Penang’s heritage site under threat due to inflated prices

GEORGE TOWN: Price manipulations, market monopoly and evictions of generations-old tenants are threatening the city’s world heritage site, claimed NGOs here.

Heritage properties estimated at RM400,000 to RM600,000 had suddenly changed hands for up to RM1.2mil, and these inflated prices have stirred foreigners, especially Singaporeans, into a buying frenzy of George Town’s pre-war shophouses.

The NGOs feel the soaring prices are eroding liveability, and are urging the public to alert Unesco and put George Town in the World Heritage in Danger list.

Penang Heritage Trust adviser Khoo Salma suspected that property speculators could have caused the prices to overheat through public auctions.

“We noticed pre-war houses being auctioned off at RM1.2mil when we thought it would go under the hammer for less than half that price.

“My friends made bids for such properties and were surprised when other parties made seven-figure offers that they couldn’t match.

“Before we knew what was happening, the prices of pre-war houses even outside the heritage zone had shot up,” she said in an interview yesterday.

Meanwhile, the heir of 12 pre-war shophouses in the heritage buffer zone told The Star that he had unsuccessfully tried selling them to the generations-old tenants for RM300,000 each before it went to the Malaysian subsidiary of a public-listed Singapore company for a total of RM11mil.

“I inherited the old shophouses from my ancestors and asked the tenants who have rented them for decades to buy them in 2010.”

When the tenants did not take up the offer, he said someone took them off his hands for RM400,000 each and this new owner later sold it to Singaporeans for about RM910,000 each.

“It’s amazing that Singaporeans are willing to pay that price.

“I had offered the previous tenants only RM300,000 because if they took bank loans, their instalments would be about the same as the RM1,300 rent they were paying.

“Now the 12 shophouses are refurbished and being rented for about RM7,000 each,” he said.

The saddest end of the tale seems to come from the old tenants.

Penang Gerakan’s Padang Kota coordinator H’ng Khoon Leng said he discovered a number of homeless people in the old city who were evicted tenants.

“They lived here all their lives.

“When evicted at their old age, they take to living in the streets of their childhood homes,” he said.

When H’ng tried to help them find new homes, he found resistance because these old people prefer to remain in the old city.

Four deaths in custody in Penang since January

 

The Penang Taskforce on Custodial Deaths is shocked that there have been four deaths in police custody in the state since January, bringing the average to two cases a month.

This number very high, compared with the total number of cases in Penang last year, which was seven,  Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said today.

Ramasamy said a meeting would be held soon with Penang police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi, as the current situation was "alarming".

"The situation is disturbing. We can write to the Attorney-General's Chambers or talk to the police, but we don't see a decline in death-in-custody cases.

"We are also not sure of the reasons for the deaths, since the deaths must be accompanied by a coroner's report.

"We are not prepared just to listen to police," Ramasamy told reporters at a press conference in Komtar today.

The DAP Prai assemblyperson said the taskforce met with Abdul Rahim (left) last Thursday, during the state's security meeting with the police.

He said Abdul Rahim has agreed to meet with the Taskforce on Custodial Deaths and the date, time and place of meeting would be decided soon.

State executive council member Jagdeep Singh Deo said the taskforce would also insist that the police provide the coroner's reports on the deaths.

"It is required by law that the coroner probes and issue a report on deaths in custody.

"The taskforce will also step up its awareness and education programmes with NGOs and the police to prevent more of such incidents, as well as push for action be taken on those involved in the deaths," Jagdeep, who is also Dato Keramat assemblyperson, said.

First death involved African national

Ramasamy, Jagdeep and Dr Afif Bahardin are the three state executive council members who are heading the taskforce formed by the Penang government last year to monitor rising cases of custodial deaths in the state.

The four cases this year involved African national Phil Pott, 63, who died in the Penang Hospital (GH) on Jan 18 of alleged heart complications.

Pott was detained in the Penang Prison for drug offences.

The second case involved a man, known only as Fahruz, 28, who also died in the Penang Hospital on Jan 22 from alleged lung infection.

Fahrun, too, was detained in the Penang Prison, for drug offences.

Sharam Hassan, 45, is the third custodial death case in the Penang. He died at the same hospital on on Jan 26, from alleged perforated duodenal ulcer with septic shock.

Sharam was found to have bottle marks on his body, with bruises on his back and abdomen, and is believed to have been physically abused prior to his death.

The fourth custodial death in Penang is that of K Elumalai, 43, who died in the Sungai Bakap Hospital on Feb 18.

He had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug-related offences. Elumalai died 20 minutes after he was sent to the hospital and the cause of his death is not known.

Why bully only me, not MCA too, asks Lim

Penang CM claims he is being subjected to politically motivated and selective prosecution over his comments on the Allah issue.

FMT

GEORGE TOWN: A day after claiming that the Barisan Nasional-controlled media was trying to target him by attacking his wife, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng claimed he was being bullied by the on-going police investigation on the “Allah” statement he made last month.

Lim also claimed he was being subjected to politically motivated and selective prosecution, and not one based on the rule of law or justice.

“Clearly they are bullying me. They felt bullying the Penang Chief Minister was easier than (bullying) MCA,” Lim, the DAP secretary-general, told newsmen during an event here today.

He argued that if he was to be probed over the Allah issue, then the police should also investigate MCA for suggesting he repeal the Penang State Islamic Religious Administration Enactment 2004, something his state government would never agree to do.

