: 06 Dec 2011 07:31 PM PST (WikiSabah) - United Borneo Front (UBF) chairman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan told the court that the air crash on June 6, 1976 that killed former Chief Minister Tun Fuad Stephens and all 10 others on board a Nomad aircraft is more than a historical event. Jeffrey, 63, said it was a tragedy of huge proportions not only affecting the families of the crash victims but also affecting the State and the future of its people.
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| Bill to redevelop Kampung Baru tabled in Dewan Negara Posted: 06 Dec 2011 06:58 PM PST (Bernama) -- The Kampung Baru Development Corporation Bill 2011 will explain in detail the functions and roles of the corporation in the redevelopment of Kampung Baru in the capital, said Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin. He said the bill would encourage, stimulate, increase, facilitate and coordinate the redevelopment of Kampung Baru and provide relevant provisions associated with it. The government is transparent and open in drafting the bill by taking into accounts complaints, views and counter proposals made by landowners and heirs to the land in Kampung Baru, he said when tabling the bill for second reading at the Dewan Negara today. "The land ownership will not be compromised in the redevelopment of Kampung Baru as it would be a symbol of the Malay success and prosperity in the middle of Kuala Lumpur metropolitan," he said. Raja Nong Chik said the redevelopment of Kampung Baru would benefit all quarters while generating the Malays' economic prosperity in the capital, particularly among landowners and heirs to the land. The 92.2ha Kampung Baru, which was opened 110 years ago, has a population of 35,000.
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| MCLM chief barred from entering Sabah Posted: 06 Dec 2011 06:20 PM PST Haris Ibrahim has been barred from entering the state and was sent back to KL on the next available flight. (Free Malaysia Today) - Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) president Haris Ibrahim has been barred from entering Sabah and was sent back to Kuala Lumpur on the next available flight. Contacted by FMT prior to his departure, the lawyer said he had landed at the Kota Kinabalu airport at about 3.15pm. "I have just been told that 'atas arahan atasan' (orders from a higher authority), I have been denied entry. I am still at the immigration awaiting details," he said. He later added that the formal notice stated that he was detained under Section 65 (1) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963 and that he had been denied entry on the direction of state authority. Asked if he was there for MCLM-related activities, Haris said that the movement had some work with political parties and NGOs in Sabah. "I presume the order (to prevent entry to Sabah) is related (to the political activities in Sabah)," he added. Haris, who was previously attached to election watchdog Bersih 2.0, was also denied entry into Sarawak twice — in April during the state election and September this year. It is believed that he was stopped from entering Sarawak under the similar law. Under the Malaysia Agreement, Sarawak and Sabah have the power to bar anyone from entering the states, including persons from Peninsular Malaysia.
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| Respect elders, ‘newcomer’ Rama told Posted: 06 Dec 2011 02:43 PM PST A DAP division in Penang is peeved with the deputy chief minister for branding party veterans as godfathers and demands a clarification. (Free Malaysia Today) - The Bagan DAP division has launched a broadside against Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy for describing party elders as "godfathers". According to the division, this is a mark of disrespect and called on the academic-turned-politician to clarify who he was referring to. The division also urged the leadership to take stern disciplinary action against the "newcomer". "Never before has a DAP elected representative criticised party elders as godfathers. Its 'un-DAP-like'," said division deputy chairman and Bagan Dalam assemblyman A Tanasekharan. He said party elders, like national chairman Karpal Singh and Ipoh Timur MP Lim Kit Siang, have been the pillars of strength for DAP over the years. "They have sacrificed so much and been the backbone of the party, we must respect them. As a newcomer, Ramasamy should not be disrespectful towards the party veterans. He should not act like a warlord," Tanasekharan told FMT in the presence of the division's liaison committee members. Ramasamy, the Penang DAP deputy chairman, told an online media that DAP should get rid of not only warlords but godfathers as well. He was responding to Karpal's warning to certain party leaders against becoming political warlords by circumventing the leadership to promise and announce seats for their cronies. Karpal also cautioned against using the term godfathers to describe veteran leaders, stating that the latter are also needed for the party's progress. The row was caused by Ramasamy's announcement in Tamil newspaper Makkal Osai on Nov 28 that the party will field three Indian women – D Kamachi, P Kasturi (daughter of the late DAP stalwart P Patto), and an unknown lawyer from Penang, K Mangaleswari. Ramasamy was also quoted as saying that parliamentarians M Kulasegaran (Ipoh Barat), Gobind Singh Deo (Puchong), Charles Santiago (Klang) and M Manogaran, and assemblymen A Sivanesan (Sungkai), A Sivasubramaniam (Buntong), V Sivakumar (Tronoh) and P Gunasekaren (Senawang) were certain of contesting in the coming general election. According to the article, Ramasamy also announced that he will re-contest both his Prai state and Batu Kawan federal seats, which is against the imminent party's "one man – one seat" policy. Although he denied stating it, the Makkal Osai article, sub-titled the report as Ramasamy's announcement. Why deny it now? Tanasekharan said the majority of division leaders and members backed Karpal on this matter. He also questioned why Ramasamy denied making such an announcement only after Karpal's outburst. "Instead of accusing the reporters and media of twisting (his remarks), he should have denied the report a week ago," he added. Bagan division head and Penang DAP vice-chairman Lim Hock Seng clarified that the CEC is the party's highest decision-making body to finalise and announce the candidatures.
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| Indelible ink: Scholars reject call for new fatwa Posted: 06 Dec 2011 02:33 PM PST The EC may be looking for an excuse to delay its decision, according former mufti Mohd Asri. (Free Malaysia Today) - Several Islamic scholars have rejected the call for another fatwa on the use of indelible ink to mark those who vote in an election. They said the fatwa that the National Fatwa Council issued in 2007 made another one unnecessary. They were commenting on Election Commission (EC) secretary Kamaruddin Ahmad Baria's statement last Friday that the commission was awaiting approval from the National Fatwa Council. Kamaruddin was speaking to DAP representatives last Friday. Former Perlis Mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said that the EC should not use Islam as an excuse to dilly dally over its decision on whether to impose the use of indelible ink as a measure against cheating in the coming general election. "Actually, I am amazed," Asri told FMT. "It is very interesting that the EC is now mentioning religion even when there is already a fatwa on this. "Don't use Islam as an excuse and an obstacle to implementing actions that will bring justice. That's a very bad attitude." The issue of whether the ink would be allowed in Islam was raised recently by Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali. He said in Parliament that the ink might make ablutions invalid. The National Fatwa Council said in 2007 that the ink had been chemically tested and found to be free of substances considered impure in Islam, medically safe and porous enough to make ablutions valid. "The use of indelible ink is allowed," said Asri. "Otherwise in principle we can't use ordinary pens as well because the ink sticks everywhere. "The spirit of Islam is to seek justice. For me, where justice is concerned, even if there is no fatwa on the matter, Islam would accommodate it. "You have mechanics who deal with oils which cannot be washed off thoroughly or a policeman who has to work with dogs. If there are no other options and you absolutely have to work with it, then you may do so. "To me this is a simple issue which even a village religious teacher can answer. It is about justice."
