Malaysia To Step Up Muslim Tours In China

From Choi Wen Fei

KUNMING, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will step up the promotion of Muslim tour packages, including Ramadan attractions, for the Chinese market, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

"The number of Chinese Muslim tourists to Malaysia in year 2003 was 50,000 and the figure has gone up to 94,000 people last year. With the high volume of Chinese tourists, I believe that promoting Islamic tourism among Chinise Muslims has great potential," she said at a dialogue Thursday with Muslim leaders and tour operators in her 12-day working trip to China.

Ng said the packages could incorporate visits to mosques and promotions during the Ramadan month such as halal food stalls and hotel buffets during the period.

"Malaysia has Islamic banking and is a halal food hub which could be advantageous in promoting Islamic tourism. Besides that, Chinese Muslim travel agents could also bring their customers to attend exhibition on halal products organised in Malaysia," she added.

Ng also encouraged Chinese Muslim tour operators to look into the potential of Malaysian Muslim tourists to China apart from travelling to the Middle East.

For example, she said, Malaysian Muslims could take holidays in southwestern Yunnan province, to enjoy the four seasons of the year.

Amee, a Chinese tour operator who attended the dialogue with Dr Ng, said the 20 million Muslim population in China was a strong potential market and tour operators here had been working together with Tourism Malaysia in recent years.

He said religious travel, education travel, family holidays and the "Malaysia My Second Home" programme were the main draws.

Dr Ng also led a delegation to the opening of the 11th China International Travel Mart (CITM) on Thursday attended by 94 countries and visited the Malaysian pavilion and exhibitors.

With Chinese arrivals to Malaysia totalling 835,000 in October, she hoped that the target of one million Chinese tourists could be achieved this year.

Dr Ng also attended the inaugural China-Asean Tourism Cooperation Forum and called on Shao Qiwei, China National Tourism Administration chairman.

She spoke of the need for a task force to look into China-Asean tourism cooperation and to discuss measures for government agencies and the private sector.

"We need to sit down to look at packages and inter-border discussion about issues in the immigration process. I hope that during the meeting of the tourism ministers from China-Asean, which will be held in January next year in Brunei, we can focus on the discussion regarding this matter," she said during her meeting with Shao.

She said that apart from promoting travel, her ministry was looking into developing investments in the tourism in dustry by working with Malaysia's International Trade and Industry Ministry.

Shao supported Dr Ng's views on greater China-Asean tourism cooperation and the need for tourism ministers in the region to work closely on developing the regional tourism industry, with the China-Asean free trade agreement to be in place next year.

Comments and protest about Killing Indians by police and Madam Seetha's death

Khun Pana aka johanssm said...

She did it out of rage , disbelieve and frustration .She have the full rights to think that her brother is innocent .Now she is gone, dont blame her .

In my opinion the polis are trigger happy . Not just in this case but in a lot of cases.

The procedure is to fire warning shot and challenge the suspect to surrender .
Further shots are normally aimed to the legs and hip.
Even in dangerous situation when the polis have no options but to shoot to kill, the body will NOT be full with leads.

Example: A young doctor was shot dead in a parking lot by the polis years ago.
A man armed with just a tin can was also shot dead.
The polis shot dead a lot of amok insane people too.
There were cases of gunning down all suspects but the suspects dont have firearms but with a machete.

It is not about shooting and targeting the Indians.
It is all about not taking in any suspects alive and to claim success in solving cases .
All robberies that cant be solve will be link to the dead men.
But surprisingly the polis never gun down any Mat rempits.
The polis however did shot 2 men therefore wounding them in Batu Burok while staging a peaceful protest.

And if some of you said that 2 polis was shot dead 2 years ago during a drug raid...well, they deserves it !
3-4 off duty polis went out to "raid" a drug den .It was not a raid but to get protection money.
Just last week , 2 polis fired 2 shots when both of them failed to rob a China Doll In Jalan Pudu.

Maybe the only polis hero is the chinese inspector whom got hit in both legs during a real gun fight.

So, it is not about killing the Indians. But we have trigger happy cops and they think they are above the law.

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Anonymous said...

while i totally abhor the wanton shooting and the act of shoot to kill by any law enforcer i am of the opinion that the act of suicide and the forcing on the children to drink weed killer are equally as wrong. The life of any child should never be at the mercy of any parent. Therefore, one should not categorize these two incidents as one and i deem that the suicide act as an isolate incident.

___________________________________________________________________

My positive and/or negative comments in relation to Indians been killed by police is ONLY one,. Lets change the government. Dont trust on this 1 Malaysia slogan or worships. Lets us vote for Pakatan government in next GE. Say NO to BN.

Thank you.

Regards.

TK
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Nisha:-
What kinda opinion you want?It is so abvious that they are destroying our community.....and yet we still send our children to their schools....look at chinese.....they send all their children to chinese school and they are saving their community but our Indian are killing each other.Because of these few thing they fight, they was caught and beaten up in the lock up and was killed.What happen if the Malays do that will they also do the same thing to them?Will they shot them to death?There are so many Malays are rapping and killing their own flesh blood,what happen to them?Jailed,rotan,and got released at last.But for our poor Indians were killed.How are we gonna survive if we don't support our own community?There is no point that we fight for our rights and ask them to build Tamil Schools since very few are sending theirs children to Tamil School.All those are sending to Tamil schools are those in the estate because not enought money...those in good status are sending their children to other schools.The reason is Tamil school have not enought facilities.....how are we gonna have better schools since all are not supporting?How are we gonna argue for our rights?I'll guarantee that in another 5 years they will start to destroy our schools as well and no more Indian in Malaysia.Every matter that are goin on now starts from this simple matter.Please think about this.And please share this with other Tamizhans also.....Valgha Tamizh....
___________________________________________________________________
Satish,

Saya Adalah Ketua Bagi Parti Hindu Right Action Force (HINDRAF) HINDRAF BOLEH MELAYU MUSUH HINDRAF

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RAZ Rajan
I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE WHY ONLY INDIAN ARE KILLING.. WHY HUMAN RIGHT COMMISSION NOT TAKE ANY ACTION..??

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Mathavan:-
It is sad to see Indian youths being shot dead by police. Shoot to dead is not a way of solving the crime cases. We have to see the root cause for this matter. During the land in Sepang taken for KLIA development the residents there, mostly Malays, were compensated handsomely. But, when it come to Putrajaya development, the residents there, mostly Indians, just been chased away, and the government of the day just don’t even bothered o help them to accommodate or negotiate with the developer to get this people any good compensation. This is just one example, there are so many cases happened in last 50 years. All went unnoticed because nobody cares for the Indian community. When these people, from estates, being left stranded in towns they are tend to do anything to find a shelter for their family, food for their children, and a job to continue living. This is the start for all the ill of the society. If the government cannot tackle this kind of root problem, then we can expect more Indians being killed by the government authority.
___________________________________________________________________
Shanmugam
இந்தியர்களை கொன்று குவிக்கின்றனர் இந்த கொடுங்கோல் அரசாங்கமான அம்னோ . இதை தட்டி கேட்பதே எங்கள் நோக்கம் என்று கூறுகின்றனர் ஹிண்டராப் தரப்பினர். இவர்கள் நோக்கம் புனிதமானது என்பதே உண்மை. இதை யாராலும் மறுக்க முடியாது . சீதாவின் குடும்பத்தாருக்கு நடந்தது மிகப் பெரும் கொடுமை . இவர் தன் நான்கு பிள்ளைகளுக்கும் விஷம் கொடுத்து தானும் தன் உயிரை மாய்த்துக்கொள்ள முயன்றது, இவர் துயர் தாளமுடியாததுதான் காரணம். இதற்கு காரணம் காவல் துறையினரே. இதை மறுத்து காவல் துறையினர் பிரிந்து வாழும் சீதாவின் கணவரை கைது செய்து புண்படுத்துவது என்ன வேடிக்கை. இன்று சீதா இவ்வுலகில் இல்லை. இவர் பட்ட துன்பம் இன்னொரு இந்தியருக்கு வரவே கூடாது.
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Sivaa Prakash Subramaniam
no point of we just keep on talking. if can ask our indian policeman to kill any of malay man in custody. then we see wat happens. are they going to keep that matter silent or it become big issue.
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Nisha Durgee They are killing our young generations.....they are destroying us......what happen to d justice....if we let them continue to do this our comunity will just gone like that....we need to do something to stop all this nonsence.....

