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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Pakatan must prove its worth to win GE13, says Guan Eng
- Selangor govt confusing people on water issues, says Cassa
- Dr M: Hudud law will create injustice
- Dr M: Soros wants to install puppet PM
- Pakistan minister places bounty on anti-Islam filmmaker
- Liverpool, United add respect to rivalry
- Karpal: You don’t have be a Penangite to be CM
- Karpal gets support for anti-hopping bill
- Putrajaya’s SUARAM probe sparks civil society activism
| Pakatan must prove its worth to win GE13, says Guan Eng Posted: 22 Sep 2012 06:29 PM PDT
Liza J. Ariffin, The Malaysian Insider Pakatan Rakyat (PR) needs to convince voters of its ability to form a formidable federal government and to cooperate as a unified pact to win its place in Putrajaya in the coming polls, Lim Guan Eng said today. The DAP secretary-general accused the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) of perpetuating three "myths" about the opposition to spread doubt over its readiness to govern — that PR leaders cannot work together much less co-operate when in power; PR is not capable of administrating a nation; and PR does not have the people's interests at heart and are only power crazy. Lim said the Najib administration has been using "extremist, racial and religious rhetoric" to mask failures of the BN government and to win votes in the upcoming general election. The Penang chief minister also moved to dispel three "lies" he claimed were spun by the government to distract attention from BN's failure to fight corruption and its lack of "competency, accountability and transparency in governance". "The first lie is that Malaysia would go bankrupt if PR wins because we can not afford to deliver all our promises," Lim said today during the Perak DAP state annual convention in Ipoh. "Our competent performance in the four PR states clearly disproves this lie as no PR states went bankrupt, instead recorded large surpluses," he added. Lim said the second lie was MCA's claims that a PR victory would lead to an Islamic state under PAS, while Umno claims a Christian state would be formed under DAP. "This lie by MCA and Umno is self-contradictory. The clearest rebuttal is that there is no mention of an Islamic or a Christian state in the PR's common policy," he said. Lim then claimed BN's third lie was a reoccurrence of the May 13 racial riots if there is a change of government. "Such threats are intended to frighten non-Malays even though BN and Umno know that a change of government can only happen if the Malay voters desire change as Malays form the majority of voters," he said. "The 2008 general elections show that Malaysian voters are mature and there were no racial incidents even though there was a change of state governments in five states. "As the last three Bersih rallies have shown, the desire for clean elections has strong support from Malays who made up the majority of the peaceful demonstrators," he added. Lim, however, believed Putrajaya's "reliance on playing extremist racial and religious sentiments will be rejected by Malaysians". "I believe that Malaysians would choose a new government that delivers on economic performance, prosperity for all and reversing the brain drain and reject an unchanged government that exploits race and religious extremist sentiments to hide its corruption and cronyism," he said. Lim then urged PR leaders to emphasise integrity, clean leadership and good governance to reflect good performance in PR states. "We must institutionalise open tenders and publicly declare our assets to show we have nothing to hide just as PR leaders have done in Penang."
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| Selangor govt confusing people on water issues, says Cassa Posted: 22 Sep 2012 06:19 PM PDT Cassa says most people in the state are not sure who is right and wrong. (Bernama) - Wat-er confusion! The Selangor government is confusing the people over water issues in the state to suit its political agenda, and at the expense of consumers and the economy, a prominent consumer activist charged today. Consumer Association of Subang and Shah Alam (Cassa) president Jacob George said, based on feedback he had received, most people in Selangor were confused over who was right and wrong. Amidst this confusion, he said the state government had also injected, as an after-thought, a new dimension to the water issue – that water tariffs would increase if the federal government went ahead with building the Langat 2 water treatment plant. George also lamented that a number of executive councillors (excos) in the Selangor government were formerly non-governmental organisation (NGO) activists who had been looking at things negatively, no matter how well-intentioned the federal government plans were, to improve conditions in the country. "I have been involved with various NGOs for 37 years. I could see their game-plan [over water issues], their strategies and that's why they are bringing up irrelevant matters just to block what the federal government is trying to do," he told Bernama in an interview. In addition, George claimed the state government was also bringing in issues between it and Puncak Niaga Holdings Bhd into the picture, whereas they should be resolved in a different platform. He said this unnecessary time-wasting should have been spent on resolving the impending water crisis in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. "So, why is the state government doing all these? Don't mix these up and place it in one basket. This is not right. This is for our future, not just for the people of Selangor but for our neighbours [in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya], as well, because it [water crisis] would have serious implications," he added. On the Langat 2 treatment plant which the state government was opposed to, the Cassa president said, all studies by experts showed the project had to be implemented without further delay due to a serious shortfall in treated water production, as the existing 34 plants in Selangor were operating at maximum capacity. Here again, he said, the state government confused consumers by stating that the reservoirs were full of water, and that there was no crisis even in the future, although the argument was about adequate supply of treated water. What the federal government was concerned about, he