| A Strange World Of Skewed Perspectives And Ethnocentrism Posted: 14 Sep 2012 12:30 PM PDT  When a group of army veterans conducted butt exercises outside Ambiga's house, citing it as a democratic right, it angered many of the same people. On the other hand, many pro-government supporters defended the army veterans' actions but were angered by the youth who "defiled" pictures of Najib and his wife. What is the difference? Skewed perspective? Mohd Ikhram Merican I was delighted to read RPK's recent blog post entitled "It's Only Symbolic." Underlying his sarcasm is a problem that Malaysia, no, much of the whole world is succumbing to. It is a problem of skewed perspectives, ethnocentrism, and a lack of empathy. In part, the global media, just like the Malaysian mainstream media has become a big propaganda tool that shapes how we think and how we react to our environment. On the other hand, we have become babies: - functioning by pure emotion, and
- accepting wholesale anything and everything manufactured by the powers that be; governments, politicians (opposition and otherwise), religious bigots and "experts" included.
The result is a very divided world, and on a micro level, a divided Malaysia. Is mooning and stepping on images of the Prime Minister and his wife publicly a democratic right? Certainly there are more dignified ways to express one's democratic right. Granted, criminal action against the perpetrators is harsh but it surprises me that a significant number of people condone this behavior as a democratic right. Is this how we want our youth to express themselves? When a group of army veterans conducted butt exercises outside Ambiga's house, citing it as a democratic right, it angered many of the same people. On the other hand, many pro-government supporters defended the army veterans' actions but were angered by the youth who "defiled" pictures of Najib and his wife. What is the difference? Skewed perspective? Our western education teaches us that we should respect the rights of every individual. A good portion of us will defend LGBT rights citing democratic principles and ideas such as "consenting adults" and "individual freedom". Yet, the same principles do not apply to people who practice polygamy with consensus between the wives. In this case, respecting individual freedoms do not apply. Skewed perspective? In Malaysia, the political tsunami of 2008 has skewed perspectives to the extent that we are unable to look at issues with clarity. These days everything is divided along political lines. It is alright for Anwar Ibrahim to encourage party hopping but disgusting for Najib to do it. It is okay for hooligans to set-up stalls outside Ambiga's house but it is revolting for Malaysians to demand free and fair elections. If we lack the maturity to be discerning and to stand united on issues affecting equity for all Malaysians regardless of political affiliation, then perhaps we are not ready for democracy. Globally, the unfortunate events of 911 has also skewed perspectives. The fear of terrorist attacks have justified undemocratic laws and practices. America's war on terror has many a times flagrantly disregarded all the ideals that it was founded on. However, in the interest of public safety, the argument goes, it is sometimes necessary to disregard human rights and justice. If we applied reasoning, and empathy, we would see this for what it is – hogwash. Thanks to technology, the world is now metaphorically smaller. We are a big global village. Yet, we have become very ethnocentric. Groups like Perkasa flourish in this side of the global village. And mind you, just because there are no official Chinese and Indian equivalents do not mean that extreme ethnocentrism is absent from the non-Malay population. I have American and European acquaintances who are no different either. Ethnocentrism is the act of "judging another culture solely by the values and standards of one's own culture" (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnocentrism). The ethnocentric road does not lead to tolerance and understanding. It breeds contempt, feelings of superiority, and animosity. The fact of the matter is that we are made up of different cultures, religions, and classes. In a smaller world, we are going to come into contact with a larger variety of people. If we are unable to shed our ethnocentric prejudices, it will be difficult to live peaceably wherever we may be. It is sad that many of the mainstream religionists of my faith, Islam, offer no constructive solution to living in a plural society. It is equally sad that many non-Muslims choose to stereotype Muslims in general. But do we need "experts" to tell us how to live harmoniously? Is a social contract going to be the basis of how we "tolerate" one another? After 55 years of independence in Malaysia, is that the best we (from all races) can do – tolerate each other? I would like to think that living harmoniously comes naturally to all of us. Look at little children. They could not care less about the religion, culture, or background of their friends. No one has to "teach" them how to co-exist. Perhaps we can unload all the social baggage we have accumulated by observing little children. Perhaps we should not have to wait for government and politicians to fix things. Perhaps the Malaysia and world we crave for is a choice we have to make, not by the ballot box alone, but by conscious effort on our part. Most religions and cultures offer a common solution, one that the "experts" do not take pains to disseminate. It is referred to as the Golden Rule. You can find it in the Quran, the Bible, the Mahabharata, and Buddhism to name a few. It states, "One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself." If we can take pains to live by this code, we would not need to wait for a Malaysia that respects all religions and races. If we could strictly adhere to this, the world would not be such a strange and divided place. Until we are willing to impose this rule on ourselves very strictly, we may not be that serious about a better Malaysia or a better world. |
| Why is Malaysia trying to spot gay schoolchildren? Posted: 14 Sep 2012 12:26 PM PDT  'Lesbians are apparently easy to spot, as they like to 'hang out and sleep in the company of other girls'. So, um, all girls then.' Photograph: Bazuki Muhammad/Reuters I knew I was different from the other boys (yes, zzz) when I was four or five, and actually realised I was a bona fide homosexual at the age of 10. I wasn't worried about the size of my handbag or about having sex, I was too busy crying myself to sleep, trying to change, wondering if my parents would abandon me and whether I should get married to a woman or just kill myself. Matthew Todd (The Guardian) So the Malaysian government has finally enlightened us all as to how to identify the gay child in your classroom. In an effort to "curb the problem of homosexuality", the Teacher's Foundation of Malaysia is holding seminars where parents are instructed on how to identify gay kids. Homosexual boys "may wear tight, light clothes and carry large handbags". Lesbians are apparently easy to spot, as they like to "hang out and sleep in the company of other girls". So, um, all girls then. How can the Malaysian authorities be so stupid? All young gays know that large handbags are completely over. At International HQ, new recruits are instructed to be fashion forward. We had the baby Karl Lagerfeld look in the 80s, tiny combats and DM boots in the 90s, and the same decade's indie moment came when the Marilyn Manson look become popular (instead of just Marilyn). Now in 2012 we are going for the butch look. Clearly some baby gays are still into accessories but most gays will be wearing tracksuits and trying to look butch. Of course, it is easy to scoff at Malaysia's frightening campaign (try looking for the gays like Gareth Thomas, you know, the ones who play rugby) but we in the UK are not in a position to take the moral high ground. In the UK we seem unable to even countenance the idea that children may have some kind of burgeoning sexual orientation, and even worse, that a small number of them may be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Sssh, don't talk about it; you'll make them all start having sex! I knew I was different from the other boys (yes, zzz) when I was four or five, and actually realised I was a bona fide homosexual at the age of 10. I wasn't worried about the size of my handbag or about having sex, I was too busy crying myself to sleep, trying to change, wondering if my parents would abandon me and whether I should get married to a woman or just kill myself. I want to sneer at Malaysia for the mental torture they will be inflicting on kids (and their parents), but we all need to wake up to what therapist Dr Joe Kort calls the "covert cultural child abuse" that is being inflicted on all LGBT kids in every single classroom in every single school in the UK, the US and across the world. Read more at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/14/malaysia-schoolchildren-gay |