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P.Selvamalar from Port Kelang expresses her feelings on Seetha's suicide following the 5 Indians shot dead by Malaysian police. " We need HINDRAF...."

See video below-

Converted to Islam at 7 in welfare home - Malaysiakini

A mother of two claims that she was unwittingly converted to Islam by state religious authorities as a child while at a welfare home in Kepala Batas, Penang.

S Banggarma, whose Muslim name is Siti Hasnah Vangarama Abdullah, said she discovered this when seeking to register her marriage in 2000.

According to the housewife, she was converted to Islam in 1989, when she was seven years old.

Banggarama has sought the help of PKR Kedah Youth deputy chief and lawyer Gooi Hsiao Leung and the party's Kedah Indian affairs bureau deputy chief R Kumaraguru Naidu.

Prior to getting married to her fisherman husband S Sockalingam, the 27-year-old woman said she had to obtain her MyKad from the National Registration Department (NRD) in Ipoh.

Her marriage took place in Tanjung Piandang, Perak.

Banggarma had apparently fled from the Rumah Kanak-Kanak Taman Bakti when she was 16 together with several inmates without taking any of her identity documents.

"I was shocked when the NRD officers told me that I'm a Muslim convert by the name of Siti Hasnah. I was issued a MyKad with that name," she told a press conference at Gooi's office in Georgetown this afternoon.

She said due to her Muslim name, she could not register her marriage to Sockalingam, which was conducted according to Hindu rites. She was also unable to register her husband's name as the father in her children's birth certificates.

Birth cert states 'Hindu'

According to Banggarma, after being told about her conversion, she went back to the welfare home to retrieve her identity documents.

At the home, an officer handed over her birth certificate which stipulated that she was a born Hindu on Aug 13, 1982.

The certificate revealed that she was born in Keratong, Pahang to plantation worker B Subramaniam and Latchumy Ramadu.

The welfare home officer also handed over a certificate disclosing her conversion in 1989.

She was apparently converted to Islam before a religious officer representing the state Islamic council and department. The document showed her signature 'Hasnah' on the left side bottom corner.

However, Banggarma could not recall the incident and claimed that she was living as a Hindu while she was at the welfare home.

"I have always been a practicing Hindu," she told reporters.

However, she admitted that she had attended Islamic prayer sessions with other inmates. "I supposed I just followed the crowd," she said.

Due to the conversion, Banggarma had difficulties in registering the birth of her two children - Kanagaraj, eight, and Hisyanthini, two – until last year.

"I finally managed to obtain birth certificates for my Hindu children through legal help. I also tried to change my name back to my original Hindu name in my MyKad twice. But my attempts were unsuccessful," she said.

Islamic authorities to investigate

Meanwhile, Gooi said he would bring up the issue with the state Islamic authorities to find a solution to end her Banggarma's predicament.

"We would take the matter to court if we have to," he said.

Gooi also chided the officers who converted Banggarma for being "irresponsible" and the welfare home for neglecting its duty.

"A welfare home's primary objective is to take care of the children, not convert them. Only an irresponsible person would have converted a seven-year-old," he said.

Contacted later, Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Council president Shabudin Yahaya said he would push for an investigation into the case.

"It happened a long time ago. We have to check our past records. It would take time," he said.

State executive councillor in charge of Islamic affairs Abdul Malik Kassim however declined to comment on the case since it was a legal issue.

'My husband and kids are all I have'

During the press conference, Banggarma also revealed that she was brought to the welfare home together with two of her elder brothers and a younger sister.

"I was apparently found sleeping with my siblings on the roadside in Kepala Batas when the welfare officers took us to the home," she recalled.

However, once they were enrolled into the welfare home, the siblings were separated and she never met them again.

Banggarma said her mother died when she was very young and her father had abandoned her and her siblings soon after.

She said her father had visited her at the welfare home only once when she 13.

Banggarma added that she had three more older siblings who went missing before she was placed in the welfare home.

"My husband and my children are all I have. They are the world to me," she said.

Protest held at MCA HQ against Ong's unity plan

High Court: MACC's night interrogation illegal

Anwar Ibrahim: Mufti uproar. 5 indians shot dead by police, no uproar. Suicide by sister of victim.

Anwar Ibrahim: Mufti uproar. 5 indians shot dead by police, no uproar. Suicide by sister of victim.

Uproar over charging of ex (Perlis) mufti (The Star 19/11/2009 at page N26) Rightly so, but this PKR Paramount leader and Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim did not raise nor create an uproar or walk out of Parliament in protest of the five Indian youths including a 17 year old juvenile being shot dead in a shoot to kill policy his sister commited suicide in her sorrow and her four children given poison to die. Even in a grave tragedy like this especially the non Indian P.R. MPs’ and leaders not care.

It is because of this kind of sidelining of the critical Indian problems this case being the latest in thousands of others and also by the other PKR, DAP and PAS leaders and their 82 Opposition Members of Parliament that has led to this critical state of problems having befallen on the Malaysian Indians today not by commission but by their omission.

Pray tell us of one incident in the 52 year old history of Malaysia where five Malays or Chinese were shot dead by the police in one transaction and followed by a suicide by one lady and her four children still fighting for their lives. Remember the kind of attention just one Teoh Beng Hock rightly got.

The writing on the wall is very clear that is we have to fight our own battle. While UMNO oppresses the Indians, PKR, DAP and PAS merely and only want the Indian votes. Not the Indian problems. No way as is evidenced by this latest tragedy.

P. Uthayakumar

Shoot-out victim’s sister dies, children recovering (NST 19/09/2009 at page 12)

Royal Commission on Police Shooting dead mere Indian suspects.

Media Statement ( 19/11/2009)

Re: Royal Commission on Police Shooting dead mere Indian suspects.

The passing away of R.Seetha (33) yesterday (18/11/2009) after having consumed paraquat shortly after five Indian youths including her brother and a 17 year juvenile were shot dead by the police marks a new height in the police shoot to kill of especially mere Indian suspects saga.

It is in Malaysia a trite law and also an internationally practiced law that a man is presumed innocent until proven guilty. This is entrenched in Article 5 of the Federal Constitution ( Right to life ) and read with Section 15 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Code ( no right to cause death when arresting).This highly and alarmingly accelerating Malay-sian police shooting dead policy of in particular the working class Indians is unacceptable by any standards.

The Malaysian public’s wish in the RM 1 Billion allocation in the 2010 National Budget for the Royal Malaysian Police Force could not have been for the police to summarily execute in particular Malaysian Indians under their shoot to kill policy. The due process of law is for proper police investigations, arrest, prosecution, court finding one guilty, accused exhausting all his higher court appeals, his royal pardon being rejected and then and only then he being sent to jail or the gallows ( if so decided by the courts). The Malaysian Police cannot singularly assume the roles of Judge, Jury, Prosecutor, Enforcement and Executioner.

