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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Minister ignorant of link to brother
- PKR HQ: ‘Real’ landlord stops auction
- Khairy defends Najib over ‘wedding’ trip
- Rosmah’s prompt act shames ‘e-kasih’
- ‘Taib buying time to cool off competitors’
- Amnesty plan: Why now Hisham?
- PAS – from cave to condo
- Malaysia amnesty for millions of migrant workers
- Lingam, Former CJs Should Be Allowed To Challenge RCI Findings
- Selangor Rejects Application For Development On TOL Land At Sg Buloh Green Lane
- PM: Openness, honesty, transparency vital for faith in Govt
- Pua dares Mukhriz to distribute IPP contracts to MPs
- Reveal police probe before calling inquest, says Sarbaini’s family
- WIKILEAKS: Envoys said court’s Perak decision sanction of undemocratic takeover
- Malaysia Considers Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants
| Minister ignorant of link to brother Posted: 08 Jun 2011 01:51 AM PDT
Richard Baker and Nick McKenzie, The Age MALAYSIA's Home Affairs Minister says he had no idea a company associated with his brother was hired as an agent by troubled Reserve Bank of Australia firm Securency. Hishammuddin Hussein- who is negotiating the asylum seeker swap deal with the Gillard government - also told Malaysia's Sun Daily newspaper this week that he did not think an Australian company would engage a company linked to politically-connected figures in the hope of furthering its business interests in Malaysia. The comments came after The Age revealed Securency had hired a Kuala Lumpur firm called Liberal Technology as its Malaysian agent in 2009. Companies Commission of Malaysia records show the minister's brother, Haris Onn Hussein, to be Liberal Technology's largest individual shareholder. The brothers are cousins of Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak. Their late father Hussein Onn was Malaysia's prime minister between 1976 and 1981. Securency is being investigated by the Australian Federal Police and Britain's Serious Fraud Office for allegedly bribing public officials in Vietnam, Malaysia, Nigeria and Indonesia in return for winning polymer banknote supply contracts. The Age is not suggesting Liberal Technology, Hishammuddin Hussein, Haris Onn Hussein or Mr Razak have been involved with any of Securency's alleged corruption. Liberal Technology released a statement on Tuesday denying Haris Onn Hussein was still a shareholder, claiming he sold his shares to other owners in September 2006. The company said Haris Onn Hussein had played no part in any dealings with Securency. However, Liberal Technology's official corporate records obtained yesterday from the Companies Commission of Malaysia list Haris Onn Hussein as the holder of 180,000 shares. The Age asked the company yesterday why its records still showed Haris Onn Hussein as a shareholder. It did not respond. |
| PKR HQ: ‘Real’ landlord stops auction Posted: 08 Jun 2011 01:43 AM PDT
Beneficial owner had obtained court order to prevent the sale of the building, according to a source. (Free Malaysia Today) - In the latest twist to the PKR headquarters saga, the building located in Tropicana here will not go under the hammer today. FMT learnt that on June 6, the building's "real" landlord and beneficial owner Butiran Nyata Sdn Bhd obtained an ex-parte injunction against Ainb Tech Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Affin Bank from carrying out the auction until the inter-parte hearing is disposed of on June 27. Previously, party leaders named Ainb-Tech as the building's landlord, who they said failed to service the bank loan. "PKR leaders, including treasurer William Leong, secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and vice-president Tian Chua, got their facts wrong," said a source. "The lease agreement is between Butiran Nyata and PKR. The bank is taking action against Ainb-Tech and not Butiran Nyata," he added. Ainb Tech was the original owner of the building and sold it to Butiran Nyata in 2008. The latest information confirmed an earlier FMT report where a party insider claimed that PKR leaders named a different landlord from the one on the lease agreement. "They don't seem to have a clue about the lease details of the premises they are occupying. I don't think they know who they are renting the building from and even how much money they have to pay for rental," he had said. The party's five-storey headquarters in Merchant Square was scheduled to be auctioned off at the auctioneer's office in Brickfields tomorrow afternoon. PKR entered into a five-year lease with the landlord beginning July 2008 for RM20,000 per month. However, the party only paid rental until November 2008 resulting in arrears of RM600,000.