“This is worse because it means the state Islamic religious council must be abolished,” he said, adding that all he had ever stated was that an Islamic fatwa was only applicable to Muslims, and did not concern non-Muslims in his state.

“Why was MCA not probed. Why only me?” asked Lim.

He was responding to a statement by Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar yesterday that police would investigate and record Lim’s statement on the “Allah” issue if and when needed as the legal process would take time to be completed.

Wan Junaidi also said Lim, like all others, was not above the law.

In December last year, Lim triggered a controversy when he reportedly said that non-Muslims in Penang were free to use the word Allah.

A list of 40 words, including Allah, Solat, Ulama, Soleh, Mufti, Iman, Surau and Nabi, were decreed as exclusive to Muslims by the Penang Mufti and enforced in 2010, under the Pakatan Rakyat administration, under sub-section 48(3) and (4) of the Enactment 2004.

Lim’s interpretation of the ban drew flak from various Muslim quarters, especially Umno and Perkasa, while non-Muslim groups backed him.

Several police reports were also lodged by various parties against Lim claiming that the chief minister’s statement was seditious and an insult to Muslims while demanding that swift action be taken against him for sedition.

Yesterday Lim denounced BN-linked media organisations for their reports about his wife being appointed to a position in the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC).

He said they were bankrupt of ideas and overplaying a non-issue since his wife, Betty Chew had rejected the appointment.

He accused them of making indirect attacks at him by targeting his family.

“Previously it was my son. Now it’s my wife. Will they go after my mother next?” he asked.

Pressure mounts on Penang to implement FOI

 

Pressure is mounting from several sectors for the Penang government to get the much-touted Freedom of Information (FOI) Act enforced, and to clear all doubts about its commitment to transparency.

Gerakan national legal and human rights bureau chief Baljit Singh criticised the state administration for “freezing” information instead of freeing it.

He jested, in words laced with sarcasm, “They have frozen the information, there are more ice particles on Penang’s FOI than the Disney movie Frozen.”

“So like the theme song in Frozen, the state government must let it go, set the information free.”

Baljit said BN and other stakeholders have given their recommendations on the FOI and it should be enforced by now.

“There was a lot of publicity done on the matter before the 13th general election but that, too, has come and gone. They have won but where are their promises?

“Pakatan Rakyat often criticised BN for promises unfulfilled, but what about this?” he queried.

Baljit (left) noted that the enactment has already been enforced in Selangor although there was less “noise” there about it.

He concurs that the officials in Komtar, where the state administration offices are housed, are in “total darkness” regarding the issue until today.

“I want to get details on the third link or the undersea bed tunnel that links the island to Butterworth - what is the status now? Is it going on as announced or not?

“I am also dying to know the tendering process, details of project, reports from the Department of Environment and contracts signed between the parties involved in constructing the third link.

“We will be very grateful to the state government if they can release this information to us in the spirit of the FOI.

“The people want to know as the state administration has proclaimed it’s administration is run based on CAT (competency, accountability and transparency principles.”

‘NGOs are in the dark’

Aliran’s Anil Netto also claims that the NGOs are in the dark over the implementation of the FOI.

“Was it just a gimmick or would be it be implemented to benefit the people?” Netto asked.

Aliran is part of the 14-member Penang Forum who sat in meetings with the state government on the issue and provided recommendations to fine tune the Act.

“What is holding them back? I, too, am in the dark about it. If NGOs are in the dark, what about the public?” Netto asked.

“This is the time to fully enforce the enactment, the state has promised transparency, this is one way to show it,” he added.

Netto said the least the state government can do is update the website as it does not need much resources to implement the law.

He said Penang has many development projects which are very controversial and people want to know the background to these projects.

“What are the status of these projects, the parties involved and how they were approved and who will be affected by these controversial projects,” he said.

“For example, there are claims that the density has increased in Batu Ferringhi. We would like to know how that came about, if it were true,” he added.

A check by Malaysiakini on Jan 5 revealed that the offices of the Penang administration is in the dark over Act which was supposed to be implemented in the state on Jan 2 (Jan 1 is a public holiday).

The law, passed in the Penang legislative assembly in November 2011 and gazetted in February 2012, was touted as one of the positive developments in the state, following a similar enactment in Selangor.

When contacted, Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said, “Please give us some time” as details about the matter will be provided soon.

We talked, he proposed, I said no

Penang CM Lim Guan Eng is stupefied by Home Minister Zahid Hamidi’s claims he agrees to PPS becoming a community policing unit.

FMT

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has expressed shock that Home Minister Zahid Hamidi had told the press he had consented to the Penang Voluntary Patrol Unit being revamped into a certified community policing unit.

While acknowledging that the two did meet to talk things over, Lim maintained that all he agreed to was for a working paper by the home ministry to be submitted to the state government so the matter could be discussed further.

”I did not say I agreed to the proposal. I only said to give us the working paper on it for the exco to consider,” Lim told reporters.

Zahid on the other hand was rather confident when he told reporters a somewhat different version of what transpired between the two.

According to Zahid, Lim had agreed to revamp the illegal PPS into a community policing unit, fully endorsed by the police.

He told reporters, “PPS will be replaced with a community policing (unit) similar to those in other states.”

He also stated his happiness at Lim’s willingness to find an amicable solution to the controversial PPS issue, adding, “I hope it can be implemented as soon as possible.”

Another issue of contention between Lim and Zahid involved the legal status of the PPS.

Saying the state government was adamant about challenging the home ministry’s decision to outlaw the PPS, Lim added, “The state’s stand on PPS has not changed.”

