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Show Tanda Putera to all M’sians, urges Dr M
DAP rep’s aide accused of embezzling funds
Dr M: Non-Malays too have special rights
‘Bar Council is nobody’s stooge’
‘Good chance of Pakatan taking over Putrajaya’
Americk defends Anwar, PI Bala
Tian Chua charged with sedition
Himpunan Hijau chairman Wong Tack told to quit
Sabah stand-off shakes up Malaysian politics
Sulu Princess battles Malaysians online
Pope Francis divides opinion in Argentina
Misuari-Anwar link reported in leaked US diplomatic cable

Show Tanda Putera to all M’sians, urges Dr M

Posted: 14 Mar 2013 05:37 AM PDT

(Freemalaysiakini) - Details of the May 13 riots, such as that depicted in Tanda Putera, should be provided to all Malaysians as a precautionary tale to avoid future racial unrest, said former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"It depends, people have many perceptions. But I think that we should tell the rakyat what really happened on May 13 so that it becomes a lesson to all of us," Mahathir told reporters today.

"Because as a multiracial country, if we are not careful, our country may become unstable because of constant racial riots."

He said this when asked to respond if the cabinet decision to suspend the screening of the film and selective screening of the movie, was a wise move.

Funded by National Film Development Corporation and the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC), the film depicts the trials and tribulations faced by second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein following the May 13 riots.

Mahathir's character was depicted penning a letter condemning then-premier Tunku Abdul Rahman and was subsequently sacked from Umno.

The first portion of the film deals with the riots. Although Malays and Chinese were depicted causing harm to each other, the latter was depicted as the antagonist more often.

Mahathir was speaking to reporters after speaking at a dialogue session on the feasibility of a two-party system, organised by the Universiti Malaya Alumni Association .

'Wait for Najib to be ready'

Asked if it was also wise for Prime Minister Mohd Najib Abdul Razak to continue delaying polls, he said it is all up to the PM.

"Well, it all depends upon the PM and his assessment if he thinks he is ready," Mahathir said.

Pressed if he thinks it is wise for BN wait for automatic dissolution, he again said it is up to the PM's judgment.

"It must be because the PM thinks it is good."

Last October, Mahathir had warned that further delays to polling would allow more time for Pakatan Rakyat to prepare.

Quizzed on former deputy army chief Abdul Ghafir Abdul Hamid's allegations yesterday that the Malaysian military intelligence division had been abused for political operations, he replied, "What had he done (when he was in office), is it that just because of that he cannot fulfill other tasks?

"It looks like he is not a general but more like an opposition part (supporter)," he said.

Abdul Ghafir had claimed that the misuse of military intelligence units had weakened its function, such as detecting foreign threats like the armed intrusion in Lahad Datu, Sabah.

DAP rep’s aide accused of embezzling funds

Posted: 14 Mar 2013 05:33 AM PDT

The DAP disciplinary committee grills Lee Suan Ba, a special assistant to Teratai assemblywoman Jenice Lee, over accusation he misappropriated funds meant to build a retaining wall.

Leven Woon, FMT

An aide to DAP Teratai assemblywoman Jenice Lee was today summoned to face the party's disciplinary committee over accusations of embezzlement and misconduct.

The aide, Lee Suan Ba, was accused of misappropriating a portion of RM32,000 meant for building a retaining wall in Taman Seraya, Cheras, in 2011.

Jenice was also asked to testify as a witness in the same case for issuing a support letter in favour of the project.

Suan Ba has denied any misconduct and the disciplinary committee headed by Tan Kok Wai has fixed next week to hear the case again.

At a press conference after the hearing, Tan said the three families in Taman Seraya had sought Suan Ba's assistance to build the retaining wall near their houses.

It was learnt that the wall was needed to prevent passers-by from throwing objects at the three houses which were situated below a busy road.

Tan said Suan Ba brought the families to meet Jenice, who allegedly issued the support letter for the project to help them obtain approval from the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council.

