| Seats: Ngieng tells DAP top guns to state stand Posted: 31 Oct 2012 07:53 AM PDT 
(Borneo Post) - SUPP Sibu vice Chairman Daniel Ngieng yesterday challenged Sarawak DAP top two leaders – chairman Wong Ho Leng and secretary Chong Ching Jen – to state whether they were willing to give up either their parliamentary or assemblymen posts to live up to their party's proposed declaration. Wong is assemblyman of Bukit Assek and Sibu MP, while Chong is Kota Sentosa assemblyman and Bandar Kuching MP. Ngieng said in a statement that DAP national chairman Karpal Singh had, last Friday, suggested that "all DAP parliamentary members who are also state assemblymen should publicly declare which seat they wish to contest in the coming general election". Ngieng, who is also deputy chairman of Sibu Municipal Council, said other DAP top guns in the Peninsula who were holding two posts were Lim Guan Eng, Ngeh Khoo Ham, Nga Kor Ming, Teresa Kok and Anthony Loke. "We ask Wong and Chong whether they will support Karpal's suggestion which was proposed by Ngeh." Ngieng hoped both Chong and Wong, who are both lawyers, would not excuse themselves by saying this was their internal party matter which others should not question. He said Karpal had clarified that the `One candidate, one seat' policy was for public interest by virtue of their accountability to the constituents. "This means when a person holds two posts, the call of duties would be compromised," he said. "For instance, when Wong is attending his parliamentary sitting he has no time for the constituents in Bukit Assek. This is not fair to them." He said DAP leaders had preached about fairness, accountability and responsibility. In view of their proposed policy, Ngieng said it was timely for both Wong and Chong to declare their stand. He said if they practised that it would give opportunities to more aspiring DAP leaders who might be denied to lead if DAP Sarawak stuck to the `One candidate, two seats' practice. "One DAP source from Selangor said the objection to Karpal's proposal from some DAP leaders may stem from worries that they could lose their multiple incomes, some of which had exceeded RM40,000 monthly, if they were just sticking to one seat," He said if both Wong and Chong were taking part in the coming parliamentary election, they would have to vacate their state seats based on their 'one candidate, one seat' policy. He challenged both Wong and Chong to make the declaration, saying: "The public deserve to be informed of your stand before the coming election." |
| Do you think I care a shit? Posted: 31 Oct 2012 07:33 AM PDT 
You Pakatan Rakyat supporters are still too immature. And that is why Pakatan Rakyat is not ready to run the country. Pakatan Rakyat supporters first need to gain some maturity before Pakatan Rakyat can be allowed to form the federal government. You need to suffer another term under Barisan Nasional. This suffering might then wake you up and only when you wake up can we talk about a change of government. NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin "More I read your articles, more I have an inclination that you really are on a BN payroll." -- bengali kunday.
*************************************
That was what a reader going by the nickname of 'bengali kunday' said. Well, allow me to reply to that. First of all, even if I am on the payroll of Barisan Nasional, so what? There are people like those in Malaysiakini, Malaysia Chronicle, and so on, who are on Pakatan Rakyat's payroll. In fact, sites like Harakah and many others actually belong to and are financed by Pakatan Rakyat or parties within Pakatan Rakyat. And they do not hide that fact or are apologetic or ashamed about serving the interest of a political party, notwithstanding the fact that it is an opposition party. Are you implying that it is okay to be on Pakatan Rakyat's payroll but not okay to be on Barisan Nasional's payroll? Are you also implying that democracy and freedom of choice and freedom of association means you must be on Pakatan Rakyat's payroll but not on Barisan Nasional's payroll? What type of democracy is this when you are restricted to serving one party's interest but not the other? What type of democracy is this when you have no freedom of choice or freedom of association and are obligated to serve one party's interest but not the other?
You take the moral high ground whenever you feel that someone is serving Barisan Nasional's interest but you do not demonstrate that same moral outrage if someone is on Pakatan Rakyat's payroll. So-called 'independent' human rights organisations such as Suaram openly work for Pakatan Rakyat but that is not repulsive to you. Only if they serve Barisan Nasional's interest is it repulsive.
Secondly, when I write articles very damaging to Barisan Nasional and Umno -- such as my two recent articles this week in The Corridors of Power regarding Umno Sabah -- you do not consider that as being on Pakatan Rakyat's payroll. However, if I write just one article that is slightly uncomplimentary to Pakatan Rakyat (in fact, the article that I wrote in which you posted that comment is not even about Pakatan Rakyat or uncomplimentary to Pakatan Rakyat) you consider that as being on Barisan Nasional's payroll. To you Pakatan Rakyat supporters, the decent thing to do is to serve Pakatan Rakyat's interest. Serving any other interest is an indecent thing to do. You decide the moral boundaries and limits of decency and anyone who does not pass your interpretation and yardstick of morality and decency is vilified. Who appointed you the guardian and trustee of morality and decency?
How different are you from the religionists who decide what is moral and what is decent and impose their standards of morality and decency on others? Since Muslims represent the majority population in Malaysia can Muslims then, going by the doctrine of democracy where majority rules, impose their Islamic interpretation of morality and decency on the minority?
Since the majority dictates the ground rules then surely what is compatible to Islam should prevail and anything repulsive to Islam should be barred. In that case the Islamic Sharia law, Hudud included, should be the law of the land. Muslims who are the majority in Malaysia should decide what is moral and what is decent and Islam must be the code of conduct that all Malaysians should live by. Religionists such as Muslims, even if they are the majority in Malaysia, should not impose their will on Malaysians, even on fellow Muslims, let alone on the non-Muslims. So why should you impose your will on others? The believers of Islam should not vilify those who are not of the Muslim faith. Why should the believers of Pakatan Rakyat vilify those who are not of the opposition faith? When misguided Muslims adopt the 'either you are with us or you are against us' religious doctrine, you find that revolting, indecent and immoral. But you can adopt the 'either you are with us or you are against us' political doctrine and it is not revolting, indecent and immoral. What kind of hypocritical double standard is this? You resent it when others impose their will on you and when they decide what is tolerable, moral and decent. But you can impose your will on others and decide what is tolerable, moral and decent. Can you see the hypocrisy that is so thick you can cut it with a knife? Do you think I care a shit about Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat? Do you think I care a shit whether Barisan Nasional retains power or Pakatan Rakyat gains power? Do you think my life is only about the general elections and about who gets to march into Putrajaya? That is a very narrow way to look at life. Do you honestly think that my mission in life is to make sure that Barisan Nasional does not get kicked out? Do you honestly think that my mission in life is to ensure that Pakatan Rakyat gets to form the next federal government? You have a very narrow mission in life. Do not imagine that my mission in life is as narrow as yours. Politicians are politicians, never mind from which side of the political divide. And the narrow objective of all politicians is merely to get into power. What makes you think that that is also my very narrow objective? If you think that then you have not been reading properly what I have been writing over these last 35 years. You Pakatan Rakyat supporters are still too immature. And that is why Pakatan Rakyat is not ready to run the country. Pakatan Rakyat supporters first need to gain some maturity before Pakatan Rakyat can be allowed to form the federal government. You need to suffer another term under Barisan Nasional. This suffering might then wake you up and only when you wake up can we talk about a change of government. Yes, do keep whacking me. Continue to vilify me. And when you do I will do everything within my power to make sure that the coming general election is going to result in a huge shock and disappointment for you. Never give a flower to a monkey, the Malays would say. That is like throwing pearls to swine, the English say. And that is how I look at some of you Pakatan Rakyat supporters, monkeys and swine that are not ready to be entrusted with power. So you want to fight. So let's fight. I have nothing to lose because I don't care a shit which side is going to win the coming general election. That is what you want. That is not what I want. Just because that is what you want you have this mistaken notion that that is what I also want. What stupid people you are. If I support Pakatan Rakyat then I am God. If I do not support Pakatan Rakyat then I am a Barisan Nasional stooge. Well, let me break it to you gently. I am neither God not a Barisan Nasional stooge. I am an independent-spirited individual who does not care a shit about losers like you. |
| ‘Who is she to question Karpal?’ Posted: 30 Oct 2012 08:46 PM PDT 
The cracks in DAP continue to widen ahead of the polls, with M Manoharan launching a broadside against Teresa Kok for her 'outburst' against Karpal. Athi Shankar, FMT "Who is she to question Karpal Singh?" thundered a DAP leader who took Selangor exco Teresa Kok to task for being rude. Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M Manoharan demanded that the DAP national organising secretary apologise to the veteran politician, who is also the party's national chairman. He said Kok's "media outburst" with regard to Karpal's statement on the "one man – one seat" issue was uncalled for. Being the party's Selangor chief and national organising secretary, he said Kok should know that Karpal as the DAP supremo had the right to announce the party's public policies. He said Kok had no right to question Karpal's media statements on the "one man – one seat" issue, which had become a major political topic among party leaders and members at all levels. He said Kok should always remember that Karpal was among the senior leaders responsible for the party's political strength and growth over the years. "She should retract her criticisms immediately and apologise to Karpal," Manoharan told FMT. Last Friday, Karpal called on the party's nine double-hat wearers, who are both a parliamentarian and an assemblyman, to declare publicly that they would opt for only one seat in the next general election. In other words, Karpal wanted them to show support to the proposed "one man – one seat" electoral formula. Karpal, who first proposed the formula early last year, argued that the party now had enough capable and dynamic young grassroots leaders as candidates, unlike in previous elections. But Kok, a double-seat holder herself, chided Karpal for highlighting "an old story" in the media. The other DAP elected representatives who are both MPs and assemblymen are Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (Bagan MP and Air Putih assemblyman), Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy (Batu Kawan MP and Prai assemblyman) and the state senior exco and party chief Chow Kon Yeow (Tanjung MP and Padang Kota assemblyman), all in Penang; Beruas MP and Sitiawan assemblyman Ngeh Koo Ham, Taiping MP and Pantai Remis assemblyman Nga Kor Ming, both Perak; and Rasah MP and Lobak assemblyman Anthony Loke Siew Fook (Negeri Sembilan). In Sarawak, state DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng is the Sibu MP and Bukit Assek assemblyman while state party secretary Chong Chieng Jen is the Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman. 'She was neither here nor there'
Manoharan, who supported the "one man – one seat" proposal, said dual seat holders should put public and party interests above their own interests by accepting Karpal's formula. He said double-hat wearers should not draw multiple perks while dishing out poor performance as elected representatives at the expense of other single seat representatives and taxpayers. At a glance, double-seat holders earn nearly RM40,000 per month. In Selangor, an assemblyman's pay is about RM11,700, inclusive of allowances, while that of an executive councillor is about RM25,000 (inclusive of state assembly pay). A MP earns about RM15,000 a month. Manoharan recalled that during the recent July parliamentary sitting, which coincided with the Selangor state assembly session, Kok was unable to perform her duties efficiently as a senior exco, state representative and parliamentarian. "She was neither here nor there. She was missing most of the assembly sittings," he claimed. Manoharan said he was now fighting a court case against the demolishment of a Hindu temple – Seafield Maha Mariamman Kovil – which comes under Kok's Kinrara constituency. "The temple management told me that it had been difficult to get even an appointment to meet Kok and resolve the demolishment issue amicably," he said. He said Kok was not able to divide and devote her time for her constituents partly because she was a MP and an assemblywoman in two different territories. READ MORE HERE |
| 'One candidate one seat' not Pakatan's Common Policy, says PAS Veep Posted: 30 Oct 2012 08:39 PM PDT 
(Bernama) -- PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub today stated that the 'one candidate one seat' proposal by DAP national chairman Karpal Singh was not a common policy of the opposition group. He said it might only apply to DAP.
"We (PAS) have no problem here. Moreover, we have for a long time practised the 'one candidate one seat' policy except for certain cases like our party president (Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang) who holds two seats (Marang parliamentary seat and Rhu Rendang state seat)," he said when contacted Wednesday.
The opposition group or Pakatan Rakyat consists of PAS, DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
Salahuddin said PAS had never prevented any party member from contesting a state seat as well as a parliamentary seat if he or she was asked to do so by the party's top leadership.
"Karpal had made the 'one candidate one seat' proposal probably because DAP now has many eligible candidates to be fielded in the upcoming general election. Anyway, this is DAP's internal matter," he said.
Last Friday, Karpal was quoted as saying said DAP elected representatives now holding two seats should choose to contest only one in the coming elections, so that they would have more time to serve their constituents.
However, some party leaders objected to the proposal. |
| Lust is a good strategy Posted: 30 Oct 2012 06:29 PM PDT
Well, since the majority of the Genneva gold bullion investors are Chinese I suppose this proves that the Chinese are greedy and are driven by lust -- lust for quick and easy money. And since the Chinese have demonstrated that they have this great lust then they must also be having lust for power. And this explains why the Chinese want to kick out the Malay Umno government. NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin Genneva involved 35,000 investors, investments of RM10bil (Bernama) - Some 35,000 investors with total investments clinching RM10 billion were found to be involved with the gold bullion investment company, Genneva Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a deputy minister told the Dewan Rakyat today. Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin said based on the information received thus far, total investments received amounted to RM4 billion and could swell to RM10 billion. He said Bank Negara Malaysia needs time to investigate the case based on two considerations deemed necessary to solve the controversy over the gold bar trading scheme. "Firstly, Genneva Malaysia has been "disguising" behind the gold bar business. Gold is a sentimental attraction. Many people are keen on gold regardless of their background including leaders." "They (the investors) feel this is a genuine business." "Secondly, Bank Negara has to study the situation. The central bank cannot raid straight away. For instance, if Bank Negara conducts a raid today and starts a probe, the central bank is also scolded at, because of their raid, investors lose their returns." "So Bank Negara has to consider, the central bank cannot act very quickly or very late. A balanced consideration is important. I feel all of us will learn from this experience." "Hopefully, we can better handle these type of cases in future," he said when replying to a supplementary question from Datuk Ibrahim Ali (Independent-Pasir Mas) during question time. Earlier, Awang Adek told the House that Genneva Malaysia's liabilities were more than the company's assets and this clearly showed that the company cannot afford to pay the due returns to its investors. The authorities recently conducted a raid on Genneva Malaysia and its associate company on suspicion of violating the Anti-Money Laundering Act. Datuk Wira Ahmad Hamzah (BN-Jasin), who posed the original question, had asked the Finance Ministry to unveil measures taken to curb get-rich-quick schemes which indulge in deposit-taking and illegal investments. In his reply, Awang Adek said Bank Negara was considering imposing a more deterrent sentence on get-rich-quick scheme operators in efforts to wipe out such scams from continuing to cheat the people. The ministry, in collaboration with related government agencies, including enforcement divisions, was monitoring closely and gathering intelligence, besides getting information from public complaints, he added. 
