Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Queen's chaplain says Church of England has racism problem
- Karpal: Tunku Aziz trying to ‘poison Malays’ against DAP
- ‘Tunku Aziz is lying’
- Saudi website editor could face death for apostasy-rights group
- Karpal Singh ticks off two party leaders who accepted Datukships
- Sabah to get new constituencies next year
- Stay away from trouble, DAP leaders told
- ‘PPO has no authority to review Bala’s SD’
- Young voters now in favour of BN: Muhyiddin
- 2.3 million register for BR1M 2.0
- All Barisan candidates must be cleared by MACC, says Najib
- DAP leader refutes Kelantan land-for-Perak MB deal
- ‘We have proof top cops pally with crooks’
- Musa denies knowledge of SD, Najib’s SMS
- Legal action threat over oil, gas rights
- Mustafa: Pakatan seat talks at tail-end
- Perak Speaker Ganesan: I am not involved in any sex scandal
- ‘PKR got it all wrong on power rates’
- ‘Probe the five involved in Deepak’s claims’
- Bentong villagers want DAP to explain
- RM200b outflow Najib’s best achievement as Finance minister, says PAS Youth chief
- Talks going on well with SAPP, says Anwar
- Lawyer not part of MACC review on Bala’s SD probe, says panel chief
- Kita’s president crisis remains unresolved
- ‘Beware of BN temporary withdrawal gifts in polls run-up’
- ‘Tan Sri lawyer must come forward’
- I’m not behind Deepak, Anwar says it again
- MCA power play in Tanjong Malim
- DAP warlords eye party sec-gen prize
| Queen's chaplain says Church of England has racism problem Posted: 22 Dec 2012 04:13 PM PST
AFP - Queen Elizabeth II's chaplain Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, tipped to become one of Britain's first women bishops, said Saturday that the Church of England is struggling with "institutional racism". Jamaican-born Hudson-Wilkin, a chaplain to the monarch and also to parliament's lower House of Commons, told The Times newspaper that she had been a victim of racism in her ministry. The church's second-highest cleric, John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, is of Ugandan origin. But Hudson-Wilkin asked why there were not more people of minority ethnic backgrounds in leadership roles within England's state church. "There's still an element of racism running through people's veins," the 51-year-old said of Britain. "I've had people who did not want me to do a funeral. I can smile because it's their sheer ignorance, I feel sorry for them. I know that it's not about me, it's about them." She is worried about a sense of prejudice in the Church of England hierarchy. Only 15 of the 467 members of the General Synod, the Church's governing body, are from black or South Asian backgrounds. "We need to ask why there are not more people of minority ethnic backgrounds in leadership within the Church," said the mother of three. "We have been encouraging people to stand and people have been putting themselves forward and have not been elected. I think there is a level of racism around that." Hudson-Wilkin, also a vicar in Hackney, east London, put herself forward for the Synod a few years ago but was not elected. "It did not occur to them to ensure that one of the priests elected should be from an ethnic minority -- even the ones who stand up Sunday after Sunday in front of a predominantly black congregation," she said. "I'm not one of these people who lifts up a stone to look for racism. "But that shook me because I thought, 'My God, it's as if we don't exist'. "That told me very clearly that they don't give a damn about the congregations that they serve. "The Church, although it has made a lot of steps forward, is still struggling with institutional racism." The General Synod failed to pass legislation last month that would have permitted women bishops. Hudson-Wilkin, who came to Britain in 1985, was tipped to become one of the first. "The whole women bishops thing is crazy," she said. "I'd like to see the church going with the courage of its conviction and say, 'We're having women bishops, full stop'."
|
| Karpal: Tunku Aziz trying to ‘poison Malays’ against DAP Posted: 22 Dec 2012 04:03 PM PST
DAP chairman Karpal Singh accused today former colleague Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim of mounting a smear campaign to turn the Malay community against the party and its leaders by claiming members were barred from accepting state awards from Malay rulers. Karpal, a lawyer and federal lawmaker, rejected allegations that the Chinese-dominant party was opposing Malay rulers by snubbing the awards, saying the DAP's policy has been consistent in rejecting state honours except for those issued for bravery. "We are not against the Malay rulers. The policy is just to tell our members they can't accept state awards of any kind except for bravery," he told a press conference in Air Itam today. "By saying that I issued an edict prohibiting party members from accepting state awards from Malay rulers is a half-truth and coined to put me in a bad light in the eyes of the Malays," the Bukit Gelugor MP said. The veteran politician was responding to Tunku Aziz, a former DAP vice chairman-turned-critic, who was yesterday reported accusing Karpal of issuing an order prohibiting party members from accepting any award given out by Malay rulers. Karpal clarified that the party's policy applied to all state honours, including those issued by state governors in Penang, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak. The party policy was introduced a few years ago as a move towards transparency. "This prohibition is only for active members as we want to ensure transparency. So, the rulers should not construe this as a decision that is against them. They should understand that it is our stand for transparency sake," he said. He said DAP members may accept awards after they have retired from active politics, citing as examples the late Chian Heng Kai, a former Bukit Mertajam MP; former Batu Lanchang assemblyman the late Tan Loo Jit; and former Berapit state lawmaker Wong Hang Yoke who were conferred state honours carrying the title "Datuk". Karpal said strict disciplinary action will be taken against those who breached the party policy. Karpal also chided Perak DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and Selangor Assembly Speaker Datuk Teng Chang Khim for accepting the awards from the Perak Sultan and the Selangor ruler conferred in 2008 and 2010 respectively. "I have told them to surrender their Datukships but they have not done so. This is wrong and against the party principle," he said, even though the duo have not been hauled up for accepting the awards.
|
| Posted: 22 Dec 2012 03:54 PM PST
Karpal Singh says he had never issued an edict prohibiting DAP members from accepting awards from Malay rulers. Athi Shankar, FMT DAP national chairman Karpal Singh today denied that he had ever issued an edict prohibiting party members from accepting state titles and awards, especially Datukships, from Malay rulers, as alleged by former party vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim (pic). He blasted Tunku Aziz for "lying publicly" and demanded an immediate retraction of his statement published in an English daily article yesterday. Karpal insisted that he had only told party leaders, assemblymen and MPs not to accept Datukships or, state titles or awards, as long they were active in politics. He said the party rule was DAP leaders and members can accept such titles and awards after retirement from active politics. "The statement by Tunku Aziz attributing my having issued what amounts to an edict prohibiting DAP members from accepting awards from Malay rulers is certainly a half-truth. "It was perpetrated for the sole purpose and objective of putting me in bad light in the eyes of the Malays in the country. "I consider this an exceptionally sharp and unkind cut devoid of justification. "I have never mentioned Malay rulers. Tunku Aziz has lied. "He should publicly withdraw his statement," Karpal, the two-term Bukit Gelugor parliamentarian read out his statement to newsmen here today. Expressing shocked over Tunku Aziz's statement, he said DAP had considered the ex-vice-chairman as a paragon of virtue and man of integrity after having presided over the Transparency International Malaysian Chapter. But now, Karpal said the transparency of Tunku Aziz was more than suspect due to his poisonous and obnoxious utterances against DAP. "He should cease and desist from attacking DAP and its leaders," said Karpal. Facing the CEC The rule was reaffirmed when Perak chairman Ngeh Koo Ham and Selangor Assembly Speaker Teng Chang Khim accepted Datukships in their respective states after the 2008 general election Nonetheless they were given a dressing down during a central executive committee (CEC) meeting for serious breach of ethics. "At the conclusion of a CEC meeting, Tunku Aziz had come up to state that it would be better for the CEC to resolve the issue from then onwards that Datukships ought not to be accepted and leave Ngeh and Teng alone," recalled Karpal. Since then, he said no one had accepted Datukships, or any state titles or awards, including himself, senior leaders Dr Chen Man Hin and Lim Kit Siang, and Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng. "Penang government is with us. We could have easily accepted all awards. But we didn't," pointed out Karpal. In Penang, the DAP-led Pakatan Rakyat state government had honoured former Bukit Mertajam MP the late Chian Heng Kai, former Batu Lanchang assembly the late Tan Loo Jit and former Berapit assemblyman Wong Hang Yoke with Datukships. "All three had retired from active politics," clarified Karpal. He warned party leaders and elected representatives to observe the "no to state titles and award" rule strictly or else they would pay penalty for breach of party code of conduct. "They would be disciplined," he warned.
