Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Dr M’s attack on Najib tactical, say analysts
- Negative sentiment takes down Petronas
- Malaysia and Safe Sex
- Khalid Ibrahim says local council reform is top priority
- MCA: Reveal their location
- PAS Youth holds protest outside Wisma MCA
- Ecuador fears for Assange health, seeks UK safe passage
- GLCs were part of Malay equity, says Dr M
- Malay congress proposes direct negotiation for Malays for projects below RM100m
- Malaysia opens schools for migrant workers’ kids
- Dr M: ‘Weak’ Najib won’t heed Malay concerns
- ‘CAT’ culprit identified
- Make Malay agenda ‘top priority’
- PAS Youth calls for MCA to apologise over rape comments
- NGO group accuses Anwar of approving Scorpene deal
- Fair, secular nation better label than Islamic, says ex-Perlis Mufti
- RM40m ‘donation’ held privately by Umno man, ex-BN MP claims
- It is the right of non-Muslims to comment on Hudud: Chua
- ‘DAP Malay candidate a safety cushion’
- PKR: Anwar did not fail the Malay agenda
- Ex-Sabah AG sues two social activists
- DAP candidates to contest 2 seats if needed
- More than meets the eye in Kedah PNG project
- Bung Mokhtar hits out at Syed Mokhtar, Zeti
- Politicisation of hudud angers Dr M
- Germany’s past anti-Jew policy inspired Dr M’s banking reforms, says Sanusi
- Shahrizat backs Raja Nong Chik as Lembah Pantai BN candidate
- Homophobia on the rise in Indonesia, survey says
- Why not anti-hudud law, Lim?
- Greedy, corrupt leadership caused Malay agenda to fail, says Malay chamber
- Foreign-funded NGOs: PAS man wants answers
- Let’s debate on Suhakam reports, says Nazri
- Pakatan divided on secular state issue
- Malaysia's Missing Police Chief
- Bersih sees red over ‘bizzare’ episode
- Nazri: Michael Chia never arrested in HK with Sabah Umno cash
- EC upset over Suara Keadilan report
| Dr M’s attack on Najib tactical, say analysts Posted: 24 Oct 2012 07:56 PM PDT Only the rural Malays will buy the former premier's attempt to rally the electorate behind the ruling coalition with communal politics. Syed Jaymal Zahiid, FMT Dr Mahathir Mohamad's attempt to scare the Malays through communal politicking will not work, said analysts who viewed the former prime minister's recent criticism against the Najib government as "tactical". Yesterday, Dr Mahathir, the influential former Umno president, speaking at the 2012 Malay Economic Congress, called Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration "weak" and hinted that it was making too much concessions to non-Malays. Malaysia's longest-serving premier argued that the country's majority race is now divided and is fast becoming a "beggar" dependent on the support and sympathy of the minorities. This was the second time Mahathir had openly criticised Najib just ahead of the 13th general election, but he said current premier cannot take the blame alone. He cited Malay disunity as key to the current government's predicament. Political observers noted that Mahathir's strategy had often been used in the past, but the tactic may still be effective in driving the Malays away from the opposition. "This is apparently a scare tactic. It may work on the rural Malays but not the urban Malays," said analyst James Chin of Monash University. "If you look at the key institutions of the government, they are still held by the Malays," he said, adding that much of Mahathir's race rhetoric has the least impact on an informed and decided electorate. But Chin agreed with the view that Mahathir's attack on Najib may not all be strategic and that the former premier, who was instrumental in the ousting of the latter's predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, is indeed unhappy with some of the current government's policies.
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| Negative sentiment takes down Petronas Posted: 24 Oct 2012 05:47 PM PDT
(Jakarta Post) - Malaysia-based oil and gas company Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has suspended most of its gasoline stations in Indonesia amid depressed sales, a move seen by many as partly influenced by persistent negative public sentiment toward the neighboring country. Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's downstream director Umi Asngadah said on Wednesday that 15 out of 19 Petronas fuel stations had been closed down.
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| Posted: 24 Oct 2012 05:45 PM PDT  Slip a condom on, in the condominium(Asia Sentinel) - As a conservative Islamic society, Malaysia frets over teenage sex and the spate of unplanned babies left on doorsteps by unwed young mothers. Read more at: http://asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4926&Itemid=189 |
| Khalid Ibrahim says local council reform is top priority Posted: 24 Oct 2012 04:21 PM PDT
Amin Iskandar, The Malaysian Insider Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim vows to reform local councils and make it Selangor government's topmost priority if he is re-elected to lead the state. "I want to reform the local councils, but I am pressed for time." "Local councils should be the state government's operator in managing cities, and should have the ability to create an environment where citizens can feel that they own the city," Abdul Khalid (picture) told The Malaysian Insider in a recent interview. According to Abdul Khalid, he wants Selangor citizens to be proud of their cities, much like Londoners. "To have a great city, we need a great mayor, just like how Londoners are proud of their mayor, the one with the uncombed hair," he said. London Mayor Boris Johnson is well-known for his unruly hair, and has become the pride of Londoners after the city successfully organised the 2012 Olympic Games. According to Abdul Khalid, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is among the best local councils in Selangor, in addition to having the highest revenue. "I recently launched a report about MBPJ which collects revenue of nearly RM300 million. The majority of residents in MBPJ are also graduates, with reasonable income. "The problem, however, is that currently Petaling Jaya residents do not feel that the city is theirs, they see Kuala Lumpur as theirs instead, and Petaling Jaya is only a place where they go home for the night. "This is what I want to change, so Petaling Jaya residents can feel that Petaling Jaya is theirs," he explained. Abdul Khalid believes that in order to reform local councils, there was a need to change the public's mindset over their role. "When we involve the public in the discussions to develop a city, they will feel a sense of ownership and will not hesitate to pay any fees or taxes needed for the good of the council. "They will feel proud if their city is clean and safe, proud of its cultural performances and sports teams, football teams, for example," he added.
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| Posted: 24 Oct 2012 03:04 PM PDT
(The Star) - Selangor MCA has demanded for details on an Opposition MP's claim that the Opposition-led state government had built 23,637 affordable houses for the rakyat. Selangor MCA chief Datuk Donald Lim said he wanted Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and the state government to reveal the location of these houses and who were eligible to buy them. Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday, Lim, who is Deputy Finance Minister, said information on these affordable houses should be advertised in newspapers, including the criteria on eligible buyers. On Tuesday in the Dewan Rakyat, Lim accused the state government of failing to build any affordable houses for the people since it took over in 2008. His comment led Tony Pua (DAP Petaling Jaya Utara) to protest that Lim was misleading the Dewan with his statement. Pua said the state government had built a total of 23,637 units of affordable houses priced at below RM100,000 each. Lim said recent data revealed in the Selangor state assembly showed that the state government built "very little" affordable houses that it was "almost nothing". Based on the data, only 287 out of the 23,637 units are completely built and occupied while 16,998 have yet to be constructed. The rest are still under construction. Lim urged Pua to check his facts and hoped the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) would change its policy on housing.
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| PAS Youth holds protest outside Wisma MCA Posted: 24 Oct 2012 02:58 PM PDT Protest note: Tan (left) receiving the memorandum from Khairul (third from left) at Wisma MCA. Looking on are PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akhin (second from right) and PAS information chief Idris Ahmad (second from left). (The Star) - A group of PAS Youth members held a protest outside Wisma MCA to demand an apology from party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek over his statement on hudud. PAS Youth secretary Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil claimed that Dr Chua had "gone overboard" by saying that 1.2 million people would be jobless if hudud were to be implemented in the country. "He also stated last week that eight of 11 countries that implemented hudud were known to be corrupt, unstable and unsafe. This statement has hurt the sensitivities and beliefs of Muslims in the country and is highly inappropriate," he said after submitting a memorandum demanding an apology, which was received by MCA Youth secretariat officer Leonard Tan Soon Huat. The memorandum also urged Dr Chua to respond or publicly apologise within a week, failing which PAS Youth would seek an audience with the King. Tan told reporters later that he would submit the memorandum to the MCA central committee for the next course of action.