| The Last Frontier Posted: 14 Sep 2012 12:24 PM PDT 
(Al Jazeera) - Alleged corruption, rights violations and environmental degradation plague Malaysia's controversial Bakun project. Watch video at: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/101east/2012/09/2012913111958210349.html Thousands are set to lose their homes, as a controversial hydro power scheme gets underway. In the Malaysian state of Sarawak, the Bakun Dam has already flooded an area the size of Singapore. Some of those displaced say they've never received the full compensation they were promised. The state government, working with Australian company Hydro Tasmania, is embarking on an ambitious plan to build a further 12 dams - flooding vast tracts of river valley land - and displacing tens of thousands of indigenous people. Hydro Tasmania, an Australian state-owned energy company is involved with dam construction projects in Sarawak by the Sarawak Energy Board while Malaysian timber giant Ta Ann has received major timber harvesting contracts in Tasmania. Both businesses are linked through Hamed Sepawi, who is the chairman of Sarawak Energy Board and Ta Ann. He is also a cousin and close business associate of the state's Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud. Clare Rewcastle Brown, the sister-in-law of former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, say there is a lack of accountability and transparency over the hydropower projects. Environmentalists and political activists in Malaysia and Australia are calling for the 'unhealthy' business ties between Tasmania and Sarawak to be investigated and audited by an independent body. The Malaysian government says the 20gigawatt project capacity can change the economic face of Sarawak and says its links with Hydro Tasmania are legitimate, while the companies involved deny any wrongdoing. |
| Guarding our reputation as food haven Posted: 14 Sep 2012 12:21 PM PDT 
Phuah Ken Lim (NST) - PENANG is an undisputed food haven with a myriad of local delicacies in every nook and corner, especially in George Town. However, the influx of immigrants working as cooks have created doubts over our gastronomic reputation. Many Malaysians who have held Penang as the top foodies' destination in the region, not because of some fancy restaurants but rather due to what the humble eateries and stalls that line the streets are serving, are now thinking twice. This status as iconic local-food paradise is fast being lost as Penangites now rely more on foreign labour to help them cook. Some hawker stall traders, not wanting their hands to be oily from stir-frying, have taken a back seat and even abandoned cooking altogether, preferring to just be cashiers. Customers at food courts in Penang these days will likely be greeted by a worker with a thick foreign accent. A Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer's remarks about foreigners replacing locals as cooks at a recent tourism forum has brought up the debate on whether local food standards still live up to their top billing. Make no mistake, no one can deny the quality of Penang's most popular culinary delights like char kway teow, assam laksa, tar sau peah, rojak pasembur, nasi kandar and Hokkien mee, but there have also been talk that the food standards are waning. Those foodies who have been hunting for authentic hawker food are able to testify to the decreasing presence of local cooks. It is now common to see more non-Malaysians cooking at hawker centres and roadside eateries, making many wonder if the authenticity of local delicacies still exists. Gone are the old days where the eateries were manned by the finest, often elderly, gourmet masters. Tourists visiting the island with the intention of sampling authentic food have expressed their concern that foreign cooks have started replacing locals at new eateries, especially the food courts. So let's put down our feet to bring back Penang's reputation for abundant superb, authentic hawkers' delights which the locals claim can't be duplicated elsewhere. Since the island is synonymous with good food, there should be a concerted effort by hawkers and chefs to transfer their traditional culinary skills to their successors. Perhaps a new generation of local cooks can be groomed in time to take over soon. The problem is, many youngsters these days are reluctant to become cooks for a number of reasons. Maybe the unthinkable statement that Penang's food quality is arguably dropping will spur the young to buck up and learn straight from the masters. Generally, many hawker food operators perfected their skills from their parents through observation, trials and testing. Be it the Sisters' char kway teow in Jalan Macalister or the Jalan Burma prawn mee, these operators never attended any culinary courses prior to becoming experts. This is what makes their food so unique, that the cooks have lived up to their billing despite their lack of formal training. The locals certainly do not like to hear negative comments that their street food is no longer as good as it used to be. Certainly no one would want to let slip the coveted status Penang has as the favourite food destination in Malaysia and, perhaps, even the world. Several people have been complaining that our street food is today over-hyped and overrated. Individual opinions do not reflect the overall consensus on Penang food, but the changing groundswell has started to cast doubts at the back of our minds. Many say Malacca may be more famous for their Nyonya culture, but in terms of cooking, it is the Penang Nyonya flavours that capture the hearts and stomachs of many. Penang's pride as the top food haven is at stake, and no effort must be spared in ensuring that this lofty standard placed on our local cuisine is maintained. |
| State DAP HQ, service centres splashed with red paint Posted: 14 Sep 2012 12:19 PM PDT 
(Free Malaysia Today) - The new RM3 million state DAP headquarters, Wisma DAP and service centres of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and three other party assemblymen were found splashed with red paint this morning. Video footage from CCTV cameras at Wisma DAP in Jalan Rangoon here revealed that two men wearing crash helmets have thrown at least six packets of red paint on the roller shutter and floor of the building at 1.15am. The packets were found at the site. The service centres of Lim in Jalan Air Itam, Jagdeep Singh Deo in Jalan Datuk Keramat, Ng Wei Aik in Lorong Seratus Tahun and Koay Teng Hai in Pulau Tikus were also splashed with red paint. A car parked near Ng's centre was also smeared with red paint. Packets of red paint were also found at the service centres. A police report has been lodged at the Jalan Patani police station. At a press conference at Wisma DAP, Lim said he was shocked with the attack, adding that it was first time the service centre of a state chief minister was vandalised Calling on DAP and Pakatan Rakyat members to remain calm, he said such attacks would not hamper the coalition spirits. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/09/14/penang-dap-hq-service-centres-splashed-with-red-paint/ |
