Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Musa Hassan tells Robert Phang: apologize, or I’ll sue you
- ‘Black knight’ Musa vs ‘White knight’ Ramli
- Musa reveals more, implicates businessman
- Act fast against ‘Little Napoleons’, DAPSY tells PAS
- The Star just as racial as Utusan, says DAP MP
- Ezam urges Karpal to retract sodomy statements
- MB slammed by Pakatan MPs over 'non-handling' of altar issue
- It’s all in the family for DAP’s top rung
- Atheists around world reported suffer persecution, discrimination
- Non-Muslims should be allowed to be indecent, says minister
- Ex-IGP’s influence was bad news for Umno
- Musa: Good, honest men victimised
- James Arthur wins X Factor final
- EC officers have democratic right to join political parties, says chief
- Indian community will be rewarded for being a ‘fixed deposit’
- 'Khalwat' issue: Case could be tip of the iceberg
- TI-M president: Malaysians have no conviction to fight corruption
- Pas berated by Guan Eng
- ‘Pakatan will shut down Lynas’
- ‘Do not belittle intelligence of Indians’
- Kit Siang: ‘Need to win 70% of new voters’
- Ku Li warns of ‘prostitution’ among professionals
- Non-muslims nabbed for 'khalwat' in Kelantan
- Kelantan slammed over ‘khalwat’ for non-Muslims
- 200 stage protest over altar demolition
- Ex-top cop questions Musa’s credibility
- We'll take you on, Selangor PAS Youth warns UMNO 'thugs'
- ‘AG Chambers aiding human traffickers’
- Mahathir to Campaign for Najib in Shift From 2008 Malaysia Vote
- Selangor Sultan: I am above politics, let’s be clear about this
- Pakatan signals power as campaign fodder, says to cut IPP payments
- Musa: I was upset by Sin Chew reporter’s detention
- ‘PM, Home Minister ignored my complaints’
- Star will work with ‘any’ coalition that wins
- Former IGP: Political violence should not occur in a democracy
- Sepang shrine wrecking: Xavier cries ‘sabotage’
- Blogger to reveal more PKR ‘dirt’ in January
- No conspiracy against Anwar, says Musa again
| Musa Hassan tells Robert Phang: apologize, or I’ll sue you Posted: 10 Dec 2012 02:49 AM PST
(Malaysian Digest) - Malaysian Crime Watch Group (MyWatch) today demanded an apology from Tan Sri Robert Phang for alleging that the NGO was linked to criminal syndicates. MyWatch patron, Tan Sri Musa Hassan has given Phang three days to do so before legal action is taken against him.
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| ‘Black knight’ Musa vs ‘White knight’ Ramli Posted: 10 Dec 2012 02:33 AM PST The former IGP took a swipe at his critics for portraying him as the bad cop out to destroy the PDRM. Teoh El Sen, FMT Former Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan today lashed out at his critics, especially his former colleagues Ramli Yusuff and Mat Zain Ibrahim, suggesting that they have strong backing from powerful figures. "I think this Ramli, he has strong influence with IGP [Ismail Omar] and the police," he told a press conference here. "From the outside, it seems like he's the white knight, saviour of PDRM [Royal Malaysian Police]… while I'm the black knight who is destroying PDRM… the picture has been painted as such," he said when asked about Ramli's unending crusade against him. Musa, the patron of the new anti-crime NGO MyWatch, said that he suspects that Ramli has the backing of certain powerful figures that he did not name. "I just want to know who is behind him… who has given him this platform to attack me," he said. Musa maintained that he had no links with underworld figures, a claim that Ramli, retired Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID) director, has repeated, and instead asked the latter himself to answer to the public. "He should answer to the public… how he owns so much riches and wealth when he was still in service. Even I don't have so much…" Musa said despite the courts clearing Ramli of failing to declare some RM27 million worth of assets, for him, it was still an unresolved question. How could a police officer only holding the post of CCID director amass such money? he asked. Asked if he was implying Ramli was linked to "undesirable individuals", Musa said: "It is hard for me to answer. Because those who have wealth of that nature will have some links somewhere." He also denied former KL CID chief Mat Zain's claim that he (Musa) had fabricated evidence, relating to three reports on the injuries Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim received while in police custody in 1998. Mat Zain had said: "I state, yet again, that I am willing to declare under oath in any judicial proceeding or before any judge that there was indeed an agreement between [Attorney-General Abdul] Gani [Pattail] and Musa to use Dr Abdul Rahman [Yusof] to fabricate the three so-called special reports on the injuries Anwar received while in police custody in 1998." Musa said he has no knowledge about any such reports, declaring that he has no power to order any doctor to do anything. "He [Mat Zain] is the one who investigated the case. He should have the reports," he said. He said Mat Zain, along with Ramli, was trying to discredit him. "They are plainly trying to stop me from speaking out. These people are back in operation. They have to say something. They know I can't stand this kind of things, so this is a preemptive strike by them," Musa said. "Let me ask them now: who are the real kingpins? Why have there been no actions [taken]?"
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| Musa reveals more, implicates businessman Posted: 09 Dec 2012 05:46 PM PST The ex-IGP claims that former MACC advisor Robert Phang was involved in a communication devices deal for the police which did not meet specifications. Teoh El Sen, FMT Several senior policemen were transferred out of the Bukit Aman Logistics Department (Communications Division) and put in "cold storage" for refusing to approve a technically unsound project involving walkie talkies worth almost RM1 billion. It is learnt that the project was mooted towards the end of 2008 and involved the replacement of more than 30,000 new walkie-talkies for beat policemen, stations and vehicles nationwide, including Sabah and Sarawak. However, problems arose a year or two after the project, which was a direct negotiation contract, took off as the implementation of the devices were allegedly not according to specifications. One of the problems was the apparent lack of coverage or "black spots" in certain areas around the country such as in certain buildings, and in one case very little coverage along the East-West highway despite being promised otherwise. The other issues, which "deviated from the agreed specificaitons", include a recording system which sometimes records when nobody speaks and vice versa; and also incidents where the walkie talkie transmits by itself. However, despite the flaws, sources said that those within the Home Ministry and top ranking policemen were constantly pressuring a team of technical experts to sign the acceptance of the equipment before the issues were smoothed out. "[Former inspector-general of police] Musa Hassan did not agree to a project that was not done properly but they used KDN [Home Ministry] to force the technical team to do whatever the company wanted. They were under tremendous pressure," said a source with direct knowledge of the deal. "By mid 2010, when the first phase was being put out in the Klang Valley, we already noticed that all these problems were surfacing, but they were swept under the carpet. "They realised that if they signed the project, we will go to jail. So better transfer," added the source. Investigate Ismail Speaking to FMT on this, Musa said when he was still IGP, he kept a close watch on the project to ensure that the equipment was what the police needed. However, he claimed, other parties' interests crept in after he left. Musa said that prominent businessman and former MACC advisor Robert Phang was a consultant for the project and acted as a go-between the police and the provider, a multinational telecommunications company. "Because he was close with the police. So at that time, I believe that there were some government officers in the ministry who was involved in the company. "Since it was approved by the government, I had to carry it out. But I made sure that the technical team that overseeing the project does not compromise to ensure that it is up to specifications and to ensure that this communication can be used throughout Malaysia without any hiccups. "So after I left… I was not quite happy because it was still not up to specifications. I was informed that it would not work well and that is why the technical team refused to sign the commission so that money can be paid," he told FMT. However, Musa alleged that even Phang threatened the team. "The team received a call from him saying that if you don't sign it, you will be transferred out." True enough, he added, at least three officers ranked DSP, Supt and SAC were then given letters of transfers out of the department. "So the team refused to sign, and they were called by the IGP. The present IGP [Ismail Omar] asked them to commission it… because they need the government to pay the money… I don't know how many million. So they got transferred and now it actually went through. "Officers who have the capability and technical expertise in communication are being put in cold storage by this businessman. That's how good his connections are. He is very close to the IGP now… very friendly with the home minister," said Musa. Musa said that he wanted the authorities to investigate Ismail for possibly abusing his powers and Phang for allegedly abetting the former.
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| Act fast against ‘Little Napoleons’, DAPSY tells PAS Posted: 09 Dec 2012 05:40 PM PST
Ida Lim, The Malaysian Insider Kelantan's strict law enforcement on non-Muslims are worrying Pakatan Rakyat (PR) fans, the DAP's Anthony Loke said today and urged his Islamist Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partner to probe the delicate issue swiftly before support slides ahead of elections. The MCA is using the PAS-led state government's alleged crackdown on misbehaving non-Muslims as election fodder against the federal opposition pact, the DAP Socialist Youth's (DAPSY) outgoing chief. "Those are the issues that rightly or wrongly will affect confidence of non-Muslims towards Pakatan Rakyat, in particular towards PAS," Loke, the outgoing chief for the DAP told a news cconference today. "It will be fully utilised by MCA to attack the DAP and Pakatan Rakyat so their agenda is to frighten off non-Muslims to rethink their support for Pakatan Rakyat." "We sincerely hope and call upon PAS leadership to give serious attention to these issues and must be dealt with immediately." When asked whether these issues will erode voters' confidence, he stressed that action should be taken immediately. "There are some serious concerns. I wouldn't say it eroded the support but I would think there are serious repercussions if those issues are not dealt with. He said the party's top leadership have assured that Islamic rules do not apply to non-Muslims, but did not discount the possibility of sabotage in the Kelantan local councils. "But I think at the implementation level, the local government level, we cannot rule out that there may be some sabotage happening within local council... Do not let all these little Napoleons derail our agenda." Yesterday, The Star reported that Kelantan enforcement officers had fined two non Muslim couples for khalwat, a crime under syariah law, but PAS had quickly pointed out the summonses were for indecent behaviour. Recently, non-Muslim hairdressers in Kelantan were reported to have also been slapped with fines for having customers of the opposite gender, breaching a local council by-law that bars women hairstylists from working on men and vice-versa — sparking a storm over the position of Islamic laws. But Loke today said that some of these issues could be solved "amicably". "For example, the hair salon issue, we have conveyed to PAS our suggestion that they have to review by-laws, there should not be segregation in hair salons." He said that DAP has suggested to PAS that special sections be set up in hair salons for Muslim women, which were done in some salons in Seremban. The Rasah MP said this would create a win-win situation, where both hair salon owners and the sensitivities of Muslims women will be taken care of. Loke said these issues have been used to distract voters from "real issues" such as corruption, environmental issues like the Lynas rare-earth plant, and good governance. As the 13th general election draws near, the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition has increasingly tried to scare non-Muslim voters from voting for PR by saying that PAS would implement the Islamic penal code, hudud, and create an Islamic state. Malaysia practises a dual-track court system but Syariah laws can only be enforced on Muslims; non-Muslims are exempt.