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| Ecuador fears for Assange health, seeks UK safe passage Posted: 24 Oct 2012 02:40 PM PDT (Reuters) - Ecuador is worried about the health of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and has asked Britain to guarantee him safe passage from its London embassy to hospital if he needs medical treatment, a senior Ecuadorean diplomat said in Moscow. Assange, an Australian, has been holed up inside Ecuador's embassy in central London since June to avoid extradition to Sweden to face rape and sexual assault allegations. British authorities say Assange will be arrested if he sets foot outside the embassy. The apartment building, located just behind London's famed Harrods department store, is under constant police surveillance. "Assange has grown noticeably thinner, and we are very concerned about his health," Voice of Russia radio quoted Vice Foreign Minister Marco Albuja Martinez as saying in comments confirmed by the Ecuadorean embassy in Moscow. "If he falls ill, we will have to choose between two alternatives: to treat Assange in the embassy or hospitalize him," Albuja Martinez said. "This is a very serious situation and it can affect Assange's human rights." Ecuador has asked the British Foreign Office for a document that would enable Assange to enter hospital safely if necessary and return to the embassy with refugee status, the Voice of Russia quoted Albuja Martinez as saying. The Foreign Office said it was unaware of Assange's health problems. "Ecuador have not told us that Mr Assange is ill. However, were they to do so, we would consider the matter," said a Foreign Office spokesman. Ecuador granted Assange asylum in August and said it shared his fears that he could face charges in the United States over the publication by WikiLeaks in 2010 of thousands of secret US diplomatic cables. When he appeared on a balcony of the building to address supporters in August, Assange appeared tanned and in good health. But a BBC reporter who saw him recently described him as "a very pale man" in a story broadcast on Sunday. Assange broke the conditions of his bail when he entered the embassy after running out of legal options to avoid being sent to Sweden. Speaking about the safe passage request he said Ecuador had lodged with the Foreign Office, Albuja Martinez said his country was pleased that Britain "did not reject it outright". "We will not put pressure on them and will patiently await an answer, so that Assange can receive medical treatment if necessary," he was quoted as saying in Moscow.
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| GLCs were part of Malay equity, says Dr M Posted: 23 Oct 2012 10:42 PM PDT
Lee Wei Lian, The Malaysian Insider The country's government-linked companies (GLCs) were once considered part of bumiputera equity, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today, which could mean that bumiputera corporate holdings might have exceeded the original 30 per cent target in the past. The former prime minister said that GLCs and state investment arm Khazanah Nasional were established to hold equity in trust while Malays strengthened themselves economically and that the equity was meant to be later distributed to the Malays. He said that GLCs were established in trust for Malays but have since deviated from their original purpose. "GLCs are holdings in trust and were considered part of bumiputera equity," said Mahathir (picture) at a press conference today after closing the Malay Economic Congress here. "Now the holdings belong to the companies concerned and they cannot be regarded as bumiputera holdings." The definition of whether GLCs are considered part of Malay equity could have implications on affirmative action programmes for Malays as many Umno leaders maintain that Malay equity stands at only about 20 per cent today, which is below the target of 30 per cent set in the New Economic Policy (NEP). If GLCs, which comprise a large chunk of the economy and also make up a significant number of the benchmark FBM KLCI index components, were at one time considered to be Malay equity, it is possible that the 30 per cent target was exceeded in the past. State oil company Petronas is also Malaysia's sole representative in the Fortune 500 list of the world's largest companies. Some observers have argued that GLCs appeared very much to be Malay companies due to their management and employee makeup as well as their activities and should be counted as Malay corporate holdings. The government has said that GLCs cannot be considered bumiputera equity as they are controlled by the government. The Malay Economic Congress also passed a resolution today criticising GLCs, and in particular Petronas, Khazanah and PNB, saying that they should have a stronger Malay agenda.
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| Malay congress proposes direct negotiation for Malays for projects below RM100m Posted: 23 Oct 2012 10:38 PM PDT
Lee Wei Lian, The Malaysian Insider The Malay Economic Congress passed a resolution today proposing that government tenders worth less than RM100 million be directly negotiated with Malay companies. The congress also called for GLCs to have a strong Malay agenda and that they be monitored with key performance indicators (KPIs). "The new economic policy has not achieved its objectives," said Datuk Syed Ali Alattas, president of the Malay Chambers of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM). "The gap between Malays who are the majority race and heritage of this country and other races is growing and increasingly worrying." He also said that government agencies have "lost their spirit" to help Malay entrepreneurs. Other resolutions include a stand against corruption, cronyism and abuse of power and a call for the revamp of Teraju, a bumiputera economic development agency. The congress said that "weak leadership" in Teraju was the main reason for the failure of several Malay agenda initiatives. These include failures to allocate economic opportunities to Malay entrepreneurs, the failure to allocate funds for business viability studies and lack of clear direction and communication. The congress said that the head of Teraju needed to be changed to someone who had high aspirations for Malays and ministerial powers. The congress also wanted special courses for government staff and politicians to educate them on the Malay agenda. It also called for priority for local companies and bumiputeras in government tenders. Another resolution proposed the establishment of an audit firm run by Malays to audit GLCs and government agencies.
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| Malaysia opens schools for migrant workers’ kids Posted: 23 Oct 2012 09:29 PM PDT But Tamil schools ignored (The Jakarta Post) - Malaysia has agreed to open 22 schools for the children of Indonesian migrant workers in Sabah, according to a senior Indonesian official. Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said on Tuesday that the agreement was announced by his Malaysian counterpart, Anifah Aman, during the 12th meeting of the joint commission for bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia in Yogyakarta. "This is the agenda we have been pushing to get approved. It has just now been announced that [Malaysia] has approved the establishment of 22 schools," Marty told reporters after the meeting.Although the Foreign Ministry had no information on the number of children of Indonesian migrant workers in Sabah, many are said to lack access to school for a variety of reasons.
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| Dr M: ‘Weak’ Najib won’t heed Malay concerns Posted: 23 Oct 2012 07:32 PM PDT The former premier said this is because the Malays are no longer the kingmakers and are now reduced to being 'beggars' in their own land. Syed Jaymal Zahiid, FMT Dr Mahathir Mohamad today called the Najib administration "weak" and said it will not entertain the concerns of the Malays, especially its business community, as they are no longer the country's kingmakers. The former premier said the division among the country's majority electorate has made them fragile and forced the present government to depend on the support of "others" in an apparent reference to the non-Malays. This is the second time Mahathir had openly called Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's government "frail", saying it is forced to make key concessions to non-Malay demands in the hope of winning their support in the upcoming national polls. "I do not believe this government will take your demands seriously," he told the 2012 Malay Economic Congress held here. "This is because we [the Malays] no longer hold anymore political power… we have become a beggar in our own country," he added. The congress, in its resolutions passed today, criticised the Najib government for what it described as its failure to uphold the New Economic Policy, a system meant to enhance Bumiputera economic participation through race-based affirmative action programmes. Mahathir claimed that Bumiputeras, forming 60% of the electorate of which the majority are Malays, are forced to fight for "what is theirs" silently as they feared being labelled as racists. 'I am no racist' The former prime minister, who served for 22 years, said however, if the non-Malays are vocal in protecting their interests they would not be viewed as racists. "But I am not a racist. I want the wealth of this resource-rich nation to be shared equitably. "I am not asking for much. We form 60% and we are only asking for 30% and they can take the rest. But even so, we are not getting the 30%," he said, referring to the 30% equity ownership programme under the NEP.
