Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- BN confident of 145 federal seats in GE13
- Mahathir enters fray as Malaysia braces for poll
- Gangnam twist for Malaysian elections
- Demo Zoo Taiping: UMNO jadi Direktor
- On Fatwas: Ten Questions
- Is Malaysia turning into a theocratic state?
- About hand gestures and signals
- ‘Rosmah dabbles in witchcraft’
- Prosecution wants appeal of Anwar’s sodomy in July
- About withdrawing someone’s citizenship
- Ex-Perlis mufti Asri may contest polls
- No reason to retract our statement, says MTEM
- Dr Mahathir: Malaysia's debt level still "healthy"
- BN may scrape through in GE13
- ‘Najib’s Sabah functions stage-managed’
- Rosmah, where is your book?
| BN confident of 145 federal seats in GE13 Posted: 15 Feb 2013 09:36 AM PST
(The Malaysian Insider) - The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) is confident of winning at least 145 parliamentary seats in Election 2013, including recapturing several Umno seats lost in 2008, say sources. The Malaysian Insider understands that BN's projections are about 10 seats above surveys done by Malaysian intelligence agencies, which say the ruling coalition is only sure of 135 seats, five below the 140 won in Election 2008. BN now has 136 seats in the 222-seat Parliament. "We can win at least 145 seats according to briefings made to the leadership," a BN source told The Malaysian Insider. The number is still below the key two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat that BN has enjoyed until the elections in March 2008, and used to push key laws without support from the opposition bench. BN will need to win 148 seats to have the super-majority in the coming elections which must be called by April 28.  Najib is also bidding for his first personal mandate in the coming general election. "PM Najib has expressed confidence that we can win in most of the seats we had lost as they are all Umno seats," said another source, who attended a briefing recently. BN's historic losses of the parliamentary super-majority and four states in Election 2008 were widely blamed on former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who resigned in April 2009 in favour of Najib. Since then, Najib has introduced a slew of initiatives and has promised a slate of "winnable candidates" to win over support for BN, which has ruled since independence as the three-party Alliance before enlarging itself to include other parties in 1974 and changing its name. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/bn-confident-of-145-federal-seats-in-ge13/
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| Mahathir enters fray as Malaysia braces for poll Posted: 15 Feb 2013 09:32 AM PST "Cheating and fraud could be the deciding factor" ... opposition activist Ambiga Sreenevasan.
Lindsay Murdoch, Brisbane Times
As Malaysia approaches its tightest election in half a century, the opposition activist Ambiga Sreenevasan has shrugged off calls for her to be stripped of her Malaysian citizenship.
''This will be the dirtiest election ever because it is the most closely fought … Cheating and fraud could be the deciding factor,'' Ms Ambiga, who heads Bersih, a group campaigning for free and fair polling, said.
''There are many discrepancies appearing on electoral rolls, particularly with the sudden registering of foreigners, many of whom appear to be migrant workers.
''The mainstream media is far from free and fair … [The ruling parties] are doing everything they can to stay in power.'' Advertisement
Mahathir Mohamad, the former prime minister who ruled for 22 years, last week called for Ms Ambiga to be stripped of her citizenship.
Ms Ambiga said she and her family had lived in Malaysia for generations and she would leave it to others to judge whether Dr Mahathir - who broke a promise to stay out of politics when he left office in 2002 - was playing race politics in a country where ethnic Malays made up about 65 per cent of the population of 28 million. Ethnic Chinese account for another 25 per cent and ethnic Indians 8 per cent.
Opinion polls show the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition has lost much of the support of the Chinese, who have been alienated by corruption and policies favouring ethnic Malays, leaving the coalition heavily reliant on Malay votes to stay in power.
Ms Ambiga said voters had become empowered through the internet and social media and were no longer prepared to accept corruption. ''There is also for the first time a strong opposition which has brought out the scandals … I can sense the momentum is picking up,'' said Ms Ambiga, whose organisation has brought tens of thousands of people onto the streets to rally for free elections.
With only a few weeks remaining before the Prime Minister, Najib Razak, must call an election, religious tensions are also flaring over a call by an independent Muslim MP for the mass burning of Bibles which use the word ''Allah'' to refer to God.
Lim Guan Eng, the chief minister of the opposition-ruled island of Penang, put police on alert after a note was found at a church promising a Bible-burning ''festival'' this weekend. ''Let's teach 'em a lesson,'' the note read.
Financial markets are jittery over the political uncertainty in a country where the BN has never lost an election since independence from Britain in 1957.
At the last election in 2008, the BN lost its two-thirds majority as well as five out of 12 contested state governments. Mr Najib, who became Prime Minister in 2009, has abolished repressive national security laws and hopes Malaysia's strong economic performance and handouts to poorer Malaysians will shore up his support.
In a bid to placate Malay voters, he has also softened an earlier pledge to replace a 40-year-old affirmative action policy that favours Malays with a ''new economic model''.
In one poll released in January, Mr Najib was only one percentage point ahead of the charismatic Anwar Ibrahim, a former deputy prime minister who heads the multi-ethnic opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat (People's Pact).
An opposition rally drew close to 100,000 people in Kuala Lumpur on January 12, one of the country's largest-ever shows of political strength.
More than 3 million new voters have registered since the last election, deepening uncertainty about the result.
Analysts say many of them are young voters who are likely to be more open to change.
