Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Pakatan states 'have failed in legislative reform'
- Zaid: PM must apologise over May 13 reference
- ‘Explain Hindu burial land given to Muslims’
- Answer Musa’s claims, cops tell top brass
- Indonesian embassy warns maids to avoid Malaysia
- M'sians abroad now eligible for postal voting
- Pak Lah’s kin linked to power meter supply storm
- SB tailing me, says Musa
- Need for independent public inquiry into police top brass and Home Ministry — Kua Kia Soong
- APS to back pro-Pakatan candidates
- Musa too abused powers while IGP, says Ramli Yusuff
| Pakatan states 'have failed in legislative reform' Posted: 03 Dec 2012 09:07 PM PST
Lee Leong Hui, Malaysiakini Almost five years after forming the state government in four states, Pakatan Rakyat has failed to reform the institution of the legislature, according to Selangor speaker Teng Chang Khim. Teng attributed this to the refusal of politicians, who exert control over the Executive, to give up their powers.
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| Zaid: PM must apologise over May 13 reference Posted: 03 Dec 2012 07:42 PM PST
Sean Augustin, fz.com Former de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim says Datuk Seri Najib Razak should apologise for references to the May 13 tragedy made at the recent Umno general assembly. Zaid said that claims the 1969 racial riots would recur if Umno lost the next general election or if it returned with a weak majority was uncalled for and made him 'sick to his bones'. He said Najib - the prime minister and Umno president - should distance himself from such statements, which he feels were outright threats, immediately. As prime minister for all Malaysians, Najib should apologise to the nation for the inflammatory statements made by the delegates of the party he leads, said Zahid. "No one should capitalise on a national tragedy for the reprehensible purpose of exploiting emotions ahead of the coming election. "I hope Malaysians-and especially Malays-will find this statement repulsive and punish Umno accordingly," the lawyer turned politician wrote in his blog, zaiduntukrakyat.com. The May 13th spectre is often resurrected by politicians and right wing groups, especially in response to what they perceive as threats to the rights of Malays. While racial rhetoric was largely absent at the Umno general assembly, Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Sharizat Abdul Jalil had mentioned May 13, in her written opening speech, when discussing the fate of the Malays if the party under performed in the coming general election. That part of the speech however was not read. Sharizat however later defended her remarks saying she did not commit any wrong and flayed the media for lacking professionalism. Zaid, in his blog, also wondered why Najib led the 'virulent attack' against liberalism which he defined as a political philosophy founded on the principles of freedom, liberty and equality. Liberalism, he said, supported the free-market economy, the individual's right to ownership of property, free and democratic elections as the foundation of government, freedom of religion and basic human rights. "The constitution of the Federation of Malaysia was founded on these principles, and our proclamation of independence contained the words 'liberty, freedom and justice for all.' So, why are the prime minister and his followers in Umno attacking the constitution and the core values of this country?" he asked.
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| ‘Explain Hindu burial land given to Muslims’ Posted: 03 Dec 2012 07:35 PM PST Hindraf questions Selangor's state government's decision to convert a 3.38 hectre plot of Hindu burial land to a Muslim cemetery. K Pragalath, FMT Hindraf wants the Selangor state government to explain its decision to convert a 3.38 hectre Hindu burial land in Teluk Piai, Kuala Selangor, to a Muslim cemetery. "Why grab the land when Selangor is 7,955 square kilometres?" asked Hindraf's P Uthayakumar in a letter addressed to Selangor Menteri Besar, Khalid Ibrahim. Uthayakumar, who is also Human Rights Party's pro-tem secretary general, was responding to a news report in Malay daily, Sinar Harian today on the matter. In the report, Malaysian Indian Welfare and Cemetery Management Association president M Raman had asked the state government for an alternative plot of land for a Hindu cemetery. Raman said the state exco, at a meeting in July last year, despite acknowledging that the plot of land in Teluk Piai was a Hindu cemetery decided to regazette it as a Muslim cemetary. Raman said this was revealed in the 2010 Selangor Cemetery Inventory Report. "Even a letter from the rural and urban planning department dated Aug 28 this year states that the land, in Lot 13, Api-Api, Kampung Teluk Piai, is a Hindu burial land," said Raman. Uthayakumar said: "Reconvert, re-gazette, issue permanent land titles and restore this historical Hindu cemetery in the memory of the rubber tappers who contributed extensively to Malaya's economy." He also requested for a copy of the 2010 Selangor Cemetery Inventory Report under the Selangor Freedom of Information Enactment 2010 to ascertain the number of Hindu cemeteries in the state and how many of them have been gazetted. Uthayakumar also raised concerns over the status of the Hindu cemeteries in Barisan Nasional administered states. He gave three examples: the Bukit Jalil Hindu cemetery that was re-gazetted as Muslim burial ground, a cemetary in Kuala Sawah, Negeri Sembilan that was wiped out and a burial ground in Rantau, Seremban that was desecreated.