*************************************** Get-rich-quick schemes (Skim Cepat Kaya) such as tontine schemes, Ponzi schemes, etc., have been around for a long time. Tontines (known locally as 'kutu') have been around since the 1800s and Ponzi schemes for about 100 years now. Actually, get-rich-quick schemes have been around since time immemorial. The only thing is the name changes from time-to-time but the objective always remains the same -- make a lot of money from a little bit of money in the shortest possible time. I remember 40 years ago in the early 1970s the Gemini Chit Fund scandal hit the country. I had actually 'invested' in that scheme and made quite a bit of money. I got out just in time, though, before they were closed down and the tail-end investors lost their pants. Then we had the 'Pak Man Telo' Ponzi scheme that first emerged in the late 1970s and ran for about 20 years before the government sprang into action and closed it down. Most of the people caught with their pants down were Malays, a huge number of them rank-and-file police personnel and those from the kampong. Since the 'Pak Man Telo' Ponzi scheme affected mostly Malays it did not become an 'election issue' like the current Genneva gold bullion fiasco. Somehow, anything that affects the Chinese always becomes an election issue. Even giving out white envelopes instead of red envelopes for Chinese New Year can be turned into an election issue. But this would be only if the white envelopes were given to Chinese. If given to Malays then it is not an issue. The strategy in these get-rich-quick schemes is to prey on humankind's lust -- lust for wealth, power, recognition, position, etc. Humankind works on the basis of wants, not needs. Hence lust is very crucial in the whole scheme of things. We need food on the table, clothes on our back, and a roof over our head. Those are our basic needs. But once we meet those basic needs that would no longer be enough. Once we meet those basic needs then our wants take over. Then we want expensive clothes, jewellery, designer shoes and handbags, mansions, exotic cars, power, titles, and much more. Do we need all these? Of course we don't but we want them anyway. And that is why get-rich-quick schemes work. Those behind these schemes prey on peoples' lust or wants. And if you can convince them they can make a lot of money from very little money in the quickest time, they would entrust their money to you -- especially if there are 'references' from others who already made a lot of money from the scheme. To be successful in politics you also need to play on peoples' wants. Most voters might already have what they need. In fact, most Malaysians already have what they need. No one (except those such as drug addicts, etc., who choose to do so) is sleeping on the streets. We do not hear of anyone dying of hunger or starvation. No one walks around naked. So what more do the people need? They actually need very little more. They already have what they need. But it is what they want that counts. And they will vote for the government that can provide them these wants. If it is merely about your needs then you can survive living off the land in the middle of the jungle. You will not need a huge mansion or exotic car in the jungle. You do not need Birkin handbags, Rolex watches, Jimmy Choo shoes, Polo shirts, etc., in the jungle. In fact, you do not even need these if you live in town. But you want them anyway and if you can't have them then the government is bad and needs to be kicked out. Oh, but we are not kicking out the government for these reasons. We are kicking out the government because it is corrupt. Take the RM40 million 'donation' scandal involving Umno Sabah as an example. That is why we need to kick out the government. But the RM40 million 'timber kickback scandal' involving Umno Sabah is not something new. This has been going on for almost 50 years since 1963. That's right, it has been going on for almost half a century. And we have been telling you this for almost 40 years since the 1970s (at least I have, anyway). But this has never concerned you before. The more we tell you about all this the more you vote for Barisan Nasional. In fact, you looked at us as if we were crazy -- barking like a mad dog. Many times you scolded us and told us to just shut up. Now you appear to be screaming more than we are. So, no, I do not believe you want to kick out the government because the government is corrupt. I suspect that this is bullshit and that you have an ulterior motive. I suspect you are up to something no good. I suspect that this is merely a Chinese conspiracy to grab political power from the Malays. If corruption is really an issue then you would have kicked out the government a long time ago and not wait 55 years to do so. I know you all are a suspicious lot. Whenever I write something you are always suspicious of me. You suspect that I have a hidden agenda and that I am doing this for some personal benefit. Well, I, too, am just like you. I too am suspicious. I too suspect that you have a hidden agenda and that you are doing this for some personal benefit. Hence you want to kick out the government not because the government is corrupt -- because the government has always been corrupt for over 55 years and you never cared about it before this. I suspect you are not sincere and this is all about the Chinese kicking out a Malay Umno government. Well, since the majority of the Genneva gold bullion investors are Chinese I suppose this proves that the Chinese are greedy and are driven by lust -- lust for quick and easy money. And since the Chinese have demonstrated that they have this great lust then they must also be having lust for power. And this explains why the Chinese want to kick out the Malay Umno government. Hmm…Chinese logic does make sense, does it not? You swim. A duck swims. So you must be a duck. Raja Petra Kamarudin whacks Pakatan Rakyat. Barisan Nasional also whacks Pakatan Rakyat. So Raja Petra Kamarudin must be supporting Barisan Nasional. I just love what 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation and Chinese philosophy can teach us. Want to see another example of Chinese logic and philosophy? This is what Malaysiakini wrote: In the middle of April 2011, blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, better known as RPK, dropped a bombshell in denying his sensational statutory declaration dated June 2008. He claimed that he had been misled into making a false allegation against Rosmah Mansor, wife of premier Najib Abdul Razak. So there you are -- another example of Chinese logic and philosophy at work. That is what 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation has given to the world. I don't know how Malaysiakini came to that conclusion but who am I to argue with 5,000 years of Chinese logic and philosophy? |
| MACC urged to investigate KCB's failed investment in PNG Posted: 30 Oct 2012 04:53 PM PDT 
(Bernama) -- The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has been urged to investigate the possible power abuse and misappropriation of fund by the Kedah government-owned company Kedah Corporation Berhad (KCB) in its logging and plantation project in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Bandar Baharu District Youth Council chairman Helmi Abdul Khan said the Auditor-General Report 2011 on the project had raised many suspicions such as goodwill payment to vendors in PNG to open new land and lobbying a minister for the project. He also urged Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak not to point fingers on the issue, adding that as the chief executive of the state, he should handle the case professionally. "As a Mentri Besar, it doesn't make sense that he did not know about the multi-million ringgit investment. The people in Kedah demand to know details of the project," he told reporters after lodging a police report at the Bandar Baharu district police headquarters here, Tuesday evening. Several leaders from the Barisan Nasional component parties had also lodged similar police reports yesterday to urge MACC to investigate the case. Meanwhile, the Kedah People Progressive Party PPP) youth secretary M. Sethupati hoped that MACC would urgently investigate the case as it had incurred huge losses since the project was signed in Oct 12, 2008. The Auditor-General Report 2011 had noted that KCB had to bear RM13.49 million in losses after the RM31.21million project in PNG failed. |
| I Just Met A Very Racist Chinese! Posted: 30 Oct 2012 04:39 PM PDT 
Hantu Laut Interesting! I have always joked with my close Chinese friends that I think Chinese are one of the most racist people around. Some agree with me, but than they are my close friends, where jokes are taken light-heartedly. Yesterday, I arrived KLIA from KK and my wife from Phnom Penh, after visiting our daughter and grandchildren there.My wife's plane arrived 20 minutes earlier but she said she would wait for me so we can take the same taxi to our hotel.
I bought a ticket for a limousine at the airport. More often than not, most limousines that I can remember taking before have had Malay drivers, but for today, we have a Chinese driver.
On our way to the city I noticed the driver constantly talking in Chinese to his friend over the VHF radio. Half way to the city it started to rain heavily and my wife started talking to the taxi driver in Cantonese. There was a moment of silence and a slow response from the driver and I can't help noticing that blood have rust to his head, he was red-faced and shocked.
I asked my wife what she said that have made him blushed so badly, not that his colour is much brighter than pale. She said she asked him whether it is always raining in KL and told him to drive carefully as the road might be slippery. I asked why he looked shocked and almost speechless?
My wife said "I will tell you when we get to the hotel."
Here go the story.
While this guy was talking to his friend on the VHF radio his friend asked him whether he is taking passengers to Genting and he said no, that he is going to the city and that his fare are two lalat (flies), husband and wife going to a five-star hotel. He didn't realise my wife fully understands the exchanges in Cantonese all this while.
My wife is half Malay and half Chinese and speaks fluent Cantonese, Hakka and Mandarin. I scowled her for not telling me while we were still in the car and she told me what she did was more appropriate than me picking a fight with a low-life taxi driver.
She told me she purposely spoke to him in Cantonese to embarrasse him, which she did well to impound his rudeness without being rude herself and probably taught this low-life a good lesson that there are non-Chinese looking people who understand and speak Chinese.
This brings us back to the subject of stereotyping all Chinese as being racist, which I believe is more cultural than actual racism.
To the Chinese, anything they find repulsive will constitute name-calling, which bring us to Chinese against Chinese. READ MORE HERE |
| Don't pay AES fines, PAS’s Mahfuz tells road users Posted: 30 Oct 2012 04:32 PM PDT 
Ida Lim, The Malaysian Insider A PAS lawmaker today urged road users not to pay off traffic summonses issued under the federal government's controversial Automated Enforcement System (AES), saying that they should claim trial to the offences instead. "Now I want to ask, if the government refuses to delay the implementation of the AES and withdraw all summonses issued, everyone who receives the AES summonses don't need to pay the RM300 compound, instead follow this instruction to go to court..." PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar said at a press conference today. He said that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) was prepared to provide lawyers to represent those who chose to contest the summonses in court. Yesterday, PR said it would suspend approval for the AES's implementation in the four states of Penang, Selangor, Kedah and Kelantan, to allow for further discussion and public feedback. Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng yesterday said that PR's move would mean that 331 out of the planned 831 cameras under the nationwide AES scheme will not be installed. The AES cameras, which detects speeding motorists and those who beat traffic lights, is in its pilot phase, with 14 installed in Perak, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya. Today, Umno MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin also crossed the political divide today and backed the opposition PR pact in calling for Putrajaya to suspend enforcing the controversial traffic system, saying it could be used as electoral fodder against the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN). Several influential non-government organisations including the umbrella body representing civil servants, CUEPACS, have also opposed the enforcement by saying the system is not currently suitable. They also want the government to review the locations where the AES would operate. However, Bung Mokhtar was reported to have said that the system was necessary to "discipline" road users for the good of all. Lawmakers previously argued that the AES would only benefit the two companies running the system ― Beta Tegap and ATES ― as the firms will allegedly stand to earn RM16 from each summons issued by the AES. |
| Wan Azizah offered four seats In Selangor for GE 13 Posted: 30 Oct 2012 04:23 PM PDT 
(Malaysian Digest) - Selangor PKR is ready to offer as many as four state seats to be contested by PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for the upcoming 13th general election. State information chief Shuhaimi Shafiei said the four seats offered are the 'safest', based on the previous election results. The seats offered are Seri Muda, Kota Anggerik, Seri Setia and Sementa. "We are ready to offer our suggestions and views to the PKR central leadership if it is true that Dr Wan Azizah intends compete in Selangor. We just want her to win in the seats. "For now, we haven't received any direct instructions from the party leadership. We believe that whatever was announced by Dr Wan Azizah is a party strategy," he was reported as saying in Sinar Harian today. However, Shuhaimi stressed that the choice of seats ultimately lies with the central leadership. "Our offer of the seats is based on the track record. Even I, being the current Seri Muda assemblyman, am willing to make way if the president wishes to contest in the state. "What's important is that all members and party machinery will give 100 per cent to ensure a win for the party and the president," he said. Yesterday, the daily had reported that Dr Wan Azizah is still undecided on whether to contest in Selangor or Penang, both of which are Opposition-controlled states. Dr Wan Azizah, who is wife of Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, said the options were her own personal choices. Barisan Nasional, meanwhile, are unperturbed over the possibility that the PKR president could contest in Selangor. State Umno information chief Abdul Shukor Idrus said the public's growing awareness of BN's transformation plans have led the Opposition to feel insecure. "Based on the numerous transformation plans carried out by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the PKR leadership is now playing close attention to Selangor. "We cannot rule out the possibility that even Anwar and other PKR leaders will contest here," he said. Abdul Shukor declared that BN are 100 per cent ready to recapture the state they lost in 2008. "We will make sure that Pakatan Rakyat will have to pay close attention to Selangor and focus less on other states." |
| Samy Vellu luluskan projek kondo Batu Caves – Anwar Posted: 30 Oct 2012 04:12 PM PDT 
(Harakah) - Bekas Presiden MIC, Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu individu yang bertanggungjawab meluluskan Kondominium Batu Caves sekaligus menepis kontroversi Umno BN mengatakan kononnya pembinaan projek itu diluluskan Kerajaan Selangor sekarang. Mendedahkannya pada ceramah Merdeka Rakyat di sini malam tadi, Ketua Umum KEADILAN, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berkata, pembinaan dua blok kondominium 29 tingkat berhampiran Kuil Sri Subramaniar Swamy itu mendapat kelulusan MIC dan Umno pada 2007. Beliau menempelak pemimpin MIC kerana menipu rakyat India, malah meletak kesalahan ke atas Kerajaan Selangor. Ia ekoran tindakan Samy berdemonstrasi bersama masyarakat India pada 26 Oktober lalu kononnya membantah pembinaan kondominium tersebut. "Samy Vellu buat tunjuk perasaan, padahal dia yang luluskan projek pada 2007, ingat Tuhan dia tidak tahu? Sudahlah tipu rakyat, Tuhan pun dia nak tipu," kata Ketua Pembangkang. "Lepas itu mereka cabar Menteri Besar hentikan pembinaan, saya beritahu Khalid (Ibrahim), kita jangan ikut kata mereka dulu, kita siasat, cari siapa yang luluskan dan kita dakwa orang yang bertanggungjawab," tegasnya disambut tepukan gemuruh lebih 5,000 penduduk Kuala Langat. Sebelum ini, Exco Selangor, Dr Xavier Jayakumar menjelaskan, kelulusan pembinaan kondominium itu dikeluarkan oleh pihak majlis pada 31 Mei 2008 manakala ahli majlis baru di bawah Pakatan mengangkat sumpah pada 5 Julai 2008. "MIC dah dapat duit hasil penjualan tanah kuil dan luluskan projek yang menyalahi peraturan alam sekitar dengan ketinggian 29 tingkat, sekarang nak lepaskan diri tuduh kita pula, nak suruh kita bayar. Kepada rakyat India, usahlah sokong lagi pemimpin penipu seperti ini," kata Anwar. Semalam di Parlimen, Khalid mengumumkan penubuhan pasukan petugas bebas untuk menyiasat isu berkaitan pembinaan kondominium tersebut. "Kami mahu tunjukkan kepada rakyat bahawa kami telus membuat keputusan, jadi kami akan menubuhkan jawatankuasa bertindak khas yang akan diketuai seorang bekas hakim," katanya. |
| Time's up, PAS Youth tells Chua Posted: 30 Oct 2012 04:08 PM PDT 
(Harakah) - Announcing the expiry of its one-week deadline for MCA president Chua Soi Lek to apologise over his anti-PAS remarks bordering on Islamophobia, PAS Youth said today it was going ahead with the plan to organise a rally to deliver a memorandum to the Agong. On October 24, some 200 people comprising representatives of PAS's Ulama and Youth wings, PKR Youth and Muslim NGOs gathered at the MCA headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to voice out against the party's continued attacks on Islamic values.
A memorandum was also sent to the party, giving its president seven days to apologise to Muslims over a spate of statements denigrating the Islamic value-system.
"We feel the memorandum was simply 'trashed' him and the MCA leadership," said PAS Youth secretary Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil.
Khairul added that the wing will go ahead with its plan for a mammoth rally at the National Palace in Jalan Duta to hand over a memorandum to the Agong in his capacity as head of the federal religion.
"It is time that the Yang Di Pertuan Agong be informed of MCA's continous insults on Islam," he said.
Chua and top MCA leaders have been on a warpath with PAS by launching an attack on Islamic criminal law proposed by PAS in Kelantan, in what is seen as the Chinese-only party's bid to regain lost support among Malaysian Chinese. The party hoped that raising the spectre of an Islamic state in the event of Pakatan Rakyat's victory at the coming polls would prevent them from voting for the coalition.