"Suan Ba then collected some RM32,000 from the three families. It was alleged that he then undertook the construction of the wall with the help of a freelance contractor and that he took a portion of the money.

"However, he had denied the allegation," Tan said.

He said it was also claimed that the construction of the wall was illegal because the land on which the wall was to be built belonged to the Department of Land and Mines, a federal agency.

When met by reporters, Suan Ba denied the accusations, saying he was merely helping the people.

Jenice also denied any wrongdoings on her part and suspected a political conspiracy to prevent her from standing in the coming general election.

Dr M: Non-Malays too have special rights

Posted: 13 Mar 2013 11:30 PM PDT

Syed Jaymal Zahiid, FMT

Tun Dr Mahathir argued today that non-Malay complaints of discrimination stemming from policies favouring the Malays are without "basis" as the country's minorities too enjoy special rights including the freedom to speak their native languages and practice their own religion.

"Each race enjoys special rights in their own way," the longest-serving former prime minister (picture) told a forum at University Malaya here, when asked to comment on the opposition's push for "Malaysian Malaysia" carried by the DAP's predecessor, the People's Action Party (PAP), in 1964.

Dr Mahathir said while the country's ethnic majority do enjoy a special position under the Constitution, the same law guarantees the minorities the right to self-identity through the freedom to practice their respective religion, language and mother-tongue education.

He added that only in Malaysia, the minorities identify themselves according to their root "nationality" like "Chinese Malaysian" and "Indian Malaysian", a phenomena that reflects the freedom and rights enjoyed by the non-Malays.

"This idea is not practised anywhere else. In Indonesia the Chinese don't call themselves Indonesian Chinese, they call themselves Indonesians and speak Indonesian.

"Here, we agreed to maintain their rights," Dr Mahathir said.

Dr Mahathir had and continues to be the leading proponent of Malay rights, in the face of growing calls for a revision of Putrajaya's race-based affirmative action policies which have been blamed for much of Malaysia's present economic woes.

Critics have also attributed the country's corruption problems on the policies which they said nurtured the entrenched culture of political patronage among Umno supporters.

The federal opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat (PR) argued that such policies and the Malay-rights debate are used to enrich only a selected few Malays. Its pledge to dismantle race-based policies and put in place an economic model based on merits have won the support of the non-Malays.

But while PR leaders maintained that this does not mean the abolition of Malay rights, Dr Mahathir alleged voting the opposition would erode the positions of the Malays who would end up being "slaves in their own country".

READ MORE HERE

‘Bar Council is nobody’s stooge’

Posted: 13 Mar 2013 11:22 PM PDT

Bar Council vice-president Christopher Leong insists that the lawyers' professional body is independent and that is why it can engage with different groups without favour.

K Pragalath, FMT

Bar Council vice-president Christopher Leong today maintained it does not favour any party and is truly independent.

"We have not been conquered by any organisations or political parties. We have always been independent and it is our independence that allows us to engage with all," Leong said in response to a report in a Malay daily

An Utusan Malaysia report entitled, "Majlis Peguam ditakluki PKR?" (Bar Council conquered by PKR?) was published on Saturday.

The report, based on an interview with Penang Bar member Ranjit Singh Dhillon who is also the Bar Council disciplinary board chairman, claimed that the Bar Council is very pro-opposition and in favour of PKR.

The report states a Bar Council course related to election petition, held on Feb 26, featured PKR deputy secretary-general, Steven Choong.

Participants were required to pay RM26. The session also featured former Bar Council chairman and current Bersih co-chairman S Ambiga, Bersih steering committee members Andrew Khoo who is also Bar Council's human rights committee chairman, Empower Malaysia executive director Maria Chin Abdullah and election reform watchdog, Tindak Malaysia chairman, PY Wong.

Commenting on this allegation, Leong said that it was "a legitimate topic related to the Federal Constitution".