“He (Zahid) said the banning of PPS was initiated by the Attorney-General and I reiterated that we will challenge that in court to defend the 158 PPS members who were arrested.

Zahid’s ministry meanwhile is sticking to their guns in declaring the PPS an illegal organisation for not being registered with the Registrar of Societies as well as the issue that many of its members were involved in crime.

Talking to reporters outside Bukit Aman, Zahid said police have screened 9,000 PPS members and will announce soon enough the actual number of those involved in crime.

Zahid declares Penang’s PPS illegal, assets to be seized

Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has declared Penang's Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) an illegal organisation, and its assets and properties will be seized, the Home Ministry said today.

Its secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamad Khalid Shariff said Zahid made the declaration yesterday, invoking Section 5(1) of the Societies Act 1966, which empowers the minister to declare an organisation illegal.

"The Penang PPS is an organisation that carries out activities that are hazardous to public peace in the country," Khalid said in a statement today quoted by Bernama.

The declaration means the use of the PPS name, symbol and logo is banned, and its accounts, assets, and properties wound up by the Malaysian Insolvency Department, said Bernama.

After announcing earlier that the group was not registered, police on August 31 arrested 156 PPS members as they took part in the state Merdeka Day celebration.

Also picked up were DAP state assemblymen R.S.N. Rayer, PPS chairman Phee Boon Poh and his deputy, Tanjung MP Ng Wei Aik.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had vowed that his state government would defend the PPS members and would not bow to "bullying tactics" by Putrajaya.

Zahid (pic, right) had earlier said the group's formation was not passed in Parliament, unlike the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) formed under the Volunteers Corps Act 2012, which means it need not be registered under the Registrar of Societies (RoS).

Zahid and the police had also claimed that many PPS members were involved in crime with reports previously lodged against them.

"It also seems like they want to take over the role of the police," the Home Minister told Parliament on October 16. – November 4, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/zahid-declares-penangs-pps-illegal-assets-to-be-seized#sthash.N39w0K51.dpuf

Penang village re-zoned by PR, not Gerakan

Gerakan’s Oh Tong Keong says it was PR and not BN that re-zoned the heritage village into commercial land.

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Gerakan secretary Oh Tong Keong said today that it was the Pakatan Rakyat state government that sub-divided the Siamese-Burmese village land in Pulau Tikus and earmarked the settlement as a commercial zone in December last year.

“So the allegation that the previous BN government under Gerakan re-zoned the village into a commercial area was a lie,” Oh told newsmen at the Gerakan office here today.

He said both Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Pulau Tikus assemblywoman Yap Soo Huey had misled the villagers by saying otherwise.

Oh said under the state Heritage Enactment 2011, the state government had the powers to gazette the area as a heritage zone.

“If the state government does not have the power, how did it reject a developer’s application for planning permission to demolish and redevelop the village twice, in 2009 and 2010?” he asked.

He pointed out that the Penang Island Municipal Council had also rejected developer Airmas Development Sdn Bhd’s application for planning permission in 2008.

“If the state government was sincere and honest, it could easily gazette the village as a heritage site,” said Oh.

Oh also explained that all the previous Barisan Nasional government did was re-zone the land in 1996 as a religious-cultural and commercial zone to mirror the development of the area then.

He said the 5,457sq metre village land was sub-divided to lots 10029 and 10030 under a micro-zoning process last year.

The village has an open space, a Burmese trust building and a row of shophouses.

After the sub-division exercise, Lot 10029 comprised the village and shophouses and Lot 10030, the Burmese trust building and open space.

Penang to meet A-G over custodial death cases

The Penang government will send representatives to meet the Attorney-General to discuss issues surrounding custodial death cases in the state, said Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P.Ramasamy (pic).

He said this today after announcing that the state government had received a letter, dated August 29, from the Attorney-General's Chambers that a meeting would be arranged.

"No date has been set for the appointment. It will be decided later after investigations into the deaths of several detainees in Penang have been completed.

"But, this is a positive development. We thank the A-G for agreeing to meet us," he told pressmen at his Komtar office today.

He said the A-G's consent to meet came after he and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng sent letters to the Chambers about the deaths in lock-up cases in Penang.

Ramasamy reiterated that the best way to investigate custodial death cases was to have the A-G's Chambers set up a body to probe the incidents independently.

He said the body under the Chambers would be able to do a more objective probe than the police.

Ramasamy, who chairs the state's custodial death taskforce that was set up a few months ago to look into the incidents in Penang, said there were over 10 custodial death cases nationwide to-date.

He said seven cases were from Penang.

On February 10, A. Punniyanathan, 40, died while at the Nibong Tebal lock-up on mainland Penang while J. Kulanthangam, 34, died on February 18 at the Dang Wangi police station in Kuala Lumpur.

Ramasamy Nagu, 50, died at the Bayan Baru centralised lock-up in Penang on March 1.

On March 8, Kamarulnizam Ismail, 39, died in Tapah Prison in Perak, a day after he was sent there from the Seberang Prai Tengah district police headquarters lock-up in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

Koay Soon Guan, 41, was found dead at the Penang Prison on April 6 and on April 12, odd-job labourer M. Murugan, 37, died at the Seberang Jaya Hospital on mainland Penang while under custody.

Morgan Arjunan, 48, died on April 16 at the Jinjang police station and Rahmat Md Noor, 56, died on April 27 at the Bayan Baru centralised lock-up.