We are of the view that also because the Opposition Leader Dato Seri Anuar Ibrahim, DAP Supremo Lim Kit Siang and PAS President Hadi Awang and all PKR, DAP and PASnon Indian leaders and the 82 M.P’s of PKR,DAPand PAS thereto also not submitting an Emergency Motion in Parliament (which is now in session) and in the State Assemblies of Kedah, Penang and Selangor ( as done for the Perlis mufti) They also all took a lackadiastiacal attitude and had not pushed and/or campaigned at all for the said Royal Commission of Enquiry as was done in the case of Teoh Beng Hock after which a Royal Commission of enquiry was in fact announced by the Prime Minister himself within five (5) days of Teoh’s death. This omissions has also contributed in resulting in these Malay-sian police shoot to kill policy of in particular against the Malaysian Indians and which is accelerating with impunity. This is disappointing as unlike UNMO,MCA and MIC, PKR, DAP and PAS claim to be “multi-racial” parties.

As a follow up, we would on the Second Anniversary of the 25^th November 2007 Hindraf peacefully rally would on 25/11/2009 present this our formal written request to Prime Minister Badawi at Putrajaya for a Royal Commission of Enquiry to be instituted forthwith with the view to put a stop to this police shot to kill policy.

Vide our memorandum titled “A TRIGGER HAPPY ROYAL MALAYSIAN POLICE FORCE “and dated 13/10/2002 to the than Prime Minister we have recorded 1.3 persons (Malaysians) being shot dead per week by the Malaysian Police. However this figure has alarmingly accelerated to one Malaysian Indian being shot dead every day for the period 8/11/2009 to 13/11/2009. ( see front page of the memorandum below ). Further 90% of these police shot dead local victims are Indians when they only form 7.5% of the Malaysian population.

We are naturally concerned.

Thank You.

Your Faithfully,

________________________

P.Uthayakumar.

Secretary General (pro-tem)

Part 5: I just want the harassment to end

Bala reveals that to date he was paid RM750,000 but the harassment continues and he feels more like a prisoner. He says he has come out of the closet so that the harassment can end and he can lead a normal life again. He just wants his life back.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Q 69. How long had you known ASP Suresh before this incident?

A. I have known him for about 10 years. I met him when he was a senior Investigation Officer at the IPK Kuala Lumpur. I was a private investigator then. ASP Suresh used to ask me to assist him in obtaining fast traces and details on mobile phones as I had contacts in the phone companies and was able to get the information required faster than the police who had to go through official channels.

At one stage I was working for ASP Suresh as a bouncer at his pub in Jalan Imbi.

He had been suspended from his duties as a police officer sometime in 2006 as he was being investigated for corruption by the ACA.

Q 70. Had you met Deepak before this incident?

A. No. But I had done some PI work for his brother Dinesh in the past. I knew Deepak was Dinesh’s brother.

Q 71. You have said that you met a Malay VIP Datuk outside the Volkswagen showroom at The Curve on the night of July 3rd 2008. Who was this gentleman?

A. He was Datuk Nazim Razak, the younger brother of Najib. He was there with his pregnant wife. Although I did not speak to her, I recognised her as being a TV personality. I think she was the host on the ‘Nona’ programme.

Deepak was the one who brought them there to meet me.

That is why ASP Suresh did not want us to meet in a place where there would have been a CCTV camera.

Q 72. When you were in the Hilton Hotel at KL Sentral with Deepak, Dinesh and ASP and after you had signed the 2nd statutory declaration, was there anything said to you which you consider to be significant?

A. Yes there were two things which Deepak told me.

He informed me that Rosmah was very happy with me for retracting my 1st statutory declaration and wanted to have breakfast with me.

When I enquired from Deepak how long I was expected to leave the country for, he informed me it would be until Najib became the next Prime Minister and that I could return after that.

Q 73. When did you contact your lawyer Americk Sidhu?

A. I called him in the middle of July 2009. I was still in India then. I wanted to arrange a meeting with him to inform him what had happened to me and to apologise for all the trouble I had caused. Americk was in the UK when I called him so we arranged to meet in Kuala Lumpur when he returned at the beginning of August.

Q 74. Did you meet him?

A. Yes. We met in early August. At the meeting were two other senior lawyers who Americk had arranged to be present. I told them everything that had happened to me from the time I left Americk’s office in the evening of the 3rd July 2008.

Q 75. Did you realise that this meeting had been secretly videoed?

A. I did not realise I was being filmed. I was however subsequently informed that a recording had been made and this video is safekeeping. I understand this was done to protect me in the event something untoward happened to me again.

Q 76. How did you manage to survive financially all the time you were away?

A. Deepak arranged intermittent payments to be made to me. Some payments were made to my wife directly into her account with the EON Bank in KL.

Other payments were made to ASP Suresh who then arranged payment to me directly or through a friend of mine in Malaysia.

I have copies of some of the cheques issued by Deepak Jaikishan and from his company Carpet Raya Sdn Bhd.

I also have copies of my wife’s bank statements showing the deposits which were made.

I also have copies of my HSBC account in Chennai.

Q 77. How much money did you receive from Deepak from the time you left Malaysia in July 2008 till now?

A. All together approximately RM750,000.00.

Q 78. Do you have any money left?

A. Yes, I have invested approximately RM250,000.00 for my future as I am not sure what will happen to me.

I also spent some money on renovations to my house in Rawang as my wife and youngest child were there. These renovations were in respect of the security of my home only.

The rest of the money was spent on renting accommodation in Chennai, paying for my children’s schooling and for daily expenses.

Q 79. Didn’t Deepak promise you RM5 million?

A. The negotiations were all conducted by ASP Suresh at the Bak Kut Teh stall in Rawang on the night of the 3rd July 2008. I was not involved in these negotiations as I was not concerned about money but the safety of my family.

I have subsequently come to realise that ASP Suresh had a vested interest in all this as I know he has received about the same amount of money from Deepak as I have. His job was to keep me under control. This is why he is annoyed with me for not following his instructions because his income from Deepak would be affected.

Q 80. Why did you wait so long before revealing all this?

A. When I was at the Hilton Hotel at KL Sentral, I had asked Deepak how long I would have to stay out of the country. He told me it would have to be until Najib became the Prime Minister.

I could not return to Malaysia before February 2009 as one Kumar had my passport in his possession in India for 5 months.

I only got my passport back after I complained to Deepak when he visited me in India with ASP Suresh. Deepak called his brother Rajesh to find out what had happened to my passport and within 2 days Kumar asked me to pick it up from him.

I was at this time in India illegally as my visa had expired on the 5th September 2008.

In order to get my visa extended I had to seek assistance from my wife’s uncle the exco member who managed to get it extended for 1 year. Only after this was I able to travel back to Malaysia.

Q 81. What happened when you arrived back in Malaysia in February 2009?

A. When I landed in KL, I called Dinesh to inform him I was back in Malaysia. I was summoned to Deepaks office in Sungai Besi at 11.45 pm the same night and was told in no uncertain terms to leave the country immediately, but I stayed a little longer as I wanted to be with my children and my wife. They didn’t know I had not left immediately.

Q 82. Why did you come back to Malaysia in April 2009?

A. Just to see my wife and children. This time I did not tell anyone I was back and so I was not harassed.

Q 83. Why have you now decided to reveal everything?

A. Because I want to stop all harassments and so that I can return to my normal life.

Q 84. Were the contents of your 1st statutory declaration true?

A. Yes.

Q 85. Were you forced to sign the 1st statutory declaration under duress?

A. Absolutely not. (See the video here: Was PI intimidated or induced?)

Q 86. Were you forced to sign the 2nd statutory declaration under duress?

