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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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• MB S’gor sedia bertanding dua kerusi
• Kamalanathan wants apology from Ronnie Liu for alleging link to Batu Caves condo project approval
• Asri sedia wacana dengan Ulama Pas tapi…
• How I imagine the trial would proceed
• Masing’s swipe at Taib?
• I did not get RM3m from Chia but the car…’
• Ulama PAS jemput Dr Asri berdialog
• Bekas MP PKR dakwa kerajaan Selangor anti-Hindu
• EC to blame for BN’s loss of Chinese support
• Kayveas: We want seats lost by BN parties
• Let’s talk about the AG’s Report
• ‘RM40m scandal may see BN lose Sabah’
• ‘Hudud is not the issue…’
• BN’s targets PAS, PKR seats in S’gor
• Asia language plan 'central' to Australian reforms: PM
• Voting for an “Islamic state”
• Liow: Change will lead to instability
• Khaled: Do not sell given land
• Genneva: Cooking up allegations
• Revive NFC Export Quality Abattoir, Malaysia’s food security under seige
• Despite Pakatan push, BN expects to win more than 140 seats
• Seat negotiations still on-going in Sabah
• The timber mafia is larger than you suspect
• Lembah Pantai tough for BN due to split Malay vote, Nong Chik says
• Merger of 5 PKNS assets approved by Federal Treasury, says Khalid
• A Democrat indeed
• Orang muda muflis di kalangan Melayu paling tinggi
• Make our homes and streets safe again
• Can Nik Aziz go the distance?
• Soi Lek: Jamil needs to do homework on hudud first
• Soi Lek disagrees with Umno ally over hudud
• Mampukah kematangan berpolitik dicapai di negara kita?
• 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• Former Ops Lalang detainees happy that ISA has been repealed
• Abim bantah TV3 tayang ‘My Name Is Khan’
• Anwar: Khalid will defend his parliamentary seat
• Is ex-Sabah DCM Tham making comeback?
• Respect religion, stop false rumours
• Umno’s chief crony
• NMC’s resolution a shameful admittance of Malay failure
• Liu shows proof it was all BN’s work
• S'gor MB challenged to explain proposed sale of PKNS assets
• Twenty-five years later, camaraderie in adversity
• Local councils a law unto themselves
• Are we who we are?
• Jolie, Ashley & Gang for Adoption
• What constitutes a Manifesto?
• DAP’s ‘gesture of goodwill’ to SAPP
• MACC report against Palani’s aide

MB S’gor sedia bertanding dua kerusi Posted: 28 Oct 2012 09:08 PM PDT Abdul Khalid berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas mengenai kerusi DUN Ijok yang kini diwakilinya. Fazy Sahir, FMT Menteri Besar Selangor,Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim menyatakan kesediaannya untuk bertanding di kedua-dua kerusi – Parlimen dan Dewan Undangan Negeri – sekiranya dicalonkan oleh parti dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang. "Kalau diserahkan tanggungjawab, saya akan bertanding. Namun semua pengumuman ini dibuat oleh Ketua Umum dan Presiden (PKR). Saya tidak boleh campur," katanya ketika ditemui media selepas hadir di Majlis Hari Raya Aidiladha anjuran Karangkraf hari ini. Abdul Khalid berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas mengenai kerusi DUN Ijok yang kini diwakilinya. Beliau turut menerima baik cabaran oleh Ketua Umum, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim untuk kekal bertanding di kerusi parlimen- Bandar Tun Razak. Beliau berkata tidak khuatir sekiranya bertanding di dua kawasan memandangkan Pengerusi DAP, Karpal Singh turut mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa Menteri Besar mahupun Ketua Menteri boleh bertanding di dua kawasan/kerusi. `Saya terima' "Saya terima baik cabaran itu (pertahan kerusi Bandar Tun Razak) dan pernah kata kepada beliau (Anwar). Ini bagi mengurangkan tekanan kepada Anwar kerana terlalu ramai minta untuk jadi calon di Bandar Tun Razak. "Namun saya tidak khuatir kerana DAP termasuk Karpal Singh terima hakikat bahawa Menteri Besar dan Ketua Menteri boleh bertanding di dua kawasan atau kerusi. "Tak jadi masalah kalau kita lakukannya," katanya. Memetik laporan sebuah portal semalam, Anwar mencadangkan Abdul Khalid untuk mempertahankan kerusi Bandar Tun Razak dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang. Manakala pada 26 Oktober lalu, Karpal singh telah mengumumkan bahawa setiap wakil rakyat dari parti itu hanya boleh bertanding di satu kerusi. Namun, untuk individu tertentu seperti Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, Lim Guan Eng diberi pengecualian.

Kamalanathan wants apology from Ronnie Liu for alleging link to Batu Caves condo project approval Posted: 28 Oct 2012 08:36 PM PDT (The Star) - A Barisan Nasional MP has asked Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu to apologise for linking him to approving the 29-storey condominium project near Batu Caves. Calling it "defamation of the first class", P. Kamalanathan (BN - Hulu Selangor) said he will consider taking legal action against Liu if he failed to apologise "as soon as possible". "I was a Selayang municipal councillor from 2004 to 2006. I had no power in 2007 when the project was approved," said the Putera MIC coordinator during a press conference at the Parliament lobby Monday. Kamalanathan claimed that Liu had the intention to tarnish his good name by making his statement. He also questioned why the Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor government did not do anything to stop the project even though it had been in power since 2008. In a news report, Liu had said the project was approved on Sept 27, 2007, when the state was ruled by Barisan Nasional. He claimed that Kamalanathan and Selangor Gerakan chief A. Kohilan Pillai were Selayang municipal councillors when the project was given the green light. Kamalanathan, via his officers, had lodged a police report to investigate Liu for allegedly slandering him on Oct 24. It was reported that Batu Caves would face the risk of caving in if the condominium project went ahead. Selangor Malaysian Nature Society committee member Lim Teck Wyn said the project would expedite the limestone massif's natural erosion process, causing it to possibly cave in sooner.

Asri sedia wacana dengan Ulama Pas tapi… Posted: 28 Oct 2012 08:31 PM PDT (Sinar Harian) - Bekas Mufti Perlis, Prof Madya Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin bersedia untuk berwacana dengan Dewan Ulama Pas Pusat berhubung isu pimpinan Ayatollah sekiranya pertemuan itu membincangkan isu dibangkitkan secara "matang dan ilmiah." "Jika ada apa-apa wacana ilmiah yang berbincang secara matang, saya sudi untuk pergi. Tetapi, ia perlu dibuat secara perbincangan yang matang," kata beliau kepada Sinar Harian pada Majlis Hari Raya Aidiladha Karangkraf di sini, petang ini. Mengulas lanjut kenyataan Setiausaha Dewan Ulama  Pas Pusat, Dr Mohd Khairuddin A. Razali awal hari ini, Asri berkata, "terima kasih pada jemputan dan akan memberi pandangan." Sehubungan itu, Asri menambah, beliau tiada masalah untuk menghadiri wacana yang dimaksudkan sekiranya tarikh penganjuran tidak bercanggah dengan urusan-urusan beliau selain jemputan disampaikan secara profesional. Justeru, ahli akademik dari Universiti Sains Malaysia ini berharap wacana yang dirancang oleh Dewan Ulama Pas itu tidak berakhir dengan ketegangan sebagaimana pernah dialami oleh bekas pensyarah Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia, Dr A Aziz Bari. "Saya tidak kata Dewan Ulama itu tetapi beberapa orang yang pakai label ulama. "Cuma (saya) harap tidak jadi seperti yang berlaku kepada Aziz Bari apabila pernah mengkritik dan dijemput tetapi dihentam secara keras dalam perbentangannya  sehingga menimbulkan ketegangan," kata beliau lagi.

How I imagine the trial would proceed Posted: 28 Oct 2012 07:51 PM PDT Lawyer: What I am driving at is God's hand is at work here and the church is powerless to prevent God from doing His work. God and not the church or the statue cured your wife just like God and not the church or the statue caused the statue to fall over. Both acts, according to your faith, are what we could call ACTS OF GOD. Can someone else be sued for an act of God? NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin Man Who Lost Leg After Crucifix Fell on Him While Praying Sues Church for US$3mil (Daily Mail) - A cruel twist of fate cost David Jimenez his leg when the crucifix he prayed to every day when his wife was fighting cancer toppled over and crushed him. Jimenez stopped every day to pray to the statue of Jesus on the cross outside Church of St Patrick in Newburgh, New York. When his wife, Delia, recovered from the cancer, the 45-year-old father of two offered to clean the crucifix as an act of faith and a goodwill gesture. However, as he scrubbed the heavy marble object, it fell off its shaky pedestal and landed on his leg, the Mid-Hudson News Network reported. The pizza parlour employee is now suing the church for US$3 million, claiming the priest who gave him permission to work on the unstable statue was negligent. The injury on Memorial Day in 2010 so badly mangled Jimenez's right leg that doctors were forced to amputate it just below the knee. The church told CBS New York that the congregation collected food and US$7,000 in cash donations for Jimenez and his family. However, Jimenez's lawyer, Kevin Kitson, said the insurance company for the diocese had made collecting additional money difficult. As a result of the legal action, the church has removed the crucifix from the Church of St Patrick and moved it to another parish. Kitson said his client, a devout Catholic, still believes it played a role in his wife's recovery. "David attributed the cure to his devotion to that cross," he told CBS New York. Nonetheless, the lawyer maintains that the church was negligent. He said only one screw held the marble statue in place. That gave way when Jimenez scrubbed the statue, causing it to fall over. ********************************************* This is how I imagine the trial would proceed. Lawyer: Mr Jimenez, you say that the church was negligent and that this negligence caused the statue of Jesus on the cross to fall over and crush your leg. Could it not be that you were negligent instead and that it was your negligence that caused the statue to fall over rather than the negligence of the church? Plaintiff: No. I was very careful. I was not negligent. Lawyer: So, in spite of your carefulness, the statue still fell over. Hence it was not your own negligence. Is that correct? Plaintiff: That is correct. Lawyer: You volunteered or offered to clean the statue as an act of faith and a goodwill gesture. Is that correct? Plaintiff: Yes, that is correct. Lawyer: So the church did not ask you or request you to clean the statue. Plaintiff: No, but the church gave me permission to do so knowing that it was dangerous. Lawyer: How do you know that the church was aware that it was dangerous to clean the statue? Did the priest or anyone else from the church tell you it was dangerous? Plaintiff: No. No one told me it was dangerous. But they would have known it was dangerous and they should have told me. Lawyer: How do you know they would have known it was dangerous? Plaintiff: Well…I sort of just know. It's a sort of feeling I have. Lawyer: So, you have no evidence of this. It is just a feeling you have that the church knew it was dangerous and you also have a feeling that they did not tell you that it was dangerous in spite of knowing that it was dangerous? Plaintiff: Well…err…well yes. Lawyer: So, in spite of you being able to have all these feelings, you did not have any feeling that the statue might fall over if you start cleaning it. Plaintiff: Err…no. Lawyer: And you volunteered or offered to clean the statue because you have faith that your prayers in front of the statue helped cure your wife's cancer. Plaintiff: That's right. Lawyer: Are you saying that the statue cured your wife's cancer? Plaintiff: No, not the statue. God cured my wife's cancer because I constantly prayed in front of the statue. It was God's will. Lawyer: So it was God's will that your wife was cured, not the statue's will. Is that correct? Plaintiff: That's right. Lawyer: But the statue fell over when you cleaned it. Plaintiff: That's right. Lawyer: So it was not the statue's will that it fell over but God's will. Plaintiff: Err…I think so…you are confusing me. Lawyer: Mr Jimenez, it's a simple question. Is it God's will or the statue's will that it fell over? Plaintiff: It's God's will. Lawyer: So, it was God and not the statue that cured your wife's cancer and it is God's will and not the statue's will that it fell over and crushed your leg. So why sue the church then? Since God is the cause of both your wife's cancer being cured as well as for the statue falling over would it not be God's doing and therefore you should be suing God instead of the church? Plaintiff: I can't sue God! Lawyer: Why not? Plaintiff: Well, because you just can't, that's why. Lawyer: But the church had no hand in this. In fact, even the statue had no hand in this, as you admit. It was the hand of God that both cured your wife and made the statue fall over. So why sue the church for something that God did? Plaintiff: It just does not work like that. Lawyer: Even if the church had not been negligent but God had willed the statue to fall over could the church have prevented God's will? Plaintiff: I don't understand. Lawyer: Let me put it another way then. Can the church defy God? Plaintiff: Of course not. No one can defy God. Lawyer: So, if God had wanted the statue to fall over then there is nothing the church could have done, is that correct? Plaintiff: What are you driving at? Lawyer: What I am driving at is God's hand is at work here and the church is powerless to prevent God from doing His work. God and not the church or the statue cured your wife just like God and not the church or the statue caused the statue to fall over. Both acts, according to your faith, are what we could call ACTS OF GOD. Can someone else be sued for an act of God? Plaintiff: Err…err…you are confusing me. Lawyer: Your Honour, I ask the court to set aside this suit and award costs to my client as the Plaintiff has admitted that what happened to him was an act of God and not negligence on the part of the church. I have also received instructions that if the Plaintiff would like to sue God I am authorised to represent Him.