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| Hospitals in Malacca out of medicine Posted: 06 Dec 2011 02:25 PM PST (The Star) - The state government has promised fresh supply of medicine at public hospitals following a shortage which caused misery to patients for nearly a month. State Health, Project Rehabilitation, Suburban Development and NGO committee chairman Datuk Seet Har Cheow assured the patients that the problem would be resolved by tomorrow. "The shortage of medicine has placed patients in a limbo. The state is addressing the situation," he said, adding that new supplies had been dispatched. "We expect things to normalise in a day or two." Seet blamed the shortage on "several inevitable factors" but said the state was in constant touch with the Health Ministry. "I can't divulge these factors. But I strongly dismiss allegations that medical personnel were hoarding the drugs and secretly supplying these to private pharmacies," he said, adding that the ministry was putting in place measures to prevent a recurrence. Asked if the quality of the medicine would be compromised in the rush to stock up, Seet said: "Health isn't something we gamble with." In Putrajaya, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the shortage should be dealt with immediately by the respective administrators. He, however, was not aware of the situation in Malacca. "It was not reported to me, but it shouldn't have happened," he said, adding that he had reminded all hospital and clinic administrative staff members to ensure there was enough stock. "Although hospitals and clinics can sometimes run out of medicine at the end of the year, they should have a plan to prevent it from happening," he said. Malacca Pensioner Associations chairman J. Ram said its 2,000 members, who relied heavily on public hospital medicine, had been left in the lurch. "Even pharmaceutical products to treat high-blood pressure patients were unavailable for almost a month," he said. "Many of us are elderly patients who cannot afford to get supplies from private pharmacies."
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| Pudu project must go to bumiputras Posted: 06 Dec 2011 01:42 PM PST By Andrew Nayagam, The Malay Mail KUALA LUMPUR: The government's bumiputra agenda must be followed at all cost — even if it means taxpayers do not get the best deal from development projects. This seems to be the conclusion to the testy Pudu Jail redevelopment issue as project owner, government linked company UDA Holdings Berhad (UDA), has been forced to return to the drawing board to select a bumiputra contractor. The Finance Ministry had mandated UDA to focus solely on bumiputra investors, inciting the ire of UDA chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohammed. Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin said the ministry and government want UDA to drop a foreign contractor hired for the project through a legitimate tender in favour of bumiputra companies. "This is where UDA's role is critical and the government's mandate must be followed," he said. "The government hopes for more bumiputras to be involved in redeveloping the city and we want to help them. Pudu Jail is one of the projects we are looking at. The bumiputra involvement in construction projects in the city is small. We want them to have more of an impact in this area," he said after launching UDA's 40 Years Corporate Stamp and opening the Ancasa Express Hotel in Pudu Sentral here, yesterday. Nur Jazlan told The Malay Mail UDA had been told to make a U-turn and look for bumiputra companies or individuals to breathe new life into the abandoned Pudu Jail and transform it into a commercial and transport hub. "This is despite receiving surefire profit-making proposal by four foreign companies," he said, taking a swipe at the ministry for rejecting an "excellent proposal" presented by a China-based company, Everbright Ltd, which had offered RM2.9 billion in building costs with projected annual returns of at least RM300 million to RM400 million. "Despite Everbright being backed by the Chinese government and with reserves of US$1.3b (RM4b), the offer was rejected and UDA was directed to look for bumiputra investors," he said. Nur Jazlan said bumiputra companies did not have the financial means of foreign companies. "Not many bumiputra companies are as big as UDA. There's a high chance those companies will be bailed out halfway," he said, adding UDA posted profits of RM40m this year with RM1b in assets. When asked if he felt his power as chairman had been undermined by the ministry, Nur Jazlan said: "My hands are tied. I cannot do anything about it. I'm forced to follow." It was learnt 15 companies had bid for the project on the 19.7 acre site. Of the five shortlisted, the sole bumiputra company was a construction company linked to an Umno politician. |
| Cleaning up not only about removing the dead, EC told Posted: 06 Dec 2011 01:38 PM PST (Harakah Daily) - PAS's vocal Youth wing has reminded the Election Commission that electoral reforms were not limited to only removing names of deceased voters in the electoral rolls. The wing's head Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi stressed that a clean, fair and transparent election could only take place when there was a high sense of commitment from the ruling government for electoral reforms, including allowing the opposition and dissenting views airtime over national television."It starts with the freedom for political parties to campaign without being restricted by mind-boggling laws against the spirit of democracy such as being practised by UMNO," Nasrudin said in a statement to Harakahdaily, and cited the existence of draconian laws such as the newly passed Peaceful Assembly bill, Official Secret Acts, Universities and University Colleges Act and the Internal Security Act. Yesterday, EC deputy chief Wan Ahmad Wan Omar (left) said the Commission was working with the National Registration Department to remove from the rolls the names of people who have died. In response to Wan Ahmad's guarantee that Malaysia would see the 'most up-to-date electoral rolls' for the 13th general election, Nasrudin called for more effort to clean up the electoral rolls besides working with the NRD. According to Nasrudin, the EC must also clean up overlapping voters with identical and suspicious names, as well as those with identical Mykad numbers, and other instances revealed by PAS Youth this year. "EC must also give guarantee that they will also clean up the election process so that it will not create doubts and suspicion to ensure transparency and fairness in election. Among others, the use of indelible ink and the abolishment of postal voting," he added. |
| Posted: 06 Dec 2011 01:33 PM PST By Selena Tay, FMT Our vote is very important and there's no measure of its worth. To illustrate this point further, here is how in 1969 MCA's late Tan Siew Sin campaigned for votes in the parliamentary seat of Bangsar by saying that there was no point whatsoever in voting for the Opposition (DAP's Goh Hock Guan). "The ordinary voter should remember that while a bigger opposition is all right in theory, in practice it means that those voters represented by opposition members will suffer, and suffer hideously, merely to enjoy the luxury of having someone there in Parliament scolding the government on their behalf," he said. The above quotation is taken from the bestseller by Dr Kua Kia Soong entitled "May 13" which was published in 2007. Knowing how precious each vote is, it is therefore not surprising that in order to win every general election, Barisan Nasional goes about soliciting votes by fair means or foul. Thus, it is of utmost importance to ensure that all the 10 recommendations proposed by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for electoral reform are implemented before the 13th general election takes place. Otherwise, the PSC is just a sham to con the public. However, these 10 proposals do not quite resemble Bersih 2.0′s demands except for the proposal to use indelible ink and the proposal to clean up the electoral rolls. As for the postal ballot, now it will be called "Advance Voting" but the essence is still the same, it is only the terminology that differs. Listed below are Bersih 2.0′s eight demands:
BN's greatest weapon What is more important is that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is silent on whether the polls will be held before the electoral reforms are implemented. This means that the polls can be called before the reforms take place. The prime minister is known to have lied before and he must not be allowed to dupe the public as he has so often done so in the past. The prime minister is one slippery character and those members of the public who have wised up to his tricks must watch him like a hawk to ensure that he does not employ any dubious tricks to pull the wool over the eyes of those who are gullible. DAP's Rasah MP Anthony Loke has highlighted cases of army voters in Negri Sembilan who have the same name and date of birth but using two different forms of identification (MyKad as well as the army registration number) in the voter roll. This will enable the said army man to vote twice in two different polling centres and thus he has two votes. Those undetected cases could be massive and this blatant abuse of the voting process by the armed forces personnel is tantamount to the destruction of democracy. Another suspicious account of hanky-panky in the Election Commission (EC) is in Lembah Pantai, the parliamentary seat of PKR's Nurul Izzah. On Sept 26, 2011, there were 149 registered postal voters but on Nov 2, 2011, the figure shot up to 2,180 postal voters (an increase of 1,363%)! Not only that but in Kampung Haji Abdullah Hukum where all the residents have moved out and the kampung is no longer in existence, the number of voters have increased from 3,204 to 3,300. Amazing indeed! There are many names in Nurul's constituency without address and these no doubt are phantom voters. Who is creating the names and MyKad numbers out of the blue? What is going on? In addition, there are unconfirmed reports that at least 200,000 dubious voters have been added to the voter rolls (at least 70,000 in Selangor and more than 50,000 in Penang)! If so, then not only will Pakatan Rakyat lose badly, Pakatan will be wiped out for sure!