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| Posted: 23 Oct 2012 07:23 PM PDT A report prepared by the state PKR leadership, according to sources, points the finger at a young newcomer. The report alo suggests the possible masterminds behind the leak. Athi Shankar, FMT Penang PKR may have identified the culprit who let the "CAT" out during a casual meet-up between Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman and several local ethnic Chinese members. Sources said the state leadership had submitted a comprehensive inquiry report on the CAT – "cocky arrogant, tokong" – issue to the national leadership for further action. The report was prepared based on findings of the state-level internal inquiry conducted early this month by a panel headed by party state vice-chairman and Penang Speaker Abdul Halim Hussain. Sources said the inquiry report contained compiled facts and evidence from all witnesses. Since the inquiry was concluded, speculations had been rife that the culprit could be a young party newcomer, who is a member of a division headed by a prominent and ambitious PKR assemblyman. However, it was not clear whether or not the person's name was mentioned in the report. But insiders said the report had indicated to the national party leaders a clear picture on the highly likely person to have secretly recorded the meeting proceedings. Since the speculated culprit was a newcomer, the report is said to have suggested few senior politician names as possible mastermind behind the alleged conspiracy to oust Mansor from state politics. It is learnt that the identified person could be one who was heard in an alleged audio recording of the closed door casual meet up asking a lot of questions. The alleged audio recording was aired during TV3 prime time on Sept 24. If the audio recording was authentic as claimed by TV3 sources, then Mansor could clearly be heard using the words "angkuh" (cocky) and "sombong" (arrogant). He also allegedly described Lim endeared like a "tokong" (deity) to the Chinese community. When the CAT controversy first emerged as a hot issue in August, Mansor denied he described Lim as "cocky and arrogant", but admitted saying "tokong" in a positive note. However, when asked again after the TV3 airing, Mansor did not deny the audio recording contents.
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| Make Malay agenda ‘top priority’ Posted: 23 Oct 2012 07:14 PM PDT A resolution at the Malay Economic Congress also said the government had failed to implement the NEP equitably. Syed Jaymal Zahiid, FMT The Malay Economic Congress demanded that the "Malay agenda" be Putrajaya's top priority. The demand reflected the growing frustration among Malay businesses over Putrajaya's liberal directions and the contention that the New Economic Policy had failed to elevate the community's economic status. The race-based affirmative action NEP was created in the 1970s to boost the ethnic majority's business participation through a 30% equity ownership programme, but the target had not been achieved up until today. Although the policy created a large pool of Malay middle class, genuine supporters of the system, often mid to low-level Malay businesses, lamented the widespread abuse of the system by "cronies" linked to the ruling party. Today's congress reflected that sentiment. In its resolutions, the congress criticised the Najib administration's alleged "lack of support" for the Malay business community, especially on the growing choke-hold of government-linked companies (GLC) on government contracts. The demands included assurance from the prime minister that all GLCs have a clear Malay agenda with a key performance index system in place to ensure they "partake in the economic advancement of the Malays". Leaders failed NEP Malay Chamber of Commerce president Syed Ali Alattas in his speech at the congress here criticised the GLCs for their alleged failure to carry out their duty as the vanguard of the NEP. "There was no sense of urgency on the part of the government to address the poor implementation of the NEP," he said.
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| PAS Youth calls for MCA to apologise over rape comments Posted: 23 Oct 2012 07:07 PM PDT
Leannza Chia, The Malaysian Insider A group of PAS Youth members held a peaceful protest today against MCA over comments made by party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek that the Pakatan Rakyat party and Islam condoned the rape of non-Muslim women, which they said was an insult to the religion. Five members of the group handed a memorandum to MCA Youth secretariat officer Leonard Tan calling for the Barisan Nasional (BN) party to apologise. The memorandum also stated that if MCA does not respond within a week, they would send a further memorandum to the King asking him to intervene. About 100 supporters from both PAS Youth and PKR Youth gathered in front of Wisma MCA, Jalan Ampang here to protest against Dr Chua's (picture) statements. They also carried placards saying "Don't degrade Islam (Jangan Hina Islam)", "Soi Lek Should Apologise (Soi Lek Wajib Minta Maaf)" and "Don't challenge Muslims (Jangan Cabar Umat Islam)". The group was responding to MCA president Dr Chua's remark over the weekend when agreeing with a Wanita MCA leader's view that PAS condones the rape of non-Muslim women, pointing out that PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat had made the opinion clear in a speech four years ago.
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| NGO group accuses Anwar of approving Scorpene deal Posted: 23 Oct 2012 07:01 PM PDT
Ida Lim, The Malaysian Insider Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim approved Malaysia's controversial purchase of Scorpene submarines when he was Finance Minister in 1995, a group of non-governmental organisations campaigning against Suaram's role in pushing for investigations, said today. French shipbuilding giant DCNS won the €1 billion contract in 2002, when Anwar was still serving a jail sentence for his 2000 sodomy conviction, but the group alleged today that he had approved it when he was Finance Minister in the 1990s. "Why didn't Suaram reveal that the Scorpene purchase was actually made by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim?" Dzulkarnain Taib, president of the Young Journalists Club, asked at a press conference today. He alleged that the Scorpene issue was first discussed in Cabinet in 1991. "In 1995, the then Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had approved the Scorpene purchase," Dzulkarnain said. He traced the chronology of the purchase of the two Scorpene submarines, saying that the deal was inked between the Malaysian government and French companies in 2002, while the vessels were handed over to Malaysia in 2010. Several NGOs had on October 11 said Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) had misrepresented its status as a plaintiff to a French inquiry of the multi-billion Scorpene submarine deal.
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| Fair, secular nation better label than Islamic, says ex-Perlis Mufti Posted: 23 Oct 2012 03:20 PM PDT
Amin Iskandar, The Malaysian Insider The debate over Malaysia's Islamic nation status has been described as a "branding" quarrel by popular cleric Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, who said a secular nation that is fair is better than an Islamic country that exploits religion. The Federal Constitution is Malaysia's supreme law but minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said this week that the country was never declared a secular nation; he stopped short, however, of calling it an Islamic state as declared by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. "You can name the country as [an] Islamic country but you exploit Islam, for what? You name the country secular but give the people rights; that is better. The most important (thing) is the values carried. People like to exploit brands." "However, I am not interested in terms; I am more interested with the content of a country," the former Perlis mufti told The Malaysian Insider after the 15th Sinar Harian Wacana titled "Ulama's Role, Advising Leaders (Peranan Ulama, Menasihati Pemimpin)" at the Karangkraf Complex yesterday. "I ask from PAS especially, don't fight about branding. We have to think whether social justice can be carried out in a multiracial country," he said, talking about the Islamist party that has accused Umno of using a secular constitution inherited from the British colonial masters. Repeated accusations from PAS led then-prime minister Dr Mahathir to announce in 2001 that Malaysia is an Islamic state, in his bid to regain support from the Malay community who had voted for the opposition in the 1999 general election. Mohd Asri, who resumed teaching in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) after leaving his post as Perlis mufti, agreed that Malaysia was an Islamic state rather than secular. "The definition of Islamic state is when the country is controlled by Muslims and at least part of the Islamic laws (Syariah laws) are implemented; that is enough." "The strongest proof that Malaysia is an Islamic state (is) when we Muslims in Malaysia demand for Islam (to be) strengthened in the country," said the scholar who ironically was arrested by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) in 2009 for allegedly being linked with spreading puritanical Wahabi teachings from Islam's birthplace, Saudi Arabia. Then-JAIS director Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi said Mohd Asri's arrest was for lecturing without approval and not for any other offence. But Dr Mohd Asri pointed out that being Islamic did not mean forcing non-Muslims to comply with religious laws and practises. "We cannot demand the non-Muslim to pray, we have to recognise he's a Muslim first, then only we ask him to fast." "When we ask our country to practise Islam, that means we recognise that it is basically Islamic," he said.