A. Yes, because I was fearful for the safety of my family and I did not read the contents of the 2nd statutory declaration before I was asked to sign it.

Part 1: The mystery unveiled

Part 2: Bala’s prison without bars

Part 3: The Malaysian police catch up with Bala

Part 4: Bala finds his life turned upside down

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

Police track missing PI, record his statement

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9, 2008 (Bernama) -- Police have tracked private investigator P. Balasubramaniam's whereabout and recorded his statement in connection with his statutory declarations as well as his disappearance from the country.

Bukit Aman CID Chief Datuk Mohd Bakri Zinin said Balasubramaniam, who was reported missing since Friday, was currenty abroad and a team of police officers had been dispatched there to record his statement.

He declined to reveal which country Balasubramaniam was currently in.

"We have sent several officers there to record his statement. He is still abroad," he told Bernama when contacted.

Mohd Bakri said the police got hold of Balasubramaniam whereabout following information provided by the authorities there.

He also declined to say when was it that the police came to know of Balasubramaniam's whereabout.

"There is not need to know when. The important thing is our officers are already there to record his statement," he said.

Mohd Bakri also said the police needed some time to investigate the matter.

"Give us rooms to carry out the investigations without having to put up with unnecessary pressure," he said, adding that the police would investigate the matter in a transparent and professional manner.

Balasubramaniam made headlines a week ago when he came up with a statutory declaration, alleging Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's involvement with Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Balasubramaniam however issued another statutory declaration on July 3 to retract all statements he made against Najib in the earlier declaration dated July 1.

71 Cases Of Posting False, Lewed And Islam-Bashing Contents On Internet Under Probe

(Bernama) -- The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission is investigating 71 cases of Internet abuse by disseminating false and lewed contents and contents that insult Islam.

Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said out of the 71, eight had been acted upon under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for defaming others.

"One had pleaded guilty and fined RM10,000 and the court also imposed certain conditions on the accused, while seven are awaiting trial," he said in reply to a question from Matulidi Jusoh (BN-Dungun) in the Dewan Rakyat Thursday.

Rais said seven people, including one who had fled to avoid action, were involved in disseminating contents that ridiculed Islam and the MCMC was tracing the one who fled.

He disclosed that the ministry had also taken action under Section 263 of the Act against seven websites which insulted Islam, namely www.syurga-islam.blogspot.com, www.faithfreedom.org, manatuhanallah.wordpress.com, adibahahmed.blogspot.com, surind.blogspot.com, tokbatinsenoi.blogspot.com and www.malaysia-today.net/.

Rais said besides charging the offenders under the law, Section 263 of the Act also allowed the MCMC and the other authorities to give written notice to the Internet service provider to take appropriate action to prevent such an offence.

To a supplementary question from Hamim Samuri (BN-Ledang) on the effectiveness of the broadband centres, he said to date, 85 centres were in operation nationwide and another 89 were being set up and expected to be completed by the year end.

"By the middle of next year, the broadband penetration will be awesome with the speed of 4mbps increased to 10mbps, while some broadband centres will attain the speed of at least 4mbps," he said.

Malaysia's corruption ranking dips, again

Among all ASEAN countries, only Malaysia's and Thailand's rankings dipped. But Thailand had fallen only four places while Malaysia had fallen nine places. Meanwhile, Indonesia achieved greatest improvement among ASEAN countries as it rose to 111 from 126 last year.

By LIM SUE GOAN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily

According to a recent poll, Najib's approval rating remains at 60%. It is indeed a good news. However, there are also two bad news: 74% of people are dissatisfied with the government's performance in fighting corruption and abuse of power; and Malaysia's corruption ranking had fallen to 56, from 47 last year.

Malaysia was ranked 23 in 1995 and today, it fell to the lowest ranking over the past 15 years. It had sounded an alarm for the country's anti-corruption and foreign investment attraction. It also brought two unusual messages: Why is Malaysia one of the two ASEAN countries going backward? How could the ranking fall even the government has been calling to fight corruption, upgraded the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and listed anti-corruption as one of the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) areas?

Among all ASEAN countries, only Malaysia's and Thailand's rankings dipped. But Thailand had fallen only four places while Malaysia had fallen nine places. Meanwhile, Indonesia achieved greatest improvement among ASEAN countries as it rose to 111 from 126 last year. Competitions among countries are just like sailing against the current, you will soon be surpassed if you are falling behind while others are going forward.

It does not limited only to anti graft, but other areas like economy, national competitiveness, education, people's quality, as well as human and social development are facing the same predicament. South Korea was not doing as good as Malaysia before but now, it is doing much better than us. Indonesia, Vietnam and Philippines are working hard to rise but Malaysia is going backward. Sooner or after, it will be surpassed by laggard countries and become a non-mainstream country.

Besides, how could the ranking fall even after they have “done so many” and put in so much of manpower and resources? The most crucial factor is, they are lack of political commitments. More and more cases are left unsettled while those cases brought to court ended up in loss. As time passes, foreigners have a negative view, they will see anti-corruption slogans as political tricks that meant only to win votes.

Yes, MACC is doing its work, including carrying out the investigation on V.K Lingam's video clip case and the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal. But what is the progress after they have opened the files?

The police always announce the crime detection rate but MACC dares not to announce its detection and successful prosecution rates. It's investigations seem too mysterious and this has greatly reduced its credibility.

The government has no political commitment to MACC, causing the commission to act so evasively with the mentality of turning big issues into small problems. For example, the commission's Deputy Commissioner Datuk Abu Kassim Mohammed revealed earlier in a media briefing that the commission had provided advice for the poisoning incident in 2007 and it had as well provided suggestions for the wasteful spending issue involving a National Youth Skills Development Institute (IKBN). MACC is meant to fight corruption instead of providing advice. How is it going to fight corruption if it is not able even to understand the point?

Another absurdity is, MACC had arrested 605 people alleged to have been involved in graft but only 46% of them were civil servants. It reflected that the awareness levels of civil servants have increased. Everyone knows that the public sector is facing a serious corruption problem but MACC actually came out with such an idiotic conclusion.

Perhaps there is an advantage to have such a low ranking as it will be easier to rise next year. The problem is, can Malaysia do it?

Anwar dispels party storm over Talam debt acquisition

(The Edge) - Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today played the peacemaker in a tiff between party leaders over the Selangor state government’s plan to acquire debts owed by property developer Talam Corporation Bhd to subsidiaries of several state agencies.

Anwar told reporters that PKR was satisfied with Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's "initial explanation" on the transaction's core issues.

"In the interest of transparency and accountability, Khalid assured us that the transaction would remain open to public scrunity," Anwar told a press conference in parliament today.

In the same breath, the opposition leader also defended PKR secretary-general Datuk Salehuddin Hashim who reportedly questioned, in a "strongly-worded" email to PKR representatives, why Khalid had kept the party in the dark over the matter.

"At the outset, we respect and defend the right of any party leader to raise and question policy matters of any state government, including states governed by Pakatan Rakyat," Anwar said.

He said Salehuddin's email expressed the latter's personal views and was meant only for internal circulation.

"The secretary-general (Salehuddin) neither alleges fraud or impropriety on the part of the menteri besar or state government," Anwar said.

Salehuddin's dissatisfaction came after the Selangor state assembly on Nov 9 approved a supplementary budget of RM392 million for the state's investment arm, Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI), to buy over debts owed by Talam.

Khalid had explained that the move would enable MBI to recover the debts from Talam.

The RM392 million was owed to subsidiaries of Selangor Development Corporation (PKNS), Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd (KDEB), Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd (PNSB) and Yayasan Pendidikan Selangor.

Khalid's move also drew criticism from Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen at the Selangor state assembly sitting.