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| KL property investment ranking slips in new survey Posted: 06 Dec 2011 01:32 PM PST By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider Kuala Lumpur's property outlook will continue to slide in 2012 while Singapore remains the most attractive Asia Pacific city for real estate investors, according to an Urban Land Institute (ULI) report. Kuala Lumpur's investment prospects slipped one spot to 16th out of 21 Asian cities tracked going into next year while development prospects dropped three places, also to 16th, the "Emerging Trends in Real Estate Asia Pacific 2012" outlook released yesterday said. Singapore topped the list despite a less positive environment and falling yields this year, and was the only city besides Shanghai considered to have "generally good" development prospects. Buying sentiment was stronger in Kuala Lumpur for retail and industrial property than in Singapore while the reverse was true for office, apartment and hotel property. The largest group of experts polled for the report recommended a hold on all property sectors in Kuala Lumpur next year, while a "sizable minority" backed acquisitions in all areas. "Construction financing (for Kuala Lumpur) might remain more limited as global economic concerned continue to linger," the report added. "However, government plans are in place to improve infrastructure over the coming years — always a boost for commercial real estate." It also said that despite recent declines investors still saw Malaysia's capital as "an emerging city of interest", noting that properties in the city were valued at one-fifth that of comparable properties in Singapore. Investors also predicted bullish growth in Malaysia, with the report predicting that national GDP growth would remain at five per cent or above through to 2015.
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| Act fast on Alstom bribery scandal probe, TI-M tells MACC Posted: 06 Dec 2011 01:30 PM PST By Debra Chong, The Malaysian Insider Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) today urged national anti-graft officials to work with Swiss authorities and to act quickly in the latest bribery scandal to arrest Malaysia's corruption perception slide. In a statement today, TI-M president Datuk Paul Low raised the questionable business dealings of French engineering giant Alstom in the country and called on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) "to leave no stone unturned" in investigating if there were such corrupt practices as alleged. It noted Alstom was fined €31 million (RM 130 million) by the Swiss Attorney General for failing to implement proper controls to prevent bribery in Malaysia, Latvia and Tunisia relating to payments to middlemen to secure government contracts to build power plants. "Given the continued slide in Malaysia's Corruption Perception Index ranking and score as shown in the 2011 results released last week, it is crucial that all efforts are made to address any allegations of corrupt practices immediately," Low said. He added that the commission must be allowed to conduct their investigations without fear or favour, and said any party that breached the MACC Act must be dealt with transparently in accordance with the law. Yesterday, scandal-hit Alstom denied it bribed an Umno veteran for a power plant project in Perlis as alleged. The French firm also declined comment when asked to confirm if its Malaysian executives were being investigated by national anti-graft officials over its connections to Tenaga Perlis Consortium (TTPC), a local company partly controlled by Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Pawanteh. In responding to The Malaysian Insider, Alstom maintained its stand that reported financial improprieties in its business dealings here were one of three isolated cases and were not the result of a "systematic bribery" endorsed by the company. "As underlined in the Swiss Attorney's conclusions, Malaysia is one of the cases where the company has been a victim of the misconduct of its employees," Beverly Ho, Alstom Malaysia's communications manager said in an email reply yesterday. It stressed that the company was fined by Swiss authorities for "corporate negligence in the past, not for having organised a corruption scheme". Abdul Hamid, a former Perlis mentri besar and Dewan Negara president who was reported to be directly implicated in Alstom's indictment for bribery in securing foreign contracts, also denied accepting monies. "I wish to categorically state that the allegations contained in the above report are totally baseless and malicious," Abdul Hamid said in a statement to The Malaysian Insider two days ago. He stressed that the company's board of directors, including Ti Chee Liang who was named in the Swiss court papers, did not receive "7.5 million Swiss francs (RM25.5 million) to help Alstom Malaysia secure a contract to build a power plant in Perlis in late 1995". The politician also disclosed that he was unaware of ongoing investigations into Alstom Malaysia by the Swiss authorities. "To date, I have not been notified or called by them to make any statements or provide any details. I am shocked that the Swiss authorities have accused Ti and me of wrongdoings, financial or otherwise.
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| With Selangor award, Utusan paints Hasan as PAS-Umno matchmaker Posted: 06 Dec 2011 01:28 PM PST By Melissa Chi, The Malaysian Insider Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia said today that former PAS state commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Ali's "Datuk Paduka" title award in conjunction with the Sultan Selangor's birthday this weekend will play a role in "marrying" Umno and PAS. Assistant Chief Editor Datuk Zaini Hassan, writing in his weekly column, said he was informed the Sultan recognises Hasan's role and saw him as a unifying factor for the Malays in Selangor. "In Selangor, the Dr Hasan factor is very important. His followers in PAS (who share the same views) are large in numbers. His influence among Malay civil servants in Selangor is also significant. "Both factors had given Dr Hasan advantages to bring about changes. Dr Hasan is able to make that marriage happen in order to uphold the sanctity of Islam and the wholeness of the Malays in Selangor. Selangor needs to be saved," Zaini said. He also pointed out that Hasan is the only Selangor executive councillor to receive the state medal from the Sultan, claiming he will be given the "Datuk Paduka Mahkota Selangor" title. This comes on the heels of the Umno general assembly last week pronouncing that PAS cannot supplant Umno as the political guardians of the Malay community. Then, Umno also took to accusing DAP leaders of marginalising Malays in Pakatan Rakyat states and challenging the sanctity of Islam as the country's "official religion". Hasan, who is in charge of the state's Islamic affairs portfolio, previously defended a raid by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church in August, claiming there was proselytisation of Muslims on the premises. Widely seen as a religious conservative, Hasan has been at odds with the ruling PR state government's seemingly liberal policies on several occasions, most notably his push for a beer sale ban in the country's most developed state earlier this year.