| With 13m voters now, urgent call to clean up electoral roll Posted: 14 Sep 2012 12:15 PM PDT  File photo of people checking their status at a polling booth in Kuching in last year's Sarawak state elections. (The Malaysian insider) - With 13 million registered voters to date, the Election Commission (EC) now faces increasing pressure to clean up the electoral roll and conduct separate polls for areas under both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR). The Selangor PR government has openly declared it will not hold state elections when the federal BN calls them unless the EC is able to show the gazetted electoral roll to be used in GE13 has been cleared of dubious entries. In its latest electoral statistics gazetted last August 16 made available to The Malaysian Insider, the EC recorded the number of registered voters as 13,052,374 people, out of whom 12,778,127 fall into the category of ordinary voters while 274,247 are recorded as absent voters. The latter group encompasses the armed forces, the police and overseas voters. Selangor recorded the largest number of overseas voters, currently standing at 579 people, while the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur has the highest number of absent voters with 40,543 people. This is followed by Perak with 38,367 voters and Johor a distant third with 25,058 voters. Kuala Lumpur FT also has the highest number of absent voters from within the ranks of the armed forces, totalling 24,979 people, while Selangor has the largest number of absent voters from within the police force, with 16,525 people. The electoral law provides for absent voters to cast their ballots through the post even if the person is stationed within the voting constituency. This lack of transparency in the voting process has led to various allegations of gerrymandering and tampering with the ballot papers.  DAP Youth chief Anthony Loke has urged the EC to speed up cleaning its voter registry. In the last general election in 2008, the ruling BN coalition succeeded in grabbing only one out of 11 parliamentary seats in the Kuala Lumpur FT, namely Setiawangsa. The DAP won five, PKR scored four and PAS took the remaining one — leading to the most successful partnership among the three opposition parties in the last decade. DAP Youth chief Anthony Loke has urged the EC to speed up cleaning its voter registry, saying the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reform had stated that it would only take four months to do so. "It has been four months since the report was out but we are still receiving complaints, that's why we want the EC to speed up the cleaning process. "We urge the EC to show commitment in this cleaning process, and will continue to press them to update the data or explain this issue," said Loke, who is both a federal and state lawmaker in Negri Sembilan. He said cleaning the electoral roll was still being carried out and the Malaysian Microelectronic System Institute (MIMOS) had found dubious voter names in the roll. "In the parliamentary report, MIMOS found there were 324 addresses registered with more than 100 voters, and 938 addresses with more than 51 to 100 voters. "The overall voters were more than 100,000," he said. However, the deputy chairman of the EC, Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, has made it known that he disagrees with Selangor's suggestion of separate poll dates for the state election. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/with-13m-voters-now-urgent-call-to-clean-up-electoral-roll/ |
| Anti-American fury sweeps Middle East over film Posted: 14 Sep 2012 03:13 AM PDT 
(AFP) - Fury about a film that insults the Prophet Mohammad tore across the Middle East yesterday with protesters attacking US embassies and burning American flags as the Pentagon rushed to bolster security at its missions. The obscure California-made film triggered an attack on the US consulate in Libya's city of Benghazi that killed the US ambassador and three other Americans on Tuesday, the anniversary of the Sept 11, 2001 al Qaeda attacks on the United States. In Tunis, at least five people were wounded by police gunfire near the US embassy, and a Reuters reporter said a big fire had erupted within the embassy compound. Protesters had earlier leapt over the compound wall. Witnesses said Sudanese police fired tear gas at thousands of protesters to stop them approaching the US embassy outside Khartoum, but some jumped over the wall. A Reuters reporter heard gunfire from the scene. The wave of indignation and rage over the film, which portrays the Prophet Mohammad as a womanizer and a fool, coincided with Pope Benedict's arrival in Lebanon for a three-day visit. The protests present Obama with a new foreign policy crisis less than two months before seeking re-election and tests Washington's relations with democratic governments it helped to power across the Arab world. It also emerged that Libya had closed its air space over Benghazi airport temporarily because of heavy anti-aircraft fire by Islamists aiming at U.S. reconnaissance drones flying over the city, after President Barack Obama vowed to bring the ambassador's killers to justice. The closure of the airport prompted speculation that the United States was deploying special forces in preparation for an attack against the militants who were involved in the attack. A Libyan official said the spy planes flew over the embassy compound and the city, taking photos and inspecting locations of radical militant groups who are believed to have planned and staged the attack on the US consulate. There were protests in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Marines to Yemen The Pentagon said it had sent a "fast" platoon of Marines to Yemen to bolster US embassy security after clashes in Sanaa. US embassies were the main target of anger and protest but most embassy staff were not at work because Friday is the Muslim weekend across the Arab World. The frenzy erupted after traditional Muslim Friday prayers. Fury over the film has been stoked by Internet video footage, social networks, preachers and word-of-mouth. Protesters clashed with police near the US embassy in Cairo. Two Islamist preachers in Egypt told worshippers that those who made the movie deserved to die under sharia (Islamic law) but they urged protesters not to take their anger out on diplomats or others. Sudanese demonstrators broke into the German embassy in Khartoum and hoisted an Islamic flag, while one person was killed in protests in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli. Police in the Sudanese capital had fired tear gas to try to disperse 5,000 protesters who had ringed the German embassy and nearby British mission. A Reuters witness said police stood by as a crowd forced its way into Germany's mission. Demonstrators hoisted a black Islamic flag saying in white letters "there is no God but God and Mohammed is his Prophet". They smashed windows, cameras and furniture in the building and then started a fire. Staff at Germany's embassy were safe "for the moment", Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in Berlin. He also told Khartoum's envoy to Berlin that Sudan must protect diplomatic missions on its soil. Sudan's Foreign Ministry had criticized Germany for allowing a protest last month by right-wing activists carrying caricatures of the Prophet and for Chancellor Angela Merkel giving an award in 2010 to a Danish cartoonist who depicted the Prophet in 2005 triggering protests across the Islamic world. Bashir under pressure President Omar Hassan al-Bashir is under pressure from Islamists who feel the government has given up the religious values of his 1989 Islamist coup. The official body of Sudan's Islamic scholars called for the faithful to defend the Prophet peacefully, but at a meeting of Islamists, some leaders had said they would march on the German and US embassies and demanded the ambassadors be expelled. The Foreign Ministry said in its statement: "The German chancellor unfortunately welcomed this offence to Islam in a clear violation of all meanings of religious co-existence and tolerance between religions." Sudan used to host prominent militants in the 1990s, such as Osama bin Laden, but the government has sought to distance itself from radicals to improve ties with the West. A Lebanese security source said a man was killed in Tripoli as protesters tried to storm a government building. Earlier, a US fast food restaurant was set alight. Twelve members of the security forces were wounded by stones thrown by protesters, the source said. Protesters also clashed with police in Yemen, where one person died and 15 were injured on Thursday when the US embassy compound was stormed. US and other Western embassies in other Muslim countries had tightened security, fearing anger at the film may prompt attacks on their compounds after the weekly worship. Obama has promised to bring those responsible for the Benghazi attack to justice, and the United States also sent warships towards Libya which one official said was to give flexibility for any future action. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Washington had nothing to do with the crudely made film posted on the Internet, which she called "disgusting and reprehensible", and the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff called a Christian pastor in Florida to ask him to withdraw his support for it. Palestinians staged demonstrations in both the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israeli police, some on horseback, used stun grenades and made a number of arrests outside Jerusalem's Old City as a few dozen demonstrators tried to march on the nearby US consulate. "Israeli police prevented an illegal demonstration from reaching the US consulate in East Jerusalem and used stun grenades after rocks and bottles were thrown at them," police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. In Nablus, in the northern West Bank, several hundred people protested and burned an American flag, witnesses said. American flags burned The largest protests were in the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Islamist group Hamas, with at least 30,000 Palestinians staging rallies across the coastal territory. Some 25,000 took to the streets of Gaza City, answering a call by Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad faction and waving the green and black flags of the two factions. American and Israeli flags were set alight, along with an effigy of the film's producer. Protesters in Afghanistan set fire to an effigy of Obama and burned a US flag after Friday prayers in the eastern province of Nangarhar. Directing their anger against the US pastor who supported the film, tribal leaders also agreed to put a US$100,000 bounty on his head. About 10,000 people held a noisy protest in the Bangladeshi capital. They burned US flags, chanted anti-US slogans and demanded punishment for the offenders, but were stopped from marching to the US embassy. There was no violence. Thousands of Iranians held nationwide protests. There were also rallies in Malaysia, Jordan, Kenya, Bahrain, Qatar, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Iraq. |
| PKR tour bus again comes under paint attack Posted: 14 Sep 2012 03:09 AM PDT 
(Bernama) - A bus carrying opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and 18 members of his delegation was hit by red paint hurled by two youths on a motorcycle when it stopped near the Masjid Jamek Bandar Tangkak at Jalan Hasan, here this afternoon. The two youths suddenly stopped their machine and splashed the paint on the ride side of the bus, which carried Anwar's photograph, before fleeing. This was the third time that the bus carrying the delegation for the "Jelajah Merdeka Rakyat" programme had been splashed with paint by unknown attacked. The bus driver, Faizal Abdul Kadir, said the incident occurred at about 1.45pm when the opposition leader's delegation had just completed performing the Friday Prayer at the mosque. "The bus carried 19 passengers including Anwar, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Johor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed, Johor PKR head Datuk Chua Jui Meng," he said. Meanwhile, Ledang District police chief Supt Harun Idris, when contacted, confirmed receiving a report on the incident at about 3.05pm. He said police were identifying the two youths concerned and based on initial investigation, the registration number on the motorcycle used was false. |
| Egyptians clash with police barring way to US embassy Posted: 13 Sep 2012 08:13 PM PDT 
(Reuters) - Egyptians angry at a film they said was blasphemous to Islam today hurled stones at a line of police in Cairo blocking the route to the US embassy, where demonstrators climbed the walls and tore down the American flag earlier this week. "God is greatest" and "There is no god but God", one group near the front of the clashes chanted, as police in riot gear fired tear gas and threw stones back in a street leading from Tahrir Square to the embassy nearby. About 300 people had gathered to protest, some waving flags with religious slogans. State media reported that 224 people had been injured since Wednesday night. The initial protest, in which the embassy walls were scaled, took place on Tuesday. The Muslim Brotherhood, the group that propelled President Mohamed Mursi to power, had called for a peaceful nationwide protest against the film today after it sparked demonstrations across the region. Many Muslims regard any depiction of the Prophet Mohammad as blasphemous. Gunmen killed the US ambassador in Libya on Tuesday and protesters attacked the US mission in Yemen yesterday. Mursi, Egypt's first freely elected president, has to strike a delicate balance, fulfilling a pledge to protect the embassy of a major aid donor while also being seen by his Islamist backers to take a strong line against the film. Mursi said yesterday he had spoken to US President Barack Obama and had asked him to act against those seeking to harm relations. His Cabinet said Washington was not to blame for the film but urged legal action against those insulting religion. "Before the police, we were attacked by Obama, and his government, and the Coptic Christians living abroad," shouted one protester, wearing a traditional robe and long beard favoured by some ultra-orthodox Muslims, as he pointed to the police cordon. Egypt's Coptic Orthodox church has condemned what it said were Copts abroad who had financed the film. "No longer an ally" In the middle of the street lay an overturned and burnt out car. Behind the police line, the authorities had erected a wall of large concrete blocks barring access to the fortress-like embassy, which is close to Tahrir, the centre of protests against ousted former President Hosni Mubarak and the scene of many demonstrations since. The United States, a close ally of Egypt under Mubarak, has long been wary of Islamists, only formally opening contacts with the Muslim Brotherhood last year, several months after Mubarak's 30-year rule was ended by a popular uprising. Al-Masry Al-Youm highlighted comments Obama made to a Spanish-language network saying Egypt was neither an enemy nor an ally. "America: Egypt is no longer an ally," the daily newspaper wrote in a front-page headline. The United States has a large embassy in Cairo, partly because of a vast aid programme that began after Egypt signed a peace deal with Israel in 1979. Washington gives US$1.3 billion (RM3.95 billion) in aid each year to the army plus additional funds to Egypt. Though some demonstrators wore clothes favoured by ultra-orthodox Islamists, many were young men in jeans and T-shirts. Some perched on barriers along the street watching the ebb-and-flow, as demonstrators pushed forward to hurl stones, and then ran back towards Tahrir under a volley of tear gas. "I came here to have a look at the people, to see what they are saying and see if what they say is right," said Mohamed Ahmed, sitting with friends as teargas wafted through the air. Some Egyptians have been angered by the violence. One picture circulating on Facebook showed a burnt out car accompanied by the words: "People go to defend the Prophet with petrol bombs and religious insults to the police. They don't pray at noon or in the afternoon. Who are they?" Police had tried to clear the street leading to the embassy and Tahrir around dawn today with clouds of teargas after a second night of violence. But protesters returned soon afterwards. One banner held aloft by demonstrators read: "It is the duty of all Muslims and Christians to kill Morris Sadek and Sam Bacile and everyone who participated in the film." The two people named are both linked to the film. Sadek, a Copt living in the United States, told Reuters this week he promoted the film to highlight discrimination against Christians who make up about 10 per cent of Egypt's 83 million people. |
| Kelantan's Green Revolution: the march to Putrajaya Posted: 13 Sep 2012 07:43 PM PDT |
| It’s in the soul Posted: 13 Sep 2012 07:10 PM PDT 
Now, while all this was going on, while I was scrambling to raise the money to save my house, P.I. Bala and the Pakatan Rakyat people go and make nasty statements about deals I am doing with Umno. Then I discover that P.I. Bala is in secret negotiations with Hamzah Zainuddin, one of the chaps who is the cause of my financial problems. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin So you think you have soul, do you? Well, how do you know? Are you really sure you have soul? You probably think that soul is that thing that leaves your body and goes to heaven or hell when you die. That is not soul, at least not the type of soul that I mean. People who have soul listen to Santana, Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep, Jethro Tull, Grand Funk, Jimi Hendix, The Rolling Stones, and bands of their ilk. The list just goes on and you can throw in The Kinks, Manfred Mann, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and whatnot if you want to -- still good to listen to after all these years, 50 years to be exact. Anyway, depending on what I wish to write for the day, I will switch on my iTunes and search through my library of albums and play the songs that will put me in the mood that I want to be in. And today, as I write this, I am playing Santana's 'Guitar Heaven'. And the volume of my Bose speakers will blow your mind, let me assure you. 