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| Gangnam twist for Malaysian elections Posted: 15 Feb 2013 09:28 AM PST
The episode shows that while the ruling BN coalition has vast human, financial and media resources at its disposal for the upcoming election campaign, social networking tools continue to expose government gaffes and blunders, magnifying and slanting them to audiences several times larger than spectators at the original event. Anil Netto, Asia Times Online PENANG - As a pivotal general election looms in Malaysia, online social media tools are playing a prominent role in challenging the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition's overwhelming dominance of traditional print and broadcast media. |
| Demo Zoo Taiping: UMNO jadi Direktor Posted: 15 Feb 2013 09:25 AM PST
Nama sebenar-nya HASMADI ISMAIL... bukan watak Dr Hasmadi dalam filem "Kasim Selamat" tapi dalam lakonan Demo Zoo Taiping semalam mungkin di-atas arahan director (UMNO Taiping) nama itu ditukar dengan nama RAMLI BIN SUDIN. Tranungkite RAMLI SUDIN menjadi jurucakap dan mengaku sebagai Ahli dan Penyokong PAS Taiping telah membuat Demo semalam. Hasil maklumat yang didedahkan oleh kakitangan director itu sendiri menyatakan HASMADI ISMAIL ini ialah seorang peniaga satay disebuah gerai cina bersebelahan bangunan Kamal Bina di Taman Tasek Taiping. Lakonan beliau semalam sebagai RAMLI SUDIN telah mendapat reaksi dari beberapa pimpinan PAS Taiping.
Jika benar Hasmadi Ismail ini ahli PAS mengapa perlu menyamar dengan nama Ramli Sudin..??? Kisah lakonan Zoo TaipingDemo Zoo Taiping : UMNO Taiping Jadi Director 12 Feb 2013 -- Zoo Taiping Perak : Musim cuti sekolah, Zoo Taiping menjadi tumpuan orang ramai kesini untuk beriadah bersama keluarga disamping bergembira bersama keluarga melihat binatang-bintang didalam Zoo Taiping. Tapi lain pula dengan sekumpulan manusia hari ini yang hanya berkumpul didepan pintu Zoo Taiping, tapi tak masuk Zoo pun, mungkin mereka ini setaraf dengan yang dalam kadang Zoo. Mereka mengaku konon-nya penyokong PAS dan Ahli PAS Cawangan Aulong,tujuan mereka berkumpul dihadapan pintu Zoo kerana berdemo berkaitan Isu Kalimah Allah: Penyokong PAS Taiping Desak Guan Eng Minta Maaf Kepada Umat Islam. Kejadian demo mereka sudah tentu menjadi hidangan bagi blog pro UMNO BN dan didalam sebuah posting yang dikeluarkan oleh laman blog upahan UMNO BN (Kalau tak silap aku kat TV3suku pun ada) telah menyiarkan berita seperti berikut: Jurucakap kumpulan itu, Ramli Sudin, berkata pemimpin DAP iaitu Karpal Singh dan Lim Guan Eng tidak menghormati keputusan Majlis Syura PAS kerana terus mempertikaikan perkara itu.  Jurucakap kumpulan Demo Zoo , Ramli Sudin "Kami sebagai ahli dan penyokong PAS berasa kecewa kerana pemimpin PAS termasuklah kepimpinan negeri Perak tidak mengambil tindakan sewajarnya untuk mempertahankan keputusan Majlis Syura PAS. "Isu ini sangat penting kerana ia membabitkan soal akidah dan kita mahu Guan Eng meminta maaf kepada kepada umat Islam di Malaysia dan juga di seluruh dunia," kata Ramli yang menjadi ahli PAS sejak 1996 lagi. Beliau berkata, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) juga tidak sepakat dalam menangani isu kalimah Allah sekaligus menyebabkan penyokong PAS menjadi keliru dan serba salah. Menurutnya, PAS Perak perlu tampil menyatakan pendirian tegas terhadap isu kalimah Allah dengan segera. Read more at: http://www.tranungkite.net/v12/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3517 |
| Posted: 15 Feb 2013 09:03 AM PST
Fatwas are non-binding and one can choose to follow or not, since there is no central authority in Islam. I have these questions though for us to explore: Dr Azly Rahman 1. if the argument is that only experts can issue fatwas, who then are the experts in matters of human spirituality and from which (legitimate) school of thought ought an expert come from?
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| Is Malaysia turning into a theocratic state? Posted: 14 Feb 2013 08:19 PM PST
Anwar is also one of the founding members of the International Institute for Islamic Thought (IIIT) in the US, which is under-investigation by US Federal law enforcement agencies since the late 90s, for the suspected financing of terrorist organizations such as Al Qaida. Suvrokamal Dutta, MeriNews Malaysia a very important country in South-East Asia, and a vital member of ASEAN. It has faced huge turmoil in the last couple of years with the hardcore Islamist fundamentalist hell bent upon in turning the country into a hardcore Islamist state based on the Shariat with Islam being the state religion. Already there are many provinces in Malaysia, which follow the Shariat such as Selangor, Penang and others. It is also an accepted reality that Malaysia turned Islamic way back in the 1960s when Islam became the state religion with 60 percent of the country's population following one or the other form of Islam. However, the constitution of Malaysia guarantees equal freedom and rights to 40 percent minority population, which consists mainly of Chinese, Indian and others, who follow and practice Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity. Malaysia does guarantee freedom of religion to all. But all this might not stay rosy for too long. Malaysia does have a brutal history of ethnic riots with the country reeling under huge ethnic riots against the ethnic Chinese minority in 1960s and in '70s, and more recently against the Indians two years back in which many Indian minority people were targeted with hundreds getting injured, and many deaths reported. The dangers loom large for this transformation with Anwar Ibrahim the leader of the main opposition People's Alliance, which is a rainbow collation of many parties including the hardcore Islamist Party, whose soul motto and attempt is to convert Malaysia into a hardcore Islamic state based on the Wahhabi form of Islam, which is practiced in Saudi Arabia. Anwar Ibrahim is an active supporter of this. Anwar though tries to project a liberal democratic western educated face for himself but in reality has a different face altogether. The kind of connection which he keeps and maintains with the hardcore elements of the Arab world portrays a different picture of Anwar. At first glance people who don't know Anwar's brand of politics would have laurels for the kind of political thoughts that he preaches in public with advocacy of Liberalism on many issues with freedom of expression and religion in Malaysian society. At the same time the kind of friendly equation which he maintains with powerful Liberal Americans like Paul Wolfowitz and other powerful democrats as well as the US Vice President like Al Gore would in face value make him the darling of the Western world and the US. With elections looming large in near future in Malaysia and the gap between the ruling party and the opposition narrowing down with every passing day the recent activities of Anwar Ibrahim has raised many eyebrows. The recent travel in early 2012 to the Arab world like Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and meeting leading Muslim figures there like Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi a leading Islamic Theologian and visiting his personal house in Doha, Qatar raises many questions. Qaradawi is the unofficial Muslim leader of the Islamic world and he supports suicide bombings against Israel as well as female circumcisions. At Qaradawi's house Anwar Ibrahim also met Khalid Mashaal as per unofficial reports. Mashaal has taken responsibility for numerous suicide bombings, killing and wounding innocent civilians, including helpless women and children. The trip as many have claimed could be a part of damage control on part of Anwar Ibrahim after his open support to Israel's defense of national security claims a comment which was not appreciated in his own country Malaysia. Not only this many say Anwar Ibrahim has close and personal contact with the Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT) sources say Anwar had personal contacts with Youssef Al Nada until at least 2011 reports claim Nada personally visited Anwar when the latter was on a visit to USA in 2011. Nada an Egyptian banker has been designated by the U.S., the UN and Switzerland for having financed terrorism through an extensive financial network and providing support for terrorist-related activities, including those undertaken by Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaida. Nada founded Bank Al Taqwa, the financial institution known to have provided cash transfers and investment advice to Al Qaida in preparation for 9-1-1. Other close friends of Anwar includes Hisham Al-Talib, former director of one of Al Nada's companies and now with Ibrahim's IIIT in the US; as well as Dr. Mohammed Manzoor Alam, co-founder with Al Nada of Al Taqwa Bank. Anwar has also served in the board of Al-Baraka Bank which has a questionable history which the US claims to be one of the main conduits for funding Al Qaida and other terror outfits. Anwar is also one of the founding members of the International Institute for Islamic Thought (IIIT) in the US, which is under-investigation by US Federal law enforcement agencies since the late 90s, for the suspected financing of terrorist organizations such as Al Qaida. Ibrahim's party's coalition partner, PAS has been advocating the passing of Hudud laws based on Islamic penal code if voted to power Anwar has been quite on this with Islamic fundamentalism reeling roost in neighboring Indonesia and the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono taking no steps to prevent it such dangerous changes in Malaysia if it happens would be suicidal for the security of Asia- Pacific region including the US, China and India and it could be extremely dangerous for multi-cultural state like Malaysia as well for its large Indian minority. Government of India should not remain a mute spectator to the internal developments in South East Asia. (About the contributor: Suvrokamal Dutta is a renowned television celebrity, political commentator, and foreign policy and economic expert.) |
| About hand gestures and signals Posted: 14 Feb 2013 07:45 PM PST
The Malay response to this would be: awak jual, saya beli, which means if you are selling then I will buy. Therefore, if you show Malays your middle finger, they would find it extremely shameful if they did not respond to the cabaran (challenge). It is in the Malay psyche to not walk away from a challenge unless you want to go down in history as a disgrace to your race. NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin To certain communities, hand gestures and signals are a big deal. People have lost their lives just because they were perceived to have shown the 'wrong' hand gesture or signal. Do you remember reading last month about that chap who was killed by a triad member because the triad member thought this chap had shown the 'wrong' signal? Actually it was a case of 'mistaken identity'. That chap who was killed was actually an OKU. Anwar Ibrahim is facing a criminal charge for giving the wrong hand gesture/signal during the Bersih rally. Hence hand gestures or signals can get you in trouble with the law if you are not careful. And in the wrong place and to the wrong person it can cost you your life. The latest brouhaha is regarding that science graduate from Scotland who showed the Raja Permaisuri Agong and a senior police officer his middle finger. There is currently a hue and cry going on, both by his supporters who think this Chinese chap is a hero as well as by those who feel he is downright biadap (insolent). I was told this showing of your middle finger first started during the 100 Years War between England and France back in the 1300s-1400s. The English had their archers who were most feared by the French (remember Robin Hood?). Hence whenever the French captured these English archers they would cut off the middle finger of these Englishmen so that they can never again shoot arrows at the French (this was, of course, before the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907 that stipulated how prisoners of war should be treated). So whenever the English archers met up with the French on the battlefield they would goad the French by showing the French their middle finger, to demonstrate that they had not lost their middle finger and therefore were going to whack the French good and proper. I really do not know whether this story is true or not but it certainly is a nice story, don't you think so? Anyway, since that day, showing someone your middle finger was meant as an insult or aimed at antagonising that person and inviting that person to a fight. The Malay response to this would be: awak jual, saya beli, which means if you are selling then I will buy. Therefore, if you show Malays your middle finger, they would find it extremely shameful if they did not respond to the cabaran (challenge). It is in the Malay psyche to not walk away from a challenge unless you want to go down in history as a disgrace to your race. In a way, the Chinese and Indians are the same. They hate to be challenged and not respond to that challenge. A few years ago I was covering a press conference at a hotel and arrived about an hour early so that I can set up my video camera at a most strategic location. This was during the days of the Reformasi movement and Ishak, another reformist, set up his video camera beside me. He too had arrived early. About five minutes after the press conference had started a Chinese reporter rushed in and started snapping photographs. He then stood in front of my video camera and all I got were shots of the back of his head. I tapped this Chinese chap lightly on the shoulder (and I made sure I smiled) and told him that he was blocking my video camera. He suddenly turned and started screaming and cursing at me. Halfway through the press conference he left, but as he was leaving he continued shouting and cursing at me and gestured at me to follow him outside -- clearly meaning for a fight. Ishak looked at me with a puzzled look on his face and I just shrugged my shoulders. In another incident in front of Parliament House, we were covering the handing over of a Memorandum to the opposition Members of Parliament. The security officers locked the gate of Parliament House and refused us entry so the MPs had to walk outside to accept the Memorandum. As the Memorandum was being handed over we all rushed to take photographs and there was a lot of pushing and shoving. One Chinese reporter and I accidentally bumped into each other. I did not bump into him or him into me. It was more like we bumped into each other, but not that serious, though -- none of us lost our balance or anything of that sort. This reporter then turned and was about to punch me when a DAP chap grabbed him and said something to him in Chinese. I don't know what the DAP chap said but this Chinese reporter continued glaring at me. Understandably, I moved as far away from him as possible. I suppose that tap on the shoulder and bumping into that reporter was interpreted as a cabaran. And these two Chinese reporters were not about to let me get away with it. I dread what would have happened if I had shown them my middle finger. Can you guess what the outcome of that would have been? Malays do not normally take things as a cabaran unless you really demonstrate that it is a cabaran -- like showing them your middle finger. Tapping someone lightly on the shoulder with a smile on your face or accidentally bumping into someone does not come under that category of cabaran. What is perturbing to read, though, are the comments by some readers that say the chap who showed the Raja Permaisuri Agong his middle finger did no wrong because the institution of the monarchy is outdated anyway and should be abolished and Malaysia turned into a Republic. Now, that, the Malays would take as a cabaran.
