Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Man arrested for flashing obscene hand gesture at Queen
- Rep: Selangor Government abusing its powers
- Pakatan’s seat tussle a boon for Sabah BN
- Dr Pornthip says no to Sugumaran autopsy for ‘personal reasons’, say lawyers
- Who will light the fire?
- We can still talk, Anwar tells SAPP
| Man arrested for flashing obscene hand gesture at Queen Posted: 11 Feb 2013 06:38 PM PST A Penang-based NGO lodged a report urging the police to immediately probe the case. Athi Shankar, FMT A Malaysian working in Singapore was detained for allegedly showing an obscene gesture at the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah at the Bayan Lepas International Airport here yesterday. The incident happened at about 12 noon when the Queen, who arrived here on a private visit, was leaving the airport in a car. The suspect allegedly showed his middle finger in the direction of the car. The suspect has been identified as Leong Pei Koe, 29. It is learnt that a member of the Queen's bodyguards saw the alleged gesture and immediately detained Leong. He was handed over to the airport police station before being taken to the south-west district police headquarters for further questioning. Penang police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi confirmed the arrest, saying the case was being investigated under Section 294 of the Penal Code for lewd activity in public. Leong, who holds a science degree from a Scottish university, will be remanded until Feb 14 to assist in the investigation. Initial police probe revealed that Leong has been working as a factory supervisor in Singapore and has a Singaporean Permanent Residence status. He arrived in Penang late last week to join his family in Sungai Pinang for the Chinese New Year celebration. However, he allegedly cut short his holiday and left in a hurry for the airport to catch a flight to Singapore yesterday after a quarrel with his father. The Queen was earlier welcomed by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, his wife Betty Chew Gek Cheng, State Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Halim Hussain, and other officials. Meanwhile, a Penang-based NGO, Pertubuhan Merong Wangsa Malaysia, has lodged a report urging the police to immediately probe the case. Association president Azhar Abdul Majid lodged the report at Balik Pulau police station at 12.40pm today. Azhar told a press conference in Teluk Kumbar that the incident was unpleasant and should not have happened in a multi-racial country like Malaysia. "Such incidents can cause racial tensions. It should be avoided at all costs," he said, calling on the police to charge the suspect in accordance with the law. "We want him to be fittingly punished," he said. Meanwhile, Leong has now emerged as a pin-up hate figure on social network, the Facebook. He is being criticised roundly for allegedly showing the obscene gesture. Leong is said to be a DAP supporter and some critics suggested that he should be banished from the country.
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| Rep: Selangor Government abusing its powers Posted: 11 Feb 2013 04:05 PM PST
(Bernama) - The Selangor Government's move to freeze Syabas' capital expenditure from 2008 until now is an abuse of power, says Permatang assemblyman Sulaiman Abdul Razak. He said the state government took no responsibility when Selangor faced a water supply crisis and denied the company from seeking funds from internal or external sources such as commercial banks. However, when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced a RM120mil allocation to overcome water supply problems in Selangor recently, it was criticised as a bail-out to save a crony company. "Why didn't the state government extend any assistance in dealing with the Selangor water crisis? They only talk, criticise and dish out allegations about the Federal Government and Syabas but don't help in any way," he said. Sulaiman clarified that Syabas was only a company that distributed treated water bought from companies which processed raw water, and it was up to the state government to ensure the processed water supplied to residents in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya was sufficient. "I don't see why they are making the RM120mil allocation an issue when they have not contributed anything to overcome the water problems in Selangor," he said. He urged Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to take some responsibility for the water crisis by retracting the freeze on capital expenditure to allow Syabas to operate without political interference. When asked to give an example of the abuse, Sulaiman said Syabas should have already replaced 2,000km of old pipes to reduce non-revenue water (NRW) as stated in its concession agreement, but only 800km were replaced following the freeze.