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| Khairy defends Najib over ‘wedding’ trip Posted: 07 Jun 2011 06:33 PM PDT
The premier was accused of using state funds to go to Kazakhstan in relation to his daughter's wedding. But the Umno Youth chief calls this a cheap shot. (Free Malaysia Today) - Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today defended Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's official trip to Kazakhstan, which had come under fire from opposition leaders. It was alleged that the prime minister was misusing public funds to go there in relation to his daughter's wedding. Attacking PAS's Dzulkefly Ahmad, who first raised the allegation, Khairy said the Kuala Selangor MP had made a "cheap shot" and was concocting "despicable lies" and "desperate spins". "I thought Dzulkefly was a decent guy. Didn't think he was capable of despicable lies and desperate spins," Khairy said on Twitter. The Umno Youth chief, who is in Kazakhstan with Najib, suggested that it was impossible that the trip was planned just for personal reasons as the Seventh World Islamic Forum (WIEF) was a major international event. "How long do you think it takes to organise a major international forum like WIEF? You think this was done for that?" asked Khairy, stressing that the event was already planned one year in advance. He also poked fun at Dzulkefly for not being invited to the forum eventhough he was a "great mind". Meanwhile, Sarawak DAP leader Wong Ho Leng said that the matter should be discussed in Parliament and Najib should come up with answers. "The truth must be told in Parliament. Government ministers, whenever they go overseas, must be accountable for their sepndings. "We just want the PM to be answerable. We just want the PM to clarify whether he went there as part of the programme or to see his future son-in-law and family," he told FMT. "What was his programme like? Was public funds used?" he asked. Yesterday, Dzulkefly had questioned the use of public funds to pay for Najib's and his official entourage to Kazakhstan. The PAS MP said it was morally wrong though not procedurally problematic.
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| Rosmah’s prompt act shames ‘e-kasih’ Posted: 07 Jun 2011 02:38 PM PDT By Queville To, FMT KOTA KINABALU: The shocking exposure by Rosmah Mansor, the wife of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, that severe poverty continues to escape detection in Sabah is a wake-up call for the government. Sabah DAP chief Jimmy Wong said the government's poverty eradication scheme known as 'e-kasih' has been sensationally confirmed as ineffective following Rosmah's direct intervention to help a family living in abject poverty. Rosnia @ Annie Marambal, a poverty stricken widow from Kota Marudu had appealed repeatedly for aid under the 'e-kasih programme' but was ignored. The plight of the 36-year-old widow and her three children, living in a one-room, zinc shack at Kampung Kandaway was widely reported in the media and had caught Rosmah's eye. Wong questioned the effectiveness of the "e-kasih program" under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development which failed to respond to Rosnia's plight. Wong, who is also Sri Tanjung State assemblyman, questioned the methods used to help the poor and the selection criteria for the poverty eradication programme. He asked how the government had allowed Rosnia's case to slip thorugh the cracks. "Rosnia and her family are more than eligible for government assistance under the e-kasih programme for the poor and needy". "How poor must one be before assistance is approved by the ministry?" asked Wong. He wants the government to be transparent about the programme which he slammed as dubious. "I have been informed that many eligible applicants are not getting assistance because they cannot afford to pay some so-called commissions. "The minister concerned may not be aware of this and I urge her to check if there is any truth to this matter. "It appears that the e-kasih programme should be more suitably be called "pilih-kasih" programme," he said. He said the party was disturbed to learn about yet another sad case of Sabahans living in abject poverty.