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| ‘Rosmah dabbles in witchcraft’ Posted: 14 Feb 2013 05:56 PM PST In an exclusive interview with FMT, Deepak Jaikishan reveals the alleged dark side of the prime minister's wife and makes a series of startling allegations. G Vinod, FMT Bizzare black magic rituals and an insatiable appetite for wealth. These were some of the revelations of Deepak Jaiskishan about Rosmah Mansor, a woman he claims has no conscience. According to her one-time confidant, the prime minister's wife has allegedly cast spells on numerous people, including her husband, former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the latter's son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin. Deepak claimed that Rosmah would go to the extreme in order to achieve her ambition, which is to be richer than the Sultan of Brunei. "She indulges in bizzare witchcraft rituals that no religion in the world will accept," he told FMT in an exclusive interview here. When Abdullah delayed naming Najib Tun Razak as his successor, Deepak claimed that Rosmah turned to the black arts for help. "Abdullah and his family went through a tough time, no thanks to Rosmah's witchcraft. Almost the entire Cabinet is under her spell," he alleged. However, Deepak said that Rosmah, whom he termed as the country's "prime minister", could not put a spell on former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad because the latter has his own protection. "She tried something but it didn't work. Maybe he is protected in some ways. "You see, it's not like you can simply put a spell on someone. It only works if the person is weak in some ways. For example, it works if the person is not spiritual," he added. Deepak said that Rosmah employed the services of shamans from Kelantan, Terengganu and even India. 'Amassed a wealth of RM30 billion' In another startling allegation, the carpet dealer also claimed that Najib and Rosmah have accumulated a fortune amounting to about RM30 billion since taking over the reins in 2009. He also confirmed the allegations regarding Rosmah's penchant for expensive handbags and jewellery, saying that he personally arranged the purchase of valuables amounting to about RM300 million over the past five to six years. "That's only from me, you should ask the others…," he added with a smirk. The carpet dealer also revealed how Rosmah used him to keep tabs on projects that were being awarded by her husband. "She will inform her people in the ministry to hand me information pertaining to the contracts, which I will then deliver to her," he said. Deepak added that some of the deals brokered by Rosmah would be executed without Najib's knowledge.
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| Prosecution wants appeal of Anwar’s sodomy in July Posted: 14 Feb 2013 05:53 PM PST (Bernama) - The prosecution has requested that its appeal against Anwar Ibrahim's acquittal on a charge of sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, be heard in July. Deputy Public Prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin said this was indicated to the Court of Appeal deputy registrar N Kanageswari during case management in her chambers today. However, she did not give any reason why the appeal should be heard in July. Noorin and one of Anwar's lawyers, Ramkarpal Singh, met Kanageswari in chambers today, for case management of the matter. Kanageswari has fixed Feb 22 for both the prosecution and defence to return and inform her on probable hearing dates. "Prosecution is asking for the appeal to be fixed in July," Noorin told reporters. Meanwhile, Ramkarpal said he needed to consult co-counsel whether the timeframe requested by the prosecution was suitable to them. He said the defence's immediate concern was to get the notes of proceedings in order, before the court could fix the hearing date. Both Noorin and Ramkarpal said the prosecution and defence were still in the midst of finalising the notes of proceedings. On Jan 9, last year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court acquitted and discharged Anwar of sodomising Mohd Saiful, 26, at a Desa Damansara condominium unit in Bukit Damansara here, between 3.10pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008. Anwar, 65, was charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code, which carries a jail sentence of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction. The prosecution filed on Jan 20, last year a notice of appeal against the opposition leader's acquittal from the sodomy charge. On July 9, last year, the prosecution filed its petition of appeal which contained nine grounds. The 80-page written judgment by High Court judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah revealed that there was penile penetration but it was uncorroborated by other evidence. He said the court could not be 100% certain on the integrity of samples taken for DNA testing from Mohd Saiful as the samples could have been compromised before they reached the chemistry department for analysis.