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| Pakatan’s seat tussle a boon for Sabah BN Posted: 11 Feb 2013 03:36 PM PST
Mohd Farhan Darwis, The Malaysian Insider Barisan Nasional (BN) will profit from the current seat scramble between Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and Sabah's opposition parties to win the next polls, state BN leaders have said. Sabah BN leaders told The Malaysian Insider that they hope to fully use the advantage from altercations between federal PR leadership and parties such as Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), Sabah Reform Front (APS) and Pertubuhan Pakatan Perubahan Sabah (PPPS). "We do have an advantage ... but (BN) will take a look-and-see approach," Sabah BN secretary Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan (picture) said here. Silam MP Salleh Kalbi agreed with Abdul Rahman, and explained that the scramble is similar to what happened with Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) in the past. "Obviously, the alliance did not last long," he added. PBS information chief Datuk Johnny Mositun stressed that the discussions between PR and the component parties were clearly lopsided, considering SAPP was only given a small number of seats. "The discussions have been going on for so long without a conclusion ... I think SAPP's leadership can see for themselves, they might end up with the same fate as PBS before," he said. Mositun explained that PBS has also organised a number of seat talks with PKR president Datuk Seri Wan Azizah, but its demands have largely been ignored. Abdul Rahman pointed out that it has been common for PKR to demand the lion's share of seats, despite failing to win any. "We see this happening in Sarawak elections too, where they contested 49 out of 71 seats, but they could win only three," said the Kota Belud MP. He also predicted that PR will lose most of its contested seats, in particular around 33 to 34 seats in Muslim Bumiputera-majority areas. Mositun was convinced that the seat allocation issue will shift Sabahans' support to BN, since it has been proven that BN component parties can sit together and work their differences out. "With these problems, (PR) is not showing a good example that they can govern the country, whatever that they have been doing was strictly political for the general elections," he declared. Last week, The Malaysian Insider reported that PR's seat talks with the SAPP have come to a temporary halt in yet another indicator that it may be a fractured opposition front that will face BN in Election 2013.
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| Dr Pornthip says no to Sugumaran autopsy for ‘personal reasons’, say lawyers Posted: 11 Feb 2013 03:29 PM PST Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider In a sudden turn of events, Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand today declined the invitation by PKR lawyers to perform a second autopsy on C. Sugumaran, the security guard who recently died allegedly due to police brutality. According to lawyer N. Surendran, the famed director of Thailand's Central Institute of Forensic Science emailed him earlier today to say that she was "unable to do the autopsy for personal reasons". Dr Pornthip's (picture) sudden about-turn came just shortly after PKR lawyers emailed a press statement to media organisations here, saying the Serdang Hospital has finally agreed to the autopsy and Dr Pornthip's team is due to arrive in Malaysia on February 20. "But now, Sugumaran's family will have to look for other alternatives," Surendran said. In his earlier joint media statement with fellow PKR lawyer Latheefa Koya, the duo had said that due to public pressure, the Serdang Hospital had agreed to the second autopsy and would even ensure all necessary equipment and facilities would be available. Earlier, the health authorities had agreed to the second autopsy, despite insisting earlier that there must be a written permission from the police or a court order. When contacted, the police had then declined to say if they would give permission. Dr Pornthip is the same forensic pathologist who observed Teoh Beng Hock's second post-mortem and testified at a royal inquiry that foul play was likely involved in the DAP aide's mysterious death at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's Selangor headquarters in 2009. She is well known in Thailand for clashing with the authorities, especially for alleging police killings during then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's anti-drug campaign in 2003. Surendran had earlier confirmed that Dr Pornthip had agreed to perform a second post-mortem on Sugumaran. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has ordered a forensic report on Sugumaran after the latter's death was raised at a Cabinet meeting. Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai was directed to oversee the forensic report after MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, who is also a minister in the Prime Minister's Department, had raised the security guard's death during the Cabinet meeting. Several witnesses who saw Sugumaran collapse on a street near his home in Batu 12, Hulu Langat on January 23 have accused the policemen who arrested him of beating up the man, together with the help of a mob, after he was handcuffed.