Masing’s swipe at Taib? Posted: 28 Oct 2012 06:30 PM PDT Parti Rakyat Sarawak has declared itself the "true custodian" of Dayaks in Sarawak, putting a spoke perhaps in Taib's divide and rule strategy. Parliamentary election's is not Taib's top priority, but state is. Rumours are rife that he's had a finger in the chaos within SUPP, SPDP and PRS. A divided state coalition allows him to have better control of his 'partners' and an increasingly empowered native community courtesy of the opposition. Free Malaysia Today SIBU: Was Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president James Masing sending out a message to Chief Minister Taib Mahmud with his speech during the party's eight anniversary dinner here last Saturday? Masing's emphasis on PRS being a "truly Dayak party" and that its elected representatives were "all Dayaks" wasn't just a frivolous statement. It was tactical. It comes at a time of the rapid 'Dayak awakening' amongst the rural native communities courtesy of the alternative media, Radio Free Sarawak and a brazen opposition. Fueling this 'awakening' is the floundering Barisan Nasional partners – Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Sarawak United Peoples party (SUPP) – who can't seem to get their act together. The only 'water-tight' party appears to be PRS and Taib's PBB which incidentally is facing simmering discontent within its Bumiputera wing led by the allegedly much spineless Alfred Jabu Numpang. The next parliamentary election which must be held by April 2013 will be a challenging one for Sarawak BN's component parties. Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is desperately in need of Sarawak's 31 seats in view of the fluid political situation in Sabah and in the peninsular. In the last parliamentary elections in 2008, it was Sabah and Sarawak's collective 56 seats that helped BN retain Putrajaya. Sabah and Sarawak each lost one seat to the opposition, delivering 54 seats to the federal coalition. But the current scenario is somewhat different. The latest spin from the ground in Sabah is that the Musa Aman-led BN could lose up to 10 if not 12 of the 25 contestable parliamentary seats. In Sarawak the seat sharing ratio stands at PPB (14), SUPP (seven) PRS (six) SPDP (4) As it stands, speculations are rife that BN could lose up to seven seats from amongst SUPP, SPDP and PRS. Taib, on his part, has guaranteed Najib a return on all 14 of PBB's parliamentary seats and there's no reason for the PM to doubt his ability especially after his performance in the last state election. Taib is not too concerned about parliament. PRS truly represents Dayaks Parliamentary election's is not Taib's top priority, but state is. Rumours are rife that he's had a finger in the chaos within SUPP, SPDP and PRS. A divided state coalition allows him to have better control of his 'partners' and an increasingly empowered native community courtesy of the opposition. Masing is said to be a thorn in Taib's side. In the run-up to last year's state election, Masing, unhappy with Taib constantly ignoring his proposals, met directly with Najib and in one instant managed to thwart attempts to allow an ex-PRS incumbent elected representative, Larry Sng, from contesting. On Saturday, stamping PRS' sway over Sarawak's majority Dayak community, Masing said the party was the "custodian" of Dayak interest and that its elected representatives were "duty bound" to protect the race. "For all intents and purposes, PRS is the party which truly represents rural constituencies where most of the Dayaks happen to reside. "Therefore, we do not apologise for who we are and the basis of our political stand and struggles," he said alluding perhaps to the known 'issues' between him and Taib. Masing further warned members to be wary of "attempts" to stir discontent within the party adding that enemies and approaches came in different forms. "There are people who are envious of our strength and will try to de-stabilise us. They maybe individuals or groups. "They will (either) contest against us when the general election is called (or) slyly fight us by pretending to our friends or friends of the group and pull us down. "The other way is to de-stabilise us is by picking on some of our members who exhibit certain weaknesses. This will be a subtle approach and by people who we are familiar with. Thus without realizing it, we will fall into a trap which will eventually break the party's solidarity," said Masing. READ MORE HERE

I did not get RM3m from Chia but the car…’ Posted: 28 Oct 2012 05:12 PM PDT Nazri Abdul Aziz denies receiving RM3 million from a timber tycoon 'friend' but is unsure if the latter lent his car to his son. Patrick Lee, FMT Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz has denied receiving any money from timber tycoon Michael Chia over a purported RM40 million scandal involving Sabah Umno. He was responding to Malaysia Today blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin (also known as RPK) who claimed that Nazri and his son Mohamad Nedim received RM3 million and a sports car respectively from Chia. "Oh no, it's not true, it's not true. Chia is a friend. I don't know if he lent the car to my son. You have to ask my son," he told FMT in his office this afternoon. Although he did not directly criticise Raja Petra over the claim, Nazri said that he had no problem with this matter being raised. "RPK is a social person. He mixes a lot with people, so he probably gets information from them. Then by (Petra) writing this, it gives me the opportunity to give my side of the story," he said. Nazri also stressed that he had no influence over the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) or the judiciary, adding that if he had, Chia's case would have been dropped. In a Malaysia Today report, Raja Petra claimed that Chia personally came to Parliament to hand RM3 million over to Nazri, after the latter allegedly resolved a matter relating to the RM40 million scandal. He also claimed that Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Attorney-General Abdul Gani-Patail were similarly involved.

Ulama PAS jemput Dr Asri berdialog Posted: 28 Oct 2012 04:58 PM PDT Dr Asri dijemput oleh Dewan Ulama PAS untuk menyampaikan pandangan dan kritikannya. (The Malaysian Insider) - Bekas Mufti Perlis, Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin dijemput oleh Dewan Ulama PAS untuk menyampaikan pandangan dan kritikannya kepada dewan itu dalam wacana ilmu bersama ahli-ahli Dewan Ulamak. "Saya merujuk kepada kebimbangan Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin bahawa ulama-ulama dalam PAS dibimbangi tidak boleh ditegur apabila memerintah kerajaan pusat nanti dalam satu  wacana baru- baru ini," kata setiausahanya, Dr Mohd Khairuddin A. Razali dipetik daripada laman Harakahdaily. Menurut Mohd Khairuddin, Dewan Ulama PAS Pusat perlu menyatakan pandangan balas terhadap kenyataan tersebut oleh kerana kebimbangan Mohd Asri dilontarkan dalam wacana awam yang disiarkan isinya dalam media perdana dan mendapat respons umum. "Dewan Ulama PAS Pusat sentiasa berlapang dada dengan sebarang pandangan, teguran dan kritikan luar terhadap apa jua tindakan yang diputuskan secara jamaei dan pandangan yang dilontarkan oleh Dewan Ulama dengan merujuk kepada al-Quran, al-Hadis, Ijma dan Qiyas di samping pandangan dan ulasan ulamak-ulamak muktabar sepanjang zaman. "Dewan Ulama PAS Pusat berbesar hati menjemput Mohd Asri untuk menyampaikan pandangan dan kritikan beliau terhadap Dewan Ulamak PAS Pusat dalam wacana ilmu bersama ahli-ahli Dewan Ulamak sebagai satu medan perbincangan dan bertukar-tukar pandangan dan tarikh wacana boleh diberikan berdasarkan kelapangan masa Dr Asri," katanya. Dalam wawancara bersama The Malaysian Insider baru-baru ini, bekas Mufti Perlis itu juga meminta PAS agar tidak terlalu bertelagah mengenai jenama Malaysia sama ada Negara Islam atau tidak kerana adalah lebih baik memfokuskan untuk memberi keadilan kepada rakyat berbilang agama. READ MORE HERE

Bekas MP PKR dakwa kerajaan Selangor anti-Hindu Posted: 28 Oct 2012 04:54 PM PDT Gobalakrishnan berkata kenyataan oleh Ahli dewan undangan negeri Sri Andalas Dr Xavier Jeyakumar mencerminkan sikap sebenar kerajaan negeri yang jelas anti-Hindu. Md Izwan, The Malaysian Insider Ahli parlimen (MP) bebas N. Gobalakrishnan menuduh kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat negeri Selangor sebagai anti-Hindu kerana meluluskan projek pembinaan kondominium Dolomite Park Avenue berhampiran dengan tempat beribadat penganut Hindu di Batu Caves. Dalam sidang media di Parlimen pagi tadi, MP Padang Serai tersebut berkata kenyataan oleh Ahli dewan undangan negeri (Adun) Sri Andalas, Dr Xavier Jeyakumar mencerminkan sikap sebenar kerajaan negeri yang jelas anti-Hindu. "Dr Xavier berkata tempoh hari bahawa kerajaan negeri tidak boleh 'give in' terhadap permintaan pihak kuil yang membantah projek tersebut. "Apakah maksud Xavier untuk berkata begitu? Adakah ini bermaksud yang beliau mementingkan hal-hal lain daripada kepentingan rakyat yang patut didahulukan?," kata Gobalakrishnan. Gobalakrishnan juga mempersoalkan tindakan kerajaan negeri Selangor yang tidak melantik ahli mesyuarat kerajaan negeri (exco) dikalangan mereka yang menganut agama Hindu. "Jika terdapat exco beragama Hindu pastinya projek ini akan dihalang. Sememangnya penasihat ekonomi Selangor, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang juga ketua umum PKR adalah anti-Hindu," tambah beliau lagi. Sabtu lalu, exco negeri Selangor Ronnie Liu telah mendedahkan mendedahkan dokumen lengkap "Kebenaran Merancang" yang diluluskan pada 30  November 2007 selepas persidangan Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Pusat Setempat (OSC). READ MORE HERE

EC to blame for BN’s loss of Chinese support Posted: 28 Oct 2012 04:40 PM PDT Sabah's Chinese-based Liberal Democratic Party wants the ruling national alliance to provide for more Chinese representation in government. Queville To, FMT PENAMPANG: A Sabah-based Barisan Nasional partner is blaming the loss of Chinese support on the Election Commission's (EC) gerrymandering. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) said the manipulation of election boundaries by the EC had caused the Chinese community in the state to lose their voice despite their large number. Speaking at a party event on Sunday, its secretary-general-cum-Tanjung Aru division chief Teo Chee Kang said the party hopes the coalition will nominate Chinese candidates especially in those mixed constituencies which have a large Chinese population. He noted that currently out of the 60 state constituencies, only 12 of them are the Chinese constituencies, as the result of gerrymandering by the EC. He cited Lahad Datu, Keningau and Tenom which have a sizeable number of Chinese voters do not have Chinese representatives to look after their interests. "Lahad Datu which has more than 8,000 Chinese voters has been divided by Lahad Datu and Tunku constituencies. Keningau which has more than 7,000 Chinese voters has been split by Liawan and Bingkor constituencies, while Tenom with more than 6,000 Chinese voters is being divided by Kemabong and Melalap constituencies," he said. He claimed that a recent survey conducted by several state BN Chinese component parties throughout the state had revealed that the absence of Chinese representatives in these constituencies has caused great dissatisfaction among the Chinese community there, which had inevitably affected their support for BN. Teo said his party hopes the BN leaderships should pay attention to this when fielding the candidates in the coming general election. "This is important as, if there's a Chinese representative, it would better facilitate the government solving of the various issues affecting the Chinese community in these areas," he said. READ MORE HERE

Kayveas: We want seats lost by BN parties Posted: 28 Oct 2012 04:35 PM PDT The PPP chief also warns Gerakan and MIC of a backlash if they attempt to sabotage his party's chances as he claims they did in 2008. Humayun Kabir, FMT TAIPING: The People's Progressive Party (PPP) wants to field its winnable candidates in areas that other BN component parties lost in the 2008 general election. Party chief M Kayveas said: "We want to contest in BN areas that were lost to the opposition in the last general election as our chances of winning these seats are bright." Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's said he wants winnable candidates liked by voters and has warned component parties that there was no guarantee they will get the traditional seats. PPP has been assured of a two parliamentary and two state seats but it has proposed another two parliamentary seats and four other state seats for Najib's consideration. Kayveas said this to FMT after a recent visit to his Taiping PPP office but declined to name the seats as he fears possible sabotage by other BN component parties. He claimed that Gerakan and MIC had stabbed him in the back when he stood in the Taiping parliamentary seat in the 2008, causing him to lose the seat to DAP's Nga Kor Ming. Kayveas warned them of a backlash if they again tried to sabotage PPP's chances in the polls as PPP has a membership of 600,000 in the 3,000 its branches nationwide. PPP was badly mauled when it lost both the parliamentary and state seats allocated to it in the last general election. To strengthen its chances in the polls, PPP has launched the 'Mission 510′ voters which requires each branch recruiting 510 people as assured voters for BN. More seats sought Meanwhile, party insiders say that PPP wants the parliamentary seats of Gerik in Perak, Batu or Bandar Tun Razak, both in the Federal Territories. The party is also eyeing the Pasir Bedamar state seat in Perak and Kota Laksamana in Malacca. PPP has appealed to Najib for more seats in Pahang, Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. READ MORE HERE

Let’s talk about the AG’s Report Posted: 28 Oct 2012 04:14 PM PDT Leakages and wastages are not confined only to BN states; Pakatan state governments are equally guilty of the same charge! By Abdul Rahman Dahlan, FMT Lo and behold! If you were to listen to what the opposition MPs said in Parliament last week, you would think that the Auditor General's Report was centered mainly on the leakages and wastages in Barisan Nasional states. But the truth is stranger than fiction – or so I have found out. My attempt to level the playing field by speaking up against the mismanagement of Pakatan states was met with thunderous objection in the august house. No less than five opposition MPs stood up to prevent me from finishing my speech. All is well, for Hansard never lies. When chaos got the better of my words, I decided to pen down my analysis in the spirit of informing the public that life in Pakatan states is not necessarily a bed of roses, too. Kelantan Let's take a look at the severe mismanagement of Program Ladang Rakyat by the Kelantan state government. The program is not miniscule by any standards. It involved 19 projects in total, covering a massive land area of 81,095 acres (one and a half times the size of Kuala Lumpur no less!). The project was initially set to help the Kelantan poor by promising (for lack of better word) a monthly dividend and salary of RM200 and RM700 respectively. On top of that, the project planned to provide free accommodation and to stimulate the local employment rate. Of course, promises are meant to be broken. All of these promises never materialized. The poor who placed their hopes in this program are now still stuck in status quo. When two projects under the program failed to meet their targets, the Kelantan state government – through Perbadanan Pembangunan Ladang Rakyat Kelantan (PPLRK) – leased out the remaining 17 projects (total land involved is 76,780 acres) to 16 selected companies. But as the AG's report so aptly pointed out, no specific committee had been set up to evaluate the ability or past performance of the 16 companies. Much worse was when apparently, the 16 listed were actually suggested by none other than the CEO of PPLRK himself! Ah, the joys of running you own empire must be intoxicating, I believe. To compound the problem even further, audit analysis of the agreements with the 16 companies showed that the terms were lop-sided and were heavily stacked against the state government's interests. For example, in the 20-year lease period, the companies are set to gain total net profit of RM1.6 billion. However, they would only pay Kelantan state government RM421 million in lease payments. The estimated net profit of the 16 companies is a staggering RM59 million a year for the next 20 years! And who are the stakeholders behind Liziz Standaco Sdn. Bhd.? In yet another land controversy in Kelantan, the AG's report took the state government to task for offering 1,000 acres of land to Liziz Standaco in 2003.  This was supposed to be for a 12-year riverbank development and beautification project. In consideration thereof, Liziz Standaco must return to the state government assets amounting to RM389.09 million. But as far as the AG's Report is concerned, the Kelantan state government has only received a paltry sum of RM45.7 million to date. The remaining RM343.4 million is still outstanding at the time this analysis is drafted. Eyebrows were raised in concern when the AG's report also stated that Liziz Standaco had pledged 13.52 acres of the land in question as collateral to secure a RM75 million loan. While it is not immediately clear whether Liziz Standaco had used part of the RM75 million's loan to pay the RM45.7 million to state government, it can in many ways suggest that the company is not in the best financial footing to navigate the project to the shore of success. Kedah Now, let's shift our focus to the northern state of Kedah. Incidentally, around the same time the controversial National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) started its cattle business, a wholly owned entity of the Kedah state government, Kedah Corporation Berhad (KCB), entered into a mammoth joint-venture project with an Australia-based company to rear and import cattle from down under.  KCB had paid RM1million to its partner of choice shortly after the agreement was signed. Unfortunately, the cattle project – which was mired in controversy from the get-go – never actually got off the ground. Some might argue that KCB's RM1 million scandal is pale in comparison to that of NFC's that involved RM250 million. But I disagree. Wastage, by any other name, is still a wastage – especially so for a small economy like Kedah. If we still insist to go by figures and statistic, the RM1 million involved in this case tantamount to 0.10% of Kedah's 2011 state budget of RM1 billion. Taken in this perspective, we will also find that the 0.10% is at par with NFC's 0.11% wastage vis-à-vis RM230 billion of the federal budget. KCB was also frowned upon when it made generous payments on two failed projects. The first involved the payment of RM4.26 million to a company in Papua New Guinea for a palm oil project which subsequently failed. The second involved a payment of RM1.6 million to a consultant company to "arrange" a USD44 million offshore loan earmarked to fund the same Papua New Guinea's investment. Apart from failing to raise the USD44 million loan (which has since put the project in jeopardy), KCB marched ahead to borrow an additional RM3 million from five local companies. What's appalling is that the borrowing had been done without the approval from its own board! Meanwhile the AG's Report has ticked off Perbadanan Menteri Besar Kedah for paying a whopping RM1,500 per unit for repair of loose electrical distribution board in low-cost public housing projects. And rightly so, too! The government approved market price is capped at only RM15.45 per unit. The difference per unit in this case is a staggering RM1,484.55. The Perbadanan Menteri Besar Kedah had also overpaid (by 31 times) for power sockets in its low-cost public housing projects. They actually paid RM1,500 per unit when the government-approved market price is only RM50.18 per unit. Simple arithmetic will show that this constitutes an overpayment of RM1,449.82 per unit. Selangor Last but not least, Selangor. The buzz around the overhyped Skim Tabung Warisan Anak Selangor (TAWAS) died an untimely death when the AG's report pointed out that the scheme was woefully underfunded and had failed to live up to its promise. The promise to give RM100 in form of Simpanan Tetap for every Selangor-born will remain as just another unfulfilled promise. Since its inception in 2008, 19.4% (60,972) of 313,706 of those who were born in Selangor had applied for the scheme. Out of the 60,972 applications, only 21,918 have been approved. Selangor has allocated RM13.5 million for TAWAS. But out of that amount, about RM4.5 million was meant for operational costs, setting aside only RM8 million for the actual program itself. In education sector, Selangor government had incurred losses of RM39.69 million in 2010, and RM13.56 million through Pendidikan Industri YS Sdn Bhd (PIYSB) – the organ that operates UNISEL. These are only examples of leakages and wastages in Pakatan states. If you read the AG's Report with microscopic view, you would find much more examples of the same nature. READ MORE HERE