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| RM40m ‘donation’ held privately by Umno man, ex-BN MP claims Posted: 23 Oct 2012 03:13 PM PDT
Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider The RM40 million "political donation" to Sabah Umno at the centre of a controversy involving Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman was remitted into the personal bank account of "an Umno leader", a former Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmaker has alleged. Datuk Seri Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing, now an independent MP for Tuaran, said in an emailed statement last night that the family members of this "Umno leader" have been able to withdraw from this account "bit by bit", drawing question marks over claims by BN leaders that the funds were meant for Sabah Umno's use. "Were these withdrawals approved by Umno? "If the money was meant to be donated to Umno, why was it remitted into an individual and personal bank account?" he said in the statement. The former deputy president of Sabah-based BN party United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) did not, however, reveal the identity of the Umno leader or provide proof to back his claim. Bumburing also questioned BN's apparent refusal to reveal the source of the funds, saying this appeared to suggest that the ruling pact and its leaders were condoning corruption. He singled out Sabah Umno secretary Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan (above), pointing out that the Kota Belud MP has repeatedly defended the donation by saying there was nothing wrong with such contributions. "His (Abdul Rahman) admission also leaves many unanswered questions such as where did the money come from? "Is the money tax-exempted or did the donor paid income tax on the money donated?" he asked. Bumburing and fellow Sabah lawmaker Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin recently left their respective posts in BN to pledge allegiance to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) federal opposition pact, citing their growing disillusionment with the Najib administration. In Parliament earlier this month, it was revealed that Musa had been cleared of corruption after the local authorities declared that the RM40 million in question was a "political donation" to Sabah Umno and was not meant for the chief minister's personal use. According to previous reports, the probe was first kicked off in 2008 at the request of the Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), after a businessman was allegedly arrested when attempting to smuggle the cash back to Malaysia. But findings by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) later cleared Musa's name and subsequently led to the ICAC closing its probe against the Sabah Umno chief. Opposition lawmakers here have, however, been dissatisfied with the closure of the matter and are demanding the Najib administration explain the source of the donation and the exact events leading up to the probe on Musa. According to Sarawak Report, the whistleblower site that first exposed the case online, Sabah timber trader Michael Chia had been caught in the Hong Kong International Airport with the cash in Singapore currency.
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| It is the right of non-Muslims to comment on Hudud: Chua Posted: 23 Oct 2012 02:52 PM PDT
(The Star) - MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has hit out at Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for equating PAS with Islam. Stressing that his criticism of PAS' brand of hudud law was just that, he said it was not meant as an insult to Islam. "What is wrong with talking about hudud if it is going to affect the whole country? It is our Malaysian right to speak about it," Dr Chua said yesterday. "When we criticise PAS' hudud, we are not criticising Islam. Every time we talk about PAS, the Opposition would say we are attacking Islam. Why? Because they have equated PAS with Islam, which is wrong! "PAS is a political party. Islam is a religion. They are insulting Islam for equating themselves with it." Anwar had, during a ceramah in Taman Melawati in Kuala Lumpur on Monday night, challenged the Prime Minister to state his stand on MCA's claim that PAS' hudud law would encourage Muslims to rape non-Muslim women. On Saturday, Dr Chua had defended Wanita MCA vice-chief Senator Heng Seai Kie's claim that PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat was instigating Muslims to rape non-Muslims. Heng's claim was based on a video recording of Niz Aziz's speech, believed to be recorded in 2008, on the need for women to dress conservatively. Dr Chua said PAS had conned its followers by associating themselves with the religion, adding that its leaders did so because they were "hungry for power". "We respect Islam as the official religion of the Federation. Let's be very clear about it," he added. The MCA chief also lashed out at PAS members who condemned Heng for extrapolating Nik Aziz's speech on the need for women to dress conservatively or risk being raped. "It was not Heng who said it. It was their leader who said that not dressing conservatively could provoke someone sexually. She merely highlighted it," Dr Chua said, adding that such words were unfair to women. He also stood by his remarks at the MCA general assembly last week that Pakatan Rakyat's RM1,100 minimum wage policy proposal was unrealistic and would bankrupt small businesses, and brushed off accusations that he was anti-worker welfare. "Imagine now, there are three million foreign workers here, earning a minimum wage of RM800. Increasing it by RM300 would mean spending RM900mil a month or RM10.8bil extra in wages. "That's too huge a sum for small and medium enterprises to bear," he said, adding that Pakatan's exorbitant promises were a ploy to buy votes.
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| ‘DAP Malay candidate a safety cushion’ Posted: 23 Oct 2012 02:48 PM PDT No government can last in the state for fortnight if it does not have calibre Malay candidates, says Penang Malay Congress. Hawkeye, FMT GEORGE TOWN: The fielding of Malays as DAP candidates in Penang is just a "safety deposit" for Pakatan Rakyat in the coming general election, said a Malay NGO. Rahmad Isahak, the Penang Malay Congress chief, said PAS and PKR have failed to secure the Malay ground since 2008 although the opposition's leader Anwar Ibrahim hails from the state. "No government can last in Penang for two weeks if it does not have calibre Malay candidates to sit in the state government," said Rahmad. To avoid a scenerio where all of Pakatan's non Malays win in the next polls while all of its Malay candidates lose in Penang, it is best to allow DAP to field Malay candidates to strategically leverage against such a possibility, he said. Rahmad said that DAP had risen to become a prominent party here, and it is best that it reflects its ambition to be a truly multi-ethnic party under its 'Malaysia Malaysian' slogan. "What better way to reflect its multi-ethnic leanings by parading a multi-racial candidates list in a state as diverse as Penang?" he asked. Rahmad alleged that there was a fracture within PKR over the choice of candidates and seat allocations, while its leaders were suffering from an inferiority complex dealing with DAP. For example, Rahmad said state PKR chairman Mansor Othman was allegedly quoted in a leaked taped recording, describing DAP secretary-general and chief minister Lim Guan Eng as arrogant. "PAS is also dealing with its own "demons" as its former state youth wing head Mohammad Hafiz Noordin has been critical of the party of late," said Rahmad. "DAP Malay candidates may able to stave off a spirited challenge from BN, led by Umno and "hold the fort" in the event PAS and PKR candidates lose heavily in Penang," he added. Malays still struggling Rahmad said his views were based on the present political realities confronting the Malays in Penang. He also rebuked another Malay NGO called PAJIM for suggesting that the congress is not the voice of the Malay community here.