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| Posted: 11 Feb 2013 12:17 PM PST
(Free Malaysia Today) - At the hint of a looming rout or even a hung Parliament, BN will dig deep into its arsenal for one last weapon to reverse the tide of defeat – and that is creating chaos in the country. Given the high stakes involved, the people can expect a bruising battle between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat. When the campaign for 13th general election starts, Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat will hit the trail for what is likely to be a bruising contest, with no holds barred. These two mortal foes will go all out for the knock-out blow in the race for political power. The contest will be most keenly fought because now, for the first time, BN is facing fierce opposition. There is a real chance for Pakatan to topple BN and write a new chapter in the history of Malaysia. The question then arises: Will violence erupt? Who will light the fire first that will turn the skies blood-red? There are any number of causes that can lead to trouble. Some may be minor ones that can be brought under control, while others may be major ones that can spin out of control. In any election for high office passions will run high and when emotions get the upperhand, reasons will flee, paving the way for hostile confrontations. The first hint of trouble came from the mouth of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak who vowed to defend the seat of government at any price, even if it meant at the cost of "crushed bodies and lost lives". This is no idle threat. It must be taken seriously because BN is unlikely to accept defeat graciously after more than 50 years in splendid power. It has come to a stage where BN believes it owns the country and is prepared to shed blood to keep its "property". But in typical BN fashion, Najib wants to put the blame on the opposition should the dam of popular rage burst wide open. He wags his finger at Anwar Ibrahim after reading a dire warning from Dr Mahathir Mohamad – the crusty, washed-out politician – that the opposition leader will provoke street protests should his ambition to become prime minister is thwarted. Najib paints himself as a principled democrat who believes in parliamentary democracy whereas Anwar is tarred as a rabid demagogue who will not respect the voice of the majority. In a subtle way, Najib is telling the people not to place their bets on the Pakatan firebrand. Anwar will destroy democracy. Anwar will bring utter ruin to the country. Art of deception Najib is wrong. It is BN that the people will have to fear the most. The BN dinosaur, now at its most vulnerable and dangerous, will strike out in every direction like a cornered, wild animal. It will summon up every last ounce of strength to push back the tide of destiny. It will fight to the death. This can only mean one thing: Najib and company will practise every art of deception to retain power. They have the Election Commission – the ever loyal poodle – to smooth the way to the finishing line. Even the police and the army will be Najib's shield. With such awesome firepower in its arsenal, BN will not hesitate to use foul means to achieve its end. It is highly probable that BN will cheat at the ballot box rather than accept defeat. At the hint of a looming rout or even a hung Parliament, BN will dig deep into its arsenal for one last weapon to reverse the tide of defeat – and that is creating chaos in the country. Even if the majority decides the baton should pass to Pakatan, Najib is unlikely to let it go. In the end, he will not respect or defend parliamentary democracy. He would rather see the country go up in flame than read his political obituary. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/02/12/who-will-light-the-fire/ |
| We can still talk, Anwar tells SAPP Posted: 11 Feb 2013 11:35 AM PST
(The Star) - Opposition chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is backtracking on his aides' move to stop negotiating with Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) ahead of the polls. Anwar said he considered negotiations between Pakatan Rakyat and SAPP, which is headed by former Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee, as still being open. He said Pakatan had, however, finalised the allocation of 90% of Sabah's 25 parliamentary and 60 state assembly seats. Anwar said Pakatan in Sabah comprised PKR, DAP, PAS and NGOs Pakatan Perubahan Sabah (PPS) and Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS), headed by Datuk Lajim Ukin and Datuk Wilfred Bumburingrespectively. In an immediate response, Yong said Anwar's remarks were typical of conflicting and confusing statements from the Pakatan leadership. "We have Azmin Ali (PKR deputy president) and Datuk Wilfred Bumburing of Angkatan Perubahan Sabah saying the door is closed for negotiations with SAPP. "Now, Anwar is saying the opposite," he said after the SAPP Chinese New Year open house here yesterday. Yong said SAPP was open to negotiations with any Opposition parties in Sabah, including Pakatan and STAR, headed by Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan. "Why should the doors be closed when Parliament and the state assembly have not been dissolved yet?" he asked. He said there had been conflicting formulas offered by Pakatan in the distribution of state and parliamentary seats. "At one point, they offered us six state and four parliamentary seats. "Recently, it was revised to all the seats being equally divided between PKR, PAS, DAP, PPS, APS and SAPP. So which is which?" Yong asked. He said Pakatan's move to allow APS and PPS to contest as political parties under the PKR symbol had added to the confusion. "These are NGOs masquerading as political parties. How will this work?" Yong asked. He said apart from an equitable seat allocation, SAPP's concern was also for Sabah autonomy in that the appointment of the chief minister and the state cabinet should be decided in the state, and not in Kuala Lumpur. "If Anwar can guarantee this, Yong Teck Lee will contest under the PKR symbol," he joked.
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