Chua had also earned condemnations for defending a statement by his party's women wing that Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat encouraged rape of non-Muslim women, citing an advice by the Kelantan Menteri Besar in 2008 that Muslim women abide by the Islamic dress code and not dress provocatively, as part of measures to fight rape. |
| PAS fears celebrating the demon that is Halloween Posted: 30 Oct 2012 04:05 PM PDT 
(The Star) - PAS, which has consistently frowned on concerts, has now raised the red flag on Halloween parties where teenagers are dressed up in ghoulish costumes. Johor PAS Commissioner Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed wants parents to keep an eye on their children participating in Halloween parties. "We hope the costumes are proper. If there are no proper checks by the parents or the authorities, this can lead to moral decay. "Such parties can get wild where alcohol would eventually be consumed," he said, adding that guidelines should be drawn up. He said PAS was not against Western culture but insisted that "guidelines were necessary when it involves other cultures, especially from the West or the East from Japan and Korea, being brought into Malaysia". Dr Mahfodz said there must be some form of moderation in accepting such cultures, including the popular Gangnam dance style by PSY but the PAS leader did not elaborate. Other party leaders said they were disturbed by the media coverage given to such parties, which one PAS leader likened to "worshipping the Satan". They refused to accept the arguments that it was merely for entertainment, adding that the authorities should not allow such parties to flourish. MCA central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker said he was astonished by the latest stand taken by the party leaders. "They have consistently protested against concerts, insisted on non-Muslim models not wearing shorts and sleeveless blouses on billboards but to frown against Halloween parties involving mostly children is outrageous. "They have insisted on gender segregation in a cinema in Selangor where they do not even have a majority but PAS seems powerful enough to have its way even at district council level," he said. Ti said there were non-Muslim voters who did not believe that the push by PAS would not affect them, but he reminded them that the party had successfully stopped a cinema planned by a non-Muslim businessman in Bangi. He said he was not surprised that PAS had called for "caution and moderation" on the Psy's hit dance style, presumably because "the dance movements are unacceptable to PAS". |
| Pakatan to win 118 seats say Lampong Posted: 30 Oct 2012 04:00 PM PDT 
(Harakah) - Yahya Lampong , a former deputy Transport minister, said he was convinced that Barisan Nasional would lose power at the coming 13th general election. Yahya predicted that Pakatan Rakyat would win 118 of the total 222 parliamentary seats, while BN could be left with 104 seats. Yahya, now a PKR member, said he arrived at such a conclusion based on what he called the "82+20+16" formula, 82 being the number of seats won by PR in 2008, 20 being BN's parliamentary seats with non-Malay majorities while 16 being seats from Sabah. Yahya said he was highly optimistic that Sabahans would reject BN and that more than half of parliamentary seats in the state would fall to PR. "At least 16 out of 25 parliamentary seats will be won by PR," he said. Of of these, 13 are seats with majorities of Kadazan, Dusun, Murut and Chinese voters. The remaining three are 'mixed seats' namely Beaufort, Papar and Kota Belud. In Papar and Kota Belud, Yahya pointed out that Chinese voters comprised 40 percent of total voters. As such, he said a 15 percent swing of Muslim votes could work in PR's favour. As for Beaufort, Yahya saw no obstacle for incumbent Lajim Ukin to retain his seat. Lajim recently quit BN and declared himself a PR-friendly independent member of parliament. "PR will only need 112 seats to form the Federal government. So, PR will be able to form the government with the support of the peoples from Peninsular and Sabah. "Any parliamentary seats from Sarawak will be a bonus," he added. Earlier this month, Yahya told Harakahdaily that the three component parties that make up PR could not live without each other, a recipe he said would ensure the coalition's life. |
| Up to RM10b tied up in Genneva gold scheme, authorities say Posted: 30 Oct 2012 03:54 PM PDT 
Ida Lim, The Malaysian Insider Putrajaya believes investors may have pumped up to RM10 billion into the gold trading scheme under Genneva Malaysia, which was recently raided by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin said today. "The information that I have is that there [are] 35,000 investors that can be detected, but the total investment can reach RM10 billion," the deputy finance minister told Parliament during Question Time today. Awang Adek previously told Parliament that Genneva Malaysia's liabilities exceeded its assets, indicating and that the company was unable to pay returns to its investors. Genneva's bank accounts and other assets have been frozen by BNM since October 1, following suspicion that the company allegedly breached several banking and financial laws such as illegal deposit-taking, money laundering, tax evasion and appointing agents without licence, after several people lodged complaints with the police. Genneva Malaysia has some 60,000 customers and a monthly turnover of RM2 billion, according to its traders interviewed by The Malaysian Insider last week, but the company's website states 50,000 customers and a turnover of RM3 billion. Bank Negara Governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz has also said the central bank is fast-tracking investigations into the controversial gold trading company so that its customers will not be kept waiting for too long. Genneva, Pageantry Gold Bhd, Caesar Gold Sdn Bhd, Worldwide Far East Bhd and Bestino Group Bhd are among 25 individuals and companies offering unlicensed activities that were placed on an investor alert list by the central bank last year, double the number from 2010 and the highest on record since 2003. READ MORE HERE |
| Tan Koon Swan to get WCEF lifetime award Posted: 30 Oct 2012 03:45 PM PDT 
Zuraini AR, The Malaysian Insider Former MCA president Tan Koon Swan will be awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Fourth World Chinese Economic Forum (WCEF) next month. Tan will be among eight recipients set to accept the award at the event that will be held in Melbourne, Australia starting November 12. Announcing this today, current MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek also congratulated Tan in a press conference. "It's time for what we call redemption. He has gone through a difficult period and I think he deserves (the award)," Chua said. In 1985, the high-flying Tan fell from grace when he was jailed two years and fined S$1 million (RM2.5 million at current rates) after being charged on 15 counts that included share manipulation and criminal breach of trust (CBT) in what became known as the Pan-El scandal. He quit MCA soon after. But he recently found some solace when Glenn Knight, the former Singapore prosecutor that won the conviction against the ex-politician, wrote that Tan should not have been found guilty. Knight wrote in his book: "It was extremely painful for me to suddenly discover that the Singapore courts had got it wrong." Knight's views have, however, been disputed by Singapore's Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), which pointed out errors in his book, "The Prosecutor". Among others, it noted that there were 14 other charges that were not pursued in the 1986 case against Tan because he had pleaded guilty to the charge of criminal breach of trust through violation of Section 157(1). |
| Ex-Sabah BN MPs in Pakatan panel Posted: 30 Oct 2012 03:30 PM PDT 
According to a former Upko senator, current party leaders were 'trapped' by PM Najib Tun Razak's announcement of an RCI which is unlikely to convene before the polls. Joseph Bingkasan, FMT KOTA KINABALU: Sabah MPs Wilfred Bumburing and Lajim Ukin – the respective leaders of new opposition groupings Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS) and Pakatan Pertubuhan Angkatan Sabah (PPS) – are now members of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) national council. APS is led by Tuaran MP and former-deputy president of United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) Bumburing while PPS is headed by Beaufort MP Lajim who is a former Umno supreme council member. Both the MPs had on July 29 quit all posts that came with their positions as BN coalition members and pledged support to former prime deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim who now leads Pakatan. However, both Bumburing and Lajim have yet to join any of the opposition coalition component parties. Bumburing's former boss in Upko, Bernard Dompok, was quick to paint the two former senior BN leaders 'partyless' status as indecisive, saying that they displayed the lack of confidence in Pakatan's political struggle. Dompok, the Plantations Industries and Commodities Minister, who is fighting his own battle to remain relevant in the ruling coalition, also questioned the need for Bumburing and Lajim to establish APS and PPS as their political platforms. Dompok likened the Anwar-led opposition "as a duck in the water where on the surface the bird looked calm but underwater it was paddling hard." However, APS deputy president Maijol Mahap, an Upko vice-president until he resigned in August this year to team up with Bumburing, has hit back at Dompok. "It is not for anyone to say whether or not Bumburing has any confidence in any of the political parties that make up Pakatan Rakyat. (Joining a political party) is not his priority," said the former senator who lost his position after he quit the BN. Upko has already given the senator post to its deputy secretary-general Lucas Umbol whose nomination was unanimously passed by the Sabah Legislative Assembly last week. 'Pakatan made up of equal partners' Mahap disclosed that after going through a series of discussions with several Pakatan party leaders including Anwar, it was agreed that Bumburing and Lajim through APS and PPS, assist the opposition coalition in their quest to topple the BN government and wrest control of Putrajaya. "In relation to this understanding, leaders from APS and PPS have been appointed as members of Pakatan National Council," he said. "Unlike BN where Umno is the dominant force and all the other parties have to follow the dictates of Umno, Pakata) is made of equal partners where no single party dominates the other members of the coalition," he said. The former senator also backed Bumburing's stunning revelation that Upko leaders had discussed pulling the party out of the BN and joining Pakatan. READ MORE HERE |
| Will it get dirty between LDP and Gerakan? Posted: 30 Oct 2012 03:21 PM PDT 
Sabah-based LDP will not make any compromises on the Karamunting seat, held by Peter Pang, who won it in 2008 whilst in LDP. Queville To, FMT KEPAYAN: Sabah Barisan Nasional minnows, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), wants back a seat it lost to Gerakan after its assembly representative defected to the fellow ruling coalition member. Party president VK Liew said this week that there could be no compromise over the Karamunting state seat that was taken away by its former elected representative Peter Pang En Yin, after the latter left LDP in 2010 and joined Gerakan last year. Liew, a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said the party's stand over the issue was not negotiable as the seat had always belonged to LDP since 1999. "Of course we are determined to take it back. How can a member of a political party who left the party as YB after having won it on the party ticket take the seat away. It is against the principle of Barisan Nasional. "If that can happen to any other party in Barisan Nasional it would break up the Barisan Nasional concept and that would not be good and we would not allow that to happen," he told the media when approached at the joint Annual General Meeting of its Kepayan and Moyog divisions at its headquarters here. The status of the peninsula-headquartered Gerakan in the state government and the prickly relations it has with the Sabah-based LDP has been compounded by the awkward issue of the Karamunting state seat that it has taken over by default. Having seen its power and influence in Chief Minister Musa Aman's state government decline ever since a rift between the party's former leader, Chong Kah Kiat and Musa, LDP has been struggling to recover its leverage in the state. The distribution of seats in the state among the BN coalition partners for the impending 13th general election will determine its future standing in the state. Since the spectacular falling out between Chong and Musa over a plan to construct a towering 'Goddess of the Sea' statue in Kudat, LDP has struggled to regain its footing within the state government. But while Chong is still spoken of admiringly for his skilful and polished administration of the state when he was chief minister under the BN's rotation' of leadership among the communities, Musa has been pilloried by the opposition as inept and corrupt. LDP may suffer Political pundits in the state believe the fallout between the two could still have an impact in the coming elections and observed that during Prime Minister Najib's recent visit to Kudat, Chong's home town, the latter was not seen. Meanwhile, asked to comment on his secretary-general Teo Chee Kang's call last Sunday for the creation of more Chinese constituencies in Sabah, Liew who is also the MP for Sandakan said this would not be necessary. READ MORE HERE |
| Soi Lek dismisses ‘losing support’ report Posted: 30 Oct 2012 03:16 PM PDT 
The MCA boss responds to a report on how a substantial number of people had left a party dinner early. Teoh El Sen, FMT Dr Chua Soi Lek has dismissed speculations of dwindling support from the Chinese community following a news report of an "exodus" at a recent MCA dinner. The MCA president pointed out that there were thousands who willingly attended the Saturday event despite bad weather and many had stayed on. "Certain media was just playing it up. The event started late and the fact that so many came and paid for tickets means they are supporting us. "How do you explain the rest of the crowd that stayed on despite the rain?" he said during a press conference here. "The chairs, tables, and even plates were wet because of the rain," he added. China Press yesterday reported that some 20% of the 15,000 people at the MCA dinner called "Stability above chaos" in Johor left earlier. Organisers had reportedly reasoned that the early departure of the attendees on that day was to beat traffic jams. Meanwhile, Chua also responded to various issues concerning Pakatan Rakyat ranging from DAP chairman Karpal Singh's "one man, one seat" remark to PAS's apparent disapproval of the Halloween celebrations. READ MORE HERE |
| Planned mandatory mosques law may cause polarisation, says Sabah church group Posted: 30 Oct 2012 12:14 PM PDT 
The Putra Mosque is seen shrouded with smog in Putrajaya June 12, 2009. — Reuters pic ― An influential Sabah Christian group has objected to a proposed state law that will make it compulsory for mosques to be built in new housing areas, saying such a move may drive a bigger wedge between Muslims and non-Muslims in the Borneo state. The National Fellowship (NECF) Commission on Sabah Affairs (COSA) said that the proposal for such a blanket policy was misguided as there has never been any problem in gaining approval for the building of mosques and Muslim prayer halls in the state, unlike for non-Muslim places of worship that it says have been subjected to unnecessary delays in obtaining approval for their building plans and in land acquisition applications. NECF-COSA chairman Reverend Datuk Jerry Dusing said the current building by-laws are already working and saw no necessity for a change in the status quo "Why put (the building of mosques as) mandatory, as if Malaysia is only (made up of practitioners of) one kind of religion?" he told The Malaysian Insider after the NECF-COSA issued a media statement to highlight the issue. Sabah Assistant Finance Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan had proposed that local authorities enforce the requirement of providing a mosque site for each low- and medium-cost housing project in Sabah to ensure Muslims residents could carry out their religious obligations with ease, state news agency Bernama had reported on September 21. Dusing, who is also president of the Sabah branch of Sidang Injil Borneo (SIB), said church leaders had not been consulted prior to the proposal and only recently found out about it from reading newspaper reports. He said that previously, the state government would seek the views of the different religious groups before making a decision on such a "sensitive matter". He pointed to the 2007 controversy over the construction of a 108-foot high statue of Mazu ― as Taoists in Sabah call the patron deity protecting seafarers ― in mainly Muslim Kudat, a coastal town in the northern tip of Sabah He claimed the Sabah chief minister had discussed the matter with the different religious group leaders before deciding to cancel its approval first granted to the project in 2006. Dusing also said the state Barisan Nasional (BN) government had consulted church leaders when Muslims wanted to build a mosque in Penampang, which had met with objections as the western Sabah town was predominantly Christian. "Rather than making it mandatory, wouldn't it be better to have a discussion first to see the views of all religious groups and go on an approval process? Let those in the local authority decide," he said, adding that NECF-COSA was also concerned that non-Muslim house buyers may eventually end up having to shoulder the added cost to build the mosques passed on to them by developers. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/planned-mandatory-mosques-law-may-cause-polarisation-says-sabah-church-group/ |
| Support the Indigenous People's Murum Dam Blockade Posted: 30 Oct 2012 12:10 PM PDT 
Dr Kua Kia Soong, SUARAM Adviser The Penans have been blockading against the construction of the 944MW Murum Dam since Sept 26, 2012. More than 1,600 Penans from eight Penan villages (including one Kenyah Badeng longhouse) are affected by the construction of the dam which is now about 70% completed. Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), contractors and private companies involved in the project have been forced to use ferryboats or tugboats through the Bakun Dam reservoir to transport goods, machines, building materials etc. to the Murum Dam site. This is a new and different factor compared to the campaign against the Bakun dam in previous years. While we had built a campaign against the Bakun dam in the past, there was no action by the indigenous peoples affected on a scale comparable to the Murum dam blockade. The Penan communities affected by the Murum dam have shown a commitment to defend their rights and Malaysians must give them full solidarity and support their struggle in all possible ways. The Murum Penan communities are among the poorest in Malaysia. They have traditionally been hunter-gatherers but shifted to a more settled, agriculture-based way of life approximately 40 years ago. They rely on subsistence-based farming and hunting, fishing and gathering of forest products and the occasional sale of in-season fruit. Their livelihood has been adversely affected by low farm productivity and rapidly declining forest resources because of plantation and dam building projects. The Bakun Dam Fiasco The Sarawak state government with federal government support, has been carrying out highly irresponsible economic projects to the detriment of the environment, the indigenous peoples' lives and the long-term interest of the Sarawak and Malaysian tax payers. The 2400MW Bakun dam project has already proven to be a major fiasco not only in terms of insufficient demand for its electricity generated but a disaster for the 10,000 indigenous peoples who were displaced from their traditional ancestral land to the slum conditions of the resettlement scheme at Sg. Asap. Those who cherish their heritage and human rights would describe their fate as ETHNOCIDE if they have seen for themselves the conditions at Sg. Asap. The total energy demand in the whole of Sarawak is only 1000MW so the government has been trying to attract the biggest energy guzzlers such as aluminium smelters which happen to be the most toxic as well. Another investment is a coal-fired power station to take up the excess energy. These environmentally polluting industries are then touted as part of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE). In fact, hydro-electric power dams and toxic aluminium smelters are all industries rejected by the developed countries. None of these countries, especially Australia, wants to have toxic industries in their own backyard. But the Sarawak State Government is willing to have these mega projects for rather dubious purposes. The desperate chase for investments to take up the excess Bakun energy AFTER the dam has been built shows a total lack of economic feasibility studies which should have been done before the dam was built. Is it surprising therefore that many SCORE contracts have been given to companies owned by members of Chief Minister Taib's family? As if this Bakun dam fiasco was not enough, the Sarawak state government intends to build 12 mega dams in all which will strip the state of its rainforest and displace even more indigenous communities. The Murum dam is the first of these 12 dams. The dam construction is being supervised by China Three Gorges Corporation and built by Chinese dam builder Sinohydro. After their massive investments in the Three Gorges project, you can be sure these Chinese companies are hungry for investments in other hydropower projects in Sarawak. With such a large development scheme, international best practice calls for a "strategic environmental and social assessment." Such an assessment looks at the overall impact that a large development scheme can have as was done for the proposed "Greater Mekong Sub-region" energy network by the Asian Development Bank. No such strategic economic, environmental and social assessment has been conducted for SCORE. If the Bakun dam project is to be any guide, the Sarawak government's energy demand forecasts appear to be based more on nothing more than wishful thinking rather than detailed feasibility studies. Malaysian taxpayers, be warned that all these mega projects will entail an onerous debt burden on the Sarawak and Malaysian public. You can be sure that there will be electricity tariff hikes after the 13th general elections. There are many energy alternatives for Sarawak beyond large hydroelectric power projects such as small-scale hydropower, solar and other forms of renewable energy, energy efficiency measures, more efficiently run and managed power plants, among others. Above all, such environmentally friendly power projects respects the indigenous peoples' lifestyles while efforts can put into helping them with better transport systems, marketing channels and other forms of development they may require. Murum dam violates international standards The Murum dam project is in violation of the international standards on indigenous rights as guaranteed in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), of whichMalaysia is a signatory. The Murum dam is nearing completion but the resettlement report is still being withheld. As for the Bakun dam, all studies related to the projects have not been transparent. The affected Penan and Kenyah have stated that they have never been asked for consent as demanded by the UNDRIP. The project developer, Sarawak's state-owned electricity generating company, Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) has not provided indigenous communities with an opportunity to grant or withhold their "free, prior and informed consent" for the project as required by UNDRIP. Even in cases where there was agreement, however, it was neither FREE from coercion; the resettlement plan was not made known to the indigenous peoples PRIOR to the start of the construction, and they were not INFORMED by access to information about the project's impacts. The social and environmental impact assessment (SEIA) for the Murum project is seriously flawed. International standards—including the Equator Principles and the IFC Performance Standards—universally require that the SEIA must be completed during the design phase, before the government approves the project and before construction begins. This was not the case with the Murum Dam Project. The SEIA process did not even begin until after construction on the project was already underway. The Sarawak government has not yet disclosed the Murum Dam Project's SEIA to the public or to the affected communities. The Indigenous Peoples' Demands Without transparent access to the crucial information at the centre of this project, the affected communities were placed in an unfair situation when the Sarawak government asked them to negotiate a resettlement package. The monthly allowance to be paid after resettlement falls below the poverty level and ends after four years. However, the state government turned down the other demands of the Penan, which included compensation of RM500,000 for each family for the loss of their customary land. Their other demands were 30,000 hectares of land for every village, 25 hectares for every farming family, education for their children, a community development fund and rights to their land that is not submerged by the dam waters. The indigenous communities affected by the Murum Dam project have already issued a memorandum describing how the government could still remedy the situation. Support the Murum indigenous peoples now! Sign the Murum Appeal at http://www.sarawakreport.org/murum-appeal or atsaveriversnet@gmail.com. You can support their blockade by donating to their cause at these two websites. |
| Who do you call? Posted: 30 Oct 2012 12:08 PM PDT 
Erna Mahyuni, The Malaysian Insider "Kami polis. Kami boleh tanya, tahan dan tangkap siapa saja." (We're policemen. We can interrogate, detain and arrest whomever.) All M (she asked I not mention her name) wanted to know was why the two policemen on motorcycles were asking for her ID. It was a rainy night, M was driving. She saw a motorcyclist in her way and honked. He might not have seen her; she just wanted to make sure. She was being careful, she thought. The next thing M knew, two men on motorcycles were flanking her car. One of them berated her for honking at him. She explained why she did so and also pointed out that she had right of way. 
