Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- 'I'm a victim of selective victimisation'
- PAS allows candidates to openly campaign
- MMC ‘infected’ with irregularities
- After latest audit, MACC panel ‘baffled’ by repeated weaknesses in government
- MP’s ‘Umno dogs’ FB posting draws flak
- Those opposing PCA are selfish, says Zahid
- Ignoring popular will, Barisan returns to old ground with preventive laws
- Public safety first
| 'I'm a victim of selective victimisation' Posted: 03 Oct 2013 06:18 PM PDT
(NST) - Embattled Kedah DAP chairman Lee Guan Aik is rejecting the appointment of the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC) member Zairil Abdullah as the interim state chairman. Lee had hit out at DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng for allegedly defying the party's constitution by appointing Zairil, while he was the legitimate elected Kedah DAP chairman. "I will not back down until the RoS (Registrar of Societies) decides on the matter. "I am the legitimate state DAP chairman," said the former Kota Darulaman assemblyman here yesterday. Lee took a further dig at Lim for practising "selective victimisation" by appointing Zairil as interim chairman, which he said was against the party's constitution. "Chinese dailies had reported that Lim had told me not to a create disturbance in Kedah. "Look, I am the victim of selective victimisation here. "This is a case of a not-so-clever leadership. "If this can happen in Kedah, it may happen in other states." Lee said this in response to an email he had allegedly received from Lim on Tuesday, urging him to give his support to Zairil. The Kedah DAP leadership tussle started after Lim appointed Zairil as the interim state chairman after the 13th General Election. Zairil was re-appointed after he won a slot in the CEC re-election on Sunday. |
| PAS allows candidates to openly campaign Posted: 03 Oct 2013 06:00 PM PDT
(The Star) - For the first time since its inception more than 60 years ago, PAS is allowing candidates vying for positions in the party to campaign openly. Party election committee chairman Asmuni Awi (pic) said candidates could promote themselves but not attack their opponents. "We forbid statements, videos, caricatures and use of various other mediums and tools to belittle or slander other candidates. "Those resorting to personal attacks risk disciplinary action," he said. Asmuni was commenting on the do's and don'ts in the run-up to the central party polls on Nov 22, a day before the PAS Youth, Muslimat and Ulama elections. He said the green light to campaign should not be abused to smear other candidates. "We do not tolerate such negative culture," he added. Certain quarters who had started their campaigns via social media, including Facebook, had attacked some personalities who they viewed as "parasites" in PAS. Sources said although PAS had only this year allowed open campaigning, certain candidates had enjoyed external sponsorship to fund their nationwide campaigns in the last two party elections in 2009 and 2011. Observers said the intense campaigning was aimed at reducing ulama dominance in the central leadership. Asmuni said aspiring candidates from the wings must submit their nomination forms by midnight on Oct 20, and those going for seats in the central committee by midnight on Oct 31. The forms are available from the 188 PAS divisions, 173 Youth divisions and 167 Muslimat aside from state Ulama offices nationwide. After nominations are accepted, candidates should affirm their candidacy by 5pm on Nov 8, said Asmuni.
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| MMC ‘infected’ with irregularities Posted: 03 Oct 2013 05:50 PM PDT Council is alleged to have rigged its election and also sanctioned unauthorised personnel to make 'official trips' to evaluate programmes. B Nantha Kumar, FMT The Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), an authority for policy making in the medical arena here, is fast losing its credibility and transparency. In the past few months the council has come under fire for making controversial and inept decisions on certain issues. Examples include consenting to a local college charging a RM1 million fee for an incorporated medical degree programme and increasing the seat quota for another college with no adequate medical facilities and lecturers. To top it, two of its officers are being investigated for corruption and abuse of power; namely the secretary Dr Wan Mazlan Mohd Woojdy and long serving council member Dr Abdul Hamid Abdul Kadir. In the latest development, the council is once again being taken to task for allegations of rigging its election. A check by FMT found that the MMC council election, held between June and July, did not meet the Health Ministry's regulations. The Medical Act 1971 and Medical Regulation 1974 must be adhered to in the MMC election process. Nine members from Peninsular Malaysia and one each from Sabah and Sarawak are to be elected. There are more than 35,000 fully registered doctors eligible to vote and the MMC president must ensure that the ballot paper reaches each of them. The onus lies on the individual doctor to vote or otherwise, but the president is obliged to send the ballot to their places of practice as stated in the Annual Practicing Certificate (APC) of the doctor. The doctors are to select the 11 council members and post back the ballot to MMC within the stipulated time frame. This year, the ballot count was done on July 20 in the presence of the MMC president Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah. The result was gazetted on Aug 13, 2013. A check with 25 doctors, all over the nation, shockingly revealed and confirmed that they never received their ballot papers. Some who have been in practice for more than 10 years said they have never ever received them even once. A few even claimed that they were not even aware that this is an election year for MMC council members. This puts into question the validity of their council election since the majority of MMC members were deprived from voting. And did MMC even send out the ballot papers to all eligible voters? The probability of doctors missing the ballots is low if they were sent to their current practicing addresses. In an e-mail reply to FMT, MMC secretary Wan Mazlan confirmed that the ballots were sent to the addresses as per their APCs. Nevertheless, he declined to answer on the total number of doctors who voted in the election. He also kept mum on who are the longest serving council members. The APC is renewed annually and as such there is a slim chance one would not have received the ballot but received the APC. It is evident that MMC did not send the ballots to all their 35,000 fully registered eligible voters. The also suspicion arises on the tenure of three of MMC's council members holding their seats. Dr Abdul Hamid, Dr Milton Lum and Dr David Queck have been holding their positions in the council for nearly 40 years.