Koh Kheng Soon was found dead on June 6 while being held overnight at the Kuantan police station in Pahang.

S.Agin Raj Naidu, 26, died at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital on June 7 after he was held a few days at the SPT district police headquarters.

Last Sunday, the latest death occurred when Tee Meng Hua, 56, allegedly jumped from the first floor of the Seberang Prai Utara district police headquarters in Kepala Batas, Penang while he was being questioned for a cheating case.

The man, who was handcuffed at the time, died on the spot from severe head injuries.

State police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi on Monday said that police inquiry papers have been opened to investigate whether there was negligence on the part of the police officers on duty.

Ramasamy said a taskforce would try to get an appointment with Rahim next week to talk about the latest incident and find out how it happened.

He said Penang viewed such incidents very seriously, with the taskforce aiming to do its part effectively to stop such incidents from recurring although it had no jurisdiction over such matters.

"We want to see zero custodial deaths," he said.

Ramasamy also said following discussions with human rights non-governmental organisations that were concerned about custodial deaths, such as Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), the taskforce would employ a full-time staff.

He said, the officer, who would be appointed by the state, would handle matters related to such incidents such as collecting information, carry out research and liaise with the families of the deceased.

"I will prepare the paperwork and submit it to the state to hire an officer for this job. Hopefully, we will have someone by January next year.

"We need to have some form of support system for the families too," he added. – October 2, 2014.

In zoning poser, a call to fight for Penang’s 200-year-old Siamese village

A Penang legislator has questioned a move under the previous state government to change the zoning for a 200-year-old Siamese village land, which was protected by trust, for commercial development.

Yap Soo Huey, the DAP assemblywoman for Pulau Tikus, today said the land-use of the area, where Kampung Siam was located, showed that it was classified as “cultural and religious” in the 1970s.

But, the Penang Island Municipal Council’s (MPPP) Planning and Development Control Policy that was published in 1996 indicated that it had been zoned as “commercial”.

She said the land had been granted to the Siamese and Burmese communities by the East India Company on behalf of Queen Victoria in 1845. The grant stated that the land is to be used for the benefit of their descendants.

“Why was it re-zoned despite the grant given by the East India Company?”

She said developer, Five Star Heritage Sdn Bhd, submitted an application to the MPPP on April 17 to build a hotel on the 2,681 sqm site.

The land today houses residents and businessmen who are descendants of the Siamese in Penang, she said. Many still speak the Siamese language with a Malaysian dialect.

Yap (pic, left) said the MPPP and Penang government have not given any approval for the project.

“They need to investigate,” she said. “The residents also wish to pursue whether the re-zoning was valid considering the grant given by Queen Victoria.”

The developer, through its lawyer, also sent a notice to quit and deliver vacant possessions to the occupants in April. A writ of summons with a statement of claim was issued this month.

Yap urged residents and the public to lend their support to the unique heritage of the place.

A candlelight vigil will be held at 8pm tomorrow at Kampung Siam, which is located behind the Pulau Tikus police station along Burma Road, for the public to join residents in supporting the village and its community, she said. – September 26, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/poser-over-zoning-change-for-kampung-siam-in-penang#sthash.RU7eyRdD.dpuf

Council ill-treated me, says physically-challenged man

 

A physically-challenged trader claimed today he was treated aggressively by about 15 enforcement officers from the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP), who also seized 200 items of his goods worth RM4,000.

G Munisvaran said, in a police report he lodged at the Seberang Perai Tengah police headquarters in Bukit Mertajam on Sept 15, that this took place at Solok Sungai Pinang on the island, where he goes once a month to sell garments.

Munisvaran said a group of 15 MPPP officers approached him  atabout 6.30pm on Sept 12 and seized his goods, without prior notice.

"When I told them I am a handicapped person, an officer replied: "OKU (orang yang kurang upaya) ka? Apa, kayu ka, atau apa? Pihak MPPP tak peduli (we do not care)".

"He said it in a harsh manner and appeared as if he wanted to hit me. When I tried to prevent my goods from being seized, they pushed me off, roughly," Munisvaran, 43, lamented at a press conference called by the Penang Hindu Association today.

He said he has not been able to trade for two weeks already and is worried because he supports his family of two sons, aged five and seven years aside from his wife.

"My wife is a foreigner and cannot work to support the family. Please, I beg the council officers, return my goods so that I can trade again," he said.

"I have met with the council and the officers told me to pay RM350 to get my clothes back. When I told them I have no money, they ignored my plea.

"Furthermore, they said, only 108 pieces were seized, when they have taken 200 items. They did not count the pieces before they took them away."

Munisvaran said he has been trading for 10 years, and has also taken a loan of RM7,000 from Tekun to start his business, settling it by a monthly instalment of RM382.

'Have more emoathy and compassion'

Penang Hindu Association deputy president P Murugiah (left) urged the enforcement officers to have more empathy and compassion towards the lower income group and unfortunate people such as Munisvaran.

He said the state and federal governments often encourage the people, especially the physically challenged, to be independent.

"However, when implementing and enforcing the laws, the authorities behave in an irresponsible manner. So, how can people like Munisvaran improve their lives?" he asked.

"The MPPP should have instead advised him on what to do to trade in the area, including applying for the appropriate licence, as well as given him counselling or a verbal or written warning and to vacate the area," Murugiah added.

"Seizing his goods and not counting the items in front of him, and not even even giving him a reference to trace back his goods, have been extremely unprofessional and seem more like gangsterism," he said.

