Consumer ‘drills’ for justice

Despite filing a RM400,000 lawsuit against Carrefour for injuries sustained due to a faulty drill, the High Court only awarded V Sundrum RM10,000 with no costs.

PETALING JAYA: A consumer from Kulai, Johor has cried foul over a faulty electrical appliance bought from multi-national hypermarket which caused him to lose his hearing.

Adding salt to injury, the Kuala Lumpur High Court merely awarded him RM10,000 for his injury despite filing a RM400,000 lawsuit.

Relating his ordeal, V Sundrum, 53, said he purchased the MAC 500W impact drill in May 2005 from a Carrefour hypermarket branch in Johor Bahru after seeing its advertisement in an English daily.

The product, which was certified by the Energy Commission, however, went bust when Sundrum used the appliance the following day.

“The drill bit bent and hit my face, injuring my left eye and ear,” he said.
He then sought treatment at the Puteri Medical Centre after being assured by Carrefour that it would bear the cost but nothing came forth.

Though his eye recovered, Sundrum, who was a former sales manager for a toy company, lost his hearing in the left ear, rendering him dependent on a hearing aid.

Angered by the accident, Sundrum then checked the details of the drill with the Energy Commission in June 2005 and found that its registration number was false.

“The registration number attached to the drill ’3930/02′ was registered for a Hyundai television receiver,” he said.

Sundrum then urged the Energy Commission to take action against Carrefour for allegedly using a fake registration number on its product.

“However, the commission has yet to take any action against the hypermarket,” he added.

In the same month, Sundrum also took his case to the National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC), an agency under the Domestic Trade, Consumerism and Cooperatives Ministry, but was advised by the agency to seek legal redress.

“And the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) also advised me to file a law suit against Carrefour,” he said.

In search of justice

In May 2006, Sundrum filed a lawsuit with the Kuala Lumpur High Court against Carrefour claiming RM400,000 in damages.

However, the court’s verdict on September 2010 was less than satisfactory for Sundrum, who is now registered with the Welfare Department as a disabled man.

“I was only offered RM10,000 for the injury I sustained in my left eye. I was not offered any compensation for the injury to my ear,” said Sundrum.

The reason, he said, was because the court refused to accept the medical reports issued by Kuala Lumpur General Hospital (HKL) and Puteri Medical Centre pertaining to the injury to his ear.

Sundrum, who is currently unemployed, related that he was also badly represented by his counsel during the court proceedings, a lawyer recommended by Fomca itself.

He said the court even asked him to demonstrate how he used the drill after the defendant’s lawyers queried his ability in operating the power tool.

“I’m a certified technician. Besides, the drill is commonly used at homes so there is no need for anyone to have a special qualification to handle the drill,” he added.

Sundrum then filed an appeal in November 2010.

“I’m now jobless and yet to receive justice. If I fail, I do not know what else to do,” he said.

Pakistan: husband and wife team in suicide attack on police station

In a new Pakistani Taliban tactic, a husband and wife suicide squad, disguised in burkas, entered a police station and killed 12 officers and a tea boy.

Smoke rises from the siege of a Pakistani police station during an attack by Taliban militants in Kolachi area near the border with South Waziristan tribal district on June 25, 2011. Twelve policemen were killed on June 25 when Taliban militants clad in burqas laid siege to a police station in northwest Pakistan, officials said. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

A husband and wife team dressed in burkas has carried out a suicide attack on a police station in northwestern Pakistan, the Taliban say.

The pair entered a police compound late Saturday in Kolachi, near the tribal region of South Waziristan on the Afghan border, pretending they had a complaint to make, the BBC reports.

The husband-and-wife suicide squad wore burkas that hid assault rifles, hand grenades and suicide vests underneath. They held staff hostage for several hours before detonating themselves, killing 12 policemen and a tea boy. The couple shot dead five of the policemen, while seven more died of their wounds overnight.

The husband and wife suicide team is a new tactic in Pakistan’s tribal areas, the BBC says. A woman bomber was blamed for a suicide attack last December, while militants have reportedly also used children as human bombs.

A Pakistani Taliban spokesman said the attack was carried out in retaliation for the May 2 killing of Osama Bin Laden by U.S. special forces in Abbottabad, and for Pakistani government attacks against militants, Reuters reports.

(More from GlobalPost in Pakistan: Militants in Pakistan more brazen after the bin Laden raid)
"The attackers were a husband and wife. We will keep carrying out attacks with different strategies," spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told Reuters by phone.

Pakistan’s Taliban movement, which is close to Al Qaeda, has ratcheted up the number of violent attacks in the country since the death of bin Laden.

 

Jangan sandiwarakan proses pemurnian

Penulis yang pernah menganggotai Panel Bebas Mengkaji Interlok kecewa dengan pelbagai kenyataan berbelit yang dikeluarkan pihak tertentu.

COMMENT

Pasti sahaja saya terkejut membaca kenyataan Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran, Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong di akhbar theSun pada pagi 23 Jun 2011 berhubung perkembangan terbaru kerja-kerja memurnikan novel Interlok Edisi Murid.

Dalam kenyataan itu, beliau dilaporkan berkata bahawa keputusan untuk meminda hanya sebahagian kecil (sembilan halaman?) pada novel itu telah dibuat pada mesyuarat Panel Bebas dan kementerian hanya melaksanakan kerja-kerja pindaan berdasarkan keputusan itu.

Dari sudut yang lain, saya tidak pula terlalu terkejut menyaksikan “sandiwara” terbaru ini daripada seorang “pelakon tambahan”. Saya katakan demikian kerana timbalan menteri berkenaan tidak pernah terlibat dalam mana-mana mesyuarat Panel Bebas.

Beliau juga tidak terlibat dalam mesyuarat terakhir bersama Menteri Pelajaran di Menara Parlimen pada 23 Mac; iaitu sehari sebelum Menteri Pelajaran membentangkan keputusan berkaitan kontroversi novel Interlok Edisi Murid di Parlimen.

Untuk makluman, sebarang mesyuarat, perjumpaan atau pertemuan yang (mungkin) diadakan oleh mana-mana pihak selepas 24 Mac (sepatutnya) adalah semata-mata untuk memastikan kesemua 106 pindaan dilaksanakan sepenuhnya sebagaimana sudah dijanjikan.

Maka, apabila saya membaca kenyataan Dr Wee, saya tertanya-tanya: Which “underground secret panel meeting” is he referring to?

Sebenarnya, pada 17 Jun lalu, sejumlah ibu bapa dan penjaga menghubungi saya untuk mendapatkan kepastian berhubung perkembangan berkaitan proses memurnikan novel berkenaan.

