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• The Gillard government backs down on boatpeople pledge as Malaysia deal is signed
• Malaysia's Political Awakening
• RM800m pride of the nation in disgraceful state

The Gillard government backs down on boatpeople pledge as Malaysia deal is signed Posted: 24 Jul 2011 03:00 PM PDT By Ben Packham, The Australian The government had pledged to process all asylum-seekers arriving after May 7 in a third country. But Malaysia refused to make the agreement retrospective and a hoped-for deal with Papua New Guinea has stalled. A total of 568 asylum-seekers have arrived by boat since May 7. The Prime Minister said asylum-seekers sent to Malaysia would be treated humanely and would not be sent back to the country from which they had fled. "The arrangement reaffirms Malaysia's commitment that transferees will be treated with dignity and respect in accordance with human rights standards," she said in a statement. All refugees sent to Malaysia under the agreement will face pre-transfer fitness tests and biometric identity checks. They will considered "lawful" in Malaysia and moved into the community after initial accommodation in a Malaysian transit centre. Malaysia will have complete control over the asylum-seekers they accept onto their soil. Anyone "not provided consent" will be ineligible to be transferred. Asylum-seekers found not to be refugees will be returned to their country of origin at Australia's cost. Asylum-seekers sent to Malaysia will receive no preferential treatment over other asylum-seekers in Australia in terms of processing or resettlement. In a statement today the UNHCR said it was not a signatory to the agreement but "it appreciates that both governments have consulted with the office". The UNHCR said it would have preferred Australia to deal with its own asylum-seeker arrivals. "UNHCR's preference has always been an arrangement which would enable all asylum-seekers arriving by boat into Australian territory to be processed in Australia. This would be consistent with general practice," it said. It said the "critical test" would be in the agreement's implementation, particularly its protection and vulnerability assessment procedures. Ms Gillard confirmed the government would back down on its initial commitment that all new arrivals after May 7 would be processed in a third country. "Under the arrangement signed today, those who arrived in Australia before 25 July will not be transferred to Malaysia. "Consequently, the people who arrived prior to today's announcement, currently being detained on Christmas Island, will now be processed in Australia," she said. FULL TEXT OF ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF MALAYSIA ON TRANSFER AND RESETTLEMENT (pdf) MALAYSIA DEAL OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES

Malaysia's Political Awakening Posted: 23 Jul 2011 09:41 PM PDT By John Mallot, East-West Centre Malaysia's government may assert otherwise, but the evidence is overwhelmingly on Bersih's side. Malaysia is not a full democracy, and its elections are neither free nor fair. Malaysian citizens have awakened to that fact. Now the world's democracies need to stand on the right side of Malaysia's future. A Malaysian recently wrote to me, "Most Americans don't know or even care where Malaysia is." Even among the so-called foreign policy elite, little attention is paid to Malaysia. There are few American academics who specialise in domestic Malaysian politics, and except for hosting visits by senior Malaysian leaders, think-tanks and universities hold few Malaysia-themed programmes. US newspaper and magazine reports are few, with most articles focusing on tourism and the delights of Malaysian cuisine. As a result, there is a tendency among Americans to hold an idealised (and outdated) image of Malaysia as a successful multi-racial and multi-religious paradise, an Asian economic dynamo, and a stable and moderate Muslim democracy. As a result of this deficit of informed analysis of Malaysia, there has been a failure to notice the internal political and economic changes unfolding within Malaysia over the past few years. The reality today, as one Australian expert puts it, is that the situation is the "most fluid and dangerous" in Malaysia's history. A date for the history books Because of this attention shortfall, the events of July 9 came as a surprise. On that day, tens of thousands of Malaysians - who have been ranked on Hofstede's Power Distance Index as the most submissive to authority of any people in the world - chose to defy their government and join a 'Walk for Democracy'. They heeded the call of Bersih 2.0, a coalition of 62 non-governmental organisations that calls for free and fair elections. In the days before the rally, the Malaysian government cracked down. It rounded up 200 leaders associated with the movement, claiming that they were "waging war against the king" and planning to overthrow the government. It declared both the Bersih coalition and the planned rally illegal, and in a truly bizarre action, it declared the colour yellow - Bersih's signature colour - illegal. Malaysian citizens were arrested for possessing Bersih literature or wearing yellow T-shirts. The police established roadblocks around the city and banned 91 Bersih and opposition leaders from entering Kuala Lumpur. By the morning of July 9, the city was in total lockdown. Then something remarkable happened. As Ambiga Sreenevasan, the distinguished lawyer who leads Bersih put it, the Malaysian people showed that they no longer would be intimidated by their government. They chose to march, knowing that they would be met by tear gas, chemical-laced water cannon and police batons. Even after Bersih's leadership was arrested, Malaysians of all ages, races and religions continued their 'Walk for Democracy' through the streets of Kuala Lumpur. They locked arms, they sang their national anthem, they blew bubbles and carried flowers. They were peaceful. The only muscle seen that day was the heavy hand of the police. Human Rights Watch later called the use of force excessive, the 1,670 arrests unwarranted, and the police attacks on marchers unprovoked. This repression by Prime Minister Najib Razak and his government drew international condemnation, and it also put a lie to Najib's two-year effort to portray himself as a modern, liberal-minded leader. More importantly, and of greater concern to Najib and his Umno party - the main party that has ruled Malaysia continuously since independence in 1957 - is that it awakened a new generation of Malaysians. It is too soon to know whether the movement for electoral reform and the establishment of true democracy in Malaysia will be sustained. If it is, then July 9 will be remembered as a turning point in Malaysia's history. A flawed democracy Why should a government be so afraid of a call for fair elections? Like his predecessors, Najib claims that demonstrations will lead to chaos, even though the right of assembly is guaranteed by the nation's constitution and is commonplace in any true democracy. As for free and fair elections, Najib says that Malaysia already has them; if not, then opposition parties would not have achieved the gains they made in the 2008 elections, when they received 47 percent of the popular vote and took control of five states. Opposition parties counter that if elections truly were fair and free, they would form the government and not the Umno-led coalition. Political rhetoric aside, Malaysia's electoral system has been analysed by academics in Australia, Malaysia, the United States, and elsewhere. In addition, the state of Malaysia's political freedom has been assessed by many international groups. The Economist Intelligence Unit, for example, labels Malaysia a "flawed democracy" in its Democracy Index. Freedom House says that Malaysia is only "partly free". Reporters Without Borders places Malaysia 141st out of the 178 countries in its Press Freedom Index. On elections, the US Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices declares that Malaysian opposition parties are unable to compete on equal terms with the governing Umno-dominated coalition because of restrictions on campaigning and freedom of assembly and association. "News of the opposition," the report says, is "tightly restricted and reported in a biased fashion." Academics point to the Election Commission's gerrymandering, which creates highly imbalanced constituencies that favour the ruling party, where the number of voters per seat can range from 7,000 to over 100,000. Over the years, there have been numerous credible reports of the use of phantom voters, stuffed ballot boxes, vote-buying, and abuse of government resources to attract votes. In Sarawak's state elections this past April, Najib was caught on video, blatantly telling a village gathering that his government would give them US$1.5 million for a local project, but only if they elected his candidate. Lukewarm response Malaysia's government may assert otherwise, but the evidence is overwhelmingly on Bersih's side. Malaysia is not a full democracy, and its elections are neither free nor fair. Malaysian citizens have awakened to that fact. Now the world's democracies need to stand on the right side of Malaysia's future. The United States has a multitude of interests in Malaysia, one of which is to help strengthen democracy and the rule of law. Human rights groups have condemned what they call the US government's "lukewarm" response to the events of July 9. This is a moment when the United States, which named Bersih's leader Ambiga an International Woman of Courage in 2009, can show the same courage and make a difference in the life of a nation. JOHN R MALOTT was the US Ambassador to Malaysia, 1995-1998, and continues to follow developments in that country closely. The above appeared in Asia Pacific Bulletin (APB) series, published by the East-West Center, which promotes better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue. The article can be downloaded at the site.