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| About withdrawing someone’s citizenship Posted: 14 Feb 2013 05:16 PM PST
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin There have been many calls for this person's or that person's citizenship to be withdrawn. I think before we ask for that to be done we should first of all familiarise ourselves with Malaysia's Constitution (which you can read below) to make sure we know what we are talking about -- especially the lawmakers who should know the Constitution by heart (or else they do not qualify to be a lawmaker). I suppose if we want to consider withdrawing someone's citizenship then we would have to look at Article 25(1)(a) of the Constitution: The Federal Government may by order deprive of his citizenship any person who is a citizen by registration under Article 16A or 17 or a citizen by naturalisation if satisfied that he has shown himself by act or speech to be disloyal or disaffected towards the Federation. Now, first of all, who or which is the authority that is empowered to define whether someone's act or speech is disloyal or disaffected towards the Federation? Is it the Minister under whom Internal Security and/or the National Registration Department comes under? Or would that person first have to be charged in court and only after the court pronounces this person guilty can that person's citizenship be withdrawn? And which section of the law would this charge come under? Next, what are the acts and statements that would be considered disloyal or disaffected towards the Federation? Is this subject to the Minister's or the Attorney General's interpretation? For example, if I give a talk in the UK and I make a statement saying that Malaysia is not a democracy, can the Minister or AG say that this can be interpreted as economic sabotage since my statement will discourage foreigners from investing in Malaysia and hence I am ruining Malaysia's economy (which means that this is an act of disloyalty)? Thirdly, once someone's citizenship has been withdrawn, what do we do with that person? That person is no longer a Malaysian citizen and will no longer possess a Malaysian identity card, which means that that person cannot be allowed to remain in Malaysia any longer. That person must leave the country. However, that person will also not possess a Malaysian passport (the Malaysian passport will be cancelled since that person is no longer a Malaysian citizen). Hence that person cannot leave the country since that person will not be allowed to travel or will not be allowed into another country without a passport. In short, that person is now stateless. So what do we do? That person cannot remain in Malaysia and at the same time that person cannot leave Malaysia. It would be good, therefore, if before we talk about withdrawing anyone's Malaysian citizenship we clarify how it is going to be done and what happens after it is done. If not it might give the impression that we do not really know what we are talking about. ************************************ CONSTITUTION OF MALAYSIA PART III - CITIZENSHIP Chapter 2 - Termination of Citizenship
Article number: 23 23. • Any citizen of or over the age of twenty-one years and of sound mind who is also or is about to become a citizen of another country may renounce his citizenship of the Federation by declaration registered by the Federal Government, and shall thereupon cease to be a citizen. • (2) A declaration made under this Article during any war in which the Federation is engaged shall not be registered except with the approval of the Federal Government. • (3) This Article applies to a woman under the age of twenty-one years who has been married as it applies to a person of or over that age.
Article number: 24 • (1) If the Federal Government is satisfied that any citizen has acquired by registration, naturalization or other voluntary and formal act (other than marriage) the citizenship of any country outside the Federation, the Federal Government may by order deprive that person of his citizenship. • (2) If the Federal Government is satisfied that any citizen has voluntarily claimed and exercised in any country, being rights accorded exclusively to its citizens, the Federal Government may by order deprive that person of his citizenship. • (3) (Repealed) • (3A) Without prejudice to the generality of Clause (2), the exercise of a vote in any political election in a place outside the Federation shall be deemed to be the voluntary claim and exercise of a right available under the law of that place; and for the purposes of Clause (2), a person who, after such date as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may by order appoint for the purposes of this Clause - • (a) applies to the authorities of a place outside the Federation for the issue or renewal of a passport; or • (b) uses a passport issued by such authorities as a travel document, • shall be deemed voluntarily to claim and exercise a right available under the law of that place, being a right accorded exclusively to the citizens of that place. • (4) If the Federal Government is satisfied that any woman who is a citizen by registration under Clause (1) of Article 15 has acquired the citizenship of any country outside the Federation by virtue of her marriage to a person who is not a citizen, the Federal Government may by order deprive her of her citizenship.
Article number: 25 (1) The Federal Government may by order deprive of his citizenship any person who is a citizen by registration under Article 16A or 17 or a citizen by naturalisation if satisfied - • (a) that he has shown himself by act or speech to be disloyal or disaffected towards the Federation; • (b) that he has, during any war in which the Federation is or was engaged, unlawfully traded or communicated with an enemy or been engaged in or associated with any business which to his knowledge was carried on in such manner as to assist an enemy in that war; or • (c) that he has, within the period of five years beginning with the date of the registration or the grant of the certificate, been sentenced in any country to imprisonment for a term of not less than twelve months or to a fine of not less than five thousand ringgit or the equivalent in currency of that country, and has not received a free pardon in respect of the offence for which he was so sentenced. • (1A) The Federal Government may by order deprive of his citizenship any person who is a citizen by registration under Article 16A or 17 or a citizen by naturalisation if satisfied that without the Federal Government's approval, he has accepted, served in, or performed the duties of any office, post or employment under the Government of any country outside the Federation or any political sub-division thereof, or under any agency of such a Government, in any case where an oath, affirmation or declaration of allegiance is required in respect of the office, post or employment: Provided that a person shall not be deprived of citizenship under this Clause by reason of anything done before the beginning of October 1962, in relation to a foreign country, and before the beginning of January 1977, in relation to a Commonwealth country, notwithstanding that he was at the time a citizen. • (2) The Federal Government may by order deprive of his citizenship any person who is a citizen by registration under Article 16A or 17 or a citizen by naturalization if satisfied that he has been ordinarily resident in countries outside the Federation for a continuous period of five years and during that period has neither - • (a) been at any time in the service of the Federation or of an international organization of which the Federal Government was a member; nor • (b) registered annually at a consulate of the Federation his intention to retain his citizenship: provided that this Clause shall not apply to any period of residence in any Commonwealth country before the beginning of January 1977. • (3) (Repealed)
Article number: 26 • (1) The Federal Government may by order deprive of his citizenship any citizen by registration or by naturalization if satisfied that the registration or certificate of naturalization - • (a) was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of any material fact; or • (b) was effected or granted by mistake. • (2) The Federal Government may by order deprive of her citizenship any woman who is a citizen by registration under Clause (1) of Article 15 if satisfied that the marriage by virtue of which she was registered has been dissolved, otherwise than by death, within the period of two years beginning with the date of the marriage. • (3) (Repealed). • (4) (Repealed).
Article number: 26a Where a person has renounced his citizenship or been deprived thereof under Clause (1) of Article 24 or paragraph (a) of Clause (1) of Article 26, the Federal Government may by order deprive of his citizenship any child of that person under the age of twenty-one who has ben registered as a citizen pursuant to this Constitution and was so registered as being the child of that person or of that person's wife or husband.
Article number: 26b • (1) Renunciation or deprivation of citizenship shall not discharge a person from liability in respect of anything done or omitted before he ceased to be a citizen. • (2) No person shall be deprived of citizenship under Article 25, 26 or 26A unless the Federal Government is satisfied that it is not conducive to the public good that he should continue to be a citizen: and no person shall be deprived of citizenship under Article 25, paragraph (b) of Clause (1) of Article 26, or Article 26A if the Federal Government is satisfied that as a result of the deprivation he would not be a citizen of any country.