noted, was with long-term planning addressing an impending water crisis, given the rapid population growth and the needs of industries. "The plans are for 10, 15 or 20 years ahead, and when you talk about water, there's definitely going to be problems. It is a global issue now, and every country is facing it, coupled with weather, environmental and pollution problems setting in," he said. Cassa snubbed George said projects like the Langat 2 plant could not be implemented overnight and further delays fuelled by politicking, could push the cost of the project higher by as much as 70%. In the first place, he said, there was no need to politicise the issue as it was a human rights issue, and in facing an issue such as consumer rights, all sides must remain level-headed and focus on the core issue. George revealed that Cassa had offered to mediate in the federal-state conflict over the issue but the Selangor government had snubbed the offer, although the federal government gave positive response. "We have sent many letters to them (Selangor government), giving them the feedback from consumers and they didn't respond even once. So, we know that they don't want Cassa to intervene but that's their choice. "We accept it but don't say that we don't know the ground feeling. We have gone to the ground, talking to various groups of society and everyone agrees that a water crisis is just round the corner," he said. He also took to task the National Water Services Commission (Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara or SPAN), for its relatively muted silence over water issues in Selangor, and this added to the confusion, as well. "Cassa is very disappointed with the stand taken by SPAN and public perception of SPAN is rather negative, as if it doesn't exist. Many times, we have inivited them to debates on water issues, but they didn't attend. "If they continue to be disinterested in playing a role, then it defeats the purpose of setting up SPAN. "SPAN, with all its powers, should be in the forefront in trying to resolve such issues and the confusion arising from them. So far, they have failed to do this," claimed George.
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| Dr M: Hudud law will create injustice Posted: 22 Sep 2012 06:17 PM PDT The former prime minister says hudud with its shortcomings cannot fit into multi-racial countries like Malaysia. Leven Woon, FMT Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad made his strongest ever objections on hudud law today, saying that its implementation will create an unjust judiciary system in Malaysia. Speaking at the Islam and Women's Health forum today, he said hudud with its shortcomings cannot fit into multi-racial countries like Malaysia, as it only punishes the Muslims. "In hudud, if you steal, you can have your hand chopped off. But they want to chop off only Muslims' hand, not the non-Muslim who steal same amount of money. Surely it's not justice," he told the audience during the question-and-answer session. He also took a swipe at the hudud's condition on rape offence, whereby four witnesses are required to convict a perpetrator. "Today we have the modern equivalent tool of DNA. You can collect evidence of rape through collecting DNA samples and compare them with the offender. "Surely, we can accept circumstantial evidence even if there are no four witnesses. "In Islam, the most important thing is justice. When you judge, you must make sure justice has been served. If you judge knowing clearly that this is unjust, then I think it is un-Islamic," he said. Mahathir' comment came amid repeated statements by PAS lately to implement the stringent law should it come into federal power. Earlier, the longest-serving prime minister said that the hudud debate came about because certain individuals wanted to be stringent to show they are more "Islamic". "There is no mention in the Quran about stoning to death, or shooting with M16 gun, but this is regarded as the most appropriate [by some individuals]. "This shows we prefer the most extreme interpretation of Quran as against the norm of the day," he said. "In Islam, certain things are compulsory and certain [things] are optional; if we don't accept the optional ones, that is not wrong for us," he said.
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| Dr M: Soros wants to install puppet PM Posted: 22 Sep 2012 06:15 PM PDT (FMT) - American tycoon George Soros is funding several NGOs and companies in Malaysia to influence local politics and gear the country towards a regime change, claimed former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. "He tries to control our politics, and select his people to be the prime minister," Mahathir told reporters here after a forum on "Islam and Women's Health" He was commenting on the recent reports by Umno-controlled newspapers that the US-based National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is funding local NGOs and online news portal Malaysiakini. TV3 aired a similar report on Thursday suggesting that the foreign funding, such as Soros' Open Society Foundation, uses the NGOs to topple governments around the world and replace them with Soros' proxies. Mahathir said such a move was always done in the name of "promotion of democracy and freedom". "So apparently we don't have freedom here. Soros wants a puppet prime minister, that's why he wants to see a regime change in Malaysia," he said. NGOs such as human rights pressure group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) have been bearing the brunt of criticism over its funding and organisational structure. The government has accused it of being funded by foreign powers to "destabilise the peace of the country". On Tuesday, Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that six government agencies are taking action against Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd, the operating entity of Suaram, for breaching five sections of the Companies Act 1965. Suaram has consistently denied any wrongdoings, while Pakatan Rakyat leaders such as Lim Guan Eng labelled the authorities' action on Suaram as "clear act of political revenge". Suaram is instrumental behind the Scorpene corruption trial in France, a deal which allegedly implicated Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. The case also involved Altantuya Shaariibuu, a Mongolian interpreter and model who was murdered near Kuala Lumpur in 2006.
