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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News


No surrender, we stay

Posted: 02 Mar 2013 10:28 AM PST

http://borneoinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/princess02.jpg 

(Philippine Inquirer) - President Benigno Aquino III's order to Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram's men in Sabah to "surrender now with no conditions" is "not acceptable".

 

As Malaysia threatened to take "drastic action" against intruding followers of the sultan of Sulu on Saturday, President Benigno Aquino III sent a message to the group cornered in Sabah: "surrender now, without conditions."

Twelve of the 235 men led by Agbimuddin Kiram, brother of Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III, were killed in a clash with Malaysian police in the seaside village of Tanduao in Lahad Datu town, Sabah, on Friday morning.

Jamalul was unmoved. He appeared briefly with movie actor Robin Padilla, a Muslim convert, before dozens of journalists at his home in Taguig City.

"The only thing they know is surrender. Why should we surrender in our own home? They did nothing wrong in their own home," Jamalul said in Filipino, referring to the President's statement and to his brother in Tanduao.

Agbimuddin texted the sultan early Saturday saying he and his remaining followers were prepared to die.

"After we buried our nine brothers and a sister at sundown, everyone of the 224 left decided to die in Lahad Datu in pursuit of their dreams and aspiration," Agbimuddin said, referring to the burial on Friday evening of his slain followers.

The message seemed to be correcting the Sabah police report that 12 of Agbimuddin's followers were killed in the clash with Malaysian policemen.

In the hands of Allah

There were also reports that among the dead on the side of Agbimuddin were the elderly owner of the house that the Sulu group seized after entering the village on Feb. 9.

Abraham Idjirani, spokesperson for the Sulu sultanate, told journalists that the Kirams had decided to put the fate of Agbimuddin and his remaining followers in the hands of Allah.

He said Agbimuddin's group went to Sabah to compel a peaceful resolution of the sultanate's claim to Sabah.

"This is our long-held aspiration, that Malaysia understand that Sabah is owned by the sultanate of Sulu," Idjirani said.

"The sultan is not after an increase in rental because that will benefit only the Kiram family," Idjirani said. "[T]heir father said Sabah is not for sale. It's for the patrimony of the Filipino people."

The remnants of Agbimuddin's group were cornered in a smaller area after the 30-minute gun battle that also cost the lives of two Malaysian policemen and injured three others, according to news reports from Malaysia.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Saturday told reporters that after talking to President Aquino on Friday night, he decided to give Agbimuddin's group two choices: surrender or face the repercussions at the hands of Malaysian security forces.

Najib said the window for negotiations was closed, given the hostile stand taken by the group from Sulu.

"The Sulu [intruders] have to surrender or they will face the action of our security forces," Najib said after paying his last respects to the two policemen killed by mortar fire during the clash with Agbimuddin's group.

Malaysian Inspector General of Police Ismail Omar said Agbimuddin's group must immediately lay down their arms and surrender or face "drastic action."

"We have no other options but to take the necessary action to detain them," Omar said.

Agbimuddin's group was now "trapped" and faced no alternative but surrender, he said.

Presidential message

MalacaƱang did not say what understanding President Aquino and Najib reached, but said the President wanted Agbimuddin and his men to surrender to avoid further bloodshed.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda read Mr. Aquino's statement addressed to Agbimuddin's group at a hastily called news conference.

"To our citizens in Lahad Datu, from the very start our objective has been to avoid the loss of lives and the shedding of blood. However, you did not join us in this objective. Because of the path you have taken, what we have been trying to avoid has come to pass," the President said.

"If you have grievances, the path you chose was wrong. The just, and indeed, the only correct thing for you to do is to surrender," he said.

"To those who have influence and the capacity to reason with those in Lahad Datu, I ask you to convey this message: surrender now, without conditions," he said.

Lacierda did not directly answer a question about the Philippine government pushing away blame if more lives were lost, but said: "The Philippine government has exerted all efforts for a peaceful resolution. We've done that from Day 1. We've said that we've sent emissaries. We have tried our best to deal with them. We have coordinated with Malaysian authorities. What should not have happened did happen yesterday. The best thing for them to do is surrender."

Jamalul's daughter, Princess Jacel Kiram, said the President's call to surrender was "not acceptable."

Jacel denied Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras' statement that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima directly contacted the sultanate on Friday night.

She said it was someone claiming to represent De Lima who contacted the sultanate, demanding a "categorical statement" from the sultan ordering his followers to come home without conditions.

Jacel said government emissaries had contacted the family before and tried to impose terms on them and demanding that their followers withdraw from Sabah.

She said what her family wanted was for the government to intercede for them and arrange negotiations with the Malaysian government involving their proprietary claim to Sabah.

"We want negotiations, not dictation," she said.

Read more at: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/66287/aquino-surrender-order-not-acceptable-kirams

 

 

Two cops killed in Simunul ambush

Posted: 02 Mar 2013 10:25 AM PST

http://borneoinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Hamza30.jpg 

(Borneo Insider) - The death toll in the Semporna shootout between police and armed men, Saturday night has risen to two.

Both are policemen and one is at least a sub-inspector. Sabah police chief Hamzaz Taib is now confirming that the Kampung Simpunul shoot-out is related to the Tanduo stand-off.

A third policeman is still in critical condition and is warded at the Semporna general hospital.

More to come.

LAHAD DATU: At least one policeman is believed to have been shot dead, and another critically wounded, when a police raiding party was fired upon as they approached Kampung Simunul, Saturday evening in the hunt for a cache of firearms at one of the houses.

But Sabah police chief Datuk Hamzah Taib would only confirm that the two policemen were shot and injured during a shootout with unknown gunmen as they were on the boardwalk heading towards a house.

He denied that any police station had been attacked. This was in reaction to unconfirmed reports that the police station at Pulau Bum Bum came under a bomb attack.

When met at Felda Sahabat, Tungku, at about 10pm Saturday, Hamza said that a team of policeman had gone to the village in search of several people, following reports that they were in possession of firearms.

"The policemen entered the village and were heading towards the suspect's house when they were fired upon and two of our men were injured," was all Hamzah would say.

Apart from saying that police have now encircled the village in search of the attackers, he also said "we believe this incident is unrelated to the situation in Tanduo, Lahad Datu,"

Hamza was in Lahad Datu together with Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein and Inspector General of Police, Tan Sri Ismail Omar, when they immediately left for Tungku just about the same time unconfirmed reports of gunshots and explosions were heard in Semporna and Tawau.

They are now believed to be huddled up at the General Operations Force command centre at Felda Sabah Residence in Tungku, close to Tanduo in Sahabat 17 monitoring reports from all over.

Read more at: http://borneoinsider.com/2013/03/02/hamza-two-cops-shot-in-simunul-island/ 

 

Another cop dead; maritime tigthens security

Posted: 02 Mar 2013 10:22 AM PST

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/lahad-datu-standoff.jpg 

(Bernama) - Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar comfirmed the incident in Semporna but declined further comments.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has tightened control in the waters off Lahad Datu, Sabah with the cooperation from security forces, including the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) to face possible threats from the armed intruders from the Philippines.

Its director-general Admiral Mohd Amdan Kurish said three maritime vessels and six patrol boats were patrolling in the waters now.

"Prior to this, we have three ships patrolling in Lahad Datu, two of them at sea, and the other one on standby.

"However, in view with the intrusion issue, we have deployed six MMEA boats based in Sandakan, Sabah to increase control in the waters," he told reporters after the opening of Malaysian Maritime Academy and Training Centre, now known as Sultan Ahmad Shah Maritime Academy (AMSAS) in Gebeng here yesterday.

Meanwhile in KUALA LUMPUR, last night, police sources said another member of Malaysian security forces was killed, this time in a firefight with armed intruders in Kampung Selamat, Semporna, about 150km from Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu, Sabah.

According to a police source, another police personnel was also injured in the firefight which began at 8pm.

It is learnt that the intruders had planned to attack Lahad Datu police station.

Lahad Datu and Tawau Police Special Investigation Divisions have been deployed to the scene.

Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar when contacted by Bernama confirmed the incident but refused further comment.

On Friday, two VAT 69 police commandos, ASP Zulkifli Mamat, 29 and Sergeant Sabarudin Daud, were killed, while three others were injured in a gunfire with the armed intruders in Kampung Tandou.

Twelve of the armed intruders were also killed. 

Malaysia demands surrender of Sulu fighters

Posted: 02 Mar 2013 10:18 AM PST

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/najib-lahad-datu.jpg 

(Al Jazeera) - "Drastic action" warned if Filipino followers of self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu do not abandon claim to Sabah province.

Malaysia threatened to take "drastic action" against intruding followers of a self-proclaimed Filipino sultan who have vowed to dig in after a shootout that killed 14 people.

Twelve followers of the little-known Sultan of Sulu and two Malaysian security personnel were killed in Friday's firefight, police said on Saturday, as the more than two-week-old siege in a remote corner of Malaysia turned deadly.

Dozens of Filipinos have been holed up on Borneo island, surrounded by a massive Malaysian police and military cordon, since landing by boat from the nearby Philippines to insist the area belongs to their Islamic leader.

"We want them to surrender immediately. If they don't, they will face drastic action," Hamza Taib, police chief of the Malaysian state of Sabah where the drama was taking place, said.

He declined to provide details of what security forces had in store but his comments echoed growing Malaysian impatience with the situation.

In Manila, Philippine President Benigno Aquino also urged the gunmen to surrender immediately.

"To those who have influence and the capacity to reason with [the sultan's followers], I ask you to convey this message: surrender now, without conditions," he said in a statement.

Resolve 'strengthened'

The Filipinos, who are estimated to number between 100 and 300, sailed from their remote islands to press Jamalul Kiram III's claim to Sabah.

Kiram, 74, claims to be the heir to the Islamic sultanate of Sulu, which once controlled parts of the southern Philippines and a portion of Borneo.

In an immediate response to Aquino's appeal, Kiram's spokesman Abraham Idjirani said the gunmen would remain in Sabah.

"We have spoken: It's honour over lives," he said, adding that the deaths of the sultan's followers have "only strengthened our resolve to defend the rights of the Filipino people over Sabah".

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose government has been embarrassed by the security breach, said doors for negotiation are closed and urged the gunmen to surrender.

"The Sulu rebels have to surrender or they will face the action of our security forces," he was quoted as saying by the Star newspaper.

While it is not clear how the firefight erupted, Najib said the two police officers were gunned down after walking into a trap.

"I was told some Sulu gunmen had waved the white flag but when the Malaysian forces moved in, they were fired upon instead," he said.

Read more and watch the video at: http://m.aljazeera.com/story/20133215544639600 

 

Najib will take Malaysia to greater heights, says Dr M

Posted: 02 Mar 2013 10:17 AM PST

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/images/uploads/2013/march2013/m_duo33.jpg 

(Bernama) - Dr Mahathir said the younger generation were less appreciative of what they have for they were not even born when the older generation were struggling to gain independence from the British colonial power.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will take the country to greater heights if Barisan Nasional is returned to power in the next general election, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. 

Dr Mahathir said it was not easy to stabilise a multiracial country for there were many challenges confronting the leaders as well as the people. 

"This is a multiracial, multireligious, multilingual and multicultural country. As wealth, economic growth and development are shared by each other, it is a challenge for the leaders to manage all this aspects at the same time to ensure stability and peace in the country. 

"For example, the European crisis has affected Europe and the United States, (the economy of) a lot of countries are not growing, but we are still growing," he said when delivering a talk on "The Future of Malaysian Politics" at the ICCAM Alumni annual dinner here, tonight. 

He said as most of opposition supporters were from the younger generation who were always hungry for change, the opposition manipulated the word "change".

"Since the younger generation is always asking for change, it is easier for the opposition to gain their support because what they need is to promise something new. 

"But quite often when change takes place we may get something worse," he said. 

Dr Mahathir said the younger generation were less appreciative of what they have for they were not even born when the older generation were struggling to gain independence from the British colonial power.

 

Trouble brewing in Filipino-’powered’ Semporna?

Posted: 02 Mar 2013 12:11 AM PST

TAWAU: Police in Semporna, where thousands of Filipinos have made their home,  and in other districts along the east coast of Sabah are said to be on high alert following unconfirmed reports of an explosion in Semporna.

Local residents in the scenic seaside town are reporting a large police operation around Kg Sri Jaya after two explosions were heard.

"Bahaya, bahaya (danger, danger)" said one resident when contacted by cellphone.

Unconfirmed reports said that shots were also fired and at least one police officer was injured.

Another local living close to the seaside village when contacted also said he had heard two explosions and then a flurry of activity in the area.

He said police have surrounded the area and at least one villager said he had been unable to enter the village.

Other residents contacted have claimed that there was no fighting and that the explosions were just firecrackers going off.

Others in Semporna when contacted by phone said they heard that the incident was a fight between police and drug pedlars. Semporna has over the years seen many similar raids and clashes.

Meanwhile, it was learned that police in all the districts in the east coast have been put on high alert.

A source said that all its personnel have been ordered to report to their stations and people have been quietly advised to avoid areas where there are large concentrations of Filipinos.

'Rumours exaggerated'

There have also been unconfirmed reports that shooting was heard in Kg Tanduo area in Lahad Datu where some 150 men claiming to be members of the Royal Army of the Sulu Sultanate are holed up.

In yesterday's shootout 14 people were killed including two Malaysian police commandors. The death of the policemen has changed the dynamics of the 17-day stand-off between the Malaysian security forces and the Sulu soldiers staking a claim on Sabah on behalf of their Sultan Jamalul Kiram III.

Rumours of tightened security in Lahad Datu and Semporna had surfaced last evening.

But attempts today to contact the Semporna police station for confirmations were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile Sabah Tourism Minister Masidi Manjun twittered that all was calm in Semporna and that the rumours were "exaggerated".

"Pending official statement from the police I can say that all the rumours about Semporna has been exaggerated. I have just spoken to the DO."

Police confirm shooting

Sabah police chief  Hamzah Taib has confirmed that two members of the police's General Operations Force were injured in a shooting incident while pursuing three criminals at Kampung Simunul in Semporna.

- See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/03/02/trouble-brewing-in-filipino-powered-semporna/#sthash.LEhTNum1.dpuf

Unconfirmed reports of gunshots, explosions and warnings for people to avoid areas with large concentrations of Filipinos in Semporna, are making its rounds in Sabah's east coast. 

Azman Habu, FMT

TAWAU: Police in Semporna, where thousands of Filipinos have made their home,  and in other districts along the east coast of Sabah are said to be on high alert following unconfirmed reports of an explosion in Semporna.

Local residents in the scenic seaside town are reporting a large police operation around Kg Sri Jaya after two explosions were heard.

"Bahaya, bahaya (danger, danger)" said one resident when contacted by cellphone.

Unconfirmed reports said that shots were also fired and at least one police officer was injured.

Another local living close to the seaside village when contacted also said he had heard two explosions and then a flurry of activity in the area.

He said police have surrounded the area and at least one villager said he had been unable to enter the village.

Other residents contacted have claimed that there was no fighting and that the explosions were just firecrackers going off.

Others in Semporna when contacted by phone said they heard that the incident was a fight between police and drug pedlars. Semporna has over the years seen many similar raids and clashes.

Meanwhile, it was learned that police in all the districts in the east coast have been put on high alert.

A source said that all its personnel have been ordered to report to their stations and people have been quietly advised to avoid areas where there are large concentrations of Filipinos.

'Rumours exaggerated'

There have also been unconfirmed reports that shooting was heard in Kg Tanduo area in Lahad Datu where some 150 men claiming to be members of the Royal Army of the Sulu Sultanate are holed up.

In yesterday's shootout 14 people were killed including two Malaysian police commandors. The death of the policemen has changed the dynamics of the 17-day stand-off between the Malaysian security forces and the Sulu soldiers staking a claim on Sabah on behalf of their Sultan Jamalul Kiram III.

Rumours of tightened security in Lahad Datu and Semporna had surfaced last evening.

But attempts today to contact the Semporna police station for confirmations were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile Sabah Tourism Minister Masidi Manjun twittered that all was calm in Semporna and that the rumours were "exaggerated".

"Pending official statement from the police I can say that all the rumours about Semporna has been exaggerated. I have just spoken to the DO."

READ MORE HERE

 

Anwar's exposure regarded as attempt to ridicule ulama

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 06:22 PM PST

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's exposure of the PAS president's involvement in preparing and signing a statement with Pakatan Rakyat, giving non-Muslims the go-ahead to use the word, Allah, is seen as an attempt to ridicule the ulama.

Umno supreme council member Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said, other than embarrassing Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang as PAS president, Anwar simultaneously, appeared to make an attempt to kill the role of the ulama in the party.

"He wants to show that the ulama cannot be depended upon, they are inconsistent. He wants to show that Abdul Hadi has no credibility," he said when contacted by Bernama.

It is learnt that Anwar had made the 'exposure' at a ceramah in Ketereh, Kota Baharu last Tuesday.

Mohd Puad, who is also education deputy minister, said Anwar was not comfortable with the ulama group which was seen as hampering the ambition of the opposition pact to rule. Thus, he tried to instigate the PAS members that the ulama was incapable of leading the party, he added.

On the sacking of PAS ex-deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa from the Syura Council as Anwar's biggest success to rid the ulama, Mohd Puad did not reject an impending collision between the ulama and non-ulama groups.

The joint statement which was referred to by Anwar, was opposed to the decision of the Syura Council meeting on Jan 13, that the word Allah could not be used in the Malay version of the Bible.

Malaysian Young Ulama Gathering Committee (Ilmu) chairman Fathul Bari Mat Jahaya said, Anwar not only did not respect PAS as a partner of the pact, but also Abdul Hadi as party president.

He said, Anwar also ridiculed the Syura Council through his action, other than attempting to throw PAS into disarray.

"The decision which was made by the Syura Council, as the highest council in PAS, is ahead of the decisions of any other individual in the party, including the president.

"Abdul Hadi's view does not represent PAS overall. It is his opinion, not that of PAS. But if he (Abdul Hadi) says it is a party statement, what we know is that the statement of PAS is not the same," he said.

Fathul Bari also shared Mohd Puad's opinion that Anwar's action would give a negative implication to cooperation in the opposition pact, apart from causing a collision in PAS.

"This will cause the public and PAS members to lose respect for Abdul Hadi as party president," he said.

In the meantime, Fathul Bari said, Abdul Hadi must retract his early statement on the issue of the word, Allah, for the benefit of Muslims.

Jalur Tiga (Jati) president Datuk Dr Hasan Ali urged Abdul Hadi to clarify his stand on the issue to defend his credibility as ulama.

"Does Anwar's statement accurately reflect what happened, or does Ustaz Hadi have his own version in defending the credibility of PAS as an Islamic political party which does not conceal the truth?," he asked.