When asked, Anwar said he had not begun work as newly-appointed Selangor state economic adviser but quipped that he would "try to do tomorrow".

Adopting a more serious tone, Anwar revealed that while he was appointed with immediate effect, the menteri besar had plans to officially welcome Anwar to the position.

Anwar said the official welcome would likely be on Dec 2, adding that Khalid also intended to brief government and government-linked companies' officers on the new position.

PKR MPs slam government for ‘not knowing’ PI Bala whereabouts

By Neville Spykerman - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 — PKR’s Tian Chua took the Prime Minister’s Department to task for claiming, in a written response to his question in Parliament, that no action was taken against P. Balasubramaniam because they could not find him.

The Batu MP said the private investigator – who fled Malaysia in July 2008 after issuing contradictory statutory declarations that linked Datuk Seri Najib Razak to a murdered Mongolian model – had himself said in recent media interviews that the government had “arranged” his travels.

Chua pointed out that the former police special branch officer had said passports were issued to him and his family within 24 hours, before he left the country, and that he was interviewed by Malaysian police at the Malaysian embassy while in Bangkok.

Bala then left for New Delhi as well as Kathmandu, and had alleged the trip was arranged by the government.

“So how can the Prime Minister’s Department claim they could not locate Balasubramaniam, when the foreign minister knew where he was?” asked Tian Chua.

Subang MP R Sivarasa, who was questioned by police at the Commercial Crime Department in Bukit Aman after Bala disappeared last year, said the police has asserted that his first statutory was false.

“So why have they not arrested or extradited him, at least to conduct investigations?” asked Sivarasa.

“It’s incredible for them to say they don’t know where he is,” he added

The passing of a true, blue, anak Bangsa Malaysia

By Haris Ibrahim

I got to know Patrick Wong through RPK.

Although I did not have the chance to get to know him really well, I knew enough to know that he was a staunch supporter of the numerous efforts to bring about the necessary changes in our country in the hope that, one day, we would truly be a free people.

I received the sad news that in the early hours of this morning, intruders entered Patrick’s home and inflicted such horrific injuries that finally proved to be fatal.

Patrick has passed on.

The wake will be held at:

9, Lorong Kemaris 1
Bukit Bandaraya
59100 Kuala Lumpur

MACC CANNOT INTERROGATE WITNESSES AFTER OFFICE HOURS - K. L. HIGH COURT RULING

The Kuala Lumpur High Court had ruled today that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has no authority or rights to interrogate witnesses beyond working hours since the clause day to day means that it must be done during working hours, i.e. from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and excludes public holidays.

This landmark ruling has put the MACC into greater problems since most of the controversial interrogation were conducted after working hours with a recent death reported after working hours.

It is learnt that Tan Boon Hwa, a Kajang Councillor was arrested at 9pm and interrogated at night. It is also reported that Teoh Beng Hock who was interrogated on 15 July 2009, the same day as Tan, was found death while interrogation was also carried out at night.

The MACC appears to be in a fix and has a lot of explaining to do to the affected parties and to the rakyat as to why they had carried out the interrogation beyong their scope which now amounts to public funds been wasted to compensate the affected individuals.

A detail study on the guidelines of the MACC need to be carried out and the officials of MACC been briefed so that this excessive flaw be immediately corrected.

It clearly shows that our MACC officials have absused their powers.

Teoh Beng Hock would not have died if MACC had followed the law (update)

DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock would not have died if the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had followed the law.

This is the immediate reaction not only of family members of Beng Hock, DAP and Pakatan Rakyat, but all Malaysians following the landmark decision by the Kuala Lumpur High Court today which ruled that the MACC is not entitled to interrogate witnesses late at night beyond normal office hours, from 8.30am to 5.30pm.

Justice Mohd Ariff Md Yusof ruled that it was illegal for the MACC to question its witnesses at night as such questioning must be done during the daytime.

“The term day to day as stipulated in the MACC Act cannot mean round the clock.”

This landmark decision is the result of the suit filed by Kajang Councillor Tan Boon Hwa who was falsely imprisoned together with Teoh Beng Hock on July 15 and 16 at the MACC headquarters in Shah Alam, with the case argued by DAP National Chairman and MP for Bukit Glugor Karpal Singh.

This is an added reason why the MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan should resign, in allowing MACC to become a Frankenstein as to cause Teoh Beng Hock’s unnecessary death in a campaign not to declare war against corruption but against Pakatan Rakyat to serve Umno/BN political agenda.

It was only two days ago I had called for Ahmad Said’s resignation as MACC chief following Malaysia’s worst Corruption Perception Index (CPI) ranking and score for the past 15 years in the Transparency International CPI 2009, making Malaysia the worst performer in Asia in anti-corruption in the past 15 years.

Karpal has informed me that the judgment covers not only MACC but all law enforcement agencies, including the police, that all witnesses should be treated fairly and lawfully.

For a start, the MACC, police and all law enforcement agencies must immediately revise their Standing Operating Procedures so as not to run afoul of the Mohd Ariff judgment in the Tan Boon Hwa case.

MACC must cease immediately all unlawful activities in questioning witnesses beyond normal office hours.

Sex party six nabbed at 3am

By T.N. Alagesh

BENTONG: Police arrested six female college students and their respective partners, including two civil servants, who are believed to have been heading for a sex party in an apartment at a hilltop resort here on Sunday.

From the couples, police seized 2.3g of ketamine and 4.8g of ganja. Three of the men tested positive for ketamine use.

It was learnt the group had been holding sex parties at the apartment and other locations in Malacca and Negri Sembilan for more than a year.

They were detained at 3am while walking up to the apartment.

The students were all aged 19 while the men were aged between 20 and 22.

District police chief Superintendent Rosli Abdul Rahman said the group did not attempt to escape as police had cordoned off the area.

"Initial investigations showed that a man in his 20s was the mastermind who had planned the parties and gathered all the suspects to meet under one roof.

"The six girls claim they met the person through an online chat website before he coaxed them to join the social parties without them forking out a single sen."

Rosli said the mastermind had assured the girls that their accommodation would be taken care of and the girls had fallen into his trap.

"Alcohol will also be served at the party and once the girls are under the influence of alcohol, the boys would move in and persuade them into having sex."

Police recorded statements from the students and informed their parents on their alleged involvement in immoral activities.

Indian NGO Coalition Focuses On Improving Community

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- An alliance of Indian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) established last year is focusing its agenda towards tackling issues to uplift the community's development.

The Coalition Of Malaysian Indian NGOs (Comin) was formed on an ad-hoc basis in January last year to support the release of Hindraf activists detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

"Now, we leave all that behind. We are focusing on problems facing the Indian community, to provide ideas on how to improve their social, education and economic living," Comin chairman Datuk A. Vaithilingam told Bernama.

Comin has 40 active NGOs under its fold but it has drawn the interest of over 100.

Vaithilingam said it would act as a think-tank group that would gather opinions from experts and provide advice to NGOs and government authorities on obstacles facing Indians.

"Ours is not on a basis of confrontation...we will study and provide guidance to NGOs on how they can benefit and recommend our findings to the authorities, including the government.

"Our view is that a democratically-elected government should be respected, and at the same time, we are calling for unity among the Indians, even if with opposition parties, to look into the common interest of the community."

Comin recently held a seminar attended by 108 participants on how Indians can tap into allocations, such as for poverty, as announced in the 2010 Budget announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Vaithilingam noted that some Indian NOGs involved in education were getting assistance from the government.

"That is welcome, but at the same time, we hope other NGOs will also be helped but the funds should not be channelled via political sources," he said.