He urged MPPP president Patahiyah Ismail to look into improving the conduct of her officers, especially those in the enforcement section, and to ensure they behaved professionally with the people.

When contacted, MPPP councillor Harvinder Singh said the enforcement officers seized Munisvaran’s goods as he is an illegal trader.

"We have received complaints about the matter since 2012 and notices have been issued to the trader before we acted," Harvinder claimed.

He urged all traders to follow procedures to avoid action been taken while they are trading.

On the alleged aggressiveness of the officers towards a handicapped man, Harvinder acknowledged Munisvaran’s version of the incident.

"But since he has lodged a police report, let the investigations proceed. We do not want to interfere in that," he added.

Cops release Penang exco Phee Boon Poh and PPS members

Police have now released all 155 members of Penang's Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) as of 10.30pm tonight.

Earlier this evening, state welfare, caring society and environment committee chairman Phee Boon Poh was released together with a few of the PPS members who were arrested yesterday.

Now, only Seri Delima state assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer, who was arrested today, remains in police custody.

Phee, who walked out of the station looking tired, met with his family members and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng then broke down in tears as he was received by a large crowd outside the gates of the Northeast District police headquarters.

After being garlanded, Phee thanked his friends, supporters, Pakatan Rakyat party members and the media for giving him the encouragement to stay strong.

"If I was taken for the betterment of Penang, then I am willing to make this sacrifice," he said in between tears.

Earlier today, Penang police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi announced their remand for a day till tomorrow to facilitate investigations.

He said police would carry out a crackdown on the rest of PPS members.

“We remanded Phee and the 155 members, aged between 18 and 67, till tomorrow under Section 43 of the Societies Act 1966. Seven of them are women.

“PPS is an illegal organisation, so we will arrest all its members. There is no deadline. Therefore, I urge the members to surrender themselves to the police.

Rahim said initial investigations showed 11 of the detained members possessed criminal records. Four of them tested positive for drugs.

He said despite the fact that only one person had links with secret society by virtue of being a former Emergency (Public Order and Crime Prevention) Ordinance 1969 (EO) detainee, the police would go on with the crackdown.

Rahim revealed the PPS members who possessed criminal records came under Section 304, 379, 380, and 392 of the Penal Code, respectively, and also various drugs offences, and customs laws.

“Some of them have records for attempted murder, theft, break-ins and robbery. The suspect who was a former EO detainee was convicted for a drug offence previously,” he said.

He added that police seized 153 purple PPS T-shirts and 154 maroon berets bearing the Penang state emblem that formed the group’s uniform, a PPS placard and flag, a Jalur Gemilang, a Penang flag, walkie-talkies and membership cards.

He said the detainees comprised pensioners, civil servants, those who were self-employed and students.

While reiterating that 14 men and seven women were released on police bail early this morning, Rahim said the police had information on 30% of the members.

When asked whether the state government had presented a list of members to the police to be vetted for criminal records, he replied in the negative.

He also denied claims that police and PPS had worked together to patrol the streets within the state.

“I do not want to get involved in the challenges that are being thrown about on this matter.

“We are looking at this issue purely on the legal aspect and not on political insight,” he said, when asked to comment on the exchanges between Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar who announced PPS as illegal and Lim's continous defence of the unit. – September 1, 2014.

Rayer arrested in relation to PPS

Police detain RSN Rayer to assist in investigations regarding PPS.

GEORGE TOWN: Seri Delima Assemblyman RSN Rayer has been detained to assist in the police investigation on the Penang Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) set up by the DAP-led state government.

Timur Laut district police chief ACP Mior Faridalatrash Wahid said Rayer, the PPS chairman for Seri Delima, was detained at 6pm when he came to the Timur Laut police headquarters.

Rayer came to the police station to handle the release of PPS members who were in remand, he said when contacted by Bernama here today.

Mior Faridalatrash said that as at 6.30pm today, the police had released 30 PPS members, including its chairman, Phee Boon Poh, who is also the State Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman.

“We expect to release all the PPS members who were arrested yesterday by tonight,” he added.

Yesterday, police arrested 156 PPS members, including Phee, for allegedly flouting regulations after it was found that the organisation was not registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

Twenty-one of them were released later yesterday, and the remaining held in remand.

- BERNAMA

Police haul up PPS personnel

250 squad members arrested after Merdeka march

GEORGE TOWN: Police hauled up some 250 personnel of the allegedly illegal Voluntary Patrol Squad (PPS) immediately after their march past in the Penang Merdeka celebrations at the Esplanade here this morning.

The PPS members were taken to the Northeast District police headquarters in Jalan Patani.

Northeast police chief Mior Faridalatrash Wahid said the PPS was being investigated under Section 41 of the Societies Act over an allegation that it is an unregistered organisation.

The Registrar of Societies (ROS), the Inspector General of Police and Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar have all declared PPS an illegal outfit.

Penang police received instructions from Bukit Aman to arrest all PPS members today.

But Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at a PPS event in Komtar has remained defiant, declaring the squad as a legal state body and announcing that his government would provide legal assistance to arrested PPS members.

Last night a Molokov cocktail was thrown into the compound of Lim’s residence in Jalan Pinhorn.

No one was injured and no property was damaged in the attack.

Police are investigating whether the attack was linked to their probe on PPS.

Some 16 police reports have been lodged against PPS nationwide after some squad members allegedly assaulted a social activist in Air Itam on Aug 17.