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| Pakistan minister places bounty on anti-Islam filmmaker Posted: 22 Sep 2012 02:18 PM PDT
(AFP) - A Pakistani official on Saturday placed a US$100,000 bounty on the head of the maker of an anti-Islam film that has sparked a wave of violence and anger, as Muslims mounted fresh protests worlwide. Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour also called on the Taliban and Al-Qaeda to join the hunt and help accomplish the "noble deed." Bilour spoke to reporters in the northwestern city of Peshawar a day after violent nationwide demonstrations against the "Innocence of Muslims" film left 21 people dead and more than 200 injured. "I announce today that this blasphemer who has abused the holy prophet, if somebody will kill him, I will give that person a prize of $100,000," Bilour said, urging others to shower the killer with cash and gold. "I also invite Taliban and Al-Qaeda brothers to be partners in this noble deed," he added. "I also announce that if the government hands this person over to me, my heart says I will finish him with my own hands and then they can hang me." Protests against the low-budget film, which mocks Islam, have erupted across the Muslim world, leading to more than 50 deaths since the first demonstrations on September 11. A French satirical magazine's publication this week of cartoons mocking the Prophet Mohammed has further stoked anger. The producer of the film, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, is reportedly a Los Angeles-based 55-year-old Egyptian Copt and convicted fraudster, currently out on parole. US media reports say Nakoula wrote and produced the film, using the pseudonym Sam Bacile before being identified. Police questioned him before he went into hiding with his family. Thousands of Islamist activists in Pakistan staged demonstrations again Saturday but there was no repeat of the previous day's widespread violence. More than 5,000 protesters, including hundreds of women, marched towards the parliament in Islamabad chanting "We love our Holy Prophet" and "Punishment for those who humiliated our Prophet". Some 1,500 people from the hardline Islamist Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Sunni religious groups rallied in front of the US consulate in the eastern city of Lahore, chanting "The US deserves only one remedy — jihad, jihad" Smaller protests took place in the southwestern city of Quetta, as well as in Peshawar, where six people died in Friday's protests, and in the southern port city of Karachi, where 15 people were killed Friday. Witnesses estimated that more than 45,000 people joined Friday's nationwide rallies, mainly members of right-wing religious parties and supporters of banned terror groups. Those numbers, however, were still considered small in a country of 180 million. Four more people died overnight from wounds they received during the protests, taking toll of those killed across Pakistan on Friday to 21, health officials said. The combined total of wounded in Karachi, Peshawar and the capital Islamabad was 229. In Nigeria, meanwhile, tens of thousands of people protested in the second city of Kano, burning images of US President Barack Obama and stomping on the American flag. The procession of men, veiled women and children stretched for several kilometres (miles) through the city, the largest in Nigeria's mainly Muslim north. They shouted "death to America, death to Israel and death to the enemies of Islam". There were no reports of violence. The demonstration was organised by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, a pro-Iranian group that adheres to the Shiite branch of Islam. In Lebanon, thousands of supporters of the Shiite Hezbollah movement took to the streets in the southern town of Bint Jbeil. Women in black chadors carried colourful Islamist flags alongside young children holding the Koran, the Muslim holy book. Hezbollah parliamentary representative Nawaf al-Moussawi told the crowd the film was "... not merely a trivial creation carried out by a group, but American politics intended to be disseminated to the Western world." He also warned against reprisal attacks on the Christian community. In east Jerusalem about 500 Palestinians, accompanied by a marching band, protested against both the film and the cartoons in the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo. In Germany, 1,500 people staged a peaceful protest in the western city of Dortmund, a day after similar demonstrations in other German cities. A German far-right group's threat to screen the video has prompted heated debate over whether or not the authorities should ban the film on security grounds. In neighboring Austria, about 500 people protested outside the US embassy in the capital Vienna. In France, riot police were out in force in several parts of Paris to enforce a ban on protests, a week after an unauthorised demonstration against the film led to 150 arrests. Social networks had been awash with appeals for French Muslims to defy the ban and hold fresh protests. French police have arrested a man in the western city of La Rochelle for having allegedly called on a jihadi website for Stephane Charbonnier, chief of satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, to be decapitated. |
| Liverpool, United add respect to rivalry Posted: 22 Sep 2012 02:15 PM PDT