|
| Saudi website editor could face death for apostasy-rights group Posted: 22 Dec 2012 03:33 PM PST
(Reuters) - The editor of a Saudi Arabian website could be sentenced to death after a judge cited him for apostasy and moved his case to a higher court, the monitoring group Human Rights Watch said yesterday. Raif Badawi, who started the Free Saudi Liberals website to discuss the role of religion in Saudi Arabia, was arrested in June, Human Rights Watch said. Badawi had initially been charged with the less serious offence of insulting Islam through electronic channels, but at a December 17 hearing a judge referred him to a more senior court and recommended he be tried for apostasy, the monitoring group said. Apostasy, the act of changing religious affiliation, carries an automatic death sentence in Saudi Arabia, along with crimes including blasphemy. Badawi's website included articles that were critical of senior religious figures, the monitoring group said. A spokesman for Saudi Arabia's Justice Ministry was not available to comment. The world's top oil exporter follows the strict Wahhabi school of Islam and applies Islamic law, or sharia. Judges base their decisions on their own interpretation of religious law rather than on a written legal code or on precedent. King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia's ruler, has pushed for reforms to the legal system, including improved training for judges and the introduction of precedent to standardise verdicts and make courts more transparent. However, Saudi lawyers say that conservatives in the Justice Ministry and the judiciary have resisted implementing many of the changes that he announced in 2007.
|
| Karpal Singh ticks off two party leaders who accepted Datukships Posted: 22 Dec 2012 03:27 PM PST
(The Star) - DAP chairman Karpal Singh (pix) has chided two party leaders, Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and Datuk Teng Chang Khim, for accepting Datukships from state rulers, which is against the party's long-standing principle. He said that according to the principle agreed upon by party members since the mid 1990s, DAP state assemblymen and Members of Parliament were not to accept Datukships during their tenure in office. "From now on, the party will take action against members who don't follow this ruling," he said, adding that the form of punishment would be decided by the party's disciplinary board after a hearing. Ngeh, who is also Perak DAP chairman, was conferred the title in 2008 while Teng, who is the Selangor state assembly speaker, accepted a Datukship in 2010.
|
| Sabah to get new constituencies next year Posted: 22 Dec 2012 03:21 PM PST Several constituencies in the west coast of the state is to be carved up due to rapid population growth. Queville To, FMT PAPAR: Sabah is set to get several new electoral constituencies when the re-delineation exercise takes place next year. Deputy State Speaker Johnny Mositun said he had met several high-ranking Election Commission officers here and in Kuala Lumpur and they had informed him that many constituencies on the west coast of the state would be carved up due to rapid population growth. "I have been given to understand that Sabah will get some additional constituencies," said Mositun who is also PBS information chief, while speaking at the PBS Bongawan Division annual general meeting here on Saturday. "I have put forward my view that the recent emergence of big industries and rapid population growth along the west coast justifies the creation of several new constituencies between Papar and Sipitang," he said. Mositun said the creation of new constituencies should not be based on ethnicity alone but rather the overall population and geography of the locality, among other things. "The important thing is for the electoral constituencies to enable a balanced and equitable representation of Sabahans based on the overall demography of the state," he said. The mini-boom taking place in the area due to the oil and gas hub being built by Petronas in Kimanis has resulted in the area south of the capital experiencing rapid growth after years of slumber. There has been a tremendous increase in vehicular traffic in the Papar district in the wake of rapid industrialisation and business opportunities that have opened up at Kimanis and Sipitang over the past year with commuters now complaining of daily traffic jams at bottleneck areas close to the towns along the way. "I hope the state government will take up my suggestion for a diversionary road from near the the Pengalat-Dambai junction and an additional bridge over the Papar River," Mositun said. "This will ease the daily bottleneck at the entry to Papar town itself. Additionally I suggest the state government treat calls for upgrading the Kinarut-Pengalat-Papar road to a dual carriageway as a matter of urgency," he added.
|
| Stay away from trouble, DAP leaders told Posted: 22 Dec 2012 03:20 PM PST Karpal Singh responds to questions on the controversial Kelantan land deal allegedly involving DAP's Perak chairman Ngeh Koo Ham and secretary Nga Kor Ming Athi Shankar, FMT DAP national chairman Karpal Singh has called all party leaders and elected representatives to stay away from trouble that could create negative public perception on their integrity and dignity. He said it would be bad for the party party leaders or elected reps were to be perceived of any wrongdoing. "Hence, DAP leaders and elected reps should not put themselves into a position where there would be a public perception of any wrongdoing. "They should be extra careful and stay away from such trouble," he told a press conference during his Bukit Gelugor parliamentary constituency visit here today. He was responding to questions on the controversial Kelantan land deal allegedly involving DAP's Perak chairman Ngeh Koo Ham and secretary Nga Kor Ming. The two cousins from Perak have issued denials and legal threats in the past week following revelation that they were allegedly given 10,000 acres of prime forest land by the PAS-led Kelantan administration as part of an elaborate deal to have PAS' Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin appointed as Perak Menteri Besar after Pakatan Rakyat captured the state in the 2008 general election. The allegations were made by the Pisau.net blog and by the Mole portal which said the land at Gua Musang, Kelantan was being held by the Perak DAP senior leaders under a company named Upayapadu Plantation Sdn Bhd. Having been in denial, silent and switch off modes on their alleged involvement with Upayapadu, the duo have now confirmed they were investors in the project. But they denied any wrongdoing. Ngeh confirmed on Friday that the federal government had given out a loan for the project, adding however that it was wrong to suggest that they were "awarded" the land. However, Ngeh and Nga have not addressed the main allegation that the land deal was part of a discussion to allow Nizar to assume the Mentri Besar job. The Pisau.net blog alleged that Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, the PAS spiritual leader, brokered the controversial deal.
