Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Jho Low's RM4.9 mil 'proposal' to Taiwanese singer makes waves
- Chinese businesses give Najib thumbs-down
- PAS intensifies push for hudud
- Discord in SNAP over BN membership
- ‘Young Power’ wants Indian-based Pakatan party
- ‘Unseen hands involved in leak’
- Musa remains our leader, says Umno man
| Jho Low's RM4.9 mil 'proposal' to Taiwanese singer makes waves Posted: 28 Aug 2012 09:16 PM PDT
This time, the 30-year-old is the star of a video which features what is claimed to be an elaborate marriage proposal to Taiwanese singer Elva Hsiao. Hong Kong tabloid Apple Daily recently reported that a video had surfaced on popular video-sharing site Vimeo, titled 'Atlantis Engagement, Dubai', with the caption 'Surprise Engagement Proposal Rumoured To Cost Over £1m.' |
| Chinese businesses give Najib thumbs-down Posted: 28 Aug 2012 06:24 PM PDT A survey conducted by the Chinese trade chambers also showed most are not happy with the minimum wage policy. Syed Jaymal Zahiid, FMT Chinese businesses have given Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's economic policies the thumbs-down, according to a survey conducted by the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACCIM). The report revealed that many of the community's small and medium enterprises (SMEs) or industries believe they have not benefited from the prime minister's economic initiatives despite the raft of reforms introduced since Najib took office in April 2009. "This has led to many respondents not believing that Malaysia is on its way to being successful in moving its economy out of the middle-income trap," said the survey. Najib had made the promise to drive Malaysia into a high-income economy by 2020 as one of his policies under the grand Economic Transformation Programme (ETP). The blueprint, which promises to strengthen and make the local market its primary drive, is seen as a key election push as Najib aims to score a stronger mandate at the upcoming national polls. His administration has so far managed to weather the global economic turmoil with a strong back-to-back growth that surpassed expectations, giving him the boasting rights against heavy opposition criticism that he has done little to improve the ailing economy. Negative performance Heavy government spending under the ETP – to create a strong local market to help offset dipping exports – was said to be a major factor behind Malaysia's steady growth. The ACCIM survey, however, said 73% of its respondents are discouraged by the country's economic outlook leading up to the 13th general election. Much of the survey indicated negative performance, and slowing demands and employment among the Chinese businesses. Close to half of the 374 respondents polled blamed it on weak government policies. "It should also be noted that despite efforts to transform the Malaysian economy, the effects and benefits appear to have not filtered down more significantly to the SMEs," said the survey. More than half of the respondents said they are pessimistic with this year and 2013′s economic outlook although they are cautiously optimistic for 2014. The ACCIM also urged the Najib administration to reconsider its minimum wage policy, with close to 60% of the respondents saying it would affect their businesses.
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| PAS intensifies push for hudud Posted: 28 Aug 2012 03:17 PM PDT
(The Star) - PAS is intensifying its push for the implementation of hudud law with more of its senior leaders coming out to say it is on their agenda. They said that it is no longer a question of whether hudud should be implemented but how it is to be enforced.  Datuk Mohd Nik Amar Nik Abdullah More than that, the leaders hope the non-Muslims would accept Islamic law in due course. Kelantan PAS deputy commissioner Datuk Mohd Nik Amar Nik Abdullah said: "Although only applicable to Muslims, it will be ideal if non-Muslims one day accept hudud and Islam jurisprudence towards the creation of a just society." Mohd Nik Amar, who is also a PAS central committee member, maintained that hudud would remain the clarion call of the party. PAS national unity bureau chairman Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said there should not be any dispute over hudud. "It is not whether hudud is right or wrong but how it can be implemented in a broader context to encompass Islamic principles of good governance," he said. "Not all Muslims may agree with hudud but I believe the majority of Muslims in the country want to see it implemented after seeing the failure of secular laws in dealing with crime," he added.  Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa On the opposition of the DAP to hudud, Dr Mujahid, who is Penang PAS deputy commissioner, said no party in Pakatan Rakyat could force its views on another. "As much as they cannot force us to abandon our ideals, we also cannot force them to accept ours," he said. The assertions on hudud came a day after PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu was quoted as saying that the party would propose constitutional amendments in Parliament to implement Islamic law if it forms the Federal Government. He later denied making the statement to Sin Chew Daily. In a related development, Terengganu PAS Youth chief Mohd Nor Hamzah said that hudud would be implemented in the state if the party captured it. Perak PAS Dewan Ulama chief Noz Azli Musa, meanwhile, said that the party had always been fighting for hudud and would continue to strive for it.