‘RM40m scandal may see BN lose Sabah’ Posted: 28 Oct 2012 04:06 PM PDT Raja Petra also claims that more are involved in the RM40 million scandal - including the home minister, attorney-general and a Cabinet minister. Leven Woon, FMT Timber scandals in Sabah, particularly the recent one involving a RM40 million "donation", may cost Barisan Nasional the state, claimed Raja Petra Kamarudin today. The editor of the Malaysia Today blog, in his latest posting "The timber mafia is larger than you suspect", also claimed that there were more people involved in the "untold story" of timber commissions scandal and it was not just limited to businessman Michael Chia and Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman. "The likelihood of half the parliamentary seats in Sabah falling to the opposition is not an impossible scenario. And if that happens then the state can fall as well. That is how serious this matter has become," he said. He said that BN could lose at least 10 of the 25 Parliamentary seats in Sabah to the opposition, while three other seats — Kota Belud, Ranau and Papar — would be "close fights and could go either way". The10 seats he mentioned were: Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau, Sipanggar, Penampang, Beaufort, Keningau, Pensiangan, Tuaran and Kota Marudu. "If Pakatan Rakyat is clever and if they know the correct way in playing up this issue, Sabah may fall and they might even win enough parliamentary seats to march into Putrajaya. My concern is that Pakatan will instead fight amongst themselves over seat allocations, which will allow BN to retain Sabah, " he said. Will Musa be replaced? Raja Petra predicted that with the scandal still brewing hot, the current chief minister's position has become unstable and Umno may have to replace Musa as the Sabah Umno chief to appease voters. He said that his website had published articles about the timber scandals involving Musa and others since 2004, but many are still unaware of the extent of the alleged corruption. READ MORE HERE

‘Hudud is not the issue…’ Posted: 28 Oct 2012 03:59 PM PDT There is 'little chance' for hudud to be implemented, claim the KL Chinese Assembly Hall and Johor Chamber of Commerce. Leven Woon, FMT While MCA and its political opponents in Pakatan Rakyat engage in yet another round of heated exchange on hudud, several other Chinese groups have made their stand known and raised concerns over the ongoing Islamisation process, particularly of the civil service. The groups were against PAS' proposal to impose hudud once the Islamic party comes into power. And they also noted that the process of Islamisation in Malaysia had begun much earlier. They were also of the opinion that the chance for hudud being implemented was low. KL and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall chief executive officer Tang Ah Chai said the Chinese were generally against hudud because the country was founded on the principles of a secular state. "We were never a religious state. So as a non-Muslim, we cannot accept an Islamic state but only Islam as the official religion," he told FMT. He said that given the current socio-political background, it would be hard for PAS to push forward its hudud agenda. "So rather than spending so much time discussing something which is only a possibility, why don't we look at the Islamisation process in our country which has been there for 30 years?" he asked. Tang said under the leadership of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the country witnessed a wide-ranging Islamisation process that saw more prominence being given to Islamic syariah laws, and Islamic values were infused into the civil service. On the bright side, he said Islamisation also brought in the concept of Islamic banking system. He also noted that there were not many intellectual discussions among the Chinese on the issue of hudud, hence the community only held vague impression that hudud meant arm-chopping. "In-depth discussions were found lacking on topics such as the Islamic judiciary system, the evidence act and under what circumstances would someone's hand be chopped," he said. Issue exploited for political mileage The Johor Chinese Chamber of Commerce president Lim Beh felt that the hudud issue was played up by "certain political parties" to suit their political agendas. "I feel this is an outdated question. If you chant about it in the 70s, maybe the people would get frightened. But now people are just bored of it," he told FMT. READ MORE HERE

BN’s targets PAS, PKR seats in S’gor Posted: 28 Oct 2012 01:26 PM PDT (Free Malaysia Today) - According to a Selangor assemblyman, DAP seats are "not the battleground" in the coming election. Barisan Nasional is aiming to gun down PAS and PKR in Selangor in the coming general election.   And death is imminent if the Election Commission (EC) does not clean-up the rolls of the almost 110,000 "untraceable" new registered voters, claims state exco Ronnie Liu from DAP. Liu, who is the Pandamaran state assemblyman, said PAS and PKR – two component parties within Pakatan Rakyat – will almost be certain to be wiped-out from the state assembly if the EC fails to clean up the rolls. He said out of the total 610,000 new registered voters, only about 500,000 voters were located by Pakatan representatives who recently carried out a survey in the state to confirm the names and addresses voters provided by the EC. "Even if we take into consideration the error rate in our survey, the 110,000 voters is a very high number. Most of them were registered mainly at the state constituencies won by PAS and PKR with close margin of votes (in the 2008 election)," Liu told FMT. For the record, in the 2008 election, BN only secured 20 seats – 18 seats won by Umno and two more by MCA – out of the 56 seats in the Selangor state legislative assembly. Pakatan – PKR, DAP and PAS – won 15, 13 and eight seats respectively. Liu said it will be almost impossible for Selangor Pakatan leaders to take on BN without "cleaning up" the electoral roll. He said the minimum requirement under the Election Offences Act was for voters to either reside or at least work at their respective constituencies. "But here in Selangor we have more than half million people registered as new voters and this trend was not recorded in other states. "The onus is on the National Registration Department (NRD) to verify all the particulars provided by the applicants who are requesting to update their addresses for the purpose of voting," he added. He said this will ensure that a single address is not being used by 20 to 30 voters. "The EC is just providing lip service whenever we approach them on discrepancies and is not showing any signs that they will act on this issue," lamented Liu. PKR, PAS seats targeted He said state Pakatan leaders will not oppose to dissolving the state assembly any time soon as long EC comes out with a better explanation on the 110,000 "uncounted for voters". "These 110,000 voters are either Umno or MCA members of other states who have been systematically registered here in Selangor with the clear intention to deny Pakatan from ruling the state for second time," he added. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/10/29/bns-targets-pas-pkr-seats-in-sgor/

Asia language plan 'central' to Australian reforms: PM Posted: 28 Oct 2012 01:16 PM PDT (The Sun Daily) - Australian students would have "priority" access throughout their schooling to Mandarin, Hindi, Indonesian and Japanese languages, with Gillard vowing to link every school with an Asian partner for online classes by 2025.   Every Australian school will be partnered online with one in Asia by 2025 as regional languages become "central" to education reform plans, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Monday. Boosting so-called "Asia literacy" is central to an ambitious plan to rocket Australia into the world's top 10 wealthiest economies in the next 13 years by broadening links with fast-growing China and its neighbours. A policy paper, "Australia in the Asian Century", was unveiled Sunday and contains a number of lofty goals for 2025 focused on education and business with key Asian partners China, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia and India. Australian students would have "priority" access throughout their schooling to Mandarin, Hindi, Indonesian and Japanese languages, with Gillard vowing to link every school with an Asian partner for online classes by 2025. "I'm going to put access to Asian languages at the centre of (our) national school improvement plan," she told ABC radio Monday, promising a "far broader and far more systematic" approach to Asian language learning. Gillard said it was essential to send "the right message to our kids about how important it is for their future and the careers that they will choose for them to have Asia language capability and general Asian literacy". The prime minister said Australia's national broadband network (NBN) -- a huge project working to connect 93 percent of homes to superfast Internet by 2017 -- would be key to connecting with Asian classrooms and teachers. "We live in an age of different learning possibilities and choices," she said. "The exchange on the NBN... can truly be two-way, where the language teacher is interacting with every child, and we want those children interacting with kids in a school in Asia." Gillard said she had already seen one such programme in action, with an Australian and South Korean school holding joint online sessions and students continuing their friendship outside of lessons on social media networks. "Kids (are)... actually genuinely getting to know each other and something about each other's lifestyles," she said. "And I think if you can do that then you can help inspire the passion of children." According to the latest population census, conducted last year, 76.8 percent of Australians only speak English at home. Mandarin is the most common language after English, spoken in 1.6 percent of homes, followed by Italian (1.4 percent), Arabic (1.3 percent), Cantonese and Greek (both 1.2 percent).

Voting for an “Islamic state” Posted: 28 Oct 2012 01:13 PM PDT More Umno than PAS Members of Parliament (MPs) we interviewed said Malaysia should be an Islamic state. Out of the 24 Umno MPs who responded, 13 said Malaysia should be an Islamic state. In fact, most of the 13 said Malaysia was already an Islamic state. Jacqueline Ann Surin, The Nut Graph ACCORDING to MCA, a vote for DAP equals a vote for PAS equals a vote for an Islamic state and hudud. The Chinese-based political party has over the past weeks resumed its warning to voters that any vote that allows Pakatan Rakyat to occupy Putrajaya in the next general election will inevitably result in Malaysia being turned into an Islamic state because of PAS's ideology. This would be detrimental to Malaysians because there would purportedly be a loss of at least 1.2 million jobs if hudud was implemented, and non-Muslim women who don't cover up apparently deserve to be raped by Muslim men. We can expect that this argument against voting for DAP and/or PR will be ramped up as the general election approaches. What's wrong with MCA's fear-inducing scenario? Is there truth to any of these charges and predictions? And is MCA being completely honest about what the Barisan Nasional (BN) itself, of which it is the second largest component party, has been responsible for? How about Umno? [i] As far as I'm concerned, we already have an "Islamic state" in the making.  We are already living in a state with an expansion of religious bureaucracy and controls. And this expansion of religious bureaucracy is abundantly evident in the amount of controls exerted on citizens' rights in Islam's name. There is the prohibition of the use of "Allah" by non-Muslims to the arrest of publishers and book store managers over a translated title that was banned for contravening "teachings of the Al-Quran and Hadith". And let's not forget the ongoing and painful issues of conversion affecting Muslims and non-Muslims, whether adults or children, deceased or alive. And although various kinds of moral policing happened in the past especially in relation to khalwat, women's dressing and prostitution, these have all intensified since the mid-1990s. And citizens of different sexual and gender identities have, over the past years, been villified and threatened with violence, and had their rights denied, all in the name of religion. These examples should not come as a surprise because there has been an increase in syariah laws in Malaysia, just as there has been a rise in the size, scope and budget allocations for government Islamic authorities. Prior to 1980, only one religious law existed — the Administration of Islamic Law Enactment. Today, there are other syariah laws, including Islamic Family Law, the Syariah Criminal Offences Act, the syariah civil and criminal procedure codes and the Syariah Court Evidence Enactment. Government Islamic authorities have also been given more muscle. In 1970, for example, federal expenditure on Islam focused on two items — the National Mosque, and the annual Quran reading competition. In 2010, the national Islamic budget is estimated to be the third largest budget component of the Prime Minister's Department. Additionally, in the past, what existed was the Majlis Kebangsaan bagi Hal Ehwal Islam (MKI). The MKI still exists and its secretariat eventually grew and morphed into the Department of Islamic Development or Jakim in the 1990s.  Today, Jakim has for company several other national Islamic bodies. These bodies include the Jabatan Kehakiman Syariah created in March 1998, the Attorney General's Chambers' syariah section introduced in 2003, and the Jabatan Wakaf, Zakat dan Haji founded in 2004. The AG's Chambers' syariah section was set up, among others, to ensure that civil laws are consistent with Islamic laws, even though we're not a theocracy. Additionally in 2009, a Jabatan Penguatkuasaan dan Pendakwaan Syariah was proposed. Mind you, Islam is a state matter. And this is what makes the evidence above even more compelling. Although religion falls under states' jurisdictions, in all these instances, it is the Umno-led federal government that has clearly invested in expanding Islamic bodies' powers and scope in what may be described as a slow boil. Hence, MCA can charge all it wants that it is PAS that will bring about an Islamic state if voted into power. The evidence shows it was under Umno where there has been a steady inflation in the way Islam is and can be used to control citizens' lives. And if Umno is clearly a culprit, what is MCA doing supporting Umno? Shouldn't MCA and other BN component parties also be held accountable for the state Malaysia is in today since obviously, they did little or nothing to stem Umno's Islamicisation of the government bureaucracy? Umno and PAS: What's the difference? Yes, it is true that PAS's raison d'etre is to set up an Islamic state. And while MCA tries to unconvincingly distinguish the difference between PAS's and Umno's brand of Islam, there are more similarities between the two than MCA is admitting. Read more at: http://www.thenutgraph.com/voting-for-an-islamic-state/

Liow: Change will lead to instability Posted: 28 Oct 2012 01:11 PM PDT (The Star) - This general election will determine if Malaysia will continue using secular laws or be an Islamic nation as propagated by the Opposition, said MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai. He said Malaysia, as a multi-racial country, was developed based on equality and the rights of every citizen. "The country has developed well under the current system. If we change this, it can lead to instability," said Liow, adding that Malaysia could not practise two systems simultaneously. "All of us, including the Muslims, agree that we should respect each other's religious rights," he told reporters after launching Malaysia's Chinese Calligraphy Stone Gallery at the Nirvana Memorial Park here yesterday. Liow was commenting on a statement by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz that Malaysia was never declared a secular state by its past leaders. Last Monday, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said the country's first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, had declared that Malaysia was a secular nation with Islam as its official religion. Earlier, Liow, who is also Health Minister, launched the stone gallery which features over 150 calligraphic stele. The stone slabs, carved with ancient writing, recorded historical events and ceremonial recitals across the different Chinese dynasties. Liow said the gallery marked an important milestone in preserving and expanding Chinese culture. NV Multi Asia Group founder and managing director/CEO Datuk Kong Hon Kong said the gallery would serve as a good platform to expose youths to Chinese history. Group chairman Datuk Fu Ah Kiow said the company planned to have calligraphy competitions and talks so the public could appreciate the age-old art form.

