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Friday 31 July 2009

Search warrants seek evidence of drug addiction in Michael Jackson

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Search warrants filed Thursday in court in Clark County, Nevada, and carried out at properties of Michael Jackson's doctor imply that investigators looking into his death believe the singer was a drug addict.

Dr. Conrad Murray was with Michael Jackson on the day that he died.

Dr. Conrad Murray was with Michael Jackson on the day that he died.

The warrants, signed by District Judge Timothy Williams and given to CNN by Las Vegas affiliate KTNV, say "there is probable cause to believe" that searches would uncover evidence at the Las Vegas home and office of Dr. Conrad Murray of excessive prescribing, prescribing to an addict, excess treatment or prescribing, unprofessional conduct, prescribing to or treating an addict and manslaughter.

They cite "probable cause to believe" that the premises contained "records, shipping orders, distribution lists, use records relating to the purchase, transfer ordering, delivery and storage of propofol (Diprivan)."

A source told CNN on Monday that the Texas-based cardiologist allegedly gave Jackson the anesthetic propofol -- commonly known by the brand name Diprivan -- in the 24 hours before he died.

A source involved in the investigation into Jackson's death has told CNN that investigators found numerous bottles of prescription drugs in his $100,000-a-month rented mansion in Holmby Hills, California.

The items taken from Murray's home included copies of his computer and cell phone hard drives. They were to be turned over to the Los Angeles Police Department, which is leading the investigation into Jackson's death last month at age 50.

Murray is the central focus of a federal investigation into the singer's death, a law enforcement official told CNN on Wednesday.

Authorities have subpoenaed the records of various doctors who have treated Jackson over the years, but "Dr. [Conrad] Murray is the only one we're looking at," the federal law enforcement official said.

The disclosures were among several developments Wednesday in a story that continues to gather steam more than a month after the death of the pop icon on June 25.

Other recent developments:

• Jackson's personal chef, Kai Chase, recounted the day the singer died and how Jackson's children and his staff gathered in a circle to pray for him.

• Jackson's father, Joe, acknowledged that a 25-year-old Norwegian performer is Jackson's son -- even as the man himself denied the relationship in various news reports.

• Jackson's estate is worth at least $200 million, a source with knowledge of the estate's dealings told CNN.

Murray and the drug investigation

Despite the comment from the federal law enforcement official, Murray's lawyer does not think an arrest is imminent because autopsy results into Jackson's death are pending.

Police have interviewed Murray twice since Jackson's death. Murray's lawyer, Ed Chernoff, said his client is ready to talk to investigators again, but a meeting has not been scheduled.

Murray has consistently denied he prescribed or administered anything that could have killed Jackson. Video Watch a profile of Murray »

On Tuesday, investigators searched Murray's home and office in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Chernoff said he won't comment on "rumors, innuendo or unnamed sources."

Meanwhile, Murray failed to make a payment of $15,000 on his $1.65 million home in January and has racked up debt since.

If he does not make a payment by mid-August, he will lose his home to foreclosure, a spokeswoman confirmed.

"He was to be paid $150,000 a month by Michael Jackson," the spokeswoman said. "He was not [paid] by AEG, the tour promoter, or Jackson, for the two months he worked for them. So he's low on money."

Murray has been beset by financial difficulties since graduating from medical school.

He filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in 1992 and accumulated $44,663 in state tax liens in Arizona and California from 1993 until 2003, according to court documents.

He has also has been hit with several judgments related to unpaid bills, child support payments and defaults on education loans.

On Wednesday, CNN learned Murray was arrested on a charge of domestic violence disorderly conduct in Tucson, Arizona, in 1994.

Murray's then-girlfriend accused him of having an affair and threw something at him, Tucson law enforcement officials said. Murray allegedly pushed the woman down.

The doctor was acquitted five months after the incident.

The day Jackson died

The first sign that something was amiss on the day Jackson died came shortly after noon, said Jackson's chef, Kai Chase, in a first-person account to "Larry King Live."

Murray would usually come down to the kitchen about 10 a.m. to get Jackson something to eat or drink. But that day -- June 25 -- he didn't.

"I thought maybe Mr. Jackson's rehearsal time had been pushed back and he was sleeping late," Chase said.

About five to 10 minutes after noon, Murray ran down the stairs, screaming, "Hurry, get Prince (Jackson's eldest son), get security," Chase recounted.

"Clearly, something was very wrong," she said. "I instantly felt the energy in the house change. It was normally a warm, happy home. In an instant, that feeling was gone. The mood became very unsettling."

Security guards rushed by; the housekeepers cried. Paris, Jackson's 11-year-old daughter, was screaming, "Daddy, daddy," Chase said.

"This was their father -- the only person they have in the world. We weren't told what was going on, but you could feel things were very bad," Chase said.

"We eventually gathered everyone together in a circle -- the three kids, all the staff -- and we prayed: 'God, please let everything be OK with Mr. Jackson.' "

An hour later, security officials told employees to leave the house, saying Jackson had been hospitalized.

"We still didn't know what was happening, but the sight of a stretcher in the foyer of the house earlier told me things were not good," Chase said. "Still, I didn't learn of Mr. Jackson's death until later that day on the radio."

Chase said Jackson was a great father, letting the children stay up late, watching movies and eating popcorn, but ensuring their days were fairly regimented, with time set aside for study, theater and dance.

"The house was always filled with games, laughter and music," she said. "This makes what happened on June 25th all the more difficult."

Chase is appearing on CNN's "Larry King Live" Thursday to talk more about her experiences as Jackson's chef.

Joe Jackson: Jackson had another son

In an interview with the Web site NewsOne, Jackson's father, Joe, said the singer had another son, a 25-year-old Norwegian performer, Omer Bhatti.

"Yes, I knew he had another son. Yes, I did," Joe Jackson said. "He looks like a Jackson, he acts like a Jackson, he can dance like a Jackson. This boy is a fantastic dancer. As a matter of fact, he teaches dancing."

At Jackson's memorial service this month, Bhatti was seated in the front row between the pop star's father and sister.

CNN has been unable to confirm the relationship. And Bhatti has told various media outlets that he and Jackson were close friends.

Battle brews over Jackson's will

Jackson's estate is worth at least $200 million and could amount to much more, an informed source told CNN on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge granted control of Jackson's assets to the executors of his will: John Branca, Jackson's longtime personal attorney, and John McClain, a music industry executive and longtime friend.

A third executor, accountant Barry Siegel, recused himself. Jackson's mother, Katherine, now wants the judge to install her in the open slot.

The judge has scheduled a hearing on Monday.

"The question is, will all this get resolved on Monday, when there is a hearing?" said CNN legal analyst Lisa Bloom. "Or will this blow up into a huge dispute between Katherine and the executors?"

ADUN Permatang Pasir meninggal dunia

Hisham warns of stern action

(The Star) - Stern action will be taken against those who participate in rallies tomorrow, whether supporting or opposing the abolition of the Internal Security Act (ISA) .

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said this was to prevent the issue from having a negative impact on the security of the country.

“I will not compromise on this,” he said after presenting special contributions to ex-policemen who served during the Emergency (1948-1962) here yesterday.

Hishammuddin was commenting on the Pembela Negara Federation of Non-Governmental Organisations Council’s (Magaran) ultimatum, giving the Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) until 5pm to cancel a rally scheduled for tomorrow.

Magaran, which comprises 56 NGOs with over 100,000 members, said that if GMI continues with its plan, it would not hesitate to hold another rally to send a memorandum supporting the ISA to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong tomorrow.

Hishammuddin said he had informed Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan to take stern action against those taking part in the rallies.

“I have also instructed Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Muhammad Sabtu Osman to monitor the situation,” he said.

The Government had earlier announced that it would review the ISA.

In Petaling Jaya, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar urged the organisers to cancel the rally and reminded Malaysians not to participate.

He said GMI had planned and urged the public to attend a gathering known as the “100,000 rakyat” gathering at several locations, including at Masjid Jamek, Kompleks Sogo and Masjid Negara, tomorrow.

“On the same day, Majlis Permuafaktan Ummah (Pewaris) and Perkasa and several other coalitions are also planning to have a gathering at Padang Merbok, Pasar Seni and Masjid Negara in Kuala Lumpur to press for the ISA to be maintained,” he said in a statement.

He said even though the organisers had assured that the events would be held peacefully, these events were still unlawful and are threats to public order.

GMI meanwhile said the gathering would go on as scheduled tomorrow.

Kamaruzaman Mohamad, a committee member for the rally, said it would be a peaceful gathering and therefore did not require a permit.

Pakatan parties will seal pact, says Zaid

By Leslie Lau - The Malaysian Insider
Consultant Editor

KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is working towards registering the alliance officially to underline its commitment towards being a viable alternative coalition to the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN), says Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

The former BN minister, who joined PKR less than two months ago, wrote in his blog yesterday that he was aware of the criticisms levelled at PR parties for not formalising a common platform.

“All the members of Pakatan are ready to serve the public in the name of Pakatan.

“In fact in all our daily activities we are already acting as members of Pakatan and not just members of PKR, PAS or DAP,” he wrote.