Malay rights group Perkasa information chief Ruslan Kasim said, the ulama group had been used by opportunists like Anwar. He said, Abdul Hadi moved like the 'lalang' grass which swayed to the dictates of the wind, and was prepared to sacrifice the Islamic faith, in favour of politics.

- See more at: http://www.thesundaily.my/news/626271#sthash.13LLxmgF.dpuf

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's exposure of the PAS president's involvement in preparing and signing a statement with Pakatan Rakyat, giving non-Muslims the go-ahead to use the word, Allah, is seen as an attempt to ridicule the ulama.

Umno supreme council member Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said, other than embarrassing Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang as PAS president, Anwar simultaneously, appeared to make an attempt to kill the role of the ulama in the party.

"He wants to show that the ulama cannot be depended upon, they are inconsistent. He wants to show that Abdul Hadi has no credibility," he said when contacted by Bernama.

It is learnt that Anwar had made the 'exposure' at a ceramah in Ketereh, Kota Baharu last Tuesday.

Mohd Puad, who is also education deputy minister, said Anwar was not comfortable with the ulama group which was seen as hampering the ambition of the opposition pact to rule. Thus, he tried to instigate the PAS members that the ulama was incapable of leading the party, he added.

On the sacking of PAS ex-deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa from the Syura Council as Anwar's biggest success to rid the ulama, Mohd Puad did not reject an impending collision between the ulama and non-ulama groups.

The joint statement which was referred to by Anwar, was opposed to the decision of the Syura Council meeting on Jan 13, that the word Allah could not be used in the Malay version of the Bible.

Malaysian Young Ulama Gathering Committee (Ilmu) chairman Fathul Bari Mat Jahaya said, Anwar not only did not respect PAS as a partner of the pact, but also Abdul Hadi as party president.

He said, Anwar also ridiculed the Syura Council through his action, other than attempting to throw PAS into disarray.

"The decision which was made by the Syura Council, as the highest council in PAS, is ahead of the decisions of any other individual in the party, including the president.

"Abdul Hadi's view does not represent PAS overall. It is his opinion, not that of PAS. But if he (Abdul Hadi) says it is a party statement, what we know is that the statement of PAS is not the same," he said.

Fathul Bari also shared Mohd Puad's opinion that Anwar's action would give a negative implication to cooperation in the opposition pact, apart from causing a collision in PAS.

"This will cause the public and PAS members to lose respect for Abdul Hadi as party president," he said.

In the meantime, Fathul Bari said, Abdul Hadi must retract his early statement on the issue of the word, Allah, for the benefit of Muslims.

Jalur Tiga (Jati) president Datuk Dr Hasan Ali urged Abdul Hadi to clarify his stand on the issue to defend his credibility as ulama.

"Does Anwar's statement accurately reflect what happened, or does Ustaz Hadi have his own version in defending the credibility of PAS as an Islamic political party which does not conceal the truth?," he asked.

Malay rights group Perkasa information chief Ruslan Kasim said, the ulama group had been used by opportunists like Anwar. He said, Abdul Hadi moved like the 'lalang' grass which swayed to the dictates of the wind, and was prepared to sacrifice the Islamic faith, in favour of politics.

- See more at: http://www.thesundaily.my/news/626271#sthash.13LLxmgF.dpuf

(Bernama) - Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's exposure of the PAS president's involvement in preparing and signing a statement with Pakatan Rakyat, giving non-Muslims the go-ahead to use the word, Allah, is seen as an attempt to ridicule the ulama.

Umno supreme council member Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said, other than embarrassing Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang as PAS president, Anwar simultaneously, appeared to make an attempt to kill the role of the ulama in the party.

"He wants to show that the ulama cannot be depended upon, they are inconsistent. He wants to show that Abdul Hadi has no credibility," he said when contacted by Bernama.

It is learnt that Anwar had made the 'exposure' at a ceramah in Ketereh, Kota Baharu last Tuesday.

Mohd Puad, who is also education deputy minister, said Anwar was not comfortable with the ulama group which was seen as hampering the ambition of the opposition pact to rule. Thus, he tried to instigate the PAS members that the ulama was incapable of leading the party, he added.

On the sacking of PAS ex-deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa from the Syura Council as Anwar's biggest success to rid the ulama, Mohd Puad did not reject an impending collision between the ulama and non-ulama groups.

The joint statement which was referred to by Anwar, was opposed to the decision of the Syura Council meeting on Jan 13, that the word Allah could not be used in the Malay version of the Bible.

Malaysian Young Ulama Gathering Committee (Ilmu) chairman Fathul Bari Mat Jahaya said, Anwar not only did not respect PAS as a partner of the pact, but also Abdul Hadi as party president.

He said, Anwar also ridiculed the Syura Council through his action, other than attempting to throw PAS into disarray.

"The decision which was made by the Syura Council, as the highest council in PAS, is ahead of the decisions of any other individual in the party, including the president.

"Abdul Hadi's view does not represent PAS overall. It is his opinion, not that of PAS. But if he (Abdul Hadi) says it is a party statement, what we know is that the statement of PAS is not the same," he said.

Fathul Bari also shared Mohd Puad's opinion that Anwar's action would give a negative implication to cooperation in the opposition pact, apart from causing a collision in PAS.

"This will cause the public and PAS members to lose respect for Abdul Hadi as party president," he said.

In the meantime, Fathul Bari said, Abdul Hadi must retract his early statement on the issue of the word, Allah, for the benefit of Muslims.

Jalur Tiga (Jati) president Datuk Dr Hasan Ali urged Abdul Hadi to clarify his stand on the issue to defend his credibility as ulama.

"Does Anwar's statement accurately reflect what happened, or does Ustaz Hadi have his own version in defending the credibility of PAS as an Islamic political party which does not conceal the truth?," he asked.

Malay rights group Perkasa information chief Ruslan Kasim said, the ulama group had been used by opportunists like Anwar. He said, Abdul Hadi moved like the 'lalang' grass which swayed to the dictates of the wind, and was prepared to sacrifice the Islamic faith, in favour of politics.

 

Penang government’s highways-tunnel vision a big step backwards

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 03:20 PM PST

Anil Netto

Yesterday, representatives of Penang Forum raised serious concerns with the Penang state government over the four highways and tunnel project.

During a two-hour meeting with state government representatives, including the Chief Minister, and the press, the activists registered their serious concern and opposition.

By building more highways and a road-based tunnel, the state government will be facilitating the movement of more cars instead of encouraging people to use public transport.

The Pakatan's manifesto promises better public transport, but the state government plans to spend RM27bn in the coming years, according to the Penang transport master plan. Out of this, RM17bn will be for highways and only RM10bn for public transport. Surprisingly, the state government was not even aware of these figures. These figures have not been disclosed to the public. It is a great pity that most of the money will be to create even more dependency on public transport.

Building highways and a road-based tunnel is at best a short-term solution. What happens when these get congested. The Jelutong Expressway itself is rapidly filling up – and that is even before the second Penang bridge is completed!

The state government says the highways and tunnel will only proceed if the EIA is approved. But how independent is the EIA process when consultants are appointed by developers and contractors? We still don't have a state-wide hydrological study.

The public has not yet been told who the local partners are in Zenith Consortium, along with the firm from China. Who are the key local people behind the five companies in the consortium? Again this information – an important part of the deal – has not yet been provided. Who are the real local interests?

The state government seems to think that "the people want these projects". But "the people" are not being presented with serious alternatives. They are being told: "It is either congestion or accept these highways and tunnel." Of course they will choose what they are being told is the solution. But they are not being given a real choice between sustainable public transport or more highways. In fact, the Penang Transport Masterplan consultants' own public survey showed that a large majority of the people want a public transport-based solution and not more highways.

Some believe these highways and tunnels are more about property development and construction contracts than transport. It is more about Big Business contracts than about public transport.

READ MORE HERE

 

Lahad Datu: Kenyataan Tian Chua diselar

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 02:14 PM PST

(Bernama) - Beberapa pemimpin dan pemerhati politik menyelar Naib Presiden PKR Tian Chua yang dilapor mengaitkan insiden tembakan di Lahad Datu, Sabah semalam dengan dakwaan konspirasi terancang kerajaan Umno untuk mengalih perhatian dan menakutkan rakyat.

Mereka berkata kenyataan Tian Chua (kiri) itu tidak bertanggungjawab dan keterlaluan memandangkan tindakan pihak berkuasa terhadap kumpulan bersenjata dari selatan Filipina itu bersabit soal keselamatan dan keamanan negara.

Bekas Naib Pengerusi DAP Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim berkata kenyataan Tian Chua itu adalah skrip standard dari DAP yang langsung tidak peka dan tidak sensitif kepada isu keselamatan negara.

"Dengan membuat kenyataan seumpama ini, dia boleh dianggap sebagai manusia yang mempunyai martabat paling rendah. Ini adalah satu kenyataan melulu yang tidak kita harapkan daripada seorang manusia yang sopan.

"Apa yang boleh kita harapkan daripada dia apabila kita betul-betul berada dalam peperangan jika dia boleh mengeluarkan kenyataan seumpama itu terhadap insiden pencerobohan di Lahad Datu," katanya kepada Bernama apabila dihubungi.

Antara lain, laporan yang tersiar di laman berita rasmi PKR itu memetik Tian Chua sebagai berkata pencerobohan di Lahad Datu itu hanya sandiwara kerajaan untuk menakut-nakutkan rakyat, seolah-olah wujud suasana tidak aman di Sabah.

"Ada konspirasi oleh kerajaan Umno untuk mengalih pandangan rakyat Sabah, terutama dalam isu pemberian kad pengenalan kepada warga asing," kata anggota Parlimen Batu itu.

Justeru, Tunku Abdul Aziz mahu rakyat menilai peribadi Tian Chua dan berfikir sebelum memilih pembangkang dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang.

Dua anggota komando Polis Diraja Malaysia terbunuh manakala tiga lagi cedera dalam insiden tembakan di Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu membabitkan kumpulan penceroboh bersenjata dari selatan Filipina.

Kejadian itu turut menyaksikan 12 penceroboh bersenjata yang merupakan sebahagian daripada 180 pengikut 'Sultan Sulu' yang dikepung pasukan keselamatan Malaysia, terkorban.

Dalam pada itu, Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Ahmad Maslan menyifatkan kenyataan Tian Chua itu sebagai "jahat dan jahil" .

"Umno tidak akan mempermainkan soal keselamatan negara dan tidak mungkin menjadi pengkhianat kepada negara tercinta yang Umno telah berjuang untuk memerdekakan.

"Umno bukan macam pembangkang dalam beberapa peristiwa yang lepas telah mengkhianati negara ini," katanya.

Nada sama dilontarkan Presiden PERKASA, Datuk Ibrahim Ali yang menggelar Tian Chua sebagai "pembawa cerita bohong bersiri" yang sentiasa mencari kesalahan Umno dan kerajaan walaupun dalam situasi genting.

"Dia adalah ekstremis dan saya tidak terkejut dengan kenyataannya itu. Memang tugas dia memburukkan Umno tanpa bukti, tapi secara spontan… Ini membabitkan isu keselamatan, dan bukan (masa untuk) political mileage," tegasnya.

Bekas Presiden Persatuan Bekas Tentera Malaysia (PBTM) Datuk Muhammad Abdul Ghani pula berkata seharusnya semua pihak ketika ini bersatu dan tidak mencampur aduk politik dengan soal keselamatan negara.

Tegasnya, tindakan sewajarnya harus diambil terhadap Tian Chua dan mana-mana pihak yang dilihat menghasut rakyat supaya tidak mengulangi perbuatan sama.

 

DAP branch chief gets bullets in mail

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 02:07 PM PST

(The Star) - BATU PAHAT: Taman Bukit Per-dana DAP branch chief Tan Meng Ann has received two bullets in the mail. He claimed that it was politically-linked.

Tan had recently spoken out against party members who had put up banners in several housing areas here, disparaging a prospective candidate for the general election.

It is believed that the posters were aimed at Johor DAP deputy secretary Gan Peck Cheng, who had lost all her bids to win the Penggaram state seat in the last four general elections and may be fielded again in the next polls.

Tan said the bullets together with a threatening note were found in his mail box yesterday.

"My maid took in an envelope wrapped with a plastic bag and left it on the coffee table at about 8am without realising it contained bullets.

"I was shocked to find the 9mm bullets and a note with a message written in Chinese," he told reporters after lodging a police report yesterday.

Since he could not read Chinese, Tan requested help from party colleagues who told him that the message was a warning not to meddle in DAP's politics and not to challenge the party's choice of candidate or face death.

He claimed that this was the second death threat as he had been verbally threatened by a party colleague nine months ago.

Tan, who was worried about the safety of his family, said he did not want to speculate on who could have sent him the bullets.

He said he had informed the party leadership of the incident.

 

No evidence I’m gay, Anwar says

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 02:03 PM PST

(TMI) - Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that allegations of him being homosexual or bisexual are an Umno ploy with no backing evidence, in a no-holds barred interview with radio station BFM here today.

The Opposition Leader was asked several times whether he is a homosexual or bisexual, and he pointed out his status as a married man and a father as the answer to the question.

"They have tried and attempted, and they actually charged me twice. And there's not a set of evidence to support that argument," Anwar said of his critics.

"I'm a happily married man with six children."

Anwar (picture) is married to PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and they have five daughters and a son, the eldest of which is PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar.

When asked the question a second time by host Noelle Lim, Anwar declared the question irrelevant, and the issue as a result of Umno's propaganda.

"It's just an Umno propaganda and I have to endure these questions. It's not fair," he said.

The PKR de facto leader then conceded that being homosexual or bisexual is someone's personal matter.

However, he added by saying that concrete evidence is needed before someone is to be charged with being homosexual or bisexual.

Section 377a of the Malaysian Penal Code, sodomy and oral sex can be punished with up to 20 years in jail, and whipping.

Anwar was explaining that Umno has tried to portray him as being gay and the effort has failed, before he was asked the third time, to clarify that he is not a homosexual.

"Of course. I've made it very clear, I think," he replied, before sharing a laugh with Lim later over the tough questions.

Anwar was charged with sodomising former male aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan at a condominium in upscale Damansara Heights here in June 2008, a few months before returning from a decade in the political wilderness and winning back his Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat.

He was acquitted of the charge in January last year, after a lengthy legal battle.

It was the second time he has been prosecuted for sodomy after being convicted in 1998 soon after then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad sacked him from his post as deputy prime minister.

The Federal Court overturned the conviction in 2004, paving the way for him to lead a loose opposition pact to deny Barisan Nasional (BN) its customary two-thirds majority in Parliament and five state governments in the landmark 2008 election.

The ruling coalition and the opposition have been at loggerheads on the issue of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT), which is deemed sensitive in Muslim-majority Malaysia.

 

MNLF warns of civil war in Sabah, Sulu rebels say standoff remains

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 01:49 PM PST

Ida Lim, TMI

The Lahad Datu standoff could widen into a civil war engulfing Sabah, a Philippine separatist leader has warned as a Muslim rebel army moved to entrench itself in the Borneo state.

A Filipino rebel group, believed to number over 100 armed men, has refused to drop their ownership on Sabah — now part of Malaysia — and has sworn to fight on even as the Philippines Foreign Department declared the weeks-long standoff against Malaysian security forces over following a shootout that killed 15 men and hurt three others.

"I am afraid there will be a civil war in Sabah because thousands of Bangsamoro are residing in Sabah," Gapul Hajirul, political chief of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), was reported as saying today by the Philippine Star news portal.

"It's only MNLF chairman Nur (Misuari) who could decide on the matter. Whatever his decision, we will follow.

"Our Tausug brothers and sisters of Sulu and the Samals in Tawi-Tawi were saddened and are hurting by the turn of the events," he was quoted as saying.

More than 8,500 Filipinos, mostly Tausugs or Suluk tribesmen, are residing in Sabah and are potential supporters of the Sultanate of Sulu, the news portal reported.

The rebel Sulu army, led by Agbimuddin Kiram, has also refused to quit Sabah despite appeals from both Manila and Putrajaya, declaring the standoff far from over even after losing 12 men in a crossfire with Malaysian police yesterday.

"No, the standoff is not over, unless there's a concrete understanding or agreement that can be reached by the three parties," Abraham Idjirani, a spokesman for the group, was quoted as saying by Philippine news portal Inquirer in Manila.

"Our stand is the same. Rajah Mudah (Crown Prince) Agbimuddin Kiram will stay put in the area to discipline [our followers]. But if the Malaysians will attack, they will do the same," he said.

But Idjirani said the group was still open to peace, saying: "The sultan is still open (to talks) because our advocacy is still peace."

The Star today reported Idjirani as saying that the Sultanate of Sulu wants a ceasefire so that their men can bury those who had died in the gunfight yesterday.

"Malaysia is a Muslim nation so they should understand that we need to bury our dead," he said in a phone interview with the Malaysian daily, adding that he hoped Malaysia would "reconsider its position."

The English-language daily also reported Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib as dismissing rumours that armed men from the southern Philippines were coming in to the state to bolster the rebel group.

"We have checked and found the reports to be untrue. Our security at the sea border is tight and our operations are continuing," Hamza said yesterday evening at a media briefing.

READ MORE HERE

 

Lahad Datu intrusion endangers future of genuine Sabahans, warns Ku Li

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 01:42 PM PST

Ida Lim, TMI

Malaysia's failure to stop foreigners from entering and seizing territory here could endanger the future of Sabah and genuine Sabahans, Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has said, amid warnings of a civil war in the state by a Filipino rebel leader.

Tengku Razaleigh (picture), popularly known as Ku Li, raised the alarm over the "foreboding" events in Sabah, including the siege in Lahad Datu by a Sulu rebel army.

"I had used the term 'foreboding' because the population structure has changed to the extent that a different dimension to the events is possible in future.

"The failure of those responsible to secure our border is so serious that I feel I had to raise this warning as I believe the integrity of Sabah and the genuine Sabahans must be protected at all costs as a political responsibility," Tengku Razaleigh said in a statement yesterday.

The Gua Musang MP could likely be hinting at testimonies at an ongoing royal inquiry that Filipino immigrants living in Sabah had been given citizenship through irregular means.

Tengku Razaleigh also spoke of the grave concern over the breach of Malaysian borders and the government's failure to secure the country's sovereignty.

"All Malaysians and understandably particularly our Sabah brothers must be alarmed and concerned with the failure of securing our borders and safety of our sovereignty from foreign invasion.

"The seizure of Malaysian territory without any prior knowledge or measures to prevent this from happening must be of deep concern. The integrity and safety of Sabah is challenged as never before," the politician said.

Yesterday, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also said that security at the borders and territorial waters of Malaysia must be tightened.