|
| ‘PPO has no authority to review Bala’s SD’ Posted: 21 Dec 2012 04:44 PM PST Does the Corruption Prevention Advisory Board (LPPR) have powers to override decisions made by MACC and the Public Prosecutor? Alyaa Azhar, FMT Former KL CID chief Mat Zain Ibrahim has questioned the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) operations evaluation panel's (PPO) authority to review its governing decision involving investigations into P Balasubramaniam's second statutory declaration (SD) or any other matters. Mat Zain has also similarly questioned the PPO's power to review the Public Prosecutor's (PP) decisions. PPO chairman Hadenan Abdul Jalil had recently announced that the case involving carpet trader Deepak Jaikishan was discussed during the PPO pre-meeting on Nov 8. But Mat Zain said today that Hadenan had no authority to review decisions made by MACC and the PP. His argument was based on a personal case in which he had appealed to the MACC advisory board to review a decision with regards to an investigation into a police report made by Anwar Ibrahim on July 1 2008. Anwar had accused Abdul Gani Patail, Musa Hassan, Abdul Rahman Yusof and himself for falsifying evidence in the investigation of the "black eye" incident. Mat Zain said on July 23 2009, he received an official letter from Abdul Hamid Mohamad, the chairman of Corruption Prevention Advisory Board (LPPR), a MACC panel which is above the PPO. The letter he said was also copied to Hadenan. In the letter Abdul Hamid stated: "LPPR's jurisdiction as provided by MACC Act Section 13 (Act 694) DOES NOT include reviewing any decision made by MACC and the Public Prosecutor in any particular case." Said Mat Zain: "If LPPR realised (then) that it did not have the authority to review decisions made by MACC and the Public Prosecutor, why did LPPR discuss in great detail my appeal on three occasions, on April 20, June 15 and June 25 2009? "I can only conclude that the answer given was to cover up the criminal misconduct made by Gani Patail and Musa Hassan so that they would not face legal punishment." Bearing this in mind, Mat Zain questioned how Hadenan and his PPO could now review a MACC's decision regarding Balasubramaniam's second SD, when Abdul Hamid himself confirmed that the LPPR had no authority. "There is no difference in whether Hadenan agrees or not with MACC's decision because the PPO does not have authority to review cases, as confirmed by Abdul Hamid. "If there really is a new law which enables PPO to review cases, then I want to make another appeal to LPPR to review the case on Gani and Musa which has been distorted," he said
|
| Young voters now in favour of BN: Muhyiddin Posted: 21 Dec 2012 04:04 PM PST
(Bernama) -- Young voters, key to the country achieving developed nation status by the year 2020, now are in favor of the Barisan Nasional (BN), said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin. He said the awareness of young voters to the BN's ability to continue leading the country was stronger now because they knew only the BN could assure a better future for Malaysia. "With the (general) election nearing, it seems that this wave of consciousness is very evident, I say congratulations to the young people ... just a while go I saw a banner captioned "Orang muda sokong BN" (Young People Support the BN). "We gathered a million youths in Putrajaya and they wanted Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to remain as the Prime Minister of Malaysia," he said when addressing guests of the 1Malaysia People's Feast at Kampung Sungai Bahagia's football field in Manir here today. Also present were Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said and Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek. Muhyiddin said BN would assure that no group of people whether in Peninsular Malaysia , Sabah or Sarawak would be left out of mainstream development if it remained in power till 2020. He said the BN government today was entrusted with the responsibility ensure the people's well-being. He said, in implementing the trust, the government always ensured the national economy expanded, job opportunities increased, industries became more advanced and better social facilities such as in health and education. "We promise Malaysia will become a developed nation in eight years. Every level of people, old, young, all communities, Peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak will be given attention and will be well looked after," he said. He said it was not an empty promise because BN would assure that by 2020, Malaysia would become a developed nation according to the people's aspiration. In the meantime, he said PAS would not be able to become the party to look after the welfare of the Malays and Islam in the country as Umno had done all these all this while. 'When we help the people, PAS calls it corruption. I do not know what decree they use, as it is our duty to the people," he said. He said the BN government had never played favourites in helping the people because what was important was that they were loyal to King and country. He also said that he was confident that Terengganu would remain under BN with the support of every layer of society who wanted to see continuous change and development in the state. He expected the support of the people of Terengganu towards Umno and BN would be higher compared to the previous general election. "Let us together, with determination and resolve, bring changes to the Muslim community in the state under Umno and BN," he said. During the ceremony, which was attended by some 15,000 people, he also announced an allocation of RM2.9 million to repair houses of the poor and to build facilities for the people in the Manir state constituency.
|
| 2.3 million register for BR1M 2.0 Posted: 21 Dec 2012 03:53 PM PST  (Bernama) -- Eligible people who register for the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) 2.0 by Dec 31 can get the payment in the first quarter of 2013, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said today. "We will make the payment in the first quarter of 2013. Those who have yet to register are advised to do so before Dec 31 so that they can be paid when we make the payments. "If they register late, they will receive the payment late. They can register online or manually. When we make the payment in the first quarter, all those who registered will be paid," he told reporters after launching an entrepreneurs' carnival of SME Bank, here. However, Ahmad Husni said, no closing date had been set for the BR1M 2.0 registration which opened on Nov 1. He also said that more than 2.3 million applications had been received for BR1M 2.0 as at Dec 17, with more than 1.6 million of the applications from single unmarried people and more than 720,000 from households. Malaysians with a household income of less than RM3,000 a month are eligible or the one-off RM500 cash aid, while single unmarried individuals aged 21 and above and earning not more than RM2,000 a month are eligible for a one-off RM250 aid. Ahmad Husni said 54 per cent of the applications were made manually and the rest, online. The application forms can be obtained free from the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) service centres and branches, Federal Development Department, Social Welfare Department, Information Department and government agencies or downloaded from or filled online at the LHDN website, www.hasil.gov.my. He said BR1M 2.0, which involved an allocation of RM3 billion, was expected to benefit 4.3 million households and 2.7 million single unmarried individuals. Last year, 4.2 million people benefited from the BR1M payment made for the first time, involving an allocation of RM2.1 billion.
|
| All Barisan candidates must be cleared by MACC, says Najib Posted: 21 Dec 2012 03:19 PM PST
(The Malaysian Insider) - All Barisan Nasional election candidates must be vetted and cleared by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Barisan chairman, said it was the coalition's standard practice to submit names of its potential candidates to the MACC to be vetted. "All Barisan candidates go through the vetting process by MACC. We refer their names to MACC, and if they have doubtful files, they will not pass the vetting process. "It is the stand of Barisan that every candidate must pass the MACC vetting process," he told the Malaysian media delegation here yesterday. He was responding to a suggestion by the MACC's Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel chairman Datuk Johan Jaafar that all political parties send their list of candidates for vetting by the commission. Najib is in New Delhi to attend the two-day Asean-India Commemo-rative Summit, which celebrates 20 years of Asean-India relationship. Asked if the electoral candidates list has been finalised, Najib said it was an ongoing process. "Although we have a list, if we get the latest input or information, changes can be made as long as the announcement (of the candidacy) has not been made," he said. Meanwhile, Bernama reported Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal as saying that the proposal for candidates to be vetted by the MACC would prevent any problems later if the candidates were found to be involved in corruption after they were elected. "I'm all for it because we do not want to find out later that the candidate has problems and a by-election has to be called. "This will not only involve costs, but also inconvenience the people," Shafie told reporters after a working visit to the Tok Bali fishermen resettlement project in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan, yesterday.
