Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- BN and opposition supporters clash
- Former IGP chides Md Hashim for likening himself to a monkey
- Malaysia prepares for general election
- PKR: Membership not approved for Saiful's dad
- Saiful's dad retracts apology to Anwar, says sodomy case was not a plot
- Cops to see Raja Petra over post
- The Star rejects advert from DAP
- ‘Remove anti-Christian billboards’
- Citizens Step Up to Monitor Malaysia’s Elections
- Under-probe Sabah voter roll still legit, EC says
- In Sungai Siput, a fight for MIC’s future
- 'Brand Najib' targets undecided voters
- Najib pushes back against opposition in Penang
- EC staff made mistake by not shaking ink bottle
| BN and opposition supporters clash Posted: 01 May 2013 02:13 AM PDT
Four motorcyclists were injured and a pick-up truck was damaged during an altercation at Jalan Tenggiri in Seberang Jaya last night. In the incident which occurred at about 6.30pm, some 18 motorcyclists, believed to be PKR supporters, on ten motorcycles, surrounded a pick-up truck belonging to Seberang Jaya BN candidate Datuk Mohammad Nasir Abdullah's team.
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| Former IGP chides Md Hashim for likening himself to a monkey Posted: 01 May 2013 12:28 AM PDT
(Bernama) - Former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Noor today described it as "inappropriate" for former army chief General (Rtd) Tan Sri Md Hashim Hussein to liken himself to a "monkey freed from captivity" following his retirement from government service. He said such a statement could hurt the feelings of more than one million civil servants nationwide. "In that case, when he was the army chief, he was a monkey. Monkey or not, he got four stars and was able to head the army, and then made an ambassador abroad," Rahim told a press conference, here. Md Hashim, who is standing as the PKR candidate for the Johor Baru parliamentary seat against BN's Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad, was alleged to have made such a statement in a ceramah last week. Rahim said Md Hashim should realise that he still had his family members in the government service. "This means his family members who are still working with the government are monkeys, and I too, because I used to be a public servant, am also a monkey," he added. He said Md Hashim, who had been in government service for more than 30 years, should not hurt other people's feelings by making such a statement. He also described the former general's statement as politically immature.
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| Malaysia prepares for general election Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:13 PM PDT
(BBC) - The government has spent money in villages ... and there just isn't the hunger for change felt by so many younger Malaysians in the cities. A general election is being held in Malaysia on 5 May, in what is seen as a major test for Prime Minister Najib Razak's ruling coalition The governing party has been in power for a 56-year period. However, the opposition has been gaining ground on a pledge to end corruption. In 2008, the ruling National Front lost its two-thirds parliamentary majority for the first time. Jonathan Head reports. |
| PKR: Membership not approved for Saiful's dad Posted: 30 Apr 2013 09:44 PM PDT
(fz.com) - Despite being paraded at PKR's headquarters in party cap and vest less than two months ago, Azlan Mohd Lazim, the father of the Mohd Saiful Bukhari, had not been approved as a member, PKR supreme council member Datuk Johari Abdul said today. At that time, Azlan had claimed that the sodomy charge by Mohd Saiful against PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was part of a political conspiracy and announced that he was joining PKR. Earlier today, Azlan made a U-turn and said that his son was indeed sodomised by Anwar and subsequently, withdrew his PKR membership. Johari, who had claimed previously that Azlan had sought him out to expose the conspiracy against Anwar, reiterated today that the party had never approached or forced Saiful's father to make any statement. "We would like to clarify here that Azlan Mat Lazim was never a member of PKR. His application to join PKR was not yet approved. I would also like to clarify that Azlan Mat Lazim had asked to meet us and not vice versa. "He himself had offered to make a confession that all allegations against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim were a political conspiracy," Johari said. Read more at: http://fz.com/content/pkr-membership-not-approved-saifuls-dad |
| Saiful's dad retracts apology to Anwar, says sodomy case was not a plot Posted: 30 Apr 2013 09:41 PM PDT
(ST) - The father of Mr Saiful Bukhari Azlan, the alleged victim in Mr Anwar Ibrahim's second sodomy trial, has retracted his apology to the opposition leader, saying his son's sodomy complaint was not a plot. Mr Azlan Mohd Lazim said on Wednesday that "certain quarters" had influenced him to apologise to Mr Anwar and say it was a political conspiracy in a closed-door press conference on March 8, The Malaysian Insider reported. "Today, I retract my apology to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and stress that my son's sodomy case is true. "It isn't a political conspiracy," he told a press conference here. Mr Azlan's retraction comes just four days before polling for the 13th general election, but the 60-year-old said the timing was a mere coincidence and that he had not been coerced by any party. "I step forward to make the statement voluntarily and am not forced. "I also was not offered any reward to retract my apology," he said. Mr Azlan, who was alone at the hastily-convened news conference, said he realised he had made a mistake and added that his action was bereft of reward. "After evaluating and rethinking, I admit I made a mistake for apologising to Datuk Seri Anwar. "I have realised and want to apologise to my whole family especially my son Saiful," he said, adding that Mr Saiful was aware of today's news conference and that both father and son had no quarrel with each other. Mr Azlan said he did not fear being labelled a liar or any negative backlash as a result of his reversal today, adding that people were free to draw their own conclusions. "It's up to the people; I don't mind," he said. He also said he will serve written notice of his resignation to Parti Keadilan Rakyat soon.