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| New Causeway toll likely fodder for Pakatan in Johor Posted: 06 Dec 2011 11:12 AM PST By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider A new toll for the Causeway next year making it six times as expensive for roundtrips between Johor Baru and Singapore is set to be a major election issue in the Umno bastion and birthplace of Johor. The Malaysian Insider understands project owner Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) has proposed a RM9.10 toll in each direction for passenger vehicles using its RM1 billion Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) highway from the Causeway to the immigration post. However, the Umno-linked company is using an open toll system that charges the full fare at the new Custom, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) checkpoint regardless of where motorists exit or enter the highway — the latest facility for the ambitious Iskandar zone that celebrates its five-year anniversary this weekend. The rest of the 8.1km stretch leading to the Pandan interchange of the North-South Highway will be free to local motorists. With Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak set to call a general election soon, sources said Putrajaya may be forced to delay or subsidise the toll that could be up to six times the current charge for roundtrips across the one kilometre bridge spanning both countries. MRCB officials briefed the media and local stakeholders yesterday ahead of plans to launch the highway and tollbooths built at the CIQ complex in the first quarter of 2012. The Malaysian Insider also learnt that local business leaders were concerned that, with the new CIQ already taking Singaporean tourists away from downturn Johor Baru, the EDL will see them skip the more inland Tebrau area as well. Taxi drivers also called for an exemption as it would otherwise be unfeasible to ferry passengers across the Causeway. When contacted by The Malaysian Insider, an MRCB spokesman said "we cannot comment on the toll because that is up to the government." However, the spokesman confirmed that toll will be levied on vehicles heading in both directions across the Causeway but local motorists within Johor be able to use the EDL free of charge. "MRCB insists it won't be major election issue but they refuse to make any statement on pricing. It will be suicide for the government to introduce the toll before elections," a source close to the project told The Malaysian Insider. Over 50,000 vehicles cross the bridge daily, mostly Malaysians living in and around the state capital who commute to the island republic to work. Johor Baru's economy is also heavily reliant on Singaporeans who cross the Straits of Johor to enjoy cheaper prices there. Putrajaya set up the Iskandar zone five years ago to turn Johor Baru and its surrounding region into an economic growth area catering to the spillover from Singapore. Cars and lorries exiting Singapore and heading into Johor now pay RM2.90 and RM5.50 respectively to use the bridge while motorcycles, which make up more than half of traffic across the Causeway, are exempt from the toll. Singapore's Straits Times reported in 2008 that the toll charges for the EDL will range from RM6.20 for passenger vehicles to RM12.40 for lorries entering Malaysia. But with commuters being charged the combined fare in both directions, roundtrips on the 88-year-old bridge will cost five times more. The English-language daily reported that rates will be raised every three years of the 30-year concession and will peak at RM14.60 for passenger vehicles and RM29.20 for lorries.
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| Malaysia backsliding in graft war, says Kit Siang Posted: 06 Dec 2011 11:11 AM PST By Lisa J Ariffin, The Malaysian Insider Malaysia is losing ground in the fight against graft and risks slipping behind China, infamous for its endemic corruption, DAP's Lim Kit Siang warned today. Lim was responding to a report released by Transparency International (TI), in which Malaysia's Corruption Perception Index (CPI) dropped for the third year running — slipping to 4.3 this year — leaving it in 60th place out of 183 countries, compared with 37th when Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over as prime minister in 2003. "Other countries which had been down on the list of the TI CPI ranking are fast catching up while Malaysia is fast falling down," Lim said today in a statement, citing China in particular. "At the annual average rate of China's improvement and Malaysia's regression... China will not only catch up but will leave Malaysia behind... In the matter of four years," he added. Lim said the 1 Malaysia Government Transformation Plan Roadmap under the ruling government released in January 2010 admitted that the perception of corrupt practices in Malaysia had risen in recent years, adding that the target was to increase "our CPI score from 4.5 to 4.9" by 2010. "The anti-corruption NKRA target was another colossal failure... Malaysia's CPI score for three years from 2009 to 2011 was 4.5, 4.4, 4.3 — all three the lowest scores ever registered in Malaysia," he said. "This is most deplorable... There must be change of federal government in the next general elections as only a Pakatan Rakyat government in Putrajaya will have the political will to carry out a serious, committed and uncompromising anti-corruption programme," he added |
| RCI for Sabah now, not after polls Posted: 06 Dec 2011 11:08 AM PST By Queville To, FMT KOTA KINABALU: An opposition MP has warned Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak not to delay setting up the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate claims that citizenship was given to foreigners in exchange for their votes. Sepanggar MP Eric Majimbun said Najib must resolve the long standing issue of the almost two million illegal immigrants in Sabah, their citizenship and Project IC scheme. The alleged scheme was set up to change the electoral composition of the state along communal lines. "Those culprits who are involved in Project IC should be brought to justice according to the existing laws, as these people are the traitors of the country and Sabah in particular," he said. He said to allow the next general election to be called without investigating the allegations would be perpetuating a fraud. "To go ahead and call for the 13th general election without investigating the issues would call into question the election itself,"added. Majimbun stressed that an impartial investigation was crucial to help clean the much-maligned electoral rolls, in line with Najib's pledge to push through electoral reforms. "If the government can allow the establishment of RCI to probe individual-related issues like that of Teoh Beng Hock's mysterious death and that of a lawyer like VK Linggam, why can't the same be done to resolve the perennial issue of the presence of hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants who have obtained the MyKad through dubious means like the Project IC, which is threatening the sovereignty of Sabah and affecting the well-being of its people?" he asked. Majimbun also challenged Umno and the Chief Minister Musa Aman as the chairman of Sabah Barisan Nasional and the State Security Council to take a stand on the call for the establishment of the RCI on the matter. Only Umno against RCI The outspoken MP denied Musa's allegations that the opposition were 'merely capitalizing' on the RCI to score political points. "We are not capitalizing on the RCI. This is not about scoring political points. Project IC is an irresponsible and unreasonable act. "It is the Umno leaders who are playing politics regardless of the outcome for Sabah and its people. "(Notice how) none of the Sabah delegates who spoke in the recent Umno annual general assembly had supported the calls for the setting up of the RCI. "Whereas almost all political parties in Sabah including several component parties of Barisan Nasional (except Umno) too have expressed their support demanding for the establishment of the RCI by the federal government, " said Majimbun who is also Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) deputy president.
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| Heat over satellite dish crackdown in Sabah Posted: 06 Dec 2011 11:06 AM PST By Azman Habu, FMT TAWAU: The seizure of 193 satellite dishes around Sabah by the Customs Department has drawn into the spotlight the federal government's continued bias towards KL-based satellite service provider Astro and its victimizing of Sabahans. Deputy Chief Minister Dr Yee Moh Chai as well as several senior opposition leaders, in voicing their shock, have also branded the seizures as "ridiculous". "After all we are subscribing to the Prime Minister's 'People First Performance Now' dictum," he said after making known his unhappiness with federal government's continued policy of not allowing people to use parabolic satellite dishes. The state Customs Department announced over the weekend it had launched crackdown on the use of unapproved satellite dishes last month under Customs Act 1967. Those caught in possession are liable to a fine of not less than 10 times the value of the seized items or imprisonment of up to three years or both. A total of 64 dishes were confiscated from residences in the districts of Beaufort, Papar, Kota Kinabalu, 76 in Keningau and Tambunan and 48 in Tawau, department deputy director Hamzah Sundang said on Saturday. Each dish costs between RM300 to RM500 making the total seizures worth about RM200,000. Yee, who is also Sabah Resource Development and Information Technology Minister, said it was absurd that the use of such dishes was still banned in a borderless world. "We should accept the fact that the world is getting smaller. For a runner, for example, they cannot be asked to use only one type of shoes. We cannot allow a monopoly," he told the reporters here. Astro monopoly criticized He said preventing people from using any satellite dishes apart from those supplied by Astro did not make sense and was also a monopolistic exercise condoned by the government. Yee said that the rational for not allowing the public to use such dishes in the past was because the federal government wanted to control information. "But now people can access information from anywhere," he said, adding that disallowing the use of satellite dishes "is like the ostrich burying its head in the sand … it is not tenable and against the interests of the nation." Sabah DAP leader Jimmy Wong also slammed the seizures as an affront to freedom of information. He said there was nothing wrong in people buying parabolic dishes as they are doing what the government wants them to tap on more information to gain more knowledge and achieve the government's vision of becoming a fully developed nation by 2020. "Parabolic dishes are cheap and can help people gather three to four times more information than is available. In China there are more than 100 stations. "The government should get rid of the policy prohibiting the people from using these dishes," he said. He also criticized the monopoly held by Astro. "At the moment we are only limited to Astro … there is no competition, a total monopoly. "If the government really means the words – 'People First' – the government should be open to other satellite channel providers, just like the many cellular phone companies.