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| After latest audit, MACC panel ‘baffled’ by repeated weaknesses in government Posted: 03 Oct 2013 05:07 PM PDT
(MM) - An anti-graft panel said today it was baffled by why government agencies have continued to show negligence and power abuses in its operations despite getting panned every year for the same mistakes in the Auditor-General's report. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel (CCPP) cited this year's document as an example, pointing out that chapter after chapter of the annual report had highlighted continued discrepancies in the government's tender, supply and procurement system, and standard operating procedures by ministry agencies, state governments and government-linked companies.
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| MP’s ‘Umno dogs’ FB posting draws flak Posted: 03 Oct 2013 04:55 PM PDT DAP's PJ Utara parliamentarian Tony Pua gets a ticking off from BN's Reezal Merican for a FB posting on Sept 29, calling the ROS and Malay daily Utusan 'Umno dogs' Athi Shankar, FMT Kepala Batas BN MP Reezal Merican hit out at Tony Pua over the DAP MP's Sept 29 Facebook posting labelling the Registrar of Societies (ROS) and Malay daily, Utusan Umno's running dogs. Reezal, in his own Facebook posting this morning, slammed Tony for being an immature and mediocre politician by calling the ROS and the Umno-owned newspaper as 'Umno dogs.' "I'm dumbfounded by the rudeness of DAP's Tony Pua. He has reduced himself to a mediocre person by name calling, in this case referring to Utusan Malaysia and ROS, as Umno's dogs," said Reezal. Pua's FB postings were allegedly done on the night of Sept 29 after the results of DAP's Central Executive Committee (CEC) re-elections were known. Reezal cut and pasted Pua's postings on his own Facebook page and launched a seething attack on the DAP MP, who was elected to the CEC in the Sunday polls. In Pua's first posting at 8.56pm, which was put up on Reezal's FB wall, Pua stated: "I'd like to congratulate the wisdom and maturity of DAP national delegates for voting in the same 20 Central Executive Members proving that there was no element of wrongdoing in the last election. The Registrar of Societies can go **** himself." Pua told to apologise "The CEC has also unanimously elected the exact same office-bearers led by national chairman Karpal Singh and secretary-general Lim Guan Eng. Umno and its dogs, Utusan and ROS can go…!"
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| Those opposing PCA are selfish, says Zahid Posted: 03 Oct 2013 04:52 PM PDT PCA will empower the police to take more proactive measures under the act to protect the rights of all and not selected parties in fighting crime Alyaa Azhar, FMT Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has hit out at various parties who oppose the Prevention of Crime Act (Amendment and Extension) 2013, claiming they only tend to the criminals' rights as opposed to the victims'. "Is it only the rights of those arrested for prevention purposes have to be defended? "What about the rights of policemen who were shot or killed? Do they not have rights?" he said, in an interview with FMT. The Prevention of Crime Act (Amendment and Extension) 2013 which provides for detention without trial to maintain public order and safety; or crime prevention was passed by the Dewan Rakyat early yesterday morning. Attempts by the opposition to thwart the passing of the Bill were unsuccessful; when it was passed at 12.50am after receiving support from the majority of Barisan Nasional lawmakers. Ahmad Zahid had said that the amendments were crucial to enable the police to take "proactive" approach to crime. When asked on the criticisms against the PCA, he explained that there has never been a single law tabled in parliament that does not get criticised from the opposition. According to Ahmad Zahid, it is not surprising for the opposition to continue using NGOs or individuals who often sympathise and agree with them to oppose any bill that is tabled or amended. "The question by the Home Ministry is this: What about the rights of those among the public who are victimised by criminals? "Are those opposing only care about the criminals' rights, yet, deny the rights of enforcement officers and victims who should be defended and given rights as they have been victimised?" asked Ahmad Zahid.