RM800m pride of the nation in disgraceful state Posted: 23 Jul 2011 01:34 PM PDT By Haresh Deol, Malay Mail BUKIT JALIL: It was supposed to be the pride of the nation. A concept first dreamed up during the days of second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak, the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil was touted the crown jewel of Malaysian sports where an array of world-class arenas side-by-side. However, the facilities and stadiums within the RM800 million complex now lie in deplorable state. Even as the Olympic-class National Stadium hosted a sterling showcase of football matches pitting Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea against Malaysia, visitors to the complex, both foreign and local, were subjected to less than world-class facilities. The Malay Mail's checks at the sprawling 120-hectare complex revealed several displays of poor maintenance, ranging from a polluted lake, pathways with broken tiles and even an open dumping site. Visitors to the lake at Commonwealth Hill were treated to the sight of polystyrene food containers and plastic bottles floating in murky green water. This appears to be the result of waste being channeled into the lake by a restaurant at the park entrance. At the opposite end of the restaurant, several damaged facilities were seen including vandalised rubbish bins, broken seats and a huge crack in the jogging path that could potentially cause injuries to unwary joggers. A jogger, who only wished to be known as David, described the area as "appalling". "I like jogging here but I wish it was properly maintained. This crack is big and if I were to fall, I would smash my face into the ground," he said. BROKEN: Phone booths with missing and vandalised telephones Another jogger claimed a strong stench emanated from the lake. "The water's so murky. This is not reflective of a venue that once hosted the Commonwealth Games. Such things cannot be taken lightly." There were many loose tiles around the National Stadium and Putra Stadium. There was also an open space filled with old rubbish bins, used tiles, signboards and other rusty metal pieces at the large space between the National Aquatic Centre and the Putra Stadium. Even weeds dot this site, suggesting the unused materials have been left there for a long time. SOAKED THROUGH: The leaky roof in the National Squash Centre The phone booths are either devoid of phones entirely or busted. These include public phones near the Bukit Jalil LRT station, in front of the National Aquatic Centre and Putra Stadium. A visitor told The Malay Mail this was an inconvenience, as telecommunication lines are usually congested during major events forcing some to rely on public phones to make calls. The public toilets, meanwhile, were in bad shape, an embarrassment as we played host to several major events in the past two weeks. DISGUSTING: The clogged sinks in a toilet within the complex Apart from the football matches with the Barclays Premier League teams at the National Stadium, the Putra Stadium hosted a concert by Malaysian singer Gary Chaw, as well as the ongoing Malaysia Open squash tournament at the National Squash Centre. The National Stadium is set to host the upcoming pre-World Cup second round return leg match between Malaysia and Singapore on July 28. Even the ceiling of several venues at the National Squash Centre has rotted away, with several asbestos pieces missing. However, contractors were seen laying new tiles on the sidewalks of the road between the Bukit Jalil Sports School and National Sports Council training venue. New trees were seen being planted in front of Putra Stadium. The management had come under fire for various reasons in the past including the leaking roof at the Putra Stadium, the poor condition of the diving boards at the National Aquatic Centre and the laying of new turf at the National Hockey Stadium. Money – or rather lack of it – had previously been cited as the reason the National Stadiums were turning into a national shame.

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Sumber Asal Berita :-

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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• Mixed response to coins
• Coin makeover
• False Reports - Face the Music
• Guna sistem biometrik tolak dakwaan pembangkang
• Bersih suppression for public good, says Najib
• Nazrin: Rulers must be told the real story
• Coming soon this September: Third person in Scorpene scandal
• RCI findings flawed, says Teoh’s ex-boss
• ‘No political agenda in deporting French lawyer’
• Christian plot: What have police uncovered?
• ‘Anti-Islam bloggers in US on Najib/BN payroll’
• 1Care medical scheme – a crony treatment?
• Wilting SUPP searching for unity within
• WWF accused of failing to regulate sustainable timber scheme
• Jeffrey warns of creeping xenophobia
• DPM hints at early polls
• Pakatan keeps Bersih torch burning in Selangor
• BN could bear brunt of voter anger over rising costs

Mixed response to coins Posted: 25 Jul 2011 10:03 AM PDT   By Qishin Tariq, The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Getting folks used to the new series of coins will not be an issue if enough time is given, Fomca CEO Datuk Paul Selvaraj said. "The six months meant to facilitate the change-over is sufficient if Bank Negara holds roadshows and makes repeated media announcements to raise public awareness," he said when commenting on the introduction of new series of coins early next year. He cautioned that not all coin machines might be recalibrated on time and might cause consumers great inconvenience. "There will be a confusion period. "I believe the most important thing is education to ensure the transition is smooth," Paul said. He also said the reason for the change must be properly explained. "If the new features do make the coins more convenient for consumers, perhaps it's a good move," he added. However, Organisation for Advancement of the Blind (PPOBM) was disappointed with the change. "I don't see how the changes in the new series will make it easier for the visually impaired. "The difference in colours are of little use to those who can't see well," organisation president Jaafar Md Isa, 40, said. "While adding features like patterns and indentations on the coin's edge and different colours for different denominations is appreciated, we question how it is really useful to us," he said. Jaafar said the primary method for the blind to differentiate the coins was through the size and thickness of the coin. "It would have been better if they had consulted us first. "We would have given some useful suggestions to make sure the coins can be easily used by the blind," he said.   RELATED STORY: COIN MAKEOVER

Coin makeover Posted: 25 Jul 2011 09:57 AM PDT By Qishin Tariq, The Star KUALA LUMPUR: New user-friendly Malaysian coins that are smaller and lighter will be available for circulation from early next year. The coins, third in a series minted thus far, will replace the current series which is 20 years old. They will be issued in the denominations of five sen, 10 sen, 20 sen and 50 sen.   Sparkling new: The newly-minted coin series that will be circulated starting next year. Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz said the yellow- and silver-coloured coins with designs along their edges would make it easier for the public and especially the visually impaired to differentiate between the different denominations. The new coins also have more security features like latent images and indentations to make counterfeiting more difficult, she said. Bank Negara yesterday launched commemorative coin sets to mark the new series of coins. A total of 500,000 sets of the commemorative coins comprising all the denominations in special packaging are available for RM10. "The new coins are legal tender and will co-circulate with the existing series. "The existing series will be gradually phased out," Dr Zeti said when launching the commemorative coins.   Dr Zeti holding the commemorative coin set. She said although the new coins would only go into general circulation from next year, the bank would start selling the commemorative coins from today at its headquarters here and at all its branches in Penang, Johor Baru, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. The bank is also working with financial institutions, businesses and cash-handling vendors to ensure a smooth transition, she said. The six-month notice would also enable coin-machine operators to recalibrate their machines to accept both new and old coins. "To raise awareness about the new coins, we will also run nationwide education programmes together with the release of the commemorative coins," she said. She added that phasing out the old coins would start next year. She said the coins were designed by a Malaysian and wholly minted by Bank Negara's mint in Malaysia. "The coin's design draws inspiration from the distinct elements that define Malaysian heritage and culture. "The theme Distinctly Malaysia' features motifs like the jasmine and hibiscus flowers and weaving patterns of the indigenous people," Dr Zeti said. The motif for the five-sen, 10-sen and 20-sen denominations feature 14 dots representing the 13 states and the Federal Territory, while the motif for the 50-sen coin has five horizontal lines representing the five principles of the Rukun Negara.   RELATED STORY: MIXED RESPONSE TO COINS

False Reports - Face the Music Posted: 25 Jul 2011 09:28 AM PDT   (Bernama) - KUALA LUMPUR -- The authorities will not hesitate to charge anyone under Section 182 of the Penal Code for making a false report against police action during the July 9 illegal rally. Criminal Investigation Department deputy director Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said they could be imprisoned for up to six months or fined a maximum of RM2,000 or both, upon conviction. In a statement here on Monday, he said, to date, the police had received eight reports, adding that they would be investigated in a professional and transparent manner. "We are in the process of completing our investigations. Acryl also said the police were investigating the authenticity of an allegation by PAS vice-president Mohamad Sabu that he was hit by a police four-wheel drive vehicle -- although a recent screening of a police video showed the motorcycle skidded and collided with the vehicle. The police were also looking into a claim that Anwar Ibrahim's bodyguard was injured while protecting the opposition leader on that day, he added. On allegations that the police used Israeli-made tear gas during the illegal rally, Acryl said it was from the United States. He said, the liquid used in the police water cannons which were deployed on that day were from Switzerland. (Bernama)