So, with Santana's 'Guitar Heaven' blaring away in the background, guess what mood I am currently in. Yes, I am in that type of the mood -- the mood that wants to break heads and smash faces. And the head I want to break and the face I want to smash is that of private investigator Balasubramaniam a/l Perumal, a.k.a P.I. Bala. Is that unfair of me? Well, I hold dear the old belief that if you 'share salt' at the same table with someone, then you do not betray that person. In fact, that is the sure way of knowing that you are not going to be betrayed. You share salt at the same table with your host/guest and that is the guarantee you will get to walk away from that table in one piece. No host/guest will assassinate you when you share salt at his table. But that is an old English belief and P.I. Bala is not English. Hence he does not understand what I would regard as noble and honourable values. Hence, after he shared salt at my table, he turned around and betrayed me. Even assassins do not do this. But P.I Bala did this. And because of that it is warranted that I put a price on his head. So now he can't go back to Malaysia like he hoped he could. A person with a price on his head is worth more dead than alive. To understand what I am driving at, I will have to rewind 15 years or so. And the personalities involved are Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin, the Deputy Minister for Plantation Industries and Commodities; Nik Anuar Nik Salleh, the business partner of Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar, the PAS Member of the Parliament for Tumpat; James Au, the one-time General Manager of Rhone Poulenc; and Abdul Rahman Adnan, a lawyer and one of Anwar Ibrahim's speech writers in Institut Kajian Dasar or IKD. Incidentally, Nik Anuar's wife, Zaidah Omar Baki, is the best friend of Anwar Ibrahim's sister, Farizon. And the story goes as follows. Hamzah Zainuddin and Nik Anuar were doing business with Rhone Poulenc through their company called Medik & Kimia 2000 Sdn Bhd. Rhone Poulenc was importing unapproved vaccines for poultry and pigs so they were not able to market them since they were not approved by the government. Hence Medik & Kimia 2000 Sdn Bhd was used as the front company to do all the distribution. In the event that the authorities found out, Rhone Poulenc would not face prosecution. Of course, not long after that, Malaysia faced a huge problem and many diseased pigs had to be culled at a great loss to the pig farmers. Many pig farmers also died. Hence it made sense to shield Rhone Poulenc from something like this by using a front company such as Medik & Kimia 2000 Sdn Bhd. Anyway, James Au, Hamzah Zainuddin and Nik Anuar later came out with a plan to fleece Rhone Poulenc of a couple of million Ringgit. They siphoned out more than RM1 million but they had to make it appear like James Au attempted to recover the money or else he might be implicated in the scam. However, instead of suing the company, Hamzah Zainuddin or Nik Anuar, they sued me. And the suit was for RM1.3 million. And in that statement of claim they alleged that I had guaranteed that amount. I went to see Abdul Rahman Adnan, my classmate in school and one of Anwar Ibrahim's 'key men', and requested him to act for me, which he agreed. On the day of the hearing, Rahman went to court but the judge would not listen to our arguments. Rhone Poulenc's lawyer insisted that I had guaranteed that debt and the judge would not listen to Rahman's argument that I never guaranteed that debt and that the document is a fake. That same day, Rahman asked me to go to his office and he related what had happened in court. Rahman explained that the judge told them she was late for a lunch appointment so she was in a hurry to make her decision and did not have time to listen to long drawn-out arguments. Hence we lost the case -- because the judge was pressed for time and was late for her lunch appointment. I asked Rahman what I should do and he suggested that I should transfer or sell any property that I might own before they get me declared a bankrupt. I was flabbergasted. Was this the best advice Rahman could offer me? I then went to Sri Ram and Co. to seek the advise of the late Manjit Singh Gurcharan Singh. Manjit looked at my case and said that the case is so simple he cannot understand why Rahman Adnan could not win it for me. I told Manjit about the judge being late for lunch and all that and Manjit replied that this normally happens -- younger lawyers get intimidated by senior judges so the judges would bully them. Manjit agreed to help me and winked that his boss, Sri Ram, was the President of the Appeal Court. I suppose that meant Sri Ram would not brush off our case with the excuse that he was late for lunch. However, Manjit found he could not take this matter further because somehow the entire file had disappeared. Manjit told me that this is also quite normal. It costs a very little to bribe an office boy to make files disappear. Many lawyers do this, Manjit explained. Anyway, to cut a long story short, Manjit died and I was detained under ISA. On the third day of my detention, they sent a letter to my house giving me 14 days to contest the bankruptcy application against me. I was, of course, detained for almost 60 days so they made me a bankrupt by default. By the time I was released it was already water under the bridge and I did not have the money to engage a lawyer to take this case to court. To add insult to injury -- or rather more injury to injury -- they quietly deleted my name on the land title of my house without informing me. I did not know until later when I tried to sell my house that I no longer owned that house. The lawyer told me that they can't do this and he suggested that I take this case to court and challenge it. The lawyer was confident I could win because the transfer was done illegally. But it would probably take many years and tens of thousands in legal fees. I felt it would be a waste of time and money. I could not afford ten years and the RM50,000 or RM100,000 in legal fees. Instead, I asked my daughter to go meet the authorities and try to negotiate a settlement. They agreed that this matter can be settled for a payment of RM215,000. We tried to appeal this figure but it was rejected. The figure stays at RM215,000. My daughter then went to the bank to secure a loan for an amount of RM215,000 to pay off the authorities. A few months ago we paid the authorities the RM215,000 to 'buy back' my house. Now, while all this was going on, while I was scrambling to raise the money to save my house, P.I. Bala and the Pakatan Rakyat people go and make nasty statements about deals I am doing with Umno. Then I discover that P.I. Bala is in secret negotiations with Hamzah Zainuddin, one of the chaps who is the cause of my financial problems. Fucking hell! I was made a bankrupt because a judge was late for lunch. I was sued for RM1.3 million on the false allegation that I had guaranteed a debt by an Umno Deputy Minister -- while he was not sued whereas he is a multi-millionaire who had paid his wife RM10 million in a divorce settlement. Then they illegally transferred my house and forced me to pay RM215,000 to 'buy back' the house. And P.I. Bala and these Pakatan Rakyat people have the gall to say I have made a deal. Man, if that is what they do to me when I 'make a deal', imagine what they would do to me if there were no deal. Yes, that is the type of mood I am in today. I am in a fucking mood. And blame it all on Santana. |
| New wine, old wineskin Posted: 13 Sep 2012 05:06 PM PDT 