Mereka mendapat maklumat daripada anak-anak (pelajar Tingkatan Lima) bahawa Kementerian Pelajaran sudah menyediakan pelekat yang akan digunakan untuk menampal bahagian-bahagian yang memerlukan “pindaan” pada novel edisi murid itu.

Saya terpinga-pinga kerana terdapat 106 pindaan yang sudah diperakukan dan perlu dilaksanakan. Pasti memerlukan pelekat khas (“pelekat ajaib”) yang banyak dan tenaga kerja yang ramai untuk melaksanakan tugas berkenaan.

Senarai 106 pindaan itu dikemukakan oleh Wakil Kaum India iaitu Dr NS Rajendran, G Krishnabahawan dan saya sendiri berdasarkan maklumat yang diterima daripada orang ramai sejak kami dilantik menyertai Panel Bebas pada Februari lalu.

(Manakala senarai pindaan yang dikemukakan oleh individu lain dalam Panel Bebas juga telah diperakukan tetapi mereka kemudian “menarik balik” senarai itu atas alasan yang tidak saya ketahui. Maka, saya tidak mahu masuk campur dalam hal itu.)

Pelekat ajaib

Kemudian, pada 21 Jun, akhbar New Straits Times menyiarkan berita yang mengesahkan bahawa “pelekat ajaib” digunakan untuk melakukan pindaan pada sembilan halaman sahaja dan langkah mengerah tenaga guru-guru untuk melakukan kerja itu dikatakan lebih mudah (murah?) dan dikatakan sesungguhnya itu adalah kerja guru.

Ini sudah keterlaluan! Saya tidak setuju bahawa pindaan menggunakan “pelekat ajaib” hanya perlu melibatkan sembilan halaman novel berkenaan. Mustahil 106 pindaan hanya melibatkan sembilan halaman.
Senarai pindaan yang dikemukakan oleh Wakil Kaum India dalam Panel Bebas Mengkaji Pindaan Novel Interlok pada 28 Februari melibatkan pindaan (penyuntingan, pengguguran, penambahan, pembetulan) bagi 106 perkara yang turut melibatkan hak pengarang, kesalahan fakta dan perkara-perkara menyentuh sensitiviti kaum.

Senarai 106 saranan pindaan itu diperakukan Panel Bebas pada 4 Mac. Pada 16 Mac, Wakil Kaum India turut menghadiri perjumpaan bersama Menteri Pelajaran di Menara Parlimen.

Pada mesyuarat itu, berlaku insiden tertentu yang akhirnya memaksa kami bertiga berundur daripada Panel Bebas. Berita lengkap mengenai apa yang berlaku sudah saya paparkan kepada umum menerusi blog saya.
Seterusnya, pada 23 Mac, Wakil Kaum India memenuhi undangan ke perjumpaan kedua bersama Menteri Pelajaran di Menara Parlimen. Pada perjumpaan itu, Menteri Pelajaran bersetuju bahawa 87 daripada 106 saranan pindaan yang dikemukakan oleh kami bertiga diterima tanpa perlu dibahaskan dan kerja-kerja pemurnian (pindaan) akan dilaksanakan oleh DBP.

Baki 19 saranan pindaan itu dibincang dan dibahaskan. Akhirnya, kesemua 19 perkara itu yang menyentuh sensitiviti kaum India dan melibatkan kesalahan fakta diterima untuk pindaan berdasarkan hujah dan fakta yang dikemukakan Wakil Kaum India.

Pada 25 Mac, Krishnabahawan dan saya mengadakan sidang media khas untuk menerangkan serta menjelaskan kepada wakil media, orang ramai, wakil parti politik dan wakil pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) mengenai 106 pindaan yang sudah dipersetujui Menteri Pelajaran dan bakal dilaksanakan sebagaimana dijanjikan.

Pada pagi itu juga, kami berdua menerima panggilan telefon dari pejabat Perdana Menteri yang memberi jaminan bahawa novel Interlok Edisi Murid akan dicetak semula sebelum diedarkan ke sekolah-sekolah untuk digunakan sebagai teks Komsas.

Maka, kenyataan Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran, Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi sebagaimana disiarkan di akhbar pada 21 Jun adalah bertentangan dengan apa yang dipersetujui dan dijanjikan Kerajaan kepada Rakyat.
Bagi saya, keputusan menggunakan “pelekat ajaib” bagi melakukan pindaan terhadap novel Interlok Edisi Murid atas apa alasan sekalipun adalah tanda hancurnya kepercayaan dan harapan yang diletakkan terhadap kredibiliti, kemampuan dan integriti Kementerian Pelajaran dalam menyelesaikan kontroversi ini secara baik.

Pindaan tanpa kompromi

Saya juga menerima pertanyaan daripada sekian ramai anggota masyarakat India yang tertanya-tanya mengapa kenyataan yang saya kemukakan semasa sidang media pada 25 Mac sangat berbeza dengan kenyataan Dr Mohd Puad.

Sekali gus, mereka mula mempersoalkan kredibiliti dan integriti saya sebagai individu yang pernah dilantik menganggotai Panel Bebas yang bersidang mulai 16 Februari lalu.

Bagi saya, sekiranya pindaan hanya dilakukan pada sembilan muka surat, maka segala apa yang dijanjikan dan dilakukan Kementerian Pelajaran sejak 27 Januari lalu hanyalah sesuatu yang boleh ditafsirkan sebagai “lakonan” dan “sandiwara” yang sekadar bertujuan mengabui mata Rakyat.

Dalam babak seterusnya “sandiwara” ini, Dr Mohd Puad mengumumkan bahawa Kementerian Pelajaran bersetuju untuk mencetak semula novel Interlok Edisi Murid di mana kos mencetak adalah RM5 senaskhah.

Maaf, saya tetap berwaspada dan bersikap wasangka kerana tidak mahu “tertipu” lagi dengan “permainan” dan “sandiwara” mana-mana pihak yang “cakap tak serupa bikin”.

Kebimbangan dan wasangka ini adalah berasas kerana bermula 16 Mac lalu, saya sendiri menyaksikan pelbagai taktik kotor oleh pihak tertentu untuk “menipu” dan “memutar-belit” fakta berhubung senarai pindaan yang diperakukan Panel Bebas pada 4 Mac.

Maka, sikap berwaspada dan wasangka (bukan lagi prasangka!) yang saya tunjukkan adalah amat berasas.
Saya mahu memastikan bahawa kesemua 106 saranan pindaan dilaksanakan sepenuhnya tanpa sebarang kompromi.

Perkara pertama yang saya mahu lihat adalah “Sasterawan Negara Abdullah Hussain” dicetak pada kulit hadapan novel dan terdapat “© Abdullah Hussain 1971” pada Halaman Hak Cipta. Kesemua 106 pindaan perlu dilakukan sebagaimana dijanjikan. Jangan jadikan ini “janji pilihan raya”!