Established four years ago, PPS has 10,000-members, 59.6% of whom are Chinese, 32% Malays, 9.7% Indians and 0.4% others.

Tough to prove alleged nudists ran foul of the law, say crime lawyers

The prosecution may have an uphill task proving its case if 15 people who were allegedly involved in nude sport games on a Penang beach are charged, criminal lawyers said.

They said although it was a crime discovered through technological advancement, the laws, including the Penal Code, are ill-equipped to handle this matter.

Lawyer Fahri Azzat said the public came to know of the incident because it was captured on video and uploaded online for everyone to view.

"This could not have happened in the 18th century when the Penal Code was codified," he said.

Police said they were investigating the suspects under Sections 294(a) and 509 of the Penal Code.

Section 294(a) states that whoever, to the annoyance of others, does any obscene act in any public place shall be punished with a maximum three months jail or a fine or both.

Under Section 509, a person guilty of using a word or gesture intended to insult the modesty of another can be jailed up to five years or fined or both.

Fahri said that Section 294a required that the obscene act in a public place must be at the annoyance of others present at the scene.

"The annoyance must arise at the time of the act, not after. It is not enough to be irritated knowing or watching the act later," he added.

He said in that sense the suspects did not run foul of the law.

Word of the nude games spread after a five minutes and 52 seconds video titled “Pesta Bogel di Teluk Bahang, Penang” went viral on social media.

The video showed a group of 15 men and women in the buff participating in various activities at a hut and on the beach.

Police have identified all 15 participants, consisting of seven locals, four Singaporeans, two Myanmar nationals and one each from India and the Philippines.

Police have remanded two men, a Malaysian and a Singaporean, in connection with the alleged nude festival held at Pantai Teluk Kampi in the Teluk Bahang National Park in Penang in May.

Lawyer S.N. Nair said the prosecution has several ingredients to produce, chief among them was to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

"Moreover, the identities of the suspects need to be proven and the video clip is at best secondary evidence and the admissibility of the exhibit depends on several extraneous matters."

He said the authenticity of the video also has to be proven, among others.

Lawyer Datuk Naran Singh said prosecution needs to show that the nudists had intended to insult the modesty of another person in public to prove their case under Section 509.

"One's modesty cannot be violated by watching the footage of a video taken in May," he said, questioning what public interest could be achieved by prosecuting them.

He said the police could call the suspects and reprimand them instead of subjecting them to further humiliation.

But, Datuk Baljit Singh Sidhu said the prosecution could prove its case because annoyance and intention to insult one's modesty could come from a witness who had viewed the video.

"A report was made and police are right to investigate because there is public interest element involved as the incident occurred at a public beach." – August 15, 2014.

Bekas pemimpin wanita Gerakan antara peserta sukaneka bogel

‘Sorry’ not enough, Penang reps demand action against Islamic teacher

(Malay Mail Online) – Despite a public apology, Penang MIC and DAP’s P.Ramasamy (pic) want the authorities to book Islamic religious teacher Shahul Hamid for his curry powder jibe, which they say signals a deeper intolerance of minority groups in Malaysia.

“What he said has angered Hindus all over Malaysia so even though he has apologised and it’s good he realised his error to say sorry, but it’s not enough,” M.Karuppanan, state MIC chief, told a news conference here, hours after Shahul issued a public apology for his remarks seen as ridiculing Hinduism and ethnic Indians.

A video clip of Shahul’s speech, in which he told Muslims not to buy curry powder from “Hindu companies” such as Alagappa’s and Baba’s was uploaded to social media sites recently, provoking fury from the minority communities.

“If you go to the Alagappa’s factory near Permatang Pauh, you will see a statue at the entrance, and the tongue is out. Why is the tongue out? Because the goddess must taste all the curry powder before they sell it,” the preacher was heard saying in the video.

Shahul had posted a short apology on his Facebook yesterday following the uproar.

Karuppanan said Shahul’s remarks were not only seditious but could incite racial disharmony.

“That was not the only clip. There was also another clip where he made even more serious damage where he accused Hindus of not having a God,” he said.

Karuppanan said Shahul’s argument, that his speech was for Muslims, was not a defence as the latter had clearly insulted Indians and Hindus.

“You can’t say something and then apologise as if nothing happened when the damage is already done. Otherwise, I can just kill someone and apologise,” he said.

He reminded Shahul that he did not only insult one person whom he could apologise to and try to make amends but that he had insulted up to a million people of the Hindu faith.

“Even the non-Hindus, the Muslims and Christians are unhappy about this because such things are unacceptable in our society.

“I hope the Attorney-General takes action immediately,” he said.

The MIC leader also urged curry powder makers Alagappa’s and Baba’s to initiate legal action against Shahul, saying the latter’s remarks could be deemed defamatory.

“These companies are halal-certified, so he did not only insult the Hindus but also questioned the halal-certification of these companies,” Karuppanan said.

Indian Malaysians and Hindus took to social media this week condemning the Islamic religious teacher for his speech about their communities made several years ago but which surfaced recently.

A group of MIC members held a demonstration in the Kuala Lumpur Indian enclave of Brickfields yesterday in protest.

In a separate news conference, Ramasamy who is Penang deputy minister II, also demanded strict action against Shahul.

Echoing Karuppanan, the DAP lawmaker said Shahul’s apology was not enough.

The Penang Hindu Endowment Board chairman said there have been cases of insults against Hindus in the last five to six years without any action taken against the perpetrators.

“He should be expelled from PAS. We can’t allow religious preachers to insult other religions,” Ramasamy said.