"We extended an invitation to Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and Hafarizam Harun to be speakers but they could not attend," said Leong. Both Shafee and Hafarizam are prominent for representing Umno.

"We had Minister in Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz delivering keynote address for a Bar Council forum recently," he added.

Leong also responded to allegations that the Bar Council has close relations with PKR which was demonstrated through the body's participation in Bersih 3.0 rally in Dataran Merdeka last year and the People Uprising Rally in Stadium Merdeka in January.

The Utusan report stated that Bar Council chairman Lim Chee Wee was willing to send 78 volunteers from the council to the Bersih 3.0 rally to assist Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim in exploiting a tense situation as they had expected provocation from unscrupulous parties.

"The Bar Council sent monitoring teams to observe, not to participate, in the Bersih rally. That's why the 78 were all suited up in the hot sun. It was the first rally since that tested the Peaceful Assembly Act," he said.

Ranjit also suggested that the Bar Council's annual general meeting (AGM) scheduled to be held this Saturday be postponed as a mark to respect the soldiers who died in the line of duty in Lahad Datu.

Responding to this, Leong said: "Under the Legal Profession Act, the AGM must be held before the end of March annually. I do not see how the AGM can be interpreted as not being sympathethic to the fallen heroes. It is a practice to host the dinner and dance together with the AGM. We'll continue to support our soldiers."

Ranjit had also highlighted Lim's criticism against the government for barring independent Australian senator Nick Xenophon from entering Malaysia last month and Lim's reluctance to attend the independent panel led by former Inspector-General of Police, Hanif Omar, to investigate the Bersih rally last year.

Posted: 13 Mar 2013 06:43 PM PDT

PSM believes Pakatan stands a "very good chance" because Barisan Nasional's old methods of getting votes will not work.

Lisa J. Ariffin, FMT

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) believes Pakatan Rakyat stands a "very good chance" of taking over Putrajaya in the upcoming general election.

PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan said this today when asked to forecast the outcome of the 13th general election (GE13), which some believe will be held as early as next month.

"Yes, there is a very good chance of taking over Putrajaya," Arutchelvan told FMT in an exclusive interview here.

He pointed out "three things which Barisan Nasional uses traditionally" to win votes: money, racial politics and electoral cheating.

"One and two are no longer working in its favour. Even when it gives BR1M [financial aid], the people know why they are getting it – because of stronger opposition," Arutchelvan said.

He noted Pakatan's biggest concern was "electoral fraud", as he believed this tactic was used to keep BN in power for the past 56 years.

"Umno is not going to let go of power so easily, and if you say electoral fraud can be eradicated… I don't think so," he said.

"However, if BN wins by electoral fraud, will the people still keep quiet?" he asked.

Arutchelvan hoped GE13 would bring about a change in governance – "as demanded by the people through mass involvement in rallies such as Bersih" – to show the people they have the power to "change the government when they don't like it".

"This way, it keeps both BN and Pakatan on their toes," he said.

"No one should think they can easily stay in power and make money off the rakyat."

Arutchelvan recently announced that he will be recontesting the Semenyih state seat and had unveiled his personal "report card" for work done in the state constituency since the last general election.

Despite contesting the seat in 2008 and losing to Johan Abdul Aziz, the incumbent from Umno, Arutchelvan was appointed as the Zone 18 councillor for Kajang Municipal Council (MPKJ) and is a familiar face in the area.

Americk defends Anwar, PI Bala

Posted: 13 Mar 2013 06:31 PM PDT

He says his client is being slandered by "armchair eunuchs".

G Vinod, FMT

Private investigator P Balasubramaniam's lawyer has denied that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim promised to pay his client for the statutory declaration that he affirmed on July 1, 2008, which alleged the involvement of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in the murder of Mongolian beauty Altantuya Shaariibu.

Responding to a recent article by blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, Americk Siddhu said his client did receive money for affirming a statutory declaration, but the paymaster was businessman Deepak Jaikishan and the declaration was one that came on July 4, 2008, contradicting the earlier one.