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| PKR: Anwar did not fail the Malay agenda Posted: 23 Oct 2012 02:32 PM PDT PKR has dimissed the allegation by a former Cabinet minister that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim had approved banking licences to non-Malay banking groups. Teoh El Sen, FMT PKR has come to the defence of its de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim following the "revelation" made by former Cabinet minister Sanusi Junid who accused the opposition leader of "failing the Malay agenda" when he was finance minister. Yesterday, Sanusi had reportedly told a Malay economic forum that former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former finance minister Daim Zainuddin had, by not granting banking licences to non-Malays in Malaysia, tried to emulate Nazi Germany's anti-Jewish policies. However, Sanusi added that the duo's plan was thwarted by Anwar when he became finance minister and approved two banking licences to non-Malay banking groups, namely Hong Leong Bank and Alliance Bank. "Sanusi's accusation that Anwar had failed the Malay agenda is baseless," PKR communications director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said in a statement today. "Perhaps the Malay agenda that Sunusi meant was to safeguard the shareholder interests of Umno-BN cronies, such as how Petronas was pressured to save Korsortium Perkapalan Bhd, a company owned by Mahathir's son, Mirzan, during the 1997 economic crisis, at an above market price." "However, the one who stopped that attempt was Anwar. "It is clear that Sanusi's statement is mere slander. His eagerness to attack Anwar and defend Mahathir and Daim made him blind to the mismanagement of the economy, which has made Malaysians [in general] and Malays [in particular] the victims," said Nik. Nik Nazmi also pointed out that one of the companies Anwar allegedly gave banking licence to, Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd, was linked to Daim himself as it was a banking company under the Alliance Financial Group Bhd (AFG). He alleged that Daim owned 14.8% of AFG through a company called Langkah Bahagia Sdn Bhd. "Langkah Bahagia, together with parties linked to investment company Temasek Holdings Ltd in Singapore, had interests in AFG through Vertical Theme Sdn Bhd," said Nik Nazmi. Huge disaster Nik Nazmi said that the "relationship" between Daim and AFG dated back to 1982 when the former bought over the Malaysian French Bank, which was later renamed Multi-Purpose Bank. According to Nik Nazmi, Langkah Bahagia purchased shares in Hock Hua Bank in Sabah in 1997, where one of the shareholders of Langkah Bahagia, Mohd Nasir Ali, had openly admitted that he acted on behalf of Daim.
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| Ex-Sabah AG sues two social activists Posted: 23 Oct 2012 02:30 PM PDT Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) panelist seeks RM50million in defamation suit against Sabah singer-activist Atama and a social activist. (FMT) - KOTA KINABALU: Former state attorney-general Herman Luping has filed a RM50 million defamation suit against popular local rapper Atama (photo) and a social activist. Luping, recently appointed a member of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in the state, named Atama whose real name is Andrew Ambrose and SM Muthu as first and second defendants in the suit filed to the High Court this week. The former AG and deputy chief minister during the Usno era is seeking an injunction against the defendants restraining them from making defamatory remarks about him and an order to remove an offending article from FMT. He is claiming punitive damages, statutory interest and other relief deemed fit by the court. In his statement of claim, Luping said Atama, a musician and spokesman for Bersih Sabah and Muthu, an ex-civil servant turned social activist posted malicious statements against him on Twitter, Facebook and FMT. According to Luping the article entitled 'Luping appointment came under fire', published by FMT on Aug 13 this year, had seriously injured his character and his reputation has been brought into scandal and hurt his feelings. The statements made by the two, he said, were calculated to make negative and false inferences of him, namely that he could not be trusted, is not fit to be in the RCI, is dishonest with low integrity, not credible and a criminal. He also claimed the the first defendant's statements in Facebook and Twitter on Aug 12, 2012 were calculated to make negative and false inferences of him as a corrupt politician and a person who could not be trusted. Luping said the second defendant also alluded to this same sentiment in his postings in Facebook. The suit was filed through his lawyer Marcel Jude.
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| DAP candidates to contest 2 seats if needed Posted: 23 Oct 2012 12:34 AM PDT
(The Sun Daily) - Federal opposition party DAP will allow its candidates to concurrently contest two seats – state and parliamentary – if the situation calls for it. DAP national vice-chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the party's leadership had discussed the issue at length earlier this year and concluded that it would decide on the matter on a case-by-case basis. He said factors such as political circumstances and environment will dictate whether party candidates can contest both parliamentary and state seats. "If there is a proposal for a candidate to contest two seats, the party will look at it," he said at a press conference today. The issue arose earlier this year when DAP national chairman Karpal Singh proposed that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) candidates only contest one seat in the next general election. The Bukit Gelugor MP had reportedly expressed his desire that the DAP lead by example by setting a one-seat policy before the polls. Karpal, however, added that the chief minister and mentri besar, who are state assemblymen, should participate in Parliament for the benefit of their respective states. He was also reported to have postulated that there might be "exceptional cases" such as in Sabah and Sarawak where the party might not have enough candidates. On whether any DAP candidate is slated for contesting two seats, Chow said the decision has yet to be made. He said the party has a pool of candidates but has not decided who will contest. Chow, who is Tanjong MP and Padang Kota assemblyman, also side-stepped the question of whether he is going to defend both his seats, quipping that he has yet to be nominated. The Penang DAP chairman also dismissed criticisms that the party practises "dynasty politics". He said the child of a politician who decides to enter politics should be judged as an individual in "his own right, capability and capacity". "Not every father encourages his son to join politics ... especially in the Opposition. How many want their sons to follow in their footsteps? ... Because it is not easy," he said.
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| More than meets the eye in Kedah PNG project Posted: 22 Oct 2012 08:17 PM PDT
(Bernama) - Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak broke his silence Tuesday over allegations of losses incurred by a state-owned company in a project in Papua New Guinea, and seemed to have opened a Pandora's box. He said a senior officer of the state-owned Kedah Corporation Bhd, who had since gone missing, had secured a USD40mil (RM122.1mil) offshore loan from a bank in the United Kingdom in 2009 without the knowledge of the board of directors and had worked with another company to invest in a plantation and logging project in Papua New Guinea (PNG). "After learning of the irregularity, a committee was set up to investigate Kedah Corp's operations and it was learnt that the PNG project was unprofitable and was terminated," he told reporters when approached at the handing over of Aidiladha sacrificial cattle to Federal and state departments and agencies at the Suka Menanti Stadium, here. Azizan said the state government ordered the termination of the transaction by the UK bank but was forced to settle RM1.4mil in consultancy fee to a company. He also said that the state government would not hesitate to reclaim RM1.3mil from the company with which the missing officer had dealt with as the owner had promised to return the money. "I am prepared to hand over the file on the case to the police, and to have the officer who has gone missing traced," he said. He denied that the Kedah government was involved in irregularities in the PNG project and invited immediate investigation by the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) into the case highlighted by the Auditor-General's Report 2011. The report had stated that Kedah Corp had obtained a RM135mil offshore loan to finance the project. Azizan dismissed allegations that the state government was at fault for having caused Kedah Corp to suffer a loss of RM13.49mil in the project. Azizan claimed that many more cases of GLC mismanagement had driven the government helmed by him to incur debts, which had to be settled. "I am forced to examine all the agreements reached to ensure that the state government does not incur losses, including the 99East project, a development on Bukit Malut in Langkawi involving 145.6 hectares of state land," he said.