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| Court sets Dec 12 and 13 for sodomy trial submissions Posted: 06 Dec 2011 09:31 AM PST (Bernama) -- The High Court here has set new dates, Dec 12 and 13, for submissions at the end of the defence case of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial. Justice Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah set the dates after meeting both the prosecution and defence teams in his chambers on Tuesday after Anwar's lead counsel Karpal Singh wrote to the court this morning requesting the matter be postponed to Monday.
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| Export slump may hit Malaysia growth in 2012, says ADB Posted: 06 Dec 2011 07:47 AM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has forecast growth of 4.7 per cent for Malaysia next year, down slightly from 4.8 per cent in 2011, due to a potential slump in exports to the advanced economies of US and Europe. The bank said in its report on Asia macroeconomic development released today that while US economic growth could strengthen somewhat, the euro zone will likely fall into either a brief recession or a more severe long-term downturn. In its assessment of country vulnerabilities, the bank noted that Malaysia's fiscal deficit of over five per cent of GDP last year was higher than several other regional economies such as Thailand (two per cent), Singapore (0.1 per cent) and Indonesia (0.7 per cent). Only Cambodia (six per cent), Brunei (eight per cent) and Vietnam (eight per cent) had higher fiscal deficit ratios. Malaysian government officials have maintained GDP growth projections of between five and six per cent for next year thanks partly to the implementation of projects identified in the Economic Transformation Programme and strong commodity prices which will boost spending in rural areas. Most research houses, however, expect Malaysia to grow between three and five per cent. The World Bank said last month that Malaysia's economy is expected to slow further in the remainder of 2011 and into early 2012 mainly due to a deterioration in the outlook for external demand and expects a growth of 4.9 per cent next year. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its September report had forecast a growth of 5.2 per cent this year and 5.1 per cent in 2012 for Malaysia. Malaysia's third quarter growth surpassed expectations to grow at 5.8 per cent thanks to robust domestic demand. A global economic slowdown may also hit oil prices, a commodity which Malaysia relies heavily on.
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| 'CCM being abused to prop up Isa' Posted: 05 Dec 2011 07:28 PM PST (Harakah Daily) - Felda Settlers' Children Association (ANAK) is claiming that the Federal government is involved in the manipulation of Felda's cooperative wing Koperasi Permodalan Felda (KPF), including in the controversial appointment of former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar and current Felda chairman Isa Samad (right) to head KPF. ANAK chairman Mazlan Aliman said the government was also meddling in the affairs of the Cooperative Commission of Malaysia in its bid to ensure Felda Global Venture Holding's listing at the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange."It seems like the government is bent on manipulating all agencies including CCM to ensure Isa not only becomes member of KPF, but also its chairman to ensure the successful listing of Felda Global Venture Holding (FHVH) at Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange," Mazlan told Harakahdaily. He added that reliable information had been received about CCM's backing to Isa ahead of KPF's extraordinary annual meeting on January 5, 2012. ANAK, he said, would apply for a court injunction to stop the meeting from taking place. Mazlan, who is also PAS central committee member, said ANAK disagreed with CCM's approval of Isa as a KPF member citing he was not qualified. Last October 18, a report was lodged by Bangkit, another whistleblower group within Felda, against CCM over the appointment of Isa, a non-employee of Felda, as KPF chairman. It was understood that after Isa and his lawyers met with CCM, the commission made an about-turn and accepted Isa. "This is a cunning move by Isa Samad and it raises suspicions," said Mazlan (left). Isa's chairman status Mazlan also pointed out that Isa's status as Felda chairman was being disputed following a letter sent by CCM three days ago to Bangkit chairman Abdul Rahman Ramli which stated that Isa's appointment had yet to be confirmed. "However, a letter by the prime minister's private secretary implied that Isa has been confirmed as Felda chairman. We demand an explanation about Isa's status," he added. Last October, Isa, once suspended for money politics during UMNO party polls, created an uproar within the Felda community after he was said to have self-appointed himself based on a recommendation letter by prime minister Najib Razak. |
| Zaid Ibrahim’s KITA opts out of polls, to back Pakatan Posted: 05 Dec 2011 07:26 PM PST By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider KITA, a party founded by former Umno-turned-PKR politician Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, announced today it will not be contesting in the coming polls and promised to offer its "unconditional support" to the federal opposition. In a statement posted on its website today, the party said it had decided to reverse its earlier decision to contest in the polls as it wanted to maintain solidarity with the opposition and not jeopardise its chances. "Whilst we disagree with some of the opposition's policies, we believe that despite these shortcomings the opposition will not destroy racial harmony in Malaysia ... unity demands that smaller parties, such as ourselves, give way to larger political parties to ensure optimum results in the election," it said. The party also came out in defence of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) amid the ongoing barrage of Umno-led attacks against DAP as a "racist" party. During the just-concluded Umno annual general meeting (AGM), delegates took turns to warn against DAP's purported dominance in PR, claiming if the pact claims Putrajaya, the Malays would lose power to the Chinese. Calling the accusations "dangerous and irresponsible", KITA said the statements would only widen current divisions in society. |
| Posted: 05 Dec 2011 04:25 PM PST Only BN can safeguard position of Malays and Islam, says PM |
| Nurul Izzah: ‘Balai Polis Kerinchi’ a voter in Lembah Pantai Posted: 05 Dec 2011 02:33 PM PST By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar claimed today that there were 97 discrepancies in the Lembah Pantai postal voters' list, including one voter with the name "Balai Polis Kerinchi". The MP for the constituency told reporters today that while the identity card number RF161872 corresponded to a Mohd Faizul Mohd Yusop on the Election Commission's (EC) online database, "Balai Polis Kerinchi is on the official electoral roll that will be used." "We don't know if it's Balai bin Polis Kerinchi or Balai Polis bin Kerinchi," she said. "This is the gazette for the third quarter. If elections are held tomorrow, this is the list we will use." She also claimed 96 other errors in the list of 2,180 postal voters such as ICs that were not on the EC's online database, voters who can cast their ballot in two constituencies and also two different places in Lembah Pantai itself. Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has repeatedly complained of errors in the electoral roll with DAP Youth chief Anthony Loke recently claiming that military ICs were used to register both a male and female postal voter each. Tens of thousands had poured into the streets of the capital to demand free and fair elections in the July 9 Bersih rally that resulted in a bipartisan parliamentary select committee to improve the electoral system. The panel made 10 interim recommendations last week including the use of indelible ink to prevent multiple voting, a royal commission on allegations of foreigners being given the right to vote in Sabah and allowing Malaysians residing overseas to vote.
