Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Lembah Pantai tough for BN due to split Malay vote, Nong Chik says
- Merger of 5 PKNS assets approved by Federal Treasury, says Khalid
- Soi Lek: Jamil needs to do homework on hudud first
- Soi Lek disagrees with Umno ally over hudud
- Karpal gets flak over seat call
- Pros and cons in early naming of election candidates
- Former Ops Lalang detainees happy that ISA has been repealed
- Anwar: Khalid will defend his parliamentary seat
- Is ex-Sabah DCM Tham making comeback?
- Liu shows proof it was all BN’s work
- S'gor MB challenged to explain proposed sale of PKNS assets
- Local councils a law unto themselves
- DAP’s ‘gesture of goodwill’ to SAPP
- MACC report against Palani’s aide
- Genneva gold storm poses political risks ahead of polls
- Karpal renews pressure on one man-one seat policy
- Let Federal Court decide status of M’sia
- Not just a Malay problem: dirty money cost China US$3.8 trillion 2000-2011
- Assange says to stay in embassy until US backs off: CNN
- Only 300 turn up for Bt Caves protest
- Launched: Book on polls irregularities
- 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
| Lembah Pantai tough for BN due to split Malay vote, Nong Chik says Posted: 27 Oct 2012 07:41 PM PDT
Md Izwan, The Malaysian Insider The Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition will have a tough time winning back the Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat, Umno's Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said today while blaming it on attempts by "certain" political parties to divide the Malay-Muslim vote. The Malay-Muslim community forms roughly 60 per cent of Malaysia's population and is split three-ways between the country's biggest Malay party, Umno, Islamist opposition party PAS, and PKR, seen as an urban liberal party. Political parties have sparred over issues such as the implementation of hudud laws — the Islamic penal code — in an attempt to gain support from the Malay community ahead of the 13th general election. "[It] cannot be denied the Umno-BN machinery will face fierce competition in the general election here. But I feel there is a bright chance to win. "[The] barrier (halangan) to [a BN victory] arises from certain parties in the country that try to split the Muslims in the country," Raja Nong Chik said after attending a Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration at Pantai Baru this morning. Raja Nong Chik, who is seen as a likely candidate from Umno for the parliamentary seat, said that preparations have already been made and the party machinery is impatiently waiting for the prime minister's green light. In Election 2008, Umno Wanita chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil failed to defend the Lembah Pantai hot seat, suffering a surprise defeat to Nurul Izzah Anwar, the daughter of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Nurul Izzah won the seat with 21,728 votes while Shahrizat and an independent candidate received 18,833 votes and 489 votes, respectively. Earlier this month, Shahrizat had openly declared her support for Raja Nong Chik to be the Umno candidate for the Lembah Pantai seat in the coming election. Shahrizat had said that none was more qualified than Raja Nong Chik, who is also an Umno Supreme Council member, saying that he had worked hard in the Lembah Pantai area. "Actually, I've supported Datuk Raja Nong Chik since three years ago but only today I'm declaring it," said the former minister whose family has been linked to the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) scandal.
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| Merger of 5 PKNS assets approved by Federal Treasury, says Khalid Posted: 27 Oct 2012 07:36 PM PDT
(Bernama) - The merger of five assets belonging to the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) into a single group asset transferred to a wholly-owned subsidiary of PKNS had received the approval of the Federal Treasury. Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said thus there was no necessity for him to reply on the issue which was raised by several parties because the PKNS deputy general manager (corporate) Datin Paduka Norazlina Zakaria had already given a reply on the matter. He was commenting on the call by Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar that Abdul Khalid, who is also the PKNS chairman, give a full explanation on the claim that the PKNS board of directors had approved the sale of the five PKNS assets worth RM321mil. Noh said the five assets were Menara PKNS Petaling Jaya worth RM90mil, Shah Alam Convention Centre (RM97mil), Shah Alam PKNS Complex (RM85mil), Bangi PKNS Kompleks (RM42mil) and Wisma Yakin Kuala Lumpur (RM7mil). Noh, who is also the Selangor Barisan Nasional deputy chairman, made the call at a function, here on Sunday.
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| Soi Lek: Jamil needs to do homework on hudud first Posted: 27 Oct 2012 04:49 PM PDT
(The Star) - Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek says Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom has not done his homework when he said PAS' brand of hudud would have no effect on non-Muslims. "Maybe he did not do his homework. I am disappointed with what he said," the MCA president said. On Wednesday, Jamil Khir told Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng in the Dewan Rakyat that hudud would not affect non-Muslims. Tan had asked him if it would ever be implemented in Malaysia. Speaking to reporters after chairing the Batu Pahat MCA committee meeting on Friday, Dr Chua invited Jamil Khir to a debate on how hudud would affect all Malaysians, pointing out that it involved amending the Federal Constitution. He also pointed out that a political party should not be equated to religion. "PAS is a political party while Islam is the official religion. "The MCA is upholding the constitution which states the country's official religion is Islam while Malaysians are free to embrace their own," he said. Asked if his comments about Jamil Khir would affect Barisan Nasional, Dr Chua said the MCA, as a political party, had the right to express its views. Dr Chua added that he would not apologise to a group of PAS Youth members who had held a protest at Wisma MCA over his statement on hudud. "Why should we be scared? We are merely stressing our views and the people have the right to choose," he said. On another matter, Dr Chua said the DAP had been championing PAS as this was obvious when Rasah MP and DAP Youth leader Anthony Loke slammed the table in Parliament against the MCA in defence of PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat. "When Penang PKR chief Datuk Mansor Othman remarked that Penangites viewed Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng as tokong (deity), why did Loke not slam the table in Parliament? "Does this mean that to Loke, Nik Aziz is more important than Lim?" he asked, claiming that this showed that the DAP was a "political eunuch" to PAS. Dr Chua also said that Batu Pahat MCA would hold a mega dinner at Sea View Restaurant on Nov 3 and the money raised would be channelled to six Chinese primary schools and a Chinese independent school in the area. "From next year onwards, 25 poor students from each of the Chinese primary schools will be given RM600 in aid per year while those from the independent school will receive RM1,000 every year," he said.