Since joining the federal opposition, Zaid has been given the task of coordinating the activities of the joint PR secretariat.

The Malaysian Insider understands the act of formalising the alliance as an official coalition like BN has one major hurdle.

Under the rules of the Registrar of Societies, a political coalition must consist of at least seven parties. This means PR will have to attract more political parties to join its fold before it can be registered.

But Zaid appeared confident that this could be achieved.

“The people will be given a real choice in the next elections; there will be one-to-one contests,” he said.

PR leaders are understood to be in talks with several political parties to join the alliance.

But there are also ongoing talks between PKR, DAP and PAS to come out with common policies.

“I am aware of many critics who say Pakatan does not have concrete policies or even common policies. People say that because of our different ideologies Pakatan cannot be united like BN.”

He said PR leaders and members were already tired of being in opposition and have proven their abilities to withstand pressure from what he referred to as “dictatorial BN government.”

“They have been tested time and again. They have been jailed, detained under the ISA and their supporters are brave and strong.”

He claimed that BN’s strategy now was to create fissures among PR parties “because they are afraid of one-to-one contests.”

While Zaid acknowledged there were weaknesses in the PR alliance, he said the leaders remained committed towards formalising their current arrangement and offering a viable alternative to BN.

MIC wants 7.4pc Indian quota in GLCs

KUALA TERENGGANU, July 31 — The MIC wants at least a 7.4 per cent quota in employment for Indians in government-linked companies (GLCs), including in senior managerial and executive positions, party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said today.

He said the quota was based on the minimum 7.4 per cent target set by the government for the recruitment of Indians in the civil service.

“We are aware that many GLCs have increased the recruitment of Indians but more can and should be done,” he said when opening the Terengganu MIC delegates conference here.

Yesterday, Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam secured Telekom Malaysia Berhad’s pledge to recruit more people from the Indian community to fill the 7.4 per cent quota as agreed to by the Public Service Department.

Dr Subramaniam, who is also MIC secretary-general, had said that to date, the number of Indians in the company made up only 4.6 per cent and this needed to be raised to show a more racially balanced workforce in the public sector.

Samy Vellu also said that the MIC had formed a special committee to be headed by Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria to prepare a comprehensive report on the plans, policies and programmes for the Indian community under the Tenth Malaysia Plan (2011-2015).

He said he would also meet Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said soon to seek more business opportunities for Indians in the state.

“Although the number of Indians in Terengganu is less than one per cent, many are involved in small businesses and as contractors. The state government could allocate certain government contracts to them,” he added. — Bernama

Kg Buah Pala: Land title prohibits owner from commercial dealings without state consent

by Himanshu Bhatt

GEORGE TOWN (July 30, 2009) : Even as a Sunday eviction deadline looms for Kampung Buah Pala residents, the issue took a strange twist when it was pointed out that the land’s title prohibits the current owner from engaging in commercial dealings on the land without the state’s written consent.

The village committee’s assistant secretary C. Tharmaraj said today the condition gave the state grounds to acquire the land from Koperasi Pegawai-Pegawai Kerajaan Pulau Pinang, which had entered into a commercial venture for the land with a private developer.

The condition on the title was spotted by Derrick Fernandez, the legal adviser to Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and a Petaling Jaya Municipal Councillor.

News of this clause has caused a stir among the village community and NGO activists who have been supporting their cause.

What makes the issue significant is that the land title was issued on March 27, 2008, after the Pakatan Rakyat took power, following the final instalment payment made by the Koperasi to the state.

Tharmaraj said since the state government has called the transaction fraudulent, it could now save the ancestral land through acquisition with a nominal sum.

Section 76 of the National Land Code specifies that the state authority is empowered to alienate state land where it is "satisfied that there are special circumstances which render it appropriate to do so”.

“The state government can save the village immediately by using the Land Acquisition Act, and would need to repay or compensate a nominal sum to the koperasi in view of the fact that the land does not have commercial value,” he said.

The koperasi bought the land at a discounted premium of RM3.2 million (or RM10 per sqft). The MIC has offered to contribute RM3.2 million for the land.

Tharmaraj also asked why the state has not enforced its powers under section 116 of the National Land Code to protect villagers from impending demolition.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had announced on July 8 that the state was looking into enforcing the clause, which stipulates that a building on alienated land cannot be demolished, altered or extended without prior consent in writing of the appropriate authority.

He said although a writ of possession had been served on the villagers, the developer still needed local government approval to demolish the houses.

Meanwhile, village representative N Ganesan questioned the state government for citing the cost of acquiring the land as being “hundreds of millions”.

Ganesan said the assessment of damages and its procedures are spelt out in the Land Acquisition Act, and the sum should be reasonable and assessed by the Land Administrator.

“Guan Eng acknowledges that the village folk have been cheated of their land by the previous government, and yet they (current PR government) remained silent on this until Hindraf raised the matter,” said Ganesan, who is also Hindraf adviser.

Lim had on July 24 announced that the state was revoking its approval for the project based on powers accorded to it under the Town and Country Planning Act 1976.

Penang Gerakan Youth vice-chairman H'ng Khoon Leng also questioned Lim over his failure to freeze the application for the land transfer and conduct an investigation into it before the state approved it.

He asked why DAP leaders had promised the villagers that they would not be evicted when the state had already accepted the instalment payment of RM2.24 million on March 14, 2008 and had the land title issued on March 27 the same year.

“Why was the condition regarding compensation and welfare set by the previous government not fulfilled before completing the land transfer?” he added.

He asked if Lim had a hidden agenda in declassifying segments of minutes from the previous executive council meetings and not from the current executive council.

As there is a clear and present conflict-of-interest, Azmi should belatedly stand down and disqualify himself from conducting the PAC inquiry into the

by Lim Kit Siang

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will be guilty of gross incompetence if it should come to the conclusion that the RM12.5 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal is all due to the project being “managed by a group of incompetent people from day one” and nothing more.

This appears to be the present line of thinking of the PAC Chairman Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid who told the media after the PAC meeting on Wednesday, which was attended by former Transport Minister Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy with his retinue of a lawyer and two aides, that “In general, the huge project was managed by a very incompetent group of people” from day one.

Could the ballooning of the PKFZ scandal from RM1.088 billion in 2002 when Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik was Transport Minister,quadrupling to RM4.63 billion in 2006 under Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy as Transport Minister, and now set to mushroom to become a RM12.5 billion scandal under Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat as Transport Minister all because of management by “a very incompetent group of people” from day one?

Was there no heinous criminality in cheating, criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of public funds resulting in the RM12.5 billion PKFZ “mother of all scandals”, five times bigger than the biggest financial scandal which kicked off the 22-year premiership of Tun Dr. Mahathir – the RM2.5 billion Bumiputra Malaysia Finance (BMF) scandal 25 years ago?

Is this the nation’s most “heinous crime without criminals” in 52 years since Merdeka?

Azmi said Chan had appeared before the PAC armed with legal views from local and Commonwealth legal experts.

I stand corrected but I understand that the opinion of a Queen’s Counsel from UK in support of Chan’s position was not tabled at the PAC meeting, in which case, how could it be appended as an official document to the PAC report on the PKFZ inquiry when the PAC report is submitted to Parliament?

What about the opinions of all the other local and Commonwealth legal experts? Have they been tabled officially at the PAC meeting so that they could be included as an appendix to the PAC report for study by MPs?

Azmi said the battery of local and Commonwealth legal experts had given opinions that Chan’s three Letters of Support to PKFZ turnkey developer Kuala Dimensi Sdn. Bhd (KDSB) to raise some RM4 billion of bonds were not government guarantees but mere support letters for the project.

Will the PAC seek opinion from a Queen’s Counsel from UK that Chan’s Letters of Support were in fact implicit government guarantees and which were so regarded by the bond market?

Azmi said that although the two former Transport Ministers, Kong Choy and Liong Sik who had appeared before the PAC, had denied that the four Letters of Support they issued were government guarantees, these were only the opinions of both of them.

The PAC is calling the Attorney-General, Tan Sri Gani Patail to give his opinions on the two Ministers’ four Letters of Support at the next PAC hearing on August 12.

The PAC inquiry into the PKFZ scandal is taking on the character of a farce as Azmi as a Cabinet Minister in 2007 was not only privy but accepted the Attorney-General’s opinion that the four Letters of Support were implicit government guarantees for the RM4 billion bonds raised by KDSB in the bond market for PKFZ project, and Azmi was also party to the Cabinet’s subsequent decision to retrospectively approve the unlawful issue of the four Letters of Support by Liong Sik and Kong Choy and the subsequent Cabinet decision on a RM4.6 billion bail-out of PKFZ.

Azmi should vacate from the chair of PAC Chairman to testify at the PAC hearing why he and other Cabinet Ministers agreed with the Attorney-General’s opinion in 2007 that the four Letters of Support were implicit government guarantees for which the Cabinet had to give retrospective approval.

Other Cabinet Ministers in the 2007 decision for the RM4.6 bail-out of the PKFZ project should also be summoned to appear before the PAC inquiry to explain their support for the RM4.6 billion bailout of PKFZ.