Ex-CJ: Islam under threat in DAP-ruled Penang

 

Former chief justice Abdul Hamid Mohamad has highlighted the problems faced by Muslims in Penang, which he warned could spread if left unchecked.

Among others, he said a former Penang mufti told him that it was difficult to secure allocations for Islamic activities in the state as various religious groups wanted their fair share.

"If this is not stopped, it will spread to the whole of Malaysia. Maybe Islamic programmes will have to be shared with other religions.

"Government departments and campuses may be required to not only prepare surau but also churches, gurdwara and temples," he added.

Such a scenario, he said, would render the special position of Islam as the religion of the Federation meaningless.

Hamid (right) was speaking at a buka puasa event with several Islamic NGOs in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

A copy of his speech, titled "Protecting the constitution as the basis of the country", was also uploaded on his website.

The former chief justice, who hails from Penang, revealed that the mufti also informed him about an incident during the launching of a building in the state, which was attended by the deputy chief minister.

At this event, he said, prayers were done by a Christian priest, a Hindu priest and the imam of the state mosque.

"I am puzzled why would the imam participate in such a ceremony. Can't he think?" he asked.

"I am saddened to see Malays and Muslims behaving naively where they are made as tools and shout 'Allahu Akbar' while lying on road when it is non-Muslims who benefit," he added.

Hamid was referring to the protest that followed BN retaking Perak in the aftermath of the 2008 general election.

'Hidden agenda'

Commenting on the 'Allah' row, Hamid said he was puzzled that some Islamic scholars did not see the "hidden agenda" of the Roman Catholic Church.

He claimed that the church was disappointed for not being able to turn the Malays into Christians five centuries ago.

Earlier, Abdul Hamid held that Malays had changed drastically, and are seriously split now, following the people becoming affluent.

This had resulted in the majority group becoming a minority, which now uses Malay voters as a tool.

The split in the Malays resulted in the extremist groups to attack the Malays, criticise the royal institutions, insulting the Malay leaders and admonish Islam. 

Abdul Hamid reminded of the social contract that the Malays have with the non-Malays.

He cited Prof Shad Saleem Farouqi's book titled 'Document of Destiny: The Constitution of the Federation of Malaysia' where on page 710 it states that as a result of the 'social contract' between the various races, millions of migrants to British Malaya were bestowed with citizenship.

“It is believed that the number of citizens in Malaya doubled at the stroke of midnight on August 31, 1957 due to the constitutional grant,” Shad Saleem (right) wrote in the book.

Abdul Hamid further said the minority community should not complain about their freedom.

“Show me a country which gives rights to the minority? What happened to the Muslims in Rohingya? In a neighbouring country, the minority are asked to change their names.

“Show me any country which allows the formation of vernacular schools and also finance it. In Malaysia, the government does not prohibit them to practise their religion.

"Have they considered how easy it is to build their places of worship in Malaysia including on government land and even financing is given,” he said.

The former CJ warned the minority wanted to get rid of what the Malays have and they have become more daring as a result of the Malays being split and they have managed to influence certain Malay party leaders to work with them.

Maintain Sedition Act

Abdul Hamid also supported the retention of the Sedition Act 1948, but with some amendments.

“The reason given that the Sedition Act should be repealed and replaced is to achieve national unity is without basis. It is only a reason forwarded. What more the new Bill is being formulated by the Bar Council. We should not be tricked by this, as this is what they want,” he said.

“What is the benefit to the Malays, or those in Sabah and Sarawak, if people are allowed to question the special privileges allocated to the Malays based on Article 153 of the federal constitution. They do not want such a provision as they do not like it,” he said.

Abdul Hamid said without the Sedition Act, the constitutional monarchy, the position of Bahasa Melayu as the national language, and the special position of the Malays and the bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak would be challenged.

“That is what we must understand,” he said.

The former CJ was speaking at a function organised by the government-backed Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia.

Bukit Gelugor indie candidate Backer in hot soup

A police report calls for his disqualification for allegedly insulting Malaysian Indians.

GEORGE TOWN: Two journalists have called for the disqualification of Abu Backer Sidik Mohamad Zan from the Bukit Gelugor by-election, accusing him insulting Malaysia’s Indian community with a racist remark.

The two, employed by Tamil dailies Puthiya Paraval and Makkal Osai, lodged a police report this afternoon alleging that Backer displayed his insensitivity to ethnic sentiments by using the word “pariah” during a press conference this morning.

They urged the police to investigate him for sedition and called on the Election Commission to disqualify him as a candidate in the May 25 poll.

Backer is one of two independent candidates fighting against DAP and Parti Cinta Malaysia.

During the press conference, the two reporters protested against his use of “pariah” in a tirade against activist lawyer and former Bersih leader S Ambiga. They told him the expression was taboo to Malaysian Tamils.

Backer retorted that he was referring only to Ambiga and was expressing his displeasure with her for leading street demonstrations.

He alleged that many other people had called Ambiga a “pariah” for staging protests against the Barisan Nasional government.

The reporters were not pacified and demanded that he apologise and retract his statement.

Backer, who is a lawyer, said he had used the word before in Bar Council meetings and saw no reason to apologise.

Some Pakatan Rakyat members joined the shouting match and also demanded an apology, but Backer insisted that he was not a racist and was seeking election in order to fight for the wellbeing of all Malaysians.

“What Abu Backer said was uncalled for and can cause public disorder, disharmony and disunity,” one of the reporters said after lodging the report at the Lebuh Pantai police station here.