"Balasubramaniam has sacrificed a lot and yet he is being slandered by a bunch of armchair eunuchs who have nothing better to do than to pour scorn on his efforts to pursue what is right," said Americk.

Raja Petra quoted an MACC source as saying that Deepak had told the anti-corruption agency about Anwar promising RM700,000 to Bala.

Americk's denial was a reiteration of Balasubramaniam's dismissal of the allegation in Raja Petra's article, which appeared last Monday.

"I swear on my mother that I do not know anything about this RM700,000," the private investigator said on Tuesday. "All these accusations against me are bullshit."

Balasubramaniam said he had met Anwar only on two occasions – in 1994 when he was on official and on July 3, at a press conference disclosing the first statutory declaration.

According to Americk, Raja Petra is aware that no money was involved in the signing of the July 1 declaration.

"This is the truth," he said.

Referring to Deepak's statement to MACC, the lawyer said Raja Petra could have confused it with a statement that the businessman made in 2008.

"Raja Petra should have checked the information he got from his sources, but he did not," he said.

Tian Chua charged with sedition

Posted: 13 Mar 2013 06:29 PM PDT

The PKR vice-president pleaded not guilty, claiming that the charge was politically motivated.

Leven Woon, FMT

PKR vice-president Tian Chua has been charged with sedition at a Sessions Court here today for allegedly attributing the bloodbath in Lahad Datu to an Umno conspiracy.

Ironically, this followed Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's announcement last April that he would repeal the Sedition Act 1948 and replace it with the proposed National Harmony Act.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Yusaini Amer Abdul Karim claimed that Tian Chua committed the offence when he labelled the Lahad Datu intrusion on March 1 as an Umno conspiracy, adding that the incident had raised questions and doubts on Umno's "shadow play" (wayang mainan).

Tian Chua was also charged with describing the Sulu gunmen's incursion as a government plot to frighten the people and for alleging that Umno was trying to divert people's attention from the issuance of identification cards to foreigners in Sabah.

Some of the remarks were published in a Keadilan Daily article titled "Insiden Tembak-Menembak Konspirasi Umno" dated March 3.

The PKR vice-president was found to have breached Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act. He faces a fine of RM5,000 or three years jail or both upon conviction.

Tian Chua pleaded not guilty and claimed that the charge was politically motivated.

"I will fight these slander to clear my name," he said.

Justice Mohd Sekeri Mamat fixed April 12 for mention and set bail at RM5,000.

Scuffle breaks out

When met outside the court room, Tian Chua's counsel N Surendran said he would file an application soon with the High Court to strike out the charge against his client.

He claimed that the charge was a gross abuse of power and politically motivated.

Sudrendran, who is also PKR vice-president, said the authorities of late had been targeting opposition members such as Azmin Ali and Gobind Sigh Deo in a series of investigations as the polls approached.

Posted: 13 Mar 2013 11:32 AM PDT

(The Star) - Newly-minted general election candidate Wong Tack is feeling the heat as a key member of his Himpunan Hijau movement insists he resigns as chairman if he intends to pursue a political career.

In making the call, Clement Chin, a steering committee member of the movement, said Wong had originally promised not to bring the group down the political path, but has now made a sudden U-turn.

"If he wants to enter politics, then by all means go ahead and we will support him but do not do it by dragging the whole group under a political party.

"We are an environmental NGO and he has to respect our original objectives," Chin said when contacted.

On Tuesday, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng announced that Wong would be contesting the Bentong parliamentary seat under the party's ticket.

Chin warned that the group's foray into the political arena means treading in dangerous waters, saying that it must be made clear that Himpunan Hijau was not a political party and it should maintain the people's trust and confidence as a non-political NGO.

"We have to respect those supporters nationwide who wish to remain apolitical in their fight for environmental justice.