Among the NGOs in Comin are the Malaysian Hindu Youth Council (MHYC), Information Learning and Development Centre (Child), Education, Welfare and Research Foundation (EWRF) and Sri Murugan Centre (SMC).

EWRF chairman S. Pasupathi said that Comin was set up to help overcome issues facing the Indian community, which were previously not taken seriously by other NGOs.

He said this was a golden opportunity for Indian NGOs to highlight the community's problems to the government.

817 Tamil School Pupils Score 7A's In UPSR

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- MIC President Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said 817 Tamil school students scored 7A's in this year's Primary School Evaluation Test (UPSR) examination, reflecting the growing importance placed by parents on their children's education.

While congratulating the students, he said the number of 7A scorers this year was higher compared to 725 students last year.

"There is an increase of 92 students this year who scored 7A's and I am very happy that the numbers have been increasing over the years," he said in a statement here TUesday.

He attributed the students' success to the hard work put in by them and their parents as well as the strategies implemented by the MIC through the Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED).

This included printing and distribution of UPSR Revision books to Tamil school students every year.

The books were compiled by teachers, headmasters and coordinators of Tamil schools and was financed by MIED.

Samy Vellu said the MIED would reward the 817 students for their excellent performance.

"They are our role models and I believe that they can motivate other students next year to achieve excellent results," he said, adding that he hoped the number of students from Tamil schools scoring 7A's next year would surpass the 1,000 mark.

He said the MIC would continue to gauge the feedback from Tamil school teachers and headmasters on more ways to improve the academic achievements of the students.

MIC Vice-President and Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam also congratulated the students and hoped their success would spur more students to excel in their examinations.

Bala not on police wanted list, says IGP

NST, 2009/11/19

KUALA LUMPUR: Private investigator P. Balasubramaniam is not on the police wanted list.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said as far as the police are concerned, Balasubramaniam did not commit any crime.

"As far as we know, he is just a witness in a case," said Musa, adding the police had already recorded his statement.

"As far as we know, he is just a witness in a case," said Musa, adding the police had already recorded his statement.

The IGP, who was at the Federal Police Deepavali open oouse in Pulapol here yesterday, was commenting on reports on the Malaysiakini news website that Balasubramaniam had been travelling secretly in and out of the country.

"However, we feel that he should come forward to help us again as a witness."

Musa said that the police had never requested that the Immigration Department impose travel restrictions on Balasubramaniam.


Immigration Department director-general Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman had also confirmed that no travel restrictions were imposed.

Balasubramaniam had made two controversial statutory declarations (SD) regarding the murder of Mongolian model Altantunya Shaaribuu before fleeing the country.

Meanwhile, Balasubramaniam's counsel Americk Sidhu said police Special Branch officers had visited his client in Bangkok, Thailand, to record his statement on the first SD a few days after he fled the country.

"After that one time, Balasubramaniam and his family members went into a hiding.

"From that time till now, police had never requested through me, or contacted Balasubramaniam with whom I am in constant communication, to record more statements, nor requested him to come back here," he said.

Americk said Balasubramaniam had entered Malaysia to visit his family members several times through Bukit Kayu Hitam, but not by using his passport.

Americk said Balasubramaniam went into hiding for fear of his life and that of his family.

Death in custody – S. Hendry (Pusat Pemulihan Akhlak Simpang Renggam, 19 November 2005)

Four years ago today, 18-year-old S. Hendry was found hanged in his cell at the Pusat Pemulihan Akhlak Simpang Renggam, less than 12 hours after he had been transferred to that detention centre.

Prior to his arrival at the Simpang Renggam detention centre, S. Hendry had already been detained at the Kajang police station lock-up for 29 consecutive days under four remand orders. In each case, he was not charged in court due to insufficient evidence. On the last day of the fourth remand,period, he was released unconditionally but immediately arrested under section 3(1) of the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance 1969 (POPOC) and detained for a further 60 days at the same lock-up.

Subsequently, S. Hendry was transferred to the Simpang Renggam centre pursuant to an order that he be detained for two years under section 4(1) of the POPOC. Within 12 hours, he was found dead.

Subsequently, S. Hendry was transferred to the Simpang Renggam centre pursuant to an order that he be detained for two years under section 4(1) of the POPOC. Within 12 hours, he was found dead.

Pursuant to section 12 of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999, SUHAKAM established a three-person Panel of Inquiry, which conducted a public inquiry into S. Hendry’s death in custody on 17 and 18 February 2006.

The Panel found, among others, that:

		•	The continuous 29-day remand period was “excessive and too lengthy”;
		•	Various provisions of the Lock-up Rules 1953 had been contravened by the Medical Officer and the Police; and
		•	The personnel at the detention centre, including the warders, the Chief Officer and the Officer-in-Charge, had been negligent and/or had failed to discharge their obligations diligently with respect to many aspects of the detention centre’s operations.

The Panel’s recommended, inter alia, that:

		•	A legal provision be introduced to set a custody time limit to avoid an accused person languishing in jail for an excessively long period;
		•	There be strict compliance with section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), “so that a remand order can only be granted if ‘investigation cannot be completed within 24 hours’ and (emphasis added) there are ‘grounds for believing that the accusation or information is well founded’";
		•	The Police be advised of the circular “issued in 2003 advising Magistrates that the onus is upon the Police to satisfy the Magistrate that more time is needed to complete investigations, bearing in mind the obligation to submit a diary of proceedings in investigations under section 119 of the CPC and if remand is necessary, short remand periods are to be given”; and
		•	Section 117 of the CPC be amended “to provide that the Magistrate who makes a remand order, must be satisfied, that upon material produced by the Police, there is sufficient justification linking the detainee to the offence being investigated”.

In July 2009, the Dewan Rakyat was told that some 2,029 detainees died in prisons, rehabilitation centres and immigration detention centres between 2002 and 1 June 2009. This figure would mean that an average of one person dies in custody in these centres of detention almost every day!

We express our heartfelt condolences to S. Hendry’s family and friends on this anniversary of his death.


Click here to access the report of SUHAKAM’ public inquiry into S. Hendry’s death in custody.

Mahkamah : SPRM Diharamkan Soal Siasat Saksi Selepas Waktu Pejabat

Dari TV Selangor

Dalam satu keputusan bersejarah, Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur memutuskan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia tidak lagi dibenarkan menyoal siasat saksi pada waktu malam.

Hakim Mohd Ariff Md Yusof memutuskan SPRM hanya berhak menyoal siasat saksi dari pukul 8.30 pagi hingga 5 petang.

Keputusan itu dibuat berikutan pendedahan mendiang Teoh Beng Hock disoal siasat sepanjang malam sehingga awal pagi sebelum di jumpai mati di perkarangan ibu pejabat SPRM Selangor di Shah Alam 16 Julai lalu.

Seorang lagi saksi yang turut disoal siasat ketika itu, Tan Boon Wah, telah memohon Mahkamah Tinggi untuk menyemak sama ada SPRM berhak menyoal siasat saksi pada bila-bila waktu.

Boon Wah turut mendakwa beliau di kasari oleh pegawai penyiasat SPRM ketika beliau di soal siasat.

Beng Hock mati dalam keadaan mencurigakan, malah seorang pakar bedah dari Thailand tidak menolak kemungkinan mendiang mangsa jenayah.

Berikutan keterangan pakar itu pada inkues Beng Hock bulan lalu, arahan diberi untuk menggali semula mayat mendiang Sabtu ini bagi membolehkan bedah siasat yang lebih terperinchi dijalankan.

Dalam keputusannya hari ini, Hakim Mohd Ariff menolak tafsiran SPRM bahawa
Seksyen 30(3)(a) Akta SPRM kononnya memberi kuasa kepada badan itu untuk menyoal siasat saksi sepanjang masa.

