MIC To Propose Formation Of Special Agency For Indians

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- The MIC is to propose to the government to set up the Malaysian Indian Development Agency (Minda) to monitor and implement the government's initiatives for the Indian community, especially under the Tenth Malaysia Plan (10MP).

Party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said Minda would be a government agency and would complement the Special Cabinet Committee for the Development of Indians chaired by the prime minister.

"Minda will also ensure the implementation of the recommendations by the MIC to the government for inclusion in the 10MP," he told reporters after chairing a special MIC Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting to discuss the 10MP at the party headquarters here Thursday.

The 10MP (2011-2015) is expected to be tabled in parliament in June. Samy Vellu said the MIC would be submitting its recommendations for the 10MP to the government later this month after fine-tuning them.

The recommendations include the setting up a cooperative for Indians to be run by the government with an initial capital of RM100 million, a Youth Visionary Programme with a government grant of RM100 million for school drop-outs and the unemployed, and the yearly allocation for Tamil schools.

Other proposals include speeding up the issuance of birth certificates and identification cards to Malaysian Indians without the documents, identifying the actual number of poor Indians, drawing up a strategic programme to reduce Indian involvement in crime, more opportunities and loans with special interest rates to own a house.

The setting up of a village security and development committee in Indian settlements to ensure the implementation of the programmes and initiatives for the community, expediting the intake of Indians into the public sector to reach the 7.4 per cent quota, setting up of a mechanism within the government to monitor the number of Indian applicants for government jobs, and offering a 10 per cent quota in projects of government-linked companies (GLCs) for Indian contractors.

Samy Vellu said the party's recommendations would also be discussed at the Special Cabinet Committee for the Development of Indians.

He said Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and some 75 non-governmental organisations had worked with the MIC to finalise the recommendations.

"Within the next five years, the equity participation of the Indians must be increased so that we can reach the target of three per cent by 2020," he said.

He said the MIC would also request the government to increase the allocation for Yayasan Tekun to give more business loans for Indians.

He said many of the party's recommendations had been implemented by the government under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, "and we have seen major improvements".

Samy Vellu said he was confident the government would be able to implement the party's recommendations.

"For the next five years, we want to create a high-performance community," he added.

Schools, services hit as public expenditure cut by up to 15pc

By G. Manimaran - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 — The education system is suffering cuts in subsidies for school uniform supplies and canteen food while teachers forgo training courses as attempts to reduce government expenditure begin to bite. An estimated 5,000 contract workers have also been asked to go and civil servants may soon have to see a reduction in overtime pay.

The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) has revealed that government agencies have had their expenditure reduced by between ten and 15 per cent since early last month, with some even having to reduce their expenditure by up to 20 per cent.

The budget cuts come as the government, which is grappling with bringing down a budget deficit of over seven per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), re-introduced an apparent austerity drive after the prime minister unveiled the 2010 Budget last year.

Cuepacs President Omar Osman told The Malaysian Insider that no formal memo has been circulated since the expenditure cuts began last month but he understands that on average, the cuts have been between ten and 15 per cent.

“For some government departments, the cuts could be above 15 per cent depending on the role and function of the agency,” he said. “Based on meetings with public service departments, we were told that the steps taken to be thrifty was to reduce costs as what was done more than ten years ago during the Asian financial crisis.”

Omar believes that many agencies have started cutting down on the use of contract staff as a result.

“These contract workers have been working for a long time, some for as long as ten years or more but they are being let go,” he said. “Up to December 2009, about 5,000 contract staff have been suspended and their services not renewed because of the need to cut operating costs.”

According to Omar, there are also agencies that have reduced their overtime pay.

“There are agencies that are giving replacement off days instead of money for overtime work,” said Omar. “In these situations, we request

that staff that are not paid overtime allowances to do part time work instead of unpaid overtime work.”

The reduction of courses and training have apparently also begun and in some agencies it is being done internally as compared with hotels and other off-site locations previously.