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| Cops to see Raja Petra over post Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:01 PM PDT
CLAIMS: Blogger implies opposition leaders involved in Lahad Datu incursion (NST) - KUALA LUMPUR: A POLICE team will leave today for Singapore to interview controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin over a posting he made in relation to the Lahad Datu incursion. Federal Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Bakri Zinin said Raja Petra had implied in his April 25 post on the Malaysia Today news portal that several local opposition leaders were involved in the incursion. "The blogger is quite well known in Malaysia, although he is not based here. We need to record his statement to facilitate our Ops Daulat and Lahad Datu investigations," he told the New Straits Times. In a post titled "The untold story of the Lahad Datu incident", Raja Petra claimed that an opposition leader had flown to Jakarta in July last year to meet with Nur Misuari and military commanders from the Moro National Liberation Front. Raja Petra claimed that the meeting, which was held at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Jakarta, had been arranged by an Indonesian member of parliament at the opposition leader's request. He also claimed that a second meeting to finalise and seal the agreement was held in Manila in August last year. The opposition leader had allegedly sought Misuari's help to win in the 13th General Election.
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| The Star rejects advert from DAP Posted: 30 Apr 2013 03:57 PM PDT
(Malaysiakini) - Two other newspapers - Harian Metro and Kosmo! - refused to even provide a quotation, stating outright that advertisements from opposition parties will not be entertained, said Pua. DAP has accused The Star of barring the party from publishing advertisements in the daily. Read more at: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/228644 |
| ‘Remove anti-Christian billboards’ Posted: 30 Apr 2013 02:50 PM PDT (FMT) - A Christian organisation wants the EC to remove such billboards and the authorities to investigate those responsible for erecting them. Billboards containing anti-Christian messages have been appearing in election campaigns – and this is making a Christian organisation jittery. The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) wants the Election Commission (EC) to remove these billboards which CFM fears may pose a danger to Christians. "We strongly urge the EC to immediately remove such billboards and materials and the authorities to investigate and charge the person or persons responsible," CFM chairman Reverend Eu Hong Seng said in a statement today. The billboards bear the message "Do you want to see your grandchildren praying in this Allah's house?", with two pictures of churches with the cross and the words "Gereja Allah". "These billboards may pose a danger to Christians and churches because we use the word 'Allah'. These fears are real given the recent history of Church burnings and threats to burn the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia," said Eu. "The message pits one community [Muslims] against Christians by spreading fear through scare tactics using the issue of 'Allah'. "It is extremely mischievous and malicious to pit Muslims against Christians who have always enjoyed good relationships, to gain political points with such blatant misinformation," he said. Eu also urged all Malaysians to denounce such billboards. Read more at: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/05/01/remove-anti-christian-billboards/ |
| Citizens Step Up to Monitor Malaysia’s Elections Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:54 AM PDT (WSJ) - 3,000 citizens have signed up to be volunteers across 12 out of 13 states. That number falls far short of initial goal of 10,000 election observers by Mafrel, human rights group Pusat Komas and Bersih 2.0, a group that advocates electoral reforms. When Malaysians go to vote on May 5, some citizen activists will be on vigil at polling stations to try to ensure that the 13th general elections are free and fair. The stakes are high for both the National Front coalition, which has ruled Malaysia since it gained independence from Britain in 1957, and a resurgent opposition, which aims to better its 2008 record electoral gains, when it denied the ruling coalition a two-thirds majority in Parliament. Activists, who have in past clashed with police when demanding sweeping electoral reforms, complain that the government isn't making changes quickly enough to ensure the integrity of the election. The effort to dispatch citizen observers reflects concern that authorities tasked with managing the election process may not be entirely free from the government's grip. "Everyone knows that the Election Commission is not independent," said Wong Yoke Meng, who count ballots for the first time. The 38-year-old entrepreneur will be among volunteers reporting at their designated polling booths by 7 a.m. to make sure that ballots are in order. After the poll stations close at 5 p.m., she will help count ballots. Ms. Wong is one of the four agents at polling stations –or Paca — that a candidate in each district can nominate. In addition, local groups are scattering their volunteers across the country to observe the polling process from outside the booths. Read more at: http://blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2013/04/30/citizens-step-up-to-monitor-malaysias-elections/ |
| Under-probe Sabah voter roll still legit, EC says Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:45 AM PDT
(TMI) - Sabah's electoral roll containing 60,673 dubious entries is still legit and cannot be junked as the royal panel looking into the citizenship-for-votes controversy has yet to conclude any wrongdoing, the Election Commission (EC) said today. An independent polls watchdog had highlighted this morning that Sabah's gazetted electoral roll used for the 13th general election was plagued with a large number problems, such as incomplete addresses and voters who shared the same identity card (IC) numbers, months after a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) had exposed much irregularities in the naturalisaton process for immigrants. "The list of registered voters raised in the RCI is still legit, besides no final decision has been reached. "The RCI has yet to end and make its decision, how can we discard the electoral roll," EC chief Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof told The Malaysian Insider. He also said that the names on the EC's roll were Malaysian citizens, adding that the voter list had been on public display for two weeks starting from January 17 and no objections had been recorded during that period. "EC had displayed the list for two weeks, if they objected, it should have been made in that period. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/under-probe-sabah-voter-roll-still-legit-ec-says/
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| In Sungai Siput, a fight for MIC’s future Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:38 AM PDT
(TMI) - "MIC hasn't been around. And suddenly they come with a lot of money and they have been giving out money," Dr Jeyakumar told The Straits Times, expressing fear that this may sway votes in his opponents favour. MIC is going all-out to win back the Sungai Siput seat previously held by Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu for three decades, for both a symbolic and political victory. The former MIC president's 30-year reign in Sungai Siput inextricably linked the federal seat to the party he once led, and his shock defeat there in 2008 made it appear as though it had lost home ground, The Straits Times reported today. But in Election 2013, MIC is back with a vengeance, according to the Singapore newspaper. It is fielding caretaker deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk SK Devamany and has spent more than RM3 million in the past three months alone on road repairs and other work in this constituency. For MIC, Sungai Siput is not simply another seat. Aside from its long past with Samy Vellu, it also has a sizeable Indian community ― 21 per cent of the 51,709 voters or around double the proportion of Indians in Malaysia ― making it a quasi-referendum on the party's political relevance. MIC won only three parliamentary seats in 2008, but is contesting nine seats in Election 2013. To start its fightback, MIC will need to dislodge PSM's Dr Michael Jeyakumar, the soft-spoken political activist who took down Samy Vellu in 2008. An independent, S. Nagalingam, has also thrown his hat in the ring. This time, MIC may be aided by a less-focussed Indian community. Unlike in 2008 when the group found cohesion courtesy of HINDRAF, there is no such guiding force today. Having attacked the government for oppressing Indians, HINDRAF signed a pact with Barisan Nasional (BN) last month, leading to a fracture in its own ranks. But BN's fielding of Perkasa vice-president Zulkifly Noordin, alleged to have disparaged both Hindus and Indians, has also outraged the community. Such conflicts are not lost on the voters. Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/in-sungai-siput-a-fight-for-mics-future/ |
| 'Brand Najib' targets undecided voters Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:30 AM PDT
(ST) - HE IS everywhere. Billboards and huge posters of Datuk Seri Najib Razak have gone up at flyovers, highways and lamp posts across Malaysia as he becomes the biggest campaigner for his ruling Barisan Nasional in the country's tightest election. In reality, the winning party or coalition will choose the prime minister. "Vote for the Prime Minister!" exclaims one poster, depicting an X marked beside the BN logo - a weighing scale. Another billboard tells the country's 13.3 million voters that a vote for BN is a vote for Mr Najib, while other billboards give details of the initiatives he has carried out since he became Prime Minister in 2009. They include upgrading of infrastructure, cash handouts and other forms of aid. "We respect the sanctity of the Constitution, not destroy it with confusion," says yet another billboard featuring Mr Najib's photo, as it takes a dig at the opposition Pakatan Rakyat. "Brand Najib" has become a defining feature of this closely fought election as the Prime Minister seeks to shore up support for BN, its image tarred by mismanagement and corruption scandals. It is aimed at winning over fence-sitters who like Mr Najib's leadership style but are hesitant about voting for BN, which has been in power for nearly six decades and is hoping to win its 13th general election on Sunday. Mr Najib is far more popular than BN. The latest survey by the independent Merdeka Centre in February showed overall support for BN at 45 per cent, and support highest among Malays at 60 per cent, Indians at 52 per cent and Chinese, 16 per cent. The Prime Minister's personal approval rating is much higher, at 61 per cent overall in the same survey. The level of satisfaction was the highest among Indians at 75 per cent; Malays, 73 per cent; and Chinese, 34 per cent.
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| Najib pushes back against opposition in Penang Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:27 AM PDT
(ST) - He makes pledges to Chinese voters, saying BN is a government for all PRIME Minister Najib Razak sought to push back the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) charge in Penang yesterday, as he targeted shortcomings in the opposition alliance's strongest bastion to swing votes to his ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. Making his first visit to the state in the election campaign, Datuk Seri Najib pledged to refurbish and build more low-cost houses, and also made a pitch to Chinese voters, who make up more than half the voters there. He said Penang's well-known Han Chiang College will be upgraded to university status and offer degree courses in affiliation with a university, and will receive RM1 million (S$400,000) in funding. "I'm deeply committed that every Malaysian has access to quality education," he said. "We are a government for all." Mr Najib also promised that his Umno party will not take the Penang chief minister's post, which is traditionally held by the head of the BN's Chinese-based Gerakan party. His visit to Penang came as more than 230,000 police and navy personnel took part in advance voting yesterday. Indelible ink was used for the first time, in a new measure aimed at reducing voter fraud. On Monday, the PR ramped up its campaign in Penang at a rousing mega rally, with tens of thousands of people thronging the Han Chiang school field, an iconic venue credited with galvanising opposition supporters in 2008. The BN, not to be outdone, held its own large-scale gathering last night. Thousands gathered in a police camp on the island, in a glitzy event attended by local celebrities. Mr Najib maintained that it was possible to recapture Penang from the PR because the state government had not lived up to expectations. The PR won the state with a two-thirds majority in 2008, and is widely tipped to retain control. "There is a new spirit, which is more vigorous, among the people. The wind of change is blowing here," he told supporters during a stop in Kepala Batas, the former seat of former prime minister Abdullah Badawi. He hit out at the lack of affordable housing in Penang, which has become a thorny issue in the state. Penang island, in particular, has seen the launch of many high-end private properties in recent years. Property prices have doubled in many areas, creating unhappiness among poorer communities, especially the Malays. The BN has blamed the PR state government for what it called "reckless and haphazard" development. The BN, however, cares about the poor, said Mr Najib, who announced that the government will build 10,000 affordable housing units on the island for those living in dilapidated low-cost flats. |
| EC staff made mistake by not shaking ink bottle Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:25 AM PDT
(Bernama) - ALLEGATIONS that indelible ink can be easily removed by washing may be due to failure by the Election Commission (EC) staff to follow procedures. EC secretary Datuk Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria said yesterday following the allegations, the EC ran some tests yesterday and as a result, fingers smeared with ink from shaken bottles lasted longer than the others. "Not withstanding the impact of indelible ink, the EC like to emphasise that early voters who voted on April 30 2013 cannot vote again on May 5 because their names do not exist in the electoral roll for ordinary voters," he said in a statement yesterday. Kamaruddin said the EC will continue to use indelible ink on May 5, 2013 in accordance with the requirements of the law currently in force. The EC received the information via social networking sites with photograph of an early voter showing the indelible could be easily removed by washing.
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A mock-up of the advertisement depicted Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali and the group's vice-president Zulkifli Noordin.
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