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| Soi Lek disagrees with Umno ally over hudud Posted: 27 Oct 2012 04:43 PM PDT
Ida Lim, The Malaysian Insider Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has openly disagreed with his Umno colleague in the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) that introducing hudud, the strict Islamic penal code, here will not impact non-Muslims, adding to the protracted debate over religious rights in multicultural Malaysia. "Maybe he did not do his homework. I am disappointed with what he said," the MCA president was reported as saying today by English-language paper The Sunday Star. Dr Chua was referring to Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, who had earlier this week said hudud could only apply to Muslims as they come under the jurisdiction of the Syariah courts. "Therefore, hudud law will not impact non-Muslims," Jamil Khir, the minister for Islamic affairs, told Parliament in a written reply. He had based his reply on the Federal Constitution, where Islamic law falls under the jurisdiction of each state and is only applicable to Muslims. "Therefore, if hudud is to be implemented in Malaysia, then the Syariah Court would only have jurisdiction over those who practise Islam in accordance with the Federal Constitution," Jamil Khir had said. Malaysia's dual-track court system has resulted in an blurring of lines in an increasing number of legal disputes between Muslims and non-Muslims over their constitutional rights. Dr Chua had last week said many Chinese voters are "also aware that the DAP has been lying when it said that hudud will not affect the non-Muslims". MCA has been using the hudud issue to warn non-Muslims, especially the Chinese community, away from voting for Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in the coming polls, insisting that the pact's "dominant" partner PAS would insist on its implementation despite its ties with secular DAP and PKR. Hudud has remained a sensitive touch point in Southeast Asia's third-largest economy, which has a 60 per cent Muslim population, with political parties continuing to spar over the subject in the run-up to the 13th general election. The idea of an Islamic criminal code has been used to either scare the minority Chinese voters, or shore up support among the majority Malay-Muslim community. The Malay community is seen today as split three-ways among the ruling BN's mainstay and the country's biggest Malay party, Umno, the opposition's Islamist PAS, and PKR, which is seen as an urban liberal party. MCA had also previously warned that Muslim MPs would unite to amend the Federal Constitution in favour of hudud and the Islamic state if PR takes over, but DAP's Lim Kit Siang had dismissed it as a "lie" to stop the Chinese community from voting for the opposition. Lim had said that there were only 130 Muslim MPs in the country, while 148 MPs are needed to make up the two-thirds majority for a constitutional amendment.
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| Karpal gets flak over seat call Posted: 27 Oct 2012 04:20 PM PDT  The CEC has discussed this issue before. It all depends on the party's strategy in each constituency and state. - TERESA KOK (The Star) - DAP national chairman Karpal Singh has come under fire from party leaders for his "one candidate, one seat" proposal, with a senior leader describing it as an "old story" and another saying it was unwise to raise it in the media. Others, mainly those holding both parliamentary and state seats, chose to keep mum. National organising secretary Teresa Kok, who is the Seputeh MP and Kinrara assemblyman, brushed off Karpal's call as an "old story." "The party's candidature committee will deal with this and the central executive committee (CEC) has discussed this issue before. "It all depends on the party's strategy in each constituency and state," Kok said. Selangor Speaker Datuk Teng Chang Khim, a four-term DAP assemblyman, said the party should have discussed the issue before the media was involved. "It is not wise to raise (this matter) in the media. It creates unnecessary disputes and problems,'' he said. Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming, who is Taiping MP and Pantai Remis assemblyman, declined to comment while state party chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, the Beruas MP and Sitiawan assemblyman, could not be reached for comment. DAP Socialist Youth chief Anthony Loke Siew Fook, who is Rasah MP and Lobak assemblyman, had little to say except that the party leadership should decide.  Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow, who is Tanjung MP and Padang Kota assemblyman, said the party would make a decision "when the time comes", with party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who is Bagan MP and Air Putih assemblyman, saying the matter would be brought to the CEC for discussion. On Friday, Karpal urged DAP leaders who held both parliamentary and state seats to publicly express a willingness to give up one. He said that while there would be "extraordinary exceptions" to his "one candidate, one seat" proposal, all should be willing to vie only for a single constituency. The Bukit Gelugor MP said Guan Eng, who is also Penang Chief Minister, should be among the "exceptions". Penang, the only state where the DAP holds the majority within the state government, has three DAP dual-seat representatives Lim, Chow and Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy, who is Batu Kawan MP and Prai assemblyman. All three are in the state executive council line-up and receive additional basic salaries for these positions. It is learnt that each of the three representatives could lose over RM13,000 a month should they give up their parliament or state seat. An assemblyman-cum-state executive councillor in Selangor can earn up to RM16,000 a month including allowances, besides getting an official car and driver. If one is also an MP, the monthly remuneration would be almost double as a parliamentarian is paid about RM15,000 each month.