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| PM: Asia has fastest growing defence expenditure Posted: 05 Dec 2011 02:31 PM PST (The Star) - LANGKAWI: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak opened the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2011 (LIMA '11), underscoring that defence and security are of paramount importance to regional and national strategic interests. The Prime Minister pointed out that defence and security ensured not only territorial integrity but also the sovereignty that all countries hold dear. He said that Asia today enjoyed the fastest-growing economy in the world, and defence expenditure was no exception. "Aerospace and maritime spending is surging, and is set to rise yet further as governments continue to tackle both traditional and non-traditional security threats," he said at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC). More than 400 companies from 35 countries at taking part in the 11th edition of LIMA. Najib said the government would provide the best tools for the men and women in uniform as "there can be no doubting (their) bravery and heroism." "That means giving them the latest, safest, most cutting-edge equipment capable of meeting the challenges of modern warfare." He noted that LIMA was not just about the latest military technology as it was also about the commercial sectors of the maritime and aerospace industries which were exhibiting here for the first time. Over half of the world's top 100 maritime and aerospace suppliers are present for the show. According to LIMA organisers, on display are 65 aircraft as well as 14 warships from around the world. |
| Posted: 05 Dec 2011 02:29 PM PST By Pauline Wong, The Sun PETALING JAYA (Dec 6, 2011): The suppliers of Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M), which has been hit by food item recalls, will not be punished for mislabelling the products – despite this being an offence under two food laws. Health Ministry director-general Datuk Seri Hasan Abdul Rahman confirmed that the KR1M management has been told to remove 13 affected products from its shelves and relabel them accordingly. Mislabelling or providing inaccurate information on a product's nature and content is an offence under the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985. Those found guilty face a fine or three years jail term under the Food Act, and RM5,000 fine and maximum two years' jail, or both under the Food Regulations 1985. Pressed again if KR1M suppliers will be charged, Hasan replied, "No, we have asked them to relabel the affected products." However, the decision not to charge KR1M has riled the Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (Fomca), whose president Datuk Marimuthu Nadason berated the ministry for its lack of action. "Shame on the Health Ministry for not taking firm action. The law is the law. There can be no double-standards (in this matter). "Our food regulations are some of the best in Asia but if they look good only on paper, without implementation, you might as well disregard them," he said. A senior official of the Domestic Trade, Consumerism and Cooperatives Ministry, which oversees the KR1M initiative nationwide, said it had no jurisdiction over food items. The officer, however, said, "We are serious about asking suppliers to adhere to Health Ministry regulations." The officer said the mislabelling could be a mistake born of ignorance as many suppliers were small-medium enterprises and stressed that it was not a food safety issue. However, Marimuthu claimed mislabelling was not the only concern and hit out at the management of KR1M, which sells generic household items and foodstuff at up to 50% cheaper than other house brands. "We want those who are responsible for these stores to follow the standards and regulations as laid out in the Food Act and Food Regulations," he said. He said the intention might have been noble, but the products must be capable of building "confidence" among consumers or it would go to waste. The products sold at the KR1M came under scrutiny after several opposition MPs raised issues of contamination, misleading food labels and products not compliant with regulations. On Saturday, the Health Ministry ordered 13 KR1M branded products – fresh milk, sweetened condensed creamer, condensed milk, oyster-flavoured sauce, fruit jam, canned chicken curry, mango cordial, ghee compounds, peanuts, peanut butter and sardines – removed from the shelves for relabelling. It also confirmed that the KR1M fresh milk tested positive for E. coli bacteria contamination, a strain of bacteria which cause food poisoning. Following this, KR1M management said in a statement on Sunday that it will re-test some 250 products. It said the tests for all 250 1Malaysia products would cost up to RM300,000 and be borne by the suppliers and manufacturers. Marimuthu said Fomca had tested the products and will present its results to the Domestic Trade, Consumerism and Cooperatives Ministry on Thursday. He did not reveal what the tests were, but said he would clear up the matter and seek assurance of consumer safety. When contacted, Mydin Mohamad Holdings managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin said the management had taken appropriate action to address concerns, starting with recalling the mislabelled products. Mydin manages the KR1M stores, including supplies. "Like any responsible retailer, when there is an issue with the products, the priority is to recall the products and return to the market as soon as possible," he said. He dismissed concerns over food safety, insisting that it was only mislabelling, and added that some of the products had been relabelled and put back on the shelves. Ameer Ali said consumers who bought any of the 13 recalled products could return them for a full refund. |
| Pua ‘shoots’ down ‘arrogant’ Zahid Posted: 05 Dec 2011 02:26 PM PST By Stephanie Sta Maria, FMT PETALING JAYA: Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi came under heavy fire from the opposition for "arrogantly" shooting down a bi-partisan parliamentary oversight committee on defence expenditure. Petaling Jaya Utara DAP MP, Tony Pua, launched the salvo at Ahmad Zahid, saying the latter's "contemptuous arrogance" proved the ministry's "complete lack of interest" in transparency and accountability. Pakatan Rakyat has pushed for the setting up of such a committee in the wake of unexplained multi-billion ringgit defence deals involving the ministry. But Ahmad Zahid attacked the recommendation yesterday, declaring his confidence in the ability and transparency of the evaluation committee of the three branches of the Malaysian Armed Forces. He added that as such, scrutiny of defence deals by the opposition was unnecessary. In a press statement today, Pua retaliated, saying that Ahmad Zahid's statement explained why Malaysia had received a dismal "transparency" rating. In the inaugural "Transparency of Defence Budgets Report last month, Transparancy International (TI) gave Malaysia a rating of only 4.5 points out of a maximum of 12. "Malaysia is ranked alongside Afghanistan, Rwanda, Georgia and Azerbaijan in the report, well below other countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea," Pua said. "The results of the research indicate that some 14 percent of the countries under review in this study scored high and these are primarily developed countries with strong democratic systems in place." Secret programmes The director of the International Defence and Security Program for TI in United Kingdom, Mark Pyman, had explained that Malaysia ranked far below other countries because the (defence) budget lacked details and no audits were undertaken of the secret programmes. Pua also said that Ahmad Zahid's disdain towards transparency and accountability was clearly evident in his reply to Pua's question on the ministry's purchase of 257 armoured personnel carriers. Pua, who is also DAP national publicity secretary, had demanded an explanation for the gap between the RM7.55 billion paid for the carriers to Deftech Sdn Bhd and the RM1.7 billion that Deftech would later pay to Turkish defence manufacturer, FNSS Defences Systems, for the same items. Deftech is a subsidiary of DRB-Hicom Bhd based in Pekan, Pahang, a company controlled by Syed Mokhtar Syed Bokhari. "The minister had acknowledged the above transactions, but had the gall to claim 'no knowledge' of the Deftech-FNSS transactions and wasn't able to explain the difference between the two contracts," Pua said. "He (Ahmad Zahid) was also not forthcoming in explaining other sizeable transactions such as the RM6 billion purchase of six second generation patrol vessels as well as the RM2.3 billion acquisition of 12 Eurocopter EC725 helicopters."
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| Kit Siang demands Najib, Cabinet explain CPI rankings slide Posted: 05 Dec 2011 02:24 PM PST By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider The Prime Minister and his entire Cabinet must explain Malaysia's poor Corruption Perception Index (CPI) ranking as it cannot continue to remain "the elephant in the room" for the government, Lim Kit Siang said today. In a report released by Transparency International (TI), Malaysia's CPI dropped for the third year running, slipping to 4.3 this year, leaving it in 60th place out of 183 countries compared with 37th place when Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over as prime minister in 2003. "Datuk Seri Najib Razak should give a full and detailed explanation as to why after 32 months of his premiership, Malaysia has suffered the national ignominy of the worst-ever ranking of No. 60 and lowest-ever score of 4.3 in TI CPI 2011 for the past 17 years.