|
| DAP leader refutes Kelantan land-for-Perak MB deal Posted: 21 Dec 2012 03:13 PM PST
Ida Lim, The Malaysian Insider Perak DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham has admitted to being a director in a logging firm awarded land in PAS-led Kelantan but refuted that the project was in exchange for letting the Islamist party take the silver state's mentri besar post, the New Straits Times (NST) reported today. Ngeh told the English-language daily that he and another Perak DAP lawmaker, Nga Kor Ming, had invested in the project but stressed that the deal was above board. "The Inland Revenue Board is aware of this transaction. So is the federal government. "The federal government even gave out a loan as the project is for the good of the country," the Beruas MP was quoted as saying by the NST. Last Thursday, Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen alleged in the state assembly that both Ngeh (picture) and Nga had been awarded a piece of land, said to be worth RM30 million, and linked it to the appointment of PAS's Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin as Perak mentri besar after the 2008 general election. Datuk Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib was reported as saying that Ngeh and Syarikat Efektif Kirana Sdn Bhd had bought 4,000 hectares in Gua Musang, Kelantan for a logging project. The BN assemblyman for Slim claimed that Nga, the Perak DAP secretary, was also involved. At a press conference yesterday, Ngeh, who is also a lawyer, had explained that the Perak duo had invested in the project upon invitation by their client Upaya Padu Plantations Sdn Bhd. Yesterday, The Star Online reported Ngeh as saying the original sales and purchase agreement of the land was signed in May 3, 2006, which he said showed that the claims against him and Nga amounted to slander. "This shows that the transaction between Yayasan Islam Kelantan and Upaya Padu Plantations Sdn Bhd was conducted even before Pakatan Rakyat was in power in 2008. "Therefore claims that the land was given to us by PAS in exchange for a mentri besar position are slander. "As a lawyer maintaining my professional ethics, I could only reveal that the group of investors, who were also my clients, only purchased the company this year. "It is only a personal transaction and a private sector investment into the state," he was quoted as saying by The Star Online. Both Ngeh and Nga, who are cousins, are also lawmakers for the Sitiawan and Pantai Remis state seats. Ngeh was reported as saying he will sue those who have defamed them over this matter.
|
| ‘We have proof top cops pally with crooks’ Posted: 21 Dec 2012 03:00 PM PST Top police officers have been involved in criminal activities, according to MyWatch, which claims to have the evidence. Teoh El Sen, FMT The Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force, or MyWatch, today claimed that it has in its possession evidence that top police officers are involved in criminal activities. R Sri Sanjeevan, the chairman of the watchdog NGO, threatened to make public the information unless the Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar agrees to meet with the group so that an open, high-profile investigation can be carried out immediately. "We have all the evidence that top police officers are involved in money laundering, illegal gambling, prostitution, football bookies and have direct links with underworld figures and kingpins. Yet to date, there is no answer and no action by the IGP," Sanjeevan said in a statement. Sanjeevan also cited a case where a top police officer was given an "all-expense paid trip overseas to play golf with an underworld kingpin" as well as as one where "one senior police official's son and daughter is working for a kingpin with special privileges". "Aren't they [officers] obliged in some ways to them [kingpins]? Isn't that conflict of interest?" asked Sanjeevan. He said that Ismail cannot choose to keep quiet and must act without fear or favour against corrupt officers, which are now being slowly revealed by former Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan. "I again invite the IGP to meet with us so we can pass such evidence to him or we will be forced to make this information public. All police officers should be accountable for their actions and must have more sense of responsibility when dealing with crime or public," said Sanjeevan. Aside from Ismail, Sanjeevan urged Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, and the Home Ministry secretary-general Abd Rahim Mohd Radzi to respond to Musa's past allegations. Several bombshells "Musa has clearly mentioned that there is meddling and interference by the Home Minister and the secretary-general into police matters. For example, giving direct instruction to state police chiefs, CID chiefs, and junior officers but since then there has been no answer by anyone. "So [by keeping silent] I assume they silently 'agreed' to what we have revealed," he said. In recent weeks, Musa had dropped several bombshells, alleging that politicians have been interfering with police work and that criminal elements have infiltrated the force. He also pointed out that there may have been cases of abuse of power at the top level when several senior policemen were transferred out for refusing to approve an "unsound" walkie-talkie project. Musa also labelled Ismail a "yes man" and had urged the latter to be tough, revealing one example when Ismail allegedly cried after he was scolded for following the orders of former home minister Syed Hamid Albar to arrest a reporter under the then Internal Security Act (ISA). Following these disclosures, several quarters have hit back at the former top cop, questioning Musa's timing and credibility. They also brought up the "copgate" issue where Musa is alleged to have links to underworld figures. Musa's detractors included Hishammuddin, businessman Robert Phang, former KL CID chief Mat Zain Ibrahim, former Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Ramli Yusuff and his lawyer Rosli Dahlan. Responding to the attacks, Sanjeevan said that these are merely attempts to divert the NGO's focus on crime, and threatened to take legal action against "those who continue to make false and malicious accusations".