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| The Star just as racial as Utusan, says DAP MP Posted: 09 Dec 2012 05:36 PM PST
(The Malaysian Insider) - A DAP lawmaker accused MCA-owned daily The Star today of exploiting the strict enforcement of Islamic law on non-Muslims in PAS-led Kelantan to stoke racial sentiments in a bid to serve its political masters ahead of key national polls. Calling it a "shameful, immoral and devious act", Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong lashed out at the English-language daily for what he termed relentless and lop-sided coverage of the ongoing storm over the enforcement of Islamic law on non-Muslims in the state, after local council officers reportedly cracked down on non-Muslims for allegedly violating local by-laws regulating decency. "The Star is looking down at its readers, just like the racially-charged Utusan Malaysia, exploiting a situation where not many of its mostly non-Muslim readers could distinguish between hudud (Islamic criminal law), Islamic family laws, khalwat (close proximity) and municipal council's indecent behaviour rule," he said in a statement. The prominent coverage of the issue in The Star showed it was subservient to its partisan owner and was bent on conveying to its mostly non-Muslim readers that "PAS is as an extremist party" and aimed at scaring off non-Muslim support for Islamist PAS and the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact. "That is a well-known MCA's tactics and strategies to win election for its political master Datuk Seri Najib Razak," Liew said. The 35-year-old warned PR parties that the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) parties and the media they controlled were looking to exploit weaknesses within the pact, echoing his DAP colleague, Anthony Loke's warning yesterday that the MCA is using hudud as election fodder to scare off non-Muslim voters. He called on all PR state governments to "beware of Little Napoleons in our respective states and local governments attempting to plant the seed of doubt among the people to discredit Pakatan Rakyat as a credible national alternative". "It is now well known that the next election will very much be decided by whether non-Malay swing voters were prepared to vote for PAS and whether Malay-Muslim swing voters were prepared to support DAP in the context of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition," Liew said. The opposition lawmaker urged PR to work together and not lose sight of its national goal, which he said can only be won if the majority of four million middle ground voters continue to back the pact. "Let us return to Middle Malaysia," he added. The Star reported last week that Kelantan enforcement officers had fined two non-Muslim couples for khalwat, a crime under syariah law, but PAS had quickly pointed out the summonses were for indecent behaviour. Recently, non-Muslim hairdressers in Kelantan were reported to have also been slapped with fines for having customers of the opposite gender, breaching a local council by-law that bars women hairstylists from working on men and vice-versa — sparking a storm over the position of Islamic laws. In the run-up to the 13th general election, the BN coalition has increasingly tried to discourage non-Muslim voters from voting for PR by saying that PAS would implement the Islamic penal code, hudud, and create an Islamic state. While non-Muslims are exempt from Syariah laws, Malaysia's dual-track court system has resulted in overlapping gray areas that have impinged on their constitutional rights.
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| Ezam urges Karpal to retract sodomy statements Posted: 09 Dec 2012 04:05 PM PST
(NST) - DAP chairman Karpal Singh has been urged to retract his statements made in Parliament in 1997, in which he claimed to have proof that de facto opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had committed sodomy. Senator Ezam Mohd Nor said Karpal should apply to Parliament to have the statements struck from the Hansard if he was serious about appointing Anwar as a possible candidate for prime minister. "Karpal should know that the Malay Muslim community in Malaysia would never lift an alleged sodomite or sodomy addict to the post of prime minister," Ezam said in a statement yesterday. "He should take back his statements and apologise to the Muslim community." Anwar was acquitted of sodomy charges in January.
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| MB slammed by Pakatan MPs over 'non-handling' of altar issue Posted: 09 Dec 2012 03:56 PM PST
(NST) - Two Pakatan Rakyat MPs have hit out at the Selangor government over its handling of the demolition of a Hindu altar by the Sepang Municipal Council. The person facing the brunt of their anger was none other than Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, who was chided for his hands-off approach in handling the issue. Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo said it was unbecoming of Abdul Khalid to keep quiet despite the severity of the situation and wide condemnation from both sides of the political divide.
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| It’s all in the family for DAP’s top rung Posted: 09 Dec 2012 03:35 PM PST
(The Star) - It will be a family affair among some of the 68 candidates vying for the 20 central executive committee (CEC) seats at the 16th DAP National Congress in Penang next week. National chairman Karpal Singh is in the list, along with sons Gobind Singh Deo, the Puchong MP, and Jagdeep Singh Deo, the state assemblyman for Datuk Keramat. Party secretary-general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is in the race, together with his father, DAP adviser and Ipoh Timur MP Lim Kit Siang. Perak's top strongmen, state chief Ngeh Koo Ham and his cousin, Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming, are also in the contest. Ngeh is Beruas MP and Sitiawan assemblyman while Nga is Taiping MP and Pantai Remis assemblyman. If all of them win, they would make up close to a third of the DAP's national office bearers. Aside from that, the candidate line-up will see 69% of the contenders being either an MP or assemblyman, or both. Newly-appointed senator Ariffin SM Omar and Lt-Col Roseli Abdul Ghani, the latter tipped as DAP's choice for the Mentri Besar's post if Pakatan Rakyat takes over Negri Sembilan, are among the newcomers joining in the fray. All the incumbent office bearers, with the exception of Senawang assemblyman P. Gunasekaren who had spoken in support of the Internal Security Act, are contesting in the party elections which will be held together with the congress on Dec 15 and 16. Party organising secretary Teresa Kok, who is also the congress organising chairman, confirmed that Gun-asekaren was not contesting. Of the 103 initial nominees, 35 later pulled out, Kok said yesterday. "Aside from the 20 elected CEC members, 10 others will be appointed later to sit in the committee," she said. Besides Kok, who is the Seputeh MP, well-known names contesting the CEC seats include Bukit Mertajam MP Chong Eng, Tanjung MP Chow Kon Yeow, PJ Utara MP Tony Pua, Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, Kepong MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw, Rasah MP Anthony Loke, Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran and Penang Deputy Chief Minister Prof P. Ramasamy.
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| Atheists around world reported suffer persecution, discrimination Posted: 09 Dec 2012 03:24 PM PST
(Reuters) - Atheists and other religious sceptics suffer persecution or discrimination in many parts of the world and in at least seven nations can be executed if their beliefs become known, according to a report issued today. The study, from the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), showed that "unbelievers" in Islamic countries face the most severe — sometimes brutal — treatment at the hands of the state and adherents of the official religion. But it also points to policies in some European countries and the United States that favour the religious and their organisations, and treat atheists and humanists as outsiders. The report, "Freedom of Thought 2012", said "there are laws that deny atheists' right to exist, curtail their freedom of belief and expression, revoke their right to citizenship, restrict their right to marry". Other laws "obstruct their access to public education, prohibit them from holding public office, prevent them from working for the state, criminalise their criticism of religion, and execute them for leaving the religion of their parents". The report was welcomed by Heiner Bielefeldt, United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, who said in a brief introduction there was little awareness that atheists were covered by global human rights agreements. The IHEU — that links over 120 humanist, atheist and secular organisations in more than 40 countries — said it was issuing the report to mark the UN's Human Rights Day today. According to its survey of some 60 countries, the seven where expression of atheist views or defection from the official religion can bring capital punishment are Afghanistan, Iran, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Sudan. The 70-page report lists no recent cases of actual execution for "atheism" — but researchers say the offence is often subsumed into other charges. In a range of other countries — such as Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Kuwait and Jordan — publication of atheist or humanist views on religion are totally banned or strictly limited under laws prohibiting "blasphemy". In many of these countries, and others such as Malaysia, citizens have to register as adherents of a small number officially-recognised religions — which normally include no more than Christianity and Judaism as well as Islam. Atheists and humanists are thereby forced to lie to obtain their official documents without which it is impossible to go to university, receive medical treatment, travel abroad or drive. In Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin and North America, countries that identified themselves as secular gave privileges to or favoured Christian churches in providing education and other public services, the IHEU said. In Greece and Russia, the Orthodox Church is fiercely protected from criticism and is given pride of place on state occasions, while in Britain bishops of the Church of England have automatic seats in the upper house of parliament. While freedom of religion and speech was protected in the United States, the report said, a social and political climate prevailed "in that atheists and the non-religious are made to feel like lesser Americans, or non-Americans". In at least seven US states, constitutional provisions were in place that barred atheists from public office, and one state, Arkansas, had a law that barred an atheist from testifying as a witness at a trial, the report said.
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| Non-Muslims should be allowed to be indecent, says minister Posted: 09 Dec 2012 02:47 PM PST
(The Star) - Foreign tourists to Malaysia are worried over the recent action taken against non-Muslims for alleged indecent behaviour in Kelantan. Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said tourists, especially those from China and Taiwan, had voiced their concern to the ministry over the matter. "Such policy of issuing summonses on 'khalwat' should not be implemented on non-Muslims." "Furthermore, what did they do wrong as they were together at the plane spotting area near Sultan Ismail Petra Airport, which is an open public area," Dr Ng said after taking part in the Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia (CC1M) Sunday bike ride event here yesterday. Dr Ng said as a Kelantanese, she used to gather with friends and families at the spotting area near the airport in Pengkalan Chepa previously and there was no action taken on them for doing so. She said the place was not a closed or covered area and it was by the roadside, where everybody could see what was going on at the spot. Two men on a plane-spotting outing near the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport and a teenage couple in Tengku Anis Park were issued with summonses in October and last month respectively. Dr Ng said the cases proved that the Islamic rules imposed by PAS were now affecting non-Muslims. Earlier, on the Sunday Ride in Raub programme, Dr Ng said cycling activities should be self-sustainable by individuals or organisations by now. She said the programmes had successfully achieved their targets of fostering relationship, economic activities generating, attracting tourists as well as promoting green and clean tourism. Dr Ng said more states, including Sarawak and Sabah, had adapted the programme as selling points in the tourism industry and was seeing good economic returns. She said other state tourism operators, too, had to play an active role in promoting the cycling programme further as it had the potential to be successful.