Rakyat juga wajar turut serta dalam proses memastikan kesemua 106 pindaan dilakukan sepenuhnya seperti yang dijanjikan. Jika masih ada unsur “lakonan”, “sandiwara” dan “penipuan”, maka Rakyat sendiri boleh menjadi Hakim dan menjatuhkan “hukuman” terhadap Kementerian Pelajaran dan Kerajaan.

Orang ramai boleh menghubungi uthayasb@yahoo.com.my untuk mendapatkan senarai 106 saranan pindaan atau mengundang penulis memberi penerangan lanjut berserta bukti berhubung kontroversi ini.

Will wearing Che Guevara T-shirts lead to arrests too, Bar Council asks

KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 — Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee has mocked the police investigation of 30 Bersih activists for allegedly trying to revive communism, pointing out last night that their arrests could spell danger as well for anyone wearing a Che Guevara T-shirt and listening to the Sex Pistols.

“The arrest and remand for seven days of 30 individuals (including two juveniles in their teens), apparently for having in their possession certain paraphernalia including T-shirts with images of former communist leaders, for waging war against the King is a reflection of such a clampdown.

“By analogy, if one were to be at home wearing a Che Guevara (the Marxist revolutionary) T-shirt listening to a song attacking the institution of royalty by either The Smiths or The Sex Pistols, one faces a very real likelihood of being investigated for waging war against the King. This surely cannot be,” Lim (picture) told The Malaysian Insider yesterday.

The police said yesterday they were probing attempts by Bersih activists for reviving communism, and are investigating 30 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members, including Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jayakumar, for “waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.”

Lim pointed out that Malaysia is a member of the UN Human Rights Council and now the chair of the Third Committee of the forthcoming 66th Session of the UN General Assembly where the agenda contains items such as social, humanitarian and human rights issues.

“The Malaysian Bar urges the authorities to act reasonably, responsibly and proportionately instead of a wantonly unjustified and wholly disproportionate clampdown on freedom of movement, expression and assembly.”

Deputy Penang police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar said remand orders would be applied to detain the 30 activists under section 122 of the Penal Code.

The law was used to prosecute militant terrorist group Al Ma’unah which was involved in an audacious arms heist at an army camp and a tense stand-off in the jungles of Perak in 2000.

Under section 122 of the Penal Code, “whoever collects or attempts to collect men, arms or ammunition, or otherwise prepares to wage war with the intention of either waging or being prepared to wage war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or any of the Rulers or the Yang di-Pertua Negeri or abets the waging or the preparation of such war, shall be punished with imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 20 years, and shall also be liable to fine.”

“Our prime minister showcases Malaysia as a moderate and progressive nation in the Muslim world.
“The government must speak and act consistently both domestically and internationally — that the government protects and promotes human rights not restrict or stifle its exercise,” Lim said.

It is understood that the 30 activists were detained at the Sungai Dua toll plaza near Kepala Batas in Penang while on their way to attend a gathering in support of the Bersih rally planned for July 9.

For PAS, Bersih rally catalyst to lead Malay vote

KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 — PAS’s foray in the July 9 Bersih rally could result in the party cementing a firm leadership position in uniting rural and urban Malays, as analysts believe that more and more Malay support is gravitating towards the Islamist party.

They also believe that rival Malay party Umno has underestimated the anger and dissatisfaction of voters with the present ruling administration, predicting that this would translate in stronger support for the upcoming electoral reforms march.

“For PAS, it can potentially take the momentum away from Umno, everything needs to start from a big event like Bersih... the party is gaining support from younger people, Malays, there is now a shift of perception in the Malay electorate.

Ibrahim feels the Bersih rally is a coming out for PAS. — File pic

“The demands of Bersih are for free and fair elections... no one in the right mind would go against it,” Merdeka Center director Ibrahim Suffian told The Malaysian Insider. PAS is aiming to galvanise all one million of its members to take part in the assembly.


“In a way, the rally is a coming out for the party, in view of its change in leadership... the changes will set (new) standards for PAS,” said Ibrahim in reference to PAS’s recently-concluded party elections, where grassroots activist Mohamed Sabu became deputy president.

Ibrahim said that bread and butter issue such as inflation and subsidy cuts, added with worsening race relations debate in the country, may also spur more people to attend the upcoming rally.

Another political analyst, Dr Faizal Hazis, charged that the reason why Umno and the rest of Barisan Nasional (BN) were distancing themselves from Bersih was because like the first rallly back in 2007, it was a “social movement” backed by the opposition.

But he too, like Ibrahim, believes that the BN administration is responding wrongly by issuing a zero-tolerance policy towards the rally and its organisers, and stressed that the ruling coalition “had not learnt its lesson” from the last general election.

“I think PAS is trying to portray that they can lead the Malays other than Umno, and that they can make inroads with middle-class Malays as well,” the Unimas lecturer told The Malaysian Insider.

Mahfuz said PAS was taking part in the rally to fight for the rights of all Malaysians. — File pic

PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar said his party’s participation in the rally was to address and let voters know of the Islamist party’s commitment to ensuring free and fair elections as well as justice and opportunities for all races.


“We are going into this rally to fight for the rights of all Malaysians, all their interests... only when you have fair elections and when you have a transparent government, there is proper check and balance, then we know where every single sen of taxpayer’s money is going to,” the Pokok Sena MP told The Malaysian Insider.

The first Bersih rally in 2007 saw up to 50,000 people take to the streets of Kuala Lumpur before they were dispersed by police armed with tear gas and water cannons.

The demonstration has been partly credited for Pakatan Rakyat’s record gains in Election 2008, where the opposition pact swept to power in five states and won 82 parliamentary seats.

Police have said it will not issue any permits for rallies planned on July 9, and arrested some 60 people over the weekend relating to the Bersih rally.

Half of them were released, mostly for wearing Bersih T-shirts, while 30 from Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) are being remanded a week for investigations into “waging war against the monarch” as police found their T-shirts bore images of communist leaders. -TMI

Are activists more dangerous than criminals?

By P Ramakrishnan | Aliran’s President
 
The way the police hound and harass activists engaged in social issues gives the impression that they are more dangerous than the criminals who cause hell for peace-loving citizens.

The number of police engaged in this activity makes one wonder why the police are running after these activists instead of the criminals who are lurking among our midst committing all kinds of crimes, some even resulting in death.

More and more Malaysians are beginning to believe that the police are no longer what they used to be in the past when they were professional in their duty and were not seen as political tools of the ruling party.

The change in perception occurred during the Mahathir years as witnessed during the Refomasi days and while Anwar’s first sodomy trial dragged on when the police were harsh and brutal in dealing with the crowd who stood up against a cruel regime.