|
| Musa denies knowledge of SD, Najib’s SMS Posted: 21 Dec 2012 02:55 PM PST Musa Hassan confirms that he met then DPM Najib Tun Razak to tell him that analyst Abdul Razak Baginda was to be arrested. Najib, however, told him to "carry on". Teoh El Sen, FMT The intensifying chatter of an alleged conspiracy in the 2006 murder of Altantuya Shaarribuu has put a SMS purportedly sent by Najib Tun Razak to his close friend Abdul Razak Baginda back in the spotlight. The SMS was first mentioned in P Balasubramaniam's first statutory declaration [SD], where the private investigator claimed that Razak Baginda showed him the text message from the then deputy prime minister the morning before he was arrested. "On the day Abdul Razak Baginda was arrested, I was with him at his lawyers office at 6.30 am Abdul Razak Baginda informed us that he had sent Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak an SMS the evening before as he refused to believe he was to be arrested, but had not received a response." "Shortly thereafter, at about 7.30 am, Abdul Razak Baginda received an SMS from Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and showed, this message to both myself and his lawyer. This message read as follows :- 'I am seeing IGP at 11.00 a.m. today …… matter will be solved … be cool'," according to the SD. However, any instances of impropriety was dismissed by former Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan today, who said that he did meet Najib at the time but the latter did not attempt to interfere into the case in any way. Speaking to FMT, Musa recounted that he had briefed the then Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi about the case. Musa had previously told online news portal Malaysiakini.com that top cops were summoned in 2007 by Badawi about the case. "The Prime Minister Badawi asked me whether Najib was involved or not. I said no. Our investigations showed he was not. I told him my men will be arresting Razak Baginda because of his involvement, " he said, adding that the former premier then directed that he inform Najib of this. "I met Najib telling him that I was going to arrest Razak Baginda. He replied 'carry on'. That's all. He did not try to interfere with what the police was going to do." Asked about the alleged SMS message, Musa said he was not privy to that as Najib did not show him anything of the kind. He also explained that police investigations were focused on the murder and the issue with the SD was being handled by another enforcement agency. "I don't know about the SD. The SD was actually investigated by somebody else. I only monitored the murder case." On whether further investigations should be done on the SD matter, Musa replied: "I think if they want to find the truth it should be investigated." In the interview with Malaysiakini, Musa had said that it was untrue that Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor was at the scene of the crime. He said investigations also showed military was not involved. Murky saga In Oct 21, Musa had denied that he was to hold a press conference in Bangkok the next day. This was information posted on the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) website, where it was written that the press conference was supposed to reveal new details about the Altantuya murder. On several occasions, Musa's name would be dragged into the dramatic but murky saga. Aside from being identified in the first SD, Musa's name was mentioned during an alleged exchange of text messages between Najib and an Umno-linked lawyer. This transcript, which was published in the Malaysia Today blog, had suggested that Musa had met Najib over the murder. Najib had reportedly said that there was no abuse of power over the case.
|
| Legal action threat over oil, gas rights Posted: 20 Dec 2012 07:28 PM PST
(Borneo Post) - State Reform Party (Star) Sabah is giving the State Government six weeks to restore ownership rights of Sabah's oil and gas resources, or the people would proceed with legal action, according to its chairman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan. He told a press conference at TNGC Beverly Hills yesterday that Petronas missed the point when it acted as if it was the sole custodian of Malaysia's oil and gas.
He was responding to the statement by Petronas that it could not afford to increase the cash payment to 20 per cent to the oil-producing states as proposed by Pakatan Rakyat.
"The Federal Government is also irresponsible in using Petronas as its mouthpiece to reject the claims of the oil-producing states for increases in the cash payment from the current five per cent.
"The Federal Government and Petronas have totally ignored the fact that oil and gas resources belong to Kelantan, Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak, in the first place. It did not belong to the Federal Government and definitely not Petronas," Jeffrey asserted.
He said from Sabah and Sarawak's point of view, it should not be trapped into discussing the increase of the five per cent cash payment. In fact, he said, many of Sabah's leaders were still confused with the five per cent cash payment.
"It is not royalty as in the 1976 Oil Agreement; the State Government was pressured to reject or waive its right to collect royalty.
The real issue now, said Jeffrey, was not the amount of cash payment but the validity of Tun Abdul Razak's Vesting Order to Petronas as the oil and gas belonged to Sabah and Sarawak.
"Such vesting to Petronas has to be unconstitutional and invalid," he said.
"Therefore, Petronas and the Federal Government, and Pakatan Rakyat as the alternative front, and their leaders should be talking, firstly about restoring and returning the ownership of the oil rights to Sabah and Sarawak and then, secondly re-negotiate for the state to contribute a portion of the oil revenue to the Federal Government or Petronas.
He said Star Sabah would be handing over a memorandum to the Chief Minister's office by Monday or Tuesday, calling for restoration of the ownership of the oil and gas, otherwise the people of Sabah, with the support of Star Sabah, would bring the issue to court, including the issue of Blocks L and M. |
| Mustafa: Pakatan seat talks at tail-end Posted: 20 Dec 2012 06:20 PM PST
Tarani Palani, fz.com With seat negotiations between Opposition allies at its tail end, any party which demands for additional seats at this juncture would have to bear in mind whether there is a supply of additional seats left to be distributed. PAS Secretary General Datuk Mustafa Ali said this in response to his DAP counterpart Lim Guan Eng's announcement during the weekend party congress that the party would like three more parliamentary seats and 10 more state seats. However, the PAS party veteran was quick to add that Lim's request was nothing to be jittery about as it was understood that he was playing to party supporters. "There is nothing wrong with asking for seats because every political party is seeking for more seats. But (if there are) seats left to be distributed (is something to bear in mind)," he said in an interview with fz.com recently. For Mustafa, who was present at the congress in Penang to hear Lim's speech, the DAP leader's announcement was neither suprising nor the opposite. "I was there, I heard what he said, but I didn't ask him," said Mustafa chuckling. "I feel (the announcement) was more to pacify (party) grassroots who are looking for a seat increase". Mustafa who heads the PAS team in the Pakatan Rakyat election consultative council on seat negotiations, said that talks usually took place in the committee and that there was "not much" left to negotiate. He was mostly tight lipped on the matter, merely saying that most of the negotiations had already taken place this year. DAP Deputy Chairperson Tan Kok Wai and PKR Deputy President Azmin Ali are the heads of the other parties in the committee. Mustafa repeated what many Pakatan leaders had said on the criteria for seat allocations. For the coalition, which will face its first general election as a formal alliance, the formula would be to more or less stick to its status quo in 2008. "Each party forwards its suggestions. But we mostly use as one of our guidelines the 2008 status quo. We know what the status quo is, so it's plus or minus that. (That will be the basis) for exchange of seats or discussions similar to that," he said. He added that despite of announcements made by party leaders, the final outcome would depend on negotiations between the parties. Mustafa also said that he did not foresee any difficulty in finalising Pakatan's list of candidates as it could be settled at the committee stage. He said that in case one particular candidate cannot be agreed upon, then the matter will be brought up to the party Presidents. He however said that it may not come to that extent as most of the negotiations have gone on smoothly.
|
| Perak Speaker Ganesan: I am not involved in any sex scandal Posted: 20 Dec 2012 05:25 PM PST
Ganesan speaks to reporters denying any involvement in a sex scandal outside the state assembly on Friday. (The Star) - Perak Assembly Speaker Datuk R. Ganesan has denied any involvement in a sex scandal and will lodge a police report on the claim. "I will ask the police to investigate the claim. I'm not shocked because they are only made-up stories," he told reporters here on Friday. "I am also extremely sad that my family has to face such allegations," he said, adding that he viewed this as an Opposition tactic to attack him. He was commenting on the envelopes which Opposition assemblymen V.Sivakumar and A. Sivasubramaniam received outside the assembly earlier in the day. The envelopes contained a printed online article and a compact disc (CD) with a lewd picture, Ganesan's portrait and a woman's portrait on the cover. Sivakumar said he would be lodging a police report on the matter.