“Ungkapan dari hari ke hari (untuk jalankan siasatan) dalam seksyen itu tidak bermaksud 24 jam tetapi waktu kerja pejabat yang biasa,” kata beliau.

“Justeru, saya bersetuju bahawa pemohon (Boon Wah) dalam kes ini telah ditahan secara tidak sah untuk disoal siasat.

Rakaman Konvensyen PKR Wilayah Persekutuan 16/11/2009

Berikut adalah rakaman ucapan Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim diKonvensyen PKR Wilayah.

Wanita MCA Met Party President

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- Wanita MCA secretary-general Senator Heng Seai Kie and six Wanita central committee members met party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat Thursday evening to discuss the position of Wanita chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun in the presidential council (PC).

Heng, who is also the party's Information and Communications Bureau chief, said Ong had listened to the voice of Wanita MCA on the position of Chew who was dropped by Ong Wednesday from the PC.

Heng said this to reporters after a candlelight prayer vigil in the name of safeguarding democracy in MCA which was attended by about 70 party members in front of Wisma MCA here.

Earlier, she had attended a Wanita MCA dialogue chaired by the wing's deputy chief Yu Chok Tow to discuss the issue of Chew being removed from the PC and they also resolved to ask Ong to reconsider his decision.

"At this stage, we see there is a chance for this as under Article 46 of the party constitution, the president has the power to elect one or more deputy ministers to the council," said Heng after the dialogue.

To stem dissent in the party which has been embroiled in a worsening internal crisis, Ong Wednesday replaced nine leaders aligned to party vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai. They included Chew and Youth head Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.

However, Ong in his blog Thursday said that Chew and Wee could still sit in the presidential council as invited members to air their views.

Heng, who is also Information Communication and Culture Deputy Minister said hers and Wanita MCA national organising secretary Tan Cheng Liang's appointment to the PC had given the wing more voice compared with before when Chew was the only Wanita leader appointed to the council.

Tan in a statement issued here said it was not unusual for the party leadership to revamp the PC in order to realise the ultimate objective of the party's greater unity plan.

"The MCA presidential council is a policy-making body for the party. Therefore, each and every member of the council must agree, cooperate and help the party leadership to move forward.

"Pursuant to Article 46 of the MCA constitution, the president has the absolute power to appoint not more than 10 members to the presidential council and also has the same power to terminate such appointments if and when he thinks fit," she said.

Meanwhile, Yu said Ong's move to drop Chew from the presidential council was an insult to Chew and Wanita MCA.

She said Chew was elected democratically by 400,000 Wanita MCA members to represent them, and her status and position as the Wanita MCA leader "simply cannot and should not be undermined".

Yu said although two other Wanita MCA leaders were appointed as PC members, "the person who can truly represent Wanita MCA is the Wanita national chairman".

She said the action taken by Ong had set a bad precedent for the party's future mechanisms, and deemed as ridiculing Wanita MCA, besides bringing discontent to Wanita members.

On the report that Chew might be appointed as an invited member of the PC, Yu said Chew's power would be reduced and she would not have a voting right.

However, she said, the Wanita central committee welcomed Heng and Tan's appointment as PC members.

Rival Supporters Keep Up Verbal Clash In Worsening Crisis

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- Supporters of the warring camps in the MCA held a flurry of media conferences to argue their cause a day after the party was plunged into greater turmoil following the revamp of the presidential council Wednesday.

Newly appointed presidential council member Datuk Ti Lien Ker said the media had been misled into making headlines that suggested the party's "greater unity plan" (GUP) had failed or that there were abuses.

"Words uttered to the effect of 'chop, slash and burn' are a distortion of reality. The dramatics of breaking down in public is a political drama," he said.

He was referring to the press conference held by vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai who was flanked by teary-faced Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong and Wanita chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun who were dropped from the presidential council.

Ti said Chew was still the Wanita chief and should be thankful to party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat who had appointed both Wanita national organising secretary Tan Cheng Liang and Wanita secretary-general Senator Heng Seai Kie to the presidential council.

"The Youth deputy chief Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon is also appointed in the presidential council, why does the Youth man think there is no representative?" Ti asked.

Ti also said that there was also no reason for Barisan Nasional component parties to interfere in the MCA internal crisis.

He also urged the grassroots not to attend the Nov 28 extraordinary general meeting (EGM) called by Liow's supporters and instead close ranks to make the GUP work.

At another media conference called by nine MCA national Youth central committee members, group spokesman member Chong Sin Woon said intervention Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would help regain MCA's integrity at the grassroots.

"The only solution to win back the party's integrity among the grassroots is to call for a fresh election before the year end; we can use the annual general meeting to be held on Dec 5 as a venue to call for a fresh election," he said.

Chong also challenged the Ong and deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek to contest in the fresh election and prove that they had 97 per cent of the support in the party.

"If they are re-elected by the delegates, we will respect and give them support. Have the guts to face the delegates," he added.

Chong said by removing Liow's supporters, Ong was in full control of the presidential council.

Meanwhile, a Wanita MCA statement said Wanita welcomed the appointments of Heng and Tan into the presidential council but it could not accept that the Wanita chief was rejected.

This was the first time a Wanita head was not appointed to the presidential council and it reflected the "utmost disregard" of the president towards the Wanita wing and an insult to Chew and the Wanita wing, it said.

"Such disrespectful decision also affects the future direction of the party and Wanita MCA," it added.

BN Component Parties Laud PM's Hand In Trying To Resolve MCA Crisis

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- The move by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, to meet the warring factions in efforts to resolve the worsening MCA crisis, was lauded by other component parties of Barisan Nasional (BN).

Gerakan President Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon was confident that with Najib, who is also BN chairman, the MCA crisis would be over soon.

"Since PM is willing to get involved to help settle the matter, let him do his best...I believe PM will be able to solve the problem soon," he told reporters after officiating the Exhibition of Malaysia's Longest Heart Sutra Buddhist Calligraphy here on Thursday.

When asked whether the current MCA situation would affect the ministers and deputy minister's Key Performance Index (KPI) among MCA leaders, Koh said, "not really, give them some time, we are not doing the KPI right now...we are doing it next June."

Umno Youth vice president Datuk Razali Ibrahim said he welcomed the PM's decision to try and resolve the MCA crisis because the decision was made by the PM himself.

"To prevent the situation from getting worse and which certainly will affect the peoples support for BN, I welcome any effort towards resolving the issue," he said.

He added that the MCA leadership must also be accommodative inn accepting whatever efforts undertaken by component parties to help resolve the crisis amicably.

"What I see...the Prime Minister also sees, that the concentration and focus of ministers and deputy ministers from MCA have been affected. This I feel should not happen because BN's promise to the people is to serve them after getting elected.

"But what is currently happening is that we are trying to shoulder their duties but such crisis must be resolved quickly," said Razali who is also the deputy minister of Youth and Sports.

Former MBAM President Injured In Robbery Dies Today

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- A former president of the Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM), Datuk Patrick Wong, died Thursday, two days after he was admitted to hospital due to serious injury sustained in a robbery at his house in Lorong Kemaris 1, Bukit Bandaraya, Bangsar, near here.

Wong, 57, died at about 9.45am at the Pantai Medical Center and the body was then taken to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital for a post-mortem.

In the robbery which happened two days ago, Wong fell from the first floor of his two-storey bungalow while attempting to escape and get help after three men broke into his house.

Crime Investigation Department head Datuk Ku Chin Wah said the incident happened when Wong's 25-year-old daughter and the family maid, who were in the kitchen, were approached by three men who were armed with machetes.