There is a clear and present conflict-of-interest on Azmi’s role as PAC Chairman and former Minister when the Cabinet decided in 2007 on the RM4.6 billion PKFZ bailout – which was why I had earlier suggested he should disqualify himself from conducting the PAC inquiry into the PKFZ scandal, allowing the PAC Deputy Chairman Dr. Tan Seng Giaw to take over the inquiry.

Although late, it is still the proper thing for Azmi to do as it is never too late for him to stand down and disqualify himself from chairing the rest of the PAC inquiry into the PKFZ scandal.

Seeking justice

By Zedeck Siew
thenutgraph.com

THE death of Selangor government aide Teoh Beng Hock on 16 July 2009 quickly turned into political capital.

Memorials organised by the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) have the air of a partisan roadshow, where attendees are urged to overthrow the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next general election. Attempting to control perception, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has promised Teoh's parents — and, presumably, voters — that "no stone will be left unturned in finding out the real cause of death."

Meanwhile, the BN-controlled Malay-language press has racialised the issue. A blog of dubious credentials, Truth for Teoh Beng Hock, is hitting out at Selangor DAP elected representatives for alleged corruption.

Amid this carnival, the Civil Rights Committee (CRC) of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) organised a memorial of its own.

Supported by the Justice for Comrade Beng Hock and 1BLACKMalaysia Facebook groups, the 29 July 2009 gathering was billed as a "time of humane reflection" where there would be "no religious ceremony" and "no political speech".

It placed Teoh's death in the context of deaths in custody: as one out of 1,805 tragedies that have happened in police lock-ups, prisons, and detention camps since 2003. This translates into 23 deaths every month, or three custodial deaths every four days — making Teoh's death just one of many troubling incidents that have gone mostly unnoticed.

"Some of us were not particularly impressed by the way political parties were handling the memorials [for Teoh]," political scientist and activist Wong Chin Huat, one of the event organisers, told The Nut Graph. "What we see here is a human issue, beyond partisan politics.

"Teoh was almost a model citizen. But even if someone is a car thief, no one deserves such death."

Free speech in M’sia: Speakers cornered

ImageThe Sun
by Nizam Bashir

Human Rights and the Law

FREEDOM of speech and expression, commonly known as free speech, is one of the cornerstones of a functioning democratic state. This is because, as Justice Louis Brandeis put it in Whiney v California, the “... freedom to think as you will and to speak as you think are means indispensable to the discovery and spread of political truth.” The framers of the constitution realised that and ensured that free speech constituted one of the fundamental liberties in the Federal Constitution.

Free speech in Malaysia is guaranteed by Article 10(1)(a) of the constitution. In essence, every citizen has the right to free speech. However, the Malaysian experience suggests that little premium is placed upon this right.

In August last year, 21 Malaysian Internet service providers cut access to the Malaysia Today website. They did so pursuant to notices issued by the government under section 263 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.

Yet, section 3(3) of the Act states that “Nothing in this Act shall be construed as permitting the censorship of the Internet.” So, were the notices valid? Surely not but the government did issue them and impinged on free speech in that instance.

However, let’s venture a little further away and take a step back into the past by looking at the Sedition Act. The Act was fashioned largely after the sedition laws in United Kingdom and was enacted in 1948 when the British were in power in Malaya.

The purpose of the Act then, was to enable the then government to deal with citizens protesting against the formation of the Malayan Union. Today, the Act is still brought to bear upon citizens save that the “protests” in question now involve other matters. (A contemporary example of this being the recent charge proffered against Karpal Singh under section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act for the comments he made about the Perak sultan.)

On the one hand, there is the fact that since 1957, Malaysians have attained the right to vote and that right is enshrined in Article 119. That right to vote must surely come with the right to agitate for change on any subject so long as it is carried out in a constitutionally permissible manner.

However, never mind that. That seems moot at this juncture as on July 15, Lord Bach – Britain’s justice minister – acknowledged that sedition laws are outdated and should be abolished.

Why does Malaysia then continue to insist – as its one time information minister Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin did in 2006 and as Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein does – that the Sedition Act remains current and need not be abolished? Suffice to say, the Act has never been brought to bear against those who are in government.

The Printing Presses and Publications Act is another law frequently lambasted by free speech proponents. This is understandable as over the years, a number of materials have been banned under the Act.

One of the more recent ones being the Sisters of Islam’s book Muslim Women and the Challenges of Islamic Extremism, which was banned under section 7 of the Act as being prejudicial to public order.

Whatever one can say about free speech and regulating free speech, it goes without saying that the injured party must be accorded the right to be heard.

Yet, section 13A of the Act states that the minister’s decision is final and not questionable in a court of law. Section 13B compounds the problem by further providing that a person affected by the minister’s decision has no right to be heard.

Granted, Article 10(1)(a) of the constitution – the “free speech” clause – does state that it is subject to Article 10(2)(a). Article 10(2)(a) goes on to say that Parliament can legislate such restrictions as Parliament deems necessary on free speech. Nevertheless, this does not mean that Parliament can do as it likes free from any supervision from the courts.

Parliament’s ability to legislate, even pursuant to Article 10(2)(a), must be read within the backdrop of the Reid Commission’s remark that “The guarantee afforded by the constitution is the supremacy of the law and the power and duty of the courts to enforce these rights and to annul any attempt to subvert any of (the rights) whether by legislative or administration otherwise.”

So if, for example, Parliament attempts to restrict free speech by enacting legislation beyond the subject matters envisaged in Article 10(2)(a), the court is entitled to strike such legislation down as being unconstitutional.

It is sensible to ensure that free speech operates within a reasonable band of restriction. The best example to bring home this point is the one involving a man in a crowded theatre
who shouts “Fire!” although none exists. Clearly, it is not unreasonable in such an instance to restrict that man’s right to free speech.

The Federal Constitution recognises that and Article 10(2)(a) is a manifestation of that recognition. Still, it pays to ask whether Malaysia has been too enthusiastic about restricting free speech.

Nizam Bashir is a member of the Human Rights Committee, Bar Council Malaysia. The views expressed in this article are personal to the writer and may not necessarily represent the position of the Bar. Complaints of rights violations may be forwarded to oysim@malaysianbar.org.my for the consideration of the committee. However, we make no assurance that all cases will be adopted for action. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com.

Police: Why didn't he report death threats?

The New Straits Times
By S. Arulldas

BUTTERWORTH: Even as the body of lawyer R. Thinakaran was cremated at noon yesterday, police investigations have drawn more questions than answers over events leading to his murder.

Police are baffled as to why the 37-year-old lawyer did not lodge any reports despite having undergone several incidents which involved threats to his life over the past month.

The last incident, prior to his death, occurred on Saturday as Thinakaran was travelling back from Kuala Lumpur.

Family friends said he had complained that four men in a car had intercepted him at Autocity near the Juru toll plaza and threatened him with a parang.

They allegedly told Thinakaran that they would finish him off before speeding away.


Police are also investigating a fire at his Penang Street office earlier this month and another incident where Thinakaran was said to have fallen off the Penang bridge after being pulled out of his burning car.

Among the more than 300 people who paid their last respects at Thinakaran's home yesterday were several magistrates, his lawyer friends, relatives and family members.

The family performed the last rites at the Taman Bagan Ajam home here about 11am before the body was taken to a crematorium in Berapit, Bukit Mertajam.

It was reported that four men cornered Thinakaran in Jalan Baru in Prai as he was about to get out of his car to go to a temple about 11.30am on Monday. He was then forced to drink liquid detergent.

Thinakaran however managed to call a friend before driving to the nearby Seberang Jaya Hospital.

He lapsed into a serious condition about midnight on Tuesday and died of kidney failure soon after.

HOW TO MUZZLE YOUR CRITIC


1. I would like to thank everyone for the comments on the above.

2. Of course I don't like to be criticised. Anyone who says he likes criticism must be a hypocrite.

3. I admit that ever since I became Minister of Education in 1974, through my period as Deputy Prime Minister and then 22 years as Prime Minister I committed a lot of mistakes. I would not be human if I did not.

4. I am sure my critics also made mistakes in their lifetime. The only difference is that their mistakes affected only themselves. But if they get the chance to be PM maybe they will make the same mistakes I made. And we all will suffer.

5. Now we are seeing the former opposition parties forming Governments in several States. They were before very critical of Government mistakes. Now they seem to be making mistakes too.

6. Malaysians will have a tough time in the next general election. They may not like Barisan Nasional which for 50 years have been throwing tens of thousands into detention under the Internal Security Act, wasting public money building towers, airports, ports, highways etc, muzzling the Press etc etc. But they will find the so-called alternative coalition not much better.

7. Really Malaysia is a most unfortunate country. It has experienced misrule ever since independence. And it looks like it will continue to be misruled whether the incumbent or the opposition wins.

8. Maybe independence was a mistake also. How much better we would be under British rule. No one would be detained under the ISA. Everyone, Communists included, would be able ot speak their minds and contest in elections. Someone should be blamed for making the mistake of fighting for independence.

9. Cry my beloved country.

Permatang Pasir State Assemblyman Dies

PENANG, July 31 (Bernama) -- PAS state assemblyman for Permatang Pasir Datuk Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman died of heart ailment at the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur Friday morning.