Khaled: Do not sell given land Posted: 28 Oct 2012 01:09 PM PDT (The Star) - Squatters given land titles should not take advantage of the situation by selling their plots. Pasir Gudang MP Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the squatters should be thankful to the Government for allowing them to own the land that they have been squatting on and should not sell it to a third party even if they are offered high prices. "They were allowed to own the land as most of them are poor and have nowhere else to go. They shouldn't take advantage of the generosity of the Government," he said. He was speaking to reporters after handing out quit rent notices to residents in Kampung Masai Baru here on Saturday. Mohamed Khaled said squatters should instead build proper houses for their families. "Although the land now belongs to them, they should think of all the trouble others have gone through to provide them with the titles," he said. Mohamed Khaled, who is also Higher Education Minister, added that the Government would continue to help former squatters here and address issues that affect them. "So far, the 5A Notices have been issued for residents in three settlements, namely Kampung Pasir Gudang Baru, Kampung Melayu Makmur and Kampung Masai Baru," he said. He added that residents in Kampung Melayu Pandan would also receive the notices soon. "It is, however, quite challenging for us to get the titles for the land sorted out as a large portion of it is not fully owned by the Government," he said. He added that another way to solve the matter would be to offer the former squatters houses worth RM200,000 each in a different location.

Genneva: Cooking up allegations Posted: 28 Oct 2012 12:59 PM PDT Shereen Lim The Media, BNM, relevant authorities and some dignitaries do not have the decency to speak or publish the truth despite us having repeatedly highlighted to them many times. They are the prime examples of the kind of pious commentators incapable of reporting the truth. They see themselves as the champion for the government and authorities. We deserve to be respected. We do not deserve the media and others cooking up allegations.   The public has the right to know the truth without it being misconstrued.   We are totally disgusted with the Media, the BNM and relevant authorities as well as to those who continue to persecute and ridicule us. For nearly a month now, much of the coverage has been filled with contemptuous remarks about Genneva Malaysia and its customers.   They seem to rally against Genneva Malaysia that is entirely focused on misconceived, inaccurate and incorrect reports. a) Genneva Malaysia does not offer an Investment Plan to its customers,  b) It does not fall under purview of BNM & the statement of bailout is gravely misleading. c) Genneva Malaysia does not promise or guarantee a return d) Genneva Malaysia does not have agents e) Customers acquire direct ownership of physical gold (in other words, we received physical gold).

Revive NFC Export Quality Abattoir, Malaysia’s food security under seige Posted: 28 Oct 2012 12:54 PM PDT This NFCorp feedlot and abattoir is the closest in specification to the requirements of Australia's new export laws. However, its capacity is limited to 30 heads of cattle per shift per day. As such, the EQA remains imperative for the NFC project to be a complete success.  Fabiani Azmi Bernama reports that a new Aussie ruling has affected cattle supply for Aidiladha. A stricter export policy under Australia's Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) has come into effect. Azizan Omar, 48, owner of a livestock farm PB Ramunia in Batu Pahat, Johor, said that only abattoirs that had been audited and approved by the Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) were allowed to slaughter such imported animals. He said the ruling had affected mosques, associations and individuals as they could not obtain the certificate or approval to carry out the slaughter. Blog journo Fabiani Azmi says the deferred NFC Export Quality Abattoir by the government is long overdue by several years. The NFC beef project suspension needs to be lifted. Malaysia must move forward in food security and not allow the opposition and their rhetorics to set it back by 10 years. The debate continues. Defence lawyers for National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd (NFCorp) recently issued a media statement welcoming the Attorney General's remarks, "The investigation did not reveal criminal breaches as far as the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry (MOA) is concerned." The lawyers pointed that the controversy was merely a commercial breach on the part of the ministry when it failed to perform its obligation to build an Export Quality Abattoir (EQA) in accordance with the Implementation Agreement. The EQA formed an integral and critical path for the successful implementation of the NFC beef project. It was pivotal for many of the project's stages including an Entrepreneur Development Programme (EDP) to nurture 310 contract farmers and 186,000 heads of cattle by 2014. The media statement from the legal firm Shafee & Co underscored, "The EQA, vis-a-vis the project, is the fulcrum and the very lifeline to the entire scheme of the project in all its phases."   Why the need for an Export Quality Abattoir? Quality beef comes from a wholesome food chain from 'farm-to-fork'. The best breeds are reared with the best fodder in the best of grasslands, nurtured until they are ready for slaughter at Export Quality Abattoirs. Unlike slaughter houses which are very basic in nature, an EQA encompasses the complete chain of events from slaughter to beef production in world-class hygienic systems before it is delivered to the customer and consumer. This is a mandatory standard by the international hypermarkets and supermarkets operating in Malaysia before the beef can be retailed to local consumers. It is also the preferred standard for quality meats by hotels, restaurants and cafes. Notwithstanding, discerning housewives too demand the cleanest cuts for their dinner tables. In an update, Bernama reported that only abattoirs that had been audited and approved by the Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) were allowed to slaughter such imported animals. A stricter export policy under Australia's Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) had come into force. It quoted livestock farmer Azizan Omar having said, "I have been informed by livestock sellers that a new export policy of Australia prohibits export to buyers without proper abattoir facilities.  Even though I could import the animals from neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Indonesia, they too have their own problems and they give priority to their local buyers." Gombak Agro Farm operator Noor Azzuddin Abdul Aziz said the prices of livestock had also soared by between 40 and 45 per cent due to the short supply.  He said a cow previously sold at RM2,500 could cost RM5,000 while the prices of goats ranged from RM600 to RM5,000 according to the size of the animals. Ishak Hassan, manager of the Ishak Hassan Farm in Seremban, said he decided to skip doing the business this year due to the problems in the market. Signs are there in the horizon that our food security is under siege.   NFC Export Quality Abattoir needs to be revived Now that we have a clearer picture of things, will the government revive the EQA? To meet the targeted beef production schedule, the MOA in accordance with an Implementation Agreement, was obligated to build an EQA with a capacity of 350 heads of cattle per shift per day for the NFC beef project. A fully equipped EQA is estimated to cost RM60 million to build and furnish, and two years to complete. There is no EQA of this magnitude, capacity and class in Malaysia today. So it was important that the EQA be built by the MOA to fulfill the colossal production targets set by the government itself for the NFC project – 246,000 heads of cattle by 2015. Presently at the NFC in Gemas, there is only one interim mini abattoir built by NFCorp to meet NFCorp's needs. It is certified with a "Veterinary Health Mark" logo, a symbol of quality awarded to the livestock product processing plant under the Veterinary Inspection and Accreditation Programme, Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture Malaysia. The abattoir is also certified Halal by JAKIM. This NFCorp feedlot and abattoir is the closest in specification to the requirements of Australia's new export laws. However, its capacity is limited to 30 heads of cattle per shift per day. As such, the EQA remains imperative for the NFC project to be a complete success. Most of the quality beef that we consume are imports and come at a price that only diners fork out at fine hotels, restaurants and cafes. The best cuts from butchers at high-end supermarkets are also several notches pricier. Quality beef does come with a price to match. It is no wonder that the beef import business in Malaysia is estimated at a mega RM2 billion annually and controlled by cartels determined to see their businesses undisturbed.   National Meat Policy (Ruminant Sector) 2006 As a result, the Government introduced the National Meat Policy (Ruminant Sector) 2006 to liberate the industry and to ensure Malaysians from all walks of life, can enjoy not only quality meat from the best livestock breeds but at affordable prices. By 2015, it is hoped that Malaysia can see self-sufficiency levels rise to 40 per cent, a 100 per cent increase from current levels. Therefore in 2006, the government mooted the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) as a high impact project. To kick start, 1,500 acres in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, was leased as a local prairie and production centre to NFCorp for 30 years to grow the beef project business. The EQA completes the 'farm-to-fork' food chain.   Benefits from an export quality abattoir An EQA allows for the preparation, processing and delivery of the best cuts with food safety in accordance with world class standards. The location, design, layout and construction of EQAs and the choice of fixtures, fittings, equipment, and storage facilities are a science in itself. Once the EQA is in place, contract farmers under the Entrepreneur Development Programme (EDP) would also have world-class facilities for their cattle to be prepared in accordance to top-notch standards. Under the EDP, entrepreneurs would comprise individual contract farmers nurturing the best of breeds. Imported at an average 300 kg in weight, the cattle are bred until they are twice their weight at 600 kg before slaughter. In the immediate term, NFCorp was looking at grooming 130 entrepreneurs and by 2015, it was hoped to groom 310 entrepreneurs to participate in this high-impact industry. Some 3,000 farm hands would also be gainfully employed in this scheme.   78,000 Metric Tonnes of Beef Products By 2015, EDP contract farmers are expected to breed and slaughter 186,000 heads of cattle while NFCorp has a target of 60,000 heads of cattle. Cumulatively, this is 246,000 heads of cattle or an equivalent of 78,000 metric tonnes of quality beef products for Malaysians. More importantly, this raises our food security by a further 20 per cent. The EQA is therefore a pivotal structure to ensure the success of the aspirations of the National Meat Policy (Ruminant Sector) 2006. To be leased to NFCorp, the government-built EQA would ensure that beef production numbers could be achieved according to targets set in the Implementation Agreement signed between NFCorp and the Government. It would also see the roll-out of the EDP that prepares 310 contract farmers to go large scale. However, the EQA remains deferred and the NFC project suspended. This would mean that Malaysia's food security is put in a vulnerable position. In the event of natural calamities or war or trade sanctions or stricter export rulings, imports could be disrupted and Malaysians would have no beef at the dinner table. Food security will indeed come under siege. Will Malaysians end up being vegetarians? It is high time that the NFC beef project is revived, the EQA is built, and a high impact industry is re ignited. Hungry stomachs will not vote.   About the Writer Fabiani Azmi is an avid reader of Malaysia Today, intelligent mainstream newspapers and Internet news portals. When not reading, he also enjoys the company of sapiosexuals. It's a highly stimulating discovery for him. Follow Fabiani @fabaz88.

Despite Pakatan push, BN expects to win more than 140 seats Posted: 28 Oct 2012 09:30 AM PDT Jahabar Sadiq, The Malaysian Insider The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) expects to win more than the 140 federal seats it took in Election 2008 despite the onslaught and talk by Pakatan Rakyat (PR) that it can capture Putrajaya in the next general election which must be called by the end of April 2013, say government sources. But BN politicians concede that as many as seven parliamentary seats in Sarawak and six in Sabah are vulnerable to PR but maintain that their stronghold on rural areas remain strong. There are 222 parliamentary constituencies and 505 state seats up for grabs in the coming 13th general election. "The worst-case scenario is winning just over 120 seats but we're confident of getting as much as we did in 2008 if not more," a senior BN official told The Malaysian Insider, saying that their calculations do not take into account the impact of another Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M) payout next January where households earning less than RM3,000 a month will get a one-off RM500 cash aid. The Malaysian Insider learnt that BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor expressed confidence that the ruling coalition will do as well as in 2008 during a recent talk with the Foreign Correspondents Club of Malaysia despite uneasiness over risky seats in the coalition's "fixed deposit" states of Sabah and Sarawak. It is understood that BN is expecting to lose some of the seats held by four Sabah MPs who left the coalition while the urban Chinese sentiment in Sarawak could see those seats going to PR. In Election 2008, the DAP was the sole PR component party to win a federal seat each in Sabah and Sarawak. However, the opposition has questioned BN's confidence as the ruling coalition expects to lose more seats in Sabah and Sarawak in the coming elections than before. "How is BN going to make up for losses in the fixed deposit states?" asked an opposition lawmaker when contacted by The Malaysian Insider. "BN knows it can lose up to six in Sabah and seven in Sarawak but it hopes to make it up elsewhere, especially in the peninsula where sentiment is swinging back to the government," one Umno leader told The Malaysian Insider, saying programmes like BR1M have a positive effect on voters. The BR1M began earlier this year and some RM2 billion was spent for over four million households. The BR1M 2.0 also includes a one-off RM250 for unmarried people between 21 and 30 who earn up to RM2,000. Analysts say the expanded coverage would include most of the 2.2 million first-time voters expected to cast their ballots in the next elections. There are now just over 13 million voters in the country of 28 million people. BN politicians also point out that they are expected to get back support from the Indian community, who number 1.7 million, as the coalition has been fulfilling their requests and also extended more aid to them. READ MORE HERE

Seat negotiations still on-going in Sabah Posted: 28 Oct 2012 09:26 AM PDT FMT LETTER: From Dr Edwin Bosi, via e-mail I refer to the FMT article, 'DAP's gesture of goodwill to SAPP' published on Oct 27. I would like to point out that only the party chairman, cecretary and publicity secretary are allowed to speak to the press on matters concerning the party. Quoting anyone from the party without revealing their name and position is therefore inappropriate, unjust and unfair to DAP Sabah. We regret that FMT did not seek a clarification or validation on the anonymous news sources with DAP Sabah officially. For DAP Sabah, seat negotiations is still on-going within the Pakatan Rakyat framework. It is an open secret that Kota Kinabalu Parliamentary constituency and the state seat of Sri Tanjung will be contested by DAP. We have through our Pakatan Rakyat seat negotiations, been allocated two other MP seats and six state seats. Some of the state seats are in Kota Kinabalu. Our chairman Jimmy Wong has stated that DAP Sabah is still negotiating with our partners PKR and PAS so that we can contest in at least 10 MP and 20 state seats. I would like to reiterate here that DAP Sabah has never discussed with any party other than PKR and PAS on seats allocation. However, the door of cooperation with local parties is still open. DAP Sabah prefers that all local parties outside PR to emulate APS and PPPS so that the seat negotiations within the framework of Pakatan Rakyat can be resolved and realised the soonest. The writer is DAP Sabah secretary