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| Pros and cons in early naming of election candidates Posted: 27 Oct 2012 04:14 PM PDT
(The Star) - Barisan Nasional leaders have discussed with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak the possibility of announcing the list of general election candidates early. Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said there were pros and cons in an early announcement and that no final decision had been made on the matter. The MCA president said an early announcement would give a candidate more time to prepare besides introducing himself or herself to the people. Nevertheless, he also noted that those who were not in favour of the candidate would also have more time to sabotage him or her. Speaking to reporters after chairing the state liaison committee meeting here yesterday, Dr Chua, who is also Johor MCA chairman, said in the past, candidates would only be made known just days before nomination day. On Friday, Barisan secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor hinted that the names of Barisan candidates could be announced earlier. On another matter, Dr Chua challenged DAP general election hopefuls to stay and serve in Johor if they wished to contest in the state. "Locals are angry when they are forced to accept parachute candidates from Kuala Lumpur," he said, adding that some said they wanted to contest in Johor because they were born in the state. "I have served in the state for the past 26 years and I am still serving here despite not knowing if I will be a candidate in the coming elections." On the MCA's mega dinners, he said there would be between 20 and 30 mega dinners nationwide in the next two months following the good response from the nine dinners this month. "The dinners will be used to explain the country's situation to the rakyat so that they will not be continuously misled by the Opposition. "The Opposition, especially DAP, is good at talking but poor in delivery. DAP brands itself as a multi-racial party but does not dare contest in a non-Chinese majority seat," he said, challenging the DAP to contest in a Malay majority seat. Dr Chua also said that, of the RM500,000 proceeds from the mega dinner here, the MCA donated RM300,000 to Kulai's Foon Yew High School while the balance went to Southern College. He said about 15,000 people attended the dinner last night.
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| Former Ops Lalang detainees happy that ISA has been repealed Posted: 27 Oct 2012 04:09 PM PDT  Former detainee: Muzaffar (The Star) - Former Ops Lalang detainees are glad the Internal Security Act (ISA) will no longer be used to detain people without trial. In conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the crackdown yesterday, ex-detainees said arrests under the ISA were no longer relevant with current times. International Movement for Just World (JUST) president Dr Chandra Muzaffar said the abolition of the ISA was a milestone for Malaysians who had struggled to protect and enhance human dignity. He praised the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act for having a "remarkable" feature which stripped authorities of absolute power over security offences. Dr Chandra, who was Aliran president then and was detained for 52 days, said similar swoops should not be allowed to happen again.  Former detainee: Kerk "I don't think we should resort to mass arrests to defuse tension. "There are other ways to find out the cause of problems," he said. On Oct 27, 1987, 106 Opposition and Barisan Nasional politicians, academics and social activists were detained under the ISA. The licences of three newspapers The Star, Sin Chew Jit Poh and Watan (which has ceased publication) were also withdrawn. The Star only resumed publication in March the following year. Most of those detained were released within 60 days, but 40, including veteran DAP leader Lim Kit Siang and his son Guan Eng, several PAS leaders and activists were held for two years.  Former detainee: Karpal In September last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak rescinded the Emergency ordinances, repealed the Restricted Residence and Banishment Acts and instituted new laws, such as the Security Offences (Special Measures) and National Harmony Acts to replace the Internal Security and Sedition Acts respectively. Today, newspapers and other publications are no longer required to renew their printing press licences and publication permits annually, in line with the amendments to the Printing Presses and Publications Act. Former DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock said such mass arrests should not be allowed to happen again. "The history of ISA is a record of misuse. "Ops Lalang marked a dark chapter in the nation's history. No such crackdown must ever happen again," he stressed. Kerk was only 31 when he was held for 60 days under ISA.  Former detainee: Wee He was not shocked over his detention although it came a year after he was elected as Durian Daun assemblyman. DAP chairman Karpal Singh, who was 47 and Jelutong MP when he was arrested, said he has always been against laws that allow detention without trial. MCA treasurer Tan Sri Tan Chai Ho, who was the party's Federal Territory Youth vice-chief when he was detained for 57 days, believed such crackdowns would not happen again as society was now more liberal, while Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong, who was also detained, said the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act was good to nip racial tensions in the bud. "We cannot afford any tension that can lead the country into chaos.  Former detainee: Tan "I believe no Malaysian wants to see a repeat of May 13," he said. The Star group chief editor Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai said he was glad the ISA was repealed. "What the Prime Minister has done is to remove many of these laws which gave him plenty of power. "We must recognise this point," he said. Wong, who was then a reporter in Penang, recalled how staff had to go through Christmas and Chinese New Year without their salaries when The Star was suspended. He was also glad there was no longer a need to renew the printing permit annually but stressed that it was not enough.  Former detainee: Meenakshi "The printing permit must go. The sooner it goes, the better it is for press freedom," he said, adding that he has been consistent in his call to repeal the requirement. He also recalled that a Special Branch officer had asked to meet him on the morning of the suspension. "The air was tense and the press was worried that reporters would be rounded up too. "I remember talking to people like Dr Chandra and (CAP legal adviser) Meenakshi Raman who were arrested the very next minute! "I don't think journalists should go through this again. "There must be no more Ops Lalang," he said.
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| Anwar: Khalid will defend his parliamentary seat Posted: 27 Oct 2012 03:51 PM PDT The Selangor Menteri Besar however says should he be elected again, the next term would be his last. Leven Woon, FMT Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has been nominated by his party PKR to defend his parliamentary seat in Bandar Tun Razak, fuelling speculation that he would be shifted to hold a cabinet post should Pakatan Rakyat takes over federal leadership. PKR de factor leader Anwar Ibrahim said that the party would re-nominate Khalid to contest the seat during a visit to Pekan Sungai Besi this morning. Khalid was also present with Anwar. "During the last general election, we won all (localities) but the army camps. This time, God willing, we will even emerge triumphant in army camps," he told some 300-odd crowd during his Jelajah Merdeka speech. A former corporate figure, Khalid wrested the Bandar Tun Razak seat from a strong MCA incumbent Tan Chai Ho with a majority of 2,515 votes. He also won the Ijok state seat with 1,920 majority. In recent weeks, the political chatter had been that PKR would replace Khalid as the Selangor MB if Pakatan wins the state again in the next general election. It had been said that he would not be asked to contest for a state seat and instead to concentrate in his parliamentary seat. Anwar's confirmation today – and the silence on the status of his state seat – would only add frenzy to the speculation. One more term only He said he would put in place a leadership succession plan should he be elected again in Bandar Tun Razak as he felt two-terms were enough for him. "It's not just me, but every parliamentarian should be giving a chance for other leaders to replace them," he said. When asked whether he would also re-nominated to defend his state seat, he answer was: "that hasn't been announced, they only announced me for Bandar Tun Razak". Asked again whether the plan was to shift him to become a cabinet minister, he said it was only "speculations".