He was 63.

Penang PAS Commissioner Salleh Man said Mohd Hamdan died after undergoing treatment at IJN for several days.

He told Bernama that Mohd Hamdan's remains would arrive at his residence at 2pm and would be buried at the Permatang Pasir Muslim Cemetery here after the Asar prayers.

The former state PAS commissioner for 14 years was the Permatang Pasir assemblyman for three terms from 1999 and was the sole PAS assemblyman in the state. The Permatang Pasir state seat is in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency.

Mohd Hamdan's brother, Mohd Shukran, said he died at about 7.15am. He leaves a widow, Datin Siti Khariah Ismail, and six children.

"My brother complained of chest pain and was taken to IJN by his children for a check-up and treatment. He had undergone heart surger several years ago," he said.

Mohd Hamdan's wife, did not accompany him to IJN because she was sick.

Mohd Hamdan retained the seat by garnering 11,004 votes to defeat the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate, Ahmad Sahar Shuib (5,571 votes), with a 5,433-vote majority in the general election last year.

He was conferred a datukship only three weeks ago in conjunction with the birthday of Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas.

A Kedahan, he studied at Sekolah Kebangsaan Wan Mohamad Saman, Sungai Korok, Alor Setar, and pursued Islamic religious education under a Kedah Islamic Religious Council sponsorship after obtaining the senior Cambridge certificate in 1963.

He took an intensive programme in public administration at Intan in 1970 and another course at the Customs Administration and Training College in Melaka in 1978.

He was a language teacher at the Sultan Abdul Hamid College in Kedah for two years from 1964, a Kedah state administrative officer from 1966 to 1977 and an administrative officer at the Royal Customs and Excise Department for six years after that.

Mohd Hamdan was also active in the youth movement, having been a committee member of the Malaysian Youth Council in 1973 and a state PAS representative in Pemadam from 1989 to 1999.

Pertubuhan bukan kerajaan dan Gerakan Mahasiswa dah nyata persetujuan turun 1 Ogos


Semalam Gabungan Mansuhkan ISA menerima sokongan dari 41 organisasi lagi, iaitu 15 Pertubuhan Cina dan 26 Kumpulan Mahasiswa dari seluruh negara. Ke semua mereka menyatakan hasrat menyokong Himpunan Mansuhkan ISA yang dijadualkan berlangsung pada 1 Ogos 2009 di Istana negara sabtu ini.

Mereka juga memberikan komitmen untuk menghadiri Himpunan ini dan dijangkan GMI bakal menerima lebih banyak sokongan dalam sehari dua ini dari pelbagai ideologi politik, agama, bangsa dan pelbagai peringkat usia.

Sebelum ini GMI sudah mengesahkan bahawa Parti Gerakan yang juga komponen BN yang menentang akta ini sudah menyatakan sokongan untuk hadir bersama.

Ini menunjukan usaha GMI ini bukan didokong oleh Pakatan Rakyat sahaja, tetapi dari semua kumpulan yang memahami dan menentang kezaliman akta ISA ini;

Berikut adalah senarai 41 organisasi NGO yang baru nyatakan sokongan;

1. Bahagian Pemuda Dewan Perhimpunan Cina Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor
2. Bahagian Pemuda Persatuan Murid-murid Tua Sek. Serdang Bharu
3. Persatuan siswazah-siswazah Taiwan Cheng Kung University Malaysia
4. The United Lee’s Association Selangor & KL
5. Bahagian Belia Persatuan Hopo KL & Selangor
6. Persatuan Keturunan Chan She Shu Yuan K.L & Selangor
7. Selangor & KL Hokkien Assciation Youth Section
8. Bahagian Belia Persatuan Huian Quangang KL & Selangor
9. Bahagian Belia Persatuan Teo Chew Selangor & KL
10. Bahagian Belia Persatuan Wui Leng Selangor & KL
11. Bahagian Belia Persatuan Murid-murid tua Sekolah Yu Hua Kajang Selangor.
12. Bahagian Belia Persatuan Foo Chow Selangor & KL
13. Bahagian Belia Persatuan Shing An Selangor & W/P
14. Gabungan Persatuan-persatuan Bekas Penuntut Sekolah China W/P & Selangor (Belia) .
15. Bahagian Belia Persatuan Char Yong Selangor & W/P.
16. Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam Se-Malaysia (GAMIS)
17. Gerakan Demokratik Belia dan Pelajar Malaysia (DEMA)
18. Gerakan Mahasiswa Islam UUM
19. Gerakan Mahasiswa Maju UPM
20. Gerakan Mahasiswa Maju USM
21. Gerakan Mahasiswa Maju UUM
22. Gerakan Mahasiswa Maju NEC
23. Inter Varsity Council (IVC)
24. Ikatan Studi Islam (ISI) UKM
25. Jawatankuasa Kebajikan Mahasiswa/i (JKMI)
26. Kelab Rakan Siswa Islah Malaysia (KARISMA)
27. Kumpulan Aktivis Mahasiswa Independen (KAMI)
28. Majlis Pelajar Cina UTM
29. Majlis Perwakilan Mahasiswa (MPM) UM
30. Majlis Perwakilan Pelajar (MPP) UIAM
31. NEC Social Concern Group
32. Persatuan Bahasa Cina UM
33. Persatuan Bahasa Cina UUM
34. persatuan Bahasa Tionghua UPM
35. Persatuan Bahasa Tionghua USM
36. Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM)
37. Persatuan Mahasiswa Islam (PMI) UM
38. Persatuan Mahasiswa Islam (PMI) UPM
39. Pertubuhan Gerakan Belia Bersatu Malaysia Cawangan Kedah (GBBM)
40. Pro-Mahasiswa (Pro-M) UUM
41. UUM Community Service Group "

Michael's last hours

'Pakatan to blame for Buah Pala fiasco' - Malaysiakini

MIC president S Samy Vellu today said the Penang Pakatan Rakyat government must assume full responsibility for the plight of Kampung Buah Pala villagers who face eviction on Aug 3.

He said MIC had checked and discovered that the problem involving the sale of the village for development - which resulted in the villagers being forced to evict - only surfaced after DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng became chief minister.

"They (Pakatan) are playing the blame game now," he told reporters after chairing the party's central working committee meeting at the MIC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

He said Pakatan leaders such as Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim had made many promises to the villagers during the 2008 general election.

Among them was to give the land back to the villagers if Pakatan was voted into power.

"But all those promises have gone with the wind... Anwar now has no time to talk about the issue," he added.

DCM gets a bashing

Samy Vellu also lashed out at Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Prof P Ramasamy for failing to solve the Kampung Buah Pala issue.

"He talks a lot but this is not reflected in his work. His talk is big but his actions are small. I don't know if he even considers himself an Indian. He should step down," added the president.

Responding to a question, the veteran politician said he would intervene in problems "for Indians anywhere in the world."

"Not only Kampung Buah Pala, we'll even go to the Andaman islands if need be," he added.

He however refused to comment on the ruckus that took place outside the MIC building this morning between a group of Pakatan Rakyat-led Maika Holdings' shareholders and MIC supporters.

Subra blamed for Maika's woes

At an earlier press conference, Samy Vellu's son and Maika Holdings chief executive officer Vell Paari asked if the Penang state government can resolve the Kampung Buah Pala issue.

"I can provide conditional assurance that the Maika Holdings issue would be resolved. Can they do the same to save Kampung Buah Pala?" he asked.

Vell Paari also lashed out at former MIC deputy president S Subramaniam, accusing him of being a stumbling block in resolving Maika's woes.

Maika had planned to sell its cash cow - insurance firm Oversea Capital Assurance Bhd - in order to reimburse its shareholders.

However, this plan hit a brick wall when Nesa Cooperative - linked to Subramaniam - obtained a court injunction against the sale.

"He didn't even raise a finger to resolve this issue from day one in office," said Vell Paari.

Kg Buah Pala: A way out of the impasse - Malaysiakini

The Penang government only has to read the fine print on a document issued by the state land office to bring the Kampung Buah Pala saga not just to a close, but to happy ending for affected residents.

Lawyer and Petaling Jaya city councillor Derek Fernandez said the state government can take back the land, based on a caveat in the 99-year lease document issued by the land registrar.

The document states that the plot is to be specifically used for housing and that the deed "cannot be transferred, mortgaged, pawned, sub-let or used as a business instrument".

"These means that the developer cannot operate via a joint venture," said Fernandez.

"If the Penang government re-acquires the land, they only need to pay back land premium as to what is actually paid by the cooperatives," he said.

The lease, registered on March 27, 2008 and effective up to March 26, 2107, was issued to Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang Bhd.

The Penang government changed on March 8 after the general election, with the defeat of Barisan Nasional in the state. The Pakatan Rakyat coalition then assumed office under the stewardship of Lim Guan Eng of DAP.

Developer Nusmetro Venture (P) Sdn Bhd entered the picture on April 14, 2008, based on transaction details on the document.

"I have discovered a serious weakness in the landowner Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang Bhd and Nusmetro's claim on the land.

"It is issued with restriction 'tanah yang diberi milik ini tidak boleh dipindah milik, cagar, pajak, pajakan kecil atau sebarang bentuk urusniaga (the land cannot be transferred, mortgaged, pawned, sub-let or used as a business instrument.)