Guna sistem biometrik tolak dakwaan pembangkang Posted: 25 Jul 2011 09:01 AM PDT   (Utusan Malaysia) - Penggunaan sistem pengimbas cap jari atau biometrik kini menjadi isu perbincangan masyarakat. Kepada kerajaan ia adalah salah satu usaha untuk memastikan pilihan raya di negara ini dijalankan secara telus dan adil.   Tetapi kepada pakatan pembangkang, mereka melihat sudut negatif kerana bimbang sistem itu boleh disalahgunakan untuk warga asing turut menjadi pengundi. Pemikiran sebegini seolah-olah mahu menafikan apa sahaja pembaharuan untuk menambahbaik sistem pilihan raya negara kita. Sedangkan pihak pembangkang yang beria-ia mahu satu sistem yang lebih baik digunakan untuk pilihan raya akan datang. Mereka juga yang sering mendakwa wujudnya pengundi hantu pada pilihan raya di negara ini. Jadi, Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) mahu laksanakan sistem biometrik ini agar dapat mengatasi dakwaan-dakwaan berkenaan. Kepada kerajaan, teruskan usaha untuk menambahbaik SPR. Kerajaan pun sudah bersetuju memberi peruntukan kepada SPR bagi mewujudkan sistem biometrik dalam mengesahkan pengundi berdaftar pada pilihan raya nanti. Pun begitu, pembangkang tidak akan bersetuju dengan cadangan dan buah fikiran kerajaan dan SPR selagi ia bukan datang daripada idea mereka. Bagi mereka pilihan raya yang adil mesti memenuhi lapan perkara dalam tuntutan Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih 2). Sebenarnya, tanpa demonstrasi atau perhimpunan Bersih pun kerajaan akan sentiasa berusaha menambahbaik sistem pilihan raya di negara ini dari semasa ke semasa. Oleh kerana sistem biometrik ini masih baru di negara kita, maka elok SPR memberi taklimat bagaimana proses operasi, apa tindakan pencegahan penipuan dan apa keberkesanannya kepada masyarakat. Lakukan kajian secara terperinci mengenai sistem biometrik. Antara perkara yang SPR perlu buat kajian ialah kecekapan infrastruktur jalur lebar dan talian internet ketika berlangsungnya hari pengundian. Mungkin di kawasan bandar tiada masalah tetapi bagaimana kawasan pedalaman Sabah dan Sarawak, malah kawasan luar bandar di Semenanjung pun ada yang masih belum menerima kemudahan jalur lebar. Perkara penting yang perlu dielakkan ialah jangan diulangi kegagalan penggunaan dakwat kekal di peringkat akhir pada pilihan raya umum lalu setelah dihebohkan pelaksanaannya. Penggunaan dakwat kekal nampaknya masih menjadi salah satu tuntutan Bersih 2. Kita harap sistem biometrik dapat membolehkan proses pengesahan pengundi dilakukan secara elektronik dan pantas. Sistem biometrik Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN) yang akan digunakan oleh SPR dikatakan tidak boleh ditembusi kepada penyalahgunaan oleh pihak berkepentingan untuk menipu ketika pilihan raya. Namun begitu pakatan pembangkang awal-awal lagi berkeras menolak penggunaan sistem biometrik dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang. Kebimbangan pembangkang ialah bolehkah masalah isu pengundi hantu atau mengundi lebih daripada sekali dikesan. Dalam operasi pilihan raya, semua wakil parti politik yang bertanding turut menjadi pemerhati pilihan raya. Mungkin seseorang pengundi boleh memberi kad pengenalan palsu, atau bercukur janggutnya tetapi dia tidak boleh menukar maklumat dalam biometrik. Kita berharap pelaksanaan sistem biometrik ini dapat berjalan lancar.

Bersih suppression for public good, says Najib Posted: 25 Jul 2011 08:56 AM PDT   (The Malaysian Insider) - KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 — Still training his sights on Bersih, Datuk Seri Najib Razak today justified his administration's response to the July 9 rally by saying it was the government's duty to safeguard public property and interests.   Making specific reference to May 13, 1969, the prime minister wrote on his blog at 1malaysia.com.my that the country held on to a "delicate balance [that] needs to be protected and preserved at all times." "Recent events that unfolded in Kuala Lumpur put us through an important test. Our decision as government was to protect the interests and property of the larger community that depend on Kuala Lumpur for their livelihood," Najib continued. His administration's handling of the Bersih rally has left a blemish on Najib's image as a moderate Muslim leader, with global media delivering harsh criticism over the suppression of the electoral reform movement. Speaking after his return from an eight-day tour of Europe on Friday, Najib also claimed the Bersih movement was a veiled attempt to topple his administration through street demonstrations akin to those that are now claiming Middle Eastern despots. "It's not so much about electoral reform. They want to show us as though we're like the Arab Spring governments in the Middle East," he said.   READ MORE HERE.

Nazrin: Rulers must be told the real story Posted: 25 Jul 2011 08:08 AM PDT (Bernama) - The Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah, said today rulers should not be shielded from the truth and must be told the real story. In addition, rulers should never be surrounded by people with personal interests who are willing to use them as tools. "Rulers must have advisers who are sincere, sensitive to the people's needs and bold to state the truth," he said at 'Wacana Ilmu Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) on the theme 'The role of Malay rulers in nurturing unity' in Shah Alam. Raja Nazrin said rulers should be willing to accept the fact, no matter how bitter, as justice could not be uphold without the truth. "Rulers can't play a meaningful role if they are given a rosy picture. The false impression is unfair as they will be denied the right to conduct their responsibilities fairly." Raja Nazrin expressed fears that shielding rulers from the truth would separate them from the people, making it difficult to address integrity, statehood, loyalty and unity. "Exploiting sentiments is easy as the people easily fall for promises. The prescription can only heal if the syndrome is identified. "It is unwise if the nation and people choose to reject reality, blurring the vision on the real reasons that affect unity." Raja Nazrin said stiff political competition had exploited sensitive religious and racial issues and dissatisfactions of the people. "In all conflicts, no one party is right all the time and no one party is wrong all the time. "The methods to achieve total victory by beating foes have cast aside good manners, customs, morals and religious elements." He also feared that the rising political temperature would turn dreams of unity into a nightmare, adding that there should be a neutral, credible and acceptable institution to lower this. It was important for rulers to not only be above political polemics but also have the trust and responsibility of ensuring peace and harmony. "Rulers must use wisdom to calm situations, but they do not have a 'magic lamp' to keep unity, especially when the situation has become chaotic." Raja Nazrin said the role of rulers was to give advice privately, so that this was not misinterpreted as directly interfering with the administration. "The credibility of some national instruments require a recovery of perception and need improvements in line with the current world dynamics to restore confidence in the people." Raja Nazrin said unity would not be achieved in an unstable and immature political climate post the 12th general election, with calls for reality checks and demands for change. "Unity requires a willingness to sacrifice, accept defeat willingly and celebrate victory with humility," he added.

Coming soon this September: Third person in Scorpene scandal Posted: 25 Jul 2011 12:08 AM PDT (Harakah Daily) - Details of a 'third commission' in the controversial purchase of Scorpene submarines, said to have been paid to a high-ranking Malaysian government officer, is set to be revealed when a corruption trial involving the French arms supplier begins in France this September. Cynthia Gabriel of rights group Suaram, who is spearhering efforts to compile facts and bring the matter to French courts under its "Ops Scorpene" project, recently revealed new evidence that a third commission, allegedly bigger than the first two commissions paid to Perimekar Sdn Bhd at RM540 million, PKR's online organ KeadilanDaily reported. Perimekar is fully owned by Ombak Laut, a company owned by Abdul Razak Baginda, the aide to prime minister Najib Razak who was charged of abetting in the brutal murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shariibu. Explosive details linking the murder to Najib had been given in a statutory declaration by Abdul Razak's private investigator P Balasubramaniam, saying the duo had both been romantically involved with Altantuya, who had assisted in the purchase negotiation of the submarines. Cynthia said the identity of the third individual would be known in the trial. The person was found to be with Abdul Razak and Altantuya on a flight in 2002 to Macau to attend a meeting related to the Scorpene purchase. "Through courts, we will be allowed to access documents belonging to the company which had done the transaction," Cynthia told KeadilanDaily. Cynthia said there had been increased public interest in the case following the Malaysia government's deportation of Suaram's lawyer William Bourdon, who was detained upon his return from Penang at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport last Friday. Saying Suaram was pondering on its next course of action following the deportation, Cynthia said Bourdon's arrest showed the government was desperate to conceal some secrets. Home minister Hishammuddin Hussein had explained that Bourdon had violated his visa conditions. "People get deported every day," he was quoted as saying.