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| Is ex-Sabah DCM Tham making comeback? Posted: 27 Oct 2012 03:45 PM PDT Former SAPP co-founder Tham Nyip Shin was coy about talk that he would be a candidate in the 13th general election. Queville Toh, FMT KOTA KINABALU: Former deputy chief minister Tham Nyip Shin is said to be considering to contest in the coming general election. Tham, 53, who dropped out of politics eight years ago after he was not picked to defend his Elopura state seat, is said to have been wooed by parties on both sides of the political divide. Met at a private dinner function here on Friday, the former Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) co-founder was coy about talk that he would be a candidate in the 13th general election, expected to be called anytime. "In politics, anything is possible," said Tham. "I am weighing my options for now and perhaps in a few weeks' time if you ask me the same question, I may have a more definite answer." He admitted that he had met with representatives from both the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition as well as the opposition in the state capital, as well as in Kuala Lumpur during a business trip there recently. "I was approached. I told them I would consider their invite but made no promises. After eight years in the political wilderness, there are many things to consider first before I make a decision to come back or stay away from politics for good. "But don't ask me where I am going to stand or on which party ticket. It could very well be in a seat which is away from my traditional stronghold in Sandakan and the party I join could catch you all by surprise. "So let's just wait for the time being. Let me consider the matter seriously and in due course I will give you all my decision." Now a businessman with extensive local and regional business establishments, Tham made his political debut in 1985 as a Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) candidate at the age of 26, defeating his more senior Berjaya opponent Yap Pak Leong by 171 votes in the watershed state elections that brought the former opposition party to power in Sabah. Together with his former PBS colleague Yong Teck Lee, he helped form SAPP in 1994 and retained the Elopura seat by beating a PBS candidate and in 1996 he was appointed deputy chief minister, a position he held for seven years.
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| Liu shows proof it was all BN’s work Posted: 27 Oct 2012 04:04 AM PDT Selangor state exco Ronnie Liu presents documented evidence showing BN's hand in approving the Batu Caves condominium project Leven Woon, FMT BATU CAVES: The Selangor state government today provided evidence showing Barisan Nasional's hand in approving the proposed condominium project near the Batu Caves Temple. Ronnie Liu, the Selangor executive councillor (exco) for local government today showed planning approvals issued on Nov 30, 2007 that details the height, size and type of the development slated on the land. "The approval, signed by the then Selayang Municipal Council president, Zainal Abidin Azim, was done with the full knowledge of the then BN councillors," he said. "The planning approvals state clearly that the whole development consists of two blocks of 29-storey service apartment, and another 25-storey apartment, with shophouses fronting it. "Hence, no one, including the Batu Caves temple committee chairman, should put the blame on the Pakatan government," said Liu at the site of the proposed development. Liu's revelation comes a day after a protest by about 300 people against the project, calling Pakatan state government to scrap the project. Deputy Foreign Minister, A Kohilan Pillay, who was a MPS councillor at that time, said that BN was only responsible for the issuance of the preliminary planning approval. He blamed Pakatan for the subsequent building approval and marketing proposals, paving the way for the project to take shape. Debunking the claims today, Liu said the state government could not do anything after a planning approval is issued. "Planning approval means an overall greenlight. Kohilan is trying to bullshit everyone by saying that we can give planning approval but not execution approval," he said. He explained that the building approval, which was issued in March 2008, was the work of the BN councillors. He said this was because the Pakatan Rakyat councillors were only sworn in, in July 2008, though they took over the state leadership in March after the general election. Not bothered by legal threat When asked about the marketing approval, Liu said it was under the purview of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. "It has nothing to do with us. Nothing has been done by Pakatan to support the project," he said.
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| S'gor MB challenged to explain proposed sale of PKNS assets Posted: 26 Oct 2012 07:25 PM PDT
(Bernama) - Yet another Barisan Nasional (BN) leader has challenged Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to explain the proposed sale of five assets of the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) valued at RM321 million by the PKR-led state government. Puteri Umno chief Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said today Abdul Khalid should explain the rationale for the proposed sale and its impact on bumiputera entrepreneurs operating businesses at those premises. The five assets are the Menara PKNS in Petaling Jaya, the Shah Alam Convention Centre (SACC) Mall in Shah Alam, the PKNS Complex in Shah Alam, the PKNS Complex in Bangi and Wisma Yakin in Jalan Masjid India here. "Can the Selangor government give an assurance that the potential owners of the five assets would ensure the welfare of the entrepreneurs?" she asked in a statement. Rosnah, who is deputy health minister, was commenting on the controversy over the proposed sale of the assets by the Selangor government which is feared would be a loss to the people of the state, particularly the bumiputeras. She said Abdul Khalid, as a former corporate figure, should be more mature and enhance development of the state without subjecting the people to injustice. "Tan Sri Abdul Khalid cannot assume that the Selangor state administration is a business which is concerned only with profit and development without considering the welfare of the people. "Is the sale of the five assets the best solution? Why was the decision (to sell) made now? Is PKNS facing a financial problem? These are questions demanding answers," she said. Rosnah said PKNS should be increasing its holdings and not reduce them through sale. Selangor Umno Liaison Committee deputy chairman Datuk Seri Noh Omar had also questioned the proposed sale of the PKNS assets.