We have seen how heavy-handed the police were during the Bersih 1.0 and Hindraf rallies in November 2007. They continue to behave in that same fashion right up to today.

Yesterday (25-6-11), 31 PSM members, including the Sungai Siput MP, Jeyakumar Devaraj, were detained at the Sungai Dua toll plaza at about 3.45pm. They were on their way to Penang after leafleting in Kedah when they were apprehended.

These activists were then taken to Kepala Batas Police Station in Seberang Perai Utara for questioning. Top-ranking Penang state police officers were seen at the police station.

According to Jeyakumar, they were expecting to be released on police bail, but all of them were then detained in lock-ups. The women were detained at the Kepala Batas police station, while the men were taken to the Butterworth police station.

About the same time as the activists were detained at the Sungai Dua toll plaza in the north, PSM activists who had been leafleting in the south were detained in Tangkak and taken to the Ledang police station and subjected to the same harrowing experience. But they were released at 4.00am this morning, after 12 hours with the police.

One is tempted to ask, is this the reason why we have a police force – to deny the fundamental rights of citizens, making the constitutional provisions granting them these rights meaningless?

This is a sheer waste of time for everybody concerned in this episode. The police should not be tied down in a case where there was clearly no threat to the nation. The activists should not be wasting their precious time doing nothing when they have their work to carry out which has been unfairly disrupted.

Four lawyers who had turned up at the Kepala Batas Police Station last night were blocked from meeting the detainees. This is completely unwarranted; it is a basic right of detainees to have access to their lawyers. There is no justification for this refusal; it goes against natural justice.

The activists have now been remanded for seven days, the application granted at the Butterworth Magistrates Court. They are now being demonised in the media.

All these activists were engaged in legitimate, democratic activity which is guaranteed by the Federal Constitution. Leafleting is not criminal; educating the public on issues is not an offence. They are not engaged in violent or armed struggle.

The police have been going after activists similarly engaged in Johor and Shah Alam. And anyone wearing a T-shirt with the word Bersih (Clean) is hauled away. What have we come to? Why are the police targeting this group of people?

It is tied to BN’s fear of the Bersih 2.0’s Walk for Democracy Rally on 9 July.

This rally promises to draw unprecedented huge crowds. The sheer number of participants will debunk the BN’s claim that Malay support has swung back to Umno. It would be such a humiliation for Umno, which is pretending to be brave and masquerading as the champion of the Malays.

July 9 will be the defining moment in Malaysian politics. Umno is not prepared to face this truth.
So the BN is using the police to stop the Bersh 2.0 rally on 9 July. It has to be stopped at all costs for the survival of the BN.
We will know on 9 July whether Malaysians have been cowed by fear; whether they will choose to snivel and quiver or will cast aside their shackles once and for all.

Will 9 July be an epoch-making day? Only time will tell.

P Ramakrishnan

Bersih organisers ready for penalty

The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) 2.0 is prepared to face any action by the authorities over its intention to hold a street rally on July 9.

Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan questioned why the police were focusing on Bersih 2.0 although the organisers had continued to assert that it would be held peacefully.

"It is the duty of all to preserve our right to assemble peacefully, as provided under the Federal Constitution. Malaysia is on the Human Rights Council and what does it say for us when we show no regard for this fundamental right, especially when we, the citizens, are saying we will do it peacefully?" she said.

Barisan Nasional Youth chairman Khairy Jamaluddin on Friday also said he would proceed with the counter-rally against Bersih 2.0, despite not getting a police permit.

Khairy had assured that the counter-rally by Umno Youth, MIC and the People's Progressive Party's Youth, would also be held peacefully.

Khairy said he was expecting "tens of thousands" of people to join him in handing over a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in support of democracy and the role carried out by the Election Commission.

Their insistence came despite a call by acting city police chief Datuk Amar Singh urging the organisers of the Bersih 2.0 rally and the counter-rallies to call them off.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he hoped that the BN Youth leadership would call off the counter-rally.

"Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) has explained that the authorities have the right to act against those participating in illegal gatherings.

"I hope that the BN Youth leadership will do the right thing."

He said gatherings such as Bersih 2.0 should not be held as there already existed various processes and avenues through which the public could air their grouses.

He insisted that the gatherings were politically motivated.

He warned that the rallies would only result in negative consequences that could tarnish the image of the nation.

"If there are any members of the public who sympathise with them (Bersih), then they are betraying the struggles of the people who want to have peace and development in this country."

PPP Willing To Give Up Seats To Ensure BN Victories - Kayveas

KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (Bernama) -- The People's Progressive Party (PPP) is willing to give the two seats it contested in the 2008 general election (GE) to other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties if they can guarantee victory for the coalition in the next GE, said its president Datuk Seri M. Kayveas.

He said as the political landscape in the country had changed, PPP was willing to do this rather than feel humiliated should it not be able to win the seats in the next GE.

"In fact, if the Prime Minister says Kayveas you need not stand for election (in the next GE) I will abide by what he says," he told reporters after PPP's 58th general assembly here Sunday.

The assembly was opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

In the 2008 GE, PPP lost both seats allocated to it, Kayveas the Taiping parliamentary seat and the Pasir Berdamar state seat which was contested by Lee Heng. Both seats were lost to candidates from the DAP.

Kayveas added that even if PPP was not given any seat to contest in the next GE, the party would still remain solidly behind the BN.

Police: PSM 'communists' waging war on Agong

(Malaysiakini) Penang deputy police chief Abdul Rahim Jaafar today said the 30 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) activists arrested yesterday while aboard a bus at the Sungai Dua toll plaza have been charged under Section 122 of the Penal Code.

The activists were participating in the northern leg of the party's 'Udah La Tu Bersaralah' roadshow campaign that kicked off on June 24.

Those arrested included Sungai Siput parliamentarian Dr D Jeyakumar. One was subsequently released as he was under-aged.

According to a Bernama report today, Abdul Rahim told reporters that the 30 were being charged with "waging war against the King" based on police findings that the group is allegedly trying to resurrect communism in the country.

“Based on paraphernalia seized by police from the activists, it can be seen that they have connections with the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) ideology.

“These include leaflets and T-shirts printed with the names Chin Peng, Rashid Maidin and Suriani Abdullah, all of whom are linked to the CPM,” said Abdul Rahim.

Abdul Rahim said he believes that the PSM activists were trying to revive the communist ideology by distributing the paraphernalia to the people in the state.

This, he added, prompted authorities to arrest those involved because their seditious activities threatened to turn the people against the government.

'Ridiculous and far-fetched'

In an immediate response, PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan (below) described the police' actions as “ridiculous and far-fetched” and accused them of trying to paint the political party as a bogeyman to scare the public.