RCI findings flawed, says Teoh’s ex-boss Posted: 24 Jul 2011 05:23 PM PDT Report contains inconsistencies and contradicts evidence previously adduced at inquest, says Ean Yong Hian Wah. (Free Malaysia Today) - The DAP has found several inconsistencies in the Royal Commission of Inquiry's (RCI) report on Teoh Beng Hock's death, saying that a number of its findings contradicted what was produced as evidence in during proceedings. Selangor exco member Ean Yong Hian Wah, Teoh's former boss, asked: "Why the inconsistencies in the evidence adduced and what's contained the RCI report? "The RCI report is supposed to shed light on the cause of his (Teoh's) death but instead it raises more questions and uncertainties about his death," said Ean Yong. The Seri Kembangan state assemblyman said the RCI's "unconvincing attempt" to "spin" a result of suicide, shows that the BN government wanted to cover up the truth. "Why did the RCI question the involvement of DAP's Serdang Aman branch in giving contractors and suppliers advances for small projects and programmes?" asked Ean Yong. "We do not pay advances for projects such as the repair of drains and so on. The branch only foots bill for programmes which it is involved it as co-organiser," said Ean Yong. "We said many times that DAP does not pay advances for projects. DAP only foots bills for community programmes which it later claims from the Land Office. "The witness testimonies by contractors Wong Hong Chae and Lee Wye Wing and myself, during RCI proceedings attests to and supports this," he added. Ean Yong said he also did not understand why the RCI went so as far as to venture an opinion that political parties should not be involved in government projects. "What is wrong with that? Why can't a political party aide the government in their programmes when it is in service of the rakyat and community? "That is not the point, but the RCI went too far to give its opinion on such things," he said. The RCI found that none of the receipts for DAP's programmes had matched the amount reimbursed to DAP. However, Ean Yong said: "(Investigating officer Ahmad ) Shafik (Abdul Rahman), of the MACC told the RCI that his investigations showed reimbursements from the district land office and the receipts matched and that the projects were indeed carried out. READ MORE HERE

‘No political agenda in deporting French lawyer’ Posted: 24 Jul 2011 04:49 PM PDT Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein says William Bourdon was deported due to visa violation like making a speech in Penang. (Free Malaysia Today) - Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said that there was no political agenda in the deportation of French human rights lawyer William Bourdon. The minister said he was deported due to "visa non-compliance" and for making a speech in Penang. "It's due to a visa violation. There are certain things tourists cannot do. I don't know what it is, but one cannot give a speech," he told reporters today. French lawyer William Bourdon was deported on Friday upon landing in KLIA from Penang, where he had spoken about the controversial Scorpene submarines deal which allegedly involved millions of ringgit in kickbacks to Malaysian government officials. However, Hishammuddin denied that Bourdon's deportation had any political agenda behind it. "People get deported everyday, but people have selectively chosen this case to say that it is political," he said. According to Suaram director Cynthia Gabriel, immigration officials boarded the plane and detained Bourdon after his plane touched down at KLIA. Bourdon was served a deportation order for violating the terms of his social visit pass and left the country at about 11pm on Friday. The renowned human rights lawyer was due to speak at a fundraising dinner in Petaling Jaya on Friday night, and at another in Ipoh on Saturday. READ MORE HERE

Christian plot: What have police uncovered? Posted: 24 Jul 2011 04:19 PM PDT DAP demands public disclosure of the outcome of investigations. (Free Malaysia Today) - DAP has demanded that police reveal the outcome of their investigation into an alleged conspiracy to make Christianity the official religion of Malaysia. Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow said police wrapped up the investigation some time ago and should have informed the public what they had found out. The seriousness of the allegation and the uproar it caused warranted the public disclosure, he added. The allegation surfaced on the Internet early last May and went largely unnoticed until Utusan Malaysia reported it on its front page under the headline "Malaysia a Christian nation?" The Umno-owned daily alleged that Christians at a closed-door gathering in Penang had spoken about Christianity replacing Islam as the official religion and the possibility of Malaysia being led by a Christian prime minister. Christian leaders denied the allegation, but pro-Umno groups, including the far right Perkasa, lodged police reports demanding an investigation into what they alleged was a threat to Islam. Jelutong MP and DAP member Jeff Ooi, who said he was at the gathering, also lodged a police report, stating that the report was a fabrication. However, the controversy took a surprising turn when Mohamed Razali Abdul Rahman, another DAP member who said he too was at the meeting, lodged another report, claiming that there was some truth to the allegation. DAP subsequently expelled Razali for refusing to clarify his stand and for working against the party's interest. READ MORE HERE

‘Anti-Islam bloggers in US on Najib/BN payroll’ Posted: 24 Jul 2011 04:15 PM PDT Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who sees himself as the 'great protector of Islam' in Malaysia must explain link to anti-Islam promoters. (Free Malaysia Today) - A team of American bloggers allegedly hired by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud to improve their respective images, are in fact pro-Israel and known to publicly slander Islam. One member of the team, Caleb Howe, indulged in a sustained, childish rant on his public Twitter page on April 23 last year, in which he said: "I drew a picture of Mohammed today. I showed him marrying a pre-tween. Might as well be historically correct right?" Eighteen minutes later on the same twitter message, he posted: "Did I say marrying a pre-tween? Sorry.. that was my typo.I meant raping."  Caleb's outburst against Islam is not an isolated incident (see image below). He and his team have indulged in a number of such anti-Islamic rants on Twitter that are clearly designed to give extreme offence to Muslims. Few would dream of engaging in such an unpleasant and offensive attack. It thus comes as a surprise that Najib and Taib would hire Howe and his colleagues who sustain other blogs such as Red State, New Ledger, Sarawak Report(s), Malaysia Matters as their professional promoters. It seems somewhat a misjudgement that Najib, who sees himself as the great protector of his own Muslim religion, continues to be associated with this team of Americans. Pro-Israeli views Howe [photo below] is closely linked to Josh Trevino, the right-wing blogger behind the American 'Red State' and 'New Ledger' blogs and also a PR company called Rogue Strategic Services. Rogue Services have been in employ with Barisan Nasional since the days of former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Now their portfolio includes Najib and Taib. They have been allegedly hired to create 'positive publicity' on their behalf. READ MORE HERE

1Care medical scheme – a crony treatment? Posted: 24 Jul 2011 02:54 PM PDT   (FMT) - TAWAU: A proposed medical insurance scheme by the government has raised concern among private practioners here and across the peninsular.   Suspicion has risen over the 1Care scheme which many believe will only benefit a few private companies at the expense of patients and doctors. The doctors fear that healthcare expenses will increase as 1Care will become a monopoly through a giant managed-care organisation (MCO). Although the government is yet to reveal the full details of the 1Care scheme, initial disclosures have raised concerns. According to doctors here, in theory the scheme appears to save money for the consumers but in reality it is otherwise. "It should save consumers from having to pay out of their pockets for their primary healthcare and thus protect them from excessive healthcare expenses, but in reality 1Care will come under a new company and thus a middleman.The middle man will profit from patients and their caregivers. "This will result in healthcare costs going up, the standard of treatment may drop and the public will be burdened with a new healthcare tax," said a private doctor who requested anonymity. The doctor said most fraternity members are worried that their ability as medical practioners to provide quality medical care will be compromised by the scheme which will collect fixed funds from all working adults and their employers. They are also preparing to face criticism from the establishment who may see their opposition to the plan as trying to protect their income first. Scheme may lead to 'undertreatment' Meanwhile in a letter obtained by FMT, a group of doctors from the peninsular have also listed their concerns and are urging the government to engage all parties, including patients and the public before deciding to introduce the scheme. They said it is important that dialogues be intiated and stakeholders respond to valid questions on the scheme. Spelling out their concerns and worries, former Penang Medical Practitioners' Society (PMS) presidents Dr Ong Hean Teik and Dr Haniffah Abdul Gafoor along with ex-Penang branch leader of the Malaysian Medical Association Dr SP Palaniappan, said the scheme is being promoted as having an immediate impact on improving the country's healthcare system while also addressing the poor government medical facilities in Sabah and Sarawak. "The experience worldwide is that a fixed capitation fee per patient will lead to inadequate and under-treatment since physicians tend to conserve resources to prevent financial loss. "Although patients do not directly pay for their treatment, they are still indirectly paying since a portion of their income will automatically be deducted and given to the insurance company running this programme.   READ MORE HERE.