"The environmental issues will end up so politicised and muddled up that they lose their essence and truth with all the mud-slinging thrown at it," he said.

"As such, Wong should step down as the chairperson of Himpunan Hijau and a new leader be elected.

"I hope that the new chairperson will keep the green issues from being overly politicised by the politicians," Chin said.

A Facebook user, Chatur Ranga, who posted on the Himpunan Hijau 2.0 Facebook fanpage, said: "If he is truly a Green Warrior, he should stand as an Independent especially now that the PR/DAP are saying they may reconsider allowing Lynas to operate!

"They have already broken a promise in their manifesto! This is a betrayal of all the good people who fought against Lynas," he said.

Sabah stand-off shakes up Malaysian politics

Posted: 13 Mar 2013 11:07 AM PDT

"These claims from the sultanate of Sulu have been there for a very long time and the timing does seem either suspicious or odd at least and raise questions especially because his poll showings are quite bad and the opposition has worked very hard since already shaking up the establishment in 2008"

(The Voice of Russia) - Dr. Gerhard Hoffstaedter of the University of Queensland, Australia, shares his take on the armed conflict in the Malaysian state of Sabah, where a ragtag band of fighters from the so-called Royal Army of the Sultan of Sulu clashed with Malaysian troops.

Sabah, what is today the state of Sabah in Malaysia used to be a dominion of the Sultanate of Brunei until the British came and essentially split up that Sultanate, which remains till this day but the territory it controls is very small. At one stage it controlled vast parts of Borneo and parts of what is now the Philippines. A subsequent sultanate, the sultanate of Sulu, which still lays claim to Sabah, over which we've read a lot in news lately, because they sent a detachment of over 200 armed guards or militants to state that claim, currently claimed to have a power over this territory or parts of this territory and that claim has never really been resolved, so until this day the Malaysian state actually pays what some people call session money, what other people call rental money to the heirs of the sultan of Sulu, which was agreed a long time ago between the British and the sultan of Sulu. And so there is this ongoing discrepancy of histories if you like, the discrepancy of the heirs or decedents of the sultan of Sulu, the state of Sabah is still part of their inheritance if you like, although long time ago they've given up sovereignty to the Philippines state, so they are not a sovereign sultanate or sovereign state in any way, they can't make claims, only the Philippines can make claims over Sabah, and they have tried to take it to the international court of justice but Malaysia would not entertain that for obvious reasons, Sabah is home to large oil reserves, forestry, palm oil and has been an integral part of the Malaysian state since 1960s and indeed it's been instrumental in maintaining the current ruling coalition in Malaysian government since 1957 since the authorities of Sabah joined the federation in 60s because they've managed to get substantially more votes in east Malaysia than in west Malaysia and had east Malaysia voted similar to west Malaysia in the last election, we wouldn't have seen a change in government already in Malaysia. So, the current government is quite dependant on both Sarawak and Sabah as a voting block.

Do ethnic differences play a serious role in the domestic policies?

It is a very difficult and complex issue and there is actually a big difference in terms of the ethnic question in west Malaysia and east Malaysia. In west Malaysia it is really about Indian, Chinese and Malay identity politics around that, whereas in east Malaysia it is quite different because there is a vast or much larger proportion of indigenous people and a lot of them are not Muslims so the issue of Islam does not arise as it does in west Malaysia and so especially Sabah has much more of a cosmopolitan history and ethic than, say, west Malaysia where identity politics that has been imbued with religious politics or the identity politics around religion is much more pronounced. So, in fact one of the biggest minorities in Sabah is Philippines and in a way the makeup of Sabah is much more diverse than the makeup of west Malaysia, that has a very different ethnic politics that happens over there.

Sulu Princess battles Malaysians online

Posted: 13 Mar 2013 11:01 AM PDT

(Al Jazeera) - Southeast Asian land dispute enters the Twittersphere.