“In fact, there are some organisations that do not prepare drinks and snack food except for mineral water when they have meetings... in fact the number of meetings have also dropped,” he said.

In a memo circulated early last month, Treasury Secretary General Tan Sri Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Abdullah directed finance officials in each agency to ensure public expenditure is done carefully, with wisdom, and that they get value for money.”

Wan Abdul Aziz says that this is because the allocations for 2010 experienced a drop of 11.2 per cent as compared with the allocation for 2009. The execution of programmes , activities or projects now need to be in line with the total approved allocation. All expenditure has to be planned carefully so as not to exceed the allocation and prevent wastage, he said.

Wan Abdul Aziz also said that any expenses last year that have not been paid for or any new expenses need to be borne through savings from the current year or done as a trade-off with the “Dasar Sedia Ada” policy.

“Any requests for additional allocations will not be approved except in pressing cases,” said Wan Abdul Aziz.

Omar’s views were shared by the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP).

NUTP President Hashim Adnan said that while the average cuts in expenditure ranged from ten to 15 per cent, some organisations suffered cutbacks as much as 50 to 100 per cent.

“I say 50 to 100 per cent because, for example, in some schools, the uniforms for uniformed bodies was reduced by a lot, in fact, in some schools, it was not supplied at all,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

“This has resulted in some students not receiving uniforms, for example, for the Scouts, because the schools have cut 100 per cent of the allocation... these are some examples of the impact the expenditure cuts are having.”

Hashim also claimed that the allocations for food on Saturdays and Sundays at school hostels have also been trimmed.

“Students are encouraged to go home on the weekends. The situation has caused some parents to be uneasy,” he said.

The most serious impact, says Hashim, is that courses and seminars for teachers have been either reduced or frozen.

“Some of the courses that were advertised recently were cancelled at the last minute due to the directive to reduce costs,” he said.

Hashim sees the cuts in expenditure as a temporary measure but said that at the same time the Education Ministry is spending a lot, citing as an example the allocations announced for the 20 high performance schools recently.

“Even though this is a positive step, but it is not suitable for the current situation where the economy does not permit it... it would be better if we use the allocations for the 20 high performance schools to assist all schools that need the financial help,” he said.

Umno official denies making racist remarks in London

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 — Umno executive secretary, Datuk Abdul Rauf Yusoh, has vehemently denied a Malaysian student’s allegation that he made racist remarks at an Umno Club function in London a few days ago.

Rauf led an Umno delegation to London to meet with party members there in a private closed-door meeting earlier this week. There the student, Ahmad Naim Mazlan, heard the party official refer to non-Malays as “bangsa asing” who were trampling on the Malays in “Tanah Melayu”.

In a letter sent to The Malaysian Insider, the finance and accounting student heard Rauf saying “Jangan biarkan bangsa asing pijak kepala kita.” (Don’t let the foreigners walk all over our heads.)

But Rauf denied making any derogatory remarks, stressing that the session was a closed-door meeting and no one outside should be listening in to what was being discussed.

“This was a closed door session... this is not true, because what I said was that Malays must sustain power in order to gain respect from the Chinese and other races,” Rauf told The Malaysian Insider in a telephone interview.

The top Umno official went to great lengths to point out that the function was a party function for “Kelab Umno” and was not a public forum organised by the Malaysian Students Department.

“I think the student who overheard, his BM (Malay language) was not very good,” he added.

The student in London also claimed to have overheard Rauf and an “Umno Youth Exco” defending Datuk Nasir Safar’s recent racist tirade against non-Malays.

Nasir resigned as special officer to the Prime Minister shortly after controversy erupted over an allegedly racist statement he made at a 1 Malaysia seminar in Malacca. It was alleged that he said, “Indians came to Malaysia as beggars and Chinese especially the women came to sell their bodies”

“I am not supporting Nasir Safar at all! I am not supporting what he said. Let me just put it this way — there is a right forum to talk about Malay interests, and what Nasir Safar did was not right, talking like that in public.