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| ‘Taib buying time to cool off competitors’ Posted: 07 Jun 2011 02:34 PM PDT KUCHING: The opposition in Sarawak is hoping that the appointment of Adenan Satem as minster of special functions will help change the state government's perception of issues relating to native customary rights (NCR) land. By Joseph Tawie, FMT Sarawak PKR information chief See Chee How said that currently the biggest problem is while the courts have recognised NCR land to include 'temuda' (farming land), 'pendam' (graveyards), 'tembawai' (previous longhouse sites), 'pulau galau' (communal forests), and 'pemakai menua' (territorial domain), the state hasn't. "At the moment we are winning a string of cases related to NCR land, and it is clear from court decisions that it recognises NCR land. "The government should give full recognition to NCR land according to the natives' perception that has been accepted by the court so that the number of cases being litigated can be reduced," he said. He added that Adenan, a former Land Development Minister, who has vast experience on land matters, should be able to help by looking at the number cases that have been litigated in the court at this time. "He can advise the state cabinet especially the chief minister on these cases and find ways to reduce these cases. It will save the courts and everybody else's time. That is important and I'm hopeful that Adenan will look into the matter," he said. See, who is the Batu Lintang state assemblyman, said that land matters will be one of the main issues to be discussed at the state assembly. "It is not just for Baru Bian (state assemblyman for Ba'Kelalan), myself and Ali Biju (state assemblyman for Krian), but I believe that DAP members especially Richard Wong (state assemblyman for Bukit Assek) have expressed interest in land matters. "Pakatan Rakyat is taking land matters very seriously," he said. 'Taib not prepared to leave'
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| Posted: 07 Jun 2011 02:32 PM PDT "There's always a tendency that many thousand more illegal immigrants will make use of the amnesty exercise to come into Sabah openly without fear," he said. By Queville To, FMT KOTA KINABALU: The Federal government is treading on shaky ground with its plan to grant amnesty and legalise the two million illegal immigrants in the country, a Sabah politician has cautioned. Kota Kinabalu MP Hiew King Cheu expressed both shock and confusion over the statement by Home Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein on Monday, that the government would embark on a comprehensive programme to legalise illegal immigrants in the country, including those in Sabah. The programme is expected to start next month. Hishammuddin said the programme is not aimed at making the illegal immigrants Malaysian citizens but to allow them to live and work legally in Malaysia. He added that the move would also stop flourishing drugs trade and human trafficking as well as money laundering and terrorist activities in Malaysia. Hiew also questioned the timing of the amnesty programme by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government and asked what guarantees would be provided to ensure that those granted permits to stay would not be manipulated during elections. "Are they going to put in more illegal foreigners to make them Sabahans and the 'New Bumiputras' just for the sake of using them to vote for them?" he asked. He said the government needs to come up with a better plan to deal with the problem, citing that such a problem does not exist in neighbouring Sarawak and Brunei. "May be this is done purposely to allow them to come into Sabah under a specific order?" He warned that such a move might "open the flood gates" causing the influx of more illegal immigrants into the country and to Sabah in particular.
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| Posted: 07 Jun 2011 02:30 PM PDT By R K Anand, FMT "The people of Malaysia should ask themselves one question, 'Is this the promised land or are we still searcing for the promised land after 54 years of independence?'" he added.PETALING JAYA: PAS' proposal to set up a welfare state won accolades from a business group, which said that the move was in tandem with the people's expectations. From a political perspective, Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) president P Sivakumar said PAS had "come out of the cave and moved into a condominium". "Thousands of Malaysians have left the country because of a system that discriminates and differentiates the races. They feel insulted because of the unequal treatment. And the call to end the discrimination and to treat all citizens the same falls on deaf ears," he told FMT. PAS' welfare state, Sivakumar noted, was different and promised to be a colour-blind system of governance. "It is based on the principles of equal opportunities, equitable distribution of wealth and public responsibility for those unable to avail themselves of the minimal provisions for a good life. "The welfare state has surely caught the attention of Barisan Nasional politicians. This can be seen from their critical statements," he said. Sivakumar said Malaysian politics must change from mere "fanfare attractions" in order to convince the people to support a particular party. "The real issues must be addressed in an open manner based on political, social and economic justice," he stressed. Now with PAS no longer pushing for an Islamic state and reaffirming its pledge to Pakatan Rakyat, Sivakumar said: "The mother of all battles is looming come the next general election."