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| Local councils a law unto themselves Posted: 26 Oct 2012 06:45 PM PDT Lack of accountability and transparency in the Batu Caves condo project is the result of 50 years of Umno-BN rule, says DAP's S Ramakrishnan Athi Shankar, FMT The condominium project approved by the BN-led Selangor government in 2007 near Batu Caves has highlighted the lack of accountability and transparency in local councils, said DAP Senator S Ramakrishnan. He said the two 29-storey project, slated to be built adjacent to the Hindu temple showed that the over 50 years of BN federal rule had made local councils a lord unto themselves. He took the Selayang Municipal Council to task for approving the Dolomite Park Avenue condominium project on Sept 26, 2007 despite the federal declaration's of the 272ha Batu Caves Reserve as a national heritage site that same year. He hit out at the council for approving the project without an environmental impact study and called for a review and reevaluation of the project altogether. The beauty of the area was in the caves, hill structures, and the many varieties of unique and inimitable flora and fauna. He said that in 1930, the Batu Caves Hill was reserved as a site for public recreation (Federated Malay States Government Gazette Notification (GN) No 4712-30, part-revoked by GN 652-54; and the Selangor State Government Gazette GN 312-59), while in 1980 the state government agreed to stop quarrying at Batu Caves to protect the hills and caves. "The federal declaration affirmed the status of Batu Caves as a unique site of national interest. Yet the MPS approved the project," said Ramakrishnan. He said current Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim had called for local councils to be reformed. Local councils must be made accountable - However, Ramakrishnan said the dominant federal ruling party, Umno, had lost the moral authority and leadership to reform them. He called for a change of government to initiate reforms and accountability of local councils to rate payers. "Local councils must be made accountable for their decisions," he said. The Senator also commended the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) for monitoring and protecting the dark caves and lime stone structures within the Batu Caves.
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| DAP’s ‘gesture of goodwill’ to SAPP Posted: 26 Oct 2012 02:37 PM PDT Party opens door to Sabah Progressive Party to contest in three state seats within the Kota Kinabalu parliamentary constituency (FMT) - KOTA KINABALU: In a shrewd move to show it is willing to compromise to break the political deadlock in Sabah, the DAP said it will not be contesting all the Chinese majority seats in Sabah in the coming general election. A senior DAP official speaking on condition of anonymity said the party had agreed to open the door to the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) to contest in three state seats, all within the Kota Kinabalu parliamentary constituency as a "gesture of cooperation and goodwill". "But that is about it," he said yesterday. He was commenting on DAP Sabah chief, Jimmy Wong's announcement last Sunday that the DAP would be contesting in three parliamentary seats and seven state seats in the general election. According to the official, DAP would make way for SAPP in Api Api as they had heard that SAPP president Yong Teck Lee would be its candidate there, although there have been indications from the party that he might contest in his previous constituency of Likas. Political observers say the clash between Yong and his archrival, BN's Dr Yee Moh Chai, who is the incumbent state assemblyman for Api-Api, would be more worthy and satisfying for the former chief minister. Yee is a Deputy Chief Minister representing the Chinese community under a peculiar system in the state's Umno-led BN coalition government that breaks up existing power structures so as to prevent smaller power groups from linking up against Umno. He is also the state's Resource Development and Information Technology Minister and a deputy president of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), a party that observers say has lost the goodwill of the Chinese community. If Yong were to contest in Likas, he would be taking over from his close aide Liew Teck Chan and be open to being accused of practicing nepotism by his critics. As for Luyang and Likas which also come under Kota Kinabalu, the senior DAP official said it was only fair that SAPP be given the chance to defend the seats as they were the incumbents. The DAP will defend its Kota Kinabalu parliamentary seat through incumbent MP Hiew King Cheu, an engineer, as well as field candidates in Sandakan and Penampang. "We are still wary about SAPP as they refuse to officially join Pakatan Rakyat and as such it would be a big risk to us if they were to be allowed to contest more seats," said the senior official, explaining the rationale in giving way to SAPP in three constituencies only. 'SAPP's strength is in Kota Kinabalu' The opposition coalition which is made up of peninsular-controlled parities is also standing its ground on not giving way to the local party in Sandakan as the incumbents are now in Gerakan, also a peninsular-controlled party. "Look, SAPP cannot even hold on to what they have and if they are given more and they win, we would never know until it's too late if they would cross over again," said the official. "It is better to be safe. Furthermore, SAPP does not have calibre candidates for the Sandakan seats, so it's no point contesting there. Their strength is in Kota Kinabalu so it is best they focus all their resources here." SAPP has claimed it has bases throughout the state and is capable of fielding candidates in a majority of the 60 state and 25 parliamentary constituencies. DAP wants to field veterinarian Dr Edwin Bosi in the Kadazandusun-majority district of Penampang where PKR's Darrel Leiking is also among the contenders. DAP is also eyeing the neighbouring constituency of Kepayan.