Azmi Sharom It is telling that during the Suhakam inquiry into the Bersih 3.0 rally a police officer revealed when questioned that he did not know that the right to assemble was constitutionally guaranteed for the people of this country. This lack of knowledge is of concern naturally because we are talking about a public servant with a great deal of power (he can shoot us with his pistol after all), and it is important that he understands that the limits on his power does not depend simply on whatever Standard Operating Procedure he may have but also our rights as citizens. However, knowledge can be gained. Police officers do take courses and some of these courses will have components of Constitutional Law in them. I have taught a diploma course on Constitutional Law and the officers in my class appeared to have grasped the concept. Knowledge, therefore, is not really the issue here; it is the corresponding attitude towards that knowledge which truly matters. In the past few weeks there have been many incidents that illustrate the paradox that occurs when one pays lip service to a principle without truly understanding its importance and ideals. The Peaceful Assembly Act was supposed to be a law that would allow a more liberal approach to public gatherings, but instead we see it being used to actually hinder such gatherings. The Janji Demokrasi gathering was deemed illegal before it occurred because proper procedures for asking permission was not followed as demanded by the Act. Investigations on organisers and participants of Janji Demokrasi are also currently being conducted, again under the auspices of the Act. A green rally in Pahang is being investigated because a person who is deemed underage by the Act was suspected of taking part. All this fuss over what were peaceful gatherings. I have said before that there was little wrong with the previous laws (the Police Act) regarding public gatherings. The Police Act gave a lot of discretion to the police to allow or not allow public gatherings, this is true; however if there was a proper understanding and appreciation of the Constitution, the police should, by and large, allow any public gathering as long as it is not dangerous or violent in nature. The problem with the Police Act was one of attitude and not the law per se. This same attitude persists and it can be seen in the implementation of the new Peaceful Assembly Act. What is needed in the country therefore is not even more, so called liberal laws, but a true appreciation and respect for the human rights of the people of this nation. The police have to understand that their role is not simply about enforcing the law for whatever government is in power. Their role is to enforce the law in the spirit of the Constitution and the freedoms that it guarantees for everybody. READ MORE HERE |
| LGE’s priorities warped, says Boo Chang Posted: 13 Sep 2012 04:30 PM PDT 
'Penang needs improved social conditions more than mega projects.' Hawkeye, FMT GEORGE TOWN: A veteran politician today lashed out at Pakatan Rakyat for what he said was its warped sense of priorities in governing Penang. Lim Boo Chang, who quit PKR last year and is now a social activist not affiliated with any political party, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's administration appeared to be more interested in implementing mega projects than fighting poverty or improving social conditions in the state. "The priority should be about eradicating all forms of poverty and improving the quality of life here instead of engaging in grandiose projects such as an underground tunnel and a major convention hall," he said after presenting food hampers to poor families in Kampung Makam. Kampung Makam, which lies off Datuk Keramat Road, is a community of about 70 poor families living in decaying conditions, which observers say are due to the rapid physical development in surrounding areas. The drainage system is faulty and flash floods are frequent. Although Lim Boo Chang has a tainted reputation as a politician, having quit Gerakan to join MCA and quitting that party to join PKR, his remarks appeared to resonate with some members of the public. Businessman Ismail Ali and his brother Hamdan said the state administration seemed to be on "auto-pilot". They agreed with the maverick politician that Guan Eng was spending too much time trying to deflect criticism and too little addressing such issues as living costs, spiralling property prices, traffic jams, environmental degradation and the lack of good jobs for wage earners. They acknowledged, however, that there had been some positive outcomes of Pakatan's takeover of the state in 2008, citing improved service by local authorities, a more transparent administration and a much cleaner environment. "The problem is that Penang residents want more than this," said Ismail. "They want good jobs and quality living, where road traffic is better managed, for example." Hamdan said Lim's government seemed unaware that the public was more interested in supporting better administrators than better politicians. |
| Parti Cinta spews hate on ‘hooligan’ DAP Posted: 13 Sep 2012 04:18 PM PDT 
PCM vice-president Huan Cheng Guan says a recent incident in Perak proves that DAP is capable of uncivilised politics and therefore must be rejected by voters. Athi Shankar, FMT GEORGE TOWN: DAP often accuses its rivals of practicing uncivilised and uncouth politics but Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) vice-president Huan Cheng Guan said the former does the same. He cited a recent incident in Ipoh's Taman Kaya as an example. "With this type of nonsense, they want to rule Putrajaya?" he said, calling on voters to punish the arrogant DAP for behaving like a "tokong". He was referring to an article and video posting in the Perak-based media portal – Media Perak – that showed DAP Ipoh Garden East branch chairman Lee Chee Seng and his wife Irene Yow, with a group of residents, blocking a car from leaving Taman Kaya. Media Perak claimed that its two reporters and a social activist were held like hostages in the car for nearly two hours. It claimed that the trio were also abused with racist slurs such as "Indian Pariah", "Indian Pariah Lawyer" and "Malay Kui." Media Perak claimed that the residents were DAP members and Lee's branch came under DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang's Ipoh Timur parliamentary constituency. The article claimed that during the incident, the trio contacted in vain the area's elected representative, Canning assemblyman Wong Kah Woh, for help. But the assemblyman only returned the call to one reporter the next day merely to tell that he cannot possibly attend to their needs because Lee and the other residents were his voters. Huan said the video clearly showed DAP leaders and members being aggressive and intimidating against independent journalists. He said DAP leaders should learn to walk the talk on freedom of press and expression, human and democratic rights. "The party often calls its rivals hooligans when it is no better. It's like the pot calling the kettle black. The video showed [DAP) was blacker," slammed Huan. READ MORE HERE |
| Open letter to the Ministry of Education [via email] Posted: 13 Sep 2012 03:58 PM PDT 