“If it was discussed behind a closed door session, its normal, but he said it outside... what he said was not right,” said Rauf, who used to be the Umno Youth assistant secretary.

He also maintained that Umno is essentially a Malay party, therefore it was an acceptable practice for Umno to talk about “Malay interests”.

Hishamuddin asks for patience in Nasir Safar probe

By Adib Zalkapli - The Malaysian Insider

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 11 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (picture) urged for public patience over Datuk Nasir Safar’s derogatory remarks, saying police are still investigating the incident that riled Malaysians.

He said the authorities have to be objective in their investigations that involve the former aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who resigned to take responsibility for allegedly uttering a racist statement — “Indians came to Malaysia as beggars and Chinese especially the women came to sell their bodies” — at a 1 Malaysia seminar in Malacca.

“It is still under investigation. We have shown that in all cases that we are not emotionally driven, in the pig heads case, we are still unable to charge anyone, the case is also under investigation,” he said, referring to the incident in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur last month when wild boar heads were thrown into two mosques.

Over 40 police reports have been lodged against the former special officer to the prime minister, after he allegedly made that statement on Feb 2.

“So police reports have been lodged, so it is our responsibility to investigate, so just wait for the outcome,” Hishammuddin added.

Last Friday the Malacca police said they would call Nasir to have his statement taken over his remarks. Nasir, who resigned on the same day he allegedly made the remarks, has since issued an apology saying he had no intention of hurting anyone’s feeling.

The incident occurred at a time when Najib was working very hard to win over the support of the non-Malays and just days after his historic visit to Batu Caves temple during the Thaipusam celebration.

It also showed that, despite his intentions, his aides and political operatives have still not embraced his 1 Malaysia concept to bring unity and progress to the country.

Najib had distanced himself from Nasir, saying that his racist remarks should serve as a lesson to all Malaysians to be more racially sensitive.

But Malay nationalist group, Perkasa, defended Nasir’s outburst saying that it was a reaction to racially insensitive actions directed against the Malay community.

Rulers want ‘Allah’ issue resolved immediately

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 — The Malay Rulers, at the two-day 220th meeting of the Conference of Rulers which concluded today, have taken note of the various requests, letters and memorandums from Muslim organisations and individuals in the country and have expressed their sadness over the translation of the word “God” to “Allah”.

A statement issued by the office of the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal today said the translation had caused much confusion and dissatisfaction among the people of Malaysia, particularly Muslims.

“This issue, unless resolved immediately, will undermine the sanctity of Islam and, possibly, security and public order as well,” it said.

The statement pointed out that Article 3 of the Federal Constitution provided for Islam to be the country’s official religion and the Malay Rulers to be the heads of religion in the states of the country.

“The Malay Rulers have the responsibility to safeguard the sovereignty and sanctity of Islam as the official religion of the country without neglecting the rights and religious freedom of the other races.

“The Malay Rulers give the undertaking to fulfill their responsibility to protect the sanctity and status of Islam,” it said.

The statement also said that the Malay Rulers felt that the incidents of damaging houses of worship were very dangerous acts of provocation which should never be allowed to take place.

“These treacherous acts driven by emotion must be stopped because all religions do not condone but condemn such acts.

“These are criminal acts which should be contained firmly and immediately,” it said.

In the statement, the Malay Rulers recorded their appreciation for the Royal Malaysia Police for their effectiveness in acting professionally to control the situation in maintaining security and public order.

“The Malay Rulers well understand the heavy responsibility they (the police) have to face, and urge that the efforts of the security forces in maintaining public order be fully supported,” it said.

The statement said the Malay Rulers took note that the issue over the use of the word “Allah” by the Catholic weekly magazine, Herald, was under consideration by the Court of Appeal.

The 220th meeting of the Conference of Rulers, which was chaired by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, discussed among other things matters related to religion, defence, security, and the appointment of judges of the High Court and Court of Appeal as well as members of the Education Service Commission. — Bernama

Police probe Raja Petra’s son attempted suicide

(Bernama) - Police are investigating Raja Azman Raja Petra's motive in hurting himself. Raja Azman is the son of Malaysia Today editor, Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin.