"This restriction reduces the cooperatives to an end-user as it can build houses for members only. It cannot enter into a joint venture to develop the land or sell units to third party," he added.

He said that his assumption was based on the fact that the Penang government did not approve any transaction or development in relation to the land after the title was issued.

Fernandez said if the Penang government had not given any approval for the project, then Kampung Buah Pala is saved.

Developer has no claim over loss

The lawyer also said the developer cannot claim loss of market value or gross development loss as the land cannot be developed in the first place.

"It (the land) has no commercial value without the state consent to develop it. Hence, with this it can be easily acquired back by the Penang government," the Petaling Jaya councillor said.

He argued that in fact, the cooperatives should give back the land to the Penang government as it is duty bound to comply with state government policy as it is made up of officers of the state.

"The state could give them some other asset to replace this property. The developer in this case has no rights as there cannot be joint venture enforced without the state government's approval because of the restrictions," he said.

Fernandez also said the co-operatives should not have been involved in any business dealings in the first place due to restrictions imposed.

The restriction on the title, Fernandez said, makes the cooperatives the end-user only, as there should not be any purchaser or buyer.

He also debunked the caveat obtained by Nusmetro as according to him it only showed that the developer was laying claim over the land.

He added that the caveat itself was illegal based on a judgment delivered by Justice Mahadev Shankar in the case of Goo Hee Sing vs Will Raja and Anor.

Chief Minister Lim had previously stated that the state government has yet to give approval on the project.

"If that is the case, the land cannot be developed without the new government's approval so they (developer Nusmetro) cannot claim loss of market value or gross development value," added Fernandez.

Project is unlawful in law

He said that to acquire the land, the state government only needed to pay back the premium or what was actually paid by the cooperative society to the government.

"Therefore the state government can stop the demolition by issuing an acquisition notice under the Land Acquisition Act.

"It is my opinion that in the event the Pakatan government did not approve any development as they claimed, the project is unlawful in law because of these restrictions in the document.

Former Petaling Jaya councillor A Thiruvenggedam (photo: right) meanwhile has challenged Penang Chief Minister Lim to set the record straight on whether his government had approved any development projects with the land when it took over the reigns.

"Lim has been putting the blame on BN and also declassifying confidential documents to prove the point that it was BN's fault.

"He (Lim) should stop in this blame game and set the record straight," he added.

(With additional reporting by K Pragalath)

Lawyer says it aloud - cops killed Kugan

The High Court will next Tuesday announce its decision on the preliminary objection from the prosecution over the return of Kugan Ananthan's post-mortem samples which were confiscated from the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) by the police.

The items that were seized include bodily fluids and tissue samples, photographs, documents and other materials relating to the post-mortem done on Kugan by a UMMC pathologist.

Kugan's family has earlier filed a court application to reclaim the seized items.

Kugan, 22, who was detained in January for alleged involvement in car theft, died after five days in police custody.

His family had rejected the initial post-mortem conducted by Dr Abdul Karim Tajuddin of Serdang Hospital, which stated that the Kugan had died from “fluid accumulation” in his lungs.

A second autopsy was done at UMMC at the request of the family, where pathologist Dr Prashant N Sambekar Prashant concluded that Kugan was severely beaten up resulting in kidney failure and death.

High Court Judge Ghazali Cha today heard written submissions from both the prosecution and lawyers representing Kugan's mother N Indra (left), who had filed the suit.

Deputy public prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin contended that the search warrant which was granted by the Petaling Jaya Magistrate Court on April 4 to allow the police to raid Prashant's office was not a “proceeding”.

Noorin added that the family's application to reclaim the seized items was not lawful as the seizure was done to facilitate police investigations.

Furthermore, Noorin said Indra did not have locus standi in law to apply for her son's confiscated samples.

“Even if there is an application made or any action to question the search conducted, it can only be done by UMMC as it took place in their premise,” said Noorin.

The suit named four police officers, including inspector-general of police Musa Hassan and criminal investigation department director Mohd Bakri Zinin, as respondents.

The other two are Petaling Jaya district police chief Arjunaidi Mohammed and the officer who raided the pathologist's office, ACP Mohd Marzukhi Mohd Mokhtar.

The case was classified as murder and 11 police officers were subsequently re-assigned to desk duties. Investigations have since been wrapped up, but no one has been charged.

'Why are the murderers walking free?'

Lawyer N Surendran, speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, lambasted attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail for not taking speedy action to identify and prosecute Kugan's murderers.

“We say it openly - the police killed Kugan. We have no doubt about it. If it is not true, they can charge us for criminal defamation...

“The death occurred because of murder and torture which happened in January but now it is now July, and we ask why are the murderers and torturers in uniform allowed to walk free in this country,” expressed Surendran (centre in photo).

“We are running out of patience. If Kugan's murderers are not charged by the AG, we will carry out mass peaceful demonstrations calling for justice for Kugan,” he warned.

“We have tried all other means. Nothing has worked. We will demonstrate, we will take to the streets, we will never stop until Kugan's murderers are brought to justice.

“We are fed-up waiting and looking at this poor mother and seeing what this unjust state is doing to her... one would think that when the culprits have been identified, within one or two weeks, they would be charged,” said Surendran.

The lawyer also likened Kugan's death to that of political aide Teoh Beng Hock and added that his death could have been avoided if “a royal commission was formed to review the interrogations process by both the police and other authorities”.

“They allowed Kugan's case to remain unresolved and Teoh is now dead... all this at the doors of (Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak). His hands are stained in blood because he didn't institute the necessary reforms,” said Surendran.

High noon clash at MIC HQ

Kugan: No one charged

Husam ajak Pak Lah turun Himpunan MANSUH

Let’s go back 25 years

Image

“Could the PKFZ project become a RM12.5 billion “mother of all scandals” if the three Transport Ministers and four PKA Chairmen – all from MCA – had not been equally incompetent and negligent as the PKA managers from day one?” said Lim Kit Siang.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

To understand the present, one has to go back to the past. And in the case of the PKFZ, it has to be at least 25 years into the past.

25 years ago, MCA, the ‘number two’ partner in Barisan Nasional, was going through a crisis, like what is happening today. Neo Yee Pan, the new President, had taken over the party leadership in March 1983. He, of course, was ‘Team A’. And as soon as he took over, he ousted his opponents from ‘Team B’ led by Tan Koon Swan and his running mate Ling Liong Sik. With a stroke of the pen, so to speak, both Koon Swan and Liong Sik were out in the wilderness.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who himself had just taken over the leadership of Umno a couple of years earlier, was not too pleased. He wanted Koon Swan and Liong Sik to head MCA, not the man whom Umno called ‘the pork seller’. Yes, that was what Umno called Yee Pan, the pork seller, maybe because they thought he looked like one.

Plans were hatched to oust Yee Pan. Koon Swan and Liong Sik were told to cool their heels for a year or so while Dr Mahathir figures out his moves. They spent a short stint in Bolton, itching to get back into the political arena and grab back control of MCA.

Just before Dr Mahathir left for his overseas trip, he sent an emissary to meet Yee Pan with the message that he wants him out of MCA. And when he returns from his overseas trip he wants to see Yee Pan’s resignation letter on his table as a sort of ‘insurance policy’. The message was very clear. Go quietly and without any fuss or else get shoved out in a bloody and take-no-prisoners battle.

Yee Pan knew better than to take on Umno and Dr Mahathir. He decided that the best for his continued health would be to put his tail between his legs and exit with his head still attached to his shoulders.

In November 1985, Koon Swan and his running mate Liong Sik took over the leadership of MCA and Dr Mahathir was utmost pleased that at last MCA was being led by the people who he was most comfortable working with. Unknown to the MCA members at large, it was not the Chinese but Umno and the Prime Minister who decided their party’s fate and future.

Then Koon Swan suddenly found himself swamped with loads of legal problems. The 1985 recession had come without warning and to solve his financial predicament Koon Swan had done something illegal and the Singapore government caught him with his pants down. Dr Mahathir had no choice but to allow Singapore to send Koon Swan to jail and, in September 1986, Liong Sik found himself suddenly in charge of MCA as its new President.

Koon Swan was president of MCA for just ten months. He was in jail for longer than that.

A year later, Umno too went into crisis when it too saw the emergence of a Team A and Team B, just like MCA a couple of years before that. This crisis eventually led to the deregistering of the party by the Registrar of Societies and suddenly MCA found itself the lead partner of Barisan Nasional with Liong Sik as its new Chairman.

Umno no longer existed.

Dr Mahathir quickly registered a new party, which he called Umno Baru. But Umno Baru was not a component member of Barisan Nasional. The old Umno was. But the old Umno no longer existed. Umno Baru would need to apply to join Barisan Nasional just like any new party that wanted to join Barisan Nasional would have to do.

But the procedure to join Barisan Nasional is that all component members of Barisan Nasional must unanimously agree to admit this new member. A simple majority would not do. Even one dissenting voice would mean that the application to join Barisan Nasional would be rejected. And it would the Chairman of Barisan Nasional, Liong Sik, who would have to make sure that Umno is admitted into the coalition.