“It's ridiculous and farfetched. They are trying to create a tense situation with these imaginary threats,” Arutchelvan told Malaysiakini when contacted today.

Rubbishing the charge, the secretary-general pointed out that there has been a peace accord between Malaysia and CPM.

The country also maintains democratic relations with communist countries whose leaders have had audiences with Agong Mizan Zainal Abidin and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Arutchelvan also confirmed that the 30 party members arrested in Kepala Batas, Penang, were transferred to the Butterworth district courthouse, the premises of which have been ringed by police with road blocks set-up and the public prohibited from approaching.

“PSM will issue a formal statement about this issue soon. We are holding an emergency meeting about it now,” he added.

Initially 31 party members - 14 females and 17 males - were sent to the Seberang Perai Utara district police headquarters after their arrest, to have their statements taken.

While the minor was released, the rest were remanded for seven days until July 2, to assist police investigations.

Seksyen 1 judge Amernudin Ahmad of the Butterworth magistrate issued their remand order earlier today.

PSM's lawyers are however unhappy with the police's subsequent decision to separate the seven (who include Jeyakumar) at Penang district police headquarters lockup where they have been sent.

According to them, no such order or court application was made to the court for this.

Nationwide crackdown continues

The arrests are part of a nationwide police crackdown on any activity that the authorities feel is related to the upcoming Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9, to the extent of banning political events.

In addition to those arrested in Penang, 28 people were yesterday arrested in Tangkak, Johor, in the southern leg of the campaign. Arutchelven was among those detained.

At 4am, all 28 were released on police bail. It is believed that they were investigated under the Sedition Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act.

Last night, a Bersih roadshow in Shah Alam, Selangor, was interrupted by the police, who arrested one person.

They were detained for distributing leaflets on the gathering which aims to promote a free and fair election, and organisers plan to submit an 18-point memorandum to the King.

In Ampang today, eight men were detained after they were found wearing yellow t-shirts with 'Bersih 2.0' written in the Malay Jawi script at Taman Kosas.

Ampang Jaya Police Chief ACP Amiruddin Jamaluddin said all eight were detained as their t-shirts reflected their support for the illegal July 9 rally.

"They were also found to have disrupted public order while riding on their motorcycles in the area. It was the reason for their arrest," he told Bernama.

Amiruddin said they were being detained at the Ampang police station and police would release them after recording statements from them.

Arrests unabated

Meanwhile late into the night the arrests have not seen an end, as a Bersih Twitter message at 10.55pm reported a youth in Gombak Baru, Kuala Lumpur being arrested for wearing a Berish T-shirt.

Bersih 2.0 executive director Maria Chin Abdullah later added, “(There are) more arrests in Ampang and Gombak, and Bersih 2.0 is arranging for legal advice for them.

“We have many brave lawyers volunteering themselves to take up cases in the event of arrests,” she said, adding, ”The walk for democracy still goes on.”

Islamic Group behind the Brutal Stabbing of 2 Hindu Students in Mysore. Thanks to God as the Communal and Targeted Violence Bill 2011 could not be applied yet. Otherwise these Muslim Murders would be released easily.

Lto R : Adil alias Adil Pasha, 23, Athavulla Khan, 23 (both residents of Hunsur), Ameen alias Syed Ameen, 23, Rehman alias Shabbir Rehaman (25), Kouser alias Mohammed Kouser, 26, and Safeer Ahmed alias Safeer, 34. All KFD members .

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6 KFD (Karnataka Forum for Dignity) men abducted and killed Hunsur boys for ransom.

"Imagine how brutal is this Islamist KFD Group who murdered two Hindu students for ransom collaboratively and how such cases will be en-dragged under Communal and Targeted Violence Bill, 2011. Congress Government in the Center is trying to make the law accordance to the bill, just to give a free hand to Muslim Criminal and subversive groups to FINISH THE HINDUS FROM INDIA". 

DNA|Bangalore|23 June 2011 : The Central Crime Branch has cracked the sensational case of abduction and murder of two BBM students — Sudheendra, 21, and his friend, Vignesh, 20 (both residents of Hunsur in Mysore district) — on June 8.

They were kidnapped from Mahajan College premises in Mysore while on their way to write their 2nd BBM examination on June 8, and their bodies were found in a field near Chikkaballapur on June 12.

The probe has exposed the direct involvement of six active members of Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD), who sought ransom of ¤5 crore to raise funds for their organisation, home minister R Ashoka announced on Wednesday.

The KFD, said to be an outfit of “progressive thinkers”, merged with the Kerala-based Popular Front of India (PFI) on November 22, 2006, following a massive crackdown on Students Islamic Movement of India (Simi).

Ashoka said the police have arrested the alleged KFD members Adil alias Adil Pasha, 23, Athavulla Khan, 23 (both residents of Hunsur), Ameen alias Syed Ameen, 23, Rehman alias Shabbir Rehaman (25), Kouser alias Mohammed Kouser, 26, and Safeer Ahmed alias Safeer, 34 (all four residents of Rajiv Nagar in Mysore).

They targeted Sudheendra as he was the son of Mohan Kumar, a wealthy businessman and cousin of Hunsur MLA HP Manjunath.

The home minister said one person (whose name has been withheld by the police) – who is supposed to be the brain behind the kidnapping, demand for ransom and the murder of the two boys – is yet to be arrested.

The police claimed that the six were nabbed on Wednesday morning near Bangalore University (Jnanabharathi) when they were driving in two cars. The police, acting on a tip-off that the gang would be passing that way, intercepted the two cars. On being interrogated, they confessed to have committed the ghastly crime.

Hindu Existence demands immediate ban (in reality) on KFD, PFI & SIMI and immediate dissolution of  Communal and Targeted Violence Bill, 2011. The designated Fast track Court must end the case in stipulated time with a ‘Hang to Death’ order for these SIX MUSLIM CRIMINALS of KFD, without any mercy…..

Anger as Mohammed Fayed burns Harrods royal warrants

Mohamed Fayed burns the royal warrants that used to adorn Harrods in the final scene of a controversial documentary on the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

As he looks on at the bonfire, he turns to the camera and brands the Duke of Edinburgh as a "Nazi". Even the film's makers admit the burning of the crests is likely to be viewed as "spiteful" .

Critics condemned the decision to film the burning of the Royal crests as malcicious and vengeful.

Hugo Vickers, the Royal historian and author, said: "It does seem vindictive and in very bad taste to burn the warrants but I suppose it's up to him. He was the shopkeeper."

The film, entitled Unlawful Killing, has already provoked outrage for including a sickening, close-up photograph of Princess Diana taken moments after the Mercedes she and Dodi Fayed were travelling in crashed in a Paris underpass.