Again, he spouted the "I'm a cop and can arrest anyone" spiel. She asked if she could call her friend, a senior police officer, for advice. "Panggilah, saya takut apa?" (Call, then, what have I got to be afraid of?) M called her friend. Her friend wanted the policemen's names and numbers. And, suddenly, the "fearless" policemen were too afraid to identify themselves. They lied to M's friend on the phone, saying they only "wanted to help" her. In the end, the policemen went away leaving a very shaken M. M was lucky. Few of us can call up a senior ranked cop for help when being harassed by rogue members of the force. Thing is, we shouldn't even have to deal with it in the first place. There are decent cops. I've met them. But at the same time, we've all heard the stories or encountered "bad cops." Cops who ask for bribes. Cops who steal. Cops who turn a blind eye to crime or pretend to be too busy with paperwork to attend to crime reports. We are afraid of our policemen, for all the wrong reasons. To be honest, they scare me too. I've gone to make a police report and was ignored by the cop on duty because he thought I was a Filipina. It took me brandishing my IC at him for him to take me seriously. Then there were the cops who wanted to solicit bribes from me or make me get in a police car, all because they mistook me for a foreign worker. The cops need to be held accountable for the rogues in their ranks. They need to make it mandatory to show their identification numbers at all times. If a cop refuses to give his name and ID numbers, it shouldn't be a crime for a Malaysian to ignore him. The reality is that there are cops who are bullies. But when a policeman asks you to pull over, don't automatically assume he intends to harass you. Maybe your signal lights died. Your bumper or identification plate fell off. Give the policeman the benefit of the doubt. But when it's clear the "policeman" you're dealing is problematic, here's what you can do: Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/article/who-do-you-call/ |
| The al-Bukhary story: how it all began Posted: 29 Oct 2012 08:50 PM PDT 
Tun Datu Haji Mustapha bin Datu Harun was the President of USNO and the third Chief Minister of Sabah. Tan Sri Syed Kechik Syed Mohamed was the Legal Adviser to Tun Datu Mustapha and the Director of Yayasan Sabah, the foundation that was set up as the trustee of the state's timber wealth. Syed Kechik's famous (or infamous) nephew cum son-in-law is Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary, another man of great controversy -- just like his father-in-law, Syed Kechik, and Syed Kechik's 'mentor', Tun Datu Mustapha. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin An embarrassment of business opportunities, political patronage and debts. The Syed Mokhtar al Bukhary story. CT Ali, Free Malaysia Today Syed Mokhtar al Bukhary is like a king? First it was FLOM and now it is SMIK? (Syed Mokhtar is King). What will our king have to say about this pretender to his throne who also happens to be a tycoon – something which our king is not. All this came from that MP from Kinabatangan, Bung Mokhtar Radin. The first question I want to ask of this Sabah Umno leader is why has he got his beady eyes trained on this Syed Mokhtar guy? I am no fan of Syed Mokhtar but why is Bung Mokhtar breaking ranks with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in the same way he did with Shahrizat Abdul Jalil – and you know what happened to Shahrizat after that. Or is Bung Mokhtar taking a position to the rear of Najib's unprotected left flank ready to do battle against Najib? Or has Syed Mokhtar done an Abdul Razak Baginda on Bung Mokhtar? 
Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad Remember what Razak Baginda did to Altantuya Shaariibuu? He did a runner on her once he was in the money! Did Syed Mokhtar not deliver on what he promised Bung Mokhtar? There may be loyalty amongst thieves but amongst politicians it is a scarce commodity. Today Najib, tomorrow Muhyiddin Yassin. Today one wife tomorrow two. This is the stuff Barisan Nasional MPs are made of… deceit, duplicity, greed, arrogance, large doses of libido and a misplaced self worth. But Bung Mokhtar's life is just a little sandiwara as opposed to the operatic saga that is Syed Mokhtar's. Is Syed Mokhtar too big to fail? I think the adage that when you owe the banks billions, your continued success in business is as much the banks' interest as it is yours rings true with Syed Mokhtar. READ MORE HERE: http://malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/special-reports/52437-the-al-bukhary-story (READ Umno's chief crony HERE) (READ The timber mafia is larger than you suspect HERE) ****************************************** 
Tun Datu Haji Mustapha bin Datu Harun Tun Datu Haji Mustapha bin Datu Harun was the President of the United Sabah National Organisation (USNO) and the third Chief Minister of Sabah from 12th May 1967 to 1st November 1975. He is considered by some as one of the founding leaders of Sabah and was an important party in the negotiations leading to the formation of Malaysia on 16th September 1963. In the first state election of 1967, USNO won 14 seats against UPKO's 12 and SCA's four. USNO then set up a state coalition government with SCA where combined they controlled 18 of the 30 seats. ****************************************** 
Tan Sri Syed Kechik Syed Mohamed Tan Sri Syed Kechik Syed Mohamed was the Legal Adviser to Sabah Chief Minister Tun Datu Haji Mustapha bin Datu Harun. On 15th June 1967, Syed Kechik was appointed the Director of Yayasan Sabah, the foundation that was set up as the trustee of the state's timber wealth. That was more or less the beginning of Sabah's 'timber politics' that prevails until today. Syed Kechik's famous (or infamous) nephew cum son-in-law is Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary, another man of great controversy -- just like his father-in-law, Syed Kechik, and Syed Kechik's 'mentor', Tun Datu Haji Mustapha. The rest of the story is self-explanatory. ****************************************** Muhyiddin Visits Tan Sri Syed Kechik's Grave (Bernama) — Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyidin Yassin on Saturday visited the grave of Syed Kechik Foundation chairman, Tan Sri Syed Kechik Syed Mohamed, who died of old age and was buried at the Al-Bukhary Mosque graveyard yesterday. Muhyiddin was accompanied by wife, Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman Seri, and Al-Bukhary Foundation executive chairman Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary and his wife, Puan Sri Sharifah Zarah Al-Bukhary. 
Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary Syed Mokhtar, who is the late Syed Kechik's son-in-law, said his father-in-law, who was also his uncle, died at the age of 81 at 3.41pm in his house at Jalan Sultanah here yesterday. He said Syed Kechik served as legal adviser to then Sabah Chief Minister from 1968 until 1975 and was political secretary to then Information and Broadcasting Minister Datuk Senu Abdul Rahman from 1964 to 1965. Syed Kechik left behind a wife, Puan Sri Sofiah Abdullah, three children and 12 grand-children. ****************************************** Feud over Syed Kechik's millions goes to High Court (The Star) - The children of the late Tan Sri Syed Kechik Syed Mohamed Al-Bukhary have gone to court to fight over the RM400mil estate he left behind. The High Court granted an injunction applied by his two daughters – Sharifah Zarah and Sharifah Munira – to prevent their half-brother Syed Gamal from interfering in Syed Kechik Holdings Sdn Bhd's affairs yesterday. Syed Gamal, 45, who is Syed Kechik's only son from his first marriage, is not allowed to intervene in the administration, enter the premises and access the records and accounts of the company. 
Syed Gamal, the only male heir to the late Syed Kechik He is also barred from interfering in the duties of the company directors. The sisters, who are directors of the company, were not present but were represented by laywer Datuk Vijay Kumar. This is the second injunction granted by a court in the family saga that started after Syed Kechik's death last year. Syed Gamal had obtained an ex-parte injunction at the Syariah Court on Sept 14 to stop his 44% stake in the company from being sold or liquidated. Justice K. Anantham, who presided over the High Court case in his chambers at the Jalan Duta court complex here, ruled that the Syariah Court had no jurisdiction over the company because it is a corporate entity. Syed Gamal, who was with his cousin Syed Azman Syed Mansor Al-Bukhary, said his lawyers would appeal against the decision. "I will continue with my struggle to pursue my rights according to Faraid law. My rights have been denied almost all my life. This is not a struggle for myself but also for my family," he said when met outside the courtroom. Syed Gamal was represented by his three lawyers – Atan Mustaffa Yussof Ahmad, Az-mi Tan Sri Dr Mohd Rais and Zulkifli B.C. Yong. Syed Kechik died at the age of 81 on April 10 last year. His son-in-law is Al-Bukhary Foundation chairman Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary. ****************************************** Syed Kechik's second wife, daughters lose appeal (Bernama) - The wife and two daughters of the late Tan Sri Syed Kechik Syed Mohamed Al-Bukhary failed in their appeal today to stop his (Syed Kechik's) son from his first marriage to be joint administrator of his RM400 million estate. Justice Datuk Wira Low Hop Bing, leading a three-man Court of Appeal panel, ruled that the High Court had correctly given due regard to Syed Gamal's right to be co-administrator of his father's estate. He said it was the court's view that the acrimony between Syed Gamal and his stepmother Puan Sri Sofiah Moo Abdullah, 67, and his half-sisters Puan Sri Sharifah Zarah, 42, and Sharifah Munira, 44, was not a good ground to exclude Syed Gamal from being co-administrator of his father's estate. Low said allegations made by Sofiah and her daughters that Syed Gamal lacked knowledge of the father's business, that he (Syed Gamal) was a failed businessman in a T-shirt business and the subsequent sale of a Mercedes car by Syed Gamal were not valid grounds to remove his (Syed Gamal's) right to be considered for appointment as co-administrator. "Success and failure in life, business or any other activity is purely a matter of subjective judgment. Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts," he said. The panel, which also comprised Court of Appeal judge Datuk Wira Abu Samah Nordin and High Court judge Datuk Azahar Mohamed, unanimously dismissed the appeal brought by Sofiah and her two daughters and upheld Judicial Commissioner Lee Swee Seng's decision given on July 30 last year that the late Syed Kechik's estate be jointly administered by his wife and three children. "In our view, section 30 of the Probate and Administration Act 1959 provides for the entitlement of all persons who are interested in the estate to be appointed administrators of deceased's estate. "We are unable to identify any error on the part of the Judicial Commissioner in appointing all appellants (Sofiah, Sharifah Zarah and Sharifah Munira) and respondent (Syed Gamal) as co-administrators of the deceased's estate," Low said. The panel ordered Sofiah and her daughters to pay legal costs of RM40,000 to Syed Gamal. Syed Gamal, 46, a cyber-cafe owner, is Syed Kechik's only son from his first marriage to Zainab alias Eshah Abdullah. The feud over the estate began after Syed Kechik died of heart disease on April 10, 2009 at the age of 80 without leaving a will. Syed Kechik was the father-in-law of Al-Bukhary Foundation chairman Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, a billionaire listed as one of the richest people in the country. On September 15, 2009, Sofiah and her daughters petitioned the court for a letter of administration to the estate. On April 14 last year, Syed Gamal filed a caveat to stop his stepmother and half-sisters from being appointed sole administrators of his late father's estate. ****************************************** 
Kumpulan Syed Kechik Sendirian Berhad Kumpulan Syed Kechik Sendirian Berhad is the flagship corporation of the Kumpulan Syed Kechik Group of Companies with diverse interests in multifarious industries incubated and nurtured by Tan Sri Syed Kechik Bin Syed Mohamed Rahmat Al-Bukhary over the past three decades and more. 1. Nira Sendirian Berhad owns and manages its signature corporate address, the Syed Kechik Foundation Building (picture above). 2. Budiman Sendirian Berhad owns and manages Wisma Budiman. 3. Pasar Borong Development Sendirian Berhad holds vast prime lands situated along busy Jalan Ipoh. It also owns and manages a complete block of dual frontage four storey shop offices comprising thirteen (13) units at Block 28, Jalan 6/3A, Bandar Utara. 4. Castlefield Development Sendirian Berhad owns a choice plot of over two acres of commercial land in Puchong, Selangor. 5. Tenaga Minyak Corporation Sendirian Berhad owns and manages five adjoining premium dual frontage four-storey shop offices at Block 7, Jalan 2/3A, Bandar Utara. 6. Taman Melanti Sendirian Berhad owns fully refurbished units of Double Storey Shop Houses, Double Storey Terrace Houses and Single Storey Terrace Houses in the developed, mature and vibrant neighbourhood of Taman Seri Kluang. http://www.kskgroup.com.my/ |
| Election dilemma among Indian voters Posted: 29 Oct 2012 08:11 PM PDT 
"In relation to the job placement in Government, we are now having a 3% of Indians in the government work sector and we will further upgrade to advance the current percentage up to 7%. In terms of privilege, the government has allocated 180 million Ringgit Malaysia for the Indians in terms to consolidate any business", said Komala. The Malaysian Times The Indian community makes up a majority of two million in the current population, and to picture, if Barisan National loses this majority of voters due to their decline in involvement of voting, how would it be possible for the ruling party, to prevail in this election? Comparing the votes posted for BN from year 2004 to 2008, there is a radical drop in the number of votes. In year 2004, studies reveals that the vote count for BN was 90.87 and in year 2008 the total amount of votes dropped to 51.50 even though the percentage of electorates shows a sum of 100.00% electorates participated in the voting. We could assume that social disharmony is an aspect to be taken into account for the decline of Indian voters. Under the umbrella of one Malaysia, we are all supposed to be united regardless of racial, religious or cultural backgrounds. Be it BN or Opposition, they are still serving the country in different ways; nevertheless they still contribute to the same responsibility; to make the country a better place to live instead of fighting over power. The dispute over racial harmony can be visibly noticed when the very day, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, publicly unveiled the 1 Malaysia logo and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, said " UMNO would fight to the last drop of blood to protect Malay rights". Highlighting the statement said above, has this probably affected the mentality of our Indian Community to not vote as they are perception that the government is biased? How can this type of biased statement be announced especially in a 1 Malaysia seminar? Shouldn't the statement be general and not too specific to ensure that the government is not mistaken by the Indians and even Chinese? This may be an explanation to why Indian voters are fading away time to time. COMMENTS To a further study on why Indian voters are declining; interviews were conducted by TMT reporter, in random with the public to observe their views on the decline of Indian voters. 
"I personally feel that there is a decline in Indian voters it is probably due to the distribution of wealth to the respective races, not on an equal basis and the Indians are looking for fairness", said Ahamad Azmi Alip, 36, a Bank Executive. 
"The Indians is not given adequate chance to fill the government jobs regardless if you are a Malay, then only you may be a part of the government sector, I also think that the current government should dissolve and new government should be established", said, Rajendran, 50, a driver. 