Liong Sik was a very crucial element for Umno. Without the lead partner of Barisan Nasional, now of course MCA, leading the charge, Umno is sunk. Umno would have to remain an independent party and Dr Mahathir would have to resign as Prime Minister as he would no longer command the majority seats in Parliament. Dr Mahathir, for all intents and purposes, was in fact now an independent Member of Parliament and legally no longer Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Yes, Liong Sik saved Umno. And he saved Dr Mahathir as well. Without him Umno and Dr Mahathir would be history while MCA would be the head honcho of Barisan Nasional with Liong Sik as Malaysia’s new Prime Minister. Dr Mahathir himself said that the Federal Constitution of Malaysia does not forbid a Chinese from becoming Prime Minister of Malaysia.

There is a special relationship between Umno and MCA’s past leaders that many Malaysians do not know about. MCA and Liong Sik are what the Malays would call talian hayat or lifeline. It was so more than 20 years ago. It is still so today.

In fact, today, it is even more so. Umno no longer holds more than 50% of the seats in Parliament. Without MCA’s 15 seats and another 30 from Sarawak, Umno is out of business. Sabah has another dozen or so and MIC and Gerakan another five combined. But these are not as crucial as MCA’s 15 and Sarawak’s 30. These 45 seats from MCA and Sarawak are what ensure that Umno remains in power.

The opposition wants to nail the balls of those involved in PKFZ to the wall. That would not be possible. If Umno allows the opposition to bring down all those behind the PKFZ then MCA and Sarawak will fall. And with them Umno too will fall. It is like all of them drifting in the same lifeboat. You can’t allow anyone to sink the lifeboat when you are also in it as that would mean you too would drown. So Umno needs to save MCA and the Sarawak politicians just so that it too will not fall. It is a case of survival and when your survival depends on others you have to make sure that they survive so that you too can survive.

The link between MCA and the PKFZ is clear. That is already public knowledge. The link between the Sarawak politicians and the PKFZ is also very clear because that too is public knowledge. But what many do not know is the link between MCA and the Sarawak politicians.

Many are perplexed as to why Ong Tee Keat (OTK) is trying to protect those behind the PKFZ. After all, those implicated are all ex-leaders of MCA and surely their downfall would not affect MCA. Actually, it is not just about the ex-leaders of MCA. It is also about the Chinese corporate bosses and the Sarawak leaders who have their hands dirty with the PKFZ fiasco.

The link between OTK and the Sarawak leaders may be a well-kept secret. But when OTK flies all over the place with Tiong King Sing’s private jet how can you keep this a secret?

As follows are some of the flight details we managed to get our hands on:

12 Feb G450 SZB/JB/KCH (ETD 11.00/12.00/17.00)
19 Feb G450 SZB/JB/SZB (ETD 7.30/22.30)
7 Mar Learjet 60 SZB/Kuantan/SZB (ETD 12.00/22.00)
24 Mar Learjet 60 SZB/JB/SZB (ETD 15.30/22.00)
20 Apr Learjet 60 SZB/JB/SZB (ETB 17.30/23.00)

“Could the PKFZ project become a RM12.5 billion “mother of all scandals” if the three Transport Ministers and four PKA Chairmen – all from MCA – had not been equally incompetent and negligent as the PKA managers from day one?” said Lim Kit Siang.

Actually, it is not about incompetence at all. Incompetence means they do not know what they are doing -- which would mean they are stupid. These people know what they were doing all along. They were ripping off RM12.5 billion of the rakyat’s money. And Umno just can’t do anything about it. Umno does not want to do anything about it. If they do something about it then MCA and the Sarawak politicians will have to suffer a fall. And 45 Parliament seats that are propping up Umno will also fall. And when 45 Parliament seats fall, then Umno too will fall.

It is all about survival. And Umno’s survival depends on MCA and Sarawak surviving. And would Umno be the head honcho of Barisan Nasional today if not for MCA and Liong Sik? So how can Umno not cover their ass when 20 years or so ago MCA and Liong Sik gave Umno its second lease in life? MCA and Liong Sik made Umno into what it is today. If not there would no longer be any party called Umno.

And this is how Umno says ‘thank you’ to MCA and Liong Sik. It makes sure that the PKFZ issue remains a non-issue. And the rakyat will just have to carry the RM12.5 billion financial losses for the sake of Umno and MCA remaining in power. That is the price the rakyat have to pay so that these people can stay in office.

It is ironical how the Chinese whack the Malays for what Umno is doing to the country. If only the Chinese knew that Umno is still around today because of MCA and Liong Sik. But then these Chinese were never really that smart anyway. If they were smart they would have blocked Umno from getting admitted into Barisan Nasional 21 years ago back in 1988.

Bodoh punya Cina! They deserve Umno and MCA. And they deserve losing RM12.5 billion of their tax money, 90% of which comes from the Chinese anyway. And today Ong Tee Keat is what Ling Liong Sik was 21 years ago, the man who ensures that Umno stays in office. So do you think OTK will allow the PKFZ issue to get out of control? After all, if Tiong goes down then he would not get to fly around in a private jet any longer.

*************************************************

Could the PKFZ project become a RM12.5 billion “mother of all scandals” if the three Transport Ministers and four PKA Chairmen – all from MCA – had not been equally incompetent and negligent as the PKA managers from day one?

Lim Kit Siang

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman blamed the RM12.5 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal on “a group of incompetent people” from day one. (NST)

The ad hoc committee on corporate governance probing the PKFZ fiasco, headed by Transparency International chairman Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan, denounced the PKA Board members for “gross negligence” in failing to discharge their fiduciary duties diligently, resulting in the RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal.

Both Azmi and Low are only half right. Could the PKFZ project become a RM12.5 billion “mother of all scandals” if the three Transport Ministers (Ling Liong Sik, Chan Kong Choy, Ong Tee Keat) and four PKA Chairmen (Ting Chew Peh, Yap Pian Hon, Chor Chee Heung and Lee Hwa Beng) – all from MCA – had not been equally incompetent and negligent as the PKA managers “from day one”?

Yesterday, the second Transport Minister mired in the RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal, Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy appeared before the PAC in its inquiry into the PKFZ scandal, ensconced by a lawyer and two aides as well as lugging a box of relevant documents, giving the impression as if he is appeared as an accused in a public inquiry.

Chan created PAC history in 52 years in being the first to appear with counsel before a PAC hearing. Why was this necessary and why did the PAC Chairman allow Chan to appear with counsel? This is indeed most extraordinary and even self-incriminating.

Even more extraordinary was that Chan produced an opinion from a Queen’s Counsel in the UK that the three Letters of Support which he had signed in support of PKFZ were not letters of guarantee.

How much did it cost Chan to get the opinion of a Queen’s Counsel for him to go to the PAC with it to back up his argument? Easily over 10,000 sterling pounds i.e. RM60,000 to RM100,000.

Why didn’t Chan get a Queen’s Counsel opinion when he was the Transport Minister in 2007 to convince the Cabinet that his three Letters of Support were not government “Letters of Guarantee” for the RM4 billion bonds raised by the PKFZ turnkey developer, Kuala Dimensi Sdn. Bhd. (KDSB) as Malaysian taxpayers would have been spared being victims of the RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal?

In 2007, the Cabinet was advised by the Attorney-General and Treasury that the four Letters of Support to KDSB to raise RM4 billion bonds were implicit government guarantees to the bond market.

As a result, the Cabinet gave retrospective approval for the four unlawful and unauthorized Letters of Support, one issued by Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik in May 2003 and three by Chan, creating the RM4.6 billion liability for the government in the bailout of PKFZ which is now set to become a RM12.5 billion scandal.

What is most shocking is that Chan did not formally table the opinion of the Queen’s Counsel to the PAC but only referred to it orally. This is most improper and irregular and Chan should be recalled to formally table the opinion of the Queen’s Counsel, so that it becomes part of the documentation of the PAC report in its inquiry into the PKFZ when submitted to Parliament.

As reported in the New Straits Times, Azmi said the PAC is expected to table its findings on the PKFZ scandal in the Dewan Rakyat by October when the House resumed its sitting. It will also prepare a report for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to revisit the project and look into certain areas, which were not touched by the commission in its earlier investigation.

Azmi has got his parliamentary responsibilities as PAC Chairman all wrong. His duty as PAC Chairman is to report to Parliament and not to MACC or even the government. His job is to ensure that the PAC report and recommendations on the PKFZ scandal is first tabled in Parliament and not to submit any report to the MACC or elsewhere.

It is then for Parliament to decide whether to accept the PAC findings and recommendations, including whether the PAC report should be forwarded to MACC for necessary action, or whether to reject the PAC report because it is unsatisfactory and unacceptable.

In the latter circumstances, Parliament should invoke its full powers to hold an inquiry of the full House into the PKFZ scandal, should it arrive at the conclusion that the PAC report falls far short of parliamentary standards and expectations.

In which case, all the witnesses who had appeared before the PAC, including the current and previous Transport Ministers, Tee Keat, Kong Choy and Liong Sik can be recalled.