(AFP) - Matches between Liverpool and Manchester United have always contained incredible history and rivalry, on and off the pitch. But when the two sides meet at Anfield on today, there will be a huge amount of respect on show at the end of what has been an emotional fortnight for Liverpool. The match is the first at their home ground since the release of a damning report into the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death before an FA Cup tie on April 15, 1989. The report absolved the fans of any blame, slamming the police and politicians for overseeing a cover-up of the facts. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said his side were ready to cope with all that comes with the day. "I'm very much looking forward to it," he said. "It's a game I've grown up watching all of my life," he said. "Two massive clubs and it's a great opportunity to be involved in such a game. "But, first and foremost, it's a great opportunity for us as a club to commemorate and to pay tribute to the families and the people involved with Hillsborough, and show and pay our respects to the families at the game. "Hopefully we can then go on and get three points, which would set off what would hopefully be a great day for us." United manager Sir Alex Ferguson took the unprecedented step of writing a letter to his fans, urging them to show their respect by not singing the kind of offensive chants a minority of their supporters have indulged in, in the past. "Our rivalry with Liverpool is based on a determination to come out on top – a wish to see us crowned the best against a team that held that honour for so long," he said. "It cannot and should never be based on personal hatred. Just ten days ago, we heard the terrible, damning truth about the deaths of 96 fans who went to watch their team try and reach the FA Cup final and never came back. "What happened to them should wake the conscience of everyone connected with the game. Our great club stands with our great neighbours Liverpool today to remember that loss and pay tribute to their campaign for justice." When the two sides met last year, there was a huge moment of controversy when Liverpool's Luis Suarez was alleged to have racially abused United full back Patrice Evra. Suarez was later banned for eight matches and when the two sides met again at Old Trafford, they refused to take part in the pre-match handshake. This time, the two teams have promised to shake hands while former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has suggested they go even further. "It would be nice for Luis Suarez to put some flowers at the United end regarding (the) Munich (air disaster, when seven United players were among 21 people killed), and for Patrice Evra to do so at the Kop," Fowler said. "The two clubs do have a rivalry, but some things are far more important than football and this is one of them." Six players have been sent off in the past 11 matches between the two and Ferguson said it was crucial his side behave well. "There's a great atmosphere, fantastic, and the kind of atmosphere you want to be involved in," he said. "It does get emotive, but you just have to handle that".
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| Karpal: You don’t have be a Penangite to be CM Posted: 22 Sep 2012 02:10 PM PDT
(The Star) - DAP chairman Karpal Singh has fended off criticisms that Lim Guan Eng should not be the Chief Minister because he is not a Penangite. He said election laws were clear on this issue, adding that an election candidate only needed to be a resident and a Malaysian citizen to stand in any state. "To stand as a candidate in any state in Malaysia, one just has to be a resident that is the qualification and, of course, a citizen of the country. "The Lim family has a residence in Penang. No doubt, (Penang Chief Minister) Lim (Guan Eng) was born in Batu Pahat but his connection with Penang is sufficient for him to be the right choice for the post of Chief Minister," he said here yesterday. Karpal was responding to a statement by former DAP vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim that the Penang Chief Minister should be a local instead of Lim, who is from Batu Pahat. In a recent ceramah, Tunku Abdul Aziz, who quit DAP in May, had called on Penangites to ensure that their Chief Minister come from among the crop of local leaders instead of someone "parachuted" in from other states. Tunku Abdul Aziz had said that Chow Kon Yeow, who is the state DAP chairman, should have been the Chief Minister, adding that he was a "nice man" and "not arrogant". When contacted, Chow said it was up to the people to "choose the party the Chief Minister is from". Asked about the meeting between DAP leaders at the Red Rock Hotel after the party took over the state, during which Lim had allegedly nominated himself for the top post, Chow said this was the consensus reached among them. Penang Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow, who was born in Batu Pahat, said everybody had the freedom to express their views and opinions on the matter. "Let the voters decide on who they think is right," said Teng. Penang Chinese Town Hall chairman Datuk Lam Wu Chong said there was no such rule that the Chief Minister must be a local-born Penangite. However, a Penang-born engineer, who only wanted to be known as James, said he would prefer to have a local as a Chief Minister. "It would be better if we are led by a Penangite as the person shares a similar sentiment about the state and can easily meet our expectations," said the 31-year-old.