At one stage in the documentary the Queen is labelled a "gangster in a tiara" while Prince Philip is described as a "Fred West-style psychopath".

THE SPECIAL BRANCH OF THE POLICE CANNOT CHANGE HISTORY.

The secret police of Malaysia – the Police Special Branch cannot be but observers of a change they cannot affect – they cannot change the course of Malaysian history, they are close observers at best.

I am writing this piece after being at the Butterworth Police Station this afternoon, awaiting the outcome of the Police detention of the 17 PSM activists in the Butterworth Police Station for nothing more than distributing materials against a political party called UMNO. This has to be kept very clear in all our minds, the pamphlets they distributed said no more than to retire UMNO another political party at 55 – the year we all are supposed to retire. However this political party, UMNO seems to believe and act as if it is their god ordained role to rule this country till eternity and that everything in this country is owned by them and that the others outside their ambit will have some of it only as a result of their benevolence.

This is being increasingly challenged. What role do the Secret Police of Malaysia play in trying to stave off this change. One thing they do very well is that they stay very close to the ground and report to their benefactors about the moods on the gound and advise their benefactors on how they can change the course of a history that they are totally powerless to do anything about..

This is what the SB will report to their bosses about the incidents of protests by the citizens they have apprehended who dare to challenge UMNO the political party – the numbers of these troublemakers that are remanded with each protest episode are increasing – there were 53 of them from the Hindraf group in February, in their march against UMNO’s racism, now there are 59 of them from the PSM group wanting to retire UMNO. Fear does not seem to subdue them, as it used to their fathers. These people are more defiant than they have ever been. The numbers are growing at a concerning pace. They are beginning to join their battles. The synergy of such joining is frightening for what it can do to the greed of the elite. The Uthayakumars and the Jeyakumars are multiplying.

They, the SBs of course do not see their hands in all of these outcomes. They are instruments of repression and they are actually and unwittingly contributing to the situations, they so diligently report on. But one lesson they seem not to have learnt from history is that the more repression one unleashes on people the more reaction one gets in return from the people. The pace of that repression and the reaction from all of that, is only growing. See for yourself. The harassment, the intrigues, the lies and threats in the media, the arrests one the one hand and the restlessness of the people, the peoples’ response in the cyber-world, the protests, the call for rallies, the rallies, the forums, the road-shows and the candle light vigils, on the other are all growing. The SBs have that statistics for sure. But I do not think that they care – they think they can achieve everything with brute force and with fear.

In this age of information, fear is becoming a lesser factor. I can vouch for that with the fear I used to feel and the fear I feel now. The 53 activists of Hindraf and the 2 busloads of activists of PSM are very clear testament to this growing trend. And BTW they are mostly youngsters and that is not good demographics for the greedy elite.

So, where does that leave the SBs and the greedy elite. The end is clawing perilously close and they cannot stop it. The harder they try, the more difficult  it becomes. They had better understand that the clock has started ticking for all of them. Change is all over the air. 1 year, 2 years 5 years, I do not know. But this I do know, the clock has started to tick for change. The instruments of control of the elite like the SB can only slow the clock, not stop it.

Naragan

Ambiga accuses police of intimidation in Bersih arrests

KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 — The arrest of 30 Bersih activists by police in Penang under Section 122 of the Penal Code is a clear form of police intimidation to frighten supporters of the July 9 rally, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said today.


The Bersih 2.0 chairman accused the police of “deliberately overreacting” by arresting the activists under an “archaic provision.”

“I am utterly shocked by the manner in which these people have been arrested and the section under which they are apparently to be charged.

“This is a clear intimidation of the people involved. I think the police have deliberately overreacted by trying to intimidate people,” Ambiga told The Malaysian Insider.

The police said they are probing an alleged attempt by some Bersih activists to revive communism and are investigating 30 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members, including Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jayakumar for “waging war against the Yang DiPertuan Agong.”

Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has defended the arrests, saying today there were reasons to justify the police action.

Hishamuddin, who is the home minister, said that he had yet to be briefed in detail on the arrests, but stated that preliminary reports showed that the activists had “other agendas” in mind.

“This does not auger well for Malaysia who sits on the Human Rights Council … clearly designed to intimidate.

“There will be more clampdowns, and more arrests ... why only attack Bersih? What have we done? And such an archaic law should not be used today,” the former Bar Council chairman added.

Deputy Penang police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar said today that remand orders would be exercised in order to detain the 30 activists under Section 122 of the Penal Code.

Police have said they will not issue any permits for rallies on July 9 and have asked the organisers to come in for questioning tomorrow.

Death threats have also been made against Ambiga and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, who is organising a rally to support the Election Commission, which is the subject of Bersih’s demands for free and fair elections.

Khairy gets death threat over Umno Youth rally

The message threatens to slaughter Umno Youth members who participate in the July 9 gathering to oppose the Bersih rally.

SEPANG: Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has received a death threat through the short messaging service (sms) early today which was directed at Umno Youth members intending to participate in a gathering planned on July 9.

The message was received at 12.18am today and sent from an unidentified number.

The message included a threat to “slaughter” Umno Youth members who are seen at the gathering.

Speaking to reporters at the KL International Airport here today, Khairy said Umno Youth secretary, Megat Firdouz Megat Junid, who also received a similar death threat, would lodge a police report on the matter.

Meanwhile, Megat Firdouz, when contacted, said he had lodged a police report on the death threat at the Putrajaya police station at 12.15pm today.

Prior to this, chairman of the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, S Ambiga, also received a death threat via the text message, over a gathering being planned on the same day.

Malays should know who Ambiga is, say analysts

Analysts say the Bersih 2.0 chairman has a history of provoking Muslims.

KUALA LUMPUR: Analysts are asking Malays to know who it is that is asking them to take part in the Bersih rally on July 9.

They said that S Ambiga, the former Bar Council president planning to lead the demonstration, has a history of provoking Muslims.

They noted that she defended apostate Lina Joy, and as Bar Council president, accepted a memorandum on the formation of an inter-faith commission, which made 14 demands that in effect questioned the position of Islam as the official religion and contradicted the constitution.

Despite objections from Muslims, she held a forum on an article in the constitution concerning syariah law.

Now, she is planning a demonstration in defiance of the law which she expects the Malays to join in droves, the analysts said.

Analyst Prof Dr Ramlah Adam of Universiti Teknologi Mara wonders how Malays can want to have anything to do with someone who is so openly against their interests.

“As a lawyer, Ambiga knows better than most that an assembly without a police permit is illegal. I don’t understand why she is planning to go ahead with it despite protests from various groups,” Ramlah said.
Other observers question the independence and motive of Ambiga, who is chairman of the Coalition for Free and Fair elections (Bersih 2.0).