“He may have been attacking Ambiga, but he has insulted Indians. He should be disqualified from the by-election and charged under the Sedition Act.”

Woman candidate for MCA in Bkt Gelugor?

A young pharmacist daughter of a former MCA assemblyman is expected to challenge DAP's candidate, widely tipped to be Karpal's son, in the by-election.

GEORGE TOWN: MCA may field a woman candidate for the forthcoming Bukit Gelugor parliamentary by-election on May 25.

A young pharmacist Koay Wan Lee, daughter of former Seri Delima assemblyman Koay Kar Huah, is said to be the favourite for the candidacy.

The Bukit Gelugor by-election is being held following the death of incumbent parliamentarian Karpal Singh of DAP on April 17 in a car accident near Kampar, Perak.

Polling is on May 25 while nomination is on May 12, giving contestants 13 days to campaign.

Sources claimed Wan Lee could be picked among the three proposed names submitted to the party president Liow Tiong Lai last week.

It’s learnt that Bukit Gelugor MCA division chairman Kar Huah also submitted names of lawyer Ooi Siew Kim and state youth chief Michael Lee Beng Seng to Liow.

When contacted, Kar Huah however did not want to confirm the names and merely said “wait for the announcement.”

A local leader said the party preferred a female candidate this time.

“Wan Lee is favoured ahead of others due to her father’s political roots in the constituency,” said the leader.

Kar Huah was a three-term assemblyman for Seri Delima between 1995 and 2008. He lost to Karpal in Bukit Gelugor in the 2008 general election.

Besides Seri Delima, Air Itam and Paya Terubong are two other state seats under Bukit Gelugor.

Bukit Gelugor has 61,112 or 74.49% Chinese voters, 11,880 or 14.48 % Malays, 8,660 or 10.56% Indians and 390 or 0.48% others.

It’s also learnt that MCA’s top brass has yet to decide not only on the candidate but also if the party should even contest in the by-election. The party is expected to make an announcement in the coming days.

Grassroots not confident

Meanwhile according to sources, feedback from grassroots was not encouraging with many leaders apprehensive about fielding a candidate.

They strongly believe the party had no chance against the DAP, Penang’s ruling party.

A local leader even went on to say that the Chinese voters would vote blindly for DAP’s logo, Rocket.

“MCA currently is a sunset party unless it is revamped and reformed, which is unlikely under the current federal and state leaderships.

“In the current political scenario, MCA can’t woo Chinese to Barisan Nasional.

“DAP is currently enjoying an unprecedented popularity among Chinese,” said the leader.

However, MCA’s top leadership is said to be encouraged by the increased Chinese vote swing to the party following the Kajang by-election. It managed to clinch 25% compared to only 18% of votes during the 13th general election.

The late Karpal scored a stunning 42,706 majority win in Bukit Gelugor in last year’s general election against BN’s candidate from MCA, Teh Beng Yeam.

In the by-election, DAP is widely expected to field Karpal’s son, Ramkarpal, who has indicated that he was ready to fill in his father’s political shoes.

Although DAP is speculated to win the seat without dropping a sweat, Ramkarpal’s candidature is seen as an attempt to swing sympathy votes and maintain Karpal’s majority.

“The Karpal factor will give no chance for MCA to make inroads.

“Moreover, MCA’s own grassroots leaders and members may not be motivated to campaign for the party candidate as evident during the Kajang by-election,” said an MCA local leader.

Besides DAP and MCA, Bukit Gelugor by-election may also see a candidate from newly formed Penang Front Party (PFP) and Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM).

Build more affordable homes in Penang

Workers earning RM3,000 to RM5,000 monthly cannot afford to buy houses in Penang today, says MTUC.

BUTTERWORTH: The Penang branch of Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) wants both the federal and state governments to build more affordable homes for lower income workers in the state.

Its chairman S Ravindran said both governments should also improve the public transportation system to reduce the cost burden of workers.

He cited that even workers earning RM3,000 to RM5,000 monthly cannot afford to buy houses in Penang today.

“More affordable homes should be available for lower income workers.

“Public transportation, especially buses, should be more efficient, affordable and reliable.

“This would reduce the cost burden of already squeezed low income workers in Penang,” said

Ravindran during the state-level MTUC May Day rally

This year’s rally, dubbed as the anti-GST rally, was held from 10am until 12pm in an open space at Jalan Siram – Jalan Telaga Air junction here today.

Some 400 workers turned out for the rally, holding placards and banners calling on the federal government to withdraw the implementation of Goods and Service Tax (GST) for it would add to the cost burden of the workers.

MTUC already submitted a memorandum to Putrajaya demanding the withdrawal of GST citing solid reasons, said Ravindran.

“We want the government to meet and discuss the issue with us.

“This is something that we had never experienced before. Suddenly the government wants to introduce 6% GST. We want GST withdrawn,” he demanded.

Other MTUC demands to the government were to increase the minimum wage from current RM900 to RM1,500 per month; introduce cost of living allowance (Cola) of RM300 monthly to workers in private sector; increase petrol subsidy; subsidise medical treatment and essential food items; and reduce cost of basic utilities.

Ravindran said it was social responsibility and public duty of governments at all levels to implement policies to ease the cost of living and provide free and affordable basic amenities, facilities and utilities to the people.

“Workers are the backbone of the country. Their welfare and well-being must emphasised with utmost importance in public policies,” insisted Ravindran.