"One suspect waited on the ground while two others went upstairs. Wong was then in his computer room while his son was in the shower," he told reporters after opening a programme for youngsters here.

Police believed Wong slipped and fell after he stepped on the window railing on the first floor of the house while attempting to escape and get help.

Ku said the suspects fled with a wallet, a handphone and RM300 belonging to Wong's daughter after Wong fell.

He urged those with information on the incident to contact the nearest police station.

Wong was elected the MBAM president for the term June 2006 to June 2008.

He played an active role in encouraging bumiputra contractors, building services contractors, building material suppliers and manufacturers to enroll as MBAM members.

In recognition of his contributions to the progress and development of MBAM, Wong was conferred the Kesatria Mangku Negara (K.M.N) award by Yang Dipertuan Agong in 2002.

He was conferred the Datukship by the Sultan of Pahang last year.

Najib Stamps His Mark At APEC Summit

SINGAPORE, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- It is barely eight months since Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak rose to the helm of the Malaysian government, but the country's sixth prime minister has already stamped his mark on the international stage with his good grasp of international and economic issues.

Many described him as the "Star at Apec".

At the just-concluded Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) leaders week in Singapore, not only his bold moves to liberalise the Malaysian economy caught the eye of many and were amply lauded, Najib also made a strong impact with the business community during the Apec business dialogues.

At the Apec CEO summit attended by 1,500 top international and regional business leaders, Brunei's Economic Development Board Chairman Datuk Paduka Timothy Ong, chairing the dialogue, remarked that Najib had "scored high marks with the delegates".

"His presentation was one of quality, confidence and he was a very skillful performer," Ong said after the prime minister presented his views at the dialogue themed "Is the Global Crisis Really Over?" "He had a lovely sense of humour," Ong said of the 56-year-old British educated Najib, the son of Malaysia's second premier, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, who was attending the Apec meet for the first time as prime minister.

At one stage during the dialogue, one participant asked Najib what made him think that his stimulus package to revive the Malaysian economy would work.

Reflecting his confident demeanour and his no-nonsense approach, the soft-spoken Najib said emphatically: "Well, it had better work. Otherwise, you won't see me around for too long." His spontaneous reply drew loud laughter from the hundreds of people comprising top business leaders and captains of industry among the packed audience at the Suntec International Exhibition and Convention Centre.

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Council co-chairman and US East-West Center President Dr Charles Morrison said Najib clearly made a strong impression on the audience who liked to see determination, confidence, honesty, and the touch of modesty that the prime minister portrayed.

"In short, it was a master class in effective communication," Ong added, referring to Najib's clear and articulate presentation.

Morrison said Najib took questions and answered them with personal warmth and humour.

When Ong asked all the panelists, including World Bank President Robert Zoellick, to end their presentation with a short statement on how to mend the global economy, Najib succinctly said: " Externally, free trade, more free trade, and domestically, a new economic model." Najib had summed it well as when the leaders of the 21-member Asia-Pacific economies ended their meeting, the grouping declared to achieve free trade and open markets, adding that there was a need for new economic growth model to take the region into the 21st century global economy.

Morrison said the prime minister "seems very comfortable with his position as a leader." Since taking over from Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the fifth prime minister, Najib has been on the radar screens of the business community, both in Malaysia and internationally.

The community is watching closely Najib's bold and far-reaching economic reforms -- liberalising a wide range of sectors of the domestic economy, issuing new banking licences for foreigners and relaxing regulations with respect to Bumiputera equity, opening up Malaysia's market and providing further boot to the economy.

For that, Ong described Najib as a "reformist", but when asked later about how he felt about that description, the prime minister said "never mind", adding that it was Ong's personal opinion.

Malaysia, which relies heavily on exports, has been hard hit by the recent global financial crisis, and is trying to pull itself out of the economic doldrums.

The government has estimated that the country's growth rate this year to be around - 2 per cent to 3 per cent.

But Najib, who is also Finance Minister, told participants of the Apec dialogue that he would push hard to ensure that Malaysia achieved a five per cent economic growth next year, two per cent more than the earlier expectation by the government.

He said his administration would unveil a new economic model for Malaysia by year-end, one that would identify new sources of growth to ensure that the country achieved a growth rate higher than 3 per cent post-crisis.

Malaysia's fortitude in promoting free trade during Apec was evident when the prime minister and his ministers - International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed and Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah -- also stressed the importance of free and fair trade.

Malaysia's position was made clear to the US leaders when Mustapa and Husni in their bilateral meetings with Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner reiterated the Prime Minister's message.

The US had been blamed for stalling for over a year the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with Malaysia, and now is seen as abandoning the FTA for other loose economic alliances in the region.

Najib frankly told the audience that he had been saying it privately and wanted to state it openly that what he liked about President Bush was his "very pro-free trade" policy.

"I hope the same message will be repeated in Singapore and the leaders will see to it that the Doha Round is completed next year," the prime minister said, to loud applause from the audience.

The remarks made headlines on the news wires and online news portals.

The prime minister demonstrated his strong grasp of the economy and international trade, adding that the old paradigm of "manufacture in the East, consume in the West" that worked for Malaysia for many years was no longer practical.

This new economic model would be based more on innovation, new sources of growth, structural changes and strengthening domestic demand.

Obama praised Malaysia for maintaining regional peace and security.

The US president acknowledged the role played by Malaysia in tackling terrorism as the intermediary in resolving the conflict in Southern Philippines, maintaining security in the Straits of Melaka and checking human trafficking.

All in all, Malaysia looks set to head back to the forefront, with Najib providing a fresh impetus to the country's leadership with his brave and bold moves. Malaysia will definitely be on the radar in the international arena.

One renowned Malaysian businessman, who left the CEO summit after Najib ended his dialogue session was overheard, saying: "I'm proud to have Najib as my Prime Minister." A Kuala Lumpur-based journalist said: "Now, I'm proud to declare myself as a Malaysian." Meanwhile, the President of the Kuala Lumpur Business Club, Datuk Rohana Tan Sri Mahmood, said the audience also took cognisance of his deep knowledge on finance with many remarking that as finance minister also, "he knows his stuff." His passionate plea for countries to pursue free trade and importance of the conclusion of the Doha Round also went down well with the audience.

Najib's insightful response to the ingredients needed to achieve sustainable energy such as free trade coupled with a new economic model also put him in good stead at the panel discussion and undoubtedly made him a "Star of Apec" despite his inaugural attendance as Prime Minister, she said.

Sandy - Rocky's Bru

5oo lorries from home. Why are 500 lorries laden with sand entering Singapore from Malaysia every day?
Selling sand to Singapore still?
We all must know, y'see, because if we sell enough sand to Singapore (land in Iskandar not counted) they said they will help us build a straight bridge that will replace the Causeway.

Pelajar ditahan di dewan peperiksaan - kes wanita puaka

Pelajar UM yang dikaitkan dengan kes 'wanita puaka' ditahan di dewan peperiksaan semalam.

'ditahan' sila klik untuk baca lanjut

Pelajar ini kemudian dipaksa bermalam di balai dan dijangka diseret mengadap majisteret hari ini untuk mendapatkan perintah reman.

'reman' sila klik sini untuk baca lanjut

Inilah kelebihan Najib dan Rosmah mereka dikaitkan oleh media dunia terlibat dalam pembunuhan Altantuya tetapi mereka tidak berani saman media dunia, malah membayar jutaan wang rakyat kepada Apco Worldwide sebuah agensi perunding untuk menaikkan imej mereka dalam dan luar negara, sebaliknya menggunakan polis dan segala aparat kerajaan untuk menekan rakyat sendiri, yang bercakap benda yang sama.