Azmi should not forget that PAC is delegated by Parliament to inquire into the PKFZ scandal and Parliament must decide whether to accept its findings and recommendations before further follow-up action is taken on the PAC report.

This point must be emphasized especially in a case of such great public interest and controversy like the RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal.

As Parliament is reconvening on Oct. 19, and two weeks notice is required for a motion to accept or reject the PAC report on the PKFZ inquiry, Azmi should ensure that the PAC report on the PKFZ is circulated to MPs by end of September to allow MPs time to study it and decide whether a special motion on the PAC report on the PKFZ scandal should be moved – although formally, the PAC report would only be tabled in Parliament on Oct. 19 itself.

*************************************************

Tiong dares Lim to repeat claims outside

BACKBENCHERS Club chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing lost his cool with veteran MP Lim Kit Siang over the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) issue, even challenging the DAP adviser to repeat his allegations outside the House “if he dares”.

The Ipoh Timur MP had spoken at length about the issue when Tiong came into the House to interject.

“Repeat it outside the Dewan if you dare,” the Bintulu MP repeatedly challenged Lim.

At one point, Tiong told Lim not to hide under the cloak of Dewan Rakyat immunity. Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (BN – Kinabatangan) and Datuk Ismail Kassim (BN – Arau) also stood to seek clarification several times.

While Lim went on speaking about the issue, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (BN – Putrajaya) shouted “gila” (mad), Bung Mokhtar uttered that Lim was talking rubbish and Tiong accused Lim of misleading the House before they themselves left the chambers.

Earlier, Lim expressed disappointment with chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, who turned up at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting but offered no details of the investigation into PKFZ.

“He is not willing to work with Parliament? Isn’t it not Parliamentary contempt?” he asked.

PAC chairman Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid rebutted the accusation, saying that the committee might call Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to attend its meeting.

He also told Lim that two of the Opposition MPs in PAC supported him when he received a letter from Lim urging him (Azmi) to resign as PAC chairman and not lead in the PKFZ probe.

However, Lim insisted that Azmi, who was in Cabinet between 2004 and 2007, should be a witness in the PKFZ probe as he was party to the Cabinet decisions on PKFZ. - The Star

*************************************************

Tiong to file suit against Lee over PKFZ report
By LEE YUK PENG, The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Wijaya Baru Holdings Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said he will be suing Port Klang Authority (PKA) board chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng and several others within a few weeks over the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) audit report.

Nanyang Siang Pau reported on the front page of its evening edition last night that Tiong would also be suing auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) Advisory Services Sdn Bhd and several media companies.

Tiong told the daily that Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd had appointed a team of lawyers to study the audit report to draft the suit. Tiong is a 70% shareholder of Wijaya Baru Holdings, which is the sole proprietor of Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd, the turnkey developer of PKFZ.

Speaking after launching a Buddhist project in Petaling Jaya yesterday, Tiong said that he decided to sue Lee and not PKA.

Tiong also challenged Lee to use his money and not PKA funds to defend himself.

Tiong, who is also Bintulu MP and Backbenchers Council chairman, warned Lim Kit Siang (DAP - Ipoh Timur) that he may be sued too.

Kuala Dimensi also took up full page advertorials in Sin Chew Daily, Nanyang, China Press and Guang Ming Daily to explain its position.

It said the PWC’s report, which was incomplete, had tarnished the company’s reputation.

When contacted, Lee said: “I have to wait for the suit and will inform my lawyers to file a defence. Whatever I did is on behalf of PKA and for the good of taxpayers.”

Duo will give DNA for Teoh inquest, says Gobind

Gobind said the two can provide their DNA sample at any time. — File pic

By Adib Zalkapli - The Malaysian Insider

PETALING JAYA, July 30 — Two witnesses have agreed to provide DNA samples for Teoh Beng Hock's inquest after reportedly refusing to do so as mystery deepens over an unknown male DNA found on the dead political aide's jacket.

Lawyer Gobind Singh Deo, who represents one of the two witnesses and also Teoh's family, said Tan Boon Wah and Lee Wye Wing were only informed by the investigating officer to give their sample the next morning, on Tuesday evening, less than one day before the start of the inquest.

The inquest is to determine Teoh's cause of death after he was found dead outside the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Selangor head office on July 16 after nearly 10 hours of interrogation as a witness in alleged misuse of state funds.

Gobind explained that he had advised Tan to appear at the inquest instead of going to the police station, as he was one of the witnesses.

While Lim Lip Eng, who acts on behalf of Lee, said the latter was not in Kuala Lumpur.

Like Teoh, both Tan and Lee are witnesses in a MACC investigation into alleged misuse of public funds by Selangor state lawmakers.

"Anytime, they can even go now," said Gobind when asked when the two will provide their sample.

Their refusal to provide sample resulted in allegations that the duo were responsible for Teoh's death.

An anonymous blog, in its posting last night, had accused both Tan and Lee of murdering Teoh.

"Both Tan and Lee have been advised by Gobind Singh Deo and Karpal Singh not to give their DNA sample to the police," said the blog.

"This means that Tan Boon Hwa and Lee Wye Wing are the suspected murderers of Teoh Beng Hock," it added.

Yesterday, the inquest was informed of the presence of DNA trace belonging to an unknown male on Teoh's jacket.

The inquest resumes on Aug 5.

Mustapa: Bumiputeras must prepare to take advantage of liberalisation

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 – Bumiputera entrepreneurs must be prepared to take advantage of the effects of liberalisation on the 27 services subsectors, said Minister of International Trade and Industry DatHe said the subsectors have been opened up to attract the inflow of such large investments that local investors may not be able to allocate.

“When foreign participation is accepted, the multiplier effects from the investments should be taken advantage of by all entrepreneurs including Bumiputeras,” he said during an interview with RTM 1 on the Program Dialogue aired here Wednesday night.

The topic of “Liberalising Services Sector” was discussed during the programme.

Among the 27 subsectors liberalised without any share equity restriction are the health and social services, tourism and transportation.

The announcement of liberalisation measures three months ago has given a boost of confidence to foreign investors, Mustapa said.

“Malaysia is seen as a country preparing to face competition once the economy recovers. Local entrepreneurs should also be ready to gain from the effects of liberalisation,” he said.

He also reiterated that the issue of Bumiputera participation being jeopardised with the liberalisation did not arise as there was minimal participation.

Mustapa said the decision to liberalise the 27 subsectors was made following 18 months of deliberation with the related ministries and agencies as well as after consideration was made for the needs and concerns of local entrepreneurs including Bumiputera entrepreneurs in the said sectors.

The ministry also discussed with Bumiputera business chambers and councils as well as trade and industry organisations before announcing the measures.

Mustapa said there were reasons for selecting the sector for liberalisation.

For example, there is a rationale for the liberalisation of the theme park subsector as it requires large investment amount and Malaysian investors usually decline to invest in projects requiring long construction period, he said.

He said the services sector was also an important component in the Malaysian economy whereby it should be contributing 70 per cent to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2020, in line with Malaysia's aim to become a developed country.

“The New Economic Model being formulated by the government will certainly emphasise on the services sector,” he said.

He said an Act will be also created where the existing regulations involving the services and professional sector will be streamlined to equip the sector for liberalisation.

The services sector is the country's main sector. It contributed 55 per cent to GDP last year, followed by manufacturing at 30 per cent, agriculture 10 per cent and construction 10 per cent.

Mustapa said although the liberalisation has been effected, the government will continue to provide assistance and support the local services providers to increase their competitiveness.

He said prior to the announcement of the liberalisation, the government had already created the Capacity Building Fund for the services sector with an initial allocation of RM100 million to help reduce the impact for the services providers of the country. - Bernama

Pakatan panel finds BN's Ganesan guilty of contempt

IPOH, July 30 – The Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) Rights and Privileges Committee today found Perak Speaker Datuk R. Ganesan guilty of contempt for his role in the May 7 state assembly fracas and is recommending a six-month jail term.

Ousted PR Speaker V Sivakumar announced this today after PR members of the commdiittee convened a meeting at a hotel here to consider a complaint by Pokok Assam assemblyman Yee Seu Kai.

The decision to punish Ganesan is not likely to be enforced as the PR panel has not been recognised either by the Barisan Nasional (BN) controlled legislature or the state government.

The committee plans to serve a notice to Ganesan soon to vacate the Speaker’s office and stop “impersonating” the Speaker, in what is seen as an attempt to continue stepping up PR's claims that the BN government was illegitimate.

“The committee has heard testimony from three witnesses and has concluded that Ganesan committed contempt of the assembly," said Sivakumar.

He said that the committee would propose to the Assembly that Ganesan be jailed for six-months, and fined RM500,000 in default of six months’ jail.

Earlier PR members, in their unrelenting determination to hold the Rights and Privileges Committee hearing inside the State Secretariat, made their second attempt in a week to enter the building today but were denied entry again.

This time however, the committee stepped up its aggressive stance and refused, for almost two hours, to accept the explanations offered to them by lower-ranking secretariat officials and the police, who were manning the BN government’s fort.

Led by Sivakumar, who is chairman of the committee, the group marched towards the back entrance of the building at about 10am and demanded to see State Secretary Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Hashim.