"I would say it is all started from the government unfairness, and that can be visibly seen through the education system, whereby there is inequality when it comes to the receiving of scholarships and the entrance into local universities", said, Raaj Kumar, 22, a Software Engineer. In regards to these voices of the Rakyat, TMT reporter then carried out an interview with Datin Paduka Komala Devi, National Wanita MIC Chief, to give out her views based on the voices of the Rakyat. "We are doing our part for the Indians, I also know that many are dissatisfied about the government, but we are also doing our part as a government to serve all with benefits and privileges", said Komala. "We have set up SITF, Special Implementation Taskforce on Indian Community, which was established to ensure that Malaysian Indians are able to access the service, programs and projects of the federal government in a just fair and equitable way, which is wanted by everyone", added, Komala. "In relation to the job placement in Government, we are now having a 3% of Indians in the government work sector and we will further upgrade to advance the current percentage up to 7%". "In terms of privilege, the government has allocated 180 million Ringgit Malaysia for the Indians in terms to consolidate any business", said Komala. "Meanwhile about education, we have increased the amount of intake of students into the matriculation, and the scholarships will be given to those who have reached the standard qualification criteria". However, if they are not qualified for the scholarship, they still receive funds assistance from PTPTN thus they are still able to study, In addition to education fund assistance, MIED also helps those who are in need of financial help for education". Komala also continued further by saying, "We are expecting a percentage of 70-80% of votes from the Indians for BN, because we have taken up so many initiatives for the betterment of the Indians", added Komala. Thus we can conclude that the, Malaysian government must focus on building a strong, impartial executive, legislative and judiciary system, as a result to keep up with the Malaysian society of today. The government must grow up and shed its childish race-based mindset. |
| White elephants of Penang Posted: 29 Oct 2012 07:17 PM PDT  Wisma Central is an eyesore with its peeling paint and tired look. Many of the lots in the building are vacant. — Pictures by K.E. Ooi By Opalyn Mok, The Malaysian Insider
Smack in the middle of George Town stands a tired-looking squat commercial complex with peeling paint and vacant windows that has seen better days. This is Wisma Central, a commercial building that used to be a hive of activities almost 20 years ago when it housed offices of airlines, travel agencies, hairdressers, tailors and also a college. Now, the building looks derelict and abandoned, with only a few businesses still in operation within the building.  Midlands Park used to be a major shopping centre but is now a forlorn, almost forgotten complex with only a few retail shops still remaining while the rest have moved out. If one looks at the location of the building, it is the perfect place for any office or business to set base in as it is just a stone's throw away from Komtar and it is in Macalister Road, one of the busiest main roads in town. Still, despite its choice location and with ample basement parking space too, businesses have either closed down or relocated over the years. In Penang, huge commercial and retail complexes, especially decades-old ones, often have a very low occupancy rate of between 20 per cent and 70 per cent. These are the very complexes that are becoming the white elephants of Penang, with barely struggling businesses occupying a few lots within the buildings while more spanking new complexes are being built elsewhere. A few years ago, a CIMB research report stated that there is a commercial glut in Penang, with the state recording the lowest occupancy rate for office space in the country at 76 per cent and the second lowest for retail space at 70 per cent. Now, the situation has worsened as the occupancy rate for commercial and office complexes in the state continues to dip and more buildings fall victim to neglect and poor management. Some investors saw the potential in some of the complexes and decided to give these buildings a new breath of life and, hopefully, bring back the crowds and economic activities to these places. One of these complexes, Island Plaza, was given a facelift in recent years. This was one of the first upscale malls on the island located in Tanjung Tokong.  The empty hallways of the mostly vacant Plazone in Pulau Tikus. Though sporting a new look, the occupancy rate for the mall was never like its heydays when people would flock there on weekends. Another one is Penang Plaza, also strategically located in Burmah Road. An investor bought over the building and gave it a new look, far different from its former "old-fashioned" appearance. Occupancy rate may have gone up compared to previous years but it is not attracting droves of shoppers either. In Pulau Tikus, two main complexes that are left to die a slow death are Plazone and Midlands Park as businesses moved out and occupancy drops to an all-time low. At Plazone, occupancy could be less than 20 per cent and its joint management body is at its wit's end trying to figure out a way to bring life back to the ailing complex. The eight-storey tall building now only has a small supermarket on the ground floor as the anchor tenant and a sporadic few businesses within it. "We are now thinking of how we can spruce up this place and make it a choice location for offices and retail lots again," said a management committee member. They have an uphill journey ahead as just a few kilometres down the road the more well-known Midlands Park is also suffering a similar fate. It is not only old commercial buildings that are suffering low occupancy rates and turning into white elephants but a few new ones are also going down the same path.  Even as older retail complexes are suffering from low occupancy rates, new ones are being built. Penang Times Square in Jalan Dato Keramat, a stone's throw away from Komtar, has been suffering very low occupancy rates from the very start. Now, it is being promoted as a food mall with many food and beverage outlets opening there and yet, the occupancy rate is dismal compared to its nearest competitor, First Avenue. These white elephants, however, do not compute to a poor economic situation in the state as investors are taking up pre-war houses within the heritage zone and opening up restaurants, cafés and boutique hotels. READ MORE HERE |
| Did BN’s Bumiputera policies backfire? Posted: 29 Oct 2012 07:03 PM PDT 
Over the years, the National Economic Policy became an affair of the elite, leaving the masses stuck in the mirage of the 'Malay Dream'. Amir Ali, FMT The Barisan Nasional (BN) is having its back against the wall, accused of all sorts of misgivings and of being unfit to continue to rule the nation. But the real question is what has the BN not done for the majority community in the country? And this question leads us to a series of questionable policies that have failed the Malays, contrary to the assertions by Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The former prime minister has insisted time and again that the BN's policies have benefited the Malays, creating wealth for them and helping them to keep their political and economic strength. If that was the case, then why is it that a large majority of Malay citizens are still part of the middle class while the poverty level has also increased among the Malays? Why are there only a handful of really rich Malays (millionaires and billionaires) if the policies promoted by the BN for the past decades had really benefited the Malay-Muslim majority in the country? Why is it that many Malays are struggling to achieve a certain level of economic strength despite the National Economic Policy (NEP) favouring the Malays? The answer to that, according to Mahathir, is that the Malays are lazy and that instead of taking advantage of the facilities offered to them, they converted the "goodies", especially tailor-made for Malays, into cash machines. They sold their rights and businesses to non-Malays and this benefited the non-Malays while it only made those who were granted the goodies temporarily rich. It can be argued that parts of these assertions are true. There were always stories about how some greedy businessmen from the Malay community took advantage of the system only to turn the projects into cash cows. NEP, an 'affair of the elite' There were always stories of how they would sell the tenders, the projects and the contracts to others in order to make the easier money instead of being involved fully in the deals. And there were surely cases where some members of the majority community would siphon off the money rather than invest in the earmarked projects. All these tales have not helped the Malay-Muslim community in the country and it is this lack of tact from some people that has caused the community to be behind schedule of the NEP. The fact is that the authorities formulated policies that were made to benefit the masses but only a few, well-placed people with connections made it to the top. In their march to success, these members of the community failed to distribute the goodies and the benefits they earned to the masses. They probably thought their success were their personal achievements and was not achieved with a helping hand from the state. They also forgot, only too fast, that the financial, structural or logistic aid they received was designed to uplift the entire community. Over the decades the NEP became an affair of the elite, of those who were rising while the masses were stuck in the mirage of the "Malay Dream". The BN and Umno are trying very hard to get the support from the Malay-Muslims in the next general election. But the ruling coalition does not have the same "panacea" that they had before. The reason is that the Malay-Muslim community in general does not believe the NEP helped them or made them rich. No benefits Most of the goodies handed over by the BN during the course of this year have only been in the form of temporary aid and have been limited to a class of people that would probably have voted for the BN anyway. The Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia, too, is not a populist step as it reflected that only those who are really struggling can benefit from this policy. Under the Abdullah Ahmad Badawi regime, there was much hooray about the new-found pro-Muslim policies under the concept of "halal" industries and businesses. READ MORE HERE |
| The al-Bukhary story Posted: 29 Oct 2012 06:52 PM PDT 
An embarrassment of business opportunities, political patronage and debts. The Syed Mokhtar al Bukhary story. CT Ali, FMT Syed Mokhtar al Bukhary is like a king? First it was FLOM and now it is SMIK? (Syed Mokhtar is King).What will our king have to say about this pretender to his throne who also happens to be a tycoon – something which our king is not. All this came from that MP from Kinabatangan, Bung Mokhtar Radin. The first question I want to ask of this Sabah Umno leader is why has he got his beady eyes trained on this Syed Mokhtar guy? I am no fan of Syed Mokhtar but why is Bung Mokhtar breaking ranks with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in the same way he did with Shahrizat Abdul Jalil – and you know what happened to Shahrizat after that. Or is Bung Mokhtar taking a position to the rear of Najib's unprotected left flank ready to do battle against Najib? Or has Syed Mokhtar done a Abdul Razak Baginda on Bung Mokhtar? Remember what Razak Baginda did to Altantuya Shaariibuu? He did a runner on her once he was in the money! Did Syed Mokhtar not deliver on what he promised Bung Mokhtar? There may be loyalty amongst thieves but amongst politicians it is a scarce commodity. Today Najib, tomorrow Muhyiddin Yassin. Today one wife tomorrow two. This is the stuff Barisan Nasional MPs are made of… deceit, duplicity, greed, arrogance, large doses of libido and a misplaced self worth. But Bung Mokhtar's life is just a little sandiwara as opposed to the operatic saga that is Syed Mokhtar's. Is Syed Mokhtar too big to fail? I think the adage that when you owe the banks billions, your continued success in business is as much the banks' interest as it is yours rings true with Syed Mokhtar. Colossal debts This is Halim Saad all over again. Shades of Amin Shah creeps into the picture while Tajuddin Ramli smiles at the irony of it all – another bumiputera businessman doing his national service the hard way – raking a debt of RM34.3 billion courtesy of his political masters aka Umno. There are countries in Africa that have gone comatose with debts less than that. This all too familiar comedy of bumiputera businessmen doing business the Umno way is good for a laugh if not for the real tragedy that will befall our nation when they fail. And fail he will. RM34.3 billion buys a lot of coconuts but what does he do with RM34.3 billion worth of coconuts? What do you do with RM34.3 billion worth of debt? And so Syed Mokhtar has a lot of troubled companies in his stable and counting. When does he stop, how does he stop and when will Umno allow their cash cow to stop accumulating debts? When will Umno ever learn? Some very rich Malay now becomes richer as his political patron makes him richer in order for this very rich Malay to pay for his political patronage. Very soon no political solution can be found to resolve the RM34.3 billion debt he has incurred. His ability to manage his political patron it is not matched by his ability to manage his RM34.3 billion debt. Soon the very rich Malay fades to obscurity… preferably somewhere abroad. We have seen this comedy of errors enacted many times before in companies and businessmen linked to Umno. With very rare exception, the Chinese businessman who profited from political patronage goes from strength to strength and at times even from one prime minister to the next one. Not the Malay businessman. He has an embarrassment of business opportunities thrown at him by his political masters. Even more than what he, his family, his relatives and friends can handle – even his driver too. The banks are tripping over each other in offering him more money then there are PAS supporters in Kelantan. And still in the end they all fail. An embarrassment of business opportunities, an embarrassment of loans on offer and an embarrassment of debts – all too familiar a scenario with Malay businessmen who owed their fortunes to political patronage. READ MORE HERE |
| RM1.05 bil suit against S'gor govt set for hearing Jan 11 Posted: 29 Oct 2012 05:44 PM PDT 
(Bernama) - The High Court here has set Jan 11 for the hearing of Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor's (Syabas) RM1.05 billion compensation suit against the Selangor government over a water tariff dispute. Initially, Justice Datuk Mary Lim was scheduled to hear the matter today following the Court of Appeal's decision on Oct 8, which allowed the state government's application to set aside the judge's decision in allowing the plaintiff to amend its statement of claim. However, counsel Datuk Harpal Singh Grewal who acted for Syabas, told the court that although the parties were ready to go on with the trial, the plaintiff (Syabas) had already obtained leave to appeal from the Federal Court on Oct 23 to appeal against the Court of Appeal's decision. Harpal also informed the court that the Apex Court had indicated the matter would be heard soon since it was a case of public interest. Justice Lim set Dec 17 for case management of the case for the parties to inform the court on the outcome of the plaintiff's appeal at the Federal Court. The plaintiff in its initial statement of claim had stated that the compensation should be based on RM1.89 per cubic metre, but later sought the High Court's permission to amend the quantum, to either RM1.82 or RM1.80 per cubic metre as stated in the water concession agreement. In the suit filed on Nov 10 last year, Syabas is seeking the Selangor government to pay RM1.05 billion in water tariff adjustment. Syabas claimed that based on the concession agreement, dated Dec 15, 2004, signed by the Malaysian government, the Selangor government and the company, it was given a 30-year concession to buy treated water from water treatment operators and to supply the treated water to the distribution areas in accordance with the terms spelt out in the agreement. Syabas said that through a letter dated March 31, 2008, it sent a document to the Selangor government to support its application to increase the gazetted tariff of RM1.39 per cubic metre to a new agreed tariff of RM1.89 per cubic metre for the third operations period from Jan 1, 2009 to Dec 31, 2011. It claimed that the defendant had failed to inform the company whether it had agreed to increase the gazetted tariff to the agreed tariff. Syabas also claimed that it had sent several letters to the defendant to claim compensation in line with the concession agreement but failed to get any satisfactory reply from the defendant. In the affidavit-in-reply, the Selangor government, through the State Secretary at that time, Datuk Ramli Mahmud, said the suit by Syabas was an abuse of court process, arguing that the water industry was undergoing restructuring as required under the Water Services Industry Act 2006 and the National Water Services Commission Act. At today's proceedings, the Selangor government was represented by Malik Imtiaz Sarwar and Fahda Nur Ahmad Kamar. |
| SAMM rakam pujian buat kerajaan negeri yang tangguh/halang AES dan SAMM terus ajak rakyat desak ... Posted: 29 Oct 2012 05:13 PM PDT 
AES celaru, ramai bantah khususnya dilokasi mengarut seperti 30km/j Jika ada masalah tidak ada ruang rayuan terpaksa terus hadir ke mahkamah dan rayuan atau masalah diutarakan dalam mahkamah sahaja. Bertambah sibuklah mahkamah negara. Yaser Sheikh Abd Rahman, Penyelaras Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia - Pelaksanaan AES terus mendapat bantahan termasuk beberapa pihak dari sebelah regim penguasa namun regim terus berkeras untuk melaksanakan. Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) dengan ini memuji tindakan Kerajaan Negeri Kedah, P.Pinang, Selangor dan Kelantan yang telah mengumumkan penangguhan sistem ini dilaksanakan di negeri - negeri tersebut. SAMM juga mencabar negeri lain untuk mengikuti langkah berani negeri yang menghalang pelaksanaan AES demi menjaga kepentingan penduduknya.
 | | kenapa bazirkan wang rakyat ? hujah AES tak guna wang rakyat tipu ! | - Regim berhujah tidak ada wang negara (wang rakyat) digunakan dalam perlaksanaan AES, ini satu pembohongan. Lihat gambar yang didedahkan oleh seorang peguam KASE, Zul Hazmi dalam laman sosialnya wujud kenderaan JPJ khusus untuk perlaksanaan AES. Adakah kenderaan ini tidak guna wang rakyat, seharusnya 'mobile unit AES' ini diwujudkan oleh syarikat yang membuat untung beratus juta itu bukan habiskan peruntukan wang rakyat melalui JPJ lagi.
 | | dah terlaksanan AES baru nak bagi tender advokasi ? Kenapa tidak syarikat yang untung juta itu saja yang keluar peruntukan sedikit untuk membayar propaganda mengenai AES ini | Itu belum lagi melihat bagaimana Jabatan Keselamatan Jalan Raya telah membuka tender advokasi media untuk membuat propaganda bagi rakyat menerima AES, berapa banyak pula wang rakyat akan terbazir lagi? Kenapa bukan syarikat itu saja mengeluarkan bajet kempennya sendiri?  | sebelah kiri saman lama yang minta maklumat pemandu dan disebalh kanan ialah
saman AES yang tidak boleh pertikai terus kena maksima | - Pengguna jalanraya juga perlu tahu bagaimana sistem saman AES ini dilakukan. Ia bukan lagi notis seperti POL107A seperti yang dihantar selalu yang meminta butiran siapa pemandu untuk dikeluarkan saman, jika tidak dijawab baru pemilik akan disaman. Tetapi melalui AES saman terus dikeluarkan atas nama pemilik kenderaan dan kompoun maksima ditawarkan RM300 terus. Jika ada masalah tidak ada ruang rayuan terpaksa terus hadir ke mahkamah dan rayuan atau masalah diutarakan dalam mahkamah sahaja. Bertambah sibuklah mahkamah negara.
 | | Kamera AES di Slim River rosak kerana tapak nya yang tak kukuh, kalau dah pakar rasuah dan ketirisan bukan stadium runtuh pasang kamera pun runtuh. |
- Regim ini nampaknya begitu terdesak untuk mengutip wang rakyat dengan menggunakan sistem yang lemah seperti AES, mungkin benar ini semua kerana regim benar - benar terdesak dan bermasalah dalam aliran tunai maka rakyat menjadi mangsa. Maka sekali lagi SAMM tegaskan jangan salahkan rakyat jika ada yang mula bertindak merosakkan kamera AES yang jelas menganiaya rakyat. Sudah pun kelihatan beberapa imej kamera AES ini tumbang dan rosak tersebar dalam internet. Cuma sebab tidak kenalpasti sama ada dirosakkan atau kenapa ?
Sekian |
| Petronas Carigali discovers more oil reserves in Bertam, says PM Posted: 29 Oct 2012 05:08 PM PDT 
(Bernama) - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today announced that Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd and Lundin Oil have jointly discovered additional oil reserves, under a production-sharing contract (PSC), at Block PM 307 of the Bertam oilfield. He said the oil field, located 160 kilometres offshore Peninsula Malaysia, is opposite the state of Pahang at the depth of 76 metres. PM 307 PSC is operated by Lundin Malaysia which holds a 75 per cent interest and Petronas holds the remaining equity. "This is very significant because we never discovered oil in commercial quantity at Penyu Basin and this is a major breakthrough. "Based on the findings of commercial and technical feasibility studies, crude oil production will begin at the oil field in the third quarter of 2014 with a projected output of between 17,500 and 20,000 barrels per day," Najib (picture) told reporters after chairing the Biotechnology Implementation Council meeting here today. The prime minister said with the additional discovery, the Bertam oilfield is estimated to have oil reserves of 64 million barrels. Najib, who also is Finance Minister, said Pahang was expected to receive a special payment of RM100 million a year, once production begins in the third quarter of 2014. "This discovery proved there is oil and gas at the Southern region of the Malay Basin towards the Penyu Basin. "The oilfield is located on the continent shelf which is under the jurisdiction of the Federal government. "This is our policy to distribute oil wealth with five per cent cash payment to Pahang," he added. Meanwhile, Ramlan A Malek, Vice-President, Petronas Nasional Bhd, Exploration & Production Business, Petroleum Management said the commercial and technical feasibility studies were expected to be completed in the second quarter of next year. He also said this was the first oil discovery in the Pahang state. |
| TKI MALAYSIA: 162 Orang kini terancam hukuman mati Posted: 29 Oct 2012 05:05 PM PDT 
(Bisnis Indonesia) - Bukan hanya dua kakak beradik Frans Hiu (22) dan Dharry Frully Hiu (20) TKI yang divonis hukuman mati di Malaysia, bahkan hingga Oktober ini diketahui terdapat 162 warga negara Indonesia yang terancam hukuman mati di negeri Jiran itu.