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| Answer Musa’s claims, cops tell top brass Posted: 03 Dec 2012 07:29 PM PST Police want the top brass to look into the ex-IGP's claims of criminal elements and political interference in the police force. Anisah Shukry and Teoh El Sen, FMT The police are split over ex-inspector general of police Musa Hassan's claims of political interference and criminal elements in the police force but one common sentiment prevails – the top brass must take responsibility over it. "Of course it is damaging to the police force but then again, there is no smoke without fire, so there is an element of truth in it," said a senior policeman on condition of anonymity. "Perhaps in a way it is good because if the top level wants to change, it is high time to look into it," he told FMT. Last week, Musa dropped a bombshell when he accused Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein as one of the politicians who interfered with police investigation. The former top cop also suggested that criminal elements had infiltrated the police force, revealing that there were cases where the links went high up and "nobody dared talk about it." His damning comments coincided with Umno's general assembly; the party's last huddle before it faced the 13th general election. Umno top leaders, including Hishammuddin, had not directly answered Musa's claims since last week, choosing instead to dismiss them as attempts to sidetrack the public from the issues raised during the general assembly. Meanwhile, current IGP Ismail Omar said that he did not have the time for things that were "not important" – a response that courted ire from Musa who labelled the former as "snobbish." 'Ismail is a poor leader' Commenting on this, the senior police officer told FMT that Ismail lacked leadership quality. "He shouldn't be there in the first place, he's merely a puppet. Whenever he is summoned by the ministry, he comes back crying. "Whenever he is pressured, he doesn't act professionally, he screams at his officers. He is someone who is hard to work with, no backbone, no guts," he said.
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| Indonesian embassy warns maids to avoid Malaysia Posted: 03 Dec 2012 04:20 PM PST
(AFP) - Indonesia Tuesday warned its nationals not to work as maids in Malaysia after a weekend raid freed 105 women who were confined against their will and forced to work without pay. In the latest maid abuse scandal to hit Malaysia, authorities said they had freed 95 Indonesians, six Filipinas and four Cambodians who toiled as housemaids by day but were locked inside a building near the capital Kuala Lumpur at night. Recurring reports of abuse of Indonesian maids have soured relations between the two Southeast Asian neighbours and in 2009 prompted Jakarta to angrily cut off the supply of domestic workers to Malaysia. The two sides announced a year ago that the ban would be lifted after they reaching an accord to provide maids better protection and working conditions. But the latest case showed Indonesians were still at risk, especially those who come to Malaysia illegally without going through proper recruitment channels, a spokesman for Jakarta's embassy said. "The Malaysian authorities should take tough action... It's better for Indonesian maids not to work in Malaysia," spokesman Suryana Sastradiredja told AFP. "They (Malaysia) are asking for Indonesian maids but they cannot protect them well." The women freed on Saturday -- who according to Malaysian media reports had arrived illegally over the past several months -- have been taken to a shelter and will eventually be sent back to Indonesia, Sastradiredja said. Sastradiredja said that since the ban was lifted, fewer than 100 Indonesian maids had arrived through official channels, turned off by the low salaries and abuse reports. But, citing reports from Indonesian and Malaysian activists, he said Jakarta fears thousands more may have been duped into coming illegally with promises of well-paid work since the ban was set in 2009, and were now working in vulnerable situations. One of Southeast Asia's most affluent and developed countries, Malaysia has long attracted women from its poorer neighbours, mostly Indonesia, seeking work as maids. Before the ban, some 300,000 Indonesians were legally registered as working as maids in Malaysia. Recurring incidents in which foreign maids have been confined, abused, beaten, or even killed have repeatedly rankled Malaysia's neighbours. In October, an advertisement in Malaysia that offered Indonesian maids "on sale" went viral online in Indonesia, sparking new outrage. Last month, police said they were investigating a man in northern Malaysia for allegedly raping his 15-year-old Indonesian maid, while in a separate case, three police officers were charged with raping a 25-year-old Indonesian woman at a police station. Cambodia also banned sending maids to Malaysia last year following numerous abuse complaints.