Wilting SUPP searching for unity within Posted: 24 Jul 2011 02:48 PM PDT By Joseph Tawie, FMT KUCHING: An ailing and deeply divided Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP) has made a desperate call to its party leaders to 'urgently' carry out the restructing process in the party and win back the people's support. "We must create a new image for the party based on the inspirations and needs of the people. We must rise again," said the party's deputy secretary-general Wong Soon Koh. "The restructuring must involve significant improvement in administration, including a complete system that could shape the party's organisation. "We must promptly pump in new blood to give the party a new look." Wong was speaking at a SUPP roadshow in Sibu on the weekend. Sibu is the first of a series of road shows to be carried in the state before the party's triennial delegates conference (TDC) in December this year. The TDC is expected to elect new leaders after the current leaders, who claimed responsibility for the party's poor performances in the April 16 state elections, step down. SUPP lost 13 of its 19 seats to opposition DAP in the polls. SUPP president George Chan, who was leading the road show, was however not very happy with the absence of three principal figures of the party. For some unknown reasons the three key leaders Sim Kheng Hui (secretary-general), David Teng (treasurer-general) and Alfred Yap (publicity and information secretary) did not turn up for the dialogue with Siburians. Angry Chan Asked by reporters why they were absent, Chan retorted: "Go and ask them yourself. I don't know why they did not come for the dialogue." Their absence has triggered speculation of an ever deepening dissent in the party. They are believed to be at logger-heads with Chan. It was learnt that Chan had earlier demanded that all the leaders whom he described as 'old guards' resign and give way to new blood and this included the trio. He said that they should leave together with him at the TDC. "Now we should leave the party to new and young people who can work together without thinking of racialism, regionalism and of being clannish," Chan said. But certain quarters including 28 branch chairmen do not agree with Chan. They have laid the blame for the party's poor performances in the state election solely on the president. "Chan, being the president, should have the courage to claim responsibility for the party's blunders. He cannot drag other leaders to step down with him. "Instead we want David Teng to take over the leadership," said a leader aligned to Teng. No big deal Meanwhile Sarawak DAP is unperturbed by SUPP's effort to redeem itself through the statewide roadshow.   READ MORE HERE.

WWF accused of failing to regulate sustainable timber scheme Posted: 24 Jul 2011 02:23 PM PDT By John Vidal, The Guardian One is the Malaysian logging company Ta Ann Holdings Berhad, which has clear-felled rainforest in Borneo equivalent to nearly 20 football pitches a day while a member of the WWF scheme. Investigations by Global Witness show it working legally within the boundaries of a WWF conservation project that WWF bills as, "crucial to the survival of Borneo's endangered species including orangutans and clouded leopards". Conservation group WWF let timber companies use its panda brand logo while they were razing some of the world's most biologically rich rainforests or trading in potentially illegally sourced timber, according to the investigative group Global Witness. The WWF's flagship Global forest and trade network (Gftn), which is part-subsidised by the US government and EU, promotes sustainable timber, bringing together more than 70 international logging companies and large numbers of timber sellers. The WWF says the 20-year-old scheme is now responsible for nearly 19% of forest products bought or sold internationally, with members' combined annual sales approaching $70bn (£43bn). However, Global Witness's report, Pandering to the Loggers, claims Gftn's membership and participation rules are inadequate, allowing companies to systematically abuse the scheme. "There are few minimum standards required for companies joining Gftn," says the report. "Meaning even companies involved in highly destructive activities, such as clearing natural forests to make way for plantations or buying wood products from illegal sources can join and benefit." WWF rejects that. The report, which is billed as a "basic evaluation of the operation and effectiveness of the scheme", looks in detail at three case studies. One is the Malaysian logging company Ta Ann Holdings Berhad, which has clear-felled rainforest in Borneo equivalent to nearly 20 football pitches a day while a member of the WWF scheme. Investigations by Global Witness show it working legally within the boundaries of a WWF conservation project that WWF bills as, "crucial to the survival of Borneo's endangered species including orangutans and clouded leopards". Another member of the scheme, UK building supplier Jewson, failed to ensure all its timber came from legal sources for nearly 10 years after joining. WWF said Jewson had changed its timber sourcing practices after problems had been found. Global Witness also claims that a third timber company, the Swiss-German Danzer Group, has a subsidiary working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which has been allegedly involved in conflicts with local communities. "Gftn rules are less stringent than US and EU laws prohibiting the import of illegal timber," said Tom Picken, a forest campaigner at Global Witness in a press release. "When a landmark scheme created in the name of conservation tolerates one of its member companies destroying orangutan habitat, something is going seriously wrong." WWF said many of the allegations were misleading. "Gftn has made a major contribution to conservation through its ability to engage with industry. Participants make clear commitments that demonstrate they reject illegal or suspicious timber. Trade participants report on an annual basis, and sites are inspected on an annual basis where appropriate." WWF said that only Ta Ann's processing facilities were included in the WWF scheme. "The first year of work with Ta Ann's mills has resulted in improvements in their sourcing profile. As with all participants, longer term compliance with the agreed action plan will be critical to their continued participation." hat only Ta Ann's processing facilities were included in the WWF scheme. "The first year of work with Ta Ann's mills has resulted in improvements in their sourcing profile. As with all participants, longer term compliance with the agreed action plan will be critical to their continued participation.". It added that it was investigating allegations of an incident involving a community associated with the Danzer subsidiary in Congo. "Whilst WWF-drc continues to investigate the case, no further engagement will be taken [with the subsidiary]." WWF, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, makes about $500m a year from donations and corporate endorsements but has been criticised by other environment groups and NGOs for its links to forestry, mining, tobacco, banks, palm oil, biofuel and other companies. Last month a German public broadcaster accused WWF of being too close to GM food companies working in Latin America. The charge was strongly denied by WWF, which argues that it seeks a "constructive dialogue" with industries. GM soybeans have been certified as "sustainable" by the Round Table on Responsible Soy Association (RTRS), an organisation instigated by the WWF. Global Witness has called on WWF to rigorously evaluate the scheme with a comprehensive independent audit. "Donor governments using public-sector funds to finance Gftn should make further support conditional on such an evaluation being carried out, along with the implementation of any resulting recommendations being realised," said Picken.