Article number: 27 • (1) Before making an order under Article 24, 25 or 26, the Federal Government shall give to the person against whom the order is proposed to be made notice in writing informing him of the ground on which the order is proposed to be made and of his right to have the case referred to a committee of inquiry under this Article. • (2) If any person to whom such notice is given applies to have the case referred as aforesaid the Federal Government may, refer the case to a committee of inquiry consisting of a chairman (being a person possessing judicial experience) and two other members appointed by that Government for the purpose. • (3) In the case of any such reference, the committee shall hold an inquiry in such manner as the Federal Government may direct, and submit its report to that Government: and the Federal Government shall have regard to the report in determining whether to make the order.
Article number: 28 • (1) For the purposes of the foregoing provisions of this Chapter - • (a) any person who before Merdeka Day became a federal citizen or a citizen of the Federation by registration as a citizen or in consequence of his registration as a citizen or in consequence of his registration as the subject of the Ruler, or by the grant of a certificate of citizenship, under any provision of the Federation of Malaya Agreement, 1948, or of any State law shall be treated as a citizen by registration and, if he was not born within the Federation, as a citizen by registration under Article 17; • (b) a woman who before that day became a federal citizen or a citizen of the Federation by registration as a citizen, or in consequence of her registration as the subject of the Ruler, under any provision of the said Agreement or any State law authorizing the registration of women married to citizens of the Federation or to subjects of the Ruler shall be treated as a citizen by registration under Clause (1) of Article 15; • (c) any person who before that day was naturalised as a federal citizen or a citizen of the Federation under the said Agreement of became a federal citizen or a citizen of the Federation in consequence of his naturalization as the subject of a Ruler under any State law shall (subject to Clause (2)) be treated as a citizen by naturalization. and references in those provisions to the registration or naturalization of a citizen shall be construed accordingly. • (2) No person born within the Federation shall be liable by virtue of this Article to be deprived of citizenship under Article 25. • (3) A person who on Merdeka Day became a citizen by operation of law as having been citizen of the Federation immediately before that day shall not be deprived of citizenship under Clause (1) or (2) of Article 24 by reason of anything done on or before that day, but in the case of any such person Clause (2) of Article 25 shall apply equally in relation to a period of residence in foreign countries beginning before Merdeka Day and in relation to such a period beginning on or after that day.
Article number: 28a • (1) (Repealed) • (2) For the purposes of Articles 24, 25, 26 and 26A a person who on Malaysia Day becomes a citizen by operation of law because immediately before that day he has the status of a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies shall be treated - • (a) as a citizen by registration if he acquired that status by registration; and • (b) as a citizen by naturalisation if he acquired that status by or in consequence of naturalisation; and references in those Articles to the registration or naturalisation of a citizen shall be construed accordingly. • (3) Where a woman is under this Article to be treated as a citizen by registration, and the status consequence of which she is to be treated was acquired by her virtue of marriage, then for purposes of Clause (4) of Article 24 and Clause (2) of Article 26 she shall be treated as a citizen by registration under Clause (1) of Article 15. • (4) Where a person born before Malaysia Day is under this Article to be treated as a citizen by registration by virtue of a connection with the State of Sabah or Sarawak and he was not born in the territories comprised in the States of Sabah and Sarawak, Article 25 shall apply to him as if he were a citizen by registration under Article 16a or 17. • (5) Notwithstanding that a person is under this Article to be treated as a citizen by naturalisation,he shall not be deprived of his citizenship under Article 25 if he was born before Malaysia Day in the territories comprised in the States of Sabah and Sarawak and is to be treated by virtue of a status acquired by or in consequence of naturalisation in those territories. • (6) Without prejudice to the forgoing Clauses, where on Malaysia Day a person becomes a citizen by operation of law in virtue of any status possessed by him immediately before that day to be deprived of that status under the law relating thereto, then the Federal Government may by order deprive him of his citizenship, ir proceedings for that purpose are begun before September 1965: but Clause (2) of Article 26b and, subject to Clause (7), Article 27 shall apply to an order under this Clause as they apply to an order under Article 25. • (7) Where a person is liable to be deprived of citizenship under Clause (6) and proceedings had before Malaysia Day begun to deprive him of the status of virtue of which he acquired his citizenship, those proceedings shall be treated as proceedings to deprive him of citizenship under that Clause, and shall be continued in accordance with the law relating to that status immediately before Malaysia Day, and the functions the Federal Government in relation thereto shall be delegated to such authority of the State in question as the Federal Government may determine. |
| Ex-Perlis mufti Asri may contest polls Posted: 14 Feb 2013 04:08 PM PST
Syed Jaymal Zahiid, The Malaysian Insider Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has admitted that he is currently discussing the possibility of contesting Election 2013 and is expected to announce his decision soon. Sinar Harian reported today that the former Perlis mufti, one of the country's most influential Islamic clerics, has been "courted" by political parties but did not disclose which ticket he will contest under. "There are talks… I will announce it in one or two weeks' time," Asri (picture) was quoted as saying. Speculation that the maverick ex-mufti could stand in the upcoming elections first surfaced when news broke that both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) aimed to woo popular clerics into their fold, hoping to capitalise on their Islamic credentials and boost either side's standing among Malaysia's Muslim majority. Asri's name was among those mentioned apart from the present Perlis mufti, Dr Juanda Jaya. Speculation that Asri would stand in the upcoming polls was further strengthened when he posted two days ago on Twitter: "Alhamdulillah, back home there are many seats that I can stand for without any contest apart from sickness and death." Prior to that, Asri posted another message on Twitter asking the media to approach him to verify the rumour. "The media that reported I will contest, have they themselves asked me?" he said. Talk is rife that Asri may be fielded in Penanti, a state seat within the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency in Penang, a known fortress of opposition party PKR helmed by its de facto leader and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. There are also rumours that Asri, now a lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia, would be made a deputy chief minister if PR retains Penang. In the past the former Perlis mufti had been linked to Islamist PAS but he denied the speculation and said he would not be joining any political party.