"It was so easy for the unsophisticated group to enter our country. This means that we must upgrade security so that nobody can intrude," he was quoted saying by state news agency Bernama.

Yesterday, a Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader reportedly warned that the Lahad Datu gunfight could spark off a civil war in Sabah, while the Sultanate of Sulu said its group of fighters, which had set foot here about three weeks ago, will continue their fight

 

For Sabah’s sake, Pakatan must scale back

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 01:37 PM PST

The stubborn stand of opposition parties in Sabah will only deprive them victories, says a former political party president.

Luke Rintod, FMT

KOTA KINABALU : The ex-president of the oldest, but now defunct, political party in Sabah has advised opposition parties wanting to contest in Sabah in the coming general election to "re-look" their strategy if they "really wanted to pave the way for change" in Sabah.

Former PASOK party chief Cleftus Mojingol, who is now a deputy president of Movement of Change Sarawak and Sabah (MoCS), said being a seasoned politician who is actively monitoring the political situation in Borneo, he felt compelled to volunteer his counsel as the opposition split seem to be widening as the elections closed in.

"I being a former head of an opposition PASOK, wish to encourage the leaders of STAR, SAPP and PR (Pakatan Rakyat) to re-look at their strategy and chances at the GE13 before they go their own way fighting each other," he said in a statement issued here.

Mojingol said there could never be victory for them if they are stuck with their respective stubborn stands.

"The issue of seats distribution among the opposition in Sabah is crucial and needs to be resolved if they (parties) really want to pave the way for a change in the state," he pointed out.

He said leaders of these opposition parties must be responsible enough to help realise the aspiration of the people to have "change" in the government, be it at the national or state level.

"If they failed beyond their own greed, then they must be prepared to accept that their slogan of Ini Kalilah  will be turned to Lain Kalilah  or "next time lah", thanks to their own grave mistake.

"Opposition political leaders should put aside self-interest, greed or hidden agendas in order to achieve a formula of one-to-one fight with the mighty BN in the coming GE," he further stressed.

READ MORE HERE

 

Selamat jalan, Najib

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 01:31 PM PST

Penulis ini tidak mahu aktiviti sasteranya terganggu akibat sikap Perdana Menteri yang kelihatan teragak-agak mengumumkan tarikh pembubaran Parlimen.

Uthaya Sankar, SB, FMT

Sambil menguap, saya membaca laporan akhbar Utusan Malaysia (28 Februari 2013) mengenai kenyataan Presiden Barisan Nasional (BN), Datuk Seri Najib Razak yang menjangkakan Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 (PRU-13) akan menjadi pilihan raya media sosial pertama di negara ini.

Sebenarnya, pada 22 Februari 2013, saya menyatakan menerusi ruangan status Facebook, "Tak kisahlah bila tarikh PRU-13". Hal ini kerana Najib masih menangguhkan penetapan tarikh pembubaran Parlimen – selepas mendapat perkenan Agong, tentunya.

Untuk rekod, PRU-12 diadakan pada 8 Mac 2008. Mengikut Perlembagaan Persekutuan, PRU seterusnya perlu diputuskan selewat-lewatnya pada Mac 2013. Kecuali jika Parlimen dibubarkan lebih awal oleh Agong atas nasihat Perdana Menteri.

Dengan adanya media sosial dan media alternatif yang melaporkan berita-berita yang "terlupa" dilaporkan media arus perdana, maka orang ramai sudah sedia maklum bahawa Parlimen akan terbubar secara automatik pada 28 April 2013 jika Najib masih berlengah-lengah dan menunggu para pengundi "kenyang" dengan transformasi yang dilakukan BN sebelum keluar mengundi.

Sebenarnya, seperti yang saya catatkan di blog (30 April 2010), saya sebagai rakyat (baca: The Third Force) amat meluat membaca berita di mana politikus ini dan politikus itu meminta jentera pilihan raya parti yang diwakilinya bersiap sedia sejak Februari 2010 bagi menghadapi PRU-13.

Akan tetapi, walaupun sibuk berkempen sebaik selepas mendapat "sedekah" undi daripada rakyat pada PRU-12, golongan politikus terbabit ternyata masih belum cukup "jantan" untuk menghadapi PRU-13 yang bersih, adil, telus dan penuh integriti.

Pada masa sama, agak melucukan apabila ada golongan politikus yang sejak September 2012 terlupa bahawa mereka yang memegang kuasa pemerintahan dalam kerajaan sebenarnya diundi oleh rakyat. Apabila mereka diberi kuasa oleh Rakyat, tidak bermakna kuasa itu – dan Putrajaya – menjadi milik mutlak politikus terbabit.

Saya tidak dapat membayangkan barisan menteri macam mana yang akan dilantik Perdana Menteri (menggunakan kuasa mutlak yang ada padanya) selepas PRU-13. Pada 18 Februari 2013, kes mahkamah berhubung penulis yang dinafikan hak royalti teks Komsas ditangguhkan ke April 2013 kerana tandatangan pada dokumen terbabit (palsu?) perlu dihantar ke Jabatan Kimia.

Sebagai pemilik tunggal Perunding Media, Motivasi dan Penerbitan Uthaya dan wakil Kumpulan Sasterawan Kavyan (Kavyan) yang terlibat cuba membantu mangsa terbabit sejak Ogos 2011, saya berharap individu yang memegang jawatan Menteri Pelajaran selepas PRU-13 akan tahu menggunakan kuasa untuk membela nasib penulis. Kalau tidak mampu, elok jangan pegang jawatan.

Sementara Najib masih seronok bermain teka-teki mengenai tarikh pembubaran Parlimen – yang bakal membuka laluan ke arah penetapan tarikh PRU-13 oleh Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) – sekumpulan rakyat yang memenuhi syarat tertentu serta mengisi slip tertentu menerima BR1M 2.0 baru-baru ini.

Jangan pula ada mana-mana penerima beranggapan mereka wajib mengundi parti politik tertentu selepas menerima BR1M 2.0 kerana tindakan itu akan menjadikan "niat murni" kerajaan memberi bantuan ikhlas menjadi seolah-olah "rasuah pancing undi". Sia-sia pula Kerajaan BN terpaksa menanggung dosa akibat kekhilafan masyarakat!

Buku terbit pada 8 Mac 2013

Bulan lalu turut disemarakkan oleh tulisan Ridhuan Tee Abdullah bertajuk "Kesabaran umat Islam ada had" (Sinar Harian, 18 Februari 2013) sehingga mengatasi populariti Sharifah Zohra Jabeen Syed Shah Miskin Albukhary dan kehebatan Najib bermain gendang Cina dalam iklan Tahun Baru Cina.

Sehubung itu, Pengarah Strategi MIC, Vell Paari bersuara lantang mengatakan bahawa jika tiada tindakan diambil ke atas Ridhuan Tee dan Ibrahim Ali (Perkasa), maka anak kepada Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu itu akan menggerakkan kempen meminta kaum India tidak mengundi calon BN pada PRU-13, seperti turut dilaporkan di Free Malaysia Today (22 Februari 2013).

Saya terus teringat bagaimana dalam novel Atlas Shrugged (1957) timbul pertanyaan berulang "Who is John Galt?" dan saya pula percaya bahawa di negara kita, ramai yang akan segera tampil menyatakan "I am The Third Force" – sekurang-kurangnya pada ruangan status di Facebook.

Dua hari kemudian, pada 24 Februari 2013, keluar pula berita (yang sedikit pun tidak menghairankan) bahawa Najib dilantik ke jawatan Pengarah Pilihan Raya BN di Selangor. Selepas mukanya menghiasi tembok serata negeri – khususnya di Stesen Komuter – tentulah beliau mungkin dianggap bermuka tembok pada erti kata sebenar jika tidak dilantik (melantik diri?) ke jawatan itu.

"Terdapat terlalu banyak masalah di Selangor sekarang kerana parti politik yang menguasai kerajaan negeri tidak sama dengan parti politik yang menangani kerajaan persekutuan." Demikian terjemahan kata-kata Najib yang saya baca di akhbar theSun (25 Februari 2013). Tidaklah keterlaluan jika dikatakan bahawa tidak salah untuk para pengundi mengubah kerajaan pusat supaya sama dengan kerajaan negeri di Selangor kerana itu adalah permintaan Najib sendiri!

Akhbar Utusan Malaysia (25 Februari 2013) melaporkan bahawa Najib "mengambil masa untuk mengumumkan tarikh PRU-13" (walaupun itu sebenarnya kuasa SPR, bukan kuasa Perdana Menteri!) kerana "mahu memastikan setiap dasar transformasi kerajaan benar-benar diyakini rakyat dan berjaya serta bersifat inklusif."

Terjemahan: Najib tidak bersedia untuk mengumumkan tarikh pembubaran Parlimen sampai bila-bila!

Selepas membaca berita yang "menghiburkan" itu, saya menulis pada ruangan status Facebook: "Baiklah, saya akan umumkan tarikh pemasaran buku Kisah dari Siru Kambam sebelum Pengerusi BN umumkan tarikh Parlimen dibubar. Janji Ditepati."

Maka, sukacita diumumkan bahawa kumpulan cerpen berkenaan boleh dibeli terus daripada saya mulai 8 Mac 2013 – sempena lima tahun sejak tarikh PRU-12 dan "tsunami politik" yang membuktikan kuasa Rakyat dalam menentukan masa depan negara.

Secara kebetulan, cerpen-cerpen seperti "Nating", "Saya Sebatang Pensel", "PRU-O" dan "Datuk Datang ke Kampung Kami" secara khusus mengutarakan kisah-kisah politik dan politikus berlatarkan sebuah kampung kecil bernama Siru Kambam.

Allahyarham Dr Othman Puteh merangkumkan Siru Kambam yang menjadi latar bagi kebanyakan cerpen saya sebagai "suatu daerah berhampiran Taiping yang menggambarkan secara dominan kehidupan masyarakat India dan hubungannya dengan masyarakat majmuk" (Siru Kambam, 1996).

Sama ada disedari atau tidak – dirancang atau tidak – kumpulan cerpen setebal lebih 350 halaman itu sesuai dibaca dan dihayati dalam suasana sosio-politik semasa sebagai persiapan mental menjelang PRU-13. Misalnya, ditampilkan Pertubuhan Politik India (PPI) yang kononnya mahu menjadi wakil tunggal suara kaum India dalam kerajaan.

READ MORE HERE

 

Harris’ suggestion on ‘settlement’ slammed

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 01:27 PM PST

Sabahans in a 1962 referendum chose independence through the formation of Malaysia, so the Sulu Sultan's claims is baseless, says an MP.

Joseph Bingkasan, FMT

KOTA KINABALU: Tuaran MP Wilfred Bumburing has slammed the advice rendered by former Sabah chief minister Harris Salleh that Malaysia make a lump sum RM200 million payment to the Sulu Sultanate as compensation for Sabah.

Describing the logic as "absurd" and "totally ridiculous", Bumburing said he was shocked that such "shallow thinking still existed" when the issue now concerned the Philippines government and not just the now dissolved Sulu Sultanate.

"Every Malaysian, especially Sabahans, including Harris Salleh, should show their real concern for the independence and sovereignty of our country and every effort should be taken to defend our freedom from any foreign intrusion," Bumburing said.

He said the disunity and infighting among the people of the southern Philippines had been going on for decades which had displaced thousand of their citizens to the extent that their plight have reached the shores of Sabah which is now part of an independent nation.

"Historically, the claim over Sabah by the Sultan of Sulu must be looked at and examined from two perspectives.

"Firstly, on the 24th April 1962, the Sulu Sultanate surrendered their sovereignty over all the Sulu archipelagos to the Philippines government meaning they no longer have any right to any of the territory,

"This instrument was thereafter followed by the Philippines government as the basis of their claims to Sabah which is being resolved at a diplomatic level.

"Secondly, in the same year the people of Sabah in a referendum carried out decided on independence through the formation of Malaysia and this decision was accepted and approved by the United Nations.

"The stability, security and the sovereignty of Sabah as an independent state within Malaysia must be respected by all sides including the Sultan of Sulu and the well-being of the people Sabah must be uphold and defended at all cost," Bumburing said.

READ MORE HERE

 

Conservative Pundits Wrote Malaysian Propaganda

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 11:33 AM PST

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/assets_c/2013/03/joshua-trevino-screen-grab-cropped-proto-custom_28.jpg 

(TPM) - Articles written by conservative American pundits, but paid for with money from the government of Malaysia, appeared in a number of U.S. media outlets between 2008 and 2011,BuzzFeed reported on Friday.

The news came out of a filing that conservative commentator and RedState co-founder Joshua TreviƱo recently made with the U.S. Department of Justice. The disclosure, which was made in late January under the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA), detailed how TreviƱo was paid $389,724.70 by the "[g]overnment of Malaysia, its ruling party, or interests closely aligned with either" between May 2008 and April 2011. According to the filing, TreviƱo did not deal directly with Malaysian representatives or officials. Instead, he had relationships with and was paid by three groups: the British firm FBC Media, the lobbying firm APCO Worldwide, and the now-shuttered online consulting firm David All Group.

TreviƱo was paid to blog at two websites — malaysiamatters.com and malaysiawatcher.com — which have now gone dark, and also to generate and secure the placement of opinion pieces in U.S. media outlets. The FARA filing also details how TreviƱo paid thousands of dollars to ten other writers — including the conservative writer Ben Demenech, American Center for Democracy director Rachel Ehrenfeld, and Commentary editor Seth Mandel — to write opinion pieces.

According to BuzzFeed, work tied to the Malaysian money appeared in The Huffington Post, The San Francisco Examiner, The Washington Times, National Review, and RedState, and much of the work focused on the campaign against Anwar Ibrahim, a pro-democracy opposition leader in Malaysia. In an interview with BuzzFeed, TreviƱo called the arrangement "a fairly standard PR operation."

"To be blunt with you, and I think the filing is clear about this, it was a lot looser than a typical PR operation," TreviƱo told the website. "I wanted to respect these guys' independence and not have them be placement machines."

Whispers of TreviƱo's connection to the Malaysian government surfaced in the Malaysian press in July 2011, and the story was picked up by Ben Smith, who was then blogging at Politico and is now the editor of BuzzFeed. At the time, TreviƱo denied that he was on "any 'Malaysian entity's payroll'" and, when asked why he had not registered as a foreign agent, replied that he was "confident I am within the law." A year later, however, TreviƱo left a gig at The Guardian after failing to disclose his ties to "Malaysian business interests" in a column.

Read more at: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/03/joshua_trevino_malaysia.php 

 

Covert Malaysian Campaign Touched A Wide Range Of American Media

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 11:25 AM PST

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Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak (R) talks to Foreign Minister Anifah Aman outside Razak's office in Putrajaya, near Kuala Lumpur on February 28 

(Buzzfeed Politics) - Outlets from Huffington Post to National Review carried pieces financed by the Malaysian government. An international campaign against Anwar Ibrahim.

A range of mainstream American publications printed paid propaganda for the government of Malaysia, much of it focused on the campaign against a pro-democracy figure there.

The payments to conservative American opinion writers — whose work appeared in outlets from the Huffington Post and San Francisco Examiner to the Washington Times to National Review and RedState — emerged in a filing this week to the Department of Justice. The filing under the Foreign Agent Registration Act outlines a campaign spanning May 2008 to April 2011 and led by Joshua Trevino, a conservative pundit, who received $389,724.70 under the contract and paid smaller sums to a series of conservative writers.

Trevino lost his column at the Guardian last year after allegations that his relationship with Malaysian business interests wasn't being disclosed in columns dealing with Malaysia. Trevino told Politico in 2011 that "I was never on any 'Malaysian entity's payroll,' and I resent your assumption that I was."

According to Trevino's belated federal filing, the interests paying Trevino were in fact the government of Malaysia, "its ruling party, or interests closely aligned with either." The Malaysian government has been accused of multiple human rights abuses and restricting the press and personal freedoms. Anwar, the opposition leader, has faced prosecution for sodomy, a prosecution widely denounced in the West, which Trevino defended as more "nuanced" than American observers realized. The government for which Trevino worked also attacked Anwar for saying positive things about Israel; Trevino has argued that Anwar is not the pro-democracy figure he appears.

The federal filing specified that Trevino was engaged through the lobbying firm APCO Worldwide and the David All Group, an American online consulting firm. The contract also involved a firm called FBC (short for Fact-Based Communications), whose involvement in covert propaganda prompted a related scandal and forcedan executive at The Atlantic to resign from its board.

According to the filings, Trevino was also employed to write for websites called MalaysiaMatters and MalaysiaWatcher.

Trevino's subcontractors included conservative writer Ben Domenech, who made $36,000 from the arrangement, and Rachel Ehrenfeld, the director of the American Center for Democracy, who made $30,000. Seth Mandel, an editor at Commentary, made $5,500 (his byline is attached to the National Review item linked to above). Brad Jackson, writing at the time for RedState, made $24,700. Overall, 10 writers were part of the arrangement.

"It was actually a fairly standard PR operation," Trevino told BuzzFeed Friday. "To be blunt with you, and I think the filing is clear about this, it was a lot looser than a typical PR operation. I wanted to respect these guys' independence and not have them be placement machines."

Trevino said neither he nor the client knew what the writers were going to write before it went up.

"I provided a stipend to support their work in this area and they would just ping me whenever something went up," he said.

Domenech, a former Washington Post blogger who runs a daily morning newsletter called The Transom, said he "was retained by Josh's Trevino Strategies and Media PR firm in 2010 with the general guidance to write about Malaysia, particularly the political scene there."

"I did not ever have anyone looking over my shoulder for what I wrote, and the guidance really was just to write about the political fray there and give my own opinion," Domenech said. "Of course, Josh picked me knowing what my opinion was — I stand by what I wrote at the time and I continue to be critical of Anwar Ibrahim, who I think is a particularly dangerous fellow."

Domenech attached two pieces he'd written about Malaysia for the San Francisco Examiner as well as one for the Huffington Post in his email to BuzzFeed.

Chuck DeVore, the Vice President for Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation (where Trevino now works), said he was unaware of the arrangement in an email.

"He knew of my expertise and suggested I write some pieces," DeVore said. "As I've seen over the years, it's not uncommon for freelancers to be paid for their work from various sources. I frankly didn't think much of it, having been paid by papers in a few nations abroad and by PR firms, such as the one Mr. Trevino was running at the time."

"He never told me who his client was," DeVore said. "I wonder if they did the same via him? Interesting that he filed the paperwork, given it appears he was working for someone else."

Read more at: http://www.buzzfeed.com/rosiegray/covert-malaysian-campaign-touched-a-wide-range-of-american-m 

 

Lahad Datu invasion: The real story?