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| Discord in SNAP over BN membership Posted: 28 Aug 2012 03:11 PM PDT According to SNAP secretary-general Frankie Nyumboi, the party has 'chosen to remain independent' but its president appears to have other ideas. Joseph Tawie, FMT KUCHING: Sarawak National Party (SNAP) president Stanley Jugol and secretary-general Frankie Jurem Nyumboi appear to be on a collision course over the issue of SNAP returning to the fold of Barisan Nasional. Jugol wants SNAP to return to BN, while Nyumboi is against it. "If he insists I will resign because I disagree with the direction he is taking with the reasoning that SNAP officials may be appointed senators and to other government posts. "I do not subscribe to that brand of politics for personal gains and grandeur. "I believe in protecting the rights and autonomy of Sarawak under the 18-Point Agreement…," Nyumboi told FMT. He added that rumours that the party's recent central executive committee (CEC) meeting was stormy is not true. "The recent CEC meeting was not stormy except for my reminder that any change of policies must have the consent of the CEC members in accordance with the [party's] constitution, but he [Jugol] said that CEC had already agreed to return to BN. "This puzzled me and other CEC members," he said. Nyumboi said that Kebing Wan, SNAP deputy president and a couple of others, had expressed their disappointment at the unilateral decision of the president. "As far as I know, Kebing Wan cannot support BN because of the Baram dam issues," he said, pointing out that Jugol had the support of the immediate past president Edwin Dundang. 'Naughty rumours' The disagreement over the issue of returning to the BN fold is certain to undermine SNAP's preparations to contest in at least four seats in the coming general election. It has named Mas Gading, Lubok Antu, Saratok and Baram as the seats it wants to contest. Earlier in his statement, Nyumboi said that SNAP will remain as an opposition party and this position will continue until a new direction is decided by the CEC in accordance with the party's constitution. "There will be no about-turn on SNAP's position as an opposition party "Any rumours of SNAP being BN-friendly or rejoining BN are naughty rumours. Furthermore, the party abides by its constitution which does not allow unilateral decisions to be made on the party's policies. "The party has chosen to remain independent because it wants to voice out issues affecting Sarawak. "Among others there is the issue of non-fulfilment of the 18-Points Agreement, which has given rise to numerous policies and actions detrimental to Sarawak. "As a result, progress in structural and human development was painfully slow," he said, adding that SNAP is in a better position to address all these issues, because it is homegrown and does not need to report or answer to anyone else. Nyumboi said that SNAP is an old and a respectable political party that does not betray its members and supporters as well as its friends in the Borneo alliance with whom it shares a common Borneo agenda on the 18- and 20-Point Agreements. "If there is 'Jangi Ditepati', why is the 18-Point Agreement unfulfilled for 49 years?" he asked, referring to this year's Merdeka Day theme. "SNAP shall continue to provide Sarawakians with a channel to voice their dissatisfaction over their rights and autonomy," he said.
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| ‘Young Power’ wants Indian-based Pakatan party Posted: 28 Aug 2012 03:03 PM PDT Fed up with way things are, a group of young Indians are planning to form an Indian-based component party in the opposition coalition. B. Nantha Kumar, FMT A group of young Indians are planning to form an Indian-based component party in Pakatan Rakyat. Talking to FMT, one of the members G Krishnan said they were fed-up with both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan leaders with regard to issues affecting the Indian community. "We call our group 'Young Power' and our goal is to help the Indian community become on par with the other races. Look at our nation. It is a Malay-dominated Chinese-controled nation," he added. He insisted that Young Power was not against the Malays and Chinese but focussed on upholding the rights of Indians. "It is unfair to talk about multi-racialism when the Indians live in deplorable conditions compared with other races," he added. Krishnan said that Young Power had been collecting feedback from community leaders regarding the possibility of forming a new party within the Pakatan framework. "We sent SMS to about 30 Indian Pakatan and BN elected reps, NGO leaders, businessmen, celebrities on Aug 25," he added. According to Krishnan, the response was positive with even DAP MPs welcoming the move. He said that on Aug 26 and 28, Young Power sent text messages to grassroots leaders, who also mostly backed the suggestion. Krishnan pointed out that there was only one Indian in Pakatan's 30-member council. "Is Pakatan going to say that there are no capable Indians to be members in the council. How many state chairmen or bureaus are headed by Indians in PKR or DAP?" he asked. "Do not ask why we [Young Power] did not raise the same issue with BN because we voted for Pakatan and not for BN in the last general-election," he said. "The issue is not not about how many seats Pakatan is going to give to the Indians but how are they going to treat the community," he added. Krishnan also said that Young Power had identified several business tycoons who were willing to fund their movement and more details would be made public soon.