The timber mafia is larger than you suspect Posted: 28 Oct 2012 01:00 AM PDT   Gani and Hishammmuddin told the ICAC that the money actually belongs to Umno and that Michael Chia was only the courier or bagman for Umno. The ICAC told the 'official Malaysian delegation' that they (the ICAC) were going to 'freeze' the money, but for only three years. After the three years 'time bar' (or by 2011), the money would be released and thereafter allowed to leave Hong Kong. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin If you have not yet read Friday's report by Sarawak Report, Million Dollar Bribes Disguised As 'Donations' – UMNO's Ever Changing Stories!, you can do so HERE. Then read the three reports below. Basically, Malaysia Today first exposed this timber 'commission' scandal involving Umno Sabah back in 2004, soon after Malaysia Today was launched. That was eight years ago. However, no one appeared concerned about the matter then. Today, the issue has met with much brouhaha -- as if this is something that has just surfaced very recently rather than something that has been going on for decades since Sabah first became part of Malaysia back in 1963. East Malaysian politics is the politics of timber. Any idiot or dimwit knows this. A Sabah warlord is not a Sabah warlord unless he has at least RM200 million or RM300 million to his name. And that is why Sabah politics is big money. If you want to buy someone worth RM200-RM300 million, the price definitely has got to be huge. RM1 million or RM2 million does not even come close. The Sabah warlords are known to spend RM3 million to RM6 million a night at the casino. So what is RM1 million or RM2 million? RM1 million or RM2 million is pittance. It is not enough for even a few hours at the roulette table. Musa Aman, the Sabah Chief Minister, was already worth RM600 million when he took office, according to his official asset declaration. Today, he is estimated to be worth not less than RM1.5 billion, second only to the Sarawak Chief Minister in wealth -- who also made his pile from timber. And trust me, even those Barisan Nasional turncoats who have joined Pakatan Rakyat recently, or are about to join Pakatan Rakyat soon, are also worth millions. And they, too, made their money the same way. If these are the people Pakatan Rakyat is attracting then it makes no difference whether Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat rules Sabah. This is how Sabah's dignitaries travel around the State, in pomp and style Anyway, as usual, Malaysia Today does not like to repeat what others are already reporting. Malaysia Today only wants to focus on The Untold Story. That is why we do not talk about the Shahrizat Jalil RM250 million cow scandal. As it is, we are already suffering from over-exposure from that story that is close to giving us indigestion. So let me fill in the blanks regarding this Umno Sabah 'donation' scandal instead and tell you The Untold Story of this episode. Umno Sabah gives out timber concessions to its cronies and warlords at way below market price (or underpriced like hell) and it collects a commission (or kickbacks) on the export of logs, mainly to Japan. The money, however, is paid in Hong Kong. And note that there is no open tender for giving out timber concessions. It is all done on a 'negotiated' basis and awarded to the lowest bidder that offers the highest under-the-table 'commission'. And this was why Michael Chia -- a man Musa Aman says he does not know but photographs of the two show that they know each other -- was caught in Hong Kong. But what most do not know is that Michael Chia and Musa Aman are not the only ones involved. There are many other people involved as well -- such as a lawyer by the name of Richard Barnes. When this matter first 'exploded' in 2008 (four years after Malaysia Today had revealed the scandal), Attorney-General Gani Patail and Home Affairs Minister Hishammuddin Hussein went to Hong Kong to try to 'settle' the matter with the Chinese authorities (an act known as kowtim in Malaysia). Gani and Hishammmuddin told the ICAC that the money actually belongs to Umno and that Michael Chia was only the courier or bagman for Umno. The ICAC told the 'official Malaysian delegation' that they (the ICAC) were going to 'freeze' the money, but for only three years. After the three years 'time bar' (or by 2011), the money would be released and thereafter allowed to leave Hong Kong. Then we have the Rural and Regional Development Minister, Mohd Shafie Apdal, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's buddy, who was then the Deputy Chief of Umno Sabah. However, he told Najib that he was totally in the dark about what was going on. Yes, that's right, every man and his dog in Sabah knew about this Hong Kong drama except the Deputy Chief of Umno Sabah. The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Nazri Abdul Aziz, who said, "Opposition receives political donations too, not just Sabah Umno", (read that report here), is also involved. Michael Chia met Nazri in Parliament House to hand over RM3 million in cash as the 'fee' for the latter to help the former resolve this matter. And that flashy car that Nazri's son drives (see picture below) actually belongs to Michael Chia. Further to that, AG Gani Patail and CM Musa Aman's brother, Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, are related by marriage. Anifah's wife is sister to Dr Johan Samad, the Deputy Director of Yayasan Sabah, who is in turn married to Fazar Arif, the sister of AG Gani Patail's wife. Hence what we are seeing here is an all-in-the-family mafia. And where there are no blood ties, money ties make up for it. This scandal, if not properly resolved, may result in Barisan Nasional losing at least 10 of the 25 Parliamentary seats in Sabah. Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau, Sipanggar, Penampang, Beaufort, Keningau, Pensiangan, Tuaran and Kota Marudu can most likely fall to the opposition.  Nine of those ten seats are Chinese-Kadazan-Dusun seats, except Beaufort, which is a Malay seat. Three other seats -- Kota Belud, Ranau and Papar -- would also be close fights and could go either way. Hence the likelihood of half the Parliamentary seats in Sabah falling to the opposition is not an impossible scenario. And if that happens then the state can fall as well. That is how serious this matter has become. It seems, according to the financial audit done by Price Waterhouse, about RM3 billion from Yayayan Sabah has mysteriously 'evaporated', mainly timber revenue. So this is no small issue and the voters are terribly upset about the whole thing. If Pakatan Rakyat is clever and if they know the correct way in playing up this issue, Sabah may fall and they might even win enough Parliamentary seats to march into Putrajaya. My concern is that Pakatan Rakyat will instead fight amongst themselves over seat allocations, which will allow Barisan Nasional to retain Sabah. If this state of affairs continues, Umno may have to replace the head of Umno Sabah as soon as the State Assembly is dissolved and general elections are called. The voters will then have to be told that Musa Aman will not continue as Chief Minister if Barisan Nasional retains the state. Then, most likely, only two seats will fall to the opposition -- Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan -- and Barisan Nasional will sail through with enough seats to form the state government and at least 23 Parliamentary seats in Sabah to deny Pakatan Rakyat the federal government. ********************************************* Sabah Umno official: 'We have nothing to hide' (The Star, 17 December 2004) - KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno is of the view that everything is in the clear for its new RM35mil, 11-storey headquarters now under construction in the city. "As far as Sabah Umno is concerned, I can assure you that everything is above board," state Umno information chief Datuk Rahim Ismail said, when contacted over a letter that appeared in the website of a local newspaper on Dec 3. A similar letter was posted on an online newspaper on Wednesday. The letter insinuated that something was amiss in the deal for the construction of the Sabah Umno building on a 0.48ha site in Karamunsing. Among the questions raised were why Umno did not use its own 2ha land in Sembulan to construct its headquarters and who was overseeing the construction. The letter purportedly written by someone known as Haniffa, raised various questions on who was the real owner of the new building and if there was any relationship be-tween Sabah Umno and the company developing it. Rahim, who is a member of the building committee, declined to say anything else other than stressing that everything about the project was above board. It is learnt that Sabah Umno would let the matter rest although the party discussed it at a meeting a few days ago. The explanation given was that the building, for which the groundbreaking ceremony was held on May 16 last year, had the blessing of the Umno headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. Umno officials said yesterday that the land was donated by a private company, with the full knowledge of the party leadership. They said they decided not to construct their building on their own 2ha land at Sembulan because the party wanted to keep it as a prime city property. "There is nothing secret about this deal," said a senior Sabah Umno official. The new Sabah Umno headquarters, which is expected to be completed next year, would not only house the party's offices but also banks, shops and a hall with a seating capacity for 2,000 people. ********************************************* HK anti-graft probe widens (Malaysia Today, 8 November 2008) - KOTA KINABALU: Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has widened its investigations to Sabah over a money-laundering case involving millions of ringgit. Three of the officers arrived here on Wednesday seeking information on a Sandakan businessman, a lawyer and a top state politician as well. They left yesterday after securing details and documents on the trio to help them in a probe into a Hong Kong bank account believed to be holding more than RM100mil. The account has been frozen. It is understood that the ICAC has been probing allegations of money laundering in Sabah for more than three years. They had briefly detained the businessman in Hong Kong in mid-August in connection with the money-laundering allegations. He was released on bail pending the completion of the probe. At a press conference yesterday, Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) investigations chief Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdull confirmed that the ICAC had sought its assistance. "We cannot reveal details as it is their investigations," said Shukri, who declined to state the specific nature of the ICAC probe. He said the ACA was not conducting an investigation into the matter but was helping the ICAC under the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act. Shukri was in Sabah to witness the official handing-over of duties from Sabah ACA director Deputy Comm Latifah Md Yatim to the new director, Deputy Comm Jalil Jaaffar. Latifah has been promoted as the new Penang ACA director. ********************************************* Musa denies business links with Michael Chia (Free Malaysia Today, 12 April 2012) - Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman today said corruption allegations made against him by whistleblower website Sarawak Report was an act of defamation and conspiracy by certain quarters with the agenda to topple the Barisan Nasional government. "I deny all these allegations. I wish to put it on record once again that I have no business association whatsoever with an individual named Michael Chia," he said today.  Musa said these allegations were trumped up by his political opponents dan desperate individuals who would resort to anything to gain political mileage. "It is unfortunate that there are people out there who will keep using recycled allegations to get to the top when election is near. "The people of Sabah can decide for themselves based on my track record. Not faceless and nameless people who use blogs to serve their political interest," he added. Musa said he would give full cooperation to the authorities if needed but in the meantime his responsibility was to ensure the wellbeing and development of Sabah. He said he did not wish to waste his time entertaining these frivolous allegations, adding that his main priority was to serve the people of Sabah and to administer the state. Caught with money Last week Sarawak Report published leaked Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) documents that revealed Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail allegedly shelving files and refusing to prosecute Musa and his brother Anifah over allegations that the Sabah chief minister had corruptly issued timber licences to his brother worth tens of millions of ringgit. Investigations were prompted after Musa's "agent" Michael Chia was arrested in Hong Kong in 2008 and MACC investigations later unearthed details of the secret timber concessions within the family and Gani's close ties to the Aman family. Chia was detained by the Hong Kong authorities at the Hong Kong International Airport for alleged money trafficking. He was caught trying to smuggle out of Hong Kong some S$16 million (RM40 million). Apparently when he was caught, Chia told the Hong Kong authorities that the money was for Musa.

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.

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.

A Democrat indeed Posted: 27 Oct 2012 06:27 PM PDT We need New Politics. We need a New Malaysia. We need New Malaysians. We need a Malaysian of Democrats. And this New Politics, New Malaysia, New Malaysians, a Malaysian of Democrats, etc., have to be one that is tolerant of criticism -- even if that criticism is 'God does not exist, religion is bullshit, and those who believe in all this nonsense are enslaving themselves to a doctrine from the Dark Ages'. NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin Anwar: 'Kenyataan Soi Lek hina Islam' (Sinar Harian) - Ketua Pembangkang, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menyifatkan kenyataan dilontar Presiden MCA, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek  tentang hudud satu penghinaan nyata terhadap agama Islam. Dakwa Anwar, tindakan Soi Lek itu amat memalukan dan tidak mampu dipertahankan lagi. Katanya, kenyataan Soi Lek yang dilakukan di hadapan Datuk Seri Najib Razak,  juga bermaksud menghina beliau sebagai Perdana Menteri dan tetamu khas konvensyen tersebut. "Saya sifatkan ianya sebagai satu serangan yang biadab dan telah menyinggung perasaan umat Islam," katanya yang dipetik dalam blog miliknya, semalam. Soi Lek sebelum ini mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa pelaksanaan hukum hudud akan menjejaskan 1.2 juta peluang pekerjaan dalam sektor perkhidmatan dan pelancongan serta boleh mencetuskan keresahan rakyat terhadap Islam. Beliau selepas itu meminta semua anggota parti MCA supaya meningkatkan lagi publisiti dalam usaha menepis dakyah pembangkang. Katanya, lebih parah lagi, kenyataan  Soi Lek itu seolah-olah dipersetujui Najib. "Kebisuan Najib tentang perkara ini jelas menunjukkan beliau berada di pihak yang salah," katanya. *********************************************** Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim says that the MCA President, Chua Soi Lek, has insulted Islam. Just for the record, I too have whacked Chua Soi Lek for instigating the Penang Malays in my article We didn't start the fire. And this is what one reader commented: RPK, No matter how much you try to instigate May 13 - Version 2.0, realize that you are wasting your time. The Malays today are far, far different from those in 1969...they are wealthy and drive new-ish fancy cars...do you really think they are going to Mengamuk like the old days? Today's Melayus have lost their balls. So, when I whack the MCA President, I am instigating May 13 Version 2.0. When the Opposition Leader whacks Chua Soi Lek, he is the greatest Malaysian alive -- a true 'Towering' Malay. The chap, Ramesh Chandran, who posted that comment accuses me of instigating May 13 Version 2.0 and yet he closes his comment with: Today's Melayus have lost their balls. Is this not a contradiction? You accuse me of racism and then you throw the Malays a challenge by saying that the Malays have lost their balls. So how do you want the Malays to prove that they still have balls? By taking to the streets and mengamuk? Malaysia Today appears to attract comments from readers with the lowest intelligence and intellectual level. No wonder the thinking readers rather just read and remain quiet. They refuse to comment and be associated with brain-dead Malaysians. Anyway, I would have expected that statement by Anwar Ibrahim to come from people like Ibrahim Ali, Hassan Ali, Zulkifli Nordin, and those of their ilk, but not from someone like Anwar, a so-called Democrat. A Democrat may disagree with what you say but he or she will definitely respect and defend your right to say it. Anwar appears to have lost this ability. You may have a warped opinion, but that does not mean you are not entitled to this warped opinion or that you lose your right to express this warped opinion. After all, probably 80% of the world believes in the existence of God and they profess some form of religion. They will also express their views about their religion. And the other 20% of the world that does not think this is true would consider the 80% as silly and superstitious sub-humans, at least in mentality. But do the 20% stop the 80% from having these beliefs and from expressing these beliefs as much as they may think these are extremely silly beliefs? Why is it only those who believe in God and profess a religion have rights whereas those who do not believe in God and do not profess a religion do not have rights? And when those who do not believe in God and do not profess a religion express their views, they are accused of 'insulting' so-and-so religion. This 'you are insulting my religion' allegation is being carried a bit too far. God is supposed to be kind, forgiving, compassionate, just, fair, and so on. On the other hand, God is extremely intolerant and God has appointed 'agents' to roam around the world to punish those who 'insult' Him. This sounds like a very short-tempered and vindictive God who is even worse than the person you love to hate -- Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. At least even if Dr Mahathir detains you under Operasi Lalang you finally get to go home. Dr Mahathir does not shoot you or bomb your house because you have insulted him, like what your God has commanded you to do. Perkasa, Pekida, Umno, the government, etc., accuse the Christians, DAP, MCA, the non-Muslims, the church etc., of insulting Islam. And they want action taken against these people. Whether these (non-Muslim) people really did insult Islam or this is something these Muslims perceive and is just something in their minds is not important. As long as someone is perceived or imagined to have insulted Islam, those are grounds enough to punish him or her for this 'crime'. We can expect this from the government and the government supporters. We do not expect this from the opposition, in particular those who are projecting a Democrat image, and certainly not from the Leader of the Opposition. We need New Politics. We need a New Malaysia. We need New Malaysians. We need a Malaysian of Democrats. And this New Politics, New Malaysia, New Malaysians, a Malaysian of Democrats, etc., have to be one that is tolerant of criticism -- even if that criticism is 'God does not exist, religion is bullshit, and those who believe in all this nonsense are enslaving themselves to a doctrine from the Dark Ages'. If we are not yet ready for that then Malaysia is NOT yet a nation of Democrats and hence we lose the right to talk about democracy. And certainly the Opposition Leader should lead by example and be the first to demonstrate he is a Democrat and not just another Perkasa, Pekida, Umno, etc., by another name.