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| Bung Mokhtar hits out at Syed Mokhtar, Zeti Posted: 22 Oct 2012 07:42 PM PDT The Kinabatangan MP urges the government to stop Syed Mokhtar from monopolising business in the country and get someone to replace Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz. G Vinod, FMT Kinabatangan MP Bung Mokhtar Radin launched a broadside against business tycoon Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary and Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz at the Parliament today. In his criticism against Syed Mokhtar, Bung Mokhtar questioned the Finance Ministry's rationale in allowing the billionaire to control mega businesses in the country at the expense of other businessmen. "He wants Keretapi Tanah Melayu, he wants Mass Rapid Transit. He wants everything on land, sea and air. Given a chance, he will even do business in the graveyard," said the outspoken MP. He also said that it was not fair for other businessmen and pointed out that there were other capable bumiputeras out there who could work on projects as effectively. "Even open tenders for small businesses, Syed Mokhtar will be there. Don't let one man control everything," said Bung Mokhtar. He also said that the government should be mindful as the people were watching and urged the relevent authorities to come up with a mechanism to keep tabs on monopolistic system. "This thing keeps happening. Last time we had Tajuddin Ramli controlling MAS but what happened? At the end, government had to take responsibility for its losses. "That's why I object to monopoly. Don't depend on one person to control our economy," said Bung Mokhtar. On Zeti, Bung Mokhtar urged the Finance Ministry to probe the Bank Negara governor for allegedly being negligent in monitoring the rising numbers of gold trading companies in Malaysia. He was referring to the recent raid by Bank Negara on four gold trading companies for allegedly being involved in various malpractises.
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| Politicisation of hudud angers Dr M Posted: 22 Oct 2012 07:39 PM PDT But the former premier is vague if he objected to MCA's move to exploit the issue to gain Chinese votes. Syed Jaymal Zahiid, FMT Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he detested the ongoing politicisation of the hudud debate but made no clear position on MCA's move to exploit the issue to win the Chinese votes. "I am disappointed that hudud is being used for the gains of certain quarters… the issue is not a religious one but a political one," the former premier told reporters here today. "I am against hudud being used as a political issue," added the nation's longest serving PM whose administration was known for its promotion of moderate Islam and anti-hudud stand. The longstanding controversy over the Islamic penal law resurfaced when the ruling coalition's Chinese component party, MCA, at its annual general assembly last weekend played on the issue apparently aimed at shoring up support from the community. MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek had said that a vote for rival DAP would mean support for PAS' push for hudud to be implemented if the federal opposition bloc wins the general election. Chua had also said that PAS condoned the rape of non-Muslims. PAS and DAP are allies in Pakatan Rakyat but the two clash ideologically with one pushing for an Islamic state and the other being staunch secularists. To date the hudud issue had not been resolved and political rivals have used the debacle to drive a deeper wedge between the two but PKR, the leading moderates in Pakatan, have so far been successful in containing the conflict. PAS leaders said Chua's comments were an insult to Islam and that MCA, with drastic drop in Chinese support, had played the religious card to stay relevant. Malaysia a Muslim country The Chinese form the second biggest electorate next to the Malays in Malaysia. Its support for the ruling coalition had fast dwindled since the landmark polls in 2008 with analysts saying the worse is yet to come for MCA. Mahathir too admitted that MCA had tried to use the hudud issue to scare the Chinese from voting DAP.
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| Germany’s past anti-Jew policy inspired Dr M’s banking reforms, says Sanusi Posted: 22 Oct 2012 07:34 PM PDT
Lee Wei Lian, The Malaysian Insider Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was inspired by Germany's past policy of limiting Jewish financial influence to help the Malays but it was later thwarted by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, former Cabinet minister Tan Sri Sanusi Junid said today. Sanusi told a Malay economic forum that Dr Mahathir and former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin were hoping that Malays would control the economy but when they saw progress was slow, they decided to follow the German example of not granting banking licences to Jews. But the plan failed when Anwar became finance minister and approved two banking licences to non-Malay banking groups — Alliance Bank and Hong Leong Bank. "We thought that if we can't control the economy, we would follow Germany," Sanusi said at the Malay Economic Congress here. "In Germany banking licences are not given to the Jews." He said while pre-existing licences had been given to non-Malays, Daim made sure that all banks had Malay directors, which was important to ensure all banks had Malay influence. "But unfortunately a huge disaster happened (kecelakaan besar); when Anwar became finance minister he approved banking licences for Alliance Bank and Hong Leong bank," he said. "We didn't want to give." Sanusi said that as a result there are now "two non-Malay banks without Malay influence." Malaysia's banking system was formerly largely controlled by the Chinese but many were taken over by or forced to merge with government-controlled entities. The loss of Chinese-founded banking institutions is widely perceived by the Chinese community as of one of the ways they have been discriminated against under the guise of helping the Bumiputera community. The Umno-led Barisan Nasional government however had previously maintained that direct intervention was required to uplift the Bumiputeras and that mergers would help create stronger banks that could withstand globalisation.
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| Shahrizat backs Raja Nong Chik as Lembah Pantai BN candidate Posted: 22 Oct 2012 04:38 PM PDT
(Bernama) - Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalilopenly declares her support for Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin as the Lembah Pantai Barisan Nasional candidate in the coming general election. The former Lembah Pantai MP said there was no one more qualified for the post than Raja Nong Chik, who is also an Umno Supreme Council member, due to his hard work in the constituency. Shahrizat, also the former Women, Family and Community Development Minister, said: "Actually, I have supported Datuk Raja Nong Chik since three years ago, but I'm declaring it only today. "This is because we had been working together for 15 years when I was the Lembah Pantai MP for three terms," she told a press conference here yesterday. Raja Nong Chik was also present. Shahrizat was Lembah Pantai MP from 1995 after she defeated former chief justice Tun Mohamad Salleh Abas from Semangat 46 with a 13,361-vote majority, but failed to retain her seat in the 2008 general election. In that elections, she lost to PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, who had a 2,895-vote majority. Raja Nong Chik said he always had a good relationship with Shahrizat, although there were allegations that he had caused the end of her political career. "I used to sit next to Datuk Seri Shahrizat in the Cabinet. I admit that sometimes we had differences of opinion but we had never quarrelled. "Actually, it's the Opposition who wish to see us quarrel. They want Umno to be divided so that they can easily win (the elections)," he said.
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| Homophobia on the rise in Indonesia, survey says Posted: 22 Oct 2012 04:14 PM PDT
(The Jakarta Post) - JAKARTA - A new survey published on Sunday revealed that intolerance of minorities is growing, with the highest level of hostility directed at the gay and lesbian community. The Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI) found in its most recent poll that a staggering 80.6 per cent of its sample population objected to having gays or lesbians as neighbours. The figure has jumped significantly from 64.7 per cent in 2005. LSI found that intolerance of homosexuals was higher than the respondents' aversion toward people adhering to different faiths, which stood at 15.1 per cent. For the survey, LSI interviewed 1,200 respondents between Oct 1 and Oct 8. The respondents even preferred to live next door to what they deemed as followers of deviant sects like Shi'ism and Ahmadiyah, rather than with gays or lesbians. The survey revealed that 41.8 per cent and 46.6 per cent respectively of the respondents would feel uncomfortable living next to Shia or Ahmadiyah followers. "Most of the respondents who showed intolerance [toward these minority groups] are male, low-income and limited-education people," LSI researcher Ardian Sopa said during a press conference on Sunday afternoon. Close to 60 per cent of respondents who admitted intolerance were men. More than 67 per cent of them were uneducated or senior high school graduates at best. The LSI also found that 63.4 per cent of respondents who admitted to being intolerant of minority groups earned Rp 2 million (S$254) or less per month. Earlier in June, a survey published by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) confirmed the widely held assumption that religious intolerance is on the rise in the country. The CSIS survey conducted between Jan 16 and 24 this year, found that although 83.4 per cent of the respondents said that they had no problem with neighbours from different ethnic groups, 79.3 per cent objected to inter-religious marriage. Director of non-profit group Denny JA Foundation, Novriantoni Kahar, said that the survey showed that Indonesia had a long way to go before being able to accept homosexuality. "This will be very difficult because the level of acceptance is even lower than that given to people of different religions or ethnicity," he said. Novriantoni said what the government needed to do was to improve people's welfare, as intolerance was mostly shown by poorer citizens. "The government needs to do more to improve socio-economic conditions. People who are unemployed or poor can easily be goaded into attacking minority groups," he said. Contacted separately, Hartoyo, an executive of an LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) empowerment organisation, blamed radical Islamist groups and the media for the growing homophobia. Hartoyo said that the majority of the population subscribed to ideas promoted by hard-line Islamist groups, which condemned homosexuality as sinful conduct and a product of Western culture. In May, radical Islamist groups broke up the launch of a new book by Canadian liberal Muslim activist Irshad Manji for fear that she would promote lesbianism in the country. The media also shared the blame for only promoting stereotypes and caricatures of gay people, Hartoyo said. "Some media outlets, mainly online news portals and TV channels that are easily accessible to people tend to give imbalanced reports about us or portray us only as clowns." He said that in the long run, the growing homophobia could further worsen injustice against the community. "Just look at Dede Oetomo, a renowned sociologist and human rights activist. After he was named as a commissioner candidate of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the public started fussing about his sexual orientation and overlooked his impressive achievements. So, how is it possible for a person like me to be a minister?" Hartoyo said.