If elections in the country were not free, they said, how could the opposition have won five states in the last polls?

In any case, Ambiga could express any dissatisfaction that she might have with the Election Commission (EC) through the media instead of having an illegal assembly that could lead to clashes, they said.

Political observer Prof Zainal Kling of the Sultan Idris Teaching University said the leaders of the planned assembly were fighting the cause of political parties which were themselves not clean.

“They should demonstrate as a political party rather than a non-governmental organisation. Then people will know what their real objectives are,” he said.

Zainal said their objectives had something to do with “the chaos in the opposition, in PKR which is not clean, in DAP which is autocratic and PAS which has abandoned its original struggle”.

He said the planned assembly was to hide the dirtiness of opposition parties trying to give Malaysia a bad image.

Zainal said the opposition parties were trying to create the kind of chaos they see in several countries which they hope to exploit to gain power.

30 PSM members remanded till July 2

Party members, including Sungai Siput MP, are being detained after they were stopped from carrying out their campaign to oust BN.

UPDATED

TAIPING: Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general Arutchelvan today accused the police of being extremely paranoid over the much publicised July 9 Bersih public rally.

As such, he said, they were abusing their powers in arresting people who were exercising their democratic rights in speech and action.

“The police are extremely paranoid about the Bersih rally and are unnecessarily harassing people  by curbing their freedom of action by putting unnecessary police road blocks,” he told FMT today.

“They (the police) are not acting according to the law and are carrying out orders from higher ups. They do not see whether their actions are legally right or wrong but merely following orders (from political masters),” Arutchelvan pointed out.

He told this in response to the police action in arresting scores of PSM members and supporters for taking part in a nationwide campaign since Friday. At least 31 PSM members and supporters, including Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar, are still being held by the police.

Those arrested were taking part in PSM’s campaign calling for BN to step aside.

The campaign was launched on Friday and started with Arutchelvan and 28 PSM supporters travelling from Johor Baru to Kuala Lumpur in a chartered bus. Another PSM convoys took off from Ipoh to Perlis on the same day.

Their mission was to inform the public that BN had to be removed after 54 years of alleged misrule and the pitfall of returning BN to power in the 13 general election. However both the convoys faced police obstructions in the form of road blocks.

Arutchelvan’s group was stopped by the police in Ledang (Johor) and each of them were subjected to body searches for hidden weapons. The bus was also searched.

Arutchelvan said the police delayed their journey by about 150 minutes before taking them to the Ledang police station to record their statements. They were eventually released at 4am on Saturday on police bail.

To be charged with sedition and illegal assembly

They were informed that they will be charged under :

• Section 27(5) of the Police Act 1967 read together with Section 511 of the Penal Code for illegal assembly.

• Section 11(2) of the Printing and Press Act 1984 for publishing pamphlets and leaflets.

• Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948 for sedition.

Arutchelvan said the three charges will not hold water as the group was travelling on a bus when they were detained  by police, and as such there was no illegal gathering.

He added the police had purposely delayed the group’s journey to Malacca where they were supposed to have a ceramah at 5pm on Friday and later at 8.30pm at Kuala Pilah in Negeri Sembilan.

As a result of the police detention, the two PSM programmes had to be cancelled.

Arutchelvan had lodged two separate police reports against each of the district police chiefs of Ledang and Nusajaya for unlawful detention, bad intention and politically motivated  for detaining  the group without any valid reasons.

30 remanded until July 2

Meanwhile another PSM group consisting of 31 people led by Jeyakumar that went north from Ipoh to Perlis was detained by police at the Sungai Dua toll plaza in Kepala Batas in Penang, also on suspicion of allegedly carrying dangerous weapons and  in possession of inflammatory materials.

Jeyakumar’s personal assistant S Nagenteran told FMT that the detained group was forced to give two separate statements to the police – one yesterday evening while another at 2am today before they were detained at three police stations at about 4 am.

Fourteen male members of the group are being detained at the Butterworth police station while another 14 women are held at the Kapala Batas police station. Three under-aged youths are being held at the Sungai Dua police station.

Nagentaran said lawyers were denied access to the group members.

PSM members brought to Butterworth Court for remand hearing

Thirty of them have been remanded until July 2 by the Butterworth Magistrate’s Court, while a 16-year-old teenager, S Ragu, was released unconditionally.

The police had also dispersed about 20 NGO members who had gathered in front of the Sungai Dua police station to hold a candlelight vigil. Two persons were arrested for illegal assembly as well.

Penang deputy police chief Abdul Rahim Jaafar said the 30 activists led by Jeyakumar were deemed to be a threat to national security.

“They were carrrying items inciting the people to hate the government. This is serious and can threaten national security,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama today.

Police also seized various items associated with the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) ideology from the activists travelling from Sungai Petani, Kedah to Penang, added the Bernama report.
PSM dismissed this accusation.

What Malaysia needs: my ‘advice’ to Umno

Yes, changes came in many countries. But in most cases it was not because of the elections. It was because the government acted brutally and undemocratically against its own citizens. So we need you to act brutally and undemocratically against peace-loving Malaysians so that we can see what happened in the Philippines, Indonesia and Egypt also happen in Malaysia.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin

There is talk that a roundup will be launched starting from tonight and those behind the BERSIH rally of 9th July 2011 are going to be detained.
There is talk that ‘both sides’ of the BERSIH rally are going to be detained, which will include Ibrahim Ali and Khairy Jamaluddin.
There is talk that the roundup this time around will not be as big as Operasi Lalang of 27th October 1987 when 106 dissidents, activists and opposition leaders were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
There is talk that the ISA will not be used against these people but those rounded up will be ‘kept out of circulation’ and off the streets for a while just to ‘cool things down’ a bit.
There is talk that the army has been told to be on stand-by in case it is needed to ‘restore law and order’ on 9th July 2011.
There is talk that the army has been ordered to ‘shed blood’ if necessary in its effort to ‘restore law and order’.
There is talk that if the army is told to act aggressively against fellow Malaysians the soldiers will refuse to do so and will instead join the ranks of the demonstrators like what happened in so many other countries since the Russian revolution.

There is talk that thousands of PAS ‘red shirts’ or Unit Amal will form a human barricade against the police and/or army on 9th July 2011 to ensure that the ‘yellow shirt’ demonstrators are safe from harm even if many of the ‘red shirts’ need to die a jihadist’s death in the pursuit of amar makruf, nahi munkar.
There is talk that the BERSIH rally will be a purely Malay affair because the Chinese and Indians are too scared and extremely selfish and will stay away although they are the ones who talk the most.
There is talk that this time around more Chinese and Indians are going to be on the streets compared to the first BERSIH rally of 10th November 2007 because the Chinese and Indians want to show the government what they think of the racial and religious discrimination they are being subjected to.