Hal itu diungkapkan Direktur Pelatihan Diplomat Madya Kementerian Luar Negeri, Jean Anes, di Pontianak Kalimantan Barat pada sejumlah wartawan, Senin (29/10/2012).
Dari total 162 warga Indonesia yang terancam mati oleh pengadilan Malaysia, 25 orang di antaranya sudah mendapat keputusan hukum tetap, 30 orang sedang banding di Mahkamah Rayuan, 38 banding di Mahkamah Tinggi (lebih rendah), sementara 93 orang baru mendapat vonis oleh pengadilan setempat.
Menurut Jean Anes, pemerintah Indonesia melalui KBRI sedang berusaha agar hukuman mati terhadap warga Indonesia tersebut dibatalkan.
"Pemerintah kita tentu menyiapkan upaya pembelaan dan langkah hukum. Paling tidak jangan sampai mereka dihukum mati. Kedutaan Besar kita menyediakan advokasi dan pengacara. Itu semua gratis," katanya.
Lalu bagaimana dengan 25 warga Indonesia yang upaya banding di peraliannya gagal? Menurut Anes, pemerintah akan mengupayakan supaya ada grasi atau pengampunan dari pemerintah Malaysia. "Hanya itu satu-satunya cara, karena vonisnya sudah memiliki kepastian hukum yang tetap," jelas Jean Anes.
Mengapa banyak kasus yang baru ketahuan belakangan, bahkan setelah vonis? Anes menyebutkan, KBRI di Malaysia sudah berusaha semaksimal mungkin mendeteksi kasus-kasus hukum yang ada. Terlebih ada kesepakatan consulate notification, yang jika ada warga Indonesia yang bermasalah hukum di Malaysia, pengadilan atau pemerintah Malaysia wajib menghubungi kedutaan besar atau konsulat Indonesia.
Hanya saja, lanjut Anes, warga negara Indonesia yang sebagian besar adalah TKI ilegal begitu banyak di Malaysia. Sehingga sulit bagi KBRI untuk mendeteksi semua permasalahan yang dihadapi mereka.
"TKI resmi kita itu hanya 1,1 juta jiwa saja, sedangkan yang ilegal mencapai 1,3 juta jiwa. Mengawasi 2,4 juta jiwa di wilayah seluas Malaysia tentu sangat sulit," katanya.
Anes menyebutkan, TKI ilegal paling banyak mengalami masalah hukum, karena perlindungan untuk mereka yang kurang.
"TKI ilegal itu sangat rentan terhadap persoalan hukum. Mereka tidak memiliki dokumen yang resmi. Bahkan kadang mereka takut mau melaporkan permasalahan mereka ke KBRI atau konsulat," ujar Anes.
Dikataknnya, meskipun ilegal, pemerintah Indonesia wajib memberikan perlindungan hukum kepada TKI tersebut. |
| No Love Lost Between Indonesia and Malaysia Posted: 29 Oct 2012 05:01 PM PDT 
(The Jakarta Globe) - Most analysts trace the deterioration in ties back to the emergence of Prime Minister Mahathir Muhammad in 1981 and subsequently to the 1997-1998 financial crisis which unleashed a flood of illegal Indonesian migrant workers into Malaysia. Petrol stations in Indonesia owned by Shell, Petronas and Total are having a hard time because they do not have access to the subsidized premium fuel sold at stations supplied by the country's state-run Pertamina Oil Company.
If the playing field was not uneven enough, Petronas has also had to deal with negative consumer sentiment: Many Indonesian motorists cannot bring themselves to patronize something that is distinctively Malaysian.
Petronas will not comment, but in further evidence of the disturbing state of people-to-people relations between Indonesians and Malaysians, customer resistance is one key reason why Petronas has been forced to close many of its 18 stations in recent weeks.
Most analysts trace the deterioration in ties back to the emergence of Prime Minister Mahathir Muhammad in 1981 and subsequently to the 1997-1998 financial crisis which unleashed a flood of illegal Indonesian migrant workers into Malaysia.
Along the way, the two countries have engaged in bitter disputes over the Sipidan and Ligitan islands in the Celebes Sea - which the World Court awarded to Malaysia in 2002 — and over the Ambalat oil-exploration block off Borneo's east coast, which remains unresolved.
Founding Indonesian president Sukarno's armed opposition to Britain's creation of the Malaysian federation in the early 1960s — a period called Confrontation — left surprisingly few scars because it had little public support, especially from the generals who sought to make peace behind his back.
Looking back now, veteran academic Jusuf Wanandi says the years following Confrontation were, in fact, the high point of the relationship, helped by the birth in August 1967 of Asean.
Indonesian leaders also had strong working ties with Malaysia's second and third prime ministers — Tun Abdul Razak, an ethnic Bugis from Sulawesi, and Tun Hussein Onn, whose father founded the United Malays National Organization.
But that generation was old school. The more mercurial Tun Mahathir changed the mood, setting an independent course which brought him into personal conflict with president Suharto.
To rub salt into the wound, Malaysia escaped from the 1997-1998 crisis relatively unscathed — in part thanks to controversial currency controls instituted by Mahathir — while Indonesia saw a meltdown. In Indonesia, hundreds of thousands of job seekers surged into Malaysia, setting the stage for a serious and wholly avoidable decline in the way the two countries' peoples looked at each other.
The fault lies on both sides. The Indonesian authorities did not prepare their uneducated women — many of them from the Java hinterland — to operate even the simplest of home appliances or try to secure a labor treaty with Malaysia to protect them.
The Malaysian government was complicit in the resulting exploitation, not only making little effort to prevent their abuse, but also perpetuating the belief that most of the Indonesian male workers were criminals and should be treated as such.
That attitude seems to prevail today. When four alleged thieves were shot dead recently under still-unclear circumstances, it brought the number of Indonesian migrant workers killed by Malaysian police in the past five years to more than 150.
Given their similarity in cultural backgrounds, the back-biting that goes on between the two neighbors sometimes beggars belief, much of it driven by perceived slights and, on Indonesia's part, by a hostile overly nationalistic media. Read more at: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/no-love-lost-between-indonesia-and-malaysia/553208 |
| Selangor orders halt to Batu Caves condo, sets up independent task force Posted: 29 Oct 2012 04:58 PM PDT 
(The Malaysian Insider) - Selangor has ordered a temporary halt to the construction of the 29-storey condominium near Batu Caves pending the findings of an independent state-level task force to be set up tomorrow, Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said today. He, however, offered the state's assurance that the matter would be resolved as soon as possible, admitting that the stop-work order would cost the developers financial losses.  "We must act very fast... because we don't want to create an unfair business decision. Delays lose money but we must also make sure that it must comply with all the regulations … that is what we are trying to do," Khalid (picture) told a press conference in Parliament.
The Bandar Tun Razak MP said members of the proposed independent task force will be selected during the Selangor state executive council meeting tomorrow. He said the task force would comprise members without any interest in the issue and will include professionals from the relevant industries such as town planners, lawyers and former judges. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/selangor-orders-halt-to-batu-caves-condo-sets-up-independent-task-force |
| No, don’t be neutral Posted: 29 Oct 2012 04:50 PM PDT It is rightly said that we get the government we deserve. I say people who do not vote should not gripe about "the wrong people running the country". You had your chance to decide but blew it. No one is to be blamed except … you know who. With all this talk on the next general election, I can't help but recall a conversation I had with a close Indonesian friend way back in 2009. It was one month or so after Indonesia had held its election, or as it is called, pemilu, short for pemilihan umum. This friend, who is also a very experienced journalist, told me that out of the 174 million registered voters then, only 70 million cast their votes. The rest stayed away from polling. Reason? They either were fed-up or simply did not believe in politicians and the many political parties which offered themselves at the polls. Well, that was according to my friend. And these folks who did not vote called themselves "golput", short for "golongan putih" (how Indonesians love to creatively come up with short forms). In English "golput" is the white group -- white being "neutral". Hence they did not take sides. Hence they did not vote. And this friend admitted he too was a "golput". Obviously he did not believe in politicians but I did not ask him why. Neither did I ask him to provide evidence or cite examples of politicians' antics which turned him into a "golput". After all it was just a casual talk between good friends. As most of us know, under the Indonesian political system, general elections are first held to elect 400-odd members of parliament, representing the many political parties of the republic. Then a second election follows suit a few months later to elect the president and vice-president. Election dates are fixed and announced much earlier, unlike in Malaysia. In 2009, for example, the election of the 400 representatives for parliament was held in April with the presidential election in July. My journalist friend from Jakarta told me that presidential elections "are what many or most Indonesians care about". They took these polls very seriously, especially the one in 2009. Political analysts then were expecting a big voter turnout. They were proven right. Put simply, Indonesians want to have a say on who becomes president and vice-president, despite their reservations or misgivings for politicians. Rightly so. To get the right man for the job is a big deal, especially in a big country with a population of more than 200 million. So folks who did not vote in the earlier general election turned up at polling stations to decide who runs the republic. In Malaysia the party with the biggest number of seats in parliament rules the nation and its leader becomes prime minister. That's in simple terms. We do not have a "prime ministerial" election, so to speak. But do we have our own "golput"? There's no denying there are among us who are simply turned off by politicians. But is the dislike for politicians at a level which can make Malaysians not want to vote? Or even refusing to register as voters? Is waiving your right to vote the right thing to do? In the past I've come across folks who did not vote because they were fed-up with politics. They were complaining before elections. And they continued to complain after the elections. I can't tell for sure if they ever regretted for not voting. If they did, they certainly did not say it out loud. Not to me anyway. It is rightly said that we get the government we deserve. I say people who do not vote should not gripe about "the wrong people running the country". You had your chance to decide but blew it. No one is to be blamed except … you know who. However, nowadays all indications are that many would want to exercise their right to vote. People who have not voted before are said to be eager to vote, particularly young Malaysians who have just registered as voters. But before going to the polls, there's only one thing on their minds. In fact, this thing is on the minds of all Malaysians -- the elections must be clean and fair. Enough said lest I be accused of all sorts of things. Back to Indonesia and what my Jakarta friend was telling me when we were having that small chit chat over teh tarik some three years ago. He said Indonesia has election rules that, among others, make it mandatory for presidential candidates to go for a medical test. Failing the test would mean they cannot stand for election. Only the healthy (and fittest?) can contest. And the Indonesian election commission also conducts tests to ensure that candidates have a very high IQ. Not any Hartono, Kartini, Hermanto can offer themselves as candidates. There are lessons to be learnt, don't you agree? |
| BN members still fighting over SAPP seats Posted: 29 Oct 2012 04:48 PM PDT 
The Sepanggar parliamentary seat which BN component parties are tussling over will be an easy win as there are 3,000 registered postal voters. Joseph Bingkasan, FMT KOTA KINABALU: Barisan Nasional coalition members are scrambling to claim constituencies won by their former colleague Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) in the last general election. Leaders of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), United Pasok Mompogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko), Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and BN's backbone Umno have all thrown their hats in the ring for their members to contest the MP seats of Sepanggar, Tawau and the state seats of Likas and Luyang. SAPP, now in the opposition holds the two parliamentary seats through party deputy president Eric Majimbun (Sepanggar) and vice president Chua Soon Bui (Tawau) while Liew Teck Chan and Melanie Chia are the state assembly representatives for Likas and Luyang. All four had won the seats on BN ticket but the party led by former chief minister Yong Teck Lee quit the coalition on Sept 7, 2008. PBS president Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan has announced that his party has applied to BN chairman, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, to register the mixed constituency of Sepanggar seat under PBS. Pairin is basing the party's claim ahead of other BN coalition aspirants on the shaky premise that PBS enjoys huge support in the constituency. SAPP proved their contention a fallacy in the Nov 9, 1999 election. The constituency was then known as Gaya. Yong defeated PBS candidate Johnny Goh Chin Lok, now the Inanam assemblyman, 15,315 votes to 11,198 votes. Third candidate Hamzah Abdullah of PAS only managed 729 votes. However, PBS is this time also in a skirmish with Upko head Bernard Dompok, Pairin's archival for the Kadazandusun political crown. Dompok who is the Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister announced the party's claim to the Sepanggar also on the basis of enjoying huge support in the constituency. The last time Upko's strength was tested was in the March, 1999 election where its candidate Christine Van Houten, a former civil servant, was defeated in the state constituency of Inanam. The constituency together with Karambunai is within the Sepanggar parliamentary constituency. BN minnows, PBRS, headed by Joseph Kurup and LDP whose president Liew Vui Kiong is Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department have also established bases in Sepanggar but unlike PBS, Upko and Umno, they are not active in the area. Easier seat for BN Umno, the main party in the the Sabah BN coalition, can be said to have the upper hand in any tussle among coalition members to contest Sepanggar. Its divisional head Jumat Idris, is seen as a close aide of Chief Minister Musa Aman, the Sabah BN chief. Idris is also the BN chairman for the constituency. Incumbent Majimbun is rumoured to be all set to move into state politics by contesting in his home constituency of Inanam. Majimbun, who is SAPP deputy president, however also disclosed that his party would nevertheless field a candidate to defend Sepanggar. READ MORE HERE |
| Why BN will have a minimum swing of 10% voters back to them for the 13 General Election? Posted: 29 Oct 2012 04:46 PM PDT 
In Selangor DAP itself the fraction had split between Tersesa, Ronnie and Teng Chang Khim fractions. PAS national split between the Professional and Ulamak. While in PKR there split between Azmin Ali and Khalid Ibrahim. Even in Penang there a great dispute between Karpal Singh and Ramasamy. While in Perak DAP the Ngeh & Nga vs Kulasegeran fractions. Shen Yee Aun http://www.facebook.com/syaforthenation Why Barisan Nasional will have a minimum swing of 10% voters for the 13 General Election ?
1. 1% Swing of Online Media Political Penetration - Back in year 2008 Barisan Nasional is basically handicapped in the Cyber Space. But then now a lot of investment and development of new online troopers , online media and bloggers already came into the battle after Mac 2008 to fight politically in the cyber space. - 10 000 Barisan Nasional total Cyber Troopers (quoted by Saifuddin Abdullah). Development of few neutral online media ( Malaysia Today , Free Malaysia Today ) and also a list other pro BN Media portal with the list of at least easily 1000 new bloggers in the cyber space. In addition to that a list of Barisan Nasional leaders, ministers, supporters and members had fully used the social networking like Facebook, Twitter and Youtube to reached out to Malaysian voters is already a clear indication where BN is no longer handicapped in the cyber space this round - Let us just be pessimistic where we just take 1% of the total online market. Even just 1% compared to last round 0%. 2. 1.0% Swing of Pakatan Rakyat Internal Fighting - There nothing abnormal about internal fighting in any political party but then the political reality had reached a point where Pakatan Rakyat internal fighting is way had increases tremendously after Mac 2008. - Is normal for any political party or entity when they came into power where there will be personal dispute regarding the allocation of position, wealth, projects and etc. Whatever given to A then B, C and d will be unhappy and whatever given to B then A, C and D will be very unhappy. Is not easy to please everybody. - In Selangor DAP itself the fraction had split between Tersesa, Ronnie and Teng Chang Khim fractions. PAS national split between the Professional and Ulamak. While in PKR there split between Azmin Ali and Khalid Ibrahim. Even in Penang there a great dispute between Karpal Singh and Ramasamy. While in Perak DAP the Ngeh & Nga vs Kulasegeran fractions. - Let us just be also pessimistic. We just take 1.0% of swing from those unhappy voters and supporters included those who is being sacked, resign or leave any of Pakatan Rakyat political party. 1.0% from Pakatan Rakyat internal fraction. 3. 1.0 % swing do or die battle for Barisan Nasional - In any war or battle the individual or entity that is facing their last political survival and in desperation will do everything it takes to fight the war. - In the olden days Barisan Nasional component party took the general election for granted and very lightly but as we can see this round both Najib ( UMNO ) and Chua Soi Lek ( MCA ) is going all out for an extremely very brutal and aggressive political campaign and battle . - We also have to admit the facts where in the past there a lot of internal sabotage within Barisan Nasional component party. - We just take even MCA for an example where their membership is more than 1 million Malaysian Chinese. - Their previous Mega 10 Mega Dinner manage to create a history in MCA where they hit 6000 – 150000 crowds in all the division or states that they have organized. - Even just another 1.0% swing ( extremely pessimistic ) this round then this factor will contribute another 1.0% of swing voters for BN. 4. 1 % Swing of Tun Mahathir Factor - Not even a single political analyst had written off Tun Mahahtir contribution and influence in Mac 2008 General Election - This round no doubt politically he still do have his own personal agenda but at least he is now back towards BN and UMNO and actively campaigning for UMNO - Although last round he play an extremely crucial role in the last General Election but this round we just be pessimistic to get just another 1% swing of our Malaysian under Tun Mahathir influence and switching back of his support towards Barisan Nasional and UMNO. 5. 1% Swing of Malaysian Malays and Indians Voters - Although many political analyst had predicted that Indian voters has swing back from as low as 20% back then to now as high as 60 – 65% and also the swing of 65-75 % of Malays voters this round - We again be just pessimistic to get another swing of 1% from this race category of voters this rounds 6. 1% of Promises Not Delivered and List of Pakatan Rakyat Scandals and Problems - Is a norm for any political party when they became they government they will usually be in the position to be attacked by the opponent or people. - Since after Mac 2008 Pakatan Rakyat first time in the history had manage to take over 4 states in Malaysia. No doubt that under their administration they are both good and bad development and changes. - Just let say we take those people who just look at their weakness and mistake and also not happy with a list of promises that they fail to deliver , list of scandals that prove that they are no difference from BN and also some who never personally felt there any much changes after Pakatan Rakyat took over. - Let us be pessimistic again. We just take another 1% of category swing of voters from this category. 7. 1% swing of Chinese Voters - BN is currently just having about 20-30% of the Chinese segment of voters supporters
- MCA had been very aggressive to give us funding to all the Chinese School development and also with the help from the Federal Government.