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| M'sians abroad now eligible for postal voting Posted: 03 Dec 2012 04:13 PM PST
(Bernama) - Postal voting facilities for Malaysian citizens living abroad, apart from absentee voters, will be implemented for the coming general election. Election Commission secretary Datuk Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria said it was in line with recommendations from the Special Election Committee On Improving The Election Process for Malaysians living abroad and absentee voters to be given postal voting facilities. For this to be implemented, the EC was finalising the policies, logistics planning, manpower and financial allocations before amendments on the Election Regulations (Postal Voting) 2003 was made, he said. "After the regulations are finalised, the EC will set a date for its implementation and will be brought for approval by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. "Following this, the regulations will be gazetted and then tabled at the Dewan Rakyat," he said in a statement today. Kamaruddin explained that although the third meeting of the fifth session of the 12th Dewan Rakyat had ended, and new regulations had not been tabled, it did not mean the regulations could not be enforced during the general election. "The EC will ensure that the date for implementation of the regulations is set, so it can be used in the general election. "Tabling of the regulations at Dewan Rakyat, according to Section 17 of the Election Act 1958, is required by law after it is approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, setting of the enforcement date and gazetting of the regulations are done," he said. With the enforcement of the regulations, Malaysians who meet the EC's requirements will be eligible for postal voting.
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| Pak Lah’s kin linked to power meter supply storm Posted: 03 Dec 2012 03:24 PM PST
Mohd Farhan Darwis, The Malaysian Insider The family of former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was linked today to a company that supplies the controversial digital electricity meters to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) alleged to have hiked up energy consumption bills and gained the national utility company billions of ringgit in profit. According to PKR's investment bureau chief Wong Chen, Noor Asiah Mahmood, who is the younger sister to Abdullah's (picture) first wife, the late Tun Endon Mahmood, owns Ombata-Ambak Holdings Sdn Bhd, which has a 15 per cent share in Malaysian Intelligence Meters Sdn Bhd, the latter which is one of five companies contracted by TNB to supply the new digital meters. Wong alleged that the programme to switch analogue power meters for digital ones had showed consumers would be contributing RM6.88 billion to TNB's profit over the course of 10 years. The programme has been stopped temporarily on the orders of Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui since October. "Our research shows TNB has 8.03 million consumers now and the average price for each meter is RM250, therefore this programme had the potential to reach RM2 billion. "For the financial year 2012, TNB's revenue from all consumers is RM34.4 billion, if the electronic meter had given a conservative raise of two per cent, the additional burden on consumers would be as much as RM688 million a year. "Seeing as the life expectancy of this meter is only 10 years, consumers would ultimately have to pay as much as RM6.88 billion to TNB for that duration," Wong told a news conference at the opposition party's headquarters here. PKR strategy director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who was also present, said the issue was not a small matter as consumers would have to pay up to 50 per cent of the cost of their power bills. "Therefore, PKR urges TNB to be transparent and responsible in this matter to reveal who are the electronic meter suppliers, the price paid for the meters and whether it was competitively priced at local and international standards, and whether an open tender had been called or was it a direct negotiation?" Nik Nazmi asked. The Seri Setia state lawmaker also called for TNB to fund an independent body to investigate consumer complaints on the new meters and to act on the findings that bind the utility company to consumers. Last October, Chin said TNB had halted the replacement of analogue electricity meters with electronic meters until a standard operating procedure could be fixed. He had made the decision after receiving public complaints saying power consumption had spiked after switching to the new digital meters, causing them to be also billed "retrospectively". "This operation will go on but our main task is to educate people on the new meter," the minister had said then. However, Chin had said replacing the analogue devices with the new meters would continue for households where the electricity meters were damaged or suspected to have been tampered with, resulting in losses.