Jeffrey warns of creeping xenophobia Posted: 24 Jul 2011 12:26 PM PDT   By Queville To, FMT KOTA KINABALU: Umno parliamentarians in Sabah must lead the way in addressing the issue of illegal immigrants in parliament or face the inevitability of a short lived political career. United Borneo Front (UBF) chiarman Jeffrey Kitingan said even if a policy is in place to prioritise locals for jobs and welfare, the immigirants or PTIs (the Bahasa Malaysia acronym for immigrants), have equal access to such opportunities if they have Malaysian identity documents. "We must not ignore this issue as it's creating a very xenophobic environment in Sabah against the foreigners and against West Malaysians, who are being blamed by locals for turning a blind eye to the plight of Sabahans," he said. Jeffrey urged all Sabah MPs to present the people with a detailed plan of action for addressing the PTI (illegal immigrants) issue in parliament. "If all 25 Sabah MPs have the grit to raise this issue in parliament en bloc, it will awaken the concern of our Federal big boys. "Umno MPs in Sabah must lead the way in addressing the PTI issue in parliament. "It may hurt the big boss to hear the painful truth from his own camp in Sabah but it is better to address the hole in the boat now than to let the boat sink in the election. "The sentiment of the people will turn against the tide if their complaints continue to be ignored. "I have informed our supporters that if they have any evidence of PTI wrongdoing, they should work with the police force and we will highlight these problems to the government on their behalf. "Dead-duck MPs who are not willing to address fundamental common interests should be replaced by the next election. "The people need effective leaders, not just popular ones who are lazy, complacent or ignorant of current affairs," he said in a statement. Be accountable Jeffrey, who is the younger brother of deputy chief minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan, told a UBF Borneo Tea Party in Keningau over the weekend that the illegal immigrant issue is grating on the nerves of the voters and causing xenophobia against immigrants. "The results of the 2008 parliamentary and state elections in Sabah mean that our Barisan Nasional (government) is very confident of winning the next round. "Of 25 parliamentary seats, the BN won 24 and of 60 state seats, they won 59. "The BN may easily win the next elections in Sabah, but the point is that every MP in Sabah must now be accountable to their voters and show us what they have individually done to either raise or address the issue of the PTI problem in parliament. "Some Sabah MPs have been very vocal the past three years, but there are others who have almost disappeared into the background with their electoral win," he said. He reminded that all the MPs are under oath to the King and the nation to secure the integrity of gaining citizenships pursuant to Part III of the Federal Constitution. READ MORE HERE.

DPM hints at early polls Posted: 24 Jul 2011 10:56 AM PDT (The Star) - KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has given the clearest indication yet that the next general election is just a few months away. He also called for all Barisan Nasional parties and affiliate members to strengthen unity and move as a single team from now. "The core issue of unity is critical. We may have had Team One and Team Two before but from now, there has to be only Team Barisan. "There is not much time left. In the months ahead, we have to show that we are united. "The people are watching us," the Barisan deputy chief said when opening the 19th Indian Progressive Front (IPF) annual general assembly in Seri Kembangan, near here, yesterday. The IPF, founded by the late Tan Sri M.G. Pandithan in 1991, is an affiliate member of Barisan since early this year. Present at the assembly was his widow and immediate IPF past president Puan Seri Jayashree Pandithan. Muhyiddin, who is Deputy Prime Minister, spoke on the Barisan's "people first, performance now" policy, saying this must be given attention and practised by all members. He reminded them that the desire to champion the cause of the people had long been the core objective behind the setting up of Barisan. "The same goes with the IPF. "The struggle is not for the late Pandithan but for the people, for their betterment. And this effort must continue," he said. Calling for continuous efforts to improve and defend national unity, he said the people should stick together against any element out to disrupt harmony in the country. Drawing the delegates attention to the twin attacks in Norway that killed over 90 people, Muhyiddin said: "Irresponsible people have caused the loss of many lives. "We do not want such a thing to happen here. We must stay united." Regarding the IPF, he said Barisan appreciated its support over the past two decades although they have yet to become a full-fledged Barisan component. "We thank them for their support and urge them to continue to work hard for the people," he said, adding the IPF was just a step away from being a full-fledged Barisan component party. Party president M. Sambanthan said the IPF would continue to apply to become a Barisan member and hoped the party would be given a Senator's post to better serve the people. "We see the MIC as our big brother. "We hope the door will open for us to become a component member. "We will continue to support Barisan and work hard in the general election," he said.

Pakatan keeps Bersih torch burning in Selangor Posted: 24 Jul 2011 10:46 AM PDT   By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider SHAH ALAM, July 25 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders have refuted the police version of events that they had not used excessive force when clamping down on Bersih 2.0's July 9 rally and reminded supporters that their struggles were far from over. At the launch of the Selangor government's "Selangorku" logo at Stadium Malawati here, the leaders took turns to explain to the audience the events that transpired on July 9, drawing focus to the death of one rally participant and purported incidences of police brutality. Several prominent personalities from the coalition's top leadership were invited to headline the event, including PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim. Notably missing from the function, however, were heads of government departments and federal agencies. "This is a historical night for Selangor," said Selangor state executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar. "A new logo is launched for Selangor. But at the same time, this is also a function to inform you on the latest developments in the country. "This information is important because we have heard many tales . . . there are those in the federal government who have spoken about Bersih; the police have spoken about Bersih; and so we, as state administrators, must also explain about Bersih," he said. A video on the July 9 rally was aired, showing several clips of apparent cases of police brutality, which the authorities had denied. Some in the crowd jeered and booed in response. Abdul Hadi thanked those who took part in the rally, describing the revolt as "intriguing". "Not one policeman was injured, not one policeman died," he said. "The ones who were injured were the people; the one death came from the people. This shows that the people are well-mannered and this struggle of ours, this struggle for change, is for the good of the people and not to destroy the nation." He said that a "true democracy" granted citizens the role of judges in their own country, saying that to achieve this, the election process must be free and fair. "In modern nations, the media is free to report on the behaviours of their leaders, to report on the statements made by all leaders during elections. "So that during the election, the rakyat can become fair judges. But how could they be fair in their judgement if the election process itself is riddled with discrepancies . . . when the media is biased, when voter registration process is unclean? This is happening here in our country," he said. Agreeing with him, Wan Azizah expounded on Bersih 2.0's demands for electoral reform and said that voters could only make informed decisions through a free and fair election process.   READ MORE HERE.

BN could bear brunt of voter anger over rising costs Posted: 24 Jul 2011 10:33 AM PDT By Alexis See Tho and Lisa J Ariffin KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 — The rising cost of living could hit the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government hard in the next polls as Malaysians,especially urbanites, face falling living standards as they struggle with stagnant incomes and soaring inflation. A street poll of 100 city dwellers by The Malaysian Insider conducted in and around Kuala Lumpur had 44 per cent of people surveyed blaming the government for the rising cost of living as compared with 41 per cent attributing it to global factors and only 5 per cent blaming it on business owners. Putrajaya announced last week that the rate of inflation in Malaysia rose to 3.5 per cent in June from the same month the previous year. The inflation rate in May 2011 was 3.3 per cent, still below the government's acceptable rate of 5.0 per cent. The Najib administration has not said when it will call snap polls but Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday told Umno party members to prepare as elections could be held anytime soon before the government's mandate expires in 2013. Of the 86 people surveyed who were registered voters, 40 said that the cost of living was likely to affect how they voted as compared with 31 who said otherwise. Fifteen said it would be a neutral factor. Retiree Rohani Saad, 57, said she believed voting in an election was the only way she could voice her discontent over the rising costs of living. "If the government says harga tak naik, harga tentu naik (the price will not go up, prices will definitely go up)," said Rohani, who lives on her savings. Even though Rohani is frugal, spending less than RM100 a week on groceries for herself and her husband, she still feels financially worse off this year. Even the relatively well off are feeling poorer now due to inflation. An office manager who wanted to be known only as Anne, said the government should monitor prices, especially necessities such as food, to help Malaysians keep their cost of living at bay. Although the combined income of Anne and her husband is more than RM10,000 a month, she said she had to cut down on buying fish because of its high price. "We love eating fish, but that's also where we feel the pinch," she said. Despite rosy projections of economic expansion under the Najib administration's reforms and transformation programmes, it has yet to be felt by the public as prices, especially in urban areas, have raced ahead of income growth. This was reflected in the responses in the street poll.   READ MORE HERE.