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| Malaysia amnesty for millions of migrant workers Posted: 07 Jun 2011 02:16 PM PDT MALAYSIA will grant amnesty to as many as 2 million illegal migrants in the country, allowing them to work and live freely under a scheme to be rolled out next month. By Tom Allard, The Age Malaysia's new resolve to ''do the right thing'' by illegal immigrants also underpins its negotiations with Australia on the refugee swap deal and partly explains why the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is supportive of the concept. ''It's a big step in the right direction,'' said Aegile Fernandez, director of Tenaganita, a group that assists undocumented arrivals in Malaysia, including refugees. ''We have been asking for this for at least 12 months.'' Malaysia's Home Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein, revealed some details of the new program on Monday, saying the scheme could be a model for other countries. The deal is expected to be formally approved by cabinet later this week, at the same time the refugee swap deal with Australia gets the go-ahead. The complete details have yet to be revealed, but The Age understands that illegal immigrants will be able to register with the authorities to stay and work legally for a year, which can be extended annually for five years in total. |
| Lingam, Former CJs Should Be Allowed To Challenge RCI Findings Posted: 07 Jun 2011 02:11 PM PDT (Bernama) - PUTRAJAYA -- Lawyer V.K. Lingam and former chief justices Eusoff Chin and Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim who were implicated in the controversial Lingam tape affair, should be allowed to challenge the Royal Commission of Inquiry's (RCI) findings of their misbehaviour in a judicial review proceeding, according to Court of Appeal judge Zaharah Ibrahim. In her 12-page written judgment which was made available to the media on Tuesday, she said the three should be permitted to argue on the issue of whether their rights to liberty as enshrined under Article 5 of the Federal Constitution had been adversely affected by the RCI's findings. On Aug 24 last year, a three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, in a majority decision, allowed their (Lingam, Eusoff and Ahmad Fairuz's) appeals to set aside a High Court's refusal to grant them leave to initiate a judicial review proceeding to challenge the RCI's findings. Justices Zaharah and Tengku Datuk Baharudin Shah Tengku Mahmud ruled in favour of them while Justice Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus dissented. They did not give their written grounds then. Justice Zaharah said the High Court erred because it had placed a higher threshold on the three than they were required to cross, in showing to the court that their application for leave for a judicial review, was not vexatious and that they had an arguable case. Zaharah said the appellants had claimed that as a result of the RCI findings, they would be exposed to criminal prosecution and that even if no criminal proceedings were brought against them, the findings had caused a permanent stain and stigma on their character. A five-man panel of the RCI was set up in 2008 to look into the authenticity of a video clip allegedly showing Lingam in a telephone conversation with Ahmad Fairuz over the appointment of judges. The RCI report made available to the public on May 20 2008, recommended that appropriate action be taken against six individuals namely Lingam, Eusoff, Fairuz, tycoon Vincent Tan, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, businessman and former minister in the prime minister's department Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor for misconduct. It also found that there was prima facie evidence to investigate the six men for offences under the Sedition Act, Official Secrets Act, the Penal Code and the Legal Profession Act. The RCI also concluded that the video clip was authentic, and that Lingam was the person in conversation with Ahmad Fairuz over the appointment of judges. The matter is currently awaiting hearing of the RCI's appeal at the Federal Court which was expected to decide on a novel legal question on whether the findings of the RCI was reviewable. Except for Dr Mahathir, the other five had filed for leave for a judicial review in an attempt to quash the inquiry's findings. However, Tan and Tengku Adnan withdrew their appeal at the court of appeal stage early last year. In his written judgment dated May 4 this year, Justice Hishamudin held that the High Court was correct to rule that RCI's findings were not amenable to judicial review as its findings did not fall within the realm of the meaning of "decisions". (Bernama) |
| Selangor Rejects Application For Development On TOL Land At Sg Buloh Green Lane Posted: 07 Jun 2011 02:09 PM PDT (Bernama) - SHAH ALAM -- The Selangor state government on Tuesday rejected all applications for development on the 8-hectares of TOL land known as Green Lane in Sungai Buloh, that belonged to the state government, including from Yayasan Selangor. Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the land used by nursery operators is the site of safety reserve land which 'houses' high pressure water pipes where no development should have been carried out. He said the current (nursery) sites are safety reserves where buried under are two high pressure water pipes which are 2.2m and 2.05m in size respectively. The pipes from Jalan Batu 3, Sungai Buloh to Jalan Subang caters water supply needs to more than one million people and any uncalled for activities may cause damage to the pipes and disrupt water supply, he said. "As a responsible Menteri Besar, I cannot just close an eye to dangers posed to the pipes due to development in the area," he said in a statement after meeting the relevant parties involved. During the meeting, Sunny Low, president of the Landscape and Agriculture Nursery Operators of Subang Association, State Secretary Mohammed Khusrin Munawi, Datuk Bandar Petaling Jaya Roslan Sakiman, Petaling district officer Zulkifli Yaakob and Gombak district officer Ahmad Zaharin Mohd Saad were present. "We will ask Yayasan Selangor to conduct a feasibility study to determine whether activities along the Green Lane were safe. If the place is not safe the state government will offer them another site for their business," he said. He also invited the nursery operators to conduct a similar study and submit a report within a month. |