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| Ex-IGP’s influence was bad news for Umno Posted: 09 Dec 2012 02:34 PM PST The home minister had to interfere to stop the then IGP Musa Hassan from promoting and transferring his men who would continue working with criminal elements, claims Raja Petra. (FMT) - Former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan, before his retirement, had allegedly promoted and transferred the "right" police officers who will continue to work hand-in-hand with the triads, claimed popular blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin today. However, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein had interfered in this exercise, and this has caused a lot of problems for the Chinese underworld and crime syndicates. "And that is why Musa recently gave his interviews – alleging interference by the politicians in the running of the police force. It is true that the minister blocked Musa's every move," said Raja Petra in his latest blog posting in Malaysia Today. Raja Petra said that Hishammuddin had decided to act as he feared that a continuation of Musa's influence in the police force would have had a backlash on Umno in the coming general election. "They know that the voters are unhappy with the police force and that may cost Umno a lot of votes. "Hence if the minister does not rein in the police, then there is a danger that Umno could lose a sizeable number of votes," said Raja Petra. In recent weeks, Musa had claimed that during his tenure as the IGP from 2006 to 2010, there had been political interference and inflitration of criminal elements in the police force. He said that he had raised these issues through the "proper channels" to the prime minister and home minister, but to no effect. He had also lashed out at his successor Ismail Omar, claiming that he was a weak police chief. Musa's detractors, however, had responded by saying that it was Musa who had allowed the triads to take control of the police force, of his alleged corrupt practices, and of his underhand tactics to "fix people up", including his former boss Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID) chief Ramli Yusuff. Adding to the list of Musa's detractors, Raja Petra claimed that the former top cop has many grievances against the government, the present IGP Ismail and Hishammuddin. Musa's role in Bersih violence? Raja Petra said Musa's bitternes was due to the government's rejection of his request for a further extension as the police chief. "He then asked to be made the Malaysian High Commissioner to Brunei and that too was rejected. Instead, he was given just a teaching job, which, to him, is a great insult when other retired IGPs before him were given 'good' posts," he said. The blogger also claimed that many suspected Musa's role in the manner police acted violently against Bersih 3.0 rally-goers on April 28 this year.
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| Musa: Good, honest men victimised Posted: 09 Dec 2012 02:30 PM PST Ex-IGP speaks out against transfers, saying that crime syndicates are now operating freely with 'blessings from the top'. Teoh El Sen, FMT Good, honest, hardworking police officers are being transferred from their divisions for doing their work with integrity, claimed former Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan. Musa suggested that these moves are now allowing more and more criminal syndicates to operate freely with "blessings from somebody on top" and also involved politicians at the highest levels. Musa gave several examples of such transfers, and spoke out against the nationwide enbloc transfer of D7 officers in early 2011. "After I left, there was an enbloc transfer of D7 officers, right? Not everybody is bad in the D7, why must you change the whole team?" he asked. On rumours that the transfers were part of a exercise to facilitate syndicates changing hands, Musa said that was not the case, but said it was "because these officers are taking action, because they know a lot of things." "…. they were afraid that they couldn't direct these people from D7," he said, without explaining who "they" were. Musa admitted that many of these people given transfers were those he had promoted at one point, but denied that they were part of his 'camp'. "I promoted people because of their capabilities and have done a good job…they were transferred out and not given any ranks. "[During the D7 redeployment], the whole country, all the IPK contingents headquarters, some were transferred to the field force." "See… they were all good officers, when they were under me they arrested quite a number from the syndicates, but now there are no arrests anymore. Musa said D7 is the division tasked with cracking down on vice, gambling, loansharks, prostitution and also to investigate syndicated crime. "So they have all the intelligence about them, especially the bosses. These are the ones [D7 officers] who actually go after the [crime syndicate] top [guns]. 'Politicians involved in transfers' When you say "they" you are referring to? So are you then saying the current IGP is openly allowing syndicates to operate?
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| James Arthur wins X Factor final Posted: 09 Dec 2012 02:11 PM PST
(BBC) - James Arthur has won the X Factor final, beating Jahmene Douglas to win a recording contract. Arthur, 24, said: "I don't believe it... I've just got to say thank you to the people who voted for me." He sang a rendition of Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On on Sunday's show, as well as his choice of winner's single, Shontelle's Impossible. Douglas, 21, said it was "a blessing to share the stage with such a talent" and advised him to "use it wisely". Arthur hails from Saltburn by the Sea on the north east coast of England, just south of Redcar. He has been gigging in his local area for the last few years. He writes his own songs, raps and plays guitar. Arthur only auditioned for this year's show at the last minute after his friend told him he had nothing to lose. Judge Nicole Scherzinger, who mentored both Arthur and Douglas, described Arthur as "a fighter". "He wanted this, he willed this to happen. He deserves this so much. "And Jahmene - I'm so proud of both my boys." Arthur's single can be downloaded from the internet and is available in shops from Wednesday, an X Factor spokesman said. All profits from sales of the single will go to the charity Together for Short Lives, which supports children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions. Arthur said in a statement after the show: "I am absolutely overwhelmed to have won The X Factor. I am lost for words. "I love the song and am so glad that proceeds of the single will be going to such a great cause."  Arthur only decided to audition at the last minute Earlier this week, Scherzinger told the BBC's Newsbeat website she plans to work with both her acts when they bring out their own music. The former Pussycat Doll said Douglas and Arthur had helped make this year's competition. "They've been a huge blessing," she told Newsbeat. "I think it brings so much more credibility and integrity to the show." It was the first time that a judge had mentored both acts to make it to the final, with fellow judge Louis Walsh telling Scherzinger: "You've been the best mentor ever on the X Factor. You've got two acts in the final and you've worked so hard." For the first time in the X Factor's nine-year history, the live finals were staged outside London. The two final shows - the first of which aired on Saturday night - were held at Manchester Central. Chris Maloney, mentored by Gary Barlow, bowed out at the end of Saturday's show. Famous faces in the audience on Sunday included Manchester United and Manchester City players following United's 3-2 victory over their neighbours in Sunday's derby match. United's Rio Ferdinand spoke briefly to host Dermot O'Leary after suffering a cut eye as he appeared to be struck by an object thrown during the celebrations at the end of the match. One Direction, Rihanna and Emeli Sande performed on Sunday night. The X-Factor has struggled in the ratings this year, often being beaten by its BBC One rival Strictly Come Dancing.
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| EC officers have democratic right to join political parties, says chief Posted: 09 Dec 2012 11:17 AM PST
(The Malaysian Insider) - Election Commission (EC) officers are within their democratic right to join political parties but they must not be partisan in carrying out their duties, says its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof. The EC chairman disclosed this when responding to accusations by PAS that a senior EC officer in Sabah was holding a key post in the Kinabatangan Umno Youth chapter. The EC's impartiality has been continuously questioned by the opposition and activists over the past years. "There is nothing wring for any EC officer to join political parties. It doesn't matter if they are in PAS, PKR or Umno."It is their democratic right," he told The Malaysian Insiderwhen contacted over the issue. But Abdul Aziz said that EC officials should not side with any parties or abuse their powers when carrying out their duties. He also stressed that the EC welcomed reports from Pakatan Rakyat (PR) if the commission officials abused their powers, saying the opposition parties should lodge complaints and provide proof of wrongdoing. "If there is proof to show the officer is in the wrong, please submit the proof. If possible, give the name, position and pictures. "We will investigate without favour no matter who the officer is," Abdul Aziz said. The former top civil servant agreed that EC officials who are in political parties should not mix their duties with political ideology, saying it went against the work ethics of those in government service. The EC chairman pointed out there were no regulations or laws that prevent government officials from joining political parties, except that those active in politics must apply for permission from the Public Service Department (PSD). Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/ec-officers-have-democratic-right-to-join-political-parties-says-chief/
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| Indian community will be rewarded for being a ‘fixed deposit’ Posted: 09 Dec 2012 11:07 AM PST
(The Star) - Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak admits that the Indian community, while being a long-time "fixed deposit" for the Barisan Nasional in the country's general elections, had not been given the "interest rates" due to them. "They had been our fixed deposit' all this while but we have not been paying high interest ... maybe our interest rates were not good enough," said the Prime Minister, who is also the Barisan chief. "However, in the last four years, the Barisan has been paying them higher interest rates," he said in his keynote address when opening the 66th MIC general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday. "It is the feeling of being sidelined among the Indians that led to a dip in their support for the Barisan at the last polls. "There were, among the community, those who wanted to see changes in the Barisan. They wanted it to be more attentive to the rights and aspiration of the Indians. "It is not to say they wanted the Opposition less or that they love the Opposition, but they wanted a Barisan government that cares for the Indians and all Malaysians," he added. Najib said the expenditure of RM540mil for Tamil primary schools since 2009 was an example of the Government's commitment towards the betterment of the community, adding the Government would consider upgrading the MIC-run Tafe College to university status. The Prime Minister was confident that the changes being made by the Barisan would be accepted by the Indians, based on the nambikei spirit and the trust they had put in the party to defend their future. Telling them to be cautious before casting their votes at the next general election, Najib said there could be chaos and uncertainties for the community and the nation if they voted for the Opposition. He also described the allegations by the Opposition that some 300,000 Indians in the country were stateless as a lie to dupe the community. "Based on records, only about 9,000 had so far come forward to apply for citizenship and related documents. "So far, 4,500 citizenship applications have been settled with 2,000 more in the process," he said, adding that 7,000 MyKad and birth certificates had been issued to the applicants.
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| 'Khalwat' issue: Case could be tip of the iceberg Posted: 09 Dec 2012 11:06 AM PST Indecent charge: The summons which the Kota Baru Municipal Council enforcement officers issued to non-Muslims recently. (The Star) - PETALING JAYA: The case of the four non-Muslims who were hauled up for "khalwat" in Kota Baru, Kelantan, could just be the tip of an iceberg, says PAS Supporters Congress head Hu Pang Chaw. "There could be more of such cases in which the rights of non-Muslims have been violated, but not revealed," he said. "The couples involved were non-Muslims. And, the enforcement officers were subjective in issuing the summonses from an Islamic stand. This is not fair," he was quoted as saying by China Press. Citing an example on the overzealous enforcement, Hu, a former councillor, said a billboard advertisement by an electrical appliance shop was taken down for containing "indecent images". "It was a picture of a woman covering a man's eyes from behind," he said. "No action was taken against the shop but the billboard was taken down anyway." Throughout the 22 years of PAS rule in Kelantan, Hu said the Islamic policies implemented by the party had affected and inconvenienced non-Muslims. He pointed out that Chinese support for PAS would be affected if the state government failed to resolve such issues. "As party supporters, we are only giving opinions as we know better what the non-Muslims want," he said. Asked on Friday about certain PAS leaders' overzealousness in implementing Islamic policies, Hu said he was disheartened by their actions. "Some have overstepped what's allowed in terms of religion to defend the party struggle. They have not been looking into what the non-Muslims want," he added. Sin Chew Daily quoted a relative saying that there were several cars parked in the area where the two men were issued with the summonses. There were other families and couples there. He said the duo denied any wrongdoing and they would not pay the fine. Meanwhile, Kelantan Chinese Assembly Hall president Oie Poh Choon has called on the Kota Baru Municipal Council to show evidence that the two men caught in a car near the airport were acting indecently. "Even if they were, an advice would have been sufficient," Oei said. "But if the council wants to fine them, they had better produce evidence." He also urged the council to monitor its "problematic" enforcement officers. Kelantan Gerakan Vice-Youth chief Ong Khang Woon concurred, saying that evidence was crucial and the two could ignore the fine. "While the law is all black and white, the problem lies with such enforcement officers," he said.
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| TI-M president: Malaysians have no conviction to fight corruption Posted: 09 Dec 2012 10:53 AM PST
(The Star) - Malaysians rather pay their way out of trouble despite knowing corruption is wrong. Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) president Datuk Paul Low said Malaysians were aware of corruption but had no conviction to fight it. "I believe as much as they are aware (of corruption), when faced with a situation, they will probably pay their way out of trouble because to a certain extent, corruption has become a way of life," he said after launching a walk against corruption at Taman Tasik Perdana yesterday. In citing a 2010 Global Corruption Barometer survey conducted by TI-M, Low said that it found one in 10 Malaysians had paid a bribe. However, he believed the actual number could be higher at two or three to 10. He said another survey conducted with businessmen found one out of two have lost contracts or sales due to non-payment of bribes. "We are afraid if nothing is done to tackle corruption, it can be endemic and institutionalised," he said. He said Malaysians should change their attitude by being firm and say no when someone solicited bribes. He said all stakeholders had to fight against corruption and uphold integrity, with society playing the role of a watchdog. "We don't pay, we don't bribe. If someone ask for a bribe or extort from us, we have to inform the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission)," he said. He paid tribute to the Government's seriousness in tackling graft, saying that Malaysia was likely the only country in the world to use the transparency index as part of its Key Performance Index (KPI). He said the Government had also passed the Whistleblowing Protection Act, uploaded names of those charged with corruption on MACC's website and set up a whistleblowing hotline. "Additionally, 14 courts to handle corruption cases are being established as well as getting companies to sign the Corporate Integrity Pledge to uphold anti-corruption principles. "It shows we are prepared to tackle corruption head-on," he said.
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| Posted: 08 Dec 2012 03:46 PM PST
UNACCEPTABLE: DAP leader takes issue with Pakatan Rakyat ally over 'khalwat' summonses (NST) - PAS has come under fire from all quarters including its ally, DAP, following a report that municipal enforcement officers in Pas-ruled Kelantan had issued summonses for khalwat (close proximity) to four non-Muslims. In a statement yesterday, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng urged Pas leaders to take action against the officers who allegedly issued the summonses to the non-Muslims. "If the Kelantan Pas-led government fails to act against errant municipal council saboteurs who issue summonses against non-Muslim for indecent behaviour, this will adversely undermine Pakatan Rakyat's message of respect for freedom of religion and damage existing cooperation within PR." Lim, who is also the Penang chief minister, said he had also directed Bukit Bendera member of parliament Liew Chin Tong to speak to the Pas leadership to get an immediate resolution on issues relating to the allegations of non-Muslims being subjected to Islamic laws. In Kota Baru, political parties and non-Muslim organisations had criticised local authorities in Kelantan for taking such action against the non-Muslims. Gerakan Youth vice-chairman Ong Khang Woon said the action was unthinkable and a gross misuse of power. "I have asked my Muslim friends and they told me that there is not a verse in the Quran which allows action to be taken against non-Muslims for khalwat," said Ong, who is also Kelantan Gerakan Youth information chief. Ong said action should be taken instead against the municipal enforcement officers who issued the summonses as they might have other motives. Kelantan Siamese Association chairman Eh Chot Cha Chan said the Malaysian Constitution guaranteed that Islamic laws would not be imposed on non-Muslims. "When such an incident happens, there will surely be questions raised by the people. "All parties including government agencies and local government authorities in the country must respect the Constitution. "The peace and harmony among the various races and religions must be maintained." Kelantan Federation of Ting Hwa Associations chairman Oie Poh Choon also voiced concern over the action of the enforcement officers. "Such action disrupts the life of non-Muslims. It is unfair for Islamic laws to be imposed on us. I don't agree to this." Meanwhile, the Pas leadership has denied the contents of the report and is threatening to take legal action against English daily, The Star, which published it. Party's secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said contrary to the newspaper's front-page report yesterday, no summonses for khalwat against the non-Muslims had in fact been issued. "I have checked with the authorities in Kelantan and found that no such incidents had occurred. "As such, we have decided to take action against The Star for their misleading report," he said when contacted yesterday.
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| ‘Pakatan will shut down Lynas’ Posted: 08 Dec 2012 03:37 PM PST Lynas' admission that it will not ship out rare earth waste is an opportunity for the BN government to cancel the plant in Gebeng, says Lim Guan Eng. By Lim Guan Eng, FMT The DAP demands that Barisan Nasional should stop the operation of Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (Lamp) now or four Ministers should resign to take full responsibility for failing to fulfill their own promise that the rare earth waste will not remain but be exported out of Malaysia. BN's insincerity and lack of commitment to make public health and safety the utmost priority follows a recent admission by Lynas' Managing Director, Mashal Ahmad that no residues from Lamp would be exported out from Malaysia. The admission by Mashal contradicts the seven-paragraph joint ministerial statement on Feb 22, 2012 by four ministers whose portfolios are directly associated with Lynas' application to set up and operate the plant. The four ministers, namely International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamad; Science and Technology Minister Maximus Johnity Ongkili; Natural Resources and Environment Minister Douglas Unggah Embas; and Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai, said as follows: "Prior to the issuance of the Temporary Operating License (TOL), Lynas shall submit a letter of undertaking that it will accept a return of any residue generated by its factory in Gebeng to its original source." Lynas' admission that rare earth waste will remain and not exported out of Malaysia presents a rare opportunity for the Malaysian government to cancel the Kuantan rare earth facility for breach of compliance without needing to pay compensation. Mashal had confirmed that Lynas have no plans to export the rare earth wastes because Lamp needed to abide by international conventions which prohibit the export of toxic wastes to overseas countries. Earlier, the Australian government has repeated that they will not take back the radioactive waste. Clearly Lynas' managing director has shown that this is an empty BN promise and another example of "Janji Tak Ditepati". Condition unfulfilled
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| ‘Do not belittle intelligence of Indians’ Posted: 08 Dec 2012 03:25 PM PST Najib asks the Indian community not to fall for the lies of Pakatan Rakyat. S Retnanathan, FMT Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak launched a stinging attack against the opposition today, saying that the opposition pact, made up of DAP, PKR and PAS, was trying to cheat the people, especially the Malaysian Indian community. "They say that there are 300,000 Indians in the country who do not have any documents… 300,000 stateless Indians they say. This is a lie. There are only 9,000 Indians who do not have documents. "Out of this 9,000 people, we have sorted out 4,500 applications for documents. Another 2,000 applications are still being processed. The registration is open. If there are any Indians without documents, they can walk in and apply to get their citizenship. "With all this going on, they (the opposition) can cheat that some 300,000 Indians are stateless. This is belittling the intelligence of Indians in the country. You can fool some people some time, but not all the people all the time," he told some 3,500 people at the opening of 66th MIC annual general assembly here. He said the opposition had promised that the 300,000 stateless people would be given citizenship within one month after Pakatan Rakyat takes power of the federal government. "This means, they will process, 10,000 applications in a day and grant citizenship to 10,000 so called stateless Indians daily for a month. This is really belittling the intelligence of Malaysian Indians… can this be achieved…this is another lie," Najib added. Pakatan demolished seven temples
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| Kit Siang: ‘Need to win 70% of new voters’ Posted: 07 Dec 2012 06:02 PM PST DAP veteran says the opposition pact must attempt to win four million unaffiliated voters and an additional 3% of the swing voters to reach Putrajaya. Leven Woon, FMT DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang has asked Pakatan Rakyat's coalition partners to focus on winning over the four million unaffiliated voters in order to takeover Putrajaya after general election (GE). In a statement yesterday, Lim pointed out that there are three million new voters who registered after the last GE, 60% of whom are under the age of 30. He said the new voters would make up 25% of the 13 million electorates in the next general election. Lim said it would not be sufficient for Pakatan to solely rely on the new voters' support, as the opposition pact could only win 109 out of 222 parliamentary seats even if 70% of three million voters chose them. "To get to Putrajaya, Pakatan must also convince a larger percentage of the 2008 voters to switch their vote to us. "Only if Pakatan manages to win 70% of nett new voters and an additional 3% of GE 2008 voters can Pakatan reach Putrajaya with a comfortable majority of seven parliament seats, which is 119 seats," he said. Hudud issue "PAS passing the hudud legislation in the Terengganu state legislature in 2001 did not stop BN from regaining this state by winning 28 out of 32 state seats and 7 out of 8 parliament seats in Terengganu in the 2004 general election. "The hudud issue led to the dismantling of the Barisan Alternative and it took the historic 2008 general election to bring together the three parties again," he said. The Ipoh Timur member of parliament said the focus should be on the ongoing corruption and abuse of power within the BN rather than to push the Islamic state agenda. "(The Islamic agenda) does nothing to win over the middle ground and swing voters," he pointed out. Lim said new voters and swing voters are inclined to compare BN and Pakatan on their capability to reduce corruption, to strengthen national unity, uphold social justice, reduc e poverty in Sabah and Sarawak and user in a governance of democracy. "Pakatan Rakyat should not let itself be distracted by narrow issues but focus on the larger picture to win these swing voters and to capture the middle ground to win the battle for Putrajaya in the 13GE," he added.
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| Ku Li warns of ‘prostitution’ among professionals Posted: 07 Dec 2012 06:00 PM PST The Umno veteran lashes out at professionals for kowtowing to their political masters Anisah Shukry, FMT Professionalism is at its lowest point in history, said Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, citing "prostitution" in the law, police force and education, among others. "There can be prostitutes in each and every professional practise… people who are motivated by power, lust and greed for which they are willing to sacrifice the sacred trust that society has placed in them," said Razaleigh. In a strongly-worded speech at a dinner last night, Razaleigh, popularly refered to as Ku Li, said that unprofessional conduct was "most blatantly evident" in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). "Although established in the midst of much fanfare as part of the government's reform programme, sad to say, the hopes of the people were dashed soon after it was formed," declared the Gua Musang MP. "The people were disappointed when the agency appeared to show interest in petty matters while failing to address more urgent and important cases of corruption." The death of two witnesses in the anti-graft agency's headquarters, he said, had further stirred speculation about the professionalism and integrity of the officials there. "We are not unjustified in wondering if the agency is really serious about fighting graft, or merely finishing off political 'enemies'," said Razaleigh. He also levelled criticism at civil servants in general for "constantly pandering to political masters". He cited their "deafening silence" in cases such as the alleged destruction of the Selangor state government's records five years ago, after BN lost the state to the opposition coalition. "Not a whimper was heard from the custodians of public records in this country, despite the fact that they are believed to have their own code of professional ethics," said Razaleigh. He said the trend continues to this day, referring to a case in which a former Directive of the Archives in Sabah made a political statement over the 20-Point point document signed prior to the formation of Malaysia. "The constant pandering to political masters on their own free will calls into question the extent of their professionalism," said Razaleigh. He also slammed the judiciary, maintaining that it had declined in professionalism in"epidemic proportions" since the removal of Tun Salleh Abbas as Lord President in 1988. Salleh's dismissal had been sparked by a fallout between Razaleigh and Mahathir Mohamed following a narrow Umno presidential election which the two contested in. Mahathir grew unhappy with the judiciary when Razaleigh's supporters filed a suit in the High Court to obtain a court order for new elections, after Mahathir defeated Razaleigh with 761 votes to Razaleigh's 718. This eventually lead to a tribunal against Salleh, which found him guilty of, among others, "undermining public confidence in the government's administration". "Since then, the impartiality, independence and basic honesty of the judiciary has been called into question time and time again," said Razaleigh. "Since then, the Attorney-General's Chambers has become the object of public odium, being perceived as a willing tool of the executive." Brain drain and racial polarisation Even the education system was not spared; Razaleigh claimed that it was in "tatters" and placed the blame squarely on the BN-led government's shoulders for creating the "rot". "The drastic drop in educational standards is such that many parents shudder to think of putting their children through the Malaysian school system… "We may not like to hear it, but the sad truth is that the rot in our education system started with the executive interferences linked to the New Economy Policy," he said.
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| Non-muslims nabbed for 'khalwat' in Kelantan Posted: 07 Dec 2012 02:12 PM PST
(The Star) - Four non-Muslims two men on a plane spotting outing and a couple in a park have been issued with summonses for khalwat, a first in the country. The summonses were for "indecent behaviour" but the four have denied any wrongdoing, claiming instead that the municipal council's enforcement officers "were merely abusing their position". State MCA Youth chief Gan Han Chuan said the officers "have gone crazy", trying to enforce hudud laws on non-Muslims. "This is a first in history where non-Muslims have been issued summonses for khalwat," he said. "It is unbelievable! What they do with their by-laws is now affecting the lives of even the non-Muslims," Gan said of the two cases which occurred recently. The incidents came in the wake of a nationwide uproar over the fines imposed on salon operators who allowed their stylists to cut the hair of a customer of a different gender regardless of whether they were Muslims or not. Most, if not all, of the salons affected were owned by non-Muslims. In the latest incident, the two men in their 30s were in a car parked beside the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport, watching aeroplanes land in the night, when they were issued with the summonses. The duo claimed that they were not doing anything indecent. The other two were a 17-year-old male and a 15-year-old girl. They were at the Tengku Anis park in the town centre in the middle of the day when enforcement officers approached them and issued them with summonses for indecent behaviour. The two incidents have riled up even the National PAS Supporters Congress chairman Hu Pang Chaw. Hu said the male victims had complained to him that the officers had even sought RM500 from the duo "to settle the matter". "As far as I know, the council has no right to issue summonses to non-Muslims for close contact with their girlfriends in the dark or out in the open," he said. "I believe this by-law only applies to Muslims. And, I cannot understand why the four were issued the summonses," Hu said, adding that the council cannot impose "khalwat" laws on non-Muslims. The men have written a letter to council president Fauzi Mat. Hu said: "This is a serious allegations that needs immediate attention."
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| Kelantan slammed over ‘khalwat’ for non-Muslims Posted: 07 Dec 2012 02:09 PM PST
(The Star) - Local authorities in Kelantan have been criticised for taking action against four people for what has been viewed as khalwat (close proximity) cases involving non-Muslims. MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said that if PAS could subject non-Muslims to such laws in Kelantan, it could do so nationwide if Pakatan Rakyat came to power. "This should also serve as a wake-up call to the Chinese because it shows that DAP is no political superman, as it is a toothless tiger before PAS," he said. Dr Chua said this in response to dissatisfaction voiced by National PAS Supporters Congress chairman Hu Pang Chaw against the local authorities for issuing summonses for indecent behaviour to two non-Muslim men who were caught in a car parked by the roadside near the Kota Baru Airport. The other case involved a non-Muslim teenage boy and his non-Muslim girlfriend who were found together in a parked car in Tengku Anis Park recently. The four have denied any wrongdoing. Dr Chua said it appeared that PAS was slowly pushing for Syariah laws and ultimately its brand of hudud. "PAS is so sure of coming to power that it has ignored fundamental rights of non-Muslims enshrined in the Constitution," he said. Dr Chua pointed out that PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat had made it very clear that pushing their Islamic agenda was a religious obligation. "DAP is willing to go along because it is confident of securing Chinese votes. Let's hope the Chinese wake up before it is too late. "As a developing country, we should not be bickering about what is clearly written in the Constitution," he said, adding that PAS appeared to be fixated on moral policing. He also said the PAS Supporters Congress should have the political integrity to acknowledge that it did not have a standing in PAS, as it could not even vote in the party. PPP president Datuk Seri M. Kayveas said the people must use their votes to tell PAS off. "The people must realise that by supporting DAP and PKR, they are also empowering PAS," he said. Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang said if the claims were true, it would be beyond comprehension, as non-Muslim were not subjected to Islamic laws. "It is unacceptable if they want to expand khalwat laws to non-Muslims. "If PAS intends to amend the Constitution to subject non-Muslims to Islamic laws, then it should say so," he said.
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| 200 stage protest over altar demolition Posted: 07 Dec 2012 02:04 PM PST  Pathma Subramaniam, fz.com About 200 MIC members and activists staged a protest outside the Selangor State Secretariat today over the demolition by the Sepang Municipal Council (MPSp) of a Hindu altar within the gated compound of a house. Led by MIC Youth chief T Mohan, the group marched from the nearby Dataran Shah Alam at 11.15am and gathered there for about an hour under the scorching sun. Security personnel prevented them from entering the building to meet Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim. After several rounds of negotiations with the police, Mohan handed over a memorandum to state executive councillor Dr Xavier Jeyakumar's aide, Abdul Razak Ismail. MPSP enforcement officials demolished the altar located in the compound of M Gobikumar's house at Taman Seroja in Bandar Salak Tinggi on Nov 20, according to news reports. The family had earlier received a notice from the council to tear down the structure for alleged violation of council by-laws, followed by another letter warning them that they could be fined RM250 a day if they did not demolish it. News reports quoted Gobikumar as saying that the council enforcement staff demolished the altar even while he was negotiating with the council. At today's protest, the participants blamed the Pakatan Rakyat state government for the high-handed action, with Xavier in particular coming under strong attack. Many of the protesters were seen hoisting up banners and placards calling for Xavier's resignation over his alleged remarks that local governments had the right to take action against illegal structures built inside or outside a house and that the state government could not meddle in such matters. However, in a statement yesterday, Xavier said the state government had in 2008 instructed all local councils and the land office not to destroy any place of worship. Xavier added that the altar demolishment was carried out by certain MPSP officials without the knowledge of the state government and the MPSP president, and that there was reason to suspect that their action "bordered on sabotage." Mohan, however, claimed that Pakatan representatives were present when the demolishment took place. "At the time of the incident, a PAS councillor representing the Sepang Municipal Council was also there together with the constituency's coordinator from DAP," he said. "Is it a crime now to build an altar to worship in our homes? Why must we apply for permits when it is within our compound?" asked Mohan, demanding that the councillor and the enforcement officers involved be sacked immediately. He also demanded that the menteri besar issue an open apology to the Indian community. Mohan said the Barisan Nasional lost power in Selangor in the 2008 general election after the BN-led state government demolished a Hindu temple in Shah Alam a few months earlier, which led to the Indian community taking part in a massive protest rally in Kuala Lumpur. "We did it before and paid for it in kind, but we learnt our lesson. I can assure you that BN will never do this if we make a comeback in the next general election," he said. "Don't take this issue lightly. Resolve it once and for all for all our good," he said. 
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| Ex-top cop questions Musa’s credibility Posted: 07 Dec 2012 01:57 PM PST Ramli Yusuff, the former CCID director embroiled in the copgate affair, cites three instances in which he says Musa Hassan was dishonest. Anisah Shukry, FMT Ex Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Musa Hassan is not a credible person and this is proven throughout his time in the police force, said his former colleague Ramli Yusuff. In the last few weeks, Musa has attracted attention for accusing Cabinet ministers and politicians of interfering with police investigations and arrests, naming home minister Hishammuddin Hussein in particular. But his motives for 'coming out' have come into question due to the timing of it all; while he served as IGP for four years, no word was mentioned to the public of the allegedly meddling ministers. Instead, the startling announcement was made on the eve of the Umno General Assembly's opening, leading the home minister to maintain that it was just an attempt to sidetrack the public from issues discussed during the gathering. To add further fuel to the fire, retired Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID) Ramli, who is perhaps most known for his investigative role in the 'Copgate' affair, has cast aspersions on Musa's character by dredging up old issues implicating the ex IGP. "Musa served under me for almost six years. I was partly responsible for his promotion in 1995 from the post of junior superintendent to become my assistant, and in the end, he fixed me up," said Ramli. "So do you think his character is credible? I liken him to 'melepaskan anjing tersepit'," he said, referring to a Malay idiom which means helping someone who is ungrateful. Ramli was alluding to the five charges he faced in 2007 and 2009 in which he was eventually acquitted for – charges which he claimed were masterminded by Musa along with Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail and former Anti-Corruption Agency director of prosecution Nordin Hassan in an attempt to discredit him. The charges include allegedly failing to declare his assets, for violating laws prohibiting civil servants from being involved in private business, and for abusing power after allegedly using a Royal Malaysian Police Cessna Caravan aircraft to fly him to see plots of land in Ulu Tungku and Lahad Datu. Ramli claimed he was framed due to his role in the Copgate affair, in which he and his team took action against an underworld figure who allegedly had Musa's backing – only for that figure to be released four months later. Musa was subsequently investigated and cleared by Abdul Gani and the ACA, and his contract renewed until his retirement in 2010, according to Malaysiakini. Ramli told FMT today that he had originally pushed for Musa's promotion from junior superintendent to his assistant circa 1995 because the latter was supposed to be laterally transferred to Perlis. "Musa came crying to me, telling me about his predicament…children schooling, very unhappy. So I recommended him [for the promotion] because he served under me in 1987 as one of my officers in the police college in Kuala Kubu Baru. "So at that time, he was a good guy, and I trusted him," said Ramli, adding that he had a tough time convincing the former director of the CID to promote Musa on account of his lack of academic credentials. Even judge said Musa is unreliable Zeroing in on the abuse of power trial which ended in 2009, Ramli said the session court judge's comments on Musa – who was a witness for the prosecution - further reflected the then IGP's dubious character. "During my trial in Sabah, a sessions court judge in her judgement commented that Musa is an 'incredible' witness because he contradicted the evidence of his own officers," said Ramli. "And the judge believed the evidence of Musa's junior offences rather than him. And he was then still serving as IGP. Malu (shameful)," added Ramli. The abuse of power trial involving the alleged use of a police aircraft for his own personal interest, in which his lawyer Rosli Dahlan defended him. According to Rosli, Judge Supang Lian told the court at the closing of the 59-day hearing that Musa's evidence was unreliable and to be disregarded. Rosli told FMT she repeated the word "discredit" twice in her assessment of Musa'sevidence, who, as the 75th witness, was allegedly called last in order to refute testimonies of those who came before him. Among the witnesses were Ramli's pilots, whom Rosli said had flatly denied having flown Ramli to Ulu Tungku and Lahad Datu, in which his real estate company Kinsajaya Sdn Bhd had an interest. Supang Lian ruled that the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case and Ramli deserved to be acquitted and discharged. A year later, the High Court dismissed an appeal by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against the Session Court's decision to acquit Ramli.
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| We'll take you on, Selangor PAS Youth warns UMNO 'thugs' Posted: 06 Dec 2012 06:22 PM PST
(Harakah Daily) - Selangor PAS Youth has warned the state UMNO Youth to rein in thuggery among its members so that they could get involved in politics as 'gentlemen'. "The Selangor PAS Youth is ready to take on any challenge by UMNO Youth should they continue with provocations in future," said Selangor PAS Youth leader Hasbullah Mohd Ridzwan (pic).
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| ‘AG Chambers aiding human traffickers’ Posted: 06 Dec 2012 06:02 PM PST A labour activist claims that the AG Chambers is working hand in glove with the Bangladeshi High Commission to aid human traffickers. Teoh El Sen, FMT Labour activist Abdul Aziz Ismail has accused the Attorney-General's Chambers of colluding with the Bangladeshi High Commission to aid human traffickers. In an open letter to the government, the Selangor Anti-Human Trafficking Council member said he came to such a conclusion after his appointment as a workers welfare adviser under the Bangladeshi High Commission here was suddenly revoked. "The sudden cancellation of my appointment by the commission under the instructions of the AG Chambers is beyond their boundaries and perimeter and it was done in bad faith," he wrote. He said he suspected that the AG Chambers and the Bangladesh High Commission had, willingly or unwittingly, become the tools of human trafficking syndicates, by protecting them. In 2007, Aziz said he was officially appointed to assist or represent Bangladesh migrant workers on matters concerning their welfare by the commission. He was then empowered to assist them to obtain temporary stay visas, lodging police reports and accompanying them during legal proceedings as a translator. He said in the years of voluntarism in this manner, he succesfully secured about more than RM700,000 of unpaid wages for exploited foreign workers. He said that his work had began somewhere between 2006 and 2009, when most of the Bangladesh migrant workers were brought into Malaysia and issued fraudulent "calling visa" by the Immigration Department approved by the Home Ministry to bogus employers or outsourcing companies. He alleged that those workers were later sold to a third party by their bogus employers or outsource companies, and abandoned. "These traffic victims were later detained and arrested as undocumented, illegal entry, over-staying and violating employment pass," he said. Aziz said he was much involved during that period and represented victims of unpaid wages, unlawful dismissal, unlawful detention and all other suppression by agents, employers or the authorities. All these he did without being paid a single sen by the commission or by the victims. He said that the current 6P amnesty programme was akin to a "Re-Trafficking Programme" that caused hundreds of thousands of foreigners to be cheated and victimised by enforcement agencies.
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| Mahathir to Campaign for Najib in Shift From 2008 Malaysia Vote Posted: 06 Dec 2012 03:30 PM PST
Barry Porter and Chong Pooi Koon, Bloomberg News Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia's longest- serving leader, will hit the campaign trail to help Prime Minister Najib Razak's ruling coalition win a 13th straight general election after sitting out during the 2008 vote. "I have promised that I will campaign," Mahathir, 87, said in a Dec. 5 interview in Putrajaya, Malaysia's administrative center near Kuala Lumpur. "I don't know whether I have enough influence or not, but I think people still remember me." Mahathir led calls for Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to resign after the National Front coalition won the last election by its narrowest margin since independence in 1957. Najib, who took over as leader in 2009, told a party congress last week that he aims to restore the alliance's two-thirds majority in parliament during the next election, which must be held within 60 days of an April 28 deadline to dissolve parliament. Najib's ruling United Malays Nasional Organisation is seeking to stave off a challenge from the opposition alliance led by Anwar Ibrahim, a former finance minister who Mahathir fired in 1998 during an Asia-wide financial crisis. The party is more aware of the opposition's strength than in 2008 and has moved to win back support with budget handouts and political reforms, according to Ooi Kee Beng, deputy director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. 'Payback Period'"It's Najib's to lose," Ooi said by phone from Singapore, referring to the next election. "He does have a certain advantage of incumbency. Just like 2008, a lot will depend on the nominations and campaigning. Things can shift very quickly." Mahathir, while predicting a win for Najib's coalition, questioned whether it was possible to regain the two-thirds majority in the 222-member parliament, which allows legislation to be passed easily. Mahathir led the National Front to five consecutive victories as prime minister before retiring in 2003. "This is payback period for me," Mahathir said. "I must admit, I didn't support during the last election." Anwar's three-party People's Alliance opposition coalition made gains in the 2008 election, winning control of five of Malaysia's 13 states. The National Front, also known as Barisan Nasional, later won back Perak state when several lawmakers defected. In 1998, soon after Mahathir ousted him, Anwar was arrested and imprisoned for almost six years on corruption and sodomy charges, which he said were politically motivated. Malaysia's Federal Court quashed the sodomy conviction in 2004, while upholding the corruption charge. He denies wrongdoing. 'Go Quietly'Najib's ruling coalition will transfer power peacefully to Anwar if it loses the next election, Mahathir said. The police, military and civil servants are professionals who would back any elected government, he said. "It will go quietly," Mahathir said, referring to the National Front. "I have been preaching to people about democracy, even to the Arabs. I tell them if you want to have democracy you must be prepared to lose." Najib, 59, cut income taxes, boosted pay for government workers and extended cash handouts for the poor in his 2013 budget announced in September. While the global economy has slowed, Malaysia has maintained gross domestic product growth above 5 percent for the past five quarters and its benchmark stock index closed at a record in October. Unrest ConcernsThe FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index was little changed at 12:30 p.m. in Kuala Lumpur today. It has risen 5.6 percent this year, Southeast Asia's worst performing leading benchmark gauge. A disputed vote could trigger civil unrest that would involve the intervention of the king and a group of royals that have constitutional powers to appoint elected leaders, according to James Chin, a professor of political science at the Malaysian campus of Australia's Monash University. Much depends on the margin of victory, he said by phone. "There will be problems if it is razor thin and it is disputed," he said, referring to the election outcome. "We don't really know what will happen because we've never had a change of government in Malaysia." The National Front held a clear two-thirds majority for four decades until 2008. The last time it lost two-thirds control of parliament was in the 1969 election, which was followed by race riots. Asked if there could be civil or religious unrest should the National Front fall, Mahathir said: "There will be some, but not the kind of violent unrest like demonstrating every day. If every time you lose you want to hold strikes and demonstrations, that means you don't understand democracy. You have to accept losing." Mahathir said he has traveled the country to urge UMNO party members against sabotaging the vote if they are not selected as candidates to stand in the election, echoing Najib's warning last week. "I told them that this is committing suicide," Mahathir said. "You don't do that."
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| Selangor Sultan: I am above politics, let’s be clear about this Posted: 06 Dec 2012 03:01 PM PST Wong Chun Wai and Loong Meng Yee, The Star Selangor will be one of the hardest fought states in the coming general election. As polling day nears, the Sultan finds himself a victim of attempts to drag his name into politics. Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said he was sad that he had become the target of groups and individuals who deliberately twisted his words and actions to imply that he was partial towards Umno. "Why should I? I have nothing to gain from siding with Umno, PKR or any party," he said. "What has Umno given me? "Those that brand me as an Umno man, prove it. Show me when was I inclined to be with Umno. Do not blindly accuse me of things I am not guilty of. I have no political agenda. "As head of the state, I am above politics. Let's be clear about this," the outspoken Ruler said.  Speaking his mind: The Sultan of Selangor gesturing during the exclusive interview with The Star. Sultan Sharafuddin said he had now adopted a cautious mode when making speeches; but said he would speak up on issues affecting Islam and the welfare and harmony of the people. In a candid interview with The Star, the Sultan said he would remain consistent against allowing mosques to be used for politics in Selangor, saying: "Politics and religion should not mix." He said politics was out of place in a mosque. "These are sacred places to find spiritual solace and not to sow hatred among one's brethren." The Sultan also revealed that there were attempts by certain politicians to change the landscape of Shah Alam, the capital of Selangor. "There was a move by a senior elected representative to name Shah Alam as the Islamic City of Selangor. Then, there were other politicians who tried to ban cinemas at shopping malls because they were immoral, forgetting that we live in a multi-racial country. "Then, there were other elected representatives who suggested that an arch be built over Little India in Klang. "I don't like such an idea to re-brand Shah Alam. Next, someone may want to have Petaling Jaya declared as the China Town of Selangor. "Kuala Lumpur was part of Selangor and we already have a China Town in Petaling Street and Little India in Brickfields; these are enough. "What next? Create a little Bangladesh when another person suggests it? I don't like the rakyat being separated into groupings." Sultan Sharafuddin said he had to step in in cases where certain politicians' interferences affected the people's harmony. Shah Alam is named after the Tuanku's grandfather Sultan Alam Shah. The name was chosen by the late Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, the present Sultan's father. Sultan Sharafuddin said Shah Alam's demographics had changed drastically as development moved away from Kuala Lumpur. "My primary duty is to care for my rakyat," he said. "I don't cross the line and I don't wish for my name to be misused." The Sultan said he always welcomed feedback from the rakyat, but this should be channelled appropriately. "My rakyat can write to me through the palace," the Sultan said. "Don't use blogs to spread hatred against me. If I have done wrong, tell me, but use the proper channel." The Sultan's interview was held in conjunction with his 11th year on the throne, and his 67th birthday celebration on Dec 11.
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| Pakatan signals power as campaign fodder, says to cut IPP payments Posted: 06 Dec 2012 01:59 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - PKR said today it can save consumers paying exorbitant electricity bills monthly by cutting a new deal that will shave RM3.47 billion off Tenaga Nasional Bhd's (TNB) annual payment to independent power producers (IPPs). The opposition party believes it can renegotiate to lower the return of investments (ROI) for the IPPs, which average 19 per cent now, by 9 percentage points, to 10 per cent, which it said was typical by global standards. "This high profit will be able to reduce TNB's debt... and, most importantly, with this high profit TNB no longer needs to raise electricity tariffs which will burden consumers," PKR's investment bureau chief Wong Chen told a news conference at the party's headquarters here. He explained that by lowering the ROI to 10 per cent, TNB will enjoy annual savings of RM2.6 billion from its capacity payments to the IPPs. He said an ROI of 10 per cent would still mean excellent business for the IPPS as it translates to large sums of money over a long-term period in an industry that has little operational risks. Bond repayments and finance costs would be included in calculating the ROI and the financial and bond markets were unlikely to be affected by the 10 per cent cut. Wong said the party will also tighten the reserve margin policy to keep it at 20 per cent instead of at 38 per cent currently. He said that a sum of RM483 million is lost as unneeded or stranded investment for every 1 per cent of reserve margin, adding that an 18 per cent cut will mean stranded investment savings of RM8.7 billion. Coupled with RM2.6 billion savings through the 10 per cent cut in the ROI a year and the RM870 million savings in stranded investments, TNB would be able to save a total of RM3.47 billion a year, he said. Wong also promised that if the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact is elected to Putrajaya, it will consider selling off the 10 per cent share in TNB now held by state investment firm Khazanah Nasional to the power company's 30,000 workers. "This is part of our 'management buy-out' economic policy to create a middle class of manager-owners and also reduce the government's involvement in the private sector," he said. TNB was yesterday forced to deny that energy consumption had been hiked through the replacement of analogue power meters for digital devices to increase the utility's profits. The power company said that contracts for the installation of new meters that were given to four vendors followed the utility's procurement guidelines. On Tuesday, PKR linked the family of former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to a company that supplies the controversial digital electricity meters to TNB and alleged that that this had hiked up energy consumption bills and gained the national utility company billions of ringgit in profit. In its statement yesterday, the national power company did not name the vendors awarded the meter installation contract or deny that any one of them was linked to the former PM's family. It said, however, that, figures cited by PKR were inaccurate and misleading.
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| Musa: I was upset by Sin Chew reporter’s detention Posted: 06 Dec 2012 01:51 PM PST The ex-IGP claims Syed Hamid Albar ordered the ISA arrest. Teoh El Sen, FMT Former Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan claims that he was against the controversial 2008 arrest of Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng under the Internal Security Act. He told FMT he was in hospital at the time and police made the arrest in obedience to the then home minister Syed Hamid Albar. He said he scolded his deputy – current Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar – over the arrest and the latter wept and offered to resign. Tan's arrest in September 2008 came after the publication of her report on a speech made by the then Bukit Bendera Umno chief, Ahmad Ismail, in which he said the Chinese were squatters in the country and not deserving of equal rights. Reacting to public outrage, Syed Hamid said Tan was arrested for her own protection. He said police were acting on information that her life was under threat. The statement drew ridicule from the public. "The explanation sounded absurd to me," Musa told FMT. "At that time, I was in hospital, in IJN (National Heart Institute), having a bypass." He said he told Ismail, who was acting IGP, to investigate the case under the Sedition Act and not to use the ISA to arrest anyone. He said he was upset at the turn of events and demanded an explanation from Ismail when he visited him at IJN. "Then he started crying, saying that the minister gave the instructions. He told me he wanted to resign, saying things like 'I want to resign, I don't want to work anymore.' "I said to him, 'You shouldn't be allowing yourself to be dictated to. I am in the hospital now, and you are Acting IGP.' I told him 'It's stupid of you, wanting to resign. Next time, just don't do it.'" Asked if he tried to confront Syed Hamid, Musa said he could not because he was bedridden. "But of course the girl was later released. But it was wrong. Using ISA didn't make sense to me. If you think any seditious statement was made, then you have the law to investigate, right?" During the controversy, Syed Hamid told the press the arrest was a police decision and that he had not interfered. More recently, during the Umno annual general assembly, Syed Hamid denied Musa's allegation that home ministers were among the politicians who regularly attempted to interfere with police investigations. Asked to comment on this, Musa told FMT: "Well he can deny it, but Ismail told me at that time that he was directed." Drug raid Giving another example of politicians throwing their weight around, Musa spoke of a drug said at a club in Johor in 2003, when he was serving in the state. "A Johor ADUN [state assemblyman] shouted at my officers asking them to get out," he said. "And then he called me, asking why the officers raided this place. "He told me, 'Do you know I am wakil rakyat so and so?' I answered 'So what? Why are you angry? Is it your place?' He then said he was a frequent customer and asked why we were embarrassing people who wanted to enjoy themselves. "I replied, 'Okay, you can enjoy, but we are looking for drugs. So don't disturb my officers.' "The next day he came to my office, scolding me. I said, 'You shouldn't do this, you should respect the police.'"
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| ‘PM, Home Minister ignored my complaints’ Posted: 06 Dec 2012 01:45 PM PST Ex-IGP Musa Hassan says he had previously informed the Prime Minister and Home Minister about his complaints, but were ignored. Teoh El Sen, FMT Many wonder why Musa Hassan has suddenly become such a vocal man, but the former Inspector-General of Police said that it was not something that happened overnight. He said that his complaints of political interference, of criminal elements which had infiltrated the police force, were not new. When he was in service, these issues were already raised through the "proper channels" to the Prime Minister and Home Minister before, but to no effect. "I have a number of times personally informed even the prime minister and home minister, when I was Johor CPO, when I was director of CID, and also as the IGP. It seems that they do not want to change. "Many times I have raised this, not just now that I am retired," he explained. Musa claimed that the top leaders of the country did not seem interested in addressing these issues. However, he declined to say if it was because they themselves were also involved in these claims. "The prime minister and home minister were not interested. I want to make sure the country is safe. If you do all these things, protecting kingpins and all that, the country's security will go down the drain and people will be complaining," he said. Musa said that various allegations had been levelled against him but he had kept quiet all the while. But now he was being deemed as anti-government for speaking out. "They attack me like mad when I'm not against anyone," said Musa, who served as IGP for four years from 2006 to 2010.
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| Star will work with ‘any’ coalition that wins Posted: 06 Dec 2012 01:35 PM PST Jeffrey Kitingan has threatened legal action against those spreading rumours that his party Star is being financed by Umno to split the opposition vote. Luke Rintod, FMT KOTA KINABALU: If politicians and supporters are holding out for a pre-election pact between the State Reform Party (Star) and the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), they best forget it. Both parties' words and actions point to it being a lost cause. But leaders on either side are nonetheless keeping alive the 'line' that they are working on a deal which opposition supporters in the state and are hopeful of hammering it out in time. They have been maneuvering for this since the beginning of the year and if nothing else, their periodic shout outs for a deal has proved they are no closer to it since they first indicated they wanted one. It is an indecisiveness that has allowed non-local parties to inject themselves into state politics since 1963 and determine the state's direction. SAPP can only win seats if it allies itself with another party or group of politicians, which explains it's need to reach out to DAP, PKR and Sabah Star. On its own, SAPP would find itself in a difficult position if it also had to fight on two fronts. Star may be in a favourable position if supporting crowds can be translated into real votes. Based on their sources they believe they could win in poverty-stricken Kadazandusun areas. The numbers put forward is up to 10 of the 60 state seats and more than five of 25 parliamentary seats in Sabah and one Labuan. Realistically, observers say, Star and SAPP must work together with remnant supporters of Usno under the United Borneo Alliance (UBF) concept of Borneo leaders taking charge of their political destiny. SAPP can say they are close to hammering out a deal with the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, but Star Sabah is looking at these dealings with discomfort and a hint of alarm. SAPP for all intents and purposes is already within Pakatan while Star is adamant that it is independent of both the opposition and the ruling Barisan Nasional coalitions. Star had said it would only ally itself with state-based political parties before the election. But talk is also beginning to surface that Star is being financed by Umno to split the opposition vote and that Jeffrey has been given RM100 million. For his part, the Star chairman has denounced the rumour and has threatened legal action to stop it. "I requests Sabah Star members, should you hear of any such talks, to jot down the name of the person saying that, the date, time and place so that we can sue the individual in court. "To be sponsored by BN is akin to the coalition saying "here take this knife and kill me with it … isn't that stupid?" asked Jeffrey. "We are here to topple BN-Umno so it does not make sense that Sabah Star is sponsored by the coalition," he said after officiating Sabah Star's Wiranita (Women) Wing convention here on Wednesday. Jeffrey also accused fellow opposition parties of spreading the rumours to stop Star's rising popularity. Party officials claim its membership has risen to about 200,000 members since its inception here 10 months ago and is the envy of other parties. "They are scared that their members will join Star which is growing in strength and gathering force as time passes. This shows that Star is strong and they are scared of the party. "It also reflects their desperation because when an individual starts to bad mouth a friend, it shows that the person either has a problem or is desperate. In this case, it is the opposition parties that are desperate to reduce the support and influence of Sabah Star," said Jeffrey. No truth in rumours Speaking to reporters after officiating the conference, Jeffrey in brushing away the party's alleged Umno link, also said the another rumour was also going around. "It said Star was paid RM20 billion – RM1 billion for each of the 20 Points of the special powers it is fighting to have restored to Sabah," said Jeffrey. Making it known that he does not trust SAPP, he called on its party leaders to declare if it would be working with the peninsular-based opposition parties or with local parties like Star. "SAPP needs to make a decision whether they want to be with Borneo Alliance or PR (Pakatan) so that the issue of a straight fight against BN can be resolved. "By making public its allegiance, the issue of seats allocation between Star and SAPP can be resolved," said Jeffrey.
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| Former IGP: Political violence should not occur in a democracy Posted: 05 Dec 2012 06:14 PM PST
The Malaysian Insider Political violence should not happen in a genuine democracy and the authorities must take stern action to curb such incidents, former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said today amid more reports of violent clashes between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supporters ahead of elections expected next year. He told a public forum organised by the Sinar Harian newspaper today that he hoped BN would reform and stop the culture of violence if it won the next polls. And if PR were to take power, the former top police officer said he hoped PR would not become "political thugs". Rough house tactics have become a feature of Malaysian politics, and went up a notch yesterday with the first stabbing at a political rally ahead of the 13th general elections. A group of people alleged to be Umno Youth members yesterday attacked a PKR rally in Gombak that left a few opposition volunteers injured, leading to swift condemnation from PR leaders. In the attack, a PKR supporter is believed to have been stabbed with a sharp weapon on his left shoulder, the party's paper Keadilan Daily reported. This is not the first attack on a PR rally, with a similar incident happening in Lembah Pantai earlier this year where a crowd at a rally held by Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was attacked. The PKR bus used by Anwar and party leaders for its nationwide pre-election campaign tour, Jelajah Merdeka Rakyat , has also been splashed with paint and attacked with rocks several times. "Political violence does not happen in a democratic country. In a democratic country the election of a government does not see matters that endanger security," said Musa today. He took a swipe, however, at the opposition for supporting street protests and demonstrations. "According to one book it is said that if a leader is not suitable there must be 'reformasi' on the streets. This is now a reference for the young. "Previous general elections were like festivals (but) in Malaysia the politics has been endless. Five years on and there is still politics and the endless blaming of each other." Without naming anyone, he said accused political leaders of failing to control supporters, which he blamed for the rise in the political temperature in recent years. He said election campaigns were no longer like festivals because it was now dominated by "politics of hatred." Musa said that while the authorities must act to curb political violence, he pointed out that the job had become more challenging because of new laws which had introduced more freedoms. "The police must be fair. Previously one had to apply for a permit to organise a ceramah. But with new laws there are now problems and the police have to be prepared better. "In the past the police did not have to station much personnel at rallies but now speakers are challenging the authority of the police," he said.
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| Sepang shrine wrecking: Xavier cries ‘sabotage’ Posted: 05 Dec 2012 06:02 PM PST Municipal officers acted without authorisation, says the Selangor exco. K Pragalath, FMT Municipal officers acted without their boss' permission when they demolished a Hindu shrine in Sepang last month, Selangor state exco Xavier Jayakumar said today. "The action taken by certain officers was unilateral," he said in a press statement. "There is reason to suspect this action is bordering on sabotage." On Nov 20, 30 enforcement officers of the Sepang Municipal Council (MPS) trespassed into the home of one S Gobi Kumar and demolished a Hindu shrine located within the compound of the residence. A week later, Jayakumar defended the council's action, prompting MIC Youth to demand that he make a public apology. Jayakumar said MPS officials yesterday gave a briefing on the incident to him, Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim and state excos Teresa Kok and Ronnie Liu. "From the briefing, it was quite apparent that the Sepang council president was neither consulted nor informed prior to the action of breaking the structure," he said. "The Selangor Non-Muslim Affairs Council, co-chaired by excos Liu, Kok and myself, was also never informed of these actions." He added that the state government had called for an investigation and demanded that the findings be submitted to it within two weeks. The demolition apparently violates an order issued by the Non-Muslim Affairs Council that forbids the breaking of religious structures. "From 2008, we have given instruction to all local councils and land offices not to break any place of worship that existed prior to 2008," Jayakumar said
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| Blogger to reveal more PKR ‘dirt’ in January Posted: 05 Dec 2012 02:51 PM PST A pro-Umno blogger says he will expose more details on the alleged PKR's involvement in masterminding attacks against the prime minister's family using Deepak Jaikishan. G Vinod, FMT Pro-Umno blogger, Papagomo threatens to expose more dirt on the alleged involvement of PKR leaders in masterminding carpet dealer Deepak Jaikishan's attacks on the prime minister's family. He said this in a post at his blog today. "Januari nanti anda Surendran dan sekutu Pakatan Haram yang lain akan dibogelkan satu persatu sampai lumat (In January, N Surendran (PKR vice president) and all allies of the illegitimate opposition pact will be exposed one by one)," said Papagomo. On Tuesday, the blogger posted a two minute clip on his website purpotedly showing "Deepak" saying that Subang MP R Sivarasa had coerced him to attack Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor, at the behest of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim. However, "Deepak" said he refused to do so, thus, making Sivarasa angry. "Deepak" also mentioned the names of PKR vice presidents Surendran and Nurul Izzah Anwar in the footage. However, Sivarasa and Surendran had denied claims that they coerced Deepak into doing anything and were only representing the businessman in a court case involving a land deal. Pagagomo, however, was not impressed by Surendran's explanation. "Surendran lu boleh cakap apa lu nak cakap tapi sebelum lu pergi lebih jauh elok lu siap sedia dengan gelombang amukkan para Blogger Pro UMNO selepas ini. (Surendran, you may say what you want but before you go any further, be ready to face the wrath of pro-Umno bloggers)
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| No conspiracy against Anwar, says Musa again Posted: 05 Dec 2012 12:45 PM PST The ex-IGP attempts to clear the air over lingering suspicion that he was involved in a government conspiracy to set-up Anwar Ibrahim in both Sodomy I and II. Teoh El Sen, FMT Former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan has reiterated that the Sodomy I and II cases were not part of a political conspiracy to bring down Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim. Musa, who was the investigating officer of the 1998 case and was serving as the IGP when the more recent 2008 allegation by Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan surfaced, told FMT that both were "straight forward cases." Responding to claims that he was a party to fabrication of evidence in the first sodomy case, Musa stressed:"There was no fabrication of evidence. He [Anwar] was charged in court." "And then I sued Anwar in court [on his allegation of fabrication] and he wanted me to settle with him. So what fabrication was there? The case was dropped because he wanted us to settle it out of court. So there is nothing more." Asked why he agreed to a settlement when he claims to be right, Musa replied: "Because to me [if] that person feels that there is no point to [continue with it] then [it shows] that I am not involved. Perhaps he has realised that I am not involved that's why he wants so settle [out of court]." Musa was referring to his recent decision to drop a defamation suit against Anwar, who lodged a report against Musa in 2008 accusing him and Attorney-General Abdul Gani Pattail of fabricating evidence in the 1998 'black eye' incident and the Sodomy I trial. PKR, who had since then insisted that there was no out-of-court settlement and that it was Musa who initiated a withdrawal, had said that Musa's action was "proof" that there was a government plot to fabricate evidence over the Sodomy I charges. Musa's lawyers had cited a "misunderstanding" over the ex-IGP's role in the 1998 "black eye" incident where Anwar was assaulted by the then IGP Abdul Rahim Noor while in police custody. On his role in Sodomy II, Musa also rubbished claims that he was a "main actor in the script". "Why do they say I am doing the script when it is Saiful who lodged the report, not me. I didn't want to see Saiful even then. He [Saiful] even said in court that I scolded him [when he tried to contact me], that [I told him] if you have a problem, you lodge a police report. So I'm not involved in any conspiracy here. What are they talking about?" he said. FMT: Do you know any of any of these 'script writers' who were involved in the Sodomy II then? Musa: It is a straight up case. [A police report was] lodged by the complainant. Wouldn't you say there were political reasons behind it? That you have to ask them because I don't know the facts about who he [Saiful] saw.
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