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| No reason to retract our statement, says MTEM Posted: 14 Feb 2013 04:03 PM PST
(The Star) - The Malay Economic Action Council (MTEM), a group of 47 Malay business groups, said its demand for Petronas president Datuk Shamsul Azhar Abbas to quit stays despite the national oil company's pledge to look into their grouses. Following a two-hour meeting between them on Wednesday, council chairman Datuk Syed Ali Alatas said Petronas had agreed to set up a joint committee to thrash out issues, including accusations that the oil giant had sidelined local companies in awarding major contracts. While describing it as a "positive meeting", he said the council saw no reason to retract its earlier stand that Shamsul should resign. "People can repent. For example, a divorced couple can reconcile. There is no reason to retract our statement but if they repent... then we'll see. "But now there is no change in our position. Our statement stands," Syed Ali told reporters here yesterday. MTEM would send a letter to Shamsul today (Friday) for him to confirm what had been discussed at the meeting and hopes to receive a reply by Feb 21, he said. Syed Ali had alleged earlier this month that Petronas had awarded its major contracts to foreign companies while equally qualified local companies were left out.
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| Dr Mahathir: Malaysia's debt level still "healthy" Posted: 14 Feb 2013 03:59 PM PST
(Bernama) - The ratio of debt to gross domestic product (GDP), which stands at 53 per cent currenty, is still considered "healthy" for the country as trading and revenue continue to rise, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. "We can still pay our debts. We still can pay as we see investments yielding high profit. During my administration, a RM300mil profit made by Maybank is already considered as large. "Now, Maybank has gained RM6bil," he told Bernama in an interview. Dr Mahathir said Malaysians should remember that one of the European countries, Greece, could not pay its debts as the ratio had exceeded 100 per cent. "Greece may not be able to pay," he said. Dr Mahathir said Bank Negara Malaysia's current savings was about US$140bil compared to only about US$30bil at the time of his administration. (US$1=RM3.08) As at Jan 31, 2013, Bank Negara's international reserves totalled US$140.2bil. He said the reserves position was sufficient to finance 9.5 months of retained imports and was 4.2 times the short-term external debt. The central bank's total assets, including international reserves, stood at US$158bil. Dr Mahathir said Malaysia also has large deposits in institutions such as the Tabung Haji, Permodalan Nasional Bhd and Felda Scheme. Asked whether Malaysia's trade was still dependent on western countries despite their sluggish economy, he said: "We're no longer dependent on the West. Our exports to the West have not increased and the West also cannot afford to invest now." He said foreign investments are now coming from the East and Malaysia's trade with these countries are increasing. "Our trade with China, for example, is good and it's very high. Our trade with Asean member countries has also increased. So, we don't have to assess our economic progress based on our trade with the West," he said. Instead, the assessment should take into account the economic progress Malaysia made around the world, he said. "Our exports to throughout the world are still on the uptrend, our surplus is still growing," he said. Malaysia's total trade posted a three per cent growth last year despite global economic and financial turmoil and tepid demand. "Eventhough growth was below expected projection, Malaysia registered its highest total trade of RM1.31 trillion last year vis-a-vis RM1.27 trillion in 2011. In 2012, exports grew by 0.6 per cent to RM702.19bil, while imports expanded by 5.9 per cent to RM607.36bil. The trade surplus in 2012 was RM94.82bil, the 15th consecutive year of trade surplus for Malaysia. Among the top five trading partners, trade expansion was recorded with Asean (+8.2 per cent) and China (+8.0 per cent), while trade with the United States dwindled by 2.8 per cent.
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| Posted: 14 Feb 2013 03:49 PM PST Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim might have to wait for the GE14 to become prime minister. Christopher Fernandez, FMT While coffeeshop politicians are firm in their convictions that Pakatan Rakyat will sweep to power in the 13th general election (GE13), based on prevailing realities, it looks quite certain that they might have to wait for the 14th general election (GE14) for their dreams to come true. While more Malaysians now hope to witness a change of government – and this has caused a groundswell of support to surface for Pakatan – the likelihood that Pakatan can end 55 years of Barisan Nasional rule is still distant. Most Malaysians will need a longer time to adjust to Pakatan, a relatively new player. Malaysians tend to be creatures of habit and are very slow, suspicious and wary of making changes. They generally find themselves comfortable and do not want to change or will want a longer period of time to be convinced to make changes to the political environment in the country. But the good news for Pakatan is that all its good and hard work is paying off. But to wrest power is most likely not forthcoming in this general election. The opposition coalition should, however, maintain its growing momentum and work patiently and diligently to come to power in the GE14. Or it may be even earlier if snap polls are called. Some political analysts are of the view that a "hung" Parliament might emerge. This most definitely will be a tricky issue to deal with by both sides of the political divide. But it looks most likely that BN will emerge a narrow winner in the GE13, holding on to a reduced or a simple majority compared to the GE12 in 2008. While most political observers think that a completely free and fair election is unlikely in the GE13, a landslide victory by BN will arouse great suspicion. This is especially so when BN is seen to be loosening its grip on power. Over at Sabah and Sarawak Ever since the political tsunami of 2008, Pakatan has emerged as a formidable force and has started to cause cracks to appear in the impregnable BN façade in Sabah and Sarawak. The recent defections by BN politicians are a clear indication that the ground in Sabah and Sarawak is starting to shift more in favour of Pakatan, though BN has a vice-like grip on the two states it considers to be its perpetual "fixed deposits". In the GE13, while much headway will be made by Pakatan in Sabah and Sarawak, it is unlikely the opposition pact can stage an upset as the Sabahans and Sarawakians are probably more comfortable with BN and need an even longer time than West Malaysian voters to adjust to Pakatan. While it's hard to predict the final outcome, it will be certain that BN's fixed deposits will see their value dwindle as Pakatan is expected to swing more voters to its side in this GE13. Pakatan should be motivated to roll up its sleeves to work harder in East Malaysia to build up its power base and capitalise on the fact that its influence is beginning to grow and needs to be carefully nurtured. The feel of the ground in Selangor Unlike the distant East Malaysia, West Malaysian states are feeling the full fervour of the BN and Pakatan campaigns and it is really in the Pakatan states that a lot of politicking has been going on. All indications point that Selangor will be hotly contested, but it looks as if Pakatan is more aggressive as it goes all out to stop BN. Pakatan politicians in Selangor are wise to the tricks of BN, after the incident in Perak where they were removed on dubious grounds. Now Pakatan leaders in Selangor are on their guard. Selangor voters, too, know BN tricks and have indicated their interest in seeing Pakatan continue with its rule. Besides, Pakatan has consolidated its position in Perak, Penang, Kedah and Kelantan. In Perak there are signs that the voters are just waiting to vent their anger on BN over its manipulation of power in the state. Pakatan is expected to score a landslide victory in the silver state. In Penang, owing to the sterling performance of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Pakatan is likely to chalk up a bigger victory, with DAP winning more seats. While BN has been trying very hard to grab power in Kedah and Kelantan, the two states, effectively PAS strongholds, are not going to give way to BN. While certain stunts have been pulled off by BN to try and topple the Pakatan governments in the two states, they were ineffective.