The ongoing conflict between Malaysian security forces and an armed Filipino group entered cyberspace on Wednesday, when Princess Jacel Kiram, the daughter of the self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu, opened aTwitter account. The conflict began last month when the Sultan arrived in the Malaysian state of Sabah to stake what he says is his family's ancient claim to the region.

OK. Bro @tankengliang, the invading faux princess@jacelkiram is now on twitter. Unleash your unending tweets & end this conflict.

Pope Francis divides opinion in Argentina

Posted: 13 Mar 2013 10:57 AM PDT

(BBC) - Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio - now Pope Francis - is a figure who attracts great admiration or strong criticism, depending on who you speak to in his home country of Argentina.

Even before his election, the 76-year-old was a deeply influential leader of the Roman Catholic Church. His Sunday sermons often ended up in the papers and for a certain sector of Argentine society, his opinions were formative.

He was praised for his social work and austere way of life.

Despite holding a prominent position he would often travel on public transport and when travelling to the Vatican he would often fly economy class.

He is said to be a person who mostly keeps to himself, rarely giving interviews and keeping a very low profile.

Those who have met him say that he always refuses dinner invitations at restaurants, preferring to eat alone in small dining places for the homeless.

The new Pope was known to have two passions outside religion: classical music and his football club, San Lorenzo de Almagro.

Left-wing fears

As the first Latin American to be named pope, it is likely that many in Argentina will celebrate one of their own at the helm of the biggest church in the country.

But for some in Argentina, Cardinal Bergoglio is an extremely conservative character - a stance which has alienated him among some sectors of society.

His staunch opposition to gay marriage - legalised in Argentina in 2010 - made him a hate figure for supporters of civil partnerships.

Misuari-Anwar link reported in leaked US diplomatic cable

Posted: 13 Mar 2013 09:51 AM PDT

(The Star) - Links between Philippine rebel chieftain Nur Misuari and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim were reported in a leaked United States diplomatic cable from the American embassy in Manila.

The 2007 report to the State Department described Misuari, the founding chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front, as someone who apparently still harboured aspirations to "re-gain" Sabah from Malaysia.

It said Malaysian authorities were concerned about Misuari's contacts with Anwar, who was described as the MNLF leader's old friend.

"MG Dolorfino (Armed Forces of the Philippines National Capital Region Commander Major General Ben Dolorfino) commented that Malaysia is not only concerned about Misuari's intentions toward Sabah... but also about his recent contacts with Anwar," the cable stated.

The cable was among over 250,000 documents leaked by the WikiLeaks website in 2010 and can be read atwikileaks.org/cable/2007/05/07MANILA1534.html

The cable said Misuari was a strong advocate for the recovery of Sabah from Malaysia and was still bitter towards Malaysia for arresting him and turning him over to the Philippine authorities in January 2002.

"Misuari once commented to MG Dolorfino that when the timing was right, the MNLF could invade Sabah at 5am and control it by 7am," it added.

The cable reported Dolorfino telling the embassy's political officer that a special envoy from then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had met Misuari and told him not to meddle in Malaysia's domestic affairs.

One of Anwar's aides, when contacted on Tuesday evening, said he would notify Anwar about the report but the Opposition Leader has yet to respond.

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, when asked about the WikiLeaks report yesterday, blamed Barisan Nasional's political leadership for trying to link Anwar's association with Misuari to the Sabah intrusion, which he said was a "wild allegation".

"Anwar has made his position (on his association with Misuari) clear. At that point of time (of the WikiLeaks report) Nur Misuari was the governor of Mindanao, so many leaders met Misuari.

"To try and connect this to what is happening in Lahad Datu is too much and I think the people should give a stern warning to the Government against making such allegations," added Azmin.

Anwar's daughter and PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar said it was unacceptable to only highlight Anwar's association with Misuari while ignoring the ties between government leaders with Misuari and other players linked to the Sabah incursion.

Misuari told The Star on Monday that he was close to Anwar and that the two last met several months ago in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

Khamis, 14 Mac 2013

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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