- MCA also had been very vocal and assertive and PAS HUDUD Issue - MCA under Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek is way much more strategic , pragmatic , strong , brave , more united and currently running on high spirit , morale and momentum - There also a list of MCA new development funding like 1 MCA Medical Care, Education Loan , Micro Credit and etc that had benefited thousands of people. - MCA will not only retain its 15 parliament seats but it may even see its seats increase to 30 or so if it can talk common sense like what Chua Soi Lek said about hudud. ( Raja Petra ) - Just be pessimistic again where let say there just another even 1% swing of Chinese voters who buy this few factor . Read more at: http://1sya.com/?p=3209 |
| ‘Upko debated ditching BN’ Posted: 29 Oct 2012 04:37 PM PDT 
Former Upko deputy president Wilfred Bumburing revealed details of secret meetings held with party president Bernard Dompok over Upko's status in BN. Joseph Bingkasan, FMT KOTA KINABALU: Senior leaders of United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) met early this year to discuss pulling out from Barisan Nasional, a former top party leader said today. Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing, the party's former deputy president who resigned recently, disclosed that party leaders discussed the possibility of consenting to the `silent' wishes of the party's grassroots members for Upko to leave the ruling coalition government. Bumburing, who resigned from Upko and as BN head for Tuaran on July 29 and now heads the opposition-friendly Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS), said he had met with Upko president Bernard Dompok at least eight times to discuss the matter. The Tuaran MP revealed the secret meetings to clear up allegations by certain BN leaders especially those from Upko that he quit the party because he was not going to be fielded to defend his seat in the coming general elections was not true. "There is no truth in these allegations. In fact prior to July 29, I and a few other Upko leaders officially declared our decision to leave BN," he said. He said Dompok, a Minister in Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's federal cabinet, was well aware of the widespread dissatisfaction in the party over its position as a prop for the Umno-led coalition government. "On at least on three of the (eight) occasions, Bernard (Dompok) insisted I stay put in Upko and personally asked me to stand and defend the Tuaran parliamentary seat for BN," Bumburing said in a statement posted in APS's facebook page. "However, by then I have already made the decision to leave Upko and BN," he pointed out, adding that another allegation making the rounds that he quit because he lost the divisional chairman post in the election of Upko Tuaran divisional committee members was also BN slander. He disclosed that prior to the divisional meeting in 2011, he was told by the nomination committee that he had won the chairman's post uncontested but he rejected the nomination and asked the committee to conduct another nomination exercise. He said he also refused to be nominated as BN candidate for Tuaran constituency. "The whole issue of me and my colleagues in quitting BN is the failure by the BN federal government to resolve the issues of illegal immigrants and the extraordinary population increase in Sabah over the last two decades," he said. READ MORE HERE |
| Why is it so difficult to give up a seat? Posted: 29 Oct 2012 04:30 PM PDT 
As a socialist party, the DAP must be just and fair to all and not favour a handful to contest in two seats as a safety net. Athi Shankar, FMT Two more DAP grassroots leaders here have rallied behind their party supremo Karpal Singh's call for a "one man – one seat" electoral formula. Welcoming the call as "timely and fair" to all party candidates, Pahang vice-chairman J Apalasamy and Taman Gembira branch chairman Ivan Ho Fook Keong also urged all nine party elected representatives who held two seats to heed Karpal's suggestion and publicly declare their choice of seat. The duo could not understand why it has been so difficult for the double-hat wearers to scale back on one seat. Both Apalasamy and Ho said if the elected representatives insisted on contesting double seats in the next polls, it would show that they were selfish and power crazed politicians. They accused the dual seat holders of wanting to monopolise power and enjoy multiple perks at the expense of majority party members. "They must put party interests above their selfish interests. "They should make way for other capable and dynamic party members to contest. "The party should build for the future," they told FMT here today. Penang has the most number of elected representatives who are both MPs and assemblymen. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is Bagan MP and Air Putih assemblyman, Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy is Batu Kawan MP and Prai assemblyman and the state senior executive councillor and Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow is Tanjung MP and Padang Kota assemblyman. Other DAP double-hatters are Beruas MP and Sitiawan assemblyman Ngeh Koo Ham, Taiping MP and Pantai Remis assemblyman Nga Kor Ming (Perak); Seputeh MP and Kinrara assemblywoman Teresa Kok Suh Sim (Selangor) and Rasah MP and Lobak assemblyman Anthony Loke Siew Fook (Negeri Sembilan). In Sarawak state DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng is Sibu MP and Bukit Assek assemblyman while state party secretary Chong Chieng Jen is Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman. Strong support from grassroots Last Friday, Karpal who has all along proposed for a one man– one seat formula, called on all double-seat holders to declare that they would only contest a seat in the next polls instead of waiting for the party decide for them. Under Karpal's proposal, exemption could be given to the Penang Chief Minister and candidates in Sabah and Sarawak to contest dual seats on a-need-to basis. Karpal's call met stinging criticisms from likes of Chow and Teresa Kok. They described the issue as "an old story" and rebuked Karpal for highlighting it in the media. Supporting Karpal, Apalasamy said it would be an injustice if the party were to favour a handful to contest both federal and state seats as safety nets when majority candidates were going for broke contesting one seat. He also questioned the need to provide the safety nets to certain politicians. "Whats so special about them that they must be given two seats? As a socialist party, the DAP must be just and fair to all," insisted Apalasamy. He rebuked politicians who want dual seats as safety nets of lacking confidence and at the same time denying another winnable candidate a chance to serve the people. When these politicians go for double-headers, he said it showed that they lacked confidence in winning either one or both the seats. READ MORE HERE |
| Karpal offers to help stop condo project Posted: 29 Oct 2012 04:28 PM PDT 
DAP national chairman offers pro bono legal services to the Batu Caves temple committee in its efforts to stop the condo project near the area. K Pragalath, FMT DAP national chairman Karpal Singh has offered to help the Batu Caves temple committee stop the construction of a condo project adjacent to the temple. "In the event the matter is taken to court, I will offer my services pro bono to ensure a successful judicial pronouncement in favour of the temple committee," said Karpal. Last week, the Sri Mahamariamman Devasthanam chairman R Nadarajah raised concerns over the proposed 29-storey project to built adjacent to the temple. The Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam manages the running of Sri Subramaniar Swamy temple in Batu Caves which has the tallest Lord Murugan statue in the world. Nadarajah said the matter may be referred to the courts if there was no sign of a permanent stop work order against the developer, Dolomite Properties Sdn Bhd. He also urged the Selangor government to scrap the project. 'Stop the blame game' Karpal said: "The state government cannot afford to ignore the manifestations of protests against the project. "There is no scarcity of land in the land bank to provide an alternative site for the project. In fact there is no reason for the developer not to accept an alternative site," he added. Karpal who is also Jelutong MP, urged BN and Pakatan Rakyat to stop the blame game over which party was responsible for approving the project. Selangor exco Ronnie Liu had blamed the previous BN administration in the Selayang municipal council in approving the project in 2007. |
| Rafizi was too loud, Nazri tells Parliament Posted: 29 Oct 2012 04:25 PM PDT 
The de facto law minister explains why the PKR man is in legal trouble over his exposes. K Pragalath, FMT Justice may be blind, but it has ears sharp enough to tell the difference between the squeal of a whistle and the roar of a trumpet. That appeared to be de facto law minister Nazri Aziz's message to Parliament today when he was trying to explain why PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli could not use the Whistle Blowers Act 2010 as a shield against prosecution over his exposes of the NFCorp scandal. Rafizi and former bank employee Johari Mohamad are facing charges under the Banking and Financial Institution Act (Bafia) over their exposure of bank documents related to the accounts held by the National Feedlot Corporation. "They are trumpet blowers, not whistle blowers," Nazri said in response to a question from Khalid Ibrahim (PKR-Bandar Tun Razak). He said the Whistle Blowers Act was not meant to protect law breakers. "You blow the trumpet to the whole world. So what protection do you need? "This act cannot protect those who commit a wrongdoing. It protects whistle blowers. We can't protect him if he breached Bafia." Responding to Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan), who asked for a further explanation, Nazri said the Official Secrets Act and Bafia both described the kind of information that could not be divulged to the public. |
| MACC report over ‘failed’ Kedah project Posted: 29 Oct 2012 04:08 PM PDT 
Gerakan wants anti-graft body to probe Kedah Corporation Berhad's failed logging and plantation projects in Papua New Guinea. Teoh El Sen, FMT The MACC has been urged to look into possible corruption offences in the failed logging and plantation projects in Papua New Guinea brought about by state-owned Kedah Corporation Berhad. Kedah Gerakan Youth today lodged a report asking the MACC to start investigations into the project which the 2011 Auditor-General's report said brought millions in losses to the state. "We estimate it be about RM14 million, and want the MACC to investigate," Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang told reporters outside the MACC headquarters here. The AG's report also revealed that a goodwill payment was made to a third party (vendor) for the purpose of "lobbying to minister" for the project. Tan said he was puzzled as to which minister the report was referring to, and why such lobbying was necessary. "There were no feasibility studies, no due diligence done on the company. It does not justify the RM1.21 million paid to this third party vendor," he said. Tan said the worse part was that the Kedah state government was trying to wash its hand of the mater and shift the blame to other parties. "With power comes responsibility and accountability," said Tan, who lodged a police report last week over the same matter. Tan said it was up to the authorities to see if there were criminal elements, including criminal breach of trust (CBT) or corruption, involved in the case. KCB, a subsidiary of Menteri Besar Incorporated, had bought a 70% stake in MAS Incorporated Ltd (a company registered in Papua New Guinea) for RM31.21 million. This was for the development of two areas totalling 114,429 hectares in Papua New Guinea. 'Goodwill payment' The project, however, was terminated by the KCB board of directors on March 1 last year on the grounds that it was not feasible and contained many irregularities. The failed investment, according to the AG's report, caused KCB to incur losses amounting to RM13.49 million. The incurred losses of this 'high risk investment' reached the extent where the company concerned had to take a RM135 million offshore bank loan. READ MORE HERE |
| Masing: We’ll wallop our opponents Posted: 29 Oct 2012 04:02 PM PDT 
(Borneo Post) - We will beat the heck out of them. That's what PRS president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing said when asked what he had in mind for the Opposition during the impending general election. He said PRS was in battle-ready mode and would go full throttle when Parliament is dissolved. "I am not worried about them (Oppostion), and I am very confident that we will beat the 'heck' out of them," said Masing, who is also Minister of Land Development, yesterday. On the recent endorsement of lawyer Abun Sui by PKR Hulu Rajang to stand in Hulu Rajang in the polls, Masing told The Borneo Post that this was their (PKR) business. "They can decide whoever they want, but we will fight them. We have been fighting our opponents all these years." PKR Hulu Rajang chairman Frankie Bedindang Manjoh was quoted last week after its annual general meeting (AGM) that Abun was the ideal candidate as he had earned his reputation as a staunch defender of NCR land. PRS's parliamentary seats are Sri Aman, Lubok Antu, Julau, Selangau, Kanowit and Hulu Rajang. Besides PKR, Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) is also eyeing seats belonging to PRS. Ever since its formation several months ago, SWP publicly announced that it would challenge PRS in all its six constituencies. During PRS's Supreme Council Meeting last Saturday, Masing said PRS 30 (comprising of members aged 30 and below) would play a significant role in helping the party retain all their six seats. He said the party would basically utilise PRS 30 to touch base with youths. The group would also use the social media such as Facebook and Twitter to gel with youths, he said.
|
| 'BN has Pakatan's dirty laundry list' Posted: 29 Oct 2012 03:50 PM PDT 
(NST) - Barisan Nasional is in possession of every minute detail relating to Pakatan Rakyat's dirty laundry in the form of piled up documents as evidence. "What are they trying to say? We have details right up to their candidacy list for the upcoming 13th general election," BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said. Tengku Adnan said that PR had taken the trading of barbs to an immature level. "But we do not blow our horns, we only break the news today (yesterday)." Tengku Adnan attributed the reaction to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng's move, claiming to have obtained secret documents about BN's election preparations. Tengku Adnan also said that people have to bear in mind that Guan Eng's claim could also be merely a political gimmick as always. "The document they claim to be in possession of is not damaging to BN. It is merely a document regarding the state of readiness in the coalition. However, it was never proven that Guan Eng had truly managed to lay his hands on it. "Nevertheless we need to take precautions. We will identify the leak if there's any and I have written to all 13 BN component party presidents to remind them to treat party-related documents with utmost care and secrecy." Tengku Adnan said this after receiving 5,000 copies of 100 Wira Negara books by Mubarak Malaysia, which will be distributed to delegates at the Umno general assembly next month. The book, on 100 celebrated and distinguished national heroes, is a good reference for youngsters, especially those who were born post independence, said Tengku Mansor. "Sometimes, we forget the uphill battle our predecessors fought for our independence and building Malaysia to be what we are today. "Who we are today and in the future depends on who we were in the past. That's why its important to remember and uphold our history." |
| MB S’gor sedia bertanding dua kerusi Posted: 28 Oct 2012 09:08 PM PDT 
Abdul Khalid berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas mengenai kerusi DUN Ijok yang kini diwakilinya. Fazy Sahir, FMT Menteri Besar Selangor,Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim menyatakan kesediaannya untuk bertanding di kedua-dua kerusi – Parlimen dan Dewan Undangan Negeri – sekiranya dicalonkan oleh parti dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang. "Kalau diserahkan tanggungjawab, saya akan bertanding. Namun semua pengumuman ini dibuat oleh Ketua Umum dan Presiden (PKR). Saya tidak boleh campur," katanya ketika ditemui media selepas hadir di Majlis Hari Raya Aidiladha anjuran Karangkraf hari ini. Abdul Khalid berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas mengenai kerusi DUN Ijok yang kini diwakilinya. Beliau turut menerima baik cabaran oleh Ketua Umum, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim untuk kekal bertanding di kerusi parlimen- Bandar Tun Razak. Beliau berkata tidak khuatir sekiranya bertanding di dua kawasan memandangkan Pengerusi DAP, Karpal Singh turut mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa Menteri Besar mahupun Ketua Menteri boleh bertanding di dua kawasan/kerusi. `Saya terima' "Saya terima baik cabaran itu (pertahan kerusi Bandar Tun Razak) dan pernah kata kepada beliau (Anwar). Ini bagi mengurangkan tekanan kepada Anwar kerana terlalu ramai minta untuk jadi calon di Bandar Tun Razak. "Namun saya tidak khuatir kerana DAP termasuk Karpal Singh terima hakikat bahawa Menteri Besar dan Ketua Menteri boleh bertanding di dua kawasan atau kerusi. "Tak jadi masalah kalau kita lakukannya," katanya. Memetik laporan sebuah portal semalam, Anwar mencadangkan Abdul Khalid untuk mempertahankan kerusi Bandar Tun Razak dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang. Manakala pada 26 Oktober lalu, Karpal singh telah mengumumkan bahawa setiap wakil rakyat dari parti itu hanya boleh bertanding di satu kerusi. Namun, untuk individu tertentu seperti Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, Lim Guan Eng diberi pengecualian. |
| Kamalanathan wants apology from Ronnie Liu for alleging link to Batu Caves condo project approval Posted: 28 Oct 2012 08:36 PM PDT 
(The Star) - A Barisan Nasional MP has asked Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu to apologise for linking him to approving the 29-storey condominium project near Batu Caves. Calling it "defamation of the first class", P. Kamalanathan (BN - Hulu Selangor) said he will consider taking legal action against Liu if he failed to apologise "as soon as possible". "I was a Selayang municipal councillor from 2004 to 2006. I had no power in 2007 when the project was approved," said the Putera MIC coordinator during a press conference at the Parliament lobby Monday. Kamalanathan claimed that Liu had the intention to tarnish his good name by making his statement. He also questioned why the Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor government did not do anything to stop the project even though it had been in power since 2008. In a news report, Liu had said the project was approved on Sept 27, 2007, when the state was ruled by Barisan Nasional. He claimed that Kamalanathan and Selangor Gerakan chief A. Kohilan Pillai were Selayang municipal councillors when the project was given the green light. Kamalanathan, via his officers, had lodged a police report to investigate Liu for allegedly slandering him on Oct 24. It was reported that Batu Caves would face the risk of caving in if the condominium project went ahead. Selangor Malaysian Nature Society committee member Lim Teck Wyn said the project would expedite the limestone massif's natural erosion process, causing it to possibly cave in sooner. |
| Asri sedia wacana dengan Ulama Pas tapi… Posted: 28 Oct 2012 08:31 PM PDT 
(Sinar Harian) - Bekas Mufti Perlis, Prof Madya Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin bersedia untuk berwacana dengan Dewan Ulama Pas Pusat berhubung isu pimpinan Ayatollah sekiranya pertemuan itu membincangkan isu dibangkitkan secara "matang dan ilmiah." "Jika ada apa-apa wacana ilmiah yang berbincang secara matang, saya sudi untuk pergi. Tetapi, ia perlu dibuat secara perbincangan yang matang," kata beliau kepada Sinar Harian pada Majlis Hari Raya Aidiladha Karangkraf di sini, petang ini.