Last Monday Raja Azman, who is current serving a jail sentence was hurt was found having swallowed a razor blade.

Bukit Aman Crime Investigation Department Deputy Director I (Intelligence/Operation) Datuk Hadi Ho Abdullah said the investigation was conducted with the cooperation of the Prisons Department.

“A report lodged on Feb 8 by the Prisons Department at the Batu Arang police station, Rawang, soon after the incident, has been received. In fact, they have also provided information in connection with the case to assist our investigation.

“The investigation is more directed to efforts on identifying Raja Azman’s motive in doing so,” he said in a statement here today.

Raja Azman, 34, was remanded at the Sungai Buloh prison pending his trail on four charges involving housebreaking and stealing.

He was detained at the prison since May 19 last year for failing to post bail. Hadi Ho said the case was being investigated for attempted suicide.

Meanwhile, the Prisons Department has set up a board of inquiry to investigate the case, as well as identify the actual cause of the incident.

A statement from its secretariat unit today, stated that initial investigations found no elements of abuse, torture, pressure or force made against the detainee.

“He not only swallowed a sharp object, but also injured his wrist. He is now placed under strict monitoring by the hospital and his condition is reported stable,” it said.

Musa Hassan’s crisis of confidence

Going by the sentiments of the police officers, even if the MACC issues a statement denying this incident very few will believe that denial. They will insist that the MACC is lying and that this is just a cover-up. How do you stay on as IGP if this is how your men look at you?

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin The story making its rounds amongst the officers of the Royal Malaysian Police is that Musa Hassan’s house was raided by the MACC on Sunday and they found an exceptionally large amount of cash hidden in his house.

This story has spread the length and breadth of this country and every policeman and his dog is talking about it. The ironical part about this whole thing is not that the police officers believe this story. It is the fact that they are relating this story with glee and excitement while calling Musa IGP Bodoh is what is.

According to the talk amongst the police officers, the Deputy Director of the Negeri Sembilan branch of the MACC led a predominantly female team of officers to raid Musa’s house. Why they conducted the raid and why Negeri Sembilan and how much cash was found other than it was a very huge amount was never explained.

It seems Musa was then summoned to the MACC office where he spent three hours for his statement to be recorded. Musa, the story goes, informed the MACC that he is resigning next month and has in fact already submitted his resignation letter. He then pleaded with the MACC to allow him to ‘retire in peace’.

Now, if it was just one police officer talking about it then I would place the story in the suspect tray and label it as unfounded rumours. But when so many are repeating the same story from Kedah all the way down to Johor then it is very difficult to brush it off without further investigation.

The mainstream media does not appear to have picked up the story in spite of so many police officers talking about the alleged incident and some even swearing on their mother’s grave that is it true. A check with the MACC head office in Putrajaya bore no results. They in fact denied the incident.

So who to believe? The so many police officers that are talking about it or the MACC who said no such thing happened and who would never lie in a million years?

Anyway, what is more important here is not whether the story is true or not. Okay, that is important. But that is not what is bugging me. In the end, 90% of rumours in Malaysia always end up as the truth. Sometimes it may take many years but eventually the truth will surface. So in time we shall know whether this story is true or not.

What is of more concern to me is that it is the police officers themselves who are talking about it. And I should know considering many of them report to me. And they are talking about it excitedly, as if it is fantastic news. It is like they are so pleased that their boss, the top dog in the police force, has been caught with his pants down.

And the fact that they address their boss with great disrespect by calling him IGP Bodoh speaks volumes about what they think of him.

This demonstrates a serious crisis of confidence. If your own men think very lowly of you and make disparaging remarks about you then there is no way you can continue to lead them. How can you continue to lead them when they do not consider you their leader?

So, the truth or otherwise of this story is one issue but not yet the main issue. It could be true then again it may not. But the fact that it is the police officers from all over the country who are spreading this story and are doing so with glee while calling Musa names means there is something terribly wrong here.