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| MACC report against Palani’s aide Posted: 26 Oct 2012 02:35 PM PDT Several businessmen claim corrupt practices in the handing out of cooking oil packing contracts to Indian contractors. B Nantha Kumar, FTM Several businessmen have lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against a senior and most trusted aide of cabinet member and MIC president G Palanivel. The report is over alleged corrupt practices involved in the handing out of cooking oil packing contracts overseen by Palanivel in his capacity as the lead minister of Indian Affairs in the Prime Minister's Department. The report accused Dr S Vijendran, who until last week was the political secretary of Palanivel but has since been redesignated as private secretary to the minister, of manipulating the cooking oil packing contracts to favour one particular contractor. "We are frustrated with Dr Vijendran's involvement in the cooking oil packing contract which is supposed to be open for all deserving Indian entrepreneurs," said one of the complainants who wished to be unnamed for now. He said that the MACC should take immediate steps to look into the alleged corrupt practices as it was hampering the growth of genuine Indian entrepreneurs. The report was made yesterday despite it being a public holiday. "If there is no action taken soon, we will hold a rally against Palanivel for still relying on Vijendran on matters involving the Indian business community," he said. The distribution of the contract was handled by Suria Cooperative Society which is chaired by Palanivel, who had then left it in the hands of Vijendran to pick the deserving Indian businessmen to service the contract. Originally seven Indian companies had been identified for the contract but five of them were rejected for not holding a Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) licence. And from the two qualified companies, Vijendran allegedly decided to pick only one as the other did not apparently meet the requirements set by Suria Cooperative Society. At the same time, Vijendran also had allegedly turned away other companies who had obtained the KPDNKK licence. He is also accused of asking these new companies to become sub-contractors to one particular company. "Why is he giving special privilege to the particular company when the contract is meant to help the Indian business community? Why is Palanivel keeping quiet over this matter?" asked the complainant. He wants the MACC to investigate this. He also claimed that Vijendran's action had only resulted in the sole contract winner of making hefty profits. "By having more Indian companies on board, more people would enjoy the benefits instead of one or two connected individuals," he said.
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| Genneva gold storm poses political risks ahead of polls Posted: 26 Oct 2012 12:25 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - The action against Genneva has resulted in pressure on the Najib administration to resolve the controversy that has put 300,000 livelihoods at stake — according to Genneva contractors and customers who spoke to The Malaysian Insider — and which could impact the Barisan Nasional (BN) government's chances in the 13th general election that must be called by next April, less than six months away. While many Muslim Malaysians are kicking back at home with their extended family over a feast of roasted meats and laughter this long Aidiladha weekend, Genneva Malaysia gold trader Che Surin Jusoh is struggling to explain to her five-year-old son why they cannot return to Kedah for the holidays. "My son will ask 'Ma, kenapa tak bawa keluar? Lama tak jalan-jalan' (Ma, why haven't you taken me out? Long time since we've gone out)," the 32-year-old banker-turned-gold-seller told The Malaysian Insider earlier this week, as city dwellers began their annual rush home to celebrate the Muslim holiday. "I don't know what to say... I only have RM1,000 to RM2,000 in my bank account," the mother of two young children — her younger child, a girl, is two years old — and the sole breadwinner in the family added, her voice sounding thick as she fought to prevent a sob from escaping. Che Surin is among the 60,000-plus sellers and buyers who have been left nearly broke after Bank Negara raided the firm and seized 200kg of gold bullion estimated to be worth a whopping RM40 million from Genneva Malaysia's premises in Jalan Kuchai Lama here on October 1.  The gold bars stacked up in a Genneva Malaysia office awaiting distribution to paid customers before the October 1 Bank Negara raid. — Picture courtesy of Che Surin Jusoh It has been reported that the scheme operated by Genneva offered extremely high returns of up to 24 per cent per annum. How the scheme worked was the gold was priced at between 18 per cent and 20 per cent above market rate, and purchasers were paid guaranteed monthly returns of about three per cent. The physical gold was not passed to the buyer and the company would buy back the investment after the end of the contract period, according to a New Straits Times news report on October 5 highlighting several dissatisfied customers who lodged police reports against the company. This meant that the customer's return on investment appeared to have been funded by the principal capital put into the scheme which was above the market rate for gold. Bank Negara has also frozen Genneva Malaysia's accounts, cheques and other assets, on suspicion the company violated various banking and financial laws which include taking deposits without giving gold in return, money laundering, evading taxes, appointing agents without licence, failing to file statutory documents, and misrepresenting itself as an investment firm and giving false descriptions on its business after several people lodged complaints with the police. The central bank's actions sparked an immediate outcry from the 6,000 salesmen contracted to sell and buy back gold from Genneva Malaysia who have rallied to the company's defence and its 60,000 customers from all walks of life, including professionals from the banking industry like Che Surin, pensioners, students, and The Malaysian Insider understands politicians and various foundations that have been working to fund charities like orphanages. Bank Negara has yet to press charges against the company's directors.  Dr Mahathir launched Genneva Malaysia on December 15, 2010. — Picture courtesy of Shereen Lim The Malaysian Insider understands that Putrajaya is well aware of the potential political fallout but there is concern that a bailout of any kind would involve several billion ringgit and would be a moral hazard. For Che Surin who had worked for three banks before signing up with Genneva Malaysia in February last year, the company's unusual business operations had proved to be a godsend when she encountered financial woes two years ago which put her in what she called " my dark summer of 2010". "I could not pay my bills then," she said. The round-faced tudung-clad woman recounted that she was initially sceptical of Genneva Malaysia when her bank customers sung its praises to her. "When I joined, I was not 100 per cent convinced," she said, but related that she dabbled in trying out the buying-and-selling back the gold scheme over a five-month period before becoming confident that it could work. What truly sold her on the Genneva idea was the public endorsement campaigns headlined by dignitaries like Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Donald Lim and former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who had encouraged Malaysians to buy gold instead of putting their faith in paper money during his speech at the syariah-compliant company's launch on December 15. Despite the action taken by authorities in Singapore and Malaysia, Che Surin and three other Genneva Malaysia contractors — what the company designates as its salesmen — told The Malaysian Insider that they strongly believe the company management had acted above board. They bristle with indignation that the company is a Ponzi scheme or a get-rich-quick scheme despite the exceptionally high returns which many government officials and critics have pointed out was too good to be true. "We are not investors. That's the misconception," said 54-year-old retiree Shereen Lim, who pointed out that Genneva Malaysia's management had published advertisements in all the mainstream dailies, including the vernacular newspapers, to educate the public on what it was last March, following Bank Negara's advice after its last audit and dialogue session with the company. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/genneva-gold-storm-poses-political-risks-ahead-of-polls/ |