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| Ignoring popular will, Barisan returns to old ground with preventive laws Posted: 03 Oct 2013 12:58 PM PDT
(TMI ) - If the board cannot inquire or verify the authenticity of the inquiry officer's findings, then the decision to increase the membership of the Prevention of Crime Board from three to five is a cosmetic decision. What is it about the Malaysian government that makes it so dependent on detention without trial? Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, eager to boost his credentials as a reformist, made a promise on the eve of Malaysia Day in 2011 to get rid of preventive laws, which are basically an oxymoron: how can a law that cannot be challenged in court be called a law? Then, for a brief moment in Malaysia's history, the thing the sceptics never thought could happen, indeed happened. The country abandoned its hoary dependency, doing away with the dreaded Internal Security Act and even the infamous Emergency Order (EO) that the police relied on to detain criminals they had no confidence to confidently prosecute in court. For all the claims by cynics that this was just a shimmy shuffle by the Prime Minister to win over the liberal vote, it happened. Malaysia entered a period where its citizens could not be detained without the authorities having to prove their case to the courts. But after the general election of May 5 where the majority vote went against the government, the very thing that the cynics warned about, occurred not so many hours ago: Malaysia restored detention without trial under the Prevention of Crime Act early on Thursday morning. This, despite the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition losing its popular mandate for the first time in history, on May 5. Yes, it made the government but only through gerrymandering. Should not this inform its decisions from poll day 2013 onwards? Should not this government have a sense that it might not bulldoze its laws through parliament anymore without serious consequences? There is an opposition in the same chamber that won the mandate and it is nothing more than a powerful technicality that it is not in government, that it has inferior numbers to the BN in parliament alone. Yet, here is BN again treating the results of May 5 as nothing more than a political strategy gone wrong. The ruling coalition appears not to have acknowledged that the rakyat set a direction for the country on May 5. And so Datuk Seri Najib Razak has made a U-turn with impressive nimbleness, taking the short view that his party hardliners are the ones whose views he must respect – even though he has already secured the presidency of Umno, the most dominant and the only successful portion of the ruling coalition. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/ignoring-popular-will-barisan-returns-to-old-ground-with-preventive-laws |
| Posted: 03 Oct 2013 12:53 PM PDT (NST) - We must have the right intention when doing things PCA AMENDMENTS: The number of advisory board members on Prevention of Crime Board increased; remand period reduced from 72 days to 60 days KUALA LUMPUR: AFTER a lengthy and fiery debate, the Dewan Rakyat approved amendments to the 1959 Prevention of Crime Act early yesterday, with the government insisting that the safety of the people and the security of the nation must come first. Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, in his winding-up speech, said the bill took into account the interests of the people, crime victims and the police. He said there was a lot of engagements and public consultations in drawing up the amendments. He lashed out at the opposition for claiming that provisions under the act were against human rights. "What human rights are you talking about when you do not defend the rights of the victims that got killed? How about the rights of the police when they got bashed "We must have the right intention when doing things," he said. The amendments via the Prevention of Crime (Amendment and Extension) Bill 2013 were hotly debated by both sides of the aisle at the policy stage after it was tabled last week. It went through its second reading on Tuesday and continued on Wednesday. Before the committee stage debate took off at 6.40pm on Wednesday, Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) requested that voting be based on en bloc voting. Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia then ordered that the bell to be rung to alert members of parliament outside the lower House to enter the august chamber to vote. The voting then took place, with 115 Barisan Nasional MPs, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, ministers and most of the government backbenchers voting for the amendments. Sixty-six opposition MPs voted against. The house then proceeded with the debate. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim then tabled a motion to extend the Dewan Rakyat's business past midnight using Standing Order 90(2), a very rare occurance in the history of the House. In the end, all 10 proposed amendments by six opposition members were rejected. The amendments included provisions involving detention without trial and restrictions under judicial review. Out of 28 sections debated at the committee stage, amendments adopted included increasing the number of advisory board members on the newly minted Prevention of Crime Board from three to five members and reducing the remand period from 72 days to 60 days. The bill then proceeded to its third reading and the lower house adopted it at 12.50am. With the passing of bill, police had started talks yesterday on updating their standard operating procedures (SOP) and improving the Inspector-General of Police Standing Orders. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the bill would energise the force to combat crime, especially organised crime, and that they needed to act fast in order to keep up with the government. "We are in the midst of preparations. So, when the bill is gazetted, it can be implemented straightaway. The existing SOP just needs to be updated according to the latest amendments," he said at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here.
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