Going by the sentiments of the police officers, even if the MACC issues a statement denying this incident very few will believe that denial. They will insist that the MACC is lying and that this is just a cover-up. How do you stay on as IGP if this is how your men look at you?

Anyway, let’s see what stories surface over the next few days. Let’s also see whether it is true that the IGP has tendered his resignation letter and will leave in March as how the story goes. Time will tell and March is only next month. Maybe the MACC might even come out with a statement over the next few days to deny this incident and lay everything to rest.

But that one question still remains. Can the IGP win back the respect and confidence of his officers or has it been lost for good? And, therefore, should the IGP really go in March or stay on one more term until 2011, his fourth term, as the ‘other’ story goes?

Hmm…is it not ironical that the police warn Bloggers about spreading rumours when rumour mongering is rampant amongst the police officers themselves?

Anyhow, me being the conspiracy theory buff that I am, I will always look beyond the stories and rumours and ask: who stands to gain out of all this?

The Deputy IGP was most hurt when Musa said he had to stay on as IGP because there is no suitable successor. Musa is saying that his number two is not good enough to take over so he (Musa) needs to stay on until the day he dies. So the Deputy IGP would be one beneficiary in this whole thing.

Next, of course, would be the new MACC boss. He swore to clean up the country of corruption and said we can kick him on his backside if he does not do this. Could roping in the top dog of the police force be that feather in his cap that he needs to ‘walk the talk’? After all, he is on an eight-year contract and he has to make sure he serves out his full term and not get kicked out halfway.

Nevertheless, while this may be good news in the event it is true, we must remember that someone can get charged only if the Attorney-General and the Prime Minister allows it. Therefore, even if the story is true, let us not assume that Musa is going to jail. The AG and PM will have to say yes before it will happen.

Would you convert to Islam?

Islam suffers from a serious image problem. And the problem is the Muslims themselves. But this can never be resolved because the Muslims are suffering from a denial syndrome. And until they break out of this denial syndrome then expect Islam to forever be regarded as a pariah religion by those from the civilised societies.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Tun Dr Mahathir: People still critical of Malay Muslims

The Muslim community should be more active in projecting the true Islamic teachings to the non-Muslims in the country by practising the true teachings of the religion.

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Muslims should review deeply the Islamic teachings as stated in the Al-Quran, the true traditions of Prophet Muhammad (hadis) and must practise the true Islamic teachings so that the religion would be perceived to be dynamic and holy.

"In order to give such a picture, it is most important that the Muslims themselves demonstrate the culture propagated by Islam. At times, we find that the Muslims themselves behave in a manner that tarnishes the Islamic religion," he said in his speech at the 50th anniversary of Perkim 2010/1431 at the Federal territory Mosque, here last night.

In fact, he said there were still much criticisms and slanders against the Muslims especially the Malay Muslims.

"We are frequently branded as a religion of terrorism. In fact, there are people who accuse that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was a terrorist leader. Our image is very bad currently," he said. – Malaysian Digest

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

I have constantly said the same thing as what Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said. I have even quoted famous scholars from the West, such as those in the US and the UK.

“Islam is a beautiful religion,” said one. “It is Muslims who are ugly”.

“I love Islam,” said another. “But I hate Muslims.”

“If you want to find good Muslims,” said yet another. “You have to go to the Christian countries.” For those who do not quite get this one, it means the Christians do what Islam says we must do (except for accepting Prophet Muhammad as the last Prophet, of course) while Muslims do not.

And the list of quotes go on and on.

I have my own quote, which would never be entered into the book of famous quotes. And that is if I were NOT born a Muslim and I study the conduct of Muslims to ponder on whether I should become a Muslim, the conduct of Muslims would never attract me to Islam.

That is the most unfortunate truth. Logic would tell me that the fruit of a poisonous tree would be poison. How, therefore, could a good religion breed bad people? Surely a good religion would breed good people. If the followers of a certain religion are bad then surely there must be something wrong with that