|
| ‘PKR got it all wrong on power rates’ Posted: 20 Dec 2012 04:22 PM PST Several IPP managers say that forcing IPPs to renegotiate their PPAs will have serious implications. Zainal Epi, FMT PKR has gone off the mark when it said that it would slash the power rates if it comes to power, say independent power producers (IPPs). They were commenting on PKR investment and trade bureau chief Wong Chen's statement on Dec 7 that Pakatan would reduce the independent power producers' (IPP) return of investment (ROI) from 19% to 10% if it forms the next government. Wong has said even if the return of investment (ROI) was at 10%, which is the global benchmark, it was still a lot of money for them (IPPs). (The ROI measures the profitability on an investment and can help in making investment decisions.) "What we want is to cut their [IPPs'] obscene profit," Wong has said. He said under the current contracts, the IPPs' return of investment stood at a whopping 19% and a Pakatan government would reduce it to 10%. However, IPP players said Wong's notion that renegotiating the PPAs (power purchase agreements) with the IPPs was a silver bullet to ensure power prices remain at current rates in the future was wrong and off the mark. They said his analysis was probably driven by poor understanding of the power industry. "It is incorrect, for example, to use take Tenaga Nasional Bhd's 2011 capacity payment as a proxy for IPP earnings and dividing it by IPPs' total capital expenditure, resulting in a ROI of 19%," said a senior IPP manager who did not want to be named. (Capacity payment is payment received in exchange for making electrical capacity available.) He said this is because capacity payment is a composition of revenue and not profit, "so it is wrong to treat it as earnings". "Capacity payment is primarily used to service debt obligations of the power plant developer, so earnings is derived only after deducting debt servicing payments and other fixed costs such as insurance and taxes. "The time value of money, which is basic in financial economics, is ignored in his [Wong's] analysis – there is a need to consider capital investment made in a year and also the annual earning streams recurring for 21 years, to work out the true ROI, and not just taking into account one payment in one particular year…," said one IPP senior manager. Another IPP manager said Pakatan's proposal to force IPPs to take a 50% cut on revenues – primarily used to service their debt obligations – has the following serious implications:
'Tariffs need to go up' "For example, oil has increased from below US$30 per barrel in 2000 to currently above US$90 per barrel [over 200% increase for the period]. "To get an inkling of the capital-intensive nature of the industry, just look up the TNB website and discover the capital expenditure of TNB each year [in the range of RM4 billion to RM7 billion]. "If the opportunity cost of gas were to be added to the present gas price, that alone will raise TNB's fuel cost by more than RM10 billion annually," he said.
|
| ‘Probe the five involved in Deepak’s claims’ Posted: 20 Dec 2012 04:16 PM PST PKR piles pressure on the authorities to investigate Cecil Abraham, Arulampalam, Nazim, Deepak and Balasubramaniam. Leven Woon, FMT The police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) have been urged to investigate the five individuals allegedly involved in the preparation of private investigator P Balasubramaniam's second statutory declaration (SD). PKR vice-president Tian Chua said the authorities should probe lawyer Cecil Abraham who was allegedly said to have prepared the second SD and Arulampalam, who has appeared with Balasubramaniam at the press conference to issue the second SD on July 4, 2008. Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's brother Nazim Tun Razak, Balasubramaniam and businessman Deepak Jaikishan must also be called up for questioning, Chua added. "Malaysian laws stipulate that conspiracy to falsify or subvert sworn statement is a criminal offence. "Those involved in abetment and conspiracy can be charged under Section 107 of the Penal Code, or Section 120a for criminal conspiracy, and Section 191 for false evidence under Statutory Declaration Act 1960," he said at a press conference here today. Nazim allegedly met Balasubramaniam on behalf of the prime minister and provided the latter with the money to retract the explosive first SD linking Najib to the murder of Mongolian national Altantuyaa Shariibuu. Chua said since both Balasubramaniam and Deepak had concurred that the second SD was prepared under intimidation and enticement, it is the duty of the enforcement authorities to verify the allegations with the other three individuals. He pointed out that the authorities have shown they are capable of carrying out swift investigations when six federal agencies targeted NGO Suaram over allegations of receiving foreign funding lately. "Unless the MACC and police act immediately, their [already] tainted reputation and image will be tarnished further," he said. Second defamation The Batu MP also ticked off MACC over its clarification yesterday that Cecil, who is a member of the MACC's operation review panel, was not involved in the decision to halt investigation of Balasubramaniam's second SD. Describing the statement as an "utter disappointment", he said MACC is more concerned with defending its decision to stop the investigation than to discharge its duties properly. Meanwhile, Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul said the allegation that Najib had asked his brother to offer money to Balasubramaniam could be considered as a second defamation on the premier after Deepak's claims that Najib was involved in the murder of Altantuyaa. "If what Deepak said is true, then there are elements of corruption and MACC should investigate. Don't drag the matter anymore," he said. Chua also challenged the MACC to find out whether PKR was involved in paying Deepak to defame Najib. When asked whether the enforcement authorities should also probe Najib, since the premier was directly implicated in the allegations, Chua said the focus now should be on the five individuals first. "To be fair to [Najib and Rosmah], they are not materially present at the meeting. Let's leave them alone first. But if Deepak's allegations are proven to be true, then they must follow the lead and investigate further," he said.
|
| Bentong villagers want DAP to explain Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:09 PM PST
(The Star) - BENTONG villagers have given a date for DAP to explain its decision to abruptly stop a singing show during a dinner, reported China Press. They had challenged Bentong Dapsy chairman Chow Yu Hui to cut the head of a cockerel and perform a vow at Guan Di Temple in Kampung Telemong at 1pm tomorrow. The act of cutting a cockerel's head at a temple is a Chinese tradition to prove one's innocence in settling disputes. In a statement signed by 15 village heads and Bentong MCA deputy chief Woong Choo Yak, the group urged Chow to show his bravery in politics and not be a "deserter". "Come to the temple on time and tell us everything. Many villagers know the show was halted because DAP bowed to pressure from PAS and used many tactics to cover this up. "In fact, the incident on Nov 17 should not have happened because DAP was the organiser of the event, which was mostly attended by the Chinese. DAP did not have to follow the orders of PAS members," said the group, adding that this proved that the party had no status in Pakatan Rakyat. During the incident, PAS guests had reportedly demanded that the performance be stopped because they were apparently disturbed by a singer's dressing, which was "too revealing". Villagers, who had raised thousands of ringgit to hire the singers, were furious.
|
| RM200b outflow Najib’s best achievement as Finance minister, says PAS Youth chief Posted: 20 Dec 2012 02:49 AM PST
(Harakah) - The high ranking recently given to Malaysia among developing countries suffering illicit funds outflow means the country's Finance minister Najib Razak has broken a records of sorts, according to PAS Youth leader Nasrudin Hassan. "It is something which has surprised many. What is not surprising is the fact that mainstream media do not report it," he said, adding that the public would eventually come to know details of the damning report issued by Washington-based Global Financial Integrity.