For the attention of Tan Sri Dato' Hj Muhyiddin Hj Mohd Yassin. Re: MOE support/endorsement of 'LGBT' guidelines MCLM strongly objects to the Ministry of Education's support and endorsement of guidelines purportedly designed to enable schools and parents to identify behaviour allegedly associated with the 'LGBT' community. We are appalled by this decision because the MOE has arbitrarily taken upon itself a task and/or responsibility that is not mandated by law. Your ministry's primary and only purpose is to provide academic opportunities and infrastructure at all levels of the social strata for every Malaysian citizen. The MOE's vision and mission states: Vision: Excellent schools producing distinguished generations Mission: Developing the potential of individuals through quality education Objectives: • To produce loyal and united Malaysians • To produce individuals who are devout, honourable, knowledgeable, competent and contented • To provide manpower for the development needs of the nation • To provide educational opportunities to all Malaysians We do not see a pre-qualification on acceptable behaviour of students inserted in this statement. In fact, we would go so far as to say that it is exemplary because it does not contain any specific reference to gender, race or religion but rather, focuses on creating a united Malaysia. Actions like this endorsement of the LGBT guidelines go against the admirable spirit of your Ministry's vison and mission statement because it engenders discrimination within our schools. Your deputy, Dr. Mohd Puad Zarkashi, did not make it clear what steps the MOE took to verify the accuracy of these guidelines as well as the credentials of those who formulated them. However, even a layman can see that every single point is spurious and without merit. They merely serve to legitimise prejudice and bigotry in our society. The mental and emotional damage it will certainly cause to our children is incalculable. A person's time in school is already fraught with identity crises and peer pressure. Being labelled as LGBT will compound this situation as it will exacerbate sexual confusion, self-doubt and fear. By endorsing these guidelines, the Ministry is presenting bigots in schools with more ammunition to disenfranchise and terrorise those students who do not conform. Tan Sri Muhyiddin, we urge you to rescind your Ministry's endorsement of these guidelines for the sake of our youth who are the future of our nation. MCLM believes that the right to choose one's own journey to fulfillment in life is a personal choice, just as one is legally allowed to vote a representative into parliament without interference by the state. Malaysia will only excel to higher aspirations and achievements if its citizens truly believe in their hearts that they belong, without fear or favor. For that to happen, everyone matters. Sharifuddin Abdul Latiff MCLM President |
| Putrajaya: gays, sponges and stones Posted: 13 Sep 2012 03:50 PM PDT 
When will Putrajaya realise that people who exhibit homosexual tendencies are human beings, too? Mariam Mokhtar, FMT Deep in the bowels of Putrajaya there exists a little known department that is out to drive the average Malaysian crazy. Yesterday, the latest plan of this department was revealed. It also gave us a tiny insight into how it works. Under the guise of the Yayasan Guru Malaysia Bhd and the Putrajaya Consultative Council of Parents and Teachers Associations, a guideline was issued so that parents and teachers could detect homosexuality in schoolchildren and students. The taxpayer should ask the government how much of the public's money was spent to fund this study, how long the study lasted, which experts were consulted, what criteria were used and how they arrived at their conclusions? Instead of improving the standard of education, and its delivery, the Education Ministry has misplaced its priorities. When will Putrajaya realise that people who exhibit homosexual tendencies are human beings, too? If the truth be known, and despite what Islam preaches, every other Malay family has a closet homosexual in its midst. Is society to deny them a right to live as respected members of the community? For starters, the "guide" said that gays could be detected by their muscular bodies, and their propensity for wearing "V-necks" and sleeveless tops. Have the people conducting this study been watching too many videos of Freddie Mercury and George Michael gyrating on stage, and been mesmerised by their rippling muscles and sleeveless tops? Perhaps they have been side-tracked by Dolce & Gabbana handbags for men? They should spare a thought for the many men who go on the haj. Some of them claim that the best way to carry all their travel documents and other paraphernalia is in a handbag. What about the many muscular teenagers who keep fit because they believe in a healthy lifestyle and like sports? The latest Putrajaya guide views them as potential homosexuals. Not all homosexuals have muscular bodies, like the celebrity who performed at Genting Highlands, recently. Sportsmen and women wear sleeveless tops to reduce air resistance, to allow their skins to breath and they prefer clothes that will not hamper their movements. Under the new homosexual detection guidelines, wearing tight-fitting lycra is out. If our Olympic cyclists were students, they would be ostracised. What should sporty Malaysian students wear then? The jubah or hijab? If Pandelela were a man, would she be diving wearing a sarong? One wonders what Abercrombie and Fitch, Burberry and Aquascutum have to say about the new guide? Will these designer labels suffer a drop in sales for their V-neck jumpers, sleeveless tops and handbags for men? After all, the offspring of Umno politicians and their cronies are the ones who are seen to frequent these stores, especially in London, where a number of them go to escape the claustrophobic Malaysian social mores. Far removed from reality V-neck jumpers form part of the school uniform for schoolchildren in UK where many Umno offspring go to study. Is this report indirectly saying that homosexual children linked to Umno are sent overseas to prevent them from being vilified? The Putrajaya guide for detecting lesbians is just as laughable. The people who devised this study are far removed from reality and have excluded many known lesbian traits. In Malaysian life, any Malay girl who "hangs out, sleeps and dines" with men would be hounded by the religious and moral police. So, under these rules, sleepovers with friends are disallowed. In Malaysia, especially Malay society, the two sexes are deliberately kept apart. There is little chance for either sex to interact normally with each other. This hampers any mental, social and moral development, so girls do not know how to react with men. When they go abroad to study, the girls are "liberated" from the strict confines of their upbringing and mingle with the other sex. Then they often go wild, like a dam that has broken. What will the Putrajaya guide make of that? It was reported that during the unveiling of these guidelines, Deputy Education Minister Mohd Puad Zarkashi said: "The time has come for the LGBT issue to be discussed openly and not seen as a 'taboo'". READ MORE HERE |
| Chinese vote, US backing not enough to propel Pakatan to Putrajaya, says don Posted: 13 Sep 2012 03:15 PM PDT 
Amin Iskandar, The Malaysian Insider Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will not capture Putrajaya with only the support from the minority Chinese voters and international recognition from the United States, an analyst specialising in Malaysian politics said in the run-up to Malaysia's tightest electoral race. According to Prof William Case, acting head of department for Asian and International Studies at the City University of Hong Kong, the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition will not fall to PR without the majority support from the Bumiputera voters even if the opposition pact wins strong support from the Chinese community. He added that the BN will still win the 13th general election but with a reduced majority compared to Election 2008 due to more urban middle-class Malay voters swinging towards PR. "Whatever the Chinese sentiment, at a figure of 26 per cent of the population their numbers are not big enough to defeat BN. "Unless the Chinese consolidate with a majority of Bumiputera voters it will not happen. "We must observe too the number of Chinese voters who returned to support Najib," he told The Malaysian Insider in a recent email interview, referring to the BN coalition led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Case feels that the US leans more towards a PR victory at the polls because of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's image as a moderate Muslim the world superpower is able to deal with. "Washington is certainly continuing its support to democracy. "However, Washington is not so opposed to Najib as those who look down on Abdullah or are sceptical towards Mahathir," the academic said, referring to Najib's two predecessors, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad respectively. Abdullah had taken over the leadership of BN from Dr Mahathir after the latter resigned as prime minister in October 2003, and led the 13-member coalition to its biggest win only to lose its customary two-thirds control of Parliament and four states in Election 2008. "In fact, some may feel a little respect for Najib as a visionary manager in a difficult and imbalanced situation. "Whatever Washington's views, it will only have a little impact to the votes in Malaysia," the professor said. Case is not a foreign name in Malaysian politics and administration, having written much about the country and who is now making a study on the state of federalism here. He has predicted that BN will still win the 13th general election but with a reduced majority compared to Election 2008. READ MORE HERE |