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 11:23 AM PST

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/lahad-datu-standoff.jpg 

It appears that the heavily armed group wants to turn the "occupation" into an international issue, specifically to draw attention to its plea for an independent Sulu sultanate.

Amir Ali, FMT 

The sultanate has little resources at its disposal to run the 'government' of Sulu. Thus a fresh deal with Malaysia will help it keep the ball rolling.

The Lahad Datu "invasion" is not merely about a group of armed men intruding into Sabah. After weeks of a tense standoff between the "occupiers" and Malaysian security forces, a clearer picture has emerged.

It appears that the heavily armed group wants to turn the "occupation" into an international issue, specifically to draw attention to its plea for an independent Sulu sultanate.

But the sultanate is financially not in good shape and hence, the group turned its attention to Sabah where it claimed the Sulu sultan has "rented out" the state to Malaysia.

The Sulu sultan told AFP on Feb 27 that the Malaysian government is paying the sultanate RM5,300 yearly in exchange for agreeing to let Sabah become a Malaysian state.

It appears that the group wants to renegotiate for a higher "rent". By seeking a higher payment, the sultan hopes to keep Sulu afloat.

However, the Malaysian government has not acknowledged the existence of such a "rent".

The group probably decided that the best way to force the Malaysian government to renegotiate a better "deal" is to occupy the village in Lahad Datu.

According to observers, the sultanate has little resources at its disposal to run the "government" of Sulu. Thus a fresh deal with Malaysia will help it keep the ball rolling.

Manila's war against "terror" did not include the province of Sulu. But still the province was engulfed in this war as the Abu Sayyaf group spread its wings across the Muslim majority areas.

As a result, Manila sent its armed forces to Sulu in its campaign against terrorism. But the Sulu people did not see the presence of the Philippine armed forces as part of the war on terror.

Instead, they deemed it as an occupation force, attempting to control the territory and at the same time exploiting the vast riches of the region.

It is reported that its natural wealth includes minerals and oil and gas reserves in the Sulu waters. According to observers, the Philippines has so far failed to carry out its oil extraction activities in Sulu.

By forcefully entering Sabah, the "Sulu Sultanate Royal Army" hopes to renegotiate the annual fees and also to get Malaysia to extract the oil in Sulu.

According to some reports, Manila and its foreign partners have stopped extracting oil in Sulu because of frequent breakdown in the drilling machine.

 

Independence declaration

A little-known event occurred in November 2010 when the sultan of Sulu, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, officially declared the Sulu province an independent state from the Philippines.

The Tausug people (the people of the Sulu sultanate are from the Tausug tribe) see themselves as independent, free and have adopted the syariah as their constitution.

This piece of news was not reported in the Malaysian mainstream media.

In the peace deal concluded between Manila and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the Sulu province was not included.

Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/03/02/lahad-datu-invasion-the-real-story/# 

North Borneo (Sabah): An annotated timeline 1640s-present

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 11:17 AM PST

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Tjt3fO3Cijo/TJ3aqIJUgbI/AAAAAAAAB58/a_lzEFjakhc/s1600/sulu-royale01.jpg 

I am sharing a timeline I have compiled of key events and accompanying literature on the North Borneo (Sabah) issue. This timeline is being shared for academic and media research purposes. It is not being published as an official statement of policy in any shape or form, nor does this timeline purport to be representative of of the views of the Philippine government.

Manuel L Quezon III 

1640s

Spain signed peace treaties with the strongest sultanates, Sulu and Maguindanao, recognizing their de facto independence.[1]

1704

Sultan of Sulu became sovereign ruler of most of North Borneo by virtue of a cession from the Sultan of Brunei whom he had helped in suppressing a rebellion.

There is no document stating the grant of North Borneo from Sultan of Brunei to Sultan of Sulu, but it is accepted by all sides.[2]

March 17, 1824

Treaty of London signed by the Netherlands and Great Britain

Allocates certain territories in the Malay archipelago to the United Kingdom and the Netherlands (Dutch East Indies).[3]

September 23, 1836

Treaty of Peace and Commerce between Spain and Sulu, signed in Sulu

Granting Spanish protection of sultanate, mutual defense, and safe passage for Spanish and Joloan ships between ports of Manila, Zamboanga, and Jolo.[4]

Ortiz: Spain did not claim sovereignty over Sulu, but merely offered "the protection of Her Government and the aid of fleets and soldiers for wars…"[5]

1845

Muda Hassim, Uncle of the Sultan of Sulu,  publicly announced as successor to the Sultanate of Sulu with the title of Sultan Muda: he was also the leader of the "English party,"(today the term for Crown Prince is Raja Muda)[6]

The British Government appoints James Brooke as a confidential agent in Borneo[7]

The British Government extends help to Sultan Muda to deal with piracy and settle the Government of Borneo[8]

April 1846

Sir James Brooke receives intelligence that the Sultan of Sulu ordered the murder of Muda Hassim, and some thirteen Rajas and many of their followers; Muda Hassim kills himself because he found that resistance is useless. [9]

July 19, 1846

Admiral Thomas Cochrane, Commander-in-chief of East Indies and China Station of the Royal Navy, issued a Proclamation to cease hostilities ("piracy," crackdown versus pro-British faction) if the Sultan of Sulu would govern "lawfully" and respect his engagements with the British Government

If the Sultan persisted, the Admiral proclaimed that the squadron would burn down the capital of the sultanate.[10]

May 7, 1847

James Brooke is instructed by the British Government to conclude a treaty with the Sultan of Brunei

British occupation of Labuan is confirmed and Sultan concedes that no territorial cession of any portion of his country should ever be made to any foreign power without the sanction of Great Britain[11]

May 29, 1849

Convention of Commerce between Britain and the Sultanate of Sulu

Sultan of Sulu will not cede any territory without the consent of the British. [12]

Read more at: http://www.quezon.ph/2013/03/01/north-borneo-sabah-an-annotated-timeline-1640s-present/ 

 

BN using Anwar to confuse voters?

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 11:14 AM PST

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Anwar-Election-300x202.jpg 

The 11th hour faux pas by a PAS delegate has been picked up and highlighted with the usual hype and spin by the Barisan Nasional-controlled media and turned into a firestorm threatening to engulf Pakatan.

Selena Tay, FMT 

It is very obvious that BN keeps creating issue after issue to finish off Pakatan while, at the same time, giving out cash to woo the rakyat.

The mainstream media is continuing to harp on the so-called disagreement among Pakatan Rakyat component parties over the choice of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.

This is done with the intention to create a perception among the public that Pakatan is constantly at loggerheads due to this issue and therefore unfit to govern.

PAS has been blamed as the main culprit in this matter because during the PAS muktamar (general assembly) in November last year, an overzealous PAS member had proposed that PAS president and Marang MP, Abdul Hadi Awang, be the prime minister should Pakatan succeed in gaining control of Putrajaya in the 13th general election.

The 11th hour faux pas by a PAS delegate has been picked up and highlighted with the usual hype and spin by the Barisan Nasional-controlled media and turned into a firestorm threatening to engulf Pakatan.

Pro-BN political analysts plus various individuals have also joined in the fray criticising Pakatan as failing to reach a consensus.

On Feb 26, a mainstream English daily has even reported that PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, popularly known as Mat Sabu, has refrained from openly endorsing Anwar. This is in contrast to the stand made by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng who firmly endorses Anwar as the candidate to be the prime minister due to his good performance when he was the finance minister.

The same English daily also reported that there was talk that a compromise has been reached between PAS and DAP leaders for Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, the long-time and current Gua Musang MP, to be considered as the prime minister-designate.

This report certainly paints DAP in a bad light, making it seem that while Guan Eng is openly endorsing Anwar, at the back of it, DAP leaders are secretly making deals to put in another candidate.

Thus BN's media is now working overtime in attempting to portray DAP and PAS as going against PKR by stabbing PKR's back.

This is done with the intention of causing Pakatan to be destroyed from within.

 

Media propaganda

A PKR strategist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, opined that the 13th general election will only be called once big cracks appear in Pakatan.

This is because fence-sitters will be influenced by what they perceive as Pakatan breaking up and therefore the best bet would be to stick to voting for BN which has been continuously portrayed as being firm, steady and united.

BN's use of massive media propaganda is a factor that cannot be underestimated.

Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/03/02/bn-using-anwar-to-confuse-voters/# 

PAS deputy president picked for safe seat in Pendang

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 11:12 AM PST

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B6hLb4DanKA/UH0BgSikKsI/AAAAAAAAOUE/CKwAgvAd1Yo/s1600/mat+sabu.jpg 

(The Star) - PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu's (pic) wish to be fielded in a safe seat may come true, as he has been selected to contest in the party's stronghold of Pendang.

It was reported in various media that Mohamad, who is popularly known as Mat Sabu, had been looking for a safe seat either in Kedah or Kelantan.

Sources said Mat Sabu was not keen on contesting in Penang despite hailing from there, as the Islamist party was not influential enough in the DAP-controlled state.

Pendang PAS chief Datuk Mohamed Taulan Mat Rasul confirmed that they have nominated Mat Sabu and two others to contest the Pendang parliamentary seat.

"We have given three names and it is up to the state and the central PAS leadership to make the final decision," he said.

Pendang is regarded as a safe seat as it boasts the highest number of PAS members in the country.

"We have 15,000 members and we still hold the record as the area with the highest number of PAS members. But that does not necessarily guarantee us victory. Allah will decide," he said.

Mat Sabu has expressed readiness to contest anywhere upon the party's wish.

Meanwhile, Kedah PAS deputy commissioner Datuk Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi is not keen to be the sacrificial lamb in Jerlun.

He conceded that it would be tough contesting the seat currently held by Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.

Phahrolrazi had reportedly got into the bad books of state commissionerDatuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak following a failed bid to oust the latter in 2011.

He has been nominated to contest the parliamentary seat by the state PAS.

Phahrolrazi prefers to keep mum on the issue.

"Let us hear what others have to say first. I will say my piece later," said Phahrolrazi.

 

The lies and deceit by the NST: sue the bastards, Rosli!

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 07:44 PM PST

Din Merican

On January 14,, I reported about The Star newspaper publishing an unusual public apology to Lawyer Rosli Dahlan for defaming him. Unusual because it was the longest public apology that I have ever read being given by a mainstream national newspaper to an individual. The Star also paid damages and cost to Rosli. Unusual also, because other than posting that apology in their newspaper, The Star did not report anything about the trial.

The Star had to eat the humble pie by admitting that the story posted in 2007 by their editor Dato' Lourdes Charles was a fabrication and a smear campaign against Lawyer Rosli Dahlan who was then defending Dato' Ramli Yusuff who was facing a trumped up charge  by AG Gani Patail, then IGP Musa Hassan and the MACC .

Yesterday, I was pleasantly surprised to read that Dato Ramli Yusuff has finally filed a legal suit against former IGP Musa Hassan for defamation. Musa had recently surfaced to reinvent his image as a crime crusader. He wanted to be a Batman whereas we all know that he is actually a Badman, the baddest IGP Malaysia ever had.

Musa was the IGP who brought total disrepute to the Polis DiRaja Malaysia. The IGP who was linked to the underworld and who brought criminal charges against 6 junior officers because they discovered his links with the triads. The IGP who made a false anonymous blog against Deputy Minister Dato Johari Baharom in order to ward off investigations against himself. And when that failed, Musa suspended and charged the Director of CCID, Dato' Ramli Yusuff so that his underworld link, the Chinaman known as Tengku Goh can be released.

I was also pleasantly surprised to receive in my mailbox a cd. When I sat down with my wife to watch the cd, I realised it was a recording of the court proceedings that has been going on since Tuesday and ended yesterday. It was the court proceedings where Lawyer Rosli Dahlan is suing The NST, its editors and the MACC and its editors. This has been going on for three days and not a single mainstream newspaper reported it.

As I continued watching the cd, I understood why there was no news report about this trial. The evidence against the NST and the MACC was so compelling damning. It showed the NST blaming the MACC for giving them false information to publish the "RM 27 Million Cop Story" which then became the RM 27 Million Lawyer story posted on 12th October 2007. It also showed the MACC trying to exculpate itself by claiming that the story the MACC posted on their official website was actually based on the excerpt of the NST news report. Gosh! Instead of defending the case together, they were actually blaming each other!

That is what thieves and liars do.  They steal together and when they get caught, they blame each other. That was the comical scene you can watch in this cd and more, of how the lawyers for the NST and the MACC fumbled through their way in this court case.

In this court proceeding, you see that Rosli Dahlan is represented by just one lawyer, Chetan Jethwani, while the NST have 2 lawyers from an UMNO law firm and the MACC have 4 senior government lawyers from the AG Chambers. You will see how the leader of the government team of lawyers is led by a shorty counsel, a goateed and bearded Tuan Haji Azizan, with a shrill shouting voice. You will see how disrespectful this Shorty Tuan Haji Azizan behaved towards Rosli's counsel and witnesses.

You will see how badly Shorty Tuan Haji Azizan's spoken English is that one shudders to think how worse is  his written English. With such bad English, it is no wonder why the AGC loses cases badly. But it is more worrisome to think that because of such bad English, these government lawyers may not have understood what they read in the law books and the statutes. Could they have misunderstood who is the good guy and who is the bad guy?

Was that why they brutally arrested Lawyer Rosli Dahlan who was just needed as a witness in this case but did not arrest Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli in the MAS case when Rosli was acting for MAS to recover the multi-billion  losses caused by Tajudin to MAS? Was that why they kept Rosli under continued detention in the MACC dungeon in this case but were so eager to release that criminal Tengku Goh from Restricted Residence exile?

There was also the comical scene of Shorty Tuan Hj Azizan scolding Rosli's witness, Dato Hj Hasanudin who is the Chairman of Masjid AlGhufran. Shorty Tuan Hj Azizan's English was so bad that he can't even be understood in his scolding. Usually, scolding or shouting expletives in English is so easy to do. I find it easier to F…someone in English than in Malay, if you know what I mean.

Shorty Tuan Hj Azizan was also very rude to another witness, Amir Hussin, who was merely telling his version of things which was not to Shorty's liking. It was gratifying that in one part, witness Amir Hussin testified that while he initially believed The NST and the other mainstream newspapers, he began to distrust their reports after reading Din Merican's Blog which presented facts and news in a more balanced way. Hearing this from a witness in a court proceeding is very motivating that my writings have achieved its purpose – the promotion of truth and justice.

READ MORE HERE

 

Penang's RM8 Billion Road & Underwater Tunnel Project is A Symptom of Dap-PR Inability to ...

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 07:41 PM PST

Khoo Kay Peng

The Dap-led Penang state government has awarded the RM8bil tender to construct road and undersea tunnel projects on the island to Malaysia-China joint venture Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd.

The project consists of a 6.5km Gurney Drive-Bagan Ajam undersea tunnel, a 4.2km Gurney Drive-Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu bypass, a 4.6km Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu-Bandar Baru Air Itam bypass and a 12km road connecting Tanjung Bungah and Teluk Bahang.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the construction company would be given 44.51ha of reclaimed land in Tanjung Pinang in phases.

One of the four conditions set by the state government is that the concession period for the third link will only be for 30 years and the toll charges must be similar to the second Penang bridge.

It is difficult to understand why the state government is insisting on going ahead with these projects although a number of parties have voiced their reservation that this is not a long term solution to solve congestion problem in Penang.

There are a whopping 2.4 million cars in Penang. More than 110,000 new cars are being registered annually in Penang. The construction of more highways are not going to contribute towards a gradual reduction of private cars and vehicles on the road. 


Lim's road and tunnel projects have created a dilemma for the Pakatan Rakyat. On one hand, the coalition is proposing to increase the number of public buses through a RM2 billion allocation. One the other hand, the Penang state government has approved road and tunnel projects worth a record high of RM8 billion to a vendor. There is definite a policy inconsistency. 

There are several serious issues with the award:

1. It appears that these projects have been awarded way before the launch of the Penang Paradigm. For something so significant, the state government should have incorporated these projects within the framework of the Penang Paradigm and allow the residents/stakeholders to evaluate and ponder over these projects. It is unfortunate that the government has chosen to award the project while the Penang Paradigm has just been released for public consultation. 

2. The state government should not have awarded the project until at least a new mandate has been given to them in the upcoming GE. Any government rushing through such significant public projects so near to a GE is unfair and unscrupulous. The next GE should be used as a referendum for these projects. Hence, it is prudent for the current state government to defer and retract its award announcement until after the GE.

3. The mode of payment/compensation to the vendor is most controversial. The state government is giving 4,791,016.5 acres of reclaimed land in Tanjung Pinang in phases to the developer. There are two major issues of using land to swap for infrastructure projects. Firstly, land is a scarce commodity in Penang especially on the island. The public can expect only expensive developments will be launched on the land. Rising property prices are going to make home ownership issue even more chronic and severe in the future. Second, infrastructures depreciate but land will appreciate over time. Hence, the state could be paying escalating future prices/costs for the projects.

4. Penang CM Lim Guan Eng said that the infrastructure project is estimated to cost less than RM8 billion. Hence, is the state paying a fair price for it? At present value, the land is expected to fetch over RM2.5 billion (RM520 per sq. ft.) and could escalate up to RM5 billion over the next 3-5 years. Some properties in the Tanjung Pinang area are already selling above RM1,000 per sq. ft. 

The state is giving a 30-year concession period to the developer for the third link (the Bagan Ajam-Gurney Drive underwater tunnel). Based on a rough calculation (100,000 vehicles average a day x 30 years x RM8 - without factoring in any increase in toll charges), the developer is expected to rake in RM8,760,000,000 or RM8.76 billion. 

Eventually, the estimated gross development value (GDV) of the Tanjung Pinang land could be well over RM50,000,000,000 or RM50 billion. 

In sum, for infrastructure projects worth less than RM8 billion the developer could end up raking in more than RM58.76 billion in revenue. 

It is crystal clear that using land swap, especially prime land, as a mode of payment for infrastructure projects is untenable and a bad financing option. 

5. The state government has not been able to provide any convincing evidence that these expensive projects could help solve Penang's traffic congestion problem in the long run. The reason is simple. Building more highways, roads or tunnels are not going to help solve our congestion problem. It can only be solved through prudent policy intervention to reduce the number of private cars and vehicles on the road. 

Sadly, the PR coalition - both at the federal and state levels - does not have a viable solution. The Penang state government's decision to build these expensive highways and underwater tunnel is not only going to burden the people financially but it is going to create deep social repercussion for the state too. If the number of new cars registration does not go down, it does not take us long to render these new highways helpless against congestion. Additional new cars every year is going to choke off these highways and render the secondary roads inaccessible.