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| Fernandes: We didn’t ask for new baggage system Posted: 05 Dec 2011 12:54 PM PST AirAsia denies requesting Malaysian Airports Holdings Bhd for a sophisticated baggage handling system. (Free Malaysia Today) - AirAsia chief executive officer, Tony Fernandes, in a tweet this morning denied requesting Malaysian Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) for a sophisticated baggage handling system (BHS) to be installed in Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2). "The baggage system is a red herring by MAB. We didn't ask for it. But whatever it is, it didn't cost RM3.9 billion. Or delay terminal by almost two years," he said. KLIA2, or commonly referred as the New Low-Cost Carrier Terminal project, was announced in 2010 and was originally slated to be completed in April next year to accommodate 30 to 35 million passengers. Fernandes' statement comes after MAHB released two letters signed by Tony and MAHB's CEO and managing director Bashir Ahmad. In the letter dated June 16, 2011, Fernandes stated that he would prefer installation of the most sophisticated fully automated BHS (baggage handling system) in KLIA2, reported the New Straits Times today.
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| MACC panel: Foreigners not needed Posted: 05 Dec 2011 10:00 AM PST By T K Letchumy Tamboo, The Malay Mail KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) advisory panel has lambasted the proposal by the Selangor government to bring in foreign experts to investigate the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal. They believe such a move would be "a disgrace and an insult" to the institution, and any foreign assistance should be used only as a last resort. Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim yesterday declared the State government's willingness to hire foreign experts to probe the NFC issue. MACC advisory committee member Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas said the move would be demeaning and humiliating to the institution. "It will be a very sad day if all our national scandals are going to be investigated by foreign experts. It just portrays and reflects our weaknesses," he told The Malay Mail in a telephone. Megat Najmuddin said the proposal by the Selangor government was a "politicisation of sorts". "Face it, our society is now split to two. One is the Opposition and the other is the government. This is a proposal to try to politicise the enforcement of law in the country and it is not right," he said. "If they are not happy, there are certain ways to express it and there are certain ways to express it and there are certain ways to do it. We have had countless Royal Commissions of Inquiry (RCI) and they could have suggested to have one for the NFC controversy." Megat Najmuddin also said the NFC scandal may be a misuse of funds and not really a criminal case. "I do not see any criminality in the NFC sacndal. The police have said there is no criminality involved in it. The MACC has also said there is no evidence of corruption in the issue and as such it is not under their jurisdiction," he said. "There may be a misuse of funds but that's not even a crime. If you take a loan from a bank and use it for other purposes, how could it possibly be a crime? Exhaust all local avenues first "We cannot simply convict people based on suspicion and hearsay. I have no idea what the Selangor government is screaming about. They are just trying to politicise the whole issue." Former chairman of the MACC panel on prevention and consultation Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam felt it was not proper or fair at this stage for any political group to invite foreign experts to investigate the NFC scandal. "This issue must be approached professionally and not politically. If the MACC is not investigating the matter further, then it should be left to the police," he said. "Only after that investigation in Malaysia should other avenues be sought." Ramon said that in the event of dissatisfaction on the outcome of the initial investigation, there would be nothing to prevent any parties from starting investigations on their own, be it with foreign experts' help or without. "We have to follow our own traditional methods with integrity and transparency," he said. MACC advisory board member Tan Sri Simon Sipaun, who offered his personal views, said the proposal may mean that the Selangor government lack confidence in the MACC. "They may not have faith in us but it is their prerogative to bring in foreign experts," he said. "MACC, upon its investigation, found that the scandal has no elements of corruption and that was why they passed the baton to the police in the fi rst place. "I think, from what I read in the newspaper reports, this whole controversy is just an abuse of public funds." |
| Malaysia Moving Steadily Toward Cloud Posted: 05 Dec 2011 09:49 AM PST By Roger Strukhoff, Sys-Con Media Malaysia seems to be moving steadily toward cloud computing, at least according to results of the latest Cloud Maturity Index study conducted by Forrester Research on behalf of WMware's Singapore office. Of the 158 Malaysian companies surveyed, 64% respondents said they have deployed or are actively planning cloud initiatives. Insurance companies led the way among current deployers with 67% reporting current cloud initiatives. The education sector led among groups planning to deploy, with a positive response rate of 69%. These results can be viewed in context with research earlier this year by Asia Cloud, a non-profit based in Hong Kong. This organization's Cloud Readiness Index, which considered more than a dozen factors, ranked Malaysia in seventh place in Asia. Malaysia emerges as a star performer overall in the Tau Index research I've been conducting over the past year. In my research, I weigh a number of technology and social measurements into a recipe that delivers a "pound-for-pound" ranking of national ICT expenditures. This mixed bag results in a strong overall ranking for Malaysia within the Tau Index. The country has its shortcomings, to be sure, but is clearly headed in the right direction. It's the prototype "not-quite-highly-developed" nation. It also leads the pack among its immediate neighbors, with the exception of the wealthy Singaporean city-state. |
| Chua told to apologise over latest anti-Islam jibe Posted: 05 Dec 2011 09:44 AM PST (Harakah Daily) - Muslim youth group ABIM today joined PAS leaders in condemning MCA president Chua Soi Lek's latest 'Islamophobic' statement that Islamic laws would drive away investors from the country. ABIM secretary-general Mohamad Raimi Ab Rahim also expressed the movement's disappointment over "failure by certain quarters to give him (Chua) the necessary information" on the subject of hudud and Islamic laws.Yesterday, Chua (right), whose statements deriding Islamic customs went unpunished by the authorities, told his party's forum called "Hudud and its Implications on non-Muslims" that Islamic laws were not fair to women and contravened human rights because it prescribed 'cruel' punishments for serious crimes. To prove his theory, Chua said Genting, which hosts Malaysia's only casino in Genting Highlands, Pahang, would be shut down by PAS resulting the loss of 15,000 jobs, 20 million tourists and RM1 billion in taxes. "Then we will have difficulty in attracting investment and even existing investors may pull out," said the former Health minister, who resigned after a video clip of him engaging in sex with a Chinese prostitute became public. According to Raimi, Chua's statement not only exposed his ignorance and malicious intentions which could spark tensions among adherents of different religions, but also his disrespect towards Muslim sensitivities. Urging the authorities to take action against Chua, ABIM said he should publicly apologise to Muslims in the country. PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man meanwhile said Chua's criticisms of Islamic laws were nothing new, and said it was more disappointing to note UMNO's approval of his remarks by remaining silent. "Having failed to convince the Chinese community to support BN, he now resorts to lambasting the hudud laws. But what is really sad is that UMNO chooses to remain silent amid the ongoing insults," said Tuan Ibrahim. Referring to the now familiar claim by UMNO leaders that PAS was being exploited by DAP to undermine Islam, Tuan Ibrahim (left) pointed out that Chua's latest derogatory remarks about Islamic laws only proved who was being exploited. He said Chua had been over the years been emboldened by UMNO's criticisms of hudud enactments in Kelantan and Terengganu which it dismissed as deviation from Islamic laws. "PAS has repeatedly urged them to show us where we had committed the error (in the enactments). If what we enacted is not the true hudud as alleged, then UMNO should enact the true hudud enactments and we at PAS will definitely support them," said Tuan Ibrahim. 'UMNO Ustads sell their souls' PAS Central Committee member Dzulkefly Ahmad (left) said UMNO leaders should instead try to allay fears about Islam among the non-Muslims, but were doing the opposite. "Islam is lambasted on MCA's stage for the sake of popularity in the next general election," said Dzulkefly, referring to UMNO's representatives Kamal Saidi and Fathul Bari Mat Jahaya, who participated in the anti-hudud forum. "Clearly, UMNO would do anything including selling off Islam to gain a few votes while the men of religion in UMNO sell their souls for MCA's sake," said the Kuala Selangor member of parliament. Earlier, the anti-hudud forum by MCA saw the withdrawal of Muslim non-governmental organisation Islamic Renaissance Front, saying the BN party attempted to use it for its narrow political agenda. "At no certain terms would we have agreed to participate in this forum if the intention of MCA was made clear to us beforehand. We agreed on good faith that there would be an intellectual discussion on this issue. However it seems that Dr Chua Soi Lek has twisted the facts and turned it to become a front supporting the Prime Minister and anti-opposition," said IRF director Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa. This was followed by another NGO slamming Chua for trying to make political mileage. "I accepted the invitation in good faith, based on the understanding that it will be an open discussion on the topic. I did not expect the MCA president to suddenly turn the forum into a propaganda briefing," said Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs's Wan Saiful Wan Jan. |
| Karpal: Datukships put DAP in ‘awkward spot’ Posted: 05 Dec 2011 09:40 AM PST (The Star) - DAP national chairman Karpal Singh regrets that two party leaders had accepted the Datukship awards bestowed on them by their respective Rulers, reported Nanyang Siang Pau. He said Perak DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and Selangor Assembly Speaker Datuk Teng Chang Khim's acceptance of the award had put the party in an "awkward spot". "Their acceptance was not in line with the party's stand and principle as only party members who had retired or were not politically active are allowed to accept titles," he said. Ngeh and Teng were conferred titles in 2008 and 2010 respectively. Asked if their refusal would be perceived as an insult to the Rulers, Karpal said it was the party's stand and therefore, would not be deemed an insult.