There is talk that the BERSIH rally will turn into a civil war and Malaysia is going to end up like Egypt with Umno out of power and Najib-Rosmah seeking asylum in Singapore together with a planeload of Birkin handbags and Jimmy Choo shoes.
There is talk that the government wants to use 9th July 2011 as the excuse to declare an emergency and suspend Parliament and subject the country to NOC-rule a la the aftermath of 13th May 1969 (which means no need for general elections).
There is talk that less than 50,000 people will be on the streets on 9th July 2011.
There is talk that 100,000 people or more will be on the streets on 9th July 2011.
There is talk that not less than 300,000 people will be on the streets on 9th July 2011.
There is talk that the ratio of BERSIH to PERKASA-UMNO demonstrators will be 20:1 and the Malay KKK crowd will run for cover and hide their sorry arses.
There is talk that the ratio of BERSIH to PERKASA-UMNO demonstrators will be 20:1 and the Malay KKK crowd will call upon the police and riot squad to help ‘even the odds’.

There is talk that none of the above will happen and 9th July 2011 will come and go and a few thousand people will march peacefully and go home and the entire thing will be a non-event.
Anyway, whatever may be the scenario we will really see over these next two weeks and on 9th July 2011, let me ‘advice’ Umno and Najib on what Malaysia needs.
What we need is for the government to start rounding up people.
What we need is for the government to act brutally against the demonstrators on 9th July 2011.
What we need is for an emergency to be declared.
What we need is for Parliament to be suspended.
What we need is for the NOC to be formed to take over the running of the country.

That is what we need and we need this because this is what Marcos, Suharto, Mubarak, etc., did and this resulted in them being ousted from power and democracy being restored in the Philippines, Indonesia, Egypt, etc.
So, Umno, make my day. Do what we need you to do and watch the changes that we fought for so long finally come to Malaysia.
Yes, changes came in many countries. But in most cases it was not because of the elections. It was because the government acted brutally and undemocratically against its own citizens. So we need you to act brutally and undemocratically against peace-loving Malaysians so that we can see what happened in the Philippines, Indonesia and Egypt also happen in Malaysia.

Swearing at police not an offence

Swearing at an officer is not ground for arrest Photo: ALAMY

Police have been ordered not to arrest people who subject them to abuse, it has been revealed.

Scotland Yard has told its officers that bad language on its own is not a good enough reason to detain someone.

The guidance has been given on Justify, Account and Record memo cards, which are carried on patrol.

According to The Mail on Sunday the advice states: "The courts do not accept police officers are caused harassment, alarm or distress by words such as: f---, c---, b-----ks, w-----s."

It also informs officers that to place someone in handcuffs "for officer safety" is "not sufficient" and "we can handcuff anyone but we must be able to justify it".

A spokesman for the Met was unable to confirm the exact date the guidance was issued, but said the cards had been in use "for several years".

Don’t question judge’s decision on sex video, Bar council told

The Star 

KUALA LUMPUR: The Bar Council should not question the judge's decision to screen the sex video implicating Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in court.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he was surprised by the Bar Council's reaction towards the judge's decision.

“I don't know why they are so interested. There seems to be a political motive behind it,” he told a press conference at the government-linked companies (GLC) open day here yesterday.

An online portal had quoted Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee as describing the magistrate court's decision to screen the video in court as “shocking” and “extraordinary” as those accused of screening the video had already pleaded guilty to the crime.

Muhyiddin said it was up to the public to decide whether to accept the findings of experts on the sex video or otherwise.

It was reported yesterday that US experts from Dartmouth College had confirmed that the sex video was authentic and there was a 99.99% possibility the man in the video was the Opposition Leader.

In Jitra, Anwar said he was attacked in the sex video case without being given the chance to defend himself.

“This is a criminal case where the three individuals were sentenced for a crime but both the prosecution and the defence counsel joined forces to attack me,” he claimed after opening the Kubang Pasu PKR office in Napoh near here yesterday.

Several Independent MPs had also called on Anwar to step down to preserve Parliament's sanctity in light of the testimonies by the foreign experts.

ISA Can Be Used On July 9 Illegal Assembly Organisers - Hishammuddin

HULU SELANGOR, June 26 (Bernama) -- The Home Affairs Ministry has not ruled out the possibility of using the Internal Security Act (ISA) on the organisers illegal assemblies planned for July 9.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein said the need to use the ISA would only arise if there was a threat to public interest and national security.

"ISA action can be taken on matters that clearly affect the security of the nation like the actions of terrorits groups such as Jemaah Islamiah (JI), Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as well as human trafficking syndicates. However, when used in the context of politics, it will for sure be exploited by certain parties," he said here Sunday.

He was speaking to reporters after officiating Hulu Selangor Umno's Division Delegates Meeting.

Hishamuddin said police were now monitoring the situation and developments relating to the illegal assemblies, including reactions from various groups whether they were pro or against them.

He also denied that the police were being biased in handling the issue.

"I deny the focus is on the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih). We are focusing on all groups whether they are Perkasa, Umno Youth or other groups.

"What is important is that the police do not discriminate and act according to the laws and objective of preserving the security of the nation," he said.

On the capability of the police in handling the assemblies on that day, he said police and the security forces were ready to face any eventuality.

On the 31 persons including the Member of Parliament for Sungai Siput Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj and Malaysian Socialist Party activists detained at the Sungai Dua Toll Plaza in Penang yesterday, Hishamuddin said initial investigations found that they were detained for having specific agenda.

"Police are now identifying the law and section suitable against them," he said.

Bancian 'Star' - 99% sokong himpunan BERSIH

Sejumlah 99 peratus daripada lebih sejuta responden menyokong perhimpunan BERSIH pada 9 Julai ini dalam bancian yang dijalankan oleh The Star Online.

Jumlah sebenar bilangan responden tidak dapat disahkan apabila portal berita berkenaan menghentikan banciannya kira-kira tengahari tadi.

Menurut skrin yang dirakamkan oleh seorang pengguna Facebook, jumlah responden mencecah 1.3 juta pada jam 12.25 tengah hari berbanding 527,330 yang dicatatkan pada jam 6.11 pagi ini, yang dirakamkan menerusi laman Google Cache.

Soalan yang dikemukakan berbunyi 'Apa pandangan anda berhubung perhimpunan BERSIH 2.0 pada 9 Julai?, 1,312,917 responden menjawap 'Ia sepatutnya dibenar diteruskan' pada 12.25 tengahhari.

Manakala pilihan satu lagi - 'Ia harus dibatalkan' - hanya dipilih oleh 14,222 responden.