Like Monday however, the only people who were present to defuse the situation were Ipoh CID chief Deputy Supt S. Glenn Anthony and his army of officers and principal assistant to Abdul Rahman, Shamshuzaman Sulaiman.

Shamshuzaman, in his usual faltering tone, told Sivakumar that under orders from Abdul Rahman, the committee was not allowed to convene its meeting since it was not “recognised” as the legal select committee under the State Assembly.

Enraged, Sivakumar told Shamshuzaman that the “state’s top civil servant” was a coward and was obviously getting involved in politics.

“He is supposed to remain neutral. Who is he to determine whether or not our committee is recognised? Who does not recognise it? Him? Or the BN government?

“Bring him down here now. I want him to tell us, face to face, that he is prohibiting us from entering the building,” he said.

Sivakumar also argued that he was not forcing Abdul Rahman or the BN government to “recognise” the committee. He said he only wanted to meet inside the building.

“And am I not an elected representative? We were all elected by the people to become lawmakers and to enter this building and conduct our businesses.

“By stopping us, you are infringing Section 124 of the Penal Code. We will have to lodge reports against you people again,” he said.

As the minutes went by and the arguments only succeeded in getting louder, it was clear that the PR members would not get to set foot into the building compound.

Shamshuzaman looked more and more agitated, as his repeated calls to Abdul Rahman could not convince the latter to make an appearance.

Sivakumar on the other hand, and his PR comrades, including the notoriously aggressive Simpang Pulai assemblyman Chan Ming Kai, were insisting on staying until Abdul Rahman showed up.

At about 10.50am, after Shamshuzaman left to fetch Abdul Rahman for the second time but returned alone again and said that the latter was busy in a function, a highly-frazzled Chan uttered an expletive under his breath before stealthily unlocking the gates and pushing his way partially through.

Upon seeing this, Shamshuzaman quickly left the scene while the police moved to physically stop Chan from entering the compound.

The two parties shoved and pushed at each other roughly, resulting in Chan being left with his left arm and leg wedged between the gates.

Still, they were not allowed to enter.

A few minutes later, the usually mild-mannered Sivakumar shouted that he wanted to see Abdul Rahman and then he too tried to barge his way in.

“Ok, forget the committee meeting. This time, can you let us in as state assemblymen, so we can meet with Abdul Rahman and have a drink in the canteen?” he said.

DSP Glenn however was adamant in enforcing Abdul Rahman’s orders and did not allow the group in.

When Bercham assemblyman Sum Cheok Leng from DAP said he wanted to use the toilet inside the building, DSP Glenn retorted: “The toilet is spoiled.”

At this point, both Chan and Sivakumar were wedged between the gates.

At 11.40am, the committee finally decided to move away but did not back down without first issuing a threat.

“Tell Abdul Rahman that we will be issuing him a notice today for tomorrow’s (Friday) committee hearing.

“When we come tomorrow, we want him to face us and tell us personally that he is stopping us from entering this building.

“If he does not appear, we will push our way in,” said Sivakumar.

The group then adjourned their committee hearing to the Syuen Hotel.

Law prohibits land from being developed

NST
2009/07/30

KUALA LUMPUR: Land law in Penang categorically prohibits the re-development of Kampung Lorong Buah Pala, a lawyer here specialising in issues involving local authorities said yesterday.

Derek Fernandez said the temporary land ownership (Borang 11AK) document for the village issued by the Timor Laut Land Office stated that the 26,683.96 sq metre plot could not be transferred or mortgaged.

Neither could the land be leased or entered into any form of business transaction, he added.

Fernandez said the state government should issue a notice to the developer, Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd, to stop the demolition of structures on Penang's High Chaparral.

"The land title actually prohibits any development unless expressly approved by the state government. The developer also cannot enter into any agreement with the Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Pulau Pinang," he told a press conference held jointly with former Petaling Jaya councillor A.Thiruvenggadam.

Fernandez said the state government could buy the land on which the century-old settlement was located by just paying the original premium with interest.

"They do not have to pay the RM150 million cost of the housing project promoted by the developer."

He was commenting on Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's statement that the state could not acquire the land as it would need to pay RM150 million in compensation.

Hartal MSM enters blogosphere

By Haris Ibrahim,

Spin-doctoring editors, watch out!

Click the image below to get to the latest blog in town.

lies1

Was Teoh Beng Hock pulled up by his jackets and trousers/belt and pushed out of 14th floor MACC hqrs?

By Lim Kit Siang,

Before last Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, the family and the Malaysian public were assured by the four MCA Ministers and the Minister each from Gerakan, MIC and SUPP that they would support in Cabinet the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the causes and circumstances of Teoh Beng Hock’s mysterious death at Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Shah Alam.

In the event, these seven Cabinet Ministers from MCA, Gerakan, MIC and SUPP disappointed the Teoh family and justice-loving Malaysians by agreeing to the most unsatisfactory formula of dividing the inquiry into two parts – an inquest into Teoh’s death and a Royal Commission of Inqury into MACC’s interrogation techniques.

This created an nation-wide uproar which even ordinary MCA, Gerakan, MIC and SUPP ground leaders and members fully participated, for they just cannot understand why their party leaders in the Cabinet could be so insensitive to what basic justice and fair play demand – a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the causes and circumstances of Teoh’s death.

Apart from the Ministers, there was little endorsement for an inquest, as illustrated by the massive support of tens of thousands of people who attended the Teoh Beng Hock memorial meetings in seven states in the week after the previous Cabinet meeting, calling for a comprehensive Royal Commission of Inquiry.

The Malaysian public had expected the Cabinet yesterday to take into account the virtually unanimous views of the ordinary Malaysians for a comprehensive Royal Commission of Inquiry into Teoh’s death, but the whole nation was again disappointed that there was no review of the earlier Cabinet decision.

The four MCA Ministers led by its President and Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, the Gerakan Minister and Gerakan President, Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon as well as the MIC and SUPP Ministers who had earlier expressed support for RCI into Teoh’s death should explain why they failed yesterday to ask the Cabinet to broaden the scope of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the causes and circumstances of Teoh’s death.

If the scope of the Royal Commission of Inquiry is widened to cover the causes and circumstances of Teoh’s death, then the inquest which had a preliminary start in Shah Alam Court yesterday, could be stood down to await outcome of the RCI inquiry – as is the practice in other Commonwealth countries with similar legal systems with regard to public inquiries into unusual deaths which attract great public concern and interest.

Nanyang Siang Pau today quoted an unnamed Minister as saying that the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, while briefing the Cabinet on his visit to the Teoh family on Tuesday night, had expressed the hope that the Teoh family “would not be misled by other people”.

Did Najib make such a statement in the Cabinet? Who is Najib referring to? Why is the Minister afraid to speak on record rather than doing so anonymously? Is it MCA President Ong Tee Keat or Gerakan President Koh Tsu Koon.

Let the Minister come out into the open to identify himself.

There are more and more mysteries surrounding Teoh’s unusual death at MACC headquarters exactly two weeks ago.

At the inquest yesterday, the lead counsel representing the Attorney-general, Tan Hock Chuan furnished the team of lawyers representing the Teoh family, headed by Gobind Singh Deo a bundle of documents including post-mortem, forensics, toxicology and criminology reports, closed-circuit television (CCTV) clips and DNA samples.

Conspicuously missing from the bundle is the 10-page statement given by Teoh Beng Hock to the MACC. When will the lawyer team of Teoh’s family be given this important document?

The mysterious circumstances of Teoh’s death at MACC takes on a new dimension with the emergence of anonymous “blackblogs” making baseless, defamatory and scurrilous attacks on Selangor DAP leaders and supporters, with the latest going completely overboard in accusing Kajang Municipal Councillor Tan Boon Hwa and Lee Wye Wing of being Teoh’s murder just because of their earlier refusal to provide their DNA sample for legitimate reasons nothing to do with Teoh’s death.

However, because of these lies on the “blackblogs”, both Tan and Lee have agreed to give their DNA sample as they have nothing to hide.

The lies, half-truths and doctored documents like the one on the blackblog, http://t4tbh.blogspot.com/, deserves no credence whatsoever.

However, sometimes in lies there could be found some nuggets close to truth.

I refer to the following account on this black blog:

“The DNA of strange people found on Teoh’s belt and the back of his jacket shows that Teoh was pulled up by his jacket and trousers / belt and pushed out the window.

”This means that Tan Boon Hwa and Lee Wye Wing grabbed Teoh by his jacket and trousers/belt and threw him out the window.

”The Police must arrest Tan Boon Hwa and Lee Wye Wing for the murder of Teoh Beng Hock”

Removes the lies about Tan Boon Hwa and Lee Wye Wing, but has the purported account of Teoh’s murder any ring of truth? It appears to be written by someone who might know what actually happened and who caused Teoh’s death.

Was Teoh pulled up by his jackets and trousers/belt and pushed out of the MACC’s 14th floor window? Was Teoh dead or alive when he was pushed out of the window? And who are these people concerned?

Only a Royal Commission of Inquiry and not an inquest can satisfy public confidence that there will be a full and no-holds-barred inquiry into the causes and circumstances of Teoh’s mysterious death at MACC headquarters.