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| ‘Najib’s Sabah functions stage-managed’ Posted: 14 Feb 2013 03:39 PM PST
The immensely popular Stacy was kept to the last to get the crowd close to the stage just before Najib and his wife alighted from their car. Luke Rintod, FMT Prime Minister Naib Tun Razak's three functions in Sabah yesterday were short on spontaneity but choreographed to every small detail. There were flag waving, hoisting of banners and ordered rounds of applause and free eye examination with promises of glasses for those who need them. In Tuaran yesterday, prior to Najib's arrival at around 3pm, the deejays worked the 5,000 or so crowd, which local newspapers counted as 25,000, to stand and hoist the "I love PM" flyers when he entered. It was a similar scene in Papar and Beaufort. Nothing was left to chance. Local artistes like Asmin Mudin, Abu Bakar Ellah and Stacy, among others, were there to get the crowd in. The immensely popular Stacy was kept to the last to get the crowd close to the stage just before Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor alighted from their car. His arrival with VIPs in tow including Chief Minister Musa Aman was heralded with traditional gongs, kompangs and a lion dance. "Saya datang hanya mahu tenguk Rosmah [I came only to see Rosmah]," said a Bajau man who quietly left the scene later without listening to any of the speeches. The function was to launch Sabah-level Nadi Kasih Programme that involves handing out RM5,000 to rehabilitate dilapidated houses. A middle-aged Bajau woman said she was "satisfied and very happy" after she had a glimpse of the couple entering the event held at the Tuaran Town Padang here. Another Dusun man displayed a video clip of himself at the event, saying: "I managed to shake hands with the prime minister while he was walking and that is quite an experience for me." Another local man, however, said he came to have a final look at Najib and his Rosmah. "Saya hanya mahu tenguk mereka buat kali terakhir [I only want to see them for the last time]," he said smiling. Earlier in the day, a free eye examination was held at the vicinity. Free spectacles will be distributed in early March to those who need them, officials said. At the Tuaran function, Najib delivered a relatively short speech criticising the opposition and its leaders without naming them.
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| Posted: 14 Feb 2013 03:36 PM PST
What has happened to the book? Has Rosmah's publicist got the year wrong? Mariam Mokhtar, FMT Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak travelled around Malaysia championing his Merdeka slogan "Janji Ditepati", but his most ardent supporter, the self-styled First Lady Rosmah Mansor, has let him down. Last December, amid great fanfare, press coverage and the presence of royalty, Rosmah organised a pre-launch for her biography. A Bernama report said that the 164-page book, written by Siti Rohayah Attan and Noraini Abdul Razak, would cost RM150 and be published and distributed in January. So, where is the book? It is now February, and the rakyat is eager to know the progress of the much publicised book. While Rosmah was saving from her teens to buy expensive jewellery, a number of us have been saving for a life-changing book which will motivate and guide us towards success and riches. Few of us have managed to save up for priceless gems and we are delighted that Rosmah has promised to share her secrets with us. What has happened to the book? Perhaps, Rosmah's publicist got the year wrong. Did her publishing adviser Ahmad Maslan not realise that with Chinese New Year falling in February, the printers would be busy and business would slow down during the two-week period of festivities. With GE13 approaching, the printers have their hands full churning out election propaganda material. Is the biography going to be just another of BN's empty promises? Ahmad claimed that the biography would also include a "frank question and answer chapter" to answer "all the issues and allegations". Rosmah is naïve to think that writing a biography, to a book-shy Malaysian public, is going to "clear her name". With the book unavailable in the bookshops, Ahmad could enlighten us and say which allegation Rosmah is referring to. If writing a book is all that is needed to clear oneself of a wrongdoing, criminals would put pen to paper and be spared the bother of giving evidence in court. Lawyers, judges and the entire court process would be made defunct. Ghost writers, publishers and bookshops would thrive. Rosmah, Najib, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan once rejected subpoenaes to appear in court. Perhaps, their reason for avoiding court was a mistrust of the Malaysian judiciary. Isn't it the business of the prime minister to make good the system and restore the public's trust in its judiciary? During 56 years of BN rule, very few of our politicians know the meaning of shame. They allegedly lie, rape, steal, murder and take what does not belong to them, then turn up in Parliament as if nothing unusual has happened. The rot set in during Mahathir's tenure but in a few weeks' time, we have the power to change all this and install a government which will do the rakyat's bidding. Rather than plunder the rakyat's money. Those Malays who refuse to accept that Umno is detrimental to their well-being, only need to see how the senior Umno politicians promote their children. These politicians did not breed successful and enterprising children who end up in plum jobs. Their children are denied the hard work, hunger to succeed and self-discipline needed to mould their character. There is no equality in educational and work or job opportunities. Their children have all the advantages which are denied to the rakyat. Whose daughters get multi-million-ringgit projects to do with alternative energy or transport systems? Whose son lands lucrative contracts involving air-traffic control? Whose son is free to pose as a member of royalty and beat strangers who dare challenge him in public? Whose children are able to purchase apartments and give themselves inflated salaries, with the millions of ringgits allocated for the National Feedlot Corporation?
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