READ MORE HERE

 

Lahad Datu siege ends with 14 dead, 3 wounded

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 07:19 PM PST

Boo Su-Lyn, TMI

The three-week siege by armed Filipino rebels in Lahad Datu, Sabah, ended today with 14 killed and three wounded after Malaysian security forces exchanged gunfire with the rebels, police confirmed today.

The Star Online also reported the police as saying that a curfew has been in place at Lahad Datu town and surrounding areas since 4pm.

"I am very sad over the incident because what we had wanted to prevent, which is bloodshed, had actually happened," Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was quoted as saying today by The Star Online.

Twelve Filipino gunmen and two Malaysian commandos were slain.

READ MORE HERE

 

Gov’t intel eyes 3 groups abetting Sulu sultan’s claim

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 05:26 PM PST

Nikko Dizon, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Whether the heirs of the sultanate of Sulu acted on their own to reclaim Sabah or were instigated by an external force to do so, one thing is certain, according to government intelligence sources: It was a business that proved too big for the heirs to handle on their own.

The sources said that the Philippine government's policy on Sabah is to keep it in the back burner.

But apparently "some people" want to push it forward now. And why now, at this time, is one of the questions government intelligence is looking into.

The sources consistently mentioned three groups that appear to have taken advantage of the decision of the Kirams to pursue their Sabah claim.

"These are groups that wanted to ride on the Kirams' pursuit with their own interests in mind," one of the sources said.

Another source added: "There are a lot who can gain from this, not just in the Philippines but in Malaysia as well."

These "external factors," as an Inquirer source described the groups, are one small faction that is in it for the money, an anti-Aquino administration group, and the Malaysian political opposition.

"The Kirams planned to pursue their claim as early as last year. But they went to Lahad Datu also on the instigation of these groups," the intelligence officer said.

The small group supposedly goaded the Kirams to ask Malaysia for a higher rent on Sabah. If Malaysia gives in, this small group would allegedly have a share of the increase.

The anti-administration group simply wants to discredit President Aquino and is using the peace process as a cause of disenchantment for the Kirams.

"All those who do not like P-Noy (the President's nickname) have joined forces. This is one way to really test how this administration will react (to such an issue). Whatever happens in Malaysia, there will be a backlash on us," one source said.

"In a way, whoever wants to disrupt the peace process or the gains of President Aquino has already won," the source added.

The third group is allegedly the Malaysian political opposition, which is gearing up for general elections that may be called before June.

The intelligence officer said that one member of the Malaysian political opposition allied with Anwar Ibrahim was running for a post in Sabah.

"Apparently, this politician was one of those who spoke with the Kirams. He supposedly gave the opposition's support to the Kirams' claim to Sabah," the source said.

November meeting

The source also believed that in their meeting in November last year, the Kirams decided to "reclaim Sabah or at least ask for a compensation for Sabah that is commensurate to the land's value today, and for the royal family to be given due recognition by Malaysia."

But it is being Tausug that is keeping Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, his family, and their subjects stubbornly pressing their renewed claim to Sabah, even to the extent of defying President Aquino, one of the Inquirer sources said.

"This is the last stand of Sultan Jamalul. Being Tausug, they already gave their word they would pursue their claim. This is now do or die for them just to keep their word of honor," the source, a senior military officer, told the Inquirer.

But for another security administrator analyzing the events of the past three weeks, the Kirams appear to be quite edgy of late.

"They are confused. The government is hopeful that we can buy more time, find a diplomatic way out," the source said, referring to the government's efforts to help settle the standoff between Malaysian security forces and an armed group led by Jamalul's brother, Agbimuddin Kiram, in Tanduao village in Lahad Datu town now in its third week.

Kiram unity

The Inquirer's sources are from the diplomatic and defense establishments. They asked not to be named as they were not authorized to speak to journalists about their analysis of developments in the so-called journey home to Sabah of the Kirams.

The source said the Kirams decided to unite because they felt left out of the peace negotiations between the Aquino administration and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which signed a premilinary peace deal last October.

Calling gov't attention

"The Kirams wanted to get the attention of the Philippine government," the source said.

"For so many years, the family felt they have been exploited in politics. Sultan Jamalul was goaded to run for senator in 2010 but he lost. Then their letter to President Aquino (in 2010 before he assumed office) got lost," the source said.

The source said the Kirams and their followers "conceived the details of the plan to go to Lahad Datu" in late January this year.

"In February, a small group of the Kirams' followers left for Lahad Datu, followed by Raja Muda Agbimuddin," the source said.

The estimated 70 firearms now in the hands of the group holed up in Tanduao are owned by residents in Lahad Datu, Tausug and Badjao holding Malaysian identification cards, the source said.

Malaysian security forces have encircled Agbimuddin's group but are holding action, with the grace period for the group to leave having been extended three times and a fourth being requested by the Philippine government.

Malaysians careful

The Inquirer's military source said the impasse continues because the Malaysians are extra careful in dealing with Agbimmudin's group.

"They are all Muslims and they know that if there is violence, it would go on forever. There are 800,000 Filipinos in Sabah. It would be a huge problem in Sabah if violence erupts. The Malaysian security forces may end up dealing with guerrillas or a rido," the source said, using a Muslim term for clan war.

- See more at: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/366851/govt-intel-eyes-3-groups-abetting-sulu-sultans-claim#sthash.c56cwg16.5seydpVf.dpuf

Whether the heirs of the sultanate of Sulu acted on their own to reclaim Sabah or were instigated by an external force to do so, one thing is certain, according to government intelligence sources: It was a business that proved too big for the heirs to handle on their own.

The sources said that the Philippine government's policy on Sabah is to keep it in the back burner.

But apparently "some people" want to push it forward now. And why now, at this time, is one of the questions government intelligence is looking into.

The sources consistently mentioned three groups that appear to have taken advantage of the decision of the Kirams to pursue their Sabah claim.

"These are groups that wanted to ride on the Kirams' pursuit with their own interests in mind," one of the sources said.

Another source added: "There are a lot who can gain from this, not just in the Philippines but in Malaysia as well."

These "external factors," as an Inquirer source described the groups, are one small faction that is in it for the money, an anti-Aquino administration group, and the Malaysian political opposition.

"The Kirams planned to pursue their claim as early as last year. But they went to Lahad Datu also on the instigation of these groups," the intelligence officer said.

The small group supposedly goaded the Kirams to ask Malaysia for a higher rent on Sabah. If Malaysia gives in, this small group would allegedly have a share of the increase.

The anti-administration group simply wants to discredit President Aquino and is using the peace process as a cause of disenchantment for the Kirams.

"All those who do not like P-Noy (the President's nickname) have joined forces. This is one way to really test how this administration will react (to such an issue). Whatever happens in Malaysia, there will be a backlash on us," one source said.

"In a way, whoever wants to disrupt the peace process or the gains of President Aquino has already won," the source added.

The third group is allegedly the Malaysian political opposition, which is gearing up for general elections that may be called before June.

The intelligence officer said that one member of the Malaysian political opposition allied with Anwar Ibrahim was running for a post in Sabah.

"Apparently, this politician was one of those who spoke with the Kirams. He supposedly gave the opposition's support to the Kirams' claim to Sabah," the source said.

November meeting

The source also believed that in their meeting in November last year, the Kirams decided to "reclaim Sabah or at least ask for a compensation for Sabah that is commensurate to the land's value today, and for the royal family to be given due recognition by Malaysia."

But it is being Tausug that is keeping Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, his family, and their subjects stubbornly pressing their renewed claim to Sabah, even to the extent of defying President Aquino, one of the Inquirer sources said.

"This is the last stand of Sultan Jamalul. Being Tausug, they already gave their word they would pursue their claim. This is now do or die for them just to keep their word of honor," the source, a senior military officer, told the Inquirer.

But for another security administrator analyzing the events of the past three weeks, the Kirams appear to be quite edgy of late.

"They are confused. The government is hopeful that we can buy more time, find a diplomatic way out," the source said, referring to the government's efforts to help settle the standoff between Malaysian security forces and an armed group led by Jamalul's brother, Agbimuddin Kiram, in Tanduao village in Lahad Datu town now in its third week.

Kiram unity

The Inquirer's sources are from the diplomatic and defense establishments. They asked not to be named as they were not authorized to speak to journalists about their analysis of developments in the so-called journey home to Sabah of the Kirams.

The source said the Kirams decided to unite because they felt left out of the peace negotiations between the Aquino administration and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which signed a premilinary peace deal last October.

Calling gov't attention

"The Kirams wanted to get the attention of the Philippine government," the source said.

"For so many years, the family felt they have been exploited in politics. Sultan Jamalul was goaded to run for senator in 2010 but he lost. Then their letter to President Aquino (in 2010 before he assumed office) got lost," the source said.

The source said the Kirams and their followers "conceived the details of the plan to go to Lahad Datu" in late January this year.

"In February, a small group of the Kirams' followers left for Lahad Datu, followed by Raja Muda Agbimuddin," the source said.

The estimated 70 firearms now in the hands of the group holed up in Tanduao are owned by residents in Lahad Datu, Tausug and Badjao holding Malaysian identification cards, the source said.

Malaysian security forces have encircled Agbimuddin's group but are holding action, with the grace period for the group to leave having been extended three times and a fourth being requested by the Philippine government.

Malaysians careful

The Inquirer's military source said the impasse continues because the Malaysians are extra careful in dealing with Agbimmudin's group.

"They are all Muslims and they know that if there is violence, it would go on forever. There are 800,000 Filipinos in Sabah. It would be a huge problem in Sabah if violence erupts. The Malaysian security forces may end up dealing with guerrillas or a rido," the source said, using a Muslim term for clan war.

- See more at: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/366851/govt-intel-eyes-3-groups-abetting-sulu-sultans-claim#sthash.c56cwg16.5seydpVf.dpuf

Whether the heirs of the sultanate of Sulu acted on their own to reclaim Sabah or were instigated by an external force to do so, one thing is certain, according to government intelligence sources: It was a business that proved too big for the heirs to handle on their own.

The sources said that the Philippine government's policy on Sabah is to keep it in the back burner.

But apparently "some people" want to push it forward now. And why now, at this time, is one of the questions government intelligence is looking into.

The sources consistently mentioned three groups that appear to have taken advantage of the decision of the Kirams to pursue their Sabah claim.

"These are groups that wanted to ride on the Kirams' pursuit with their own interests in mind," one of the sources said.

Another source added: "There are a lot who can gain from this, not just in the Philippines but in Malaysia as well."

These "external factors," as an Inquirer source described the groups, are one small faction that is in it for the money, an anti-Aquino administration group, and the Malaysian political opposition.

"The Kirams planned to pursue their claim as early as last year. But they went to Lahad Datu also on the instigation of these groups," the intelligence officer said.

The small group supposedly goaded the Kirams to ask Malaysia for a higher rent on Sabah. If Malaysia gives in, this small group would allegedly have a share of the increase.

The anti-administration group simply wants to discredit President Aquino and is using the peace process as a cause of disenchantment for the Kirams.

"All those who do not like P-Noy (the President's nickname) have joined forces. This is one way to really test how this administration will react (to such an issue). Whatever happens in Malaysia, there will be a backlash on us," one source said.

"In a way, whoever wants to disrupt the peace process or the gains of President Aquino has already won," the source added.

The third group is allegedly the Malaysian political opposition, which is gearing up for general elections that may be called before June.

The intelligence officer said that one member of the Malaysian political opposition allied with Anwar Ibrahim was running for a post in Sabah.

"Apparently, this politician was one of those who spoke with the Kirams. He supposedly gave the opposition's support to the Kirams' claim to Sabah," the source said.

November meeting

The source also believed that in their meeting in November last year, the Kirams decided to "reclaim Sabah or at least ask for a compensation for Sabah that is commensurate to the land's value today, and for the royal family to be given due recognition by Malaysia."

But it is being Tausug that is keeping Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, his family, and their subjects stubbornly pressing their renewed claim to Sabah, even to the extent of defying President Aquino, one of the Inquirer sources said.

"This is the last stand of Sultan Jamalul. Being Tausug, they already gave their word they would pursue their claim. This is now do or die for them just to keep their word of honor," the source, a senior military officer, told the Inquirer.

But for another security administrator analyzing the events of the past three weeks, the Kirams appear to be quite edgy of late.

"They are confused. The government is hopeful that we can buy more time, find a diplomatic way out," the source said, referring to the government's efforts to help settle the standoff between Malaysian security forces and an armed group led by Jamalul's brother, Agbimuddin Kiram, in Tanduao village in Lahad Datu town now in its third week.

Kiram unity

The Inquirer's sources are from the diplomatic and defense establishments. They asked not to be named as they were not authorized to speak to journalists about their analysis of developments in the so-called journey home to Sabah of the Kirams.

The source said the Kirams decided to unite because they felt left out of the peace negotiations between the Aquino administration and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which signed a preliminary peace deal last October.

Calling gov't attention

"The Kirams wanted to get the attention of the Philippine government," the source said.

"For so many years, the family felt they have been exploited in politics. Sultan Jamalul was goaded to run for senator in 2010 but he lost. Then their letter to President Aquino (in 2010 before he assumed office) got lost," the source said.

The source said the Kirams and their followers "conceived the details of the plan to go to Lahad Datu" in late January this year.

"In February, a small group of the Kirams' followers left for Lahad Datu, followed by Raja Muda Agbimuddin," the source said.

The estimated 70 firearms now in the hands of the group holed up in Tanduao are owned by residents in Lahad Datu, Tausug and Badjao holding Malaysian identification cards, the source said.

Malaysian security forces have encircled Agbimuddin's group but are holding action, with the grace period for the group to leave having been extended three times and a fourth being requested by the Philippine government.

Malaysians careful

The Inquirer's military source said the impasse continues because the Malaysians are extra careful in dealing with Agbimmudin's group.

"They are all Muslims and they know that if there is violence, it would go on forever. There are 800,000 Filipinos in Sabah. It would be a huge problem in Sabah if violence erupts. The Malaysian security forces may end up dealing with guerrillas or a rido," the source said, using a Muslim term for clan war.

 

Two commandoes killed as Lahad Datu siege continues

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 03:42 PM PST

Boo Su-Lyn, Clara Chooi, Zurairi AR, TMI

Two police commandoes were killed after coming under mortar fire when violence erupted in the standoff between security forces and a group of armed Filipinos occupying a village in Lahad Datu in Sabah.

Ten members of the group had been killed when police raided their camp, a spokesman for the group had said earlier.

National news agency Bernama reported that its reporters saw the bodies of the two commandoes being taken away to hospital.

Silence has fallen on the seaside village after deadly gunfire erupted this morning between security forces and the armed Filipino rebels occupying the Sabah village, Philippine media reported today.

Abraham Idjirani, a spokesman for the rebels, reportedly said that 10 members of the group were killed when police raided their camp. 

The Philippine Daily Inquirer's online news site quoted Free Radio Sarawak as saying that the Felda Sahabat 17 oil palm plantation near KampungTanduo, where the rebels have been holed up since February 9, was filled with an "uncanny silence".

Earlier, the Borneo Insider online news site reported today that a Malaysian VAT69 commando was also killed.  

Lahad Datu, which is about 130km away from the battle site, was also described as a "ghost town', with all shops in the town centre closed as army patrols moved about, with some standing guard at schools and the district hospital.

Four intruders were injured, according to Princess Jaycel Kiram, the daughter of self-proclaimed Sulu Sultan Jamallul Kiram III, as reported in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

SAPP chief Datuk Yong Teck Lee told The Malaysian Insider that a curfew would be imposed on Lahad Datu at 4pm, prohibiting all vehicle movements.

A police officer in the Lahad Datu police district headquarters, who did not want to be named, told The Malaysian Insider, however, that there have been no orders of a curfew or emergency so far.

Yong also said rumours have been swirling among Lahad Datu residents about more rebels coming into Semporna and Silam.

"People more anxiety (sic) than fear (because) for a few decades, violent incidents have been on and off, this being the most long drawn incident," Yong said in a text message to The Malaysian Insider.

Jamallul reportedly stressed today that the group would not leave the area despite the assault.

Philippine Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez, however, reportedly said that there were no casualties.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein denied that Malaysian authorities had shot the Filipino rebels, tweeting: "I confirm that our security forces have not taken a single shot but were shot at at 10am this morning!"

Bernama also quoted Hishammuddin as saying that Malaysia had given the intruders enough time to leave Sabah peacefully.

READ MORE HERE

 

PKR To Act Against ‘Party Member’ Who Called On President To Quit

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 03:32 PM PST

(MD) - Action will be taken against a Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) member for publicly calling on party president Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to quit her party post, said Wanita PKR chief Zuraida Kamaruddin (picture).

Responding to a recent reproach from Amizan Mat, a purported member from the party's Ampang branch, Zuraida said it was doubtful that the former was indeed a PKR member as his name was not registered in the latest membership list.

"Our latest membership lists does not register Amizan Mat as a member. If he is, I would like him to come forward and reveal his membership card," Zuraida told Malaysian Digest when contacted recently.

The Ampang MP also stressed that any dissatisfaction with the party's leadership should be brought up in the party's monthly meetings instead of making it public.

"Members who are not satisfied with the top leadership can raise the issue in the monthly Cabang (branch) meeting. Matters like this should be highlighted and discussed via proper channels," she said.

Zuraida said she did not rule out the possibility that political rival Umno had a hand in Amizan's harsh criticisms against Wan Azizah which was published in Umno-owned New Straits Times on Monday.

"If he is a party member, action will be taken against him for deprecating PKR leaders in public. Amizan Mat's membership can be revoked or sacked. If he is not a member of PKR Ampang, then it is clearly the works of BN Umno that has been bereft of issues," she added.

In the report, Amizan had called for Wan Azizah to pass the party reins to her deputy, Azmin Ali.

He also blamed the party president for failing resolve many issues for far too long.

"Issues like the allegation of PAS Syura Council rejecting (Opposition leader) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as a prime minister candidate, Anwar's stand on Israel and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and the use of the word 'Allah' (by non-Muslims) are unresolved.

"What is Wan Azizah doing to address them?" said Amizan in the report.

He had said Wan Azizah was also not fit to be a party president as she would not be contesting in the upcoming polls.

"What kind of a party president does not contest a parliamentary seat? What's the point of being a president then?"

 

Ex-Umno Member: 500,000 Blue ICs Issued To Immigrants Under Mustapha Harun’s Orders

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 03:19 PM PST

Boo Su-Lyn and Emily Ding, TMI

About 500,000 blue identity cards (ICs) were given to Filipino and Indonesian immigrants in Sabah in the early 1990s under the orders of then-Sabah Umno chief Tun Datu Mustapha Harun, a former Umno member said today.

Siti Aminah Mahmud, who worked voluntarily in the Umno office in Kota Kinabalu, said today that the now-deceased Mustapha, who was the third chief minister of Sabah from 1967 to 1975, had told her that the ICs were issued to overthrow the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) government.