Orang muda muflis di kalangan Melayu paling tinggi Posted: 27 Oct 2012 05:14 PM PDT Md Izwan, The Malaysian Insider Jumlah pemuda berusia 34 tahun ke bawah di Malaysia yang diisytiharkan muflis meningkat hampir setiap tahun sejak tahun 2001 terutamanya dikalangan orang Melayu, kata Datuk Nadzim Johan. Setiausaha kerja Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (PPIM) itu dipetik berkata dalam akhbar Berita Harian, hampir 47 peratus daripada jumlah keseluruhan 4,568 kes baru pada suku tahun ini yang direkodkan di Jabatan Insolvensi Malaysia (MdI) adalah Melayu.  "Aliran ini serius dan membimbangkan," kata Syed Nadzim.  Manakala kaum Cina pula mencatatkan kedudukan kedua tertinggi sebanyak 34 peratus, kaum India 9 peratus dan lain-lain kaum adalah 10 peratus.  "Sesuatu perlu dilakukan segera untuk membendung masalah ini. Malah PPIM juga mahu Akta Kebangkrapan 1967 dan Kaedah Kebangkrapan 1969 dipinda kerana sudah lapuk dan tidak sesuai," tambah beliau lagi.  Berdasarkan statistik daripada MdI bermula daripada 2007, jumlah kes kebangkrapan yang dicatat ialah 13,238 disusuli peningkatan pada 2008 kepada 13,855 dan terus meningkat pada 2011 kepada 19,167.  Selain itu, berdasarkan statistik yang dikeluarkan oleh MdI sebagai punca kepada pengisytiharan muflis ini sejak 2005 hingga Jun 2012 adalah disebabkan beberapa sebab, antaranya ialah sewa beli kenderaan sebanyak 25 peratus, keberhutangan lain sebanyak 21 peratus, pinjaman peribadi 13 peratus dan pinjaman perumahan 13 peratus serta lain-lain.  Disamping itu, negeri yang paling mencatatkan banyak kes muflis sepert yang direkodkan MdI adalah Selangor dengan jumlah 1,053 kes atau 23.05 peratus daripada 4,568 kes keseluruhan suku tahun ini.  "Statistik Jabatan Perangkaan yang kami peroleh menunjukkan nisbah muflis dengan penduduk di Selangor ialah 1:581, bermaksud seorang bagi setiap 581 penduduk di negeri itu diisytiharkan muflis," tambah beliau lagi.

Make our homes and streets safe again Posted: 27 Oct 2012 05:01 PM PDT Malaysians would prefer our politicians to focus on the real issues of the day, such as fighting crime and improving the people's quality of life. Wong Chun Wai, The Star YOU know something isn't right when a restaurant at Section 17 in Petaling Jaya has to lock its main door during peak dining hours. The owner does not want to take any chances and prefers customers to call in ahead to make reservations. Talk of a famous fish head curry restaurant being robbed has sparked off a chain reaction with many eateries now taking a more cautious approach. For good measure, there are enough video clips, recorded from CCTVs and posted on YouTube, to show the number of 24-hour mamak shops that have been hit by parang-wielding robbers. In many parts of Petaling Jaya, many hair salons have long adopted the same security measures to prevent criminals from entering their premises. Yes, we have come to that level of insecurity in our daily life. I am not sure whether our leaders are aware of the extent of the fears among our people. They need to listen hard to the ground and not just rely on crime statistics. There is no need to be defensive about how reliable the statistics are or whether perception has got the better of us. For a start, they should listen to their own staff or even their relatives who do not go about their daily lives in the same security-enhanced environment as them. Ordinary workers who go shopping for daily provisions or withdraw money from the ATM have become more conscious of their personal safety. Our leaders should stop worrying about bad news and its messengers, in this case the media, and instead work on making our homes safe again. As a newspaper editor, I have found crime to be the biggest topic of conversation at any dinner function. People want the press to report crime, not downplay such incidents merely to make the leaders look good. What the police and media would regard as minor crimes, such as snatch thefts, burglaries and home robberies, are in fact the biggest worries for the people. Due to space constraint, the media tend to highlight the more serious crimes, or cases where important personalities are involved. As a result, there is a strong perception that we have forgotten or, worse, covered up the petty crime cases affecting ordinary people. That seems to be the sentiment in postings on Facebook, unfortunately. The people are fed up of the daily political one-upmanship and mudslinging. If only these politicians could spend as much time focusing on the real issues of the day – crime, cost of living and transportation. It is commendable that the Prime Minister has placed fighting crime as one of his main areas of transformation. As Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said, all the economic changes would be meaningless if people do not feel safe. Fighting crime is one of the national key result areas (NKRA) and the Home Ministry has just announced the second wave of the strategy, where the "feel safe" factor would be propped up and more resources would be given to the police. Recently, the police installed 19,000 CCTV cameras in southern Johor under its PDRM SafeCam programme. It's a good start but the police must be aware that this is only a drop in the ocean. Millions of CCTV cameras should be put up in major cities such as Kuala Lumpur. In an interview with The Star last week, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein Onn was asked whether the spate of violent crimes recently was the result of the abolition of preventive laws. His reply was that since the abolition of the Internal Security Act and Emergency Ordinance in September last year, 1,476 detainees have been released. Additionally, 1,119 persons under the restricted residence order have been allowed to return to their respective home states. This may be good news to human rights activists but ordinary Malaysians are wondering if these former detainees could be responsible for the spate of violent crimes. The perception now, based on anecdotal evidence, is that most crimes are committed by locals rather than foreigners. It is good to hear Hishammuddin acknowledging that the ministry recognised the possibility of these ex-detainees returning to their life of crime. Proactive measures have been put in place by the relevant agencies, including monitoring this group of ex-detainees. Likewise, while there are calls to abolish the death penalty with many questioning the effectiveness of such punishment, there are also many who are wary of the government taking away what they consider to be another preventive measure. The government, many of us hope, will not be too quick to remove these layers of deterrents merely to accommodate the demands of human rights activists. Reforms are good but not at the expense of the wider interest of the community. The police deserve our total support in terms of human resources, equipment and financial backing to ensure they do their jobs effectively. But the reality is that the police cannot fight hardened criminals with kid gloves. Whose side are we on anyway?

Can Nik Aziz go the distance? Posted: 27 Oct 2012 04:54 PM PDT   Keep your promise: Dr Mahathir and Nik Aziz in a friendly situation in Kelantan around the time Nik Aziz said that the then Prime Minister should retire and that he would follow. Last Monday marked Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat's 22nd year as Kelantan Mentri Besar but he is poised to contest the next general election because his party says it cannot do without their Panglima Perang or war admiral. Joceline Tan, The Star DATUK Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat eats like a bird. A normal meal would consist of about three tablespoons of rice and some fish and soft vegetables. The elderly Tok Guru is one ulama who has not given in to the sin of gluttony. He is still the same slight built he was when he became Mentri Besar of Kelantan in 1990. That is the degree of his personal discipline. He has been on a strict diet following a major heart attack in 2004 and the PAS grassroots who host meals for him at political functions are told he has to avoid meat as well as oily and spicy food. About two weeks ago, state exco member Datuk Nik Amar Nik Abdullah joined Nik Aziz for dinner before starting their ceramah in Pengkalan Chepa. "Tok Guru took a little bit of rice and ikan percik. It is awkward because I eat quite a lot. But I try to eat less when I eat with him," said Nik Amar. For years, Nik Aziz's frail health was attributed to gastritis or, as PAS people call it, "stomach problems". His health has always been delicate. He becomes unwell for various reasons – if he eats the wrong thing, if he does not eat, if his schedule is too hectic or even if he gets splashed by a few drops of rain. When he is feeling well, his wit sparkles, his smile is as sweet as that of a baby's and the freckles on his face look so cute. But when he is feeling under the weather, he becomes a glum and grumpy old man and the freckles look like liver spots. Ill health Speculation about his health has grown more acute and Nik Amar recently dismissed claims that his boss has cancer. This is not the first time the cancer rumour has cropped up. Last year, Nik Aziz himself denied he was suffering from cancer. PAS has two sets of rules. They say the MB and the deputy must be ulama. But their No. 2 in the party is Mat Sabu who is not an ulama. - DATUK ALWI CHE AHMAD PAS leaders often say "Tok Guru is as healthy as a man his age would be". It is their way of deflecting the fact that Nik Aziz is 82 and has health issues. But the reality is that there are very few leaders in the world who are still in active politics at that age. Even the great Fidel Castro, who finally retired at 87, is taking things easy these days and only appears in public when there are rumours that he has died. Nik Aziz, however, is not clinging on to power. Earlier this year, he told a party meeting that he wished to retire but was met with a chorus of protest. They told him he is their "Panglima Perang (war admiral)" and they could not do without him. "He has to lead us in the general election. But we told him that whether or not he wishes to stay on as MB, it is up to him," said Nik Amar. Like it or not, Nik Aziz's age has become an election issue for PAS in Kelantan and especially after holding on to power for 22 years. He feels his age and there is no shortage of people out there who will let him forget it, including Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who has a memory like an elephant when it comes to political slights. Nik Aziz had, back in the 1990s, said that leaders should not stay for more than two terms. He asked Dr Mahathir to retire and said he would follow suit. Last week, the former Premier reminded Nik Aziz of his promise to step down. It was not exactly a gentle reminder because Dr Mahathir sort of twisted the knife and said that Malaysians should "open their eyes and reject leaders who do not honour their promises." Revenge is sweet but, as they say, it is a dish best served cold and Dr Mahathir is savouring the dish. Dr Mahathir stepped down after 22 years in power. On the other hand, Nik Aziz marked his 22nd year in power exactly six days ago – he was sworn in as Mentri Besar on Oct 22, 1990. PAS assemblyman for Gaal Dr Nik Mazian Nik Mohamad touched on the same sensitive subject when he rose to speak during the Budget session at the recent Kelantan Legislative Assembly. His fellow PAS assemblymen looked on aghast as he urged ageing leaders who had to use walking sticks to make way and referred to Nik Aziz as "aged and sickly". Egged on by the opposition bench, he said he did not have to name them, they knew who they were. He went on to say there was no shortage of qualified, younger ulama to take over. Dr Nik Mazian knew he was skating on thin ice but he insisted that the assembly sitting was the best forum to raise issues of ageing leaders and succession. It was obvious that he was sticking his neck out to send a message to the top leadership. The tall and distinguished former cardiologist is a third term assemblyman and has health problems. This is very likely his last term and he knew he had nothing to lose by being frank. He is also an intelligent man and probably senses that the next general election will be the most challenging for his party. The signs are there – big crowds attending Umno ceramah, unhappiness over the sacking of former Selangor PAS leader Datuk Dr Hasan Ali as well as concern among top leaders like Datuk Dr Haron Din and Datuk Harun Taib about DAP and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. More recently, PAS veteran Datuk Shahnon Ahmad, who wrote that infamous book Shit in the 1990s, hit out at the party's partnership with DAP. State exco member Datuk Husam Musa's claim that Umno is worse than DAP will only infuriate this ultra conservative circle in PAS. He had riled the Umno side when he said that at the recent Assembly sitting. Nik Aziz is much loved but he has been up there too long. People are talking about the fact that his son Nik Abduh, who is the deputy PAS Youth chief, is about to make his electoral debut in the parliamentary seat of Pasir Putih. Sources at the party's central leadership said Nik Aziz will lead Kelantan in the election but Deputy Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yaakob is likely to take over the top post. Ahmad has apparently assumed many of Nik Aziz's duties. He has also taken on the task of briefing the Sultan about state affairs and has established a good relationship with the palace. Two candidates have been identified as the potential deputy: Nik Amar who is the state exco in charge of religion and education, and Nasaruddin Daud who is Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly. Husam was once a contender for the No. 2 post but his ties with the Raja Perempuan has affected his standing in the eyes of the Sultan following the fallout in the royal family. His other disadvantage is that he is not an ulama. "I am not interested in any post. I have read reports claiming I want to be a minister. One article even said I will be PM after Anwar Ibrahim. I like to joke to my friends, just make me the petroleum minister, I can bring oil royalty to Kelantan," he said. Blue-eyed boy But Husam is still the Mentri Besar's blue-eyed boy despite what his detractors may say. During the Assembly sitting, as Husam was elaborating on why he thought DAP is better than Umno, Nik Aziz suddenly stood up and left the House. By evening the gossip mill was abuzz with claims that Nik Aziz was upset with Husam for praising DAP. But the Mentri Besar apparently left to perform zohor prayers and had later called Husam to congratulate him for defending DAP. The party has been driving home the point that the Mentri Besar must be an ulama. They are aware that for the first time in decades, Umno has a Mentri Besar candidate who is acceptable to Kelantanese and the point about an ulama Mentri Besar is aimed at him. International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed has become a serious contender not because he is a high flyer or has a first class honours degree from a top Australian university. Locals respect him because he is humble, hard working and lives a moderate lifestyle. Mustapa's house in Jeli as well as his father's house in Bachok are indistinguishable from that of the average Kelantanese. State opposition leader Datuk Alwi Che Ahmad said PAS is contradicting itself on the ulama leadership. He said party president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang is an ulama but the deputy Mohamed Sabu is not. "PAS has two sets of rules. They say the MB and the deputy must be ulama. But their No. 2 in the party is Mat Sabu who is not an ulama. If anything happens to Hadi, Mat Sabu will take over. So what are they talking about?" Kelantanese are even crazier about football than politics. The euphoria over the Red Warriors' winning the Malaysia Cup last week has yet to dissipate. Red is a happening colour in Kelantan so much so that the state Barisan has eschewed the official blue and gone for red as its campaign colour. PAS would like to claim credit for the Red Warriors but the team rose to the top only after Umno warlord Tan Sri Annuar Musa took over as president of the Kelantan Football Association. But football is truly one game where both parties come together. A PAS official joked that football is so popular in Kelantan because there are no nightclubs or karaoke outlets. Football matches are the only outlet for them to let their hair down, to sing, dance and shout. The PAS government's ties with the palace have never been this good. Nik Aziz has cultivated a warm working relationship with Sultan Muhammad and had even advised the sovereign to get married as soon as possible. When the Sultan replied tongue-in-cheek that Tok Guru should help find him a wife, the latter merely smiled in a diplomatic fashion. Tok Guru also has a comfortable relationship with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. The Prime Minister is always respectful and solicitous in the elder man's presence. After all, Najib has seen Nik Aziz at the height of his power and also at his most vulnerable. The most famous photograph of them together is that of Najib in his shirtsleeves, leaning anxiously over Nik Aziz as he lay on a hospital bed. Najib, then the Deputy Prime Minister, had flown to Kota Baru to visit the PAS leader after the latter's heart attack. He also arranged for the VIP patient to be flown to Kuala Lumpur for further treatment. The Umno side used the picture at several by-elections to show that Najib is a caring leader but the PAS side slammed Umno for exploiting the Tok Guru's illness. Nik Aziz has some good things going for him but the pressure is building. After 22 years as the ruling party, PAS cannot pass the buck to others for the lack of progress or development in the state. There is a do-or-die mood building up in Kelantan politics and it could not have come at a worse time for Nik Aziz. The PAS leader is at his most vulnerable. Being 82 is very auspicious. In Chinese, the number means "easy to prosper". In politics, however, it simply means one has overstayed. Nik Aziz will probably be the oldest candidate in the coming general election. The grand old man of PAS has become both an asset and liability to his party.