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The search for justice and truth must continue Posted: 24 Jul 2011 03:49 PM PDT There are a number of key points on which the Malaysian Bar agrees with the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Death of Teoh Beng Hock ("RCI").  We concur with the following findings of the RCI: (1)    That the RCI was unable to accept that the alleged suicide note had been written by Teoh Beng Hock, and that the undue delay by the authorities in tendering the alleged suicide note at the first available opportunity could not be taken as mere carelessness or neglect, and therefore the authenticity of the note could not be trusted; (2)    That Teoh Beng Hock was, at all material times until his untimely death, in the care, custody and control of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission ("MACC") officers; (3)    That Teoh Beng Hock was not released from the care, custody and control of the MACC officers after his statement had been recorded at approximately 3:30 am, and this failure "amounted to cruel conduct and punishment inflicted on purpose"; (4)    That Teoh Beng Hock was subjected to "aggressive, relentless, oppressive and unscrupulous interrogation" and that the recording of his statement was unlawful; (5)    That the majority of the MACC officers exhibited a "total lack of consideration for human sensitivities", and that the recruitment process of MACC officers should include a "psychological evaluation to assess their suitability for investigative work"; (6)    That most of the MACC officers who were involved in the operations on 15 and 16 July 2009, and who gave evidence as witnesses, were neither truthful nor credible, as they "had the inevitable habit of lying"; (7)    That massive operations launched by MACC Selangor – which were headed by then-Selangor MACC deputy director Hishamuddin Hashim – against the Pakatan Rakyat members of the Selangor state assembly were grounded on mere belief of information purportedly received over the telephone, and without proper ground work or verification; (8)    That Hishamuddin Hashim was "arrogant, given to falsehoods, untruthful and uncompromising", and that he was "just too stubborn [such trait was also displayed when he gave evidence before us] to retreat from his mistake in mounting such a massive operation"; (9)    That not only was Hishamuddin Hashim involved but he also "unleashed his officers to do his bidding in order to get results within that night and morning come hell or high-water", and that Hishamuddin Hashim should be held responsible for the actions taken by him and his officers that led to Teoh Beng Hock's death; and (10)    That the Selangor MACC had shown an extreme lack of cooperation with the police in the latter's attempts to investigate complaints of assault and other offences previously made against its officers. The Malaysian Bar, however, does not concur with the finding by the RCI that Teoh Beng Hock had committed suicide.  Such a finding, in our view, is unsupported by the facts and the evidence.  Contrary to the statement made by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dato' Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, forensic psychiatrist Professor Paul Mullen did not testify that Teoh Beng Hock had a "weak character" that had led to him taking his own life.  Professor Mullen also did not conclude that Teoh Beng Hock had committed suicide; rather, his testimony stated that "in [his] opinion, what we learned of Teoh Beng Hock's personality and behaviour do not suggest any increased risk of suicide".  He further opined that the context of the events that had taken place was not one "which, in [his] experience, leads to suicide in custody", as he had not been made aware of anything "to explain panic and distress sufficient to drive [Teoh Beng Hock] to conclude his honor had been irreparably tarnished".  This is in stark contrast to what the Minister reportedly stated during the release of the RCI's report, namely that Teoh Beng Hock had "truly committed suicide based on his character that had changed from a low-risk group to a high-risk group for suicide after undergoing a continuous and aggressive questioning session".  Professor Mullen's testimony does not provide the basis for the RCI's finding of suicide, such as that described in the section titled "conclusion on forensic psychiatric aspects" in the RCI's report. It is noted that the RCI found the following: (1)    That the time of death had been between 7:15 am and 11:15 am on 16 July 2009; (2)    That Teoh Beng Hock had not been released at 3:30 am and been left alone sitting on a sofa after his statement had been recorded, as Hishamuddin Hashim had issued a written circular the previous month that "witnesses and visitors in the Selangor MACC office should be accompanied at all times"; (3)    That Teoh Beng Hock had been subjected to a fourth interrogation session after 3:30 am by Hishamuddin Hashim and his officers, which was aggressive and relentless.  In addition, the RCI rejected the evidence of MACC officer Raymond Nion that he had seen Teoh Beng Hock lying down unattended on a sofa at approximately 6:00 am; (4)    That the fourth interrogation session was probably between 3:30 am and 7:00 am; and (5)    That the window from which Teoh Beng Hock is said to have fallen out was located conspicuously. In view of the above, and that there was no evidence whatsoever produced at the RCI hearing of Teoh Beng Hock's whereabouts or movements after 6:15 am, and the staff of the Selangor MACC office would have begun arriving by 8:00 am, to surmise that Teoh Beng Hock had committed suicide between 7:15 am and 11:15 am requires a leap in logic and an assumption of facts not in evidence.   The Malaysian Bar also notes that the joint expert psychiatric report of Dr Badiah Yahya and Dr Nor Hayati Ali – the experts engaged by MACC who were present during most of the court proceedings and had interviewed Teoh Beng Hock's family members, housemate and work colleagues – stated: We did not have any evidence on how the investigation was conducted as there were "no written questions posted to [Teoh Beng Hock]" or audio recording as to ascertain the amount of pressure that he experienced.  It is not known whether he had experienced in his mind the effects of being possibly prosecuted on the allegations, whether it would have been devastating for him and/or his organisation.  This should require more information on what was said and done in the period taken [sic] into custody until he was found dead. It is very clear to the Malaysian Bar that full responsibility for Teoh Beng Hock's death lies squarely and solely on the MACC, and that immediate action must be taken to hold the culpable officers accountable for their behaviour.  In this regard, we welcome the reported statement by Dato' Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, that "appropriate action would be taken against the officers through the process of law without delay".  The authorities should investigate the relevant MACC officers for possible offences under sections 304 and 304A of the Penal Code, namely for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and for causing the death of TBH by negligence, respectively.  The Malaysian Bar also calls on the Government of Malaysia and MACC to consider: offering an unqualified written apology to Teoh Beng Hock's family, and to the citizens of Malaysia, for his death; and making reasonable recompense to Teoh Beng Hock's family in respect of his death. The Malaysian Bar extends its heartfelt sympathy once again to Teoh Beng Hock's family and loved ones.   Lim Chee Wee President Malaysian Bar

Biometric voting ‘foolproof’ Posted: 24 Jul 2011 03:14 PM PDT By Farah Naz Karim, NST PUTRAJAYA: The biometric system that the Election Commission proposes to use in the next general election is foolproof, said the National Registration Department. The department, the custodian of the data of about 27 million people, including 12million registered voters, also said it had other details of every Malaysian, including their family trees and thumbprints, in its database. "This cannot be altered," department director-general Datin Jariah Mohd Said told the New Straits Times last week. She refuted allegations that the department would be used to tamper with the data of Malaysians to give the ruling party an edge during the polls. The department stores and updates the profiles of citizens from the time of their birth, that is, when birth certificates are issued. It updates the data when citizens apply for identity cards at the age of 12. These forensic evidence, documents and history could not be forged, she said. "We are, however, resigned to the fact that no matter what we do to improve the system,we will still be accused of this and that." Under the biometric system, she said the department would extract the data of all voters for the commission to manage. Commission workers will ask voters at polling stations to place their thumb on a screen after a one-to-one matching. The process, which takes 20 seconds per voter, will be witnessed by agents appointed by political parties. Jariah said thumbprint scanning would also detect attempts by people to cast votes for others by using other forms of identification that could be tampered with. Election regulations allow voters to use documents that have their photograph and identification number, including work passes and a temporary identification letter issued by the department. Voters who are holders of the old identification card can vote using the document. Jariah refuted claims that tens of thousands of MyKad had been given to foreigners to give Barisan Nasional a new vote bank. She said the application for citizenship was stringent and protracted. The department had processed only about 70,000 applications for citizenship until this year, of which about 36,000 were from those received from 1996 to 2006. She said the department did not approve all applications, and a large number of them were below the voting age of 21. "(Some quarters) make accusations but never once did they come to us for an explanation." Although she said there were people selling fake MyKad, she added: "They can sell all the MyKad they want, but it will just be that, a fake document, as the chip will never match the details in the system." Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced the approval of funds for the system to boost transparency and check allegations of phantom voters. On the removal of the names of the dead from the department's database, Jariah said it would soon have its system linked with the police. The police issue burial permits. However, the problem with past unreported death remains, and unless the department is told about them, the names will remain in the system. The commission will then use these names in drawing up the electoral roll. Jariah said she was ready to use her discretion as department chief to do away with fines if relatives of the deceased informed it of their family members' deaths. She said community leaders, village heads, as well as political party members, who knew their constituents well, could inform the authorities about voters' deaths.