"Datu Mustapha said this is (Tun) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad)'s project. Don't be afraid of getting caught," Siti Aminah told a press conference at the PKR headquarters here today, relating Mustapha's briefing to her and other Umno members in Kota Kinabalu in 1990.

"Datu Mustapha said it was to increase the number of Malay voters to take down PBS," added the 62-year-old woman.

About 500,000 blue ICs were given to Filipino and Indonesian immigrants in Sabah in the early 1990s. Siti Aminah said that she and other Umno members worked together with the National Registration Department (NRD) and village heads to issue about 500,000 blue ICs to Filipino and Indonesian immigrants from 1990 to 1994 in several areas of Sabah, including Tawau, Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Kota Kinabalu, and Semporna.

She added that she was detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) from 1995 to 1997 for allegedly issuing fake ICs and falsifying NRD documents.

The 1994 Sabah state election saw PBS winning just 25 of the 48 state assembly seats.

But several PBS assemblymen defected to Barisan Nasional (BN) shortly after, causing the collapse of the PBS government.

Mustapha, who had founded the United Sabah National Organisation (USNO), is considered Sabah's father of independence for his role in negotiating the state's independence in 1963, before dying in 1995 at the age of 76.

USNO joined forces with former Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh's Berjaya to form Sabah Umno after PBS defeated Berjaya in the 1990 state election.

Dr Mahathir, Malaysia's longest-serving prime minister who was in power from 1981 to 2003, has been accused of spearheading the so-called "Project IC", in which citizenship was allegedly given to immigrants for their votes.

Dr Mahathir told a press conference last month that foreigners in Sabah had indeed received citizenship, but stressed that it was "within the law".

Harris, who administered the state from 1976 to 1985, has denied at the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the illegal immigrant problem in Sabah of the existence of "Project IC".

More than a quarter of Sabah's population are foreigners, totalling a staggering 889,000 out of the 3.2 million-strong population in Sabah, or about 28 per cent, based on a 2010 census.

Sabah has 926,638 voters, according to a June report in English-language daily The Star.

Siti Aminah said today that one IC number would be issued to 20 or 30 people.

"One address is also used by 20 people," she said.

"In one area, there'll be a leader who will gather people. Once we reach, we'll get their names. We don't ask about their religions. We'll see if they have Muslim names. If they don't, we'll change their names to Muslim names. Then we'll take their pictures and thumb prints and send it to the Umno office," she added.

Siti Aminah said the blue ICs would be processed in about a month and delivered in sacks to village heads.

"We'll tell the village head, 'Tok, please instruct the villagers to vote for Umno'," she added.

Siti Aminah, who is now a PKR member, said she was unaware if the immigrants had paid for the ICs.

Senior Special Branch officer Supt Ahmad Fauzan Mohamad testified at the RCI last week that a syndicate involving then-Sabah NRD directors had made at least RM11 million from selling ICs to illegal immigrants in Sabah.

He also said that none of the 94 people, who were arrested under the ISA from 1995 to 2001 for their involvement in the syndicate, were ever charged in court.

Then-Sabah NRD director Ramli Kamarudin told the RCI last month that then-Deputy Home Minister, the late Tan Sri Megat Junid Megat Ayub, had ordered him to issue NRD receipts, which matched the names and IC numbers of registered voters, to immigrants.

Ramli had said that about 200 NRD receipts were issued in five or six state constituencies each, which the government considered difficult to win, before the 1994 Sabah state election.

Siti Aminah said she has not yet been called to testify at the RCI.

She also stressed that Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was then Dr Mahathir's deputy, was never mentioned in "Project IC".

"Anwar had fought with Datu Mustapha and Megat Junid over Project IC," she said.

Siti Aminah also said that according to Mustapha, "Project IC" started during Harris' administration and was codenamed "03", as well as "04" and "05" during Mahathir's administration.

 

Pakatan continues to deceive Indians

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 03:02 PM PST

There has not been a single attempt by Pakatan to engage Hindraf into drawing up plans for the grouses they represent.

By N Ganesan, FMT

Is there a surprise in the fact that after Hindraf has tried very actively since August 2012 to work with Pakatan Rakyat to develop a win-win formula for Pakatan and for the Indian poor in the forthcoming elections, that Pakatan will turn around and give the Indian poor the shaft as they have done with their general election manifesto pledges?

In my mind there is some surprise. I expected that the political and electoral alignments may not work out.

But I did not imagine that Pakatan would do it with such callousness and then defend their actions unapologetically and with impunity that they did alright in their GE2013 electoral manifesto.

PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli's statement in his debate with MCA vice president Gan Ping Siew yesterday is most telling.

Let me quote him from media reports here. He is supposed to have uttered the following words "Pakatan manifesto is for all, not just Indians".

What rubbish is this? Completely wild and in my opinion simply tells of Pakatan impunity.

In retrospect, this tendency to deceive the Indians in general and the Indian poor in specific have been clear from 2008 after the 12th GE.

For the tsunami that Hindraf created for Pakatan, there has not been one attempt, not one single attempt to engage Hindraf, the prime mover during that heyday into drawing up plans for the grouses they represented.

That was clearly a predictor for larger things to come. And we have just seen that.

I can understand their logic, said and repeated in so many ways. They only want the votes from the Indians but not their representation in the August houses of parliament and state assemblies.

The working class has no business there.

Their refrain is – just remain a pressure group, do not ask for seats, do not ask for leadership of ministries, just stay out there, get us the votes and then maybe we will give your Mandores some crumbs.

But you stay out there.

You see that re-enactment clearly in their latest stances.

The writer is Hindraf's national advisor

 

Reports: At least 10 Sulu gunmen dead

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 02:55 PM PST

(The Star) - The casualty in the Tanduo encounter between the Malaysian security forces and the Sulu armed group is believed to have gone up.

After the first reports that two Sulu gunmen were dead and three Malaysian police injured, more ground reports coming out of Tanduo village claimed that at least 10 Sulu gunmen have been killed and four others injured.

On the Malaysian side, there was no official confirmation as to the four injured security personnel or of any deaths.

However, journalists at the entrance of the Felda Sahabat 17 oil palm plantation leading to Tanduo village, saw two bodies being taken out in a jeep by security forces medical personnel.

The Sultan Kiram family has confirmed in Manila that at least 10 Sulu gunmen have been killed and four injured.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib declined to comment and said a press conference will be held later.

Until then, conflicting reports are emerging on the number of casualties.

 

Populist policies will hit us hard

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 02:44 PM PST

Tay Tian Yan, TMI

There is a country well endowed with natural resources and boasting a highly efficient, incorrupt government. Her citizens nevertheless have to pay pretty hefty taxes. Income tax rate is as high as 40 per cent, not to mention an additional 10 per cent consumer tax.

This country is most positively rich. I'm not going to keep you in suspense. It's Australia.

But sorry, Australia doesn't provide free tertiary education. On the contrary, tuition fees are sky high, about A$30,000 (RM96,000) a year for an ordinary university, and this figure is growing at an annual rate of 10 per cent.

There are three ways young Australians can gain access to universities:

1. Their families provide part of the expenses, and some parents actually emphasise they have secured loans for their children's education.

2. Bank loans, which will have to be paid back upon graduation.

3. Part-time jobs such as restaurant waiters, apple pickers, etc.

It's hard indeed, but for the sake of better future prospects, exorbitant prices still have to be paid.

Australian students are a very practical lot. All that they can wish for is not-so-drastic increases in tuition fees and more humane bank interest rates. Alternatively, they can count on their parents to fork out a little more.

They don't take to the streets, demanding the government take over their burdens for the simple reason that they made the choice of attending the universities themselves, and should therefore not get the public to share their burdens.

The opposition parties never pledge free tertiary education as they know they won't be able to honour it anyway.

There is another country endowed with reasonable resources. The government is of mediocre efficiency and accountability levels.

The tax rate in this country is not that high, being capped at 26 per cent, but given the not-so-high income levels of ordinary wage earners, such a rate appears to be pretty unbearable.

This country is by no means a wealthy state, at best a middle-income country. You might have guessed it. It's Malaysia.

It won't be too hard for young Malaysians to attend universities. There are so many of them around, in fact way too many!

Tuition fees can be as low as RM2,000 to RM3,000 a year for public universities, RM30,000 to RM40,000 (non-medical courses) for private universities.

Young Malaysians need not beg for bank loans or work part-time to pay their tuition fees.

If they go to a government university, 90 per cent of the expenses have already been absorbed by the government (from taxpayers' pockets to be exact). The remaining 10 per cent can be settled with PTPTN loans (which many use to acquire the latest smartphones).

If they opt for a private university, they need both the PTPTN and family support.

READ MORE HERE

 

Gunfight at Lahad Datu

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 02:22 PM PST

Philippines Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II said Malaysian authorities issued 'warning shots' because some members of the group had violated their security cordon.

(FMT) - Malaysian security forces opened fire at the over 200 Sulu army soldiers holed up at the Felda Sahabat oil plam plantations in Lahad Datu, Sabah, here at around noon today.

A flurry of text messages from FMT correspondents in Lahad Datu also confirmed the shootout.

Unconfirmed reports claimed that 10 of the armed group were killed while four Malaysian security forces were injured.

FMT ground reports said several Malaysian security personnel, some seriously injured, have been rushed to Lahad Datu hospital. Some locals living in the area have said they have seen bodies being moved out.

As of 10am this morning all shops, banks and schools have been ordered to shut down.

Lahad Datu has come to a standstill with long lines of vehicles stuck from all the main routes into town.

Unconfirmed reports also said that all flights into Sabah have been cancelled.

People in Lahad Datu town have expressed concern. Those staying at Kampung Panji, near the town centre, say they are worried that those associated with the group may direct attacks along the east coast including in Semporna and Lahad Datu town where the Suluks have a strong (overwhelming) presence.

But Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, when confirming the incident, said Malaysian security forces did not fire any shots at the intruders.

"I confirm that our security forces did not fire a single shot but were shot at about 10am this morning!," he said in his tweet, without mentioning whether an operation was underway to detain the armed intruders.

Hishammuddin later told reporters that the Malaysian government had given the group of about 150 intruders enough time to retreat and return to their own country.

Malaysia had also practised diplomacy and patience to provide the group with all avenues, including through negotiations, to urge them to end the standoff and return.

"I want to remind the group who encroached into Sabah to refrain from saying that the Malaysian government did not give enough time to retreat. We have been very accommodative and diplomatic in our approach to end the crisis," he told reporters meeting Pergerakan Pemuda Malaysia Palestin at the Civil Defence Department.

Security cordon violated

Ambassador to the Philippines Mohd Zamri Mohd Kassim confirmed that gunshots were fired in Lahad Datu, where the royal army of the sultanate is holed up.

Zamri reportedly told a spokesman for the Philipines Department of Foreign Affairs assistant secretary Raul Hernandez that there were no casualties in the incident.

Quoting a statement from Kassim to Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Hernandez said: "There were no casualties and that the firing had already stopped."

In earlier reports, Philippines Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II noted that warning shots had reportedly been fired because some members of the group had violated their security cordon.

Meanwhile, Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram II, while appealing for a peaceful resolution to the stand-off which reached its fourth week on Sunday, has also denied Philippines radio reports that several people were killed in the attack.

He also dismissed reports that his brother crown prince Raja Agbimuddin Kiram, who is leading the charge in Lahad Datu, was arrested by the Malaysian authorities.

"Hindi ako naniniwala. Mahuhuli lang yan kapag patay na (I don't believe it. He will only be caught if he's dead)," said Kiram in an interview with Philippines radiobzz.

Meanwhile, Kiram's spokesmen Abraham Idjirani said in Manila that Agbimuddin had informed them of the rising tension at 6am.

"This morning is a history, the Malaysian security forces started the first shot," Idjirani said, adding that he was uncertain if the authorties were aiming at Agbimuddin.

READ MORE HERE

 

‘Were Sivarasa, Santiago drafting or sleeping?’

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 02:16 PM PST

MIC says they have disgraced Indians for not addressing the community's concerns in the Pakatan manifesto. 

Zefry Dahalan, FMT

MIC today hit out at PKR's S Sivarasa and DAP's Charles Santiago for not ensuring that the Pakatan Rakyat manifesto contain promises made specifically to the Indian community.

"They are disgrace to the community," said the party's information chief, VS Mogan.

"It's very general," he said of the manifesto. "We can't see anything special for Indians."

He said he had expected specific promises aimed at helping Indians progress economically and socially.

"What were Sivarasa and Charles doing in Pakatan's manifesto drafting committee?" he asked.

"Were they sleeping? Do they care about Indian issues? Or where they there just to make up the numbers?"

Mogan heaped praise on Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, saying he had genuinely shown concern for the Indian community.

"Everybody knows how many schemes have been introduced and how much money the PM has spent for Indians," he said.

"For 2012 alone, he allocated RM12 million for Tamil schools in Negeri Sembilan.

"For this year, MIC has requested RM16 million for Tamil schools in the state and I'm confident Najib will approve it.

"The government allocated RM30 million last year and RM50 million this year for Indian businesses under the Tekun scheme.

"Through Amanah Ikhtiar, we have also helped Indian ladies doing small businesses.

"As the PM announced in Port Dickson last Sunday, the government will allocate 1,600 places in government polytechnic colleges for Indian students who score only three credits in SPM.

"After they have received their diplomas, these students will be put on a fast track system, under which they can further their studies for bachelor's and master's degrees at local universities. The government has assured places for them."

READ MORE HERE

 

‘Cops not delaying probe into Umno man’s firm’

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 02:04 PM PST

Bukit Aman Commercial Crimes Department chief Syed Ismail Syed Azizan says his officers are still gathering evidence.

G Vinod, FMT

The police have shot down the accusation of dragging their feet with regard to the probe on Doxport Technologies Sdn Bhd.

Speaking to FMT, Federal Commercial Crimes Department chief Syed Ismail Syed Azizan said his officers are still scrutinising evidence and recording statements.

"We passed the investigation papers to the Attorney-General's Chambers some time ago but we were told to get further details," he said.

Recently, PKR women's chief Zuraida Kamaruddin questioned the delay.

Doxport Technologies, headed by former Umno treasurer Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi, is alleged to have cheated 60 British investors of RM12.8 million in 2008.

One of the victims lodged a police report in 2011. Subsequently, several other investors lodged complaints with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MACC) and the Company Commissions Malaysia (CCM).

Syed Ismail said that there are several reasons why the investigation is taking time, among them is due to the nature of commercial crime cases.

"We need to scrutinise every single document thoroughly and refer them to witnesses.

"Besides, the complainant lives overseas. At some point, we needed additional details from the individual and it took some time for the complainant to get back to us," he said, adding that the investigating officer is also busy with other cases.

On claims that the police have only recorded statements from one person to date, Syed Ismail replied: "I don't want to be drawn into these accusations but rest assured that we are still gathering evidence on the matter."

 

Lahad Datu stand-off: Sulu Sultan's brother says shots fired at them

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 01:56 PM PST

(The Star) - LAHAD DATU: Malaysian security forces on Friday started firing at a group of Filipinos holed up in a village in Sabah, the brother of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III claimed.

In an interview with radio dzBB at about 10am on Friday, Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, the leader of the group now holed up at a village in Lahad Datu, said they were being shot at and had to "defend" themselves.

"Biglang pumasok sa amin (They suddenly came in), we had to defend ourselves," Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram said.

Asked what time did the Malaysian forces moved in, he said: "Oras na ito (at this time)."

Sounds of gunshots were heard in the background while the interview was being conducted. The interview was then cut off.

In a second interview with the radio station several minutes later, Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram said he had received reports that some of his men were wounded but added that there will be no retreat or call for a ceasefire.

"Meron na (There have been casualties)," he said when asked if some of his men had been wounded.

Asked if there were members of the Malaysian police who were wounded, he said: "Ewan ko (I don't know)."

Shots were still heard in the background when the second interview was being carried out.

Asked about his immediate plans, Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram said: "Lalaban (we'll still fight)."

He said he himself was involved in the gunfight with the Malaysian forces.

"Tuloy pa rin (The fight will continue)," he added.

When asked if he would call a ceasefire, he said, "Sino mag-ceasefire? Sila mag-ceasefire (Who'll call a ceasefire? They should be the ones to do so)."

However, the Malaysian authorities have not confirm whether there was any shooting in Lahad Datu.

 

‘We’ll fight to the death’

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 01:54 PM PST

Sulu Sultan's brother Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram told a television interview that they are ready to defend themselves should Malaysians attack them.

(Agencies) - MANILA:The Sultanate of Sulu on Thursday said its followers would fight to the death if Malaysian security forces tried to evict them from the town of Lahad Datu in Sabah.

"They will not leave," said Abraham Idjarani, the sultanate's spokesman. "They will fight if the Malaysian army enters their camp with guns. But they will talk with them peacefully if it is their desire to end this issue without using force."

The Manila Standard quoted Idjarani as saying that the sultan's brother, Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, who leads the group of about 200 followers, had enough arms and men to hold their ground against the Malaysian forces.

Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, asserting the sultanate's ownership of Sabah, has ordered his followers in Lahad Datu to stay put.

In a television interview, Agbimuddin said they are not waging war but are ready to defend themselves should the Malaysians attack them. He reiterated that what they are doing is not a crime.

"We are not bad, we are good people. We are law abiding citizens. We came here to live in our place. That's not a crime," he said in reaction to the warning from the Justice Department that they could be charged for inciting to war.

Agbimuddin and his group of about 200 people remained holed up at Lahad Datu since Feb. 12 on the orders of the Sultan.

The last deadline the Malaysian government gave to Agbimuddin to vacate the area expired on Wednesday.

Idjarani on Thursday accused President Benigno Aquino III and his spokesman Edwin Lacierda of inflaming the situation and blamed them for rejecting the sultanate's conditions for talks.

"If they are decent and civilized men as they claim to be, they would not order us to leave Sabah before we could talk to the President," he said. "They are the ones issuing angry words. They are the ones who are pushing for a fight."

Earlier, Lacierda said the sultanate should not hold a gun to the President's head while asking for negotiations, saying the President wanted the Lahad Datu group to come back first to ease the tension in Sabah.

MalacaƱang said its priority was to ensure the safety of some 800,000 Filipinos in Malaysia who might be affected by the armed incursion in Lahad Datu.

Warning shots

When push comes to shove, Idjarani said, Filipino Muslims in Sabah will come to the aid of their forces, who he said found a hero in Agbimuddin.

Agbimuddin said Malaysian security forces have not yet attacked them; the six Malaysian security men who came to them on Wednesday backed out after his men fired warning shots.