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.

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.

Mampukah kematangan berpolitik dicapai di negara kita? Posted: 27 Oct 2012 04:38 PM PDT Markus Lim, The Malaysian Insider Kematangan berpolitik merupakan sesuatu yang diperlukan dalam arena politik negara. Apa tidaknya, arena politik negara masih dipenuhi dengan pelbagai perwatakan pemimpin politik yang beraneka ragam. Saban hari, ada sahaja kenyataan mahupun tindak-tanduk mereka yang mencuri tumpuan. Sama ada tindakan itu dilakukan secara tidak sengaja atau sebaliknya, mereka lebih mengetahui. Hakikatnya, memang ada pemimpin politik yang boleh berfikir dan menonjolkan diri sebagai politikus yang berkaliber lagi dihormati. Akan tetapi, ada juga yang memperbodohkan diri sendiri dengan mengeluarkan kenyataan yang tidak logik. Jika dibilang dengan jari, boleh dikatakan ramai yang tergolong dalam kategori kedua.  Tetapi adalah tidak adil untuk melabelkan semua politikus adalah tidak baik kerana sebarang usaha sedemikian hanya bermakna penulis bersifat prejudis. Namun realiti sebenar tidak dapat disangkal lagi. Pengalaman penulis membuat liputan di beberapa Perhimpunan Agung parti-parti politik seperti UMNO, Pas dan MCA membuktikan apa yang diperkatakan sebentar tadi mengenai pemimpin politik ada asasnya. Boleh dikatakan bahawa perhimpunan agung tahunan parti merupakan medan terbaik untuk membelasah pihak musuh. Dalam konteks ini, semua perbahasan mahupun ucapan dasar pemimpin akan berkisar kepada memburuk-burukkan musuh. Segala kehodohan dan kejahatan pihak musuh akan ditelanjangkan secara terbuka seolah-olah musuh mereka sudah tidak mempunyai nilai dan harga diri.  Retorik menguasai segala-galanya! Tidak kira sama ada amalan sedemikian dipraktikkan oleh pembangkang ataupun parti pemerintah, jelas budaya ini tidak sepatutnya mendapat tempat dalam masyarakat. Agak menghairankan, pemimpin-pemimpin politik di Amerika dan Eropah boleh  mengenepikan sentimen kepartian dalam isu-isu membabitkan kepentingan nasional. Tetapi tidak di Malaysia. Mengapa? Apakah ego begitu penting untuk mereka? Apakah dengan tiadanya sentimen kepartian akan membuatkan mereka kurang baik atau bersikap seperti pembangkang? Apakah yang cuba disampaikan oleh pemimpin politik kepada rakyat? Adakah budaya hasutan dan kebencian yang ingin disemai dalam minda rakyat? Tidak sedarkah mereka bahawa segala tindak-tanduknya sedang diperhatikan oleh rakyat? Barangkali segelintir pemimpin politik kita alpa bahawa melalui kuasa dan undi rakyatlah, mereka dapat berada di puncak kekuasaan. Rakyat adalah kingmaker kerana dengan satu undi sekalipun, ia cukup signifikan. Sudah sampai masanya pemimpin politik di Malaysia merenung sejenak tingkah laku dan perwatakan mereka.  Bermuhasabah diri dan bertanyakan kepada diri apakah kekurangan dan penambahbaikan yang harus diperbaiki selepas ini. Dengan bahang Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 makin hampir, inilah masanya untuk pemimpin politik menguatkan azam untuk berkempen secara matang. Gunakan kempen pilihan raya untuk menjelaskan dasar-dasar kepada rakyat dan bagaimana rakyat boleh mengambil bahagian dalam menjayakan agenda pembangunan negara. Juga, manfaatkan kempen sedia ada itu untuk menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi oleh rakyat. Inilah yang didahagakan oleh rakyat jelata. Rakyat jelata sudah bosan dengan politik kepartian yang keterlaluan. Bersediakah pemimpin-pemimpin politik negara kita untuk berubah? Ataupun terus menjadi bahan gurauan masyarakat antarabangsa? Pilihan terletak di tangan mereka.

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.

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.

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.

Abim bantah TV3 tayang ‘My Name Is Khan’ Posted: 27 Oct 2012 03:55 PM PDT (Harakah) - Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim) membantah sekeras-kerasnya penayangan filem 'My Name Is Khan' di TV3 pada Hari Raya Aidil Adha yang kedua. Naib Presiden Abim, Ahmad Saparudin Yusup berkata, filem yang membawa mesej yang mengelirukan jelas tidak wajar ditayangkan oleh sebuah stesen televisyen utama Malaysia. Berikut ialah kenyataan penuh beliau mengenai perkara itu. Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim) membantah sekeras-kerasnya penayangan filem 'My Name Is Khan' di TV3 pada Hari Raya Aidil Adha yang kedua. Filem yang membawa mesej yang mengelirukan jelas tidak wajar ditayangkan oleh sebuah stesen televisyen utama Malaysia. Watak utamanya dibawa oleh Shah Rukh Khan (Datuk) jelas menjengkelkan. Aksi beliau dalam cerita itu membayangkan tahap kefahaman pengarah, penulis skrip, dan pelakon mengenai Islam begitu memalukan. Sebagai contoh, adegan hero yang berkahwin dengan heroin (dalam filem ini) yang beragama Hindu jelas bertentangan dengan ajaran Islam. Menerima dan mencampur aduk cara penyembahan agama lain dengan Islam sebagai agama adalah sama jelas bercanggah dengan prinsip Islam. Selain dari itu memberi zakat kepada mereka yang tidak beragama Islam juga adalah mengelirukan. Zakat hanya dibenarkan untuk asnaf yang tertentu dan tidak boleh diberikan sesuka hati. Penerbit filem ini jelas cuba menjawab persoalan 'Islamophobia' yang melanda Barat, tanpa memahami ajaran Islam dengan mendalam serta menghayati pokok pangkal permasalahan ini mengheret wajah Islam ke dalam kancah yang memalukan. Ia secara jelas membawa mesej 'Islam Liberal'. Faham Islam Liberal ini pekat dengan rasa apologetik dan menenggelamkan sumber asas dan mengenepikan pandangan ulama muktabar. Begitu juga dengan nilai yang cuba disejajarkan dengan selera Barat yang menyisih intipati ajaran Islam itu sendiri. Selain dari faham Islam Liberal itu, menyamakan kebaikan di sisi Islam dan agama lain adalah satu daripada teras aliran 'pluralisme agama'. Mesej ini juga terkandung dalam filem ini. Segala faham ini perlu diperhatikan secara dekat kerana ia boleh memesongkan fikiran umat Islam dan juga bukan islam dalam memahami ajaran Islam yang sewajarnya. Faktor penayangan yang dibuat tatkala umat Islam menyambut hari Idil Adha juga menimbulkan persoalan ke mana hilangnya keprihatinan dan tanggungjawab pihak media dalam bahan siaran mereka. Oleh itu Abim mendesak agar penayangan filem ini dihentikan pada masa akan datang. Abim juga mengingatkan kepada stesyen penyiaran di negara ini agar lebih peka dan sensetif terhadap bahan kandungan dan masa penyiaran bagi mengelakkan kontroversi di dalam masyarakat. Abim juga menggesa agar pengedaran CD filem ini dihalang serta merta.

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 Khalid meanwhile told reporters that he was thankful to the party, but vowed to only keep his parliamentarian post for another term. 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". READ MORE HERE

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. READ MORE HERE

Respect religion, stop false rumours Posted: 27 Oct 2012 03:42 PM PDT We must exercise tremendous restrain in seeking to use religion and race for political gain. Denison Jayasooria, FMT While I respect differing views and the right of freedom of speech, however in recent times there have been some views that cross the line of objectivity and rationality especially in views pertaining to race and religion in Malaysian society The recent article by Iskandar Dzulkarnain in Free Malaysia Today entitled "Beware! A Christian conspiracy. Really?" that makes reference to Zulkifli Noordin, Nasharuddin Mat Isa and Ridhuan Tee is an example of malicious deception, inaccuracy and irrational portrayal of Christians in Malaysia. In a multi racial and religious society such stereotyping is a negative force and not in good taste. It is definitely not in line with the Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's ideology of moderation and one of moving from tolerance towards acceptance and celebration. This kind of writing does real damage to inter-religious harmony and breeds fear. Whatever their motives and insecurities it is of utmost importance that federal officials must monitor such wild accusations with in-depth investigation to present a counter analysis based on truth and make appreciate charges if any laws are violated Christians comprise about 9.2% of the population, however the percentage is much higher in Sarawak (40%) and Sabah (30%) where a majority of Christian are from the bumiputera community and are predominately Malay language speakers. Christianity has a long history in Malaysia and Christian institutions have major contributions to nation building in the provision of education, health care and community services. Christians are also responsible citizens and have exercised their fundamental rights and responsibilities in politics, civil society and professional bodies. One clear religious call is to pray for the nation, the King and national leaders Irrational way of thinking There is no need to try and respond to the various issues pertaining to the conspiracy and a master plan to turn Malaysia into a Christian state as claimed by Iskandar Dzulkarnain, other than saying that this is build on an irrational way of thinking and reasoning. READ MORE HERE

Umno’s chief crony Posted: 27 Oct 2012 03:35 PM PDT This wealthy Malay became a billionaire because he worked hard to become a super-crony of Mahathir and Muhyiddin.  Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz, FMT Umno is finding itself increasingly isolated despite having three million members. But then the Malay population in country is far more than Umno's three million members. In 2008, the Malay population was 5.7 million. Umno's candidates only garnered two million Malay votes. This means than one million of Umno's own members did not support the party because they realised that the policies touted by Umno were destroying the country. Umno only managed to gather 35% of the Malay votes. In 2008 total voter turnout was 10.9 million. Malays formed 52% of the voters. In the 13th general election, the voter turnout is expected to be 11.58 million. Malay voter turnout is expected to increase to 55% or 6.37 millions. Umno is expected to garner only 2.4 million votes this time round. This time the party, whose president Najib Tun Razak, accursed its people, will have to seek the support of the Bangladeshi, Nepalese, Vietnamese, Myanmarees and the Indonesians to win. This fact is a clear act of treason. The right to vote belongs exclusively to Malaysian citizens. Isn't it curse when immigrants are given citizenships? Why has this happened to Umno which has long since been slogeneering about Malay struggle? The answer is because the Malays have realised that since 1988, Umno's struggle has been for totalitarian power. Umno's chief crony This totalitarian power enabled Umno leaders and their cronies to plunder the country's wealth. Don't believe me? The chief Umno crony, Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary – a good friend of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin – today owns and controls a litany of companies including MMC, DRB Hicom, Proton, Malakoff,  Johor Port,  Senai Airport, Port of Tanjong Pelepas, Bank Muamalat, Padiberas Nasional, CSR Sugar, Gardenia, MPH Bookstores and  Penang Port READ MORE HERE