| PM: Openness, honesty, transparency vital for faith in Govt Posted: 07 Jun 2011 02:04 PM PDT By Audrey Edwards, The Star ASTANA (Kazakhstan): Openness, honesty and transparency are vital if the people are to have faith that their government is working for them and not for itself. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said these guiding principles would also show that leaders and politicians were striving to lift the whole economy and not just to "line their own pockets". Good governance, he added was not the only answer to the many and complex challenges faced. "As political leaders and as statesmen, it is up to us to show the resolve, dedication, commitment and political will required to do what is right, to right what is wrong and to prevent corruption and secrecy from becoming a norm in our societies. "We should be prepared to walk the talk and practise what we preach. And government should have no fear of criticism from the people that they serve," he said in his keynote address Wednesday at the opening of the seventh World Islamic Economic Forum here. He added that it was vital for governments to develop new approaches and economic models appropriate for each country's respective internal dynamics if they wanted to endure and flourish besides meet the interests and expectations of their people, especially the young. He said the responsibility of applying such principles was not just for governments but also that of the private sector, non-governmental organisations and the people. Najib said good governance should come "naturally" to Muslim nations as it had been their nature for more than 1,500 years. He cited the example of the fourth Caliph Ali bin ABi Talib, fourth son-in-law of Prophet Mohammed, who told Egyptian governor Maalik as-Ashtar that "his administration would only succeed if he governs with concern for justice, equality, probity and the prosperity of all", including women. Consequently, Najib said Muslim nations had long known that such attitudes were not the preserve of Western liberal democracies. However, he added that good governance was "easier said than done" in a world that has been characterised by factors such as political influence, unequal competition and opportunities, strong family ties, unlimited greed, inadequate rules and regulations, and poor enforcement. "Even the fear of God at times can do little to ensure adherence to the principles of integrity," he added. Najib added that he believed the Malaysian Government was doing its part by embarking on a series of readjustment and transformation initiatives to emphasise the positive influence of good governance on its competitiveness. Among the efforts, he said, were the Whistleblower Protection Act, National Integrity Plan, the introduction of key performance indicators and establishing the Malaysian Institute of Integrity. He said to keep a healthy check and balance, the Government also welcomed comments and views from its own institutions, religious organisations, minority groups, the media and businesses. He added that the vision of transforming Malaysia into a high-income country in a just way that benefitted everyone was being done through strategies such as the Government Transformation Programme, New Economic Model and the Economic Transformation Programme. |
| Pua dares Mukhriz to distribute IPP contracts to MPs Posted: 07 Jun 2011 01:52 PM PDT By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — DAP MP Tony Pua today demanded Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir to back his claim that all MPs are allowed access to the confidential independent power producer (IPP) agreements by distributing copies in Parliament next week. The Petaling Jaya MP expressed doubt however that the Umno deputy minister would dare to do so, and described the latter's statement yesterday as "utter bunkum". "Despite being a first term parliamentarian, I can say with certainty that the above statement by Mukhriz is complete and utter bunkum. "MPs are not privy to documents protected under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) and have no immunity over the possession (even if it is for 5 minutes)," Pua said in a statement today. He was commenting on Mukhriz's statement to reporters yesterday that details of the contentious IPP agreements can be requested by MPs to safeguard public interest since lawmakers represent voters. "In Parliament, if an MP can ask for anything. You know we are all very transparent about it. If it is within the boundaries of the law then so be it but it is still up to what is said in the agreement," the deputy minister of international trade and industry had said. But Pua insisted today that for any MP to gain access to such documents, the Cabinet would first have to initiate a declassification process. A person found in possession of such secret documents, he added, would be liable to punishment — a mandatory one year jail term or up to seven years imprisonment. Pua reminded Mukhriz of how tolled highway concession contracts and the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) contracts had only been made accessible to MPs after a lengthy declassification exercise by the Cabinet and Attorney-General. He added that Mukhriz's statement also contradicted Energy, Water and Green Technology Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui's announcement last week that the government had no power to release the documents. "He said that this is because they are agreements signed between 'private entities'. Who is telling the truth, and who is lying?," Pua asked. Despite this, the DAP national publicity chief said he hoped he could be proven wrong and told Mukhriz to distribute the IPP agreements when Parliament opens on Monday. "Give each MP a copy of the IPP agreement, attached with an undertaking from the Attorney-General that MPs are not punishable under the OSA for having possession of these documents.