| PAS mahu Pusat ikut Selangor jika mahu PRU serentak Posted: 13 Sep 2012 03:13 PM PDT 
Nomy Nozwir, The Malaysian Insider PAS Selangor mahu kerajaan pusat untuk mengikut jejak Selangor yang menunggu mandat berakhir pada April 2013 dalam melangsungkan pilihan raya umum (PRU) jika tidak mahu pembaziran kos dan masa. Pesuruhjaya PAS Selangor, Dr Abdul Rani Osman (gambar) berkata, isu pembaziran masa dan Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) terpaksa menyediakan kos tambahan tidak timbul sekiranya Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 (PRU13) diadakan pada waktu yang sepatutnya. "Kalau nak elak bazir masa dan kewangan, tak payah buat sebelum tempoh berakhir penggal. Buat sekali tahun depan dan biar sampai habis penggal, jangan buat awal. "Mereka (Barisan Nasional) kata Pakatan Rakyat (PR) tidak menepati janji. Bagaimana nak realisasikan semuanya kalau masa tidak cukup. Bagi masa sebab kami nak selesaikan manifesto yang ada," menurutnya yang dipetik dari akhbar Sinar Harian hari ini. Menurut Abdul Rani lagi, jika tidak mahu menyusahkan rakyat terutamanya mereka yang tinggal di luar Selangor dan terpaksa pulang semata-mata kerana pilihan raya, kerajaan pusat perlu mengadakannya serentak dengan Selangor tahun depan. Bagaimanapun katanya, beliau akan cuba memanjangkan cadangan untuk menyediakan sedikit peruntukan jika ada keperluan bagi membantu meringankan beban rakyat Selangor pulang mengundi dua kali. "Memang baik buruknya pilihanraya berasingan, tetapi kalau betul jadi seperti itu, kita cuba fikirkannya. Cuba panjangkan dan bagi cadangan kepada parti dalam mesyuarat parti nanti," katanya lagi. Beliau juga tidak menafikan, tindakan mempercepatkan PRU13 membuktikan BN takut dengan manfaat yang diperoleh rakyat melalui program Kerajaan Negeri PR memandangkan program yang tiada dalam manifesto pun dilaksanakan seperti "Jom Shopping" dan sebagainya. Dalam pada itu katanya, tarikh PRU13 sepatutnya diumumkan lebih awal kerana yang akan mengundi berhak mengetahuinya. |
| May 13 witness defends Kit Siang in flagpole incident Posted: 13 Sep 2012 03:08 PM PDT 
Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider A 64-year-old man claiming he was in the vicinity of the former Selangor mentri besar's home during the May 1969 racial riots came out today to refute allegations that DAP's Lim Kit Siang had urinated on a flagpole inside the residential compound and perpetrated the bloody incident. Ahmad Habib, who made a surprise appearance at a press conference with Lim this morning, told reporters that based on his memory of the residence's layout, it would have been "impossible" for the politician to have survived committing the offensive act. "On any normal day, I believe no unauthorised person would have been able to enter the compound, let alone do some funny business like urinating on a flagpole. It would be practically impossible. "If a person tries to do this, I do not think he would have gotten away scot-free... he would have been arrested, hurt or even killed," the father of two told the press conference.  Witness Ahmad Habib made a surprise appearance. — Picture by Choo Choy May Ahmad was speaking today in support of Lim's denial that he had even been present in Kuala Lumpur when the May riots took place in 1969. The issue was raised earlier this year following reports that the controversial movie "Tanda Putera", to be released this November, on the re-telling of the May 1969 incident features a scene depicting Lim as having urinated on a flagpole of the then Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Harun Idris's residence. Ahmad explained that he happened to be within the vicinity of the Selangor mentri besar's residence on May 13 "by accident", and had taken refuge for some 10 hours in an unknown individual's house for some 10 hours when the bloody clashes erupted. He said that after the police declared that it was safe to return to the streets in the early hours of May 14, he had walked some 200 metres from Lorong Raja Uda 1 to Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz where the mentri besar's house was located. "There were a lot of people there. It was a huge compound. From inside, we saw the setting of the house. It was fully fenced and there was a guardhouse there. So I presume that with the guardhouse, there would definitely be someone manning this place," he said. Ahmad said the distance from the gate of the mentri besar's home to the flagpole was some 20 metres, repeating that it would not have been possible for Lim to have traversed the distance just to urinate on the flagpole. READ MORE HERE |
| Reveal palm oil AP holders, says PKR Posted: 13 Sep 2012 03:01 PM PDT 
PKR claims that at least half of the AP holders are not genuine palm oil players and the government is losing about RM4 billion in tax revenue due to the APs. G Vinod, FMT Reveal the names of companies benefiting from the palm oil approved permits (AP), said PKR's chairman of investment and trade bureau Wong Chen. Speaking at the press conference held at the party headquarters today, Wong claimed that palm oil industry players were surprised when told that the names were protected under the Official Secrets Act (OSA). "In a palm oil forum held a few days back, a prominent palm oil analyst asked for the names of the AP holders but one of the panellists dismissed him saying the list is under the OSA," he said. However, he said that the panellist was not a government official. The government introduced the palm oil AP system in 2000 to selected companies due to declining crude palm oil (CPO) prices and stock surpluses. It was also introduced to help local companies who wanted to send CPO to their refineries established in foreign countries. Under the system, the AP holders would not be imposed the 23% duty fee which was usually imposed on palm oil players who bypassed local refineries. In August, The Star quoted an industry source saying that palm oil refiners wanted transparency in the allocation and distribution of the quota to the beneficiaries dubbed "kings of palm oil APs". The source was also quoted as saying that industry players believed that at least half of the 50 companies enjoying the APs were not genuine palm oil industry players On the AP system, Wong said the government was losing about RM4 billion in tax revenue for this year alone due to the system introduced over a decade ago. "The government allows AP for 5.6 million metric tonne of CPO. Maybank estimated the average price per metric tonne for CPO this year at RM3,150. "So when you times those numbers with 23% tax rebate the companies are enjoying, we are losing RM4.0572 this year in tax revenue," he added. The PKR leader urged the government to relook the system, saying continuing such a policy would tantamount to nothing short but a fiscal irresponsibility. "By just giving the APs to genuine palm oil players, we can at least save about RM2 billion. That sum is half of what Pakatan Rakyat needs to provide free education to all Malaysians," he said. |
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