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| Posted: 03 Dec 2012 02:30 PM PST Following his explosive revelations at a press conference last week, the former IGP finds himself on the other side of the police radar. Teoh El Sen, FMT Ironic as it may sound, former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan has claimed that he is being tailed by special branch officers. This followed his controversial press conference last week, where he claimed that criminal elements had infiltrated the police force and revealed that politicians interfered with investigations. Apart from him, Musa said that R Sri Sanjeevan from the NGO My Watch which organised the press conference was also being tailed. Musa is the patron of the newly-formed NGO. "To me it's funny lah. Why must you put me under surveillance? As if I am a threat to security. "I would like to advise them not to follow me lah. I won't destroy the nation, that's number one. Number two, I think you have better work to do, like following criminals, who are really jeopardising the safety of the public," the former IGP told FMT. "So I think it is stupid of them [to follow us], wasting the rakyat's money. If you want anything just call me, I'll tell you everything," he added. On how he found out, Musa said:"Of course I know who is following me but I didn't want to confront them. Don't want to embarrass them. Of course they ran away when they saw me." Asked why he was being tailed, Musa shrugged and replied: "I don't know, probably instructions from up top. Maybe the IGP himself, I don't know." Musa said that although in the past he had been tracked by syndicates and tontos "plenty of times", this was his first time being followed by a policeman. "Never by policemen, but by syndicates and tontos you know, who want to know my movements. I still remember when I was in the drugs unit. That's why whenever I got out of the house, I would never follow the same route for fear that people might either follow me or ambush me and all that. We must be aware of my environment, being a trained police officer, you know," he added.
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| Need for independent public inquiry into police top brass and Home Ministry — Kua Kia Soong Posted: 03 Dec 2012 12:51 PM PST
(TMI) -- The serious allegations of misconduct against the former IGP Musa Hassan through a statutory declaration (SD) made in 2009 and the recent claim by the ex-IGP himself that criminal elements had infiltrated the force as well as interference of politicians in investigations warrant an urgent independent public inquiry to restore public trust in the police force. These allegations contained in the SD were by police officer Noor Azizul Rahim Taharim, who served as Musa's aide-de-camp from 2005 to 2007. The document accuses Musa of wrongdoings during his tenure and exposes how he had purportedly silenced critics with transfers and trumped-up charges. Azizul claims that former CID director Christopher Wan had revealed to him that Musa had directed the setting up of a covert blog to publish allegations of corruption against then Deputy Home Minister Johari Baharom. The contents of the blog, he said, damaged Johari's reputation and subjected him to a probe by the Anti-Corruption Agency. "I am also aware of the statutory declarations made by several policemen, police informants and subjects of police actions showing links between Musa and the underworld, specifically concerning restricted residence detainee Goh Cheng Poh @ Tongku and one shadow figure, BK Tan. Based on my personal knowledge and involvement as the ADC to the IGP, I can confirm that the statements made by these deponents concerning Musa were true…," he alleged. Referring to the SDs of ASP Mior Fahim Ahmad and ASP Hong Kin Hock, Azizul confirmed that their allegations had basis. The pair had claimed that there was manipulation of promotions, ranks and postings in the police involving BK Tan. "The credibility of these officers would be 'demolished' such that whatsoever information they gathered about Musa would be discredited. These officers would suffer hardship being transferred away from their families and home base. They would also get bypassed in promotions and suffer disciplinary action without the proper process. Consequently, less able officers climbed the ranks and the victimised officers were used as warnings against others… This process of 'mecantas' [pruning] explains the apparent lack of ability by PDRM to tackle crime, the lack of motivation and low morale within PDRM that saw crime escalating at an alarming rate during Musa's tenure," he added. After former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi gave Musa a two-year extension in 2007,"this served as a powerful endorsement that the government was fully behind Musa. A sense of fear also gripped many within PDRM and outside when not long after that in October 2007, the lawyer who assisted CCD [Ramli] in the Goh Cheng Poh @ Tengku matter [after the A-G's Chambers declined to prepare affidavits for the CCD] was himself arrested