Using the Police to Solve Political Problems Posted: 24 Jul 2011 02:19 PM PDT By batsman  Malaysia seems to be a land of contradictions. Not only are there so many different races and religions in this country, the people and especially the government behaves in very contradictory ways. Take Malaysian foreign policy for example. Wherever there are violent disputes anywhere in the world, Malaysia takes the holier-than-thou attitude of never using military force and violence to solve disputes. Violence is abhorred in Malaysia foreign policy and discussion and negotiations are the preferred path.  Unfortunately the Home Minister and his boss the Prime Minister has no such "goodness" in them. On the contrary, the police have used force to solve political problems. The police even tried to ram a leading protestor with their land rovers, their lead vehicle missing a full frontal crash by inches as shown on video, but getting their man with the second vehicle (this event seems to have been blocked by the lead vehicle in a recently released video and there is no way for ordinary people to tell what happened. Perhaps experts can tell).  The police used tear gas, water canons, baton charges and their boots against peaceful protestors calling for democratic electoral reforms. In addition, the police have abused the law to intimidate 6 protestors for trying to overthrow the Agong by waging war on him (a crime that carries the death sentence). Over 1600 people have been arrested and are awaiting charges.  The demand for free, fair and clean elections is a political issue, not a criminal issue. The police have been violently used to try and solve political problems.  The mask of "moderation" of the UMNO government will be stripped off to expose a vicious and brutal government if only the world were to look at UMNO's internal policies and practices. In fact many people don't think that UMNO is Islamic at all, let alone "moderately Islamic".  It seems the people of Malaysia are being treated as serfs and servants fit only to be whacked, victimized, cheated and robbed while UMNO uses the proceeds to play the good guy to the rest of the world, buying expensive military hardware that others seem to be able to buy cheaply as well as being good customers of luxury items such as expensive jewelry and bags "to die for" (this last one using their own savings, of course).

The UMNO – Anders Breivik Link Posted: 24 Jul 2011 12:20 PM PDT By batsman  To expose the UMNO- Anders Breivik link, one has to investigate the Norway massacre in relation to the complicity of western governments. In the 30's Germany, Hitler's Nazi Party went after communists and Jews in a big way. Everything was blamed on them including the burning of the Reichstag. The whole focus was placed on communists and Jews, but eventually the whole world paid a price too including the western liberals and moderates.  Today, the western governments are going after Muslims in a big way. The whole focus is on Muslim terrorists. This covers up the activities of the far-right. The Anders Breivik phenomenon is just the tip of the iceberg. With recession raging in Europe and the US, it is almost guaranteed that the far right will gain a big influence together with the far left. So when the western governments go after communists and Jews, it will be the far right that gains.  So far, extreme right wing madmen have killed more people in Europe and the US than terrorists linked to radicalized Muslims. This may be true for 911 as well. Judge for yourself…  Immediately after the Oslo bombings, several terrorist organizations linked to radicalized Muslims claimed responsibility for it (see link). All these claims have since been downplayed.  Could the same have happened after the 911 attack? Michael Moore seems to think that the 911 attack was a conspiracy and even made a documentary on this – the stupid radicalized Muslims, eager to claim credit, were just conveniently dragged into it.  If we discount the deaths in the 911 attack as being uncertain whether they can be attributed to terrorists linked to radicalized Muslims or to conspirators, the Oklahoma bombings of home grown US far-right madmen would have killed a lot more people.  With the US in danger of default, such obsessive focus on Muslims is really dangerous. Right wing madmen are capable of inflicting a lot more damage, especially if they get into power in the US. One lone mad gunman in Oslo was systematic and ruthlessly well organized enough to kill over 90 people compared to the hysterical and loud incompetent screaming and self-inflicted deaths in the Middle East. For one thing, the Zionists with their disciplined war machine kill a lot more Arabs than the hysterical Arabs are able to kill Israelis.  To me the right-wing madmen are far more dangerous than fanatical incompetent terrorists linked to radicalized Muslims, but one covers up for the other.  So how is UMNO linked to Anders Breivik? Judge for yourself – the UMNO controlled press is blaming Christians, communists, Jews and even Indonesians for all the trouble in Malaysia. In the meantime, they are courting 3 million silat exponents with inflammatory speeches.

The unseen, unknown enemy of Malaysia Posted: 24 Jul 2011 11:20 AM PDT By J. D. Lovrenciear Malaysians are at war. No doubt about that. They are battling an unseen and unknown enemy. Until today we are unable to establish this Enemy Number One. And in the meantime the citizens' only staple information diet is more screw ups and more mysterious, knee jerk threats and finger wagging from the government.   Let us take a quick inventory of the issues that are rocking the very democratic foundations of this half-a-century nation: Beng Hock and Ahmad Sarbani died. Kugan died. Altantuya died. Baharuddin died. But we do not know who is / are the masterminds behind all these unaccounted and mysterious deaths. Yes, after long battles with the authorities, we are lucky to get some warped insight. And subsequently are told that the the salaried employee will get the hook or the noose. Till today, for example, no one knows who gave the orders to release the controlled explosives called C4. Till today no one knows who gave the marching orders to erase all ingress and egress immigration records of the late Altantuya. The elections are desperately in need of fair, free and clean principles. But the EC seems only adamant in not wanting to heed the Bersih 2.0 rally's call for best practice standards that can ensure the vibrancy of a democracy. Who is the mastermind not making the EC relent and respond positively? We almost lost two leaders, namely Anwar Ibrahim and Mat Sabu. But no one is telling who gave the orders to target the opposition leaders with deadly tear gas canisters in a death-trapped subway. It is reported that RM 888 billion left the country but no one knows who the culprits are behind the scene. Do not forget the saga of the fighter jets that got away. Or the kickbacks that Razak swiped clean. In all of these deals, who was orchestrating every move? But we create make believe enemies like the Opposition camp leaders; the Jewish community; communists; socialists; Christian leaders and what have you. Who is behind all that police brutality and all those denials in the face of the recent Bersih 2.0? Really nobody knows or may even be too dead scared to point a finger. Without knowing the real culprit behind the scenes we whip mere employees while the heads get away anew to operate from more arrogant platforms. At some point then, somebody has to step in and stop the serious rot. Otherwise, we better be prepared for a parachute-evacuation someday, somehow.

Bersih 2.0 Crackdown: "EO - Another ISA?" Posted: 24 Jul 2011 01:02 AM PDT By Suaram, Penang Most may have heard of the ISA but what about the EO? The Emergency (Public Order and Crime Prevention) Ordinance, commonly abbreviated as the Emergency Ordinance (EO), like the ISA, allows for indefinite detention without trial.  Enacted by the National Operations Council that was led by Tun Abdul Razak  following the May 13 race riots, the Emergency Ordinance has never been revoked to the present day even though we are no longer in any state of emergency. As expected, the EO has been regularly used to detain those deemed to be subversive by the government. The harsh reality is that it is actually used far more frequently than the Internal Security Act. The latest was on six of the 31 Parti Sosialis Malaysia ("PSM") activists who were arrested near Kepala Batas while they were travelling by bus from Kedah to attend a BERSIH 2.0 (Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections) programme in Penang on June 25th this year. The six, now known as "EO6" were released on July 2nd but re-arrested  immediately under the EO which allows the police to detain a person for up to 60 days. At the end of that period,  the Minister for Home Affairs has the power to issue the detainee with either a detention or restriction order for a period of two years 'without trial' to 'protect public order'. Recent crackdowns seem to indicate that we are moving in the direction of a police state. Now is the time for you to learn more about the EO and the arrest of the six activists.   Come, learn and more importantly, show your support as we gather in solidarity and take umbrage against this repressive legislation at this event.   Date: 27 July 2011 (Wednesday) Time: 8:30 pm - 10pm Venue: Caring Society Complex, Penang Contact: Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) Penang Branch Coordinator, 63B-01-07, University Heights, Jalan Sungai Dua, 11700 Penang. Tel / Fax: +6 04-6582285 Mobile phone: +6 012 7583 779 E-mail: suarampg@gmail.com http://suarampg.blogspot.com/

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