NMC’s resolution a shameful admittance of Malay failure Posted: 27 Oct 2012 03:19 PM PDT Daniel John Jambun The resolution by the National Malay Congress (NMC) held on November 24 in Kuala Lumpur that government projects below RM100 million be given to Malay contractors under direct negotiation and that GLCs adopt a a more aggressive Malay Agenda is a dark and shameful spot in the history of Malaysia. It is unbelievable that after the billions of ringgits wasted by the government to spoonfeed the Malays under the NEP and other affirmative programs, the former Prime Minister, Tun Mahathir, admits the Malays had not had enough, and that Malays are supposed to be now beggars in their own land! It is no secret that Mahasthir was making another thinly-veiled swipe against ther Malaysian Chinese for being economically successful in Malaysia. But he seems to have forgotten that this Chinese success is actually the root of the Malaysia's econnomic success. The Chinese are not the culprits, but the hero of Malaysia economics. It is the so-called Malays businessmen, political cronies and leaders like Mahathir who are the culprits. They awarded projects to themselves, gave the Malays all sorts of privileges and the Malays still failed, or as Mahathir in his senility says, had become beggars in their own land. How is this possible? Let me quote one Bryant (of India) who wrote an open letter to Mahathir online: "As you are aware, the Malays control the rights to all the lands and natural resources in this country. They control all government institutions, GLC and state-owned companies. The Malays also dominate the lawmaking process in Malaysia including the decision-making processes in the formulation of the country's economy policies." "From statistics we also know now that the Malays not only own the largest national assets but are also freely – and without conditions – allocated shares in public-listed companies. The Malays have also been accorded all kind of priorities when it comes to buying properties, awarding of public contracts, tertiary education opportunities including the granting of scholarships and even securing jobs in any of the government departments and agencies." "Yet with all these privileges and rights enjoyed by the Malays, you still complain that not enough is done to help the Malays to catch up with the other ethnic groups, principally the Chinese? Then what else should Malaysia do to satisfy the Malays? Did the Chinese seize or rob anything away from the Malays or were their accomplishments the result of their hard work?" The fact is the Chinese never did take anything away from the Malays; it is the Malays who have taken things away from the other racial groups. The Chinese is a race without any privilege or rights, and still they progressed! Some decades ago the government made it compulsory for students to pass the Bahasa Malaysia in order to pass the SPM, with the expectation that this would pose a major challenge to the Chinese students. But to the chagrin of the Malay educationists, the Chinese scored better in BM compared to their Malay schoolmates! Mahathir himself is fully aware of the weakness of the Malays as he had elaborated in The Malay Dilemma, so now he is proposing that this weakness be overcome by spoon-feeding the Malays even more. He is ignoring the fact that whatever monetary gifts and privileges he gives to the Malays actually comes from the sweat of the Chinese who keep the trade and commerce in Malaysia alive and vibrant. It is the Malays who are doing al the wastage with the spoon-feeding, and most of what they get goes down the economic drain. A good example is the fate of the Penang Malays who according to Ibrahim Ali had been sidelined by the Chinese in development. The reality is, according to an online writer quoted by Judith A. Nagata in "Heritage as History: Plural Narrative of the Penang Malays": the "…Malays have done little to help themselves. Since the implementation of Malay preferential quotas and opportunities in the original New Economic Policy… many Malay have… grown too accustomed to their privileges, and have consequently made less efforts to achieve what others have strived for. Quoting the Minister of Trade and Industry in Mahathir's cabinet in the 1980s, Rafidah Aziz, [who admitted] that'Malays can achieve but can't sustain it': ('Melayu mampu daya maju tetapi tak mampu dayan tahan'), the writer goes on to deplore how lands and preferential stocks and shares (amanah saham) designated for Malays in the stock exchange, have routinely been sold off for short-term cash… the Malays [should blame themselves], not outsiders, for their lack of competitive success today." Mahathir also need to remind himself that the national revenue mostly come from the Chinese who, according to the MCA, pay 83 percent of the nation's income tax. Take away the Chinese businesses and the nation will stumble overnight. The real cruelty and tyranny of the resolutions of the NMC is that, by seeking to give even higher preferential treatments for the Malays through a more concerted Malay Agenda, it is actually grossly unconstitutional, for the simple reason that Article 153 of the Federal Constitution grants the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia) responsibility for "safeguard[ing] the special position of the 'Malays' and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak…" It's deplorable that former leaders like Mahathir have the gall to talk only about Malay interests when the country doesn't belong to the Malays only. This is another proof that the ultra-Malay nationalists have no feeling whatsoever for the interests of the other racial groups in Malaysia , and least of all the people of the Borneo States, without whom there would have been no Malaysia . The Malay nationalists keeps talking of races in Malaysia as being limited to the Malays, Chinese and Indians, forgetting that in Sabah and Sarawak there dozens of other Malaysians races needing attention. Mahathir too, needs to appreciate that the people of the Borneo States are contributing a tremendous lot to the federal coffer, mainly through its oil revenue, and much of these Borneo resources actually goes into the pockets of Malay Umno cronies. As such, to forget and sideline the natives of the Borneo States is an act of ingratitude and plain arrogance. This is exactly why the State Reform Party is fighting for the Borneo Agenda, for preservation and restoration of the rights and autonomy of the Borneo States. We can't depend on the leaders in Kuala Lumpur to give us what had been promised to use from the very beginning because they will always fall back to the Malay Agenda. It is so ironic that the NMC had resolved to make a stand against corruption, cronyism and abuse of power and when in fact their call for greater privilege for the Malay is actually to support corruption, cronyism and abuse of power! What else do direct negotiation of project award, promotion of the Malay Agenda among GLCs, and more preferential treatments for the Malays mean, if not corruption, cronyism an abuse of power? How far can direct award of projects to some selected Malay contractors actually help the Malays. This had been done a lot in the past, but the benefits had not gone down to the Malay grassroots. In fact now, there is rebellion among low and middle Malays because of their hatred for Umno which has been widely known to have failed to help the common Malay, but instead had only enriched and made billionaires among Umno cronies through corruption and abuses of power. What the Malays really need is not anymore spoonfeeding but empowerment through socio-economic developments and rigorious mental revolution to make them succeed and be able to sustain and increase their wealth. What the NMC wants is only to increase privileges for the selected few, a step which will make the Malay proletariat hate the ruling elites even more, and join the opposition, including DAP, a Chinese party, to express their rebellion against the corrupt Umno leaders.

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. READ MORE HERE

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.

Twenty-five years later, camaraderie in adversity Posted: 26 Oct 2012 06:52 PM PDT A quarter of a century later, as we look back at Dr Mahathir's mass detention camp of 1987 while on the cusp a possible change of government, there is a sense of poetic justice that Operation Lalang "united" Barisan Nasional's opponents and gave them a steely resolve to oppose like never before. Liew Chin Tong, The Malaysian Insider The collective adversity suffered by the DAP, PAS and civil society leaders in 1987 ironically built the steely resolve for change and the deep camaraderie to see it through. This day 25 years ago, October 27, 1987, was one of the darkest days in Malaysian history when 106 politicians and social activists were arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in Operation Lalang. Printing permits for three newspapers, namely The Star, Sinchew and Watan, were withdrawn.  The security crackdown that shocked the nation and marked the end of the boisterous, often mistaken as democratic, first phase of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's leadership that began in 1981. Dr Mahathir succeeded Tun Hussein Oon with a weak base in Umno and virtually no one to trust. By pitting Musa Hitam against Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in Umno's deputy presidential elections of 1981 and 1984, Dr Mahathir bought himself time and space. But the chickens came home to roost by 1987 when Tengku Razaleigh teamed up with Musa to challenge the Dr Mahathir-Ghafar Baba ticket.  The election on April 24 saw Tengku Razaleigh losing to Dr Mahathir by a mere 43 votes, allegedly after a suspicious blackout at the vote-counting centre.  Umno continued to flounder after the party polls with Dr Mahathir's legitimacy seriously dented. The purging of Team B supporters such as Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Rais Yatim, Shahrir Samad and Radzi Sheikh Ahmad from the Cabinet and government further de-stabilised the situation. While Dr Mahathir's base was weak his style was anything but consultative. Further, the various ideas that he bulldozed were more often than not half-baked, resulting in multiple and major financial scandals in just a few years of his rule. Civil society activism emerged from the more discerning and critical urban populace. The Islamic revival movement was birthed as the rallying point for those who frowned upon Umno-style get-rich-quick materialism. Further, Dr Mahathir not only pitted Umno leaders against each other, he was manipulating ethnic sentiments against each other. In October 1987, the Chinese educationist cause mobilised against a policy of placing teachers who had no proficiency in Mandarin to head Chinese schools. Umno Youth was counter-mobilised to whip up Malay sentiment. Between the April Umno election and October, the Mahathir government drifted purposelessly while his party opponents started a permanent campaign to remove Dr Mahathir in the next party election due in three years' time. The rift was felt. Mercury rose. On October 18, one Private Adam ran amok in Chow Kit with an M16 rifle as Umno Youth was mobilising for a November 1 show of force. Dr Mahathir seized the timely excuse. On October 27, Ops Lalang was launched to arrest his fiercest external critics including the then Leader of the Opposition Lim Kit Siang and 16 DAP elected reps. Not only Dr Mahathir did paralyse the opposition, he terrified the nation and, more importantly, his Umno opponents. READ MORE HERE

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. READ MORE HERE

Are we who we are? Posted: 26 Oct 2012 06:27 PM PDT In Chinese philosophy, the concept of Yin-Yang is about how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in relation to each other. Many natural dualities such as dark and light, male and female, low and high, cold and hot, water and fire, earth and air, etc., are considered manifestations of Yin and Yang. NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin Are we who we are? Or are we who we are not? For example, we are not black. Hence since we are not black then we must be the opposite of black, which means white. That is, of course, if we look at the world in merely two shades -- black and white, good and bad, big and small, rich and poor, sick and healthy, etc. But is this not how we always look at the world, in two shades? Either you are with me or you are against me. You must be one or the other. You cannot be not with me plus not against me. And this is how most people look at things. Either you are Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat. They cannot imagine that there exists an in-between world that is neither left nor right. So, who are you? Are you who you are? Or are you who you are not? And have we even pondered on this question or have we accepted who we are based on what society has moulded us into believing who we are? We exist because something else exists. In the absence of that something else we would cease to exist. Hence we are not who or what we think we are. What we are is always in relation to something else that is not what we are. I know this sounds very confusing so I will need to quote a few examples to help you understand this concept. In an earlier article I used the example of the moon. The moon, or rather the full moon, exists only because the sun exists. If the sun did not exist then the (full) moon would not exist as well. And we measure time according to the sun and/or the moon. Malays call month bulan, which is also the word for moon. Some communities measure time according to how many moons have passed. Hence, if the sun did not exist, and therefore the moon also did not exist, would time exist? Time exists only because the sun exists. In the absence of the sun -- and say the world is dark all year around -- time would not exist. A King exists because there are subjects. If there were no subjects and he-who-would-be-king was alone in this world, there would be no kings. He would merely be one man alone in this world. Hence the existence of kings is contingent upon the existence of subjects. Religionists say that without God humankind would not exist. If you believe in God then this argument would form the fundamentals of your belief system. But is it not true also the other way around? If humankind did not exist would there be a God? God may still exist in its 'physical' form, for want of a better word, but God will never exist in its conceptual form. Humankind needs a concept of God. So, without humankind, the concept of God would not exist. God needs creations to become a God -- just like kings need subjects to become a king. Without creations, God cannot become God. So, is that the true secret of our creation -- so that God can become God? I am not sure whether you can grasp this concept, which is really not that complex. Does goodness exist? Goodness exists only because evil exists. Without evil goodness cannot exist. Hence does goodness really exist or is this merely a perception in our mind? Say there are no murders, rapes, robberies, diseases, deaths, etc., in this world. Everything is very perfect just like we were living in Paradise. Everything is good. There is no bad. So, since bad or evil does not exist, good cannot exist as well. Things will just be, that's all. It will never be good or be bad. It will just be because there is no concept of good and bad or evil. The existence of one is subject to the existence of the other. Hence what we are is basically the opposite of what we are not. So, back to my original question, are we who we are or are we who we are not? We are alive because we are not dead. Life is the opposite of death and since both exist then the concept of life and death also exist. So, are we who we are (meaning alive)? Or are we who we are not (meaning not dead)? If no one died then there would be no concept of death. And since there is no concept of death then there would be no concept of life as well. We just are, that is all. We are not alive, because we cannot be dead. So, we claim we are alive. That is who we say we are. But that is who we think we are only because there is an opposite of life. In the absence of death we will not be alive. We will just be. In that case we cannot claim that to be what we are. Humankind thinks alongside concepts. And based on this very narrow understanding of concepts we get to know ourselves. But we think we know ourselves only because of the way we think. However, once we change the way we think, we start to realise that we do not really know ourselves. We thought it was very simple and that life is very clear. We measure things and perceive things according to the accepted laws of nature. Maybe the Chinese have the best concept to describe this --Yin and Yang, as the Chinese would say. In Chinese philosophy, the concept of Yin-Yang is about how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in relation to each other. Many natural dualities such as dark and light, male and female, low and high, cold and hot, water and fire, earth and air, etc., are considered manifestations of Yin and Yang. There may be something, after all, in 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation that the world is yet to understand. Yin and Yang need to exist together. Without one the other would not exist. Hence, we need death for life to exist. So, are we really alive or just not dead? Yes, are we who we are? Or are we who we are not? Just my Saturday evening article to get your brain cells to work a bit. No politics or religion, just some Chinese philosophy for your weekend reading.

Jolie, Ashley & Gang for Adoption Posted: 26 Oct 2012 05:07 PM PDT Go to the SPCA Selangor website here

What constitutes a Manifesto? Posted: 26 Oct 2012 03:05 PM PDT Mohd Hisham Abdul Rafar, Bernama Manifestos are part and parcel of any general election. They also play a vital role in determining the success or defeat of an electoral candidate or a political party. The word 'manifesto' is being bandied about increasingly in the media and in conversations among the people in the run-up to the 13th General Election, particularly with regard to promises made by political parties prior to the last general election and as to whether they have been delivered or not. So, what is a manifesto, actually? The Oxford Dictionary defines it as "a public declaration of policy and aims, especially one issued before an election by a political party or candidate". Che Hamdan Che Mohd Razali, political science lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Dungun, Terengganu, is of the opinion that a good manifesto is one that can inspire the desire among voters to choose a political party or candidate to represent them. "Of course, the candidate plays an important role but the voters also want to know what is the manifesto or declaration being offered by the party," he told Bernama. And to what extent do all voters remember the declarations or promises made prior to a general election? In a 2009 study of a group of people aged between 21 and 40, it was found that most respondents had forgotten what was offered to them during the 2008 general election campaign, said Che Hamdan. "At that time (the general election campaign), voters were excited by what was offered in the manifestos of political parties. But after some time, they forgot the points and only recalled them after certain related issues were raised nearer the general election date," he said. Speaking of the next general election, Che Hamdan, who is also a political analyst, said that apart from the contesting candidates, the offer of an attractive manifesto would be among the deciding factors to determine the success or defeat of a party. "Informing people of what has been implemented is actually very effective. They'll then know what has and has not been done. "I feel that the Barisan Nasional (BN) should increase the dissemination of information on what it has implemented," he said referring to the "Jelajah Janji Ditepati" ('Promises Fulfilled' Tour) which provided a platform for people to obtain the latest update on the government's efforts to help them. Lecturer Prof Dr Ahmad Atory Hussein of the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Social Science Studies Centre, said a manifesto means a declaration or promise which must be presented at any general election. "Based on political science, there are several elements in a general election, such as campaigns and manifestos. And a manifesto is the main element in any general election," he said. The manifesto has a very strong influence in determining the continuity of a party or individual, he added. A manifesto which fulfills the needs of the people in a particular locality would generally influence the voting pattern,' he said. "For example, at the 2008 general election, the opposition had a manifesto which attracted the attention of the people and this allowed them to win in several states," he said. However, many of their promises remain unfulfilled, to the point that people were willing to take them to court, he said. The Parti Keadilan Rakyat-led Selangor government was now facing several legal suits brought by consumers over the water subsidy which was promised in the party's 12th general election manifesto, he said. Ahmad Atory said voters would also evaluate the ability of a representative to deliver on promises, through the manifesto.

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. READ MORE HERE

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. Cooking oil packing contract Giving a background to the cooking oil packing contract, the businessman said the federal government had recently agreed to award the contract to Indian entrepreneurs as a way to give them room to be successful in business. 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. READ MORE HERE

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