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| ‘Unseen hands involved in leak’ Posted: 28 Aug 2012 02:50 PM PDT The leaking of minutes of a private meeting between the Penang deputy chief minister (I) and Chinese representatives was the work of ambitious politicians within the party, claim some PKR insiders. Athi Shankar, FMT GEORGE TOWN: The unseen hands of some master plotters are at work again within the Penang PKR. This time the fall guy is Deputy Chief Minister (I) Mansor Othman. Those out to drive a wedge between DAP and PKR have succeeded to an extent. Minutes of a private meeting between Mansor and several Chinese representatives were published verbatim in a blog, namely Gelagat Anwar, in its June 16, 18 and 19 postings. Some insiders say the leak was to trap Mansor and expel him from the state PKR. The sabotage and back-stabbing is nothing new within the state PKR. Since the 2008 general election, there have been two other such cases. Internal politicking has resulted in Mohammad Fairus Khairudin been booted out as Penang deputy chief minister (I) and Penanti assemblyman in April 2009. Then Bayan Baru MP Mohd Zahrain Hashim was removed as state PKR chief in November 2009. In the latest episode, the leak revealed that Mansor had described Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng as "cocky and arrogant". He had also said that Lim was revered like "tokong" (deity) by Chinese voters in Penang. Mansor's depiction of Lim as "cocky and arrogant" is not a surprise as there is no love lost between the two parties. Local PKR leaders have always felt marginalised under the DAP-helmed Pakatan Rakyat state government. Although Mansor denied saying "cocky and arrogant" in last Friday's press conference, the damage was already done. It's learnt that Mansor's colleagues in the state executive council have persuaded him to "eat humble pie" by reading out a prepared text before an army of pressmen. But if only Mansor had sought a second opinion from other PKR grassroots leaders, he could have avoided the embarrassing situation. Some party loyalists suggested that Mansor should have instead instructed those who attended the meeting to clear the air at a press conference. "It would have put the conspirators in an embarrassing situation instead," said insiders. Conspiracy to oust Mansor Mansor aside, the blog disclosed that PKR's state deputy chief and Batu Kawan division chief Law Choo Kiang, Bukit Bendera division deputy chief and island municipal (MPPP) councillor Felix Ooi Keat Hin, and Bayan Baru division appointed vice-chairman and MPPP councillor Tan Seng Keat attended the meeting Others at the meeting were PKR's 2004 general election candidate for Bayan Baru parliamentary and Batu Uban state seats Raymond Ong Ting Cheow; Tanjung Youth chief Ng Chek Siang; Batu Uban branch chief Cheah Peng Guan and Mansor's assistant John Ooi. They are representatives of an internal all-Chinese group called "Pasukan Keadilan". Party grassroots are now pointing accusing fingers at "Pasukan Keadilan" for the leak.
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| Musa remains our leader, says Umno man Posted: 28 Aug 2012 02:45 PM PDT Umno insiders are warning of serious repercussions should Najib Tun Razak refuse to reinvigorate the BN in Sabah, which is fast losing support. Luke Rintod, FMT KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno has brushed off claims of a shake-up in the party and that its strongman Musa Aman could well be on the way out ahead of the crucial general election. Senior Sabah Umno leader, Masidi Manjun, quickly dismissed the news report in FMT as mere rumour, claiming even Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak was impressed by Musa's performance, both as Umno head and chief minister. "Musa is doing an excellent job leading the party and the state government and the prime minister himself has complimented Musa's leadership," he said recently. "Sabah Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) are fully behind Musa to continue leading the state," he insisted when reporters asked him on the FMT article that the chief minister was marking time and could be replaced soon. Local newspapers here yesterday carried Masidi's denial prominently but party insiders whom FMT contacted insisted that many in Sabah Umno do not subscribe to the party line that Musa is doing an excellent job. Said one: "If Musa is doing an excellent job as Masidi claimed, how come leaders like Lajim Ukin and Wilfred Bumburing had left? Please explain too why the Kadazandusuns and Chinese and even more Muslims in Sabah are leaving BN?" According to the report, an increasingly embattled Umno could well be forced to do a rescue reshuffle in its "fix-deposit" Sabah's party hierarchy and state leadership. The rationale for the reshuffle getting the go-ahead from Najib is reportedly due to grumbling among the business community in the state as well as a series of high-profile defections from Umno as well as other BN parties. According to well-placed sources, the shake-up would involve Musa taking leave and either Masidi or Hajiji Mohd Noor acting as Sabah chief minister until the general election. However, talk of a shake-up in Sabah Umno is also being seen as a gambit by those close to another Sabah Umno strongman and Musa rival, Shafie Apdal, the current Semporna MP who is a trusted man of Najib, to eventually pave the way for him to helm the state. This is plausible but Umno insiders are warning of serious repercussions should Najib refuse to reinvigorate the BN in the state which is reportedly steadily losing the support of almost all the communities in the state. They claimed that party's interest must be put first and ahead of personal agenda and failure to do so would result in more defections as the election looms.
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