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| Karpal gets support for anti-hopping bill Posted: 22 Sep 2012 01:57 PM PDT The DAP national chairman will table a private member's bill to stop party-hopping and he has got an unlikely ally in an independent MP. Athi Shankar, FMT GEORGE TOWN: DAP national chairman Karpal Singh will table a private members' bill to stop party hopping in Parliament next week and he has got an unlikely ally in independent MP Tan Tee Beng. Tan, the Nibong Tebal MP, has declared his support for Karpal's initiatives to amend Articles 10 and 48 of the Federal Constitution to pave way for the anti-hopping legislation to stop party-hopping. Tan said he would back Karpal because he does not believe in political coup d'etat to form governments by defections. "I am against turning around the government and country through this bad tactic. It's an unethical practice and a dangerous trend. "The government should only be formed through legitimate elections," he told FMT. Karpal said that he would table a private member's bill during the budget sitting of the final parliamentary session of the year that would start next week to amend both constitutional provisions. Both provisions are considered as stumbling blocks against legislating anti-hopping law to prevent elected representatives from defecting from one party to another. Tan won Nibong Tebal seat under PKR ticket in 2008 general election but left the party in March 2010 to become an independent MP. Tan said he was always against part-hopping and he insisted that he only left PKR due to political differences with party supremo Anwar Ibrahim. He said he had never declared himself as a BN-friendly independent unlike other defecting MPs. "It's my critics and media who claimed that I'm BN-friendly. I have never said it," he said. Fall-out with Anwar He pointed out that his fall-out with Anwar was over the unwarranted "916 episode" where the PKR supremo leader wanted to capture Putrajaya via defections of 30 Barisan Nasional MPs, mostly from Sabah and Sarawak. "I never agreed with Anwar on Sept 16 date. I told him that I would rather prefer to be opposition MP than take over the government by default," said Tan. He said this can be clarified with PKR MPs – Ampang's Zuraida Kamaruddin, Balik Pulau's Yusmadi Yusoff, Indera Makhota's Azan Ismail, Kelana Jaya's Loh Gwo Burne and Telok Kemang's Kamarul Bahrin Abas – as they were witnesses over his argument with Anwar in the opposition leader's Segambut home.
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| Putrajaya’s SUARAM probe sparks civil society activism Posted: 22 Sep 2012 11:53 AM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Outrage at Putrajaya's clampdown on Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) appears to have given a major boost to civil society activism here, likely affecting the Najib government's bid for votes from middle Malaysia ahead of an election expected soon. The human rights watchdog has been instrumental in the French probe on Malaysia's multibillion ringgit purchase of two Scorpene submarines, a high-profile scandal that many believe will unearth incriminating evidence against top government officials here. Global rights group Amnesty International had yesterday raised suspicion over the timing of the government's sudden interest in SUARAM's operations and funding sources, saying the probe was opened only four weeks after the organisation revealed documents showing a close associate to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had allegedly sold Malaysian naval secrets to the French. A new citizen group has now sprouted, joining the burgeoning of other civil society movements nationwide in a campaign to help SUARAM keep the Scorpene scandal in the limelight. Calling themselves the "Scorpene Never Dies" Action Team, the group of youths and "concerned citizens" has demanded that the Najib administration stop its "politically-motivated" investigation against SUARAM. Team coordinator Ng Yap Hwa said this was a poignant moment for Malaysians as their failure to band together to protect SUARAM would only encourage the government to continue to quell public dissent. "We feel we need to stand by Suaram in this critical time. "If we as citizens don't rally behind a human rights defender, the government could easily clamp down... no more people can stand by us in the future," he said. The team is organising a one-hour candlelight vigil next Tuesday at the historic Merdeka Square in the city centre here where several other protests fuelled by civil society activism have taken place recently. The team has also urged Malaysians nationwide to hold simultaneous events next week to record their disdain for the alleged harassment against SUARAM. Ng said that if members of the public keep silent now, "we will be the next (victim)" one day. He said that to "defend Suaram and to stand by Suaram" is for everyone's benefit. Ng added that the team would not be applying for a police permit for its 8pm event at the historic Merdeka square, as it was every individual's "constitutional right" to have a peaceful assembly. "Let us spread the Scorpene submarines issue far and wide to express our solidarity with the human rights defender, thereby warning the government that even if it could keep down SUARAM, the Scorpene submarines issue would never die and we would carry on the struggle to uncover the truth of the Scorpenes scandal and uphold justice for Altantuya," the group said in a statement. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/putrajayas-suaram-probe-sparks-civil-society-activism/ |
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