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| Posted: 22 Oct 2012 04:01 PM PDT
Gerakan challenges Penang CM to enact an anti-hudud legislation to show DAP's firm stance against it Athi Shankar, FMT Instead of mooting an anti-hopping law, the Penang Pakatan Rakyat government was today challenged to to enact an anti-hudud legislation. Baljit Singh, Gerakan's legal and human rights bureau head, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng should enact an anti-hudud law to emphasise DAP's firm stance against it. He said Lim was fully aware that a state anti-party hopping law would contravene Articles 10(1)(C) and 48(6) Federal Constitution and a 1992 Supreme Court ruling. Article 10(1)(C) grants the citizenry rights to freedom of association. "He knows very well that an anti-hopping law simply won't work. He just wants to milk maximum publicity with his typical Malacca wayang kulit," said Baljit. With Pakatan's two-third strength in the state legislative assembly, Baljit said Lim can easily enact the anti-hudud law, especially since it would run parallel to the Federal Constitution. Pakatan has 29 state seats – DAP's 19, PKR nine and PAS one, against Barisan Nasional's 11 Umno state assemblymen. Baljit said Lim would not face a problem in getting an anti-hudud law through, as religious matters come under state jurisdiction vis-à-vis Schedule 9 of the Federal Constitution. By passing an anti-hudud law, he said Lim can assure Penangites that hudud would never find its way to Penang. "Lim should demonstrate DAP's commitment and sincerity in opposing hudud," said Baljit. Lim, the DAP secretary-general, said yesterday that his government would table a bill at the next assembly sitting to amend the state constitution to legislate an anti-party hopping law. Baljit claimed that Lim's insistence on introducing the anti-hop law reflected the chief minister's lack of confidence in facing the next general election. He said Lim may have realised that it would be difficult to repeat the 2008 success, let alone better it. Private member's bill Hence, Baljit said Lim could be trying to shackle potential post-election political frogs to safeguard his and his party's interests. Baljit said even DAP supremo Karpal Singh, a staunch advocate against elected political frogs, had pointed out that any anti-hopping legislation would only be effective if, when and unless constitutional barriers of Articles 10(1) (C) and 48(6) were removed. "Can there be a better constitutional law expert for DAP than its own national chairman? If he can't listen to Karpal, who else will Lim listen to?" asked Baljit, a lawyer by profession.
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| Greedy, corrupt leadership caused Malay agenda to fail, says Malay chamber Posted: 22 Oct 2012 03:42 PM PDT Syed Ali said leaders need to have a 'clean heart' to develop the Malay community. Lee Wei Lian, The Malaysian Insider The Malay economic agenda failed to achieve its objectives due to corruption and greed, Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM) president Datuk Syed Ali Alattas said today. He said dozens of government agencies had been set up and billions of ringgit had been used to help develop the Malay economy but the Malay community was at the "lowest level of achievement." "What's gone wrong? That's what is being asked," Syed Ali said at the Malay Economic Congress here. "There is a lot of carelessness and not enough responsibility among leaders which caused Malays to fall behind," he said. "Corruption and greed caused the Malay agenda to fail." Syed Ali said leaders needed to have a "clean heart." He said the Malays are now at a "crossroads" and have put their hope in the community's leaders. "The fate of the Malays today and the future generations will depend on the current leadership," said Syed Ali. He claimed that the Malays have less than 10 per cent control of the economy in terms of equity, businesses and shops. "I am brave enough to say that there is not one shop in the centre of Johor Baru that is owned by a Malay," he said. The commerce chamber chief also said that programmes such as an UDA (Urban Development Authority) scheme that allocated 1,500 acres a few kilometres from Johor Baru specifically for Malays to do business should continue. Efforts to lift the community economically have been surrounded by much controversy due to programmes that have been implemented such as race-based quotas for contracts, licences and employment. The Najib administration has embarked on reforms to make ethnic-based affirmative action more merit based by supposedly helping only deserving Malays. Critics of the race-based policies say that it is too open to abuse and has benefited mainly the Malay elites.
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| Foreign-funded NGOs: PAS man wants answers Posted: 22 Oct 2012 03:27 PM PDT The renegade PAS MP queried the Home Ministry on what is being done to monitor these NGOs, in an apparent posture against Suaram. Patrick Lee, FMT Suaram it seems, not only has opponents within Barisan Nasional, but also from Pakatan Rakyat. This was seen in a recent query by PAS-Bachok MP Nasharudin Mat Isa, who asked the Home Ministry what is being done to monitor NGO activities and their respective funding, especially that of foreign origin. He also asked how many NGOs are registered in Malaysia. In a Parliamentary written response, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said that Malaysia's 46,249 registered NGOs are monitored through their annual statements. These contained reports on their activities, finances, annual general meeting minutes and a list of their committee members. He added that this annual statement needed to be sent to the Registrar of Societies 60 days after an NGO's AGM is held. If there is no AGM, then the statement would have to be sent 60 days after the end of the calendar year. Nasharudin's query is suspect, given the recent government-led investigations on Suaram. Noted for its role in spearheading the controversial Scorpene scandal, the group, along with others, has been recently accused of receiving foreign funds. This led various figures in the political realm to denounce the group as a traitor. Although Nasharudin did not attack Suaram directly, it is believed that by drawing attention to Suaram's foreign funds, the PAS MP is also going against Pakatan's views on the matter. Recently, DAP-Petaling Jaya MP Tony Pua filed a parliamentary motion aimed at cutting Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's pay by RM10. Pua did this claiming that Ismail was "selectively persecuting" Suaram for Barisan Nasional's agenda. The motion was rejected by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia yesterday. Nasharudin's actions also seem to show a growing opposition for Pakatan, especially that of DAP. Early this month, the Bachok MP claimed that DAP is trying to turn Malaysia into a Christian state. Both DAP and PAS leaders have criticised Nasharudin for his allegations.