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| Choose wrongly at nation’s peril, Najib warns voters Posted: 05 Dec 2011 09:38 AM PST By A Ruban, The Star SHAH ALAM: Choose the wrong side in the coming general election and risk the nation going downhill, warned Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Citing Barisan Nasional's impressive track record, Najib said only the current coalition knew how to rule the nation and take it to greater heights. "If we miscalculate and choose the wrong side, our country could very much end up like Greece. What Barisan built today could be destroyed in a flash if the wrong side rules the country tomorrow. "We may be strong now and we may have good resources, but we could face a similar predicament like Greece if the wrong side is chosen," he said at the Islamic Propagation and Welfare Organisation of Malaysia (Pekida) assembly here yesterday. Referring to the Opposition as "they", Najib said most plans made by them were against the nation's development and focused more on seizing power. "They are not in power yet but are already criticising the Malay rulers and expressing hope to change the Jalur Gemilang. "In the civil service, they have said that hundreds of civil servants would be stopped from working when they come to power," he added. Unlike the Opposition, Najib said Barisan was concentrating on developing the nation for the benefit of the people. He cited the RM100 assistance to students and RM500 to all households with incomes of less than RM3,000 as among the good deeds done by the Barisan government. "Poor families and students are given assistance. There's more room for improvement, especially in the rural areas. "For this, we will continue to ensure that the gap between the rich and poor is narrower," he said. Najib added that he was confident that Barisan would triumph once again in the coming election. "As a prime minister, I will continue to do the best for the people and we will not step back. "We will show that Barisan can do it because only with us, you can dream of a fisherman's son or farmer's son to be a minister or CEO of a big company," Najib said, pointing at Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar, who he said came from a poor family. Commenting on the assembly, Najib said it was the job of Pekida to ensure that Malay rights were taken care of. He noted that Pekida had been on track and had been doing a good job in championing Malay rights. "Pekida must continue to flex its muscles and bring up the Malays in the country," he said. |
| Ex-Perlis MB denies graft claims over power plant Posted: 05 Dec 2011 09:32 AM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Despite a finding by Swiss authorities after exhaustive investigations, Umno veteran Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Pawanteh has denied accepting a bribe from French engineering giant Alstom for a power plant in Perlis. The former Perlis mentri besar and Dewan Negara president was responding to the Singapore's Straits Times that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officials raided his Teknologi Tenaga Perlis Consortium's (TTPC) office last week as he was directly implicated in Alstom's indictment for bribery in securing foreign contracts. "I wish to categorically state that the allegations contained in the above report are totally baseless and malicious," Abdul Hamid (picture) said in a statement to The Malaysian Insider last night. He stressed that the company's board of directors, including Ti Chee Liang who was named in the Swiss court papers, did not receive "7.5 million Swiss francs (RM25.5 million) to help Alstom Malaysia secure a contract to build a power plant in Perlis in late 1995". "I confirm that no monies were received by any Board members including me," the Umno veteran said. Abdul Hamid explained that the decision to award the contract was unanimous and the contract was later awarded on November 30, 1999 when he was the board chairman. He was Perlis mentri besar between 1986 and 1995 before being made TTPC board chairman from 1996 to 2005. The politician also disclosed that he was unaware of ongoing investigations into Alstom Malaysia by the Swiss authorities. "To date, I have not been notified or called by thern to make any statements or provide any details. I am shocked that the Swiss authorities have accused Ti and me of wrongdoings, financial or otherwise. "For this reason, I have instructed solicitors in Switzerland to initiate proceedings to clear my name. I welcome any investigation pertaining to these baseless allegations," Abdul Hamid said in his statement. In the report picked up by The Malaysian Insider, the Singapore Straits Times said both Abdul Hamid and his former business partner Ti were singled out in the criminal summons against Alstom. According to ST, Alstom was fined €31 million (RM130 million) by the Swiss Attorney-General two weeks ago for failing to implement proper controls to prevent bribery by company executives in Malaysia, Latvia and Tunisia, an offence under Swiss law. Alstom is a major player in Malaysia in the power business, and is credited with supplying key equipment for nearly 7.5 gigawatts of the country's installed power generation capacity, the paper added. Last month, Alstom's Malaysian office denied it was aware of local investigation regarding the RM130 million fine by Swiss authorities involving contracts awarded to the company here. "There is no probe ongoing in Malaysia that we are aware of and Alstom has co-operated fully in Switzerland. The fine is for corporate negligence in the past and not for bribery," Alstom Malaysia president Saji Raghavan said in a statement. "In fact, investigation confirms there is no systematic bribery and sufficient controls are in place," he pointed out. The company had described itself as a "subcontractor of a consortium" and a "victim of the actions of some of its employees, who would have benefited from kickbacks", according to a previous Reuters report.
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| "Pekida and Govt must work together to ensure survival of BN" Posted: 05 Dec 2011 09:16 AM PST (Malaysian Digest) - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said there is no other option that can guarantee a bright future for the country except by maintaining the existing government. He said political power comes from the people in which if the struggle is based on the interests of the people, then the people will continue to support the present government. READ ALSO Pekida: 'Kami bukan gengster, kami tolong Melayu' Najib to aid Pekida in return for election support What is this outfit called Pekida?
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