in a most humiliating manner and charged one day before Aidilfitri. "The message was clear that Musa had the support of the ACA, the Attorney-General and the prime minister in all his actions. The fear among officers in PDRM became the need for self-preservation after six rank-and-file policemen including Ramli were charged with various offences. Not long after that, the A-G ordered the release of the said Goh Cheng Ph @ Tengku." (FMT, 4.12.12) These are serious allegations by the former aide-de-camp of the ex-IGP which have demoralised the entire Malaysian police force. Earlier in the week, the ex-IGP himself had pointed the finger at Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein when he charged that politicians had interfered with investigations. Musa's revelations that the police force had been infiltrated by criminal elements and that the current IGP Ismail Omar was weak in heading the police force are enough reason for the urgent establishment of an independent public inquiry. These exposes of unprofessional goings-on in the police top brass and skeletons in the cupboard of the Home Ministry provide us with some clue as to why the recommendation by the Royal Commission on the Police in 2005 for an Independent Police Complaints & Misconduct Committee has failed to be implemented after so many years. The government must ultimately be held responsible for dragging its feet on this vital reform to stop deaths in custody, police shootings and the culture of impunity in the Malaysian police force. The just accomplished Leveson Commission over British media practices brought about by phone hacking of the British media cannot compare with these much more serious allegations against the Malaysian police top brass and the home minister. * By Dr Kua Kia Soong, Suaram adviser.
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| APS to back pro-Pakatan candidates Posted: 03 Dec 2012 11:56 AM PST
(FMT) -- Contrary to expectations, the loose Sabah opposition platform, Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS) will not promote any particular candidate in the coming general election. Throwing its opponents and detractors off guard, the pro-Pakatan Rakyat political platform headed by Tuaran MP Wilfred Bumburing will instead focus its strength on uniting Sabahans behind opposition candidates challenging the Barisan Nasional's hold on power. The group sees it as its best chance to be able to effectively bring about a change of government in the 13th general election. "We in APS are committed to support any candidates that will be fielded by any of political parties in PR (Pakatan) in the coming election," Bumburing told a gathering on Sunday that he used to celebrate his 61st birthday. The former deputy president of United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) urged APS members, supporters and sympathisers to reaffirm their commitment towards achieving their goal which was changing the government. "APS' commitment is to align ourselves with the political parties that make up Pakatan Rakyat as well as work alongside other non-governmental organisations that are also aligned with the other organisations in Pakatan," he said. Bumburing said the grouping had formed a pro-tem supreme council and each of its members had been allocated specific duties to streamline and coordinate its activities. The supreme council is made up of a mix of well-known politicians and Sabah activists. Former Tuaran MP Kalakau Untol, a former federal deputy minister, is chief organising secretary while deputy president is former Upko vice-president ex-senator Maijol Mahap. The vice-presidents are businessman Dr Richard Gunting, ex-assemblyman Laimun Laikim and retired senior government officer Hernman Tionsoh. Native rights Youth leader is Denis Gimpah of Tamparuli while Pertus Francis Guriting of Tambunan is the secretary-general. Guriting is being assisted by Benson Inggam of Kuamut. Brendan Mojilip is treasurer-general assisted by James Miki of Beluran. Lesaya Lopog Serudim from Kiulu is information chief while assistant is Patrick Sadom of Sipitang. Retired senior government servant Alex Kando from Inanam is APS liaison chief. The post of women's wing chief is still vacant. Bumburing also announced the appointment of 13 other supreme council members. They are former senator and ex-Kuala Penyu assemblyman John Ghani, ex-Tuaran MP Monggoh Orow, Mail Balinu, Itoh Manggonb, Biou Suyan, Ismail Banaran,Stephen Michael, Liberty Lopog, Maruddin Suabon, Paul Kadau, Edwin Ambu, Maurice Awit and herman Mianus. Touching on his 61st birthday, he said since it was a special day for him he wished to renew his pledge after resigning from the government ruling party on July 29 "to champion the welfare of the people of Sabah, especially the native." The former deputy chief minister said APS would fight for the rights of the natives in land ownership under the native customary right (NCR). He said it was sad to note that the native of Sabah had been deprived of ownership of land on which they had been toiling for generations.