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| Let’s debate on Suhakam reports, says Nazri Posted: 22 Oct 2012 03:24 PM PDT Suhakam's reports have never been debated in Parliament, leading to the perception that the human rights commission is a 'toothless tiger'. But the minister wants this to change. Patrick Lee, FMT Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz today mooted the idea of discussing Malaysian Human Right Commission (Suhakam's) reports in Parliament. He acknowledged that though Suhakam had been sending its reports to Parliament for many years, MPs had not debated on its contents. "I agree that Suhakam's reports have not been debated before, and it's not fair to them," he told the Dewan Rakyat. Nazri was responding to a query by DAP-Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran who raised Suhakam's perception as a "toothless tiger". At the same time, Nazri said that Parliament should not stop there. He added that there needed to be a permanent committee to address issues raised by Suhakam, much like the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee. Despite being in existence since 2000, none of Suhakam's reports have ever been debated in Parliament. Kulasegaran also compared Suhakam's role to that of foreign equivalents, such as South Africa's Human Rights Commission, which he said had regulatory powers. He also said that countries such as India and Indonesia had specific Human Rights Courts, promising that if Pakatan Rakyat were to take over, it would set up these courts here as well. Nazri however denied that Suhakam was a "toothless tiger", adding that the role of the commission was not to take action against human rights violations. "Suhakam can't arrest people. If a person needs to be arrested, then it must be reported to the police," he said. Powers of Suhakam commissioners
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| Pakatan divided on secular state issue Posted: 22 Oct 2012 03:07 PM PDT While DAP insists Malaysia is a secular state, PKR says it is a non-issue while PAS says the matter is best debated when the political climate is more 'free'. G Vinod, FMT Pakatan Rakyat MPs are divided on the issue of whether Malaysia is a secular state or otherwise. While DAP insists that Malaysia is a secular state, PKR and PAS MPs were non-committal, saying what matters most is to rejuvenate Malaysia democratic space. Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz told the Dewan Rakyat that Malaysia is not a secular state as the Federal Constitution is "silent" about it. But the Padang Rengas MP did not state if Malaysia was an Islamic state either. However, he added that the country had been using secular laws which had been brought over from before Independence, through Article 162 of the Federal Constitution. Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua was not impressed with Nazri's answers and accused the minister of being in denial syndrome, to serve the political interest of Barisan Nasional. "It's like saying you're neither a man nor woman," said Pua. The DAP publicity chief also said that Nazri's refusal to recognise Malaysia's secular constitution was a clear attempt to influence the Malay voters. "There is nothing wrong with a secular state having Islam as the official religion. It just means that everyone is free to practise their own religion," said Pua. Respecting the constitution Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar said that BN had always used the secular state and Islamic state argument to confuse the masses for its own political advantage. "I think it's a bait. As far as we are concerned, we will continue to uphold and respect all that is enshrined in the constitution," said Nurul. Whether Malaysia was a secular state or otherwise, Nurul said it was a non-issue. "The point is that our constitution has helped navigate Malaysia as a moderate Muslim state. The most important thing now is to improve our democratic state to realise our potential to be a beacon of democracy," said the PKR vice-president.
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| Malaysia's Missing Police Chief Posted: 22 Oct 2012 02:01 PM PDT What did Musa Hassan know, and when did he know it, and did he intend to tell it? The mystery "hasn't made much, if any, impact as yet on the Malaysian scene," a veteran political observer in Kuala Lumpur said. "There is so much spin going on from both sides, the public is sceptical. Furthermore, Musa has denied it and many people I spoke with think that this was probably just an Anwar spin," a reference to Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. "I don't think it's going to have the same impact as Wang and Bo Xilai. It's just another day in Malaysia's gutter politicking." John Bethelsen What happened to Musa Hassan on his way to Bangkok – if indeed he was going? The retired national police chief was said to be giving a press conference with "new revelations" in the 2006 murder-for-hire of Mongolian beauty Altantuya Shaariibuu by two elite bodyguards for then-defense minister Najib Tun Razak. Read more at: http://asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4917&Itemid=178
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| Bersih sees red over ‘bizzare’ episode Posted: 22 Oct 2012 01:55 PM PDT
(Free Malaysia Today) - The steering committee has expressed incredulity that its Sabah-born member was barred from entering the state and pens a letter to the IGP and immigration department. A "bizzare" situation involving a Bersih steering committee member has prompted the election watchdog to pen a letter to Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar and Immigration Department director-general Alias Ahmad. In the letter dated Oct 23, Bersih leaders expressed incredulity that Sabah-born Ahmad Syukri Che Ab Razab was forced to board a flight back to Kuala Lumpur despite being scheduled to speak at a workshop in Kota Kinabalu. Bersih wanted an explanation on this issue as the movement saw no justification in prohibiting a native Sabahan from entering his own state. Other Bersih members were also barred from entering East Malaysia. None of them had received any explanation on these harassments. "This latest episode shows the escalation of unreasonable and arbitrary administrative actions in our country, as in the past several civil society members from West Malaysia have been barred from entering East Malaysia. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/10/23/bersih-sees-red-over-bizzare-episode/
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| Nazri: Michael Chia never arrested in HK with Sabah Umno cash Posted: 22 Oct 2012 01:45 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Putrajaya revealed today that businessman Michael Chia was never caught in Hong Kong holding large sums of Singapore currency as reported, in the latest twist to the saga over a RM40 million political donation for Sabah Umno. "According to MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission), Chia was never arrested in Hong Kong... that is the MACC's answer. "And (Hong Kong's) ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption) never caught Michael Chia," Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz (picture) said when wrapping up committee stage debates on Budget 2013. The Padang Rengas MP explained that the RM40 million, which was allegedly meant for Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman, was actually frozen in an investment account in Hong Kong. Nazri admitted, however, that he was not certain of the exact details but said that the money in the Hong Kong account was later meant to be transferred to an account in a Swiss bank. "That is my understanding of the case," he told the House. The minister was replying to a question from Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) who had asked why the Malaysian authorities had not sought information from the Swiss government when investigating Musa for graft. Lim had cited reports claiming that Chia was holding more money for Musa in a Swiss bank account. "This matter raised about the Swiss bank account is actually the same as the one frozen in Hong Kong that was yet to be transferred to the Swiss account. "Therefore when it was discovered that the cash was not corruption money but a political donation, so the question of seeking information from the Swiss government did not arise," Nazri said. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/nazri-michael-chia-never-arrested-in-hk-with-sabah-umno-cash |
| EC upset over Suara Keadilan report Posted: 22 Oct 2012 03:49 AM PDT
He told the writer Hishamuddin Rais to check the facts before coming out with the innacurate report, he described as malicious, discrediting the country's independent electoral body. Kamaruddin said all names were cross-checked with the National Registration Department (NRD) which verify they are Malaysian citizens, including those using the MyKad state code "71" in the electoral roll. "If the writer thinks this is a big issue, then he should take into account that the MyKad state code of several Pakatan Rakyat leaders is also listed as "71"," said Kamaruddin. Weird names of voters listed in the report including Bukit bin Batu, Harimau bin Buaya, Kijang anak lelaki Ular, Jintan bin Bawang, Dubai bin Abu Dhabi, Sungai binti Laut and Koma binti Noktah were not in the electoral roll. "We admit there are names such as Sitti Hairan binti Jauharatil (Kg. Padang Serigala), Kereta binti Laut (Kg. Samuran), Kucing anak Tedong (Lutong Sec School), Batman bin Bakke (Rh Nyuak) and Proton Saga a/l Kelambu (Jentong) in the electoral roll. "They may sound weird to Hishammuddin but not to the owners," he added. On claim that there are 46 voters registered at a single address at No. 994 Jalan Papan Klang, Kamaruddin said they were squatters living around a bungalow and some of them were still using the postal address. |
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