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| Reveal police probe before calling inquest, says Sarbaini’s family Posted: 07 Jun 2011 01:49 PM PDT
By Syed Mu'az Syed Putra, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — The controversy surrounding Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed's death could prove to be even more embarrassing than the death of a DAP aide almost two years ago, with his family questioning the police's motives for an inquest. The senior Customs officer's family oppose an inquest and demand police reveal their investigation findings. They believe there is a cover-up, a claim which has been equally pursued relentlessly by fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin.
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| WIKILEAKS: Envoys said court’s Perak decision sanction of undemocratic takeover Posted: 07 Jun 2011 01:48 PM PDT
By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — The United States embassy here concluded that "a well financed political coalition" could persuade lawmakers to cross over and shift power through undemocratic means, following a Federal Court decision confirming Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir as Perak Mentri Besar, a leaked diplomatic cable to Washington said. The document released by whistleblower website Wikileaks and published by the Malaysia Today news portal today said the US embassy here also concluded that the court had allowed the Perak Sultan to legitimise changes without voter input. "Before this Federal Court decision, the assembly would have instead been dissolved for fresh elections, but now the sultan can legitimise the takeover without voter input," said the cable classified by the embassy's political affairs counsellor Brian D. McFeeters. It also said that the February 9, 2010 decision in favour of Barisan Nasional (BN) "raised renewed questions about the independence of the Malaysian judiciary, already in question in connection with the (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim (sodomy) trial and other cases." Three assemblymen had left PR and backed BN as independents, allowing Zambry (picture) to be sworn in by the Perak Sultan as mentri besar on February 6, 2009. The ousted Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin then challenged the validity of Zambry's appointment in court, claiming the state constitution did not allow the Sultan to order him to resign as MB and that BN's majority had not been tested in the assembly. The cable also said that Nizar told a political officer in February 2010 that the ruling would result in "the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister holding office at the pleasure of the King or the Sultan," setting a "dangerous precedent." Nizar's lead lawyer Chan Kok Keong had also said that he was certain the apex court would make a "political decision" and rule in favour of Zambry, thereby "rewriting its own decisions and the constitution." But Zambry's political secretary and assembly speaker Datuk R. Ganesan both told the embassy official that the court "will make the right decision" by ruling in favour of BN.
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| Malaysia Considers Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants Posted: 07 Jun 2011 10:30 AM PDT By Liz Gooch, New York Times KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia is considering what could become its largest-ever program to legalize illegal immigrants. There are estimated to be as many as two million illegal immigrants in this Southeast Asian country, which relies heavily on foreign labor. The plan, which is expected to be discussed at a cabinet committee meeting Wednesday, is designed to help the government keep track of foreign workers in the country, which could improve national security, reduce human trafficking and increase tax revenues. Economists say the effort to grant amnesty to illegal workers would also help make Malaysia more attractive to investors because it would increase the legal labor pool. Employers have long complained about labor shortages in Malaysia, a country of 28 million with an unemployment rate of 3 percent in March. Many Malaysian industries, including the plantation and construction sectors, depend heavily on workers from Indonesia, India and Myanmar. Malaysia has about two million legal foreign workers. The home minister, Hishammuddin Hussein, has said that the government is in the process of screening several private agencies to help the government register illegal workers. "We are starting with the biometric system, as we can use thumbprints to register illegal immigrants," The Star, a Malaysian newspaper, quoted him Tuesday as saying.
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