| Karpal renews pressure on one man-one seat policy Posted: 25 Oct 2012 07:58 PM PDT The DAP chairman wants the party's double-seat holders to publicly announce that they would contest to retain only one seat in the next general election. Athi Shankar, FMT The DAP's double-seat holders should publicly declare that they would contest only one seat in the next general election instead of waiting for the party leadership to decide for them. National chairman Karpal Singh said this would spare the party supreme decision-making body, central executive committee (CEC), the trouble of dumping them eventually from either the parliamentary or state seat. He insisted said that in their declaration, the current double-seat holders should only declare that they would opt for one seat the next time. He said they however, shall not declare which seat, federal or state, they would decline, as it would be the CEC prerogative to decide on that. He insisted that it was not in the public interest for DAP candidates to continue to be silent on their stance or insist to contest both federal and state seats in the next polls. He said they got to declare their one-seat stance in the larger interest of the party and Pakatan Rakyat. "They should make way for new candidates and young leaders," Karpal, the Bukit Gelugor MP, told a press conference in Bandar Baru Air Itam here today. He said the party had grown leaps and bounds over the last four years, thus not facing shortage of enthusiastic and energetic candidates. Nine double-hatters The most prominent double-seat holder is DAP secretary general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. He is Bagan MP and Air Putih assemblyman. Lim however, may be excused from making such public declaration. When the CEC reached a consensus and endorsed the one person – one seat formula some time back, Karpal said it was decided that there would be some exemptions to the general rule. But he insisted that the exceptional rule shall be used in its "fullest import." One exemption proposed by Karpal is to allow the chief minister candidate to contest both federal and state seats. "We need the chief minister to be an MP to air the state issues at federal level," said Karpal, recalling that former state chief minister Lim Chong Eu was once both MP and a state assemblyman (1969 – 1974) However, Karpal admitted that from 1974 general electon until 1990, Chong Eu opted only for the state seat to focus on his chief minister job. But he still insisted on DAP's chief minister candidate to be given double seats to enable a chief minister to handle directly state-federal issues. Another exemption would be to allow double-seat contestants in Sabah and Sarawak due to shortage of credible candidates there. Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow (Tanjung MP and Padang Kota assemblyman) and deputy chairman P Ramasamy (Batu Kawan MP and Prai assemblyman) are other two incumbents of both parliamentary and state seats in Penang. Others double-hat wearers in Peninsular are Beruas MP and Sitiawan assemblyman Ngeh Koo Ham and Taiping MP and Pantai Remis assemblyman Nga Kor Ming in Perak; Seputeh MP and Kinrara assemblyperson Teresa Kok Suh Sim in Selangor; and Rasah MP and Lobak assemblyman Anthony Loke Siew Fook in Negeri Sembilan. In Sarawak, double-hat politicians are Sibu MP and Bukit Assek assemblyman Wong Ho Leng and Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen.
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| Let Federal Court decide status of M’sia Posted: 25 Oct 2012 04:04 PM PDT The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong shoud command a full Federal Court bench to determine if Malaysia is a secular or an Islamic state, says Karpal Singh. Athi Shankar, FMT Senior parliamentarian Karpal Singh has urged the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong to command a full 12-man bench of the federal court to decide and declare on whether Malaysia is a secular or an Islamic nation. The DAP national chairman urged the king to invoke his power under Article 130 of the Federal Constitution to refer the contentious issue to the highest court for its opinion and "clear the air once for all." He believed it was crucial for the king's intervention for a judicial pronouncement as to the status of the country in view of recent controversy on the secular – Islamic state issue and its impact on the country. Article 130 permits the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong to refer to the Federal Court for its opinion on any question as to the effect of any provision of this constitution which has arisen or appears to him likely to arise, and the Federal Court shall pronounce in open court its opinion on any question so referred to it. Karpal was responding to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz's parliamentary reply on Monday, declaring that based on legal provisions in the country, Malaysia has never been declared nor endorsed as a secular nation. Nazri said that the situation in Malaysia was different than in the United States, India and Turkey, which clearly specify that those countries were secular in their constitutions. But Karpal countered that the constitution neither had declared Malaysia as "an Islamic state" unlike countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Iran. He said notwithstanding specific provisions on Islam and the lack of the word "secular" in the Federal Constitution, Malaysia had been officially declared as a secular state, including in judicial pronouncement. He said that Mohd Nazri's parliamentary statement was also in conflict with a 1988 judicial decision. Judicially pronounced to be secular The Supreme Court was equivalent of the current Federal Court which replaced the Privy Council. Karpal said given the official declaration of the nation's highest judicial authority, Malaysia has been "judicially pronounced to be a secular state". "A country having secular laws could not be an Islamic state," argued Karpal, also a senior lawyer. He recalled that two former prime ministers, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman and Hussien Onn, had also stated on record that "Malaysia was not an Islamic state". He rubbished political declaration by another ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamed in September, 2001 at the Gerakan general assembly that Malaysia was an Islamic state. "It does not have the stamp of legitimacy," Karpal told newsmen in Bandar Baru Air Itam during his Bukit Gelugor parliamentary constituency visit here today.