"We are on guard here every day, every night. The word 'surrender' is something not good for us. We are not outlaws. We are not bad elements," he said.

He added President Aquino should negotiate with the Malaysian government on behalf of the Sultanate of Sulu to peacefully get back Sabah.

On Thursday, the sultan's daughter, Princess Jacel Kiram, slammed President Aquino for branding as "foolhardy" their actions in Sabah.

"Why are you calling it foolhardy?" Is it foolhardy to defend the patrimony of your nation? Is it foolhardy to fight for what is right? Is it foolhardy to sacrifice the lives of 235 people for the sake of truth?" she said in a statement.

The sultan's daughter also criticized Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II for protecting the interests of Malaysia instead of those of his own people.

She maintained that the sultan's followers can enter Sabah at any time without any consent, and would not violate any laws for doing so.

"Is it a violation if you enter your own house, your own property? I don't know what reason the government has in ordering us to leave Sabah," she said.

 

Lahad Datu invaders say will ‘never surrender’

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 01:52 PM PST

Boo Su-Lyn, TMI

The armed Filipino rebel group that invaded Lahad Datu has declared that it will "never surrender" and are willing to die in Sabah, Philippine media reported yesterday.

Another online news portal also reported yesterday that the rebels fired some shots into the air last Wednesday to warn off the Malaysian security forces. 

"The word surrender is something not good for us. We are not outlaws. We are not bad elements... we are law-abiding citizens," Filipino rebel group leader Agbimuddin Kiram was reported as saying by the Manila Times online news site yesterday.   Agbimuddin, the brother of self-proclaimed Sulu Sultan Jamallul Kiram III, said the group was prepared to fight to death if attacked by Malaysian authorities.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar was reported by national news agency Bernama last Tuesday as saying that the invasion would be resolved "as soon as possible" despite the expiry of last Sunday's deadline for the gunmen to leave.

Agbimuddin was quoted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer last Wednesday as saying that the rebels preferred a peaceful solution to the ongoing standoff, but would fight violence with violence if forced to defend themselves.

Agbimuddin has insisted that he and his followers had no reason to leave Sabah as they have committed no crime in occupying Kampung Tanduo, a small coastal village in eastern Sabah.

Jamallul has already told his "royal army" of about 180 to hold their ground despite instructions from Philippine President Benigno Aquino III last Tuesday to leave the village.

The Philippine daily also reported yesterday that Jamallul had rejected Aquino's orders despite the president's warning that they may soon have to face the "full force of the laws" if they refused to leave Sabah peacefully.

The armed group, suspected of being a faction of a Philippine Muslim rebel group, claims to belong to the "royal army" of the Sulu sultanate and are believed to number about 180 people, with 30 gunmen among its ranks, according to news wire The Associated Press.

They had intruded into Malaysia on February 9 and have reportedly held national security forces at bay amid an enforced blockade that has cut off their food supply.

Dissent appears to be growing within the group with several followers of Agbimuddin indicating a desire to return to the Philippines, Malaysia's The Star Online reported last Monday.

The group had previously said they would not leave Sabah as they are "subjects of the sultanate of Sulu."

The bizarre drama had threatened to stir tension between the Southeast Asian neighbours whose ties have been periodically frayed by security and migration problems caused by a porous sea border.

News wire Reuters had reported that Malaysia pays a token sum to the Sultanate of Sulu each year for the "rental" of Sabah — an arrangement that stretches back to British colonial times.

In 2000, a group of militants from the southern Philippines kidnapped 21 tourists from the Sabah diving resort of Sipadan.

In 1985, 11 people were killed when gunmen, believed to be from the southern Philippines, entered Lahad Datu, shooting at random before robbing the local branch of Standard Chartered Bank.

 

Pakatan won’t deliver, says Gerakan

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 01:46 PM PST

GEORGE TOWN: A local Gerakan leader said the people should not to get carried away with Pakatan Rakyat's election manifesto because they won't be able to deliver on it.

State Gerakan legal and human rights bureau head, Baljit Singh, said Pakatan had unrealistically promised many populist programmes just to fish votes to capture Putrajaya.

But once it had helmed the federal government, said Baljit, Pakatan would always resort to its standard modus operandi to justify any non-delivery.

"Pakatan promises the sun and the moon. But people should not get excited over it. Chances are it would not be fulfilled, especially based on Pakatan's track record," he said today.

Recalling a quote of Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim that "a manifesto is not a promise", Baljit said Pakatan may remind the people that it was not obliged to deliver on its election pledges.

He added that Pakatan allies, PKR, DAP and PAS, were operating more as individual parties rather than a single cohesive unit.

"Leaders of one party would always conveniently distance themselves and spurn their joint-responsibility to deliver an election promise made by a leader from another ally."

'Pakatan should not give false hopes'

He cited the demolition of Indian traditional urban village, Kampung Buah Pala, commonly known as Tamil High Chaparral, in 2009, to back his claim.

"Anwar told the villagers, "Kalau tak dapat geran dalam satu minggu, nama saya bukan Anwar Ibrahim." (If the title is not given within a week, my name is not Anwar Ibrahim).

"He promised them that if the then opposition parties came into power, the state government would solve their problem within a week.

"That was in 2008, but at height of the fiasco, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is the DAP secretary general, famously said that he never promised anything to villagers.

"Clearly Lim distanced himself from Anwar and spurned his responsibility to deliver on behalf of Pakatan," said Baljit.

- See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/03/01/pakatan-wont-deliver-says-gerakan/#sthash.rHtPteOk.dpuf

People should not get excited over its election manifesto as its track record shows it's simply a ruse to fish for votes, says Baljit Singh - See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/03/01/pakatan-wont-deliver-says-gerakan/#sthash.rHtPteOk.dpuf

 

People should not get excited over its election manifesto as its track record shows it's simply a ruse to fish for votes, says Baljit Singh

Athi Shankar, FMT

A local Gerakan leader said the people should not to get carried away with Pakatan Rakyat's election manifesto because they won't be able to deliver on it.

State Gerakan legal and human rights bureau head, Baljit Singh, said Pakatan had unrealistically promised many populist programmes just to fish votes to capture Putrajaya.

But once it had helmed the federal government, said Baljit, Pakatan would always resort to its standard modus operandi to justify any non-delivery.

"Pakatan promises the sun and the moon. But people should not get excited over it. Chances are it would not be fulfilled, especially based on Pakatan's track record," he said today.

Recalling a quote of Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim that "a manifesto is not a promise", Baljit said Pakatan may remind the people that it was not obliged to deliver on its election pledges.

He added that Pakatan allies, PKR, DAP and PAS, were operating more as individual parties rather than a single cohesive unit.

"Leaders of one party would always conveniently distance themselves and spurn their joint-responsibility to deliver an election promise made by a leader from another ally."

'Pakatan should not give false hopes'

He cited the demolition of Indian traditional urban village, Kampung Buah Pala, commonly known as Tamil High Chaparral, in 2009, to back his claim.

"Anwar told the villagers, "Kalau tak dapat geran dalam satu minggu, nama saya bukan Anwar Ibrahim." (If the title is not given within a week, my name is not Anwar Ibrahim).

"He promised them that if the then opposition parties came into power, the state government would solve their problem within a week.

"That was in 2008, but at height of the fiasco, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is the DAP secretary general, famously said that he never promised anything to villagers.

"Clearly Lim distanced himself from Anwar and spurned his responsibility to deliver on behalf of Pakatan," said Baljit.

READ MORE HERE

 

Silence is easy

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 12:08 PM PST

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/dogg-300x168.jpg 

Let's start by speaking up. I am Muslim. And I love dogs.

Elza Irdalynna, Free Malaysia Today 

By now, many Malaysians are aware of Pak Mie and his heroic deeds of rescuing and caring for over 500 dogs in Alor Setar, Kedah.

Most of us are amazed by his spirit, and have even rallied together to help him in his cause.

Yet a note that keeps recurring in the articles and videos that feature Pak Mie and his wife is one that disgusts me, as I'm sure it has for anyone with a heart.

Despite Pak Mie's purest intentions, a majority of his Malay community has shunned and condemned him, labelling him as an infidel and morally corrupt.

Why are the Muslims of this country (particularly the Malay Muslim group) so filled with hate toward the canine species? Growing up, I was ill-informed and learned that Muslims weren't allowed to own dogs.

I later understood that this was a simplified version of the teachings, and untrue. Dogs are considered to be dirty, and there are specific ways to cleanse oneself according to Islam when touching a dog when it's wet or its feces and urine.

However, it was and had never been haram for a Muslim to own a dog.

Why the silence?

Yet it is common for many Malaysians to see dogs getting beaten, objects or hot boiling water thrown at them, and I've even heard of cases where razor blades are stuffed into sausages and fed to the dogs.

A friend of mine had his dog poisoned by his Malay neighbour. Dogs aren't just considered a nuisance by this group of people; they're a target for violence.

Still, what angers me most is not the cruelty of these misguided Malay Muslims. What makes me angry is the silence of other Muslim dog lovers.

I know there are plenty of us out there who not only are against cruelty towards dogs, but are also Muslims who own dogs. Yet whenever such disgusting acts take place, where is your voice?

Why must we keep our ownership a secret? We fear judgment and so we leave the fight for the rights of these animals to the non-Muslim community.

Last October, I lost my six-month-old Shetland Sheepdog in a hit-and-run. We were coming back from our morning walk, and his leash fell out of my hand. He ran back to the park near our house.

When I caught up to him, his dying body was twitching in the middle of the road, his head soaked in blood.

As I cradled my baby, neighbours rushed to my side. I was touched by their assistance – one ran back to her house to get some blankets, another went to get a bag, and two other dog owners walked me home, comforting me. I am forever grateful to them for their kindness.

Jaqen was a very friendly dog. He was popular among the kids and other dog owners at our park, and would show off his "fetching" skills when we played ball.

But I recall little kids who played with him, asking me, "Are you Malay?", and upon my reply would say, "My mother says Malays cannot have dogs." I would patiently correct each misinformed child but I was annoyed at how parents nonchalantly pass this information to their children.

It's bad enough you hate dogs; must you also teach your children to do the same?

Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/03/01/silence-is-easy/ 

 

BR1M oath: 'By Allah, I will vote for BN'

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 11:40 AM PST

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(Harakah Daily) - "I hereby solemnly swear and promise, in the name of Allah, that I will vote BN in the coming election, and that I will work to help UMNO to unite Muslims under the United Malays National Organisation, not to disunite Muslims, unlike Hj. Abdul Hadi Awang who wants Muslims and Malays in Malaysia to be destroyed and fall apart."


The above is the oath which is stapled together with the 1Malaysia cash aid (BR1M) voucher.

The oath typed wholly in capital letters in Bahasa Malaysia was distributed during a ceremony to distribute the cash aid at a secondary school in Beris Panchor, Bachok, Kelantan.

Prior to this, several blogs and Facebook postings have reported of such an oath being required from recipients of BR1M.

Bachok PAS vice chairman Hassan Mohamood said such a requirement from recipients made a mockery of UMNO leaders' claim that the cash aid had nothing to do with the looming general election. 

"Such is UMNO's dirty tactic which is desperately using the government machinery to salvage whatever left of their power," Hassan said.

He however was confident that recipients would not support UMNO because they were aware that the party "is on a life-support".

Meanwhile, during a separate BR1M distribution programme held at a school in the same constituency of Tawang, one recipient passed out while waiting for speeches by local UMNO leaders to end.

Yaakub Ibrahim from Kampung Budi said his brother-in-law Nik Mahmud Nik Ismail who suffers from diabetes had arrived early to receive the cash aid.

However, he grew tired waiting through a lengthy speech by the UMNO leader at the ceremony. He was later admitted at the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital in Kota Bharu.

 

GE13 Hotspot: Johor (aka How One Chinaman Will Lose Johor for UMNO)

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 11:12 AM PST

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Azman A. Yahaya 

As many of us are aware, despite Pakatan Rakyat's growing popularity among voters in various states in Peninsular Malaysia, Johor has been widely acknowledged as Barisan Nasional's 'safe deposit'.

I am here to tell you: That is no longer the case.

A strong wave of disenchantment is brewing among us anak-anak Johor over the actions of one Chinaman from Sabah, the so-called 'Property King of JB' and 'de-facto Johor MB' Lim Kang Hoo who is being handed the assets of our beloved state of Johor on a silver platter, all thanks to his puppet MB Ghani Othman and fellow UMNO cronies.

 

1. KFC

In 2012, Johor Corporation Bhd (JCorp)'s controversial decision to sell its cash-cow KFC was met with resistance, especially the Malay community because we were worried that KFC would end up in the hands of non-Bumis.

JCorp's official reason for selling KFC was that immediate cash was needed to cover its RM3.6 billion debt. But then again, it shot down the Malay Chamber of Commerce's counter-offer, which was of 10 sen more per share. Major questions were raised and things went quiet after that.

And now, our worst fears have come true: Tan Sri Lim Kang Hoo has surfaced as the majority owner of KFC through his vehicles CVC Capital Partners, Credence Resources Sdn. Bhd. and Iskandar Waterfront Holdings Sdn. Bhd.

To get his slimy hands on KFC, Lim Kang Hoo used a complex system of layered deals, as shown below:

 

http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac131/admin-s/kfc.jpg

Looking at the flow of money in the diagram, it is obvious that the complicated layers of deals were used to cover Lim Kang Hoo's hand in the grab and mask the public's eye over the 'hanky panky' transactions involved.

 

2. JCORP'S PROPERTIES

The entire KFC 'restructuring exercise' includes the signing of questionable agreements with dubious terms and conditions between Lim Kang Hoo and JCorp. One of the hidden clauses in the agreements include a so-called 'safety net compensation' for Lim Kang Hoo whereby if Triple Platform Sdn. Bhd. is not listed within 4 years, he stands to grab more than RM600 million worth of 'pre-determined properties' from JCorp.

Considering the fact that JCorp owns key properties such as JB's Menara Ansar, Puteri Pan Pacific, Persada Convention Centre, KOMTAR and KL's Pusat Bandar Damansara, Lim Kang Hoo knows this deal is a finger-lickin' good one. Should this clause trigger however, the ramifications to JCorp's very existence is at stake.

Even a seasoned Chinaman developer like Lim Kang Hoo needs help to pull something like this off. This is where his puppet, JCorp Chairman and Menteri Besar Johor Abdul Ghani Othman comes in along with Ghani's cronies, including:

Dato' Ahmad Zaki Zahid, former member of Pak Lah's 'Fourth Floor Boys' and former JCorp man, current Ketua Pemuda UMNO Putrajaya and EXCO Pemuda UMNO. To no one's surprise, he has been appointed MD of Triple Platform Sdn. Bhd.

Wan Ahmad Firdaus Wan Ahmad Fuaad, drinking buddy and fellow BOD member of JCorp with Ahmad Zaki, who has since quit JCorp to join JP Morgan. To no one's surprise again, JP Morgan was the appointed advisor for this deal. To hell with any conflict of interests.

http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac131/admin-s/3stooges.jpg

Ghani, Zaki and Fridaus a.k.a. Lim Kang Hoo's Three Stooges – What's with the red baju and ties? Nak mintak Lim Kang Hoo kasi angpau ke?

 

My parents are born and bred Johoreans and they are old-school UMNO members. They worked very hard to send me to Australia for an education with the hope that one day I can contribute to our beloved state, party and community. Even as I am doing my best to fulfill my parents' wishes, I will not stand idly by while a Sabahan Chinaman, aided by 3 traitorous Malays, waltzes into JB and grabs our rightful Malay heritage land and forcing the locals to be displaced put into little flats for his convenience to steal our billions.

I thought UMNO is supposed to defend our Bumiputra rights. UMNO is not doing this but instead is helping a Chinaman rape our Malay assets. What happened to Janji Ditepati, Satu Malaysia and the New Economic Policy (NEP)? Has it become Janji Dilepasi, Sapu Malaysia and the Never Ending Penipu?

 

 

 

 

What was inside Kiram’s lost letter to Aquino?

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 11:05 AM PST

http://borneoinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Sultan-JK-III-229x300.jpg 

(Borneo Insider) - WHAT WAS in that letter so that Sultan Jamalul Kiram III could say that had the President paid attention to it, he and his followers would not have taken matters in their own hands?

It was lost not in translation but in the appreciation of its urgency and significance.

That is what happened to the letter sent to President Aquino in 2010 by Agbimuddin Kiram, crown prince of the sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo, expressing his clan's stand on the Philippine claim to the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah and the peace process in Muslim Mindanao.

After congratulating and expressing his clan's support for the new Aquino administration, Agbimuddin informed Aquino about the creation of the Interim Supreme Royal Ruling Council (ISRRC) under the sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo as a result of the series of consultations in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi; KM-4 Indanan, Sulu; and Kawit, Zamboanga City, on June 20, 25 and 26, 2010.

There is probably another reason why the letter got lost in MalacaƱang.

The letter was dated June 28, 2010, two days before Aquino took his oath as President. Technically, then, he was not yet officially the sitting President.

The letter was coursed through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp) but since Secretary Teresita Deles had not yet assumed office at the time, another officer there received the letter and it was this officer who decided it was "not urgent."

Dismissed as such, the letter was relegated to the pile of papers deemed not needing presidential attention.

The Opapp officer who made the decision was considered an expert in Muslim affairs.

After the Sabah standoff began three weeks ago and the letter was mentioned in the early reports of the Inquirer, a source in MalacaƱang said the President inquired about it. Aquino was reportedly disappointed to learn that no one kept the letter or a copy of it.

The same source, who asked not to be identified, quoted the President as saying: "Next time, when a letter is addressed to me, give it to me so I can read it."

Seeking guidance

Specifically, Agbimuddin in the letter asked for guidance from the new President on what course of action the ISRRC should take, especially involving the Sabah claim.

"With highest esteem, may we inform His Excellency that during the consultation process, we asked our supporters what action, under the guiding light of your administration, the ISRRC of the sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo would take or adopt anent the Sabah issue, which became the national contract between the government of the Philippines and the sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo pursuant to the filing of such claim in the United Nations against Great Britain and Malaysia in 1962," Agbimuddin said.

Anticipating Aquino's participation in international forums such as the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) leaders' summit, Agbimuddin stated his clan's position on the Sabah claim to guide the President in discussions on the issue in meetings with representatives of Malaysia.

International forums

Agbimuddin wanted Aquino to articulate two points for the clan: The special power of attorney given by the sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo to the Philippine government was revoked in August 1989 for lack of political will to push forward the claim by previous administrations from the time of then President Diosdado Macapagal, and the ISRRC had been legally established instead, taking over all actions pertinent to the Sabah claim.

Agbimuddin was appointed chairman of the ISRRC by his elder brother, the sultan, in June 2010.