Mengulas lanjut kenyataan Setiausaha Dewan Ulama Pas Pusat, Dr Mohd Khairuddin A. Razali awal hari ini, Asri berkata, "terima kasih pada jemputan dan akan memberi pandangan."
Sehubungan itu, Asri menambah, beliau tiada masalah untuk menghadiri wacana yang dimaksudkan sekiranya tarikh penganjuran tidak bercanggah dengan urusan-urusan beliau selain jemputan disampaikan secara profesional.
Justeru, ahli akademik dari Universiti Sains Malaysia ini berharap wacana yang dirancang oleh Dewan Ulama Pas itu tidak berakhir dengan ketegangan sebagaimana pernah dialami oleh bekas pensyarah Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia, Dr A Aziz Bari.
"Saya tidak kata Dewan Ulama itu tetapi beberapa orang yang pakai label ulama.
"Cuma (saya) harap tidak jadi seperti yang berlaku kepada Aziz Bari apabila pernah mengkritik dan dijemput tetapi dihentam secara keras dalam perbentangannya sehingga menimbulkan ketegangan," kata beliau lagi. |
| How I imagine the trial would proceed Posted: 28 Oct 2012 07:51 PM PDT
Lawyer: What I am driving at is God's hand is at work here and the church is powerless to prevent God from doing His work. God and not the church or the statue cured your wife just like God and not the church or the statue caused the statue to fall over. Both acts, according to your faith, are what we could call ACTS OF GOD. Can someone else be sued for an act of God? NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin Man Who Lost Leg After Crucifix Fell on Him While Praying Sues Church for US$3mil (Daily Mail) - A cruel twist of fate cost David Jimenez his leg when the crucifix he prayed to every day when his wife was fighting cancer toppled over and crushed him. Jimenez stopped every day to pray to the statue of Jesus on the cross outside Church of St Patrick in Newburgh, New York. When his wife, Delia, recovered from the cancer, the 45-year-old father of two offered to clean the crucifix as an act of faith and a goodwill gesture. However, as he scrubbed the heavy marble object, it fell off its shaky pedestal and landed on his leg, the Mid-Hudson News Network reported. The pizza parlour employee is now suing the church for US$3 million, claiming the priest who gave him permission to work on the unstable statue was negligent. The injury on Memorial Day in 2010 so badly mangled Jimenez's right leg that doctors were forced to amputate it just below the knee. The church told CBS New York that the congregation collected food and US$7,000 in cash donations for Jimenez and his family. However, Jimenez's lawyer, Kevin Kitson, said the insurance company for the diocese had made collecting additional money difficult. As a result of the legal action, the church has removed the crucifix from the Church of St Patrick and moved it to another parish. Kitson said his client, a devout Catholic, still believes it played a role in his wife's recovery. "David attributed the cure to his devotion to that cross," he told CBS New York. Nonetheless, the lawyer maintains that the church was negligent. He said only one screw held the marble statue in place. That gave way when Jimenez scrubbed the statue, causing it to fall over. ********************************************* This is how I imagine the trial would proceed. Lawyer: Mr Jimenez, you say that the church was negligent and that this negligence caused the statue of Jesus on the cross to fall over and crush your leg. Could it not be that you were negligent instead and that it was your negligence that caused the statue to fall over rather than the negligence of the church? Plaintiff: No. I was very careful. I was not negligent. Lawyer: So, in spite of your carefulness, the statue still fell over. Hence it was not your own negligence. Is that correct? Plaintiff: That is correct. Lawyer: You volunteered or offered to clean the statue as an act of faith and a goodwill gesture. Is that correct? Plaintiff: Yes, that is correct. Lawyer: So the church did not ask you or request you to clean the statue. Plaintiff: No, but the church gave me permission to do so knowing that it was dangerous. Lawyer: How do you know that the church was aware that it was dangerous to clean the statue? Did the priest or anyone else from the church tell you it was dangerous? Plaintiff: No. No one told me it was dangerous. But they would have known it was dangerous and they should have told me. Lawyer: How do you know they would have known it was dangerous? Plaintiff: Well…I sort of just know. It's a sort of feeling I have. Lawyer: So, you have no evidence of this. It is just a feeling you have that the church knew it was dangerous and you also have a feeling that they did not tell you that it was dangerous in spite of knowing that it was dangerous? Plaintiff: Well…err…well yes. Lawyer: So, in spite of you being able to have all these feelings, you did not have any feeling that the statue might fall over if you start cleaning it. Plaintiff: Err…no. Lawyer: And you volunteered or offered to clean the statue because you have faith that your prayers in front of the statue helped cure your wife's cancer. Plaintiff: That's right. Lawyer: Are you saying that the statue cured your wife's cancer? Plaintiff: No, not the statue. God cured my wife's cancer because I constantly prayed in front of the statue. It was God's will. Lawyer: So it was God's will that your wife was cured, not the statue's will. Is that correct? Plaintiff: That's right. Lawyer: But the statue fell over when you cleaned it. Plaintiff: That's right. Lawyer: So it was not the statue's will that it fell over but God's will. Plaintiff: Err…I think so…you are confusing me. Lawyer: Mr Jimenez, it's a simple question. Is it God's will or the statue's will that it fell over? Plaintiff: It's God's will. Lawyer: So, it was God and not the statue that cured your wife's cancer and it is God's will and not the statue's will that it fell over and crushed your leg. So why sue the church then? Since God is the cause of both your wife's cancer being cured as well as for the statue falling over would it not be God's doing and therefore you should be suing God instead of the church? Plaintiff: I can't sue God! Lawyer: Why not? Plaintiff: Well, because you just can't, that's why. Lawyer: But the church had no hand in this. In fact, even the statue had no hand in this, as you admit. It was the hand of God that both cured your wife and made the statue fall over. So why sue the church for something that God did? Plaintiff: It just does not work like that. Lawyer: Even if the church had not been negligent but God had willed the statue to fall over could the church have prevented God's will? Plaintiff: I don't understand. Lawyer: Let me put it another way then. Can the church defy God? Plaintiff: Of course not. No one can defy God. Lawyer: So, if God had wanted the statue to fall over then there is nothing the church could have done, is that correct? Plaintiff: What are you driving at? Lawyer: What I am driving at is God's hand is at work here and the church is powerless to prevent God from doing His work. God and not the church or the statue cured your wife just like God and not the church or the statue caused the statue to fall over. Both acts, according to your faith, are what we could call ACTS OF GOD. Can someone else be sued for an act of God? Plaintiff: Err…err…you are confusing me. Lawyer: Your Honour, I ask the court to set aside this suit and award costs to my client as the Plaintiff has admitted that what happened to him was an act of God and not negligence on the part of the church. I have also received instructions that if the Plaintiff would like to sue God I am authorised to represent Him. |
| Masing’s swipe at Taib? Posted: 28 Oct 2012 06:30 PM PDT 
Parti Rakyat Sarawak has declared itself the "true custodian" of Dayaks in Sarawak, putting a spoke perhaps in Taib's divide and rule strategy. Parliamentary election's is not Taib's top priority, but state is. Rumours are rife that he's had a finger in the chaos within SUPP, SPDP and PRS. A divided state coalition allows him to have better control of his 'partners' and an increasingly empowered native community courtesy of the opposition. Free Malaysia Today SIBU: Was Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president James Masing sending out a message to Chief Minister Taib Mahmud with his speech during the party's eight anniversary dinner here last Saturday? Masing's emphasis on PRS being a "truly Dayak party" and that its elected representatives were "all Dayaks" wasn't just a frivolous statement. It was tactical. It comes at a time of the rapid 'Dayak awakening' amongst the rural native communities courtesy of the alternative media, Radio Free Sarawak and a brazen opposition. Fueling this 'awakening' is the floundering Barisan Nasional partners – Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Sarawak United Peoples party (SUPP) – who can't seem to get their act together. The only 'water-tight' party appears to be PRS and Taib's PBB which incidentally is facing simmering discontent within its Bumiputera wing led by the allegedly much spineless Alfred Jabu Numpang. The next parliamentary election which must be held by April 2013 will be a challenging one for Sarawak BN's component parties. Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is desperately in need of Sarawak's 31 seats in view of the fluid political situation in Sabah and in the peninsular. In the last parliamentary elections in 2008, it was Sabah and Sarawak's collective 56 seats that helped BN retain Putrajaya. Sabah and Sarawak each lost one seat to the opposition, delivering 54 seats to the federal coalition. But the current scenario is somewhat different. The latest spin from the ground in Sabah is that the Musa Aman-led BN could lose up to 10 if not 12 of the 25 contestable parliamentary seats. In Sarawak the seat sharing ratio stands at PPB (14), SUPP (seven) PRS (six) SPDP (4) As it stands, speculations are rife that BN could lose up to seven seats from amongst SUPP, SPDP and PRS. Taib, on his part, has guaranteed Najib a return on all 14 of PBB's parliamentary seats and there's no reason for the PM to doubt his ability especially after his performance in the last state election. Taib is not too concerned about parliament. PRS truly represents Dayaks Parliamentary election's is not Taib's top priority, but state is. Rumours are rife that he's had a finger in the chaos within SUPP, SPDP and PRS. A divided state coalition allows him to have better control of his 'partners' and an increasingly empowered native community courtesy of the opposition. Masing is said to be a thorn in Taib's side. In the run-up to last year's state election, Masing, unhappy with Taib constantly ignoring his proposals, met directly with Najib and in one instant managed to thwart attempts to allow an ex-PRS incumbent elected representative, Larry Sng, from contesting. On Saturday, stamping PRS' sway over Sarawak's majority Dayak community, Masing said the party was the "custodian" of Dayak interest and that its elected representatives were "duty bound" to protect the race. "For all intents and purposes, PRS is the party which truly represents rural constituencies where most of the Dayaks happen to reside. "Therefore, we do not apologise for who we are and the basis of our political stand and struggles," he said alluding perhaps to the known 'issues' between him and Taib. Masing further warned members to be wary of "attempts" to stir discontent within the party adding that enemies and approaches came in different forms. "There are people who are envious of our strength and will try to de-stabilise us. They maybe individuals or groups. "They will (either) contest against us when the general election is called (or) slyly fight us by pretending to our friends or friends of the group and pull us down. "The other way is to de-stabilise us is by picking on some of our members who exhibit certain weaknesses. This will be a subtle approach and by people who we are familiar with. Thus without realizing it, we will fall into a trap which will eventually break the party's solidarity," said Masing. READ MORE HERE |
| I did not get RM3m from Chia but the car…’ Posted: 28 Oct 2012 05:12 PM PDT 
Nazri Abdul Aziz denies receiving RM3 million from a timber tycoon 'friend' but is unsure if the latter lent his car to his son. Patrick Lee, FMT Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz has denied receiving any money from timber tycoon Michael Chia over a purported RM40 million scandal involving Sabah Umno. He was responding to Malaysia Today blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin (also known as RPK) who claimed that Nazri and his son Mohamad Nedim received RM3 million and a sports car respectively from Chia. "Oh no, it's not true, it's not true. Chia is a friend. I don't know if he lent the car to my son. You have to ask my son," he told FMT in his office this afternoon. Although he did not directly criticise Raja Petra over the claim, Nazri said that he had no problem with this matter being raised. "RPK is a social person. He mixes a lot with people, so he probably gets information from them. Then by (Petra) writing this, it gives me the opportunity to give my side of the story," he said. Nazri also stressed that he had no influence over the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) or the judiciary, adding that if he had, Chia's case would have been dropped. In a Malaysia Today report, Raja Petra claimed that Chia personally came to Parliament to hand RM3 million over to Nazri, after the latter allegedly resolved a matter relating to the RM40 million scandal. He also claimed that Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Attorney-General Abdul Gani-Patail were similarly involved. |
| Ulama PAS jemput Dr Asri berdialog Posted: 28 Oct 2012 04:58 PM PDT Dr Asri dijemput oleh Dewan Ulama PAS untuk menyampaikan pandangan dan kritikannya. (The Malaysian Insider) - Bekas Mufti Perlis, Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin dijemput oleh Dewan Ulama PAS untuk menyampaikan pandangan dan kritikannya kepada dewan itu dalam wacana ilmu bersama ahli-ahli Dewan Ulamak. "Saya merujuk kepada kebimbangan Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin bahawa ulama-ulama dalam PAS dibimbangi tidak boleh ditegur apabila memerintah kerajaan pusat nanti dalam satu wacana baru- baru ini," kata setiausahanya, Dr Mohd Khairuddin A. Razali dipetik daripada laman Harakahdaily. Menurut Mohd Khairuddin, Dewan Ulama PAS Pusat perlu menyatakan pandangan balas terhadap kenyataan tersebut oleh kerana kebimbangan Mohd Asri dilontarkan dalam wacana awam yang disiarkan isinya dalam media perdana dan mendapat respons umum. "Dewan Ulama PAS Pusat sentiasa berlapang dada dengan sebarang pandangan, teguran dan kritikan luar terhadap apa jua tindakan yang diputuskan secara jamaei dan pandangan yang dilontarkan oleh Dewan Ulama dengan merujuk kepada al-Quran, al-Hadis, Ijma dan Qiyas di samping pandangan dan ulasan ulamak-ulamak muktabar sepanjang zaman. "Dewan Ulama PAS Pusat berbesar hati menjemput Mohd Asri untuk menyampaikan pandangan dan kritikan beliau terhadap Dewan Ulamak PAS Pusat dalam wacana ilmu bersama ahli-ahli Dewan Ulamak sebagai satu medan perbincangan dan bertukar-tukar pandangan dan tarikh wacana boleh diberikan berdasarkan kelapangan masa Dr Asri," katanya. Dalam wawancara bersama The Malaysian Insider baru-baru ini, bekas Mufti Perlis itu juga meminta PAS agar tidak terlalu bertelagah mengenai jenama Malaysia sama ada Negara Islam atau tidak kerana adalah lebih baik memfokuskan untuk memberi keadilan kepada rakyat berbilang agama. READ MORE HERE |
| Bekas MP PKR dakwa kerajaan Selangor anti-Hindu Posted: 28 Oct 2012 04:54 PM PDT 
Gobalakrishnan berkata kenyataan oleh Ahli dewan undangan negeri Sri Andalas Dr Xavier Jeyakumar mencerminkan sikap sebenar kerajaan negeri yang jelas anti-Hindu. Md Izwan, The Malaysian Insider Ahli parlimen (MP) bebas N. Gobalakrishnan menuduh kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat negeri Selangor sebagai anti-Hindu kerana meluluskan projek pembinaan kondominium Dolomite Park Avenue berhampiran dengan tempat beribadat penganut Hindu di Batu Caves. Dalam sidang media di Parlimen pagi tadi, MP Padang Serai tersebut berkata kenyataan oleh Ahli dewan undangan negeri (Adun) Sri Andalas, Dr Xavier Jeyakumar mencerminkan sikap sebenar kerajaan negeri yang jelas anti-Hindu. "Dr Xavier berkata tempoh hari bahawa kerajaan negeri tidak boleh 'give in' terhadap permintaan pihak kuil yang membantah projek tersebut. "Apakah maksud Xavier untuk berkata begitu? Adakah ini bermaksud yang beliau mementingkan hal-hal lain daripada kepentingan rakyat yang patut didahulukan?," kata Gobalakrishnan. Gobalakrishnan juga mempersoalkan tindakan kerajaan negeri Selangor yang tidak melantik ahli mesyuarat kerajaan negeri (exco) dikalangan mereka yang menganut agama Hindu. "Jika terdapat exco beragama Hindu pastinya projek ini akan dihalang. Sememangnya penasihat ekonomi Selangor, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang juga ketua umum PKR adalah anti-Hindu," tambah beliau lagi. Sabtu lalu, exco negeri Selangor Ronnie Liu telah mendedahkan mendedahkan dokumen lengkap "Kebenaran Merancang" yang diluluskan pada 30 November 2007 selepas persidangan Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Pusat Setempat (OSC). READ MORE HERE |
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