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| Not just a Malay problem: dirty money cost China US$3.8 trillion 2000-2011 Posted: 25 Oct 2012 03:46 PM PDT
(Reuters) - China has lost US$3.79 trillion over the past decade in money smuggled out of the country, a massive amount that could weaken its economy and create instability, according to a new report. And the outflow - much of it from corruption, crime or tax evasion - is accelerating. China lost $472 billion in 2011, equivalent to 8.3 percent of its gross domestic product, up from $204.7 billion in 2000, Global Financial Integrity, a research and advocacy group that campaigns to limit illegal flows, said in a report on Thursday. "The magnitude of illicit money flowing out of China is astonishing," said GFI director Raymond Baker. "There is no other developing or emerging country that comes even close to suffering as much in illicit financial flows." The lost funds between 2000 and 2011 significantly exceeded the amount of money flowing into China as foreign direct investment. The International Monetary Fund calculated FDI inflows at roughly $310 billion between 1998 and 2011. Illicit capital flows rob a government of tax revenues and potential investment funds. Capital flight on this scale can be politically destabilizing by allowing the rich to get richer through tax evasion, GFI said. China has a low level of tax collection given the size of its economy, according to the IMF. Beijing has recognized that corruption and bribery is a significant problem, an issue brought into sharp focus recently by the Bo Xilai scandal. The country has announced a major crackdown as it prepares for its once in a decade leadership transition. GFI calculates how much money leaks out of a country unchecked by analyzing discrepancies in data filed with the IMF on import and export prices between trade partners and calculating discrepancies in a country's balance sheet. The developing world overall lost $903 billion in illicit outflows in 2009, with China, Mexico, Russia and Saudi Arabia in that order showing the largest losses, it said. Trade mispricing was the major method of smuggling money out of China, accounting for 86.2 percent of lost funds, the GFI report found. This scheme involves importers reporting inflated prices for goods or services purchased. The payments are transferred out and the excess amounts are deposited into overseas bank accounts. Trade mispricing is most common for nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and electrical equipment, the report said. The bulk of the money ends up in tax havens - on average, 52.4 percent between 2005 and 2011. Much of this money eventually makes its way back to China as foreign direct investment for a double hit to the economy. FDI benefits from special tax breaks and subsidies, essentially setting up an elaborate form of money laundering for Chinese businesses, GFI added.
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| Assange says to stay in embassy until US backs off: CNN Posted: 25 Oct 2012 02:52 PM PDT (Reuters) - LONDON: Wikileaks' founder Julian Assange said yesterday the United States would have to give up its "immoral" investigation into his whistle blowing website before he considered leaving the confines of the Ecuadorean embassy in London. Assange has been sheltering in the embassy since June to avoid extradition to Sweden to face rape and sexual assault allegations. Britain says it is obliged to send him to Sweden and will not let him to go to Ecuador, which has given him asylum. His lawyers and the Ecuador government fear that travelling to Sweden could lead to the 41-year-old Australian's extradition to the United States, where he could face charges stemming from Wikileaks' publication of thousands of US diplomatic cables. Challenged in a CNN interview in the embassy that he could not stay there forever, Assange said: "I think we need the US government to drop its investigation … It's an immoral investigation. It breaches the First Amendment. It breaches all the principles that the United States government says that it stands for and it absolutely breaches the principles that the US founding fathers stood for and which most of the US people believe in." Ecuador wants Britain to give Assange written guarantees that he would not be extradited from Sweden to any third country. Assange fears he could face inhumane treatment in the United States. "There's an attempt to extradite me without charge and without evidence, allegedly for the purpose of questioning," he said. "All meanwhile, the FBI has been engaged in building this tremendous case." In the interview, Assange likened life in the embassy to "living on a space station". "There's no natural light," he said. "You have got to make all your own stuff. You can't go out to the shops." "But I've been in solitary confinement. I know what life is like for prisoners – it's a lot better than it is for prisoners." Earlier yesterday, Wikileaks began publishing what it said were more than 100 US Defense Department files detailing military detention policies in camps in Iraq and at Guantanamo Bay in the years after the September 11 attacks on US targets.
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| Only 300 turn up for Bt Caves protest Posted: 25 Oct 2012 02:39 PM PDT Saying that a stop work order is not enough, they want the Selangor government to scrap the project permanently. Leven Woon, FMT BATU CAVES: Falling way below the organiser's 100,000 target, only some 300 people flocked to the Batu Caves temple to protest against a proposed high-rise development project. The two 29-storey condominium project, which was approved by the then Barisan Nasional-led government in 2007, was slated to be built adjacent to the Batu Caves temple. The temple committee said construction of the project would cause instability to the temple structures and also the world's tallest Lord Murugan statue. The protesters held up banners that read "Stop" against the backdrop of the Lord Murugan statue today. They also inked their support for a signature drive organised by the temple committee. "The project was approved in 2007 by the Selayang Municipal Council. "We must know, who sat in the council that time. Who approved this?" said temple committee chairman R Nadarajah in his speech.
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| Launched: Book on polls irregularities Posted: 25 Oct 2012 11:00 AM PDT From far right: co-editors Soon Li Tsin, Wong Chin Huat and Pak Samad flanked by the panel speakers. (fz.com) - "We have so many inspirational stories when we look at the Malaysian electoral role. Grandparents rise from the death and vote without visiting their grandchildren, same-gender marriage is allowed the Malaysian armed forces," he said in jest, referring to numerous reported allegations of electoral irregularities. A book on irregularities that occurred during the 16 by-elections since the March 2008 general election has been launched. "Democracy at Stake?, Examining 16 by-elections in Malaysia, 2008-2011" is edited by political scientist and Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Wong Chin Huat and Soon Li Tsin. The short analysis pieces on the series of by-elections, written by journalists, activists and researchers, highlight instances where state resources of both the Barisan National and Pakatan Rakyat were misused for political gain, among other irregularities. Speaking during the book's launch at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall last night, co-editor Wong was quick to point out that the data presented was outdated as there have been allegations of new irregularity on a daily basis. He hopes the book would, however, serve as a reminder of the reality on the ground to both elites and the masses. "We have so many inspirational stories when we look at the Malaysian electoral role. Grandparents rise from the death and vote without visiting their grandchildren, same-gender marriage is allowed the Malaysian armed forces," he said in jest, referring to numerous reported allegations of electoral irregularities. Read more at: http://fz.com/content/launched-book-polls-irregularities |
| 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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