Ignored for five decades

Abraham Idjirani, secretary general and spokesman of the sultanate of Sulu, said the appointment of Agbimuddin as ISRRC chairman was the basis for the crown prince's exercising "authority" over Sabah, thus the six-hour "journey back home" to Sabah on Feb. 11 (most reports date the Sabah trip to Feb. 9).

In his letter to Aquino, Agbimuddin expressed his clans' exasperation at being ignored through five decades of the discussions of the Sabah claim.

Read more at: http://borneoinsider.com/2013/03/01/what-was-inside-kirams-lost-letter-to-aquino/ 

 

Nik Aziz brands Umno as communists

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:58 AM PST

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(The Star) - PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who has branded Umno as an apostate and infidel party, is now branding the party as communists.

In his latest posting in his Tok Guru blog (www.blogtokguru.com), he said that Umno should be labelled as communists because it had rejected Islam although the party had built mosques.

The posting was published on Wednesday after he delivered his speech at the Pakatan Rakyat convention which was held recently in Shah Alam.

The Kelantan Menteri Besar claimed that Umno's version of Islam was that the religion was unsuitable for Malaysia because the country had a multi-racial population.

"If that is so, what is the difference between Islam and the communists? The communists also built mosques, just like Umno, which is famous for building mosques. Hence, there is no difference between Umno and the communists," he added.

"If we were to go to Singapore, Thailand, London or America, Islam is also unsuitable for these countries because of their multi-ethnic population.

"This is what Umno wants if we were to subscribe to the party's Islamic ideology," he added.

Nik Aziz said the Chinese members and supporters from DAP had accepted Islam because they wore shirts with PAS logos on them.

"It means that Islam has been accepted not only in the peninsula, but also in Sabah and Sarawak," he added.

Last week, Nik Aziz caused an uproar when he reportedly said the 1Ma­­­lay­­sia People's Aid (BR1M) handout was like feeding padi and coconut husk to poultry and livestock and only meant to bring the farm animals closer to those who gave them the fodder.

He later back-pedalled and tried to do damage control by reasoning that he made the analogy about BR1M recipients because Umno was responsible for the culture of giving cash to the people as a political bait and, therefore, treating them like animals.

In an immediate reaction, Kelantan Umno information chief Datuk Dali Hussin said Nik Aziz and PAS were now desperate because Umno had become a serious threat to them.

"It is also unbecoming for an ulama like him to liken Umno to the communists after he hurt all Malaysians with his BR1M remark.

"His comments are getting ridiculous by the day in his desperate bid to gain political support.

"This time, he has gone overboard by saying such things against Umno members, many of whom had fought the communist terrorists," Dali said.

 

A manifesto that hoodwinks voters

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:52 AM PST

http://www.nst.com.my/polopoly_fs/1.226485.1362065490!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_454/image.jpg

People in a peaceful rally against the Selangor government for failing to provide preschool allowance as promised in the 12th general election manifesto. Selangor menteri besar has stated that a manifesto is not a promise.

NOT COST-EFFECTIVE: It's baffling why Pakatan is insisting on emulating bankrupt countries

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, NST 

PAKATAN Rakyat has unveiled its manifesto.  It is all about reducing government revenues and increasing spending.

This is to be achieved by lowering taxes, reducing the number of taxpayers by raising tax-free allowances, doing away with tolls, and more.

On the other hand, the salary bill will be increased because of an increase in minimum wage, there will be free education for everyone and roads and highways will be built and maintained.

With 1.1 million employees, the government's salary bill is very big. By increasing the minimum wage to RM1,100, not only will those drawing less than the minimum wage get an increase but those earning more must also be given a wage increase to maintain their status as superiors to those below them.

The salary scales of all grades will have to be increased in order to do this. It is not about raising the salaries and wages of those earning below the minimum wage only. This will be in addition to the RM2 billion because of the recent rise of the minimum pay to RM900.

The cost of education will also increase by more than RM2 billion because of free education.

The repair and maintenance of highways will also run into several billions of ringgit.

Currently, the cost of petrol subsidies is about RM18 billion. If petrol prices were to be lowered, then several more billions of ringgit will have to be added to government subsidy.

On the other hand, revenues will decrease by several billions of ringgit with taxes lowered, the number of people paying taxes reduced and highways made toll-free.

Revenues will also decrease as higher wages for the business sector are bound to reduce profits as well as the taxes paid to the government. Some businesses may have to close down or move to other countries. There will be less investment, both foreign and domestic. And more unemployment.

 

At one time, the manufactured goods sold in Malaysia carried European brands. Today, they are almost all from Japan, Korea and China. Except for German cars, all the motor vehicles on the roads are from Asian countries.

For decades, the Europeans and Americans have been increasing wages and providing perks to their workers. The prices of their products increased accordingly and could not compete in the market. They lost the market.

But they keep increasing their high cost of living. Today, they are facing an irreversible financial crisis. Greece, Spain, Portugal and even Italy are on the verge of bankruptcy or have become bankrupt. Even Britain and France are in financial trouble.

The United States is also in deep financial crisis. It faces the need to reduce government spending (sequestration) or increase taxes.

Sequestration will mean less money for education, healthcare and defence. The number of teachers would have to be reduced. Even the control towers at some airports would have to cease operations. Military bases, weapons and personnel would have to be reduced. An austerity programme will slow down growth and increase unemployment.

Like the Europeans, the Americans also do not like to reduce their spending. They refuse to pay more taxes. In fact, the rich are demanding tax reduction.

The financial crisis in Europe and America is basically because of overspending. Until they cut back on their spending and increase taxes, their economy will not recover.

Pakatan's manifesto advocates the very things that have bankrupted Europe and America.

If Pakatan is responsible, it should work out the cost. It is not too difficult to do this as government employees' salaries as well as developmental and maintenance needs are known.

We know the number of people who will get a pay increase; we know the cost of maintaining educational and healthcare institutions; we know the cost of maintaining roads and highways; and we know the cost of development.

Instead of merely commenting, economists and financiers should work out the mathematics. Then, the people will understand what the manifesto really represents.

But, on the other hand, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has said a manifesto is not a promise. Obviously, Pakatan is preparing to renege on its manifesto.

This is not surprising. In Selangor, the Pakatan government has failed to honour its promise, including providing free water and allowance for single mothers.

Pakatan's manifesto is obviously meant to hoodwink the electorate.


 

No way Pakatan can fulfil manifesto, says Tunku Aziz

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:47 AM PST

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(NST) - BAD TRACK RECORD: Opposition playing 'silly games' for votes

KUALA LUMPUR: FORMER DAP vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim said the opposition coalition's manifesto is just another list of promises that will not be fulfilled.

"Those who believe and rely on those promises will be left disappointed," he said, adding that the nature of the manifesto only prove that the opposition do not have the experience to govern a nation.

"Based on their track record, many promises will go unfulfilled," said Tunku Aziz at a press conference in Tropicana Golf and Country Resort here yesterday.

"If Pakatan Rakyat leaders had any experience in their hands, they would realise that their promises cannot be delivered."

He added that the opposition's plan of raising the income of Malaysians was just following what the Federal Government had laid out, but with an increase in figures.

"Unlike Pakatan Rakyat, the government figures are prepared by teams of experts from the Finance Ministry, the Economic Planning Unit and Bank Negara Malaysia.

"Are they (opposition leaders) doing this to get people excited? To win a few votes?

"They are playing silly games. We have to think whether they are in a position to deliver."

Experience, Tunku Aziz said, cannot be replaced by expectations or promises. He added that the opposition leaders should be a little more modest and learn more before beginning to make such promises to the people.

"We cannot have this kind of behaviour in people who aspire to lead us and the future of our complex country, and we should take all these things much more seriously."

On a separate matter, Tunku Aziz called on the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to investigate the "technical glitch" that happened during the DAP central executive committee elections in Penang in November last year.

He said if DAP leaders were good and responsible, they would voluntarily step down while the RoS investigated the matter.

"The CEC was improperly constituted, and the appointment of the top leadership cannot by any means be regarded as valid.

"Now, we see the flaws of the DAP system. The convention in Penang made it very clear."



 

Busy fighting the enemy within

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:39 AM PST

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Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak has survived several health scares and is moving to secure his Mentri Besar post as well as to put in place his choice of successor in Kedah.

Joceline Tan, The Star 

IT is quite fortunate that Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak has a great sense of humour given the periodic speculation about his health.

The Kedah Mentri Besar has grown quite used to people imagining that he is about to meet his maker.

For instance, there was a death in his house on the outskirts of Alor Setar last Sunday. His sister-in-law, the elder sibling of Azizan's first wife, had passed away and there were cars parked outside the house and people milling about.

When a reporter called to tell him that people had wondered what was going on, he quipped: "Is that why you phoned me? To ask if I had died?"

That is why many reporters like him he is terribly witty when in a good mood and sharp-tongued when feeling grouchy, but never boring.

Actually, Azizan is looking quite healthy these days. He seems to be responding to treatment after a series of health scares over the past year. He has put a bit of weight back on and looks like his old distinguished self.

However, curiosity over the activity at his house last weekend had more to do with his political health.

For the last week or so, PAS supporters had been staging protests against Azizan with some of them going to the extent of asking him to step down.

As such when people heard about the busy scene at Azizan's house, they thought he was bowing to the pressure to call it a day.

It was wishful thinking because that is the last thing on his mind. Azizan has made it clear that he will be leading his party into the general election. He intends to defend his Sungai Limau seat and he has not discounted the fact that he will still be Mentri Besar after the election.

His supporters argue that if Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who is 81 and sickly, is still contesting the election, Azizan who is 13 years younger can do the same.

But the problem is that Azizan is planning to put his opponents in PAS out of his way. He has submitted a fresh list of election candidates to the PAS central leadership that will effectively cut his opponents off from below the knee.

In the new list, Datuk Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi, who is Azizan's chief threat to the Mentri Besar post, will be sent from the Pengkalan Kundor state seat to the Jerlun parliamentary seat. Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh andDatuk Dr Hamdan Mohd Khalid, the two assemblymen aligned to Phahrolrazi, will be dropped.

It was as good as sending Phahrolrazi, who is the party's No 2 man in Kedah, into political exile. Phahrolrazi's state seat is located in the Kuala Kedah area where he is also the PAS division chief. Being sent to Jerlun is akin to being plucked from a tree in his own garden and chucked into a new and hostile backyard to grow anew.

But who can blame Azizan for wanting Phahrolrazi out of the way? Phahrolrazi's group had tried but failed to topple Azizan when he was lying on a hospital bed recovering from a heart attack.

Azizan would have to continually look over his shoulder if Phahrolrazi continues as an assemblyman.

Last year, Phahrolrazi declined to be reappointed as a state exco member. The PAS central leadership had to intervene and when Phahrolrazi relented and rejoined the state exco, Azizan demoted him to a less important portfolio and promoted another loyalist Datuk Taulan Mat Rasul over Phahrolrazi.

The state civil servants say the two men are barely talking. However, the two nemeses exchanged broad plastic smiles and even shook hands in front of their president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang during the Chinese New Year do in Alor Setar.

Phahrolrazi was on a talk show on Astro Awani last week during which he described his boss as a three-cylinder engine car. As everyone knows, a three-cylinder car is economical to maintain but it cannot go as fast as, say, the BMW, which has a six-cylinder engine.

Phahrolrazi is an engineer and it was his way of saying that the Mentri Besar was under-performing when he should be zooming ahead at the speed of a BMW car. And if that was not enough, he said he was prepared to take on the top job if that is what the top leadership wanted.

It was a touchy interview and the boss did not appreciate being described as a three-cylinder vehicle.

Read more at: http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?col=joceline&file=/2013/3/1/columnists/joceline/12774309&sec=Joceline 

 

Samy: MIC has addressed all Indian problems

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:36 AM PST

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(fz.com) - Former MIC President Datuk Seri Samy Vellu vehemently denied that there are major problems plaguing the Indian community and insisted that he is still closely monitoring the solutions he had put in place to solve all the community's problems.
 
Samy Vellu, who was the MIC's longest serving president until his resignation in 2010, was commenting on the opposition's claims that the Indian community is facing major problems including a lack of education, poverty and documentation issues. 
 
In an interview with fz.com, Samy Vellu said it was during his time that Maju Institute of Education (MIED) – the education arm of MIC – was formed. 
 
"The education problems of the Indians have been taken care of by MIC when I was the president. We spent RM120 million to educate (Indians) by building colleges and universities. 
 
"We have trained 45,000 Indian students to be craftsmen and we have even given out scholarships. 
 
"We have built a university, Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST) for the Indian students to become doctors and there are also other races studying there," said Samy Vellu in defence of MIC. 
 
Samy Vellu said that despite stepping down from the president's post in MIC, he is still helming the efforts to assist Indians.
 
"I am still the chairman of MIED, which owns the AIMST," said Samy Vellu.  
 
On whether poverty is rampant in the Indian community, Samy Vellu said that it has always been the policy of MIC to give the poor Indians jobs.
 
"We have an organisation called Yayasan Pemulihan. Whenever we see people in poverty, we get them a job. We have started an organisation called Yayasan Strategik Sosial as well," said Samy Vellu.
 
On the statelessness issue of Malaysian-born Indians, especially those in the estates, a problem which was highlighted by PKR, Samy Vellu said that the issue was merely being politicised.
 
"I don't think the opposition have any knowledge of the statelessness issues of the Indians. What is the opposition? They just open the mouth and talk - they are only doing politics - but we are doing politics and social work. 
 
"All the stateless Indians have gotten citizenship and MIC has done it for many thousands of people. During my time itself, we had separate departments to look into the activities of Indians. Until today, I still see people for seven hours every Tuesday and record what they need and then after that I get them the needed help," said Samy Vellu. 

Read more at: http://fz.com/content/samy-mic-has-addressed-all-indian-problems 

Hey, where's my share?

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:31 AM PST

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The irony is, all these goodies are coming out of my tax dollars. Yet, because I am single, over 30, earn a living income and already have purchased an apartment (closer to hovel when you consider property prices in PJ), I get zippo.
 
N. Shashi Kala, fz.com
 
I HAVE a confession to make... with all the talk of elections and goodies being handed out willy nilly, I'm feeling kinda left out.
 
I mean, there's BR1M for senior citizens and for those from poor households, RM200 smartphone rebate for youths under 30, RM200 book vouchers for students, RM100 school aid for each child, Kedai Makan 1Malaysia for cheap meals, KR1M for household goods, PR1MA for first-time house buyers, TR1M for taxi drivers and a host of other goodies.
 
The irony is, all these goodies are coming out of my tax dollars. Yet, because I am single, over 30, earn a living income and already have purchased an apartment (closer to hovel when you consider property prices in PJ), I get zippo.
 
Yes, I fall squarely in the middle class with high taxes and few reliefs or rebates (the yearly RM1,000 book rebate is one few I enjoy).
 
The rich – who usually have their own businesses – tend to find ways to avoid paying or at least substantially reduce the amount of taxes they pay (thanks to creative accounting and undeclared income stashed overseas).
 
But for salaried employees like me, the IRD gets first dibs on my money even before I do.
 
It has been years since the government has shown any kindness to those like me, for whom finishing a 7-year car loan is cause for celebration – never mind that the repairs bills have been on the up and up.
 
Also, I suspect that those in this group are among the more regular charitable donors, as they have more disposable income.
 
You could say that, hey, you're not exactly suffering, so why do you need help? But that's not quite true.
 
My generation bought our homes by ourselves – we did not have the luck of having our parents put down a hefty down payment for it. We left home right after school (to work or go to uni) and never moved back in.
 
When I wanted to buy my first car, I used my savings and took a loan to buy a small, second-hand Charade. The monthy loan repayment cost RM384, a huge sum for someone pulling slightly less than a thousand salary.
 
Nowadays, most of the twenty-somethings I know drive brand new Myvis or Protons paid for by their parents.
 
I guess the point I am trying to make is that nothing was given to us – we worked hard to get here. And cost of living increases strike us just as hard.
 
Escalating cost of private healthcare, and car prices that border on the ridiculous (seriously, paying 300K or more for a depreciating asset is ludicrous, unless you are very rich) are just some of the examples.
 
We are stuck in between the rich – for whom shelling out 20K for a handbag is just a shopping footnote - and the poor who end up diluting infant formula purchased at Kedai 1Malaysia to make it last longer.
 
We are stuck in middle class hell and it feels like all our hard-earned money is being siphoned off as handouts to special interest groups. But these kind of populist, one-off measures do nothing to improve the lot of the poor.

 

Read more at: http://fz.com/content/hey-wheres-my-share 

Najib’s RM1.40 per day food budget

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:29 AM PST

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(The Rocket) - RM41.60 is enough to feed a family for a week, according to Prime Minister Najib Razak. In a speech boasting about the impact of the BR1M government welfare assistance program, Najib said that receipients of the RM500 aid would be able to buy food for one year.

"We have calculated that on average, a family can buy groceries such as 10kg of rice, 5kg of cooking oil and other essentials per month with RM41.60. That means they have enough to buy food for 12 months with the RM500 BR1M," he told the crowd when  officiating the Terengganu state level "Program Jelajah Janji Ditepati" in Dataran Syahbandar, as reported by news agency Bernama.

Based on Najib's calculations, each family would have a household daily food budget of RM1.40.

Rising food prices
Netizens have ridiculed Najib for his comment, calling him out of touch with the actual cost of living struggles faced by ordinary citizens. Threads in the popular forum lowyat.net are discussing Najib's statement, juxtaposing it together with actual food prices.

A forum user calling himeself "t3arsCulprit" pointed out that the cheapest price for a 10kg packet of rice costs RM20 and a 5kg bottle of oil cost RM15.

User "scorptim" went further to divide the amount of rice that an individual could afford to consume within a month with a 10kg limit and three daily meals, working out to be 111g of rice per meal.

Users "Mie131085″, "exBlasTer" and "Acher13″ also doubted that the RM500 would be sufficient to cover living expenses for a year.

Illogical calculations

Meanwhile, PAS's Parit Buntar member of parliament Mujahid Yusof Rawa called Najib's calculation "illogical", pointing out that the threshold level for poverty is a household income of RM1,200 a month. "It's hilarious, whether Najib said it wrongly or he said it unconsciously, but he was wide awake," Mujahid said.

DAP's MP for Bukit Bendera, Liew Chin Tong called Najib "a political prince" who has no understanding of the lives and aspirations of the ordinary Joe. Liew said Najib's statement showed that he has no inkling of what the people endure in an economy that doesn't help the bottom 60 per cent.

In his speech, Najib added that this showed that Barisan is a government that looks after the people. As such, he stressed that the people should now realise the truth and reject the opposition coalition.

More than 20,000 people attended the event, including Najib's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said.


 

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