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| Musa too abused powers while IGP, says Ramli Yusuff Posted: 03 Dec 2012 11:05 AM PST (TMI) -- Tan Sri Musa Hassan had abused his power while he was the Inspector-General of Police and colluded with the Attorney-General to escape from being arraigned in a 2006 criminal court case, his former colleague and rival in the force, Datuk Ramli Yusuff, has alleged. The retired Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID) director was responding to the ex-IGP's bombshell at a new conference last week in which the latter had accused Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein as among ministers and politicians who had interfered with police matters. "CCID once captured a criminal named Goh Cheng Poh @ Tengku Goh in December 2006. Tengku Goh made his affidavit and implicated Musa Hassan's name. "Then I handed it to the A-G's office but it was never filed in court, resulting in the habeas corpus application by Tengku Goh being allowed and [he] was freed," Ramli told The Malaysian Insider when contacted. The retired police veteran has been a vocal critic of Musa and A-G Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, both whom he blames for putting him in the dock on a corruption charge in 2007, which several mainstream media had sensationalised as the case of the "RM27 million cop". "Instead, the A-G directed the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) to get confidential files regarding this case and hunted down informants to change their original testimonies," said Ramli, who was once the nation's third-most senior police officer. Asked what proof he had to support his allegation, he said: "If what I say is not right, I am ready for Musa or Gani to take legal action against me. Berani kerana benar [bold as true]." Ramli also stood up for Musa's successor, IGP Tan Sri Ismail Omar, and said the latter should be given the chance to prove his capability. "The negative perception started during Musa Hassan's term. Tan Sri Ismail Omar is making an effort to improve that image," he said, referring to the endemic poor public confidence in the police force. "To me, it is not just if Musa attacks relentlessly the IGP now." Ramli said that Musa's criticism against the public institution the latter once led and the government was nothing new. "He started becoming vocal and criticised the government when Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin announced his service would not be extended," Ramli said, referring to the ex-IGP, and adding that it was the source of Musa's disgruntlement. Musa served as IGP for three years before retiring on September 13, 2010, after a corruption case that was closed in July 2007 for lack of evidence. The nation's former No. 1 watchman had last week described his working relationship with Hishammuddin as cordial, but the home minister did not see eye-to-eye with him on the command of the police force, saying that his refusal to indulge those who tried to interfere had likely been the reason why his tenure had not been extended. The police force and other enforcement agencies fall under the home minister's portfolio. "When I found out that instructions were given to junior officers and OCPDs (Officer in Charge of Police District) without my knowledge, then something is wrong. "So, I highlighted to him section 4(1) of the Police Act ... command and control of the police force is by the IGP, not a minister. "I talked to him nicely, he didn't like it ... that's why (my tenure) was not extended," Musa told a news conference last week organised by Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force (MyWatch), a crime watchdog which had claimed that it will "challenge any statistics that the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) comes out with".
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He also said there was lack of political will for reform to make the legislative assemblies independent of state governments.
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