|
| Talks going on well with SAPP, says Anwar Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:59 AM PST Anwar Ibrahim today played down talks of tension between the 'original' Sabah PKR members and allies of Wilfred Bumburing and Lajim Ukin. Teoh El Sen, FMT Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim today dismissed reports that talks were not going well with former Sabah chief minister Yong Teck Lee's Sabah Progressive People's (SAPP) party. He said Pakatan Rakyat, which he leads, has been "more successful with SAPP" as there has been a more active process of negotiations and "they have been attending our joint meetings". Anwar's comments contradict a report on Tuesday quoting a SAPP insider who claimed that Yong had implied that SAPP could well be on a collision course with its "allies" PKR and DAP (Pakatan members) in many seats. Speaking to FMT after SAPP's supreme council meeting on Monday, the insider said Yong told his comrades that SAPP must stick to its "principle" that a local-based party must take the majority of the State Legislative Assembly seats. But Anwar insisted that talks were going smoothly and that seat negotiations in Sabah were underway. Anwar said that the opposition allies are more inclined towards a one-to-one fight against Barisan Nasional parties. "We have taken a clear position that we are moving towards that direction, that's it's one-to-one," Anwar said in a press conference at the PKR headquarters today. When asked about Jeffrey Kitingan-led State Reform Party (STAR), Anwar said that Tuaran MP Wilfred Bumburing, who helms Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS), had been appointed to negotiate seats with Jeffrey in Sabah. "We think we have a problem with the STAR because STAR says it is opposed to all Peninsula-based parties while we say that we are opposed to all corrupt leaders irrespective of whether peninsula or state-based. There is a difference there. "Notwithstanding that, we have assigned Wilfred (Bumburing) to proceed with the negotiations, including with the STAR," said Anwar. 'We want to kill Umno' Asked if peninsula-based Pakatan was focusing its efforts on only parliamentary seats and leaving the state to the locals to fight out, Anwar said: "There is no way we are only fighting in the parliamentary seats and giving the state to Musa [Aman]. We want to kill Umno." He also touched on reports that Sabah PKR was dysfunctional following Anwar's ready acceptance of BN defectors Bumburing and Beaufort MP Lajim Ukin. Both declared their alliance to PKR-Pakatan but declined to become members of the coalition. Lajim has set up his own platform Pakatan Perubahan Sabah which is Pakatan-friendly. FMT had last month reported tension within Sabah PKR between the "PKR ori"[original] or "PKR photocopy", the former referring to genuine members of the party while "photocopy" addresses those with APS and PPS who "refused" to be members of PKR but have declared support for Anwar. But Anwar played down such allegations, saying that it was not an accurate assessment of the current situation. "Not really, of course; there are questions raised, for example: 'why do you consider this candidate… we think another candidate is better'. Things like that. We've had sessions, [PKR] state leader Ahmad Tamrin will be present in all the other meetings, similar with Wilfred and Lajim." "It is not about new or old, [former health minister and MCA leader] Chua Jui Meng came in later but he is still the head of Johor and doing similarly well national. I don't think that is quite correct." When asked about the details of the "deal" with the newcomers, Anwar merely said that the collaboration with Lajim and Bumburing was going "smoothly". "They come in as partners in Pakatan. They are committed to the Pakatan agenda. We are working very well. In fact, next week I am going to [meet] Wilfred and Lajim as part of the campaign programme. I don't have a problem, seriously." "There will be questions. Particularly now with people clamouring for seats or lobbying for seats; it is something which is quite normal. But we have to draw the line, you know."
|
| Lawyer not part of MACC review on Bala’s SD probe, says panel chief Posted: 19 Dec 2012 07:21 PM PST
(The Malaysian Insider) - Prominent lawyer Tan Sri Cecil Abraham was not part of the graftbuster review team that had closed the file on P. Balasubramaniam's controversial second sworn statement over the 2006 murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu, the head of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Operations Review Panel (PPO) said today. Abraham had been named as the mystery lawyer suspected to have drafted the private investigator's (picture)contradictory second statutory declaration (SD) by several high-profile figures questioning a possible conflict of interest as the former also sits on board of the MACC review panel. "PPO had agreed with the decision by the Deputy Public Prosecutor to stop investigating the case on grounds the main witnesses' testimonies were not supported by any other witness and the credibility of the main witnesses were disputable. "PPO wishes to state that one of the panel members, Tan Sri Datuk Cecil Abraham was not present and was not involved in that meeting," Tan Sri Hadenan Abdul Jalil, chairman of the eight-man MACC operations review panel, said in a media statement today. Hadenan said the case, which was linked to that of carpet merchant Deepak Jaikishan Rewachand, had been presented at a PPO pre-meeting on November 8. However, he was silent on the allegations surrounding Abraham. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/lawyer-not-part-of-macc-review-on-balas-sd-probe-says-panel-chief/ |
| Kita’s president crisis remains unresolved Posted: 19 Dec 2012 07:19 PM PST
(Free Malaysia Today) - Outspoken Kita leader Zamil Ibrahim has issued an ultimatum to ROS to resolve the leadership crisis in seven days. Parti Kesejahteraaan Insan Tanah Air (Kita) has been plunged into a leadership crisis since the sudden announcement by its supposed president Zaid Ibrahim to dissolve the party in February this year. The party's Kedah chief Zamil Ibrahim and his Penang counterpart Tan Tee Beng who spoke against the dissolution were expelled on Feb 7. The situation quickly spiraled out of control as Zamil proclaimed that the party's delegates through the Annual General Assembly (AGM) on Feb 25 passed resolutions to elect him as the new president replacing Zaid. However, the party's supposed secretary-general Masrum Dayat, widely seen as Zaid's man, claimed that he was the party boss following Zaid's departure. Demanding a solution to the leadership dispute today, Zamil took the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to task for failing to resolve the matter despite a complaint lodged on Feb 29. "I personally visited the office and submitted all the documents detailing the AGM proceedings on Feb 25. But until today, after some 295 days, the ROS has yet to make any decision," he said. Zamil said the delay could be equated to being prejudicial to the party members' right under Article 10 (1) of Federal Constitution because it affected the functioning of the party. He said this was even more damaging with the general election around the corner. "There are 18 individuals in Kedah and 40 in Sabah who were previously announced to be the party's candidates in the elections. They are now left wondering what to do. "The ROS must resolve the matter within seven days," he added. Zamil also claimed that Zaid had violated the party constitution Clause 11.3.1 to appoint Masrum as Kita chief.
Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/12/20/kitas-president-crisis-remains-unresolved/ |
| ‘Beware of BN temporary withdrawal gifts in polls run-up’ Posted: 19 Dec 2012 07:15 PM PST
(The Malaysian Times) - The suspensions of several unpopular initiatives by the government, including the Automatic Enforcement System (AES), the Goods and Services Tax (GST), electricity tariff hike and tax on prepaid mobile will be temporary in the run-up to the general election, warned PAS. Following is the full report carried by the Harakahdaily. "These 'gifts of withdrawals' are just waiting for the next general election. If the result favours BN, then the suspensions will be revoked and the public will be burdened with all sorts of ridiculous regulations," said PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man. Tuan Ibrahim said BN decided to defer many of its mega projects to avoid giving political bullets to Pakatan Rakyat during election campaign. He however pointed out that the decision whether to revoke the withdrawals or not rests with the people, urging them to deny BN a fresh mandate. "Retaining BN means these temporary suspensions will be lifted. Toppling BN will see all of them permanently cancelled," he said. On the recent suspension of AES by the Attorney General's Chambers despite earlier insistence by Transport minister Kong Cho Ha defending the system, Tuan Ibrahim, who is also Pahang PAS commissioner, said the contradiction only showed the government's messy administration. "We don't know who makes the policy and who enforces it," he chided, adding that either the AG or the Transport minister should be sacked for the AES fiasco.
|
| ‘Tan Sri lawyer must come forward’ Posted: 19 Dec 2012 03:20 PM PST Businessman Robert Phang says that Cecil Abraham must clarify if the latter is the senior lawyer involved in drafting PI Bala's second statutory declaration. Anisah Shukry, FMT MACC advisory panel member Cecil Abraham must clarify whether he is the senior lawyer allegedly involved in the second statutory declaration (SD) by P Balasubramaniam. Making the call at a press conference here, businessman Robert Phang said he was told that Abraham was the only lawyer with the Tan Sri title. "Cecil Abraham is a very senior lawyer and is known to be a close advisor of Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail. I have always questioned his impartiality. "Why is everyone so afraid to mention that the Tan Sri lawyer is Cecil Abraham and that the legal firm is ZulRafique and partners?" he said. However, Phang stressed that he could not confirm whether Abraham was the lawyer allegedly involved in the second SD and added that the onus was on the latter to clarify the matter. Carpet dealer Deepak Jaikishan had recently revealed in an interview that a "Tan Sri" lawyer and his son had been allegedly responsible for the preparation of Balasubramaniam's second SD. The second SD reversed Balasubramaniam's first SD, released the day before, which implicated Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in the murder of Altantuyaa Shaariibuu.
|
| I’m not behind Deepak, Anwar says it again Posted: 19 Dec 2012 03:17 PM PST Refuting the speculation of his involvement once again, the opposition leader tells the prime minister to 'deal with it'. Teoh El Sen, FMT Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has again brushed aside claims that he and his party members are masterminding the recent exposé by Deepak Jaikishan and instead asked Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to "deal with it". Asked about the accusations, especially in pro-Umno blogs that PKR had a hand behind Deepak's re-emergence, Anwar replied with sarcasm: "I'm not surprised because I am behind everything. In fact I wrote GFI [Global Financial Integrity] and asked them to come out with the report on the RM197 billion [of illicit financial outflows in 2010]." The opposition leader also said that if the controversial carpet businessman was revealing issues about him, the mainstream media would go to town with the issue. "But in this country, imagine if he [Deepak] had said something about Anwar. Just 10% of what he said will be in the frontpage of Star, Utusan, everyday, for the next… 32 days," he said.
|
| MCA power play in Tanjong Malim Posted: 19 Dec 2012 01:37 PM PST
(fz.com) - In this first of a three-part series focusing on the Tanjong Malim parliamentary seat, we look at the battle brewing within the MCA between two powerful political families over who should stand here in the next general election Tanjong Malim may look like a town that time has forgotten, but what happens there in the next general election could change the power structure in the MCA. The parliamentary seat is shaping up to become a battle between a political family waiting to make a comeback and a chance for the MCA president to deal a double whammy against his nemesis. The Tanjong Malim parliamentary seat is being held by Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan, the elder brother of former MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting. As Tanjong Malim is seen as a safe seat for the MCA, winning it in the next election would be an important step for the Ong faction to stage a return to the seat of power in the party. For MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, the seat offers a number of tantalising options. As the Perak MCA chief, he could decide to stand there to lead the charge for the state, which the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition lost in the 2008 general election. If Chua stands in Tanjong Malim, he could cut off an obvious avenue for the Ong faction to stage a return. Otherwise, he could field a loyalist there to deny the Ongs a chance to rebuild their base. Asked about the likelihood of the above scenario taking place, a Perak MCA insider said that if Ka Chuan contests and wins in the coming election and overall, the MCA performs worse than in 2008, Chua would probably have to quit, and Ka Chuan could be a candidate for the next president of the party. When asked, Goh Choong Seng, a special aide to Ka Chuan, said this development is plausible. "When you are in politics, this is normal, no matter whether it is in Umno or the Communist Party," he said. However, Chua has to balance between settling a political score and choosing a "winnable" candidate to improve the BN's electoral performance, after the unprecedented setback it suffered in the last general election. Chua won the president's post in the 2010 re-election, beating Ka Ting by 68 votes. Although the party is seen to have closed ranks after Chua became the president, Goh opined that if Ka Chuan and Chua are compared as candidates, Ka Chuan stands a better chance. He said the electorate, especially the Malays in the constituency, are conservative, and would not accept Chua because of his sex scandal. Read more at: http://fz.com/content/mca-power-play-tanjong-malim
|
| DAP warlords eye party sec-gen prize Posted: 19 Dec 2012 01:26 PM PST
(fz.com) - To outsiders, it may seem premature to be talking about a "post Lim Guan Eng era" within the DAP but the party warlords appear to be thinking otherwise. The recently concluded central executive committee (CEC) party election result saw little change on the surface. However, dig a little deeper and you'll find that the different factions in the party had used the platform (of the CEC polls) to get a stronger footing (within the party) with an eye on the coveted secretary general post in 2015 party election. The DAP had amended its party constitution to limit the tenure of a secretary general to three terms. This means Lim, who became DAP secretary general 2004, can only hold on to the post until 2015. The local Chinese papers had thus claimed that the party had now entered the "post Guan Eng era". However, political analysts believe that Guan Eng would continue to play an important role in the party, even after he steps down as sec-gen. Guan Eng was still dominant in the party, and it is too early to say (what will happen after he steps down), said Bridget Welsh, Associate Professor in Political Science at Singapore Management University. Welsh believes the real test to the party would come in next few years. Wong Chin Huat, a fellow of the Penang Institute under Penang government, concurred as Guan Eng was only 52 this year and is very popular as the Penang Chief Minister. There was no reason for him to retire so soon. "And as long as he has not retired, he will play an important role in whatever position. After stepping down as Sec-Gen, he may just assume the position of DAP's Parliament Chief," he toldfz.com. Using the British tradition as an example, Wong said that the party chair was but the head of the party machinery while the real leader of the party was the one accepted by the majority of its parliamentarians. "While some new guy will take over his sec-gen position, I don't think there are leaders of his generation or junior than him can have enough clout to assume the position of DAP's most senior federal cabinet minister (should they take over the federal government). With the new sec-gen three years down the road, what you will see is two leaders from different generations running the party together." Deputy chairman Tan Kok Wai, Vice-chairman Teresa Kok and M Kulasegaran, Pakatan Rakyat bureau chairman Datuk Teng Chang Khim, deputy secretary general Chong Eng are leaders of the same generation as Guan Eng. Party election paves way for power tussle Although Guan Eng is unlikely to retire (from party politics) soon, the CEC election results has laid the groundwork for an intense power tussle in the next party election. A party insider told fz.com that the election result reflected that the delegates voted according to their alignment with certain leaders or factions in the party.
|
| You are subscribed to email updates from Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan