Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- IGP says Sanjeevan’s friends shot him
- ‘Cover modelling industry too’
- DAP to hold emergency CEC meeting following ROS announcement
- Najib the best man to unite Malaysia, says Zaid Ibrahim
- Fitch cuts M'sia outlook on worsening reform prospects
- Ridhuan Tee blames the “ultra kiasu” for Seri Pristana furore
- Police have failed to tackle issue of rising crime
- Where else can we ‘balik’ to? asks Wee
- ‘Society has become too sensitive’
- Rampant Gun Crimes Raises Question On Crime Statistics And Public Safety
- MACC: Sanjeevan yet to furnish proof on claims
- Exhuming Maika’s can of worms
- End of road for Muslim Miss Malaysia hopefuls
| IGP says Sanjeevan’s friends shot him Posted: 30 Jul 2013 02:16 AM PDT
(TMI) - The suspects behind the attempted murder of MyWatch chairman R Sri Sanjeevan could have been his own friends. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said initial investigations had led police to this startling revelation.
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| ‘Cover modelling industry too’ Posted: 30 Jul 2013 02:03 AM PDT
(The Sun) - The organiser of the Miss Malaysia World 2013 pageant, which saw the exit of four Muslim contestants, feels that the fatwa that prevented their participation should apply equally to the modelling industry. Datuk Anna Lim told the theSun today that fashion modelling and beauty pageants are on the same court of presentation. "As I am not a Muslim, I would not like to comment on the fatwa itself but fashion modelling and beauty pageants are similar and the same rules should apply," she said. Lim said the four contestants who had been disqualified have been invited as guests for the final event on Friday at the Corus Hotel. "They have not been involved with the pageant in any way," she said when asked to comment on a statement by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom that the National Fatwa Council will address the issue of Muslim women in the modelling industry later. Miera Sheikh, one of the four girls disqualified from the competition, said she will be at the finals as she wishes to support "my friends". She said she wants to develop her career as a model while keeping to religious sentiments and law.
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| DAP to hold emergency CEC meeting following ROS announcement Posted: 30 Jul 2013 01:55 AM PDT
(The Star) - DAP will hold an emergency central executive committee (CEC) meeting Wednesday night to discuss its next course of action following the Registrar of Societies' (ROS) announcement that the party will need to conduct fresh polls. In calling for all members and supporters to remain calm, secretary-general Lim Guan Eng maintained that the party had yet to be officially informed, either verbally or in writing, of the directive to hold fresh elections. He said when national organising secretary Anthony Loke was informed that the letter supposed to convey the ROS decision was "not ready". "As this is a clear act of political vengeance and an illegal abuse of power, the DAP CEC shall consider all options as provided for under the Societies Act, after receiving the written directive from ROS," said Lim in a statement. ROS has been investigating complaints of electoral fraud in the DAP CEC election last December. The issue cropped up when a recalculation revealed that Lim's political secretary Zairil Khir Johari, who had initially received 305 votes, clinched 803 votes. On Monday night, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was quoted as saying that DAP needs to reconvene its internal elections. Lim said he was shocked at Ahmad Zahid's pronouncement, and that DAP was never informed of the decision.
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| Najib the best man to unite Malaysia, says Zaid Ibrahim Posted: 30 Jul 2013 01:51 AM PDT
Syed Jaymal Zahiid, MM Despite persistent criticism at his purported lack of political willpower, Datuk Seri Najib Razak remains the best bet to unite a racially polarised Malaysia, former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said today. The prime minister had been severely criticised for his controversial statement blaming the Chinese community for the ruling coalition's dismal electoral showing but according to Zaid (picture), Najib has not shown any bias towards any particular race amid escalating tension between Malaysia's two biggest ethnicity.
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| Fitch cuts M'sia outlook on worsening reform prospects Posted: 29 Jul 2013 08:47 PM PDT
(fz.com) - "Prospects for budgetary reform and fiscal consolidation to address weaknesses in the public finances have worsened since the government's weak showing in the May 2013 general elections," Fitch said in a statement. Ratings agency Fitch cut its outlook on Malaysia's sovereign debt to negative on Tuesday, citing gloomier prospects for reforms to tackle the Southeast Asian country's rising debt burden following a divisive election result this year.
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| Ridhuan Tee blames the “ultra kiasu” for Seri Pristana furore Posted: 29 Jul 2013 03:28 PM PDT Ranjit Singh, TMI Controversial columnist Professor Ridhuan Tee Abdullah has blamed the "ultra kiasu" for highlighting the SK Seri Pristana recess in a shower-changing room issue, saying there have been no complaints about eating in hotel changing rooms. Saying that the issue has been blown out of proportions, the Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) lecturer said all quarters from the Education Ministry to parents and the "ultra kiasu", his euphemism for the opposition, had reacted without any investigation. He also took the school's Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) to task for not defending headmaster Mohamad Nasir Mohd Noor, whom he said had the children's interests at heart. In his opinion piece published yesterday in his blog, Tee said when he first heard that the students in SK Seri Pristana were made to have their meals in the toilet, his immediate reaction was "what a terrible school". But when investigations revealed that it was a changing room and not the toilet, he realised that it was the reaction of the ultra kiasu. Adding that he often stayed in hotels, Ridhuan pointed out that it was common to find changing rooms with sinks for people to eat and drink there. "In some cases, these changing rooms were not separated from the toilets. Is this wrong? Is there no smell. How come there is no protest against this?" he questioned. He went on. "Why didn't the Tourism Ministry order the hotels to separate the changing room from the toilets? Just because it follows Western style, it was agreeable, but when the school did it for a temporary period, it was as though the country was near its doom," Ridhuan said in his opinion piece. He added that despite the school explaining the matter, some quarters were not happy and were making demands for the headmaster to be suspended or transferred. Tee further questioned the lack of fuss against water being brought into the toilet for drinking after a massage or sauna at the spa.
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| Police have failed to tackle issue of rising crime Posted: 29 Jul 2013 03:12 PM PDT
Ranjit Singh, TMI Three shootings yesterday showed that police have failed to tackle the issue of rising crime in the country, said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng who added that using the repeal of the Emergency Ordinance as a reason for this is unacceptable. The shooting of Arab-Malaysian Development Bank founder Hussain Ahmad Najadi is proof that the escalating crime was not due to gangland murders as claimed by police. "Blaming the abolition of the EO as the main reason for the increased crimes and gangland murders was not acceptable as yesterday's murder of the prominent banker proved otherwise. "Police credibility had also plunged to new lows with the shooting of MyWatch chief R. Sri Sanjeevan after it was revealed of possible police links to the underworld," Lim said in a statement. Yesterday alone, apart from Hussain, a security firm owner was shot and killed in Ipoh while another victim was shot as he was driving in Bukit Mertajam. He survived. He said these recent cases clearly showed that police were more inclined to act against the political opponents of the Barisan Nasional rather than address the issue of escalating crime. Lim who is also the Bagan MP pointed out that in a written reply to DAP MP for Kulai Teo Nie Ching in Parliament recently, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zaid Hamidi had said that only 9 per cent of the entire police force comprising 112,583 police personnel, were directly involved in fighting crime. The statistics showed that 10,150 (9 per cent) are in the Criminal Investigation Department,4,224 (3.8 percent) in the Narcotics Criminal Investigation and 1,663 (1.4 percent) in Commercial Crimes Investigation Department. The Home Minister refused to mention how many police personnel were in the Special Branch. Lim said that it was unacceptable that only 9 per cent are directly involved in fighting crime on the streets.
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| Where else can we ‘balik’ to? asks Wee Posted: 29 Jul 2013 03:04 PM PDT
MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong urges educators to be mindful of sensitivities and refrain from using derogatory statements against students. G Lavendran, FMT MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong today accused educators of fueling the fires of racial bigotry in the country. He was referring to the principal of SM Alam Megah in Section 27, Shah Alam who had allegedly uttered derogatory instructions against her students, telling them to "…balik India dan China". This incident came less than a week after the SK Seri Pristina school issue was resolved. "When will it all end? We are patriotic and loyal Malaysian citizens, and Malaysia is our home. Where else can we 'balik' to?" asked Wee today. Wee said that while the rakyat are constantly advocating for a more harmonised and less racially-divided society, the educators themselves are fueling the fires of racial bigotry. "This recurring theme of targeting students who are not of the same ethnicity is disappointing, even more so when schools are expected to inculcate mutual respect for one another. "Rather than to polarise friendships as not only students are offended, the multiracial teachers too are likewise affected," said the Ayer Itam MP. No need to spew racial comments FMT reported yesterday that the principal of SM Alam Megah scolded her students and told them to 'balik India dan China' for not paying attention to her during during assembly. Wee, a former deputy education minister, said that there was no need to spew racially motivated comments in order for a group of teenagers to quiet down.
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| ‘Society has become too sensitive’ Posted: 29 Jul 2013 02:29 PM PDT Dhong Zong's objection to the education masterplan saw a disappointed Education Minister advise Muslims to prioritise unity and cordial ties against rising racial polarization. (Bernama) - He said Dhong Zhong viewed the government's good intention as racist although it took almost two years to gather input on PIPP to be in line with the Education Act and the education philosophy. The United Chinese School Committees' Association of Malaysia's (Dhong Zong) decision to object to the Education Development Master Plan (PIPP) 2013-2025 has disappointed Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who sees it as the latest trend in polarization especially in the context of race relations.
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| Rampant Gun Crimes Raises Question On Crime Statistics And Public Safety Posted: 29 Jul 2013 11:25 AM PDT (Malaysian Digest) - BARELY 48 hours after MyWatch chairman R. Sri Sanjeevan was shot, the nation was caught off guard by another shooting incident, this time the victim is Hussain Ahmad Najadi, a renowned banker and founder of the Arab Malaysian Banking Group. This makes it at least 14 cases since April this year and the victims varied from teachers, to criminals, to Customs Department's deputy director-general.
N. Ragunathan, 39, was shot dead in his car after he had conducted a transaction at the Road Transport Department office along Jalan Seremban-Taiping. He was alone in his Proton Perdana when two men rode up alongside his car outside the RTD office. |
| MACC: Sanjeevan yet to furnish proof on claims Posted: 29 Jul 2013 11:24 AM PDT
(The Star) - Deputy Chief Commissioner Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdull said the body could launch an investigation into Sanjeevan's claims of cops colluding with drug syndicates if he provided evidence that would corroborate his claims. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has not received any evidence from MyWatch chairman R. Sri Sanjeevan despite his continuous allegations against the police. Its Deputy Chief Commissioner Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdull said the body could launch an investigation into Sanjeevan's claims of cops colluding with drug syndicates if he provided evidence that would corroborate his claims. "We have not received any evidence or report from him (Sanjeevan). We welcome people to come forward with evidence instead of just making allegations," he said. "We are always ready to act in curbing corruption but the cooperation of the people is a must," he said. Urging the public to come forward with credible evidence, Mohd Shukri said the commission was aware of allegations of police officers allegedly under the payroll of the underworld and syndicates but a report must be lodged before action could be taken. "Allegations of police corruption is a serious matter but we need the cooperation of the people," he said when contacted yesterday. Former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan was reported to have said that Saturday's shooting of Sanjeevan could have been due to his revelations alleging police involvement in the activities of syndicated crimes and illegal activities. Sanjeevan and a friend were driving a silver BMW to have a drink in Bahau when two men riding a red motorcycle approached them. The pillion rider reportedly fired a shot which hit Sanjeevan on the right side of his ribs. According to doctors treating Sanjeevan at the Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital, his condition has worsened due to internal bleeding. |
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(The Malay Mail) - The MIC's failed investment arm Maika Holdings has emerged once again as a hot-button issue in the lead up to the party elections. The Malay Mail's editor Frankie D'Cruz asked S. Vell Paari, the chief executive officer of Maika from 1999 till mid 2010, to explain intense matters that party treasurer Datuk Jaspal Singh raised last week in the Dewan Negara. FD: How fatal has Maika's failure been to the MIC? VP: I have always admitted that Maika's failure was a contributing factor that weakened the support of the Indian community for the MIC and Barisan Nasional. This was despite Maika paying out RM41 million in dividends. And even though we returned the original RM100 million investments by shareholders, it was nothing to be proud of because the inflationary effects since the early 1980s — when Maika was set up — caused them losses on their outlay. FD: Were you part of the G Team Resources management team that took control of Maika? VP: No, I was not. After I resigned in mid-2010, G Team took control of Maika and I was never involved. I suspect Datuk Jaspal keeps saying "G Team and Maika management" to implicate me as being responsible in effecting the sale of insurance company Oriental Capital to the Tune Group. I feel there's a hidden political agenda. FD: Explain the sale of Oriental Capital, Maika's prized asset? VP: Being an insurance company, Oriental Capital Berhad is governed by the Banking and Financial Institutions Act. Only on obtaining Bank Negara's approval can the potential buyer open negotiation with a financial institution. Bank Negara has a say on the price. If you recall the case of People's Insurance where although the board had agreed to sell at a certain price, Bank Negara intervened to say the purchase price was too high and told them to reduce it. Hence, Bank Negara would and should have played the role to ensure the Oriental Capital transaction was above board. FD: What was the make-up of shareholders during the negotiations? VP: I think G Team via Maika could have controlled about 70 to 75 per cent of Oriental Capital while the rest comprised small shareholders, including the Indian government through its state-owned insurance company. You wouldn't expect shareholders of such status to keep quiet and be short-changed. Also entities behind G Team are astute in business and it is not conceivable they would have sold an asset worth RM1.2 billion for RM153 million. FD: Explain how Oriental Capital's value as Jaspal said in the Upper House got "halved after 25 years and increased 18 times its value within two years"? VP: In the central working committee meeting this month, in the presence of Jaspal, I briefed members on the confusion over how in less than a year since Tune Group bought Oriental Capital (renamed Tune Insurance) for RM153 million, it was listed on Bursa Malaysia for a market capitalisation of about RM1.2 billion. Oriental Capital's profit ranged between RM10 million to RM25 million over four years. Based on the earnings, I feel it was valued at RM153 million and sold to Tune Group. Tune Group then injected all it's in-house insurance business that had been outsourced to its fully-owned subsidiary Tune Insurance. Hence, the profit increased to above RM80 million. So when it was listed, the valuation must have been done on the increased profit of above RM80 million. That explains a market capitalisation of about RM1.2 billion. FD: Wasn't there a pledge by G Team to channel any profit from sale of its assets back to the Indian community through donations? VP: Yes, I think there was a press statement by G Team to that effect. FD: Has any profit been channelled to the Indian community from the sale of assets? VP: I don't know, you have to ask G Team. FD: Jaspal described the fate of Maika as a prime example of greed and mismanagement and has asked the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the sale of Oriental Capital. Fair? VP: That is defamatory and his statement is motivated by the collateral agenda in relation to the presidential elections. FD: Would you regard the Maika issue being raised now as a sign of desperation by your opponents in the fight for MIC leadership? VP: Clearly, it looks like an issue that has been raised with the party's presidential elections looming. I want to stay away from character assassinations and focus on the polls. I will address defamation via the legal framework and let these accusers provide evidence of any wrongdoings in court. FD: Do you think there was real concern by Jaspal over Maika's failure to increase the wealth of the Indian community? VP: Jaspal was never concerned about Maika's failure because he had never raised the issue until now. His sudden interest appears to be related to the presidential elections.
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| End of road for Muslim Miss Malaysia hopefuls Posted: 29 Jul 2013 10:45 AM PDT Sara (behind, photo not blurred) looking disappointed with Jawi's decision when met on July 29, 2013. (The Malay Mail) - The four Muslim participants of the Miss Malaysia World 2013 pageant will not be allowed to take part in the contest. Pageant organiser Datuk Anna Lim said the Federal Territories Islamic Department (Jawi) informed her of its decision yesterday. "Jawi director Datuk Che Mat Che Ali called me to confirm that the women cannot take part in the pageant," Lim said. "While the other finalists are geared for the contest, the Muslim women are left with shattered dreams. I took one look at Sara (Amelia Bernard) when she walked in today and I knew the poor girl was stressed by the controversy. "I hope this decision will not dampen their spirits as the four are beautiful and strong individuals who have so much more to offer," she added. Sara, one of the contestants who was met by The Malay Mail yesterday, said she was upset with the entire fiasco. After attending the pageant week programme at Corus Hotel, she was visibly disappointed by the outcome. "I am sad I cannot join the others as I have always dreamt of being a beauty queen, but I have to accept the decision." The 20-year-old, who was the only contestant present as a guest during the training session which started yesterday, said she has yet to decide on her next course of action. Asked if watching the other finalists prepare for the contest only added insult to injury, she brushed it off. "I am sad I cannot join the others, but I am here to support my friends all the way," said Sara, whose mother is half British and half Malay and father is half German and half Iban. Sara, who hails from Ipoh, also said she had been lambasted on Facebook since the brouhaha erupted, forcing her to deactivate her account. "Complete strangers called me all sorts of mean names and left nasty comments on my photos. Some hurled ridiculous accusations at me," she said. Sara claimed that she and fellow disqualified contestant Wafa Johanna De Korte, 19, received the most criticism as they were more outspoken over the issue. "It really opened your eyes to the number of extremists out there." Another contestant, Miera Sheikh, was not surprised by Jawi's decision. "From the moment we were disqualified, I knew the chances of us being reinstated were very slim," the 19-year-old said. "I have chosen not to dwell upon it and instead put the incident behind me. Maybe there are other brighter opportunities for me in the future." Sara, Wafa, Meira and Kathrina Ridzuan were dropped from the competition due to a fatwa banning Muslim women from participating in beauty pageants. The four were accused of insulting Islam after they expressed their dissatisfaction in the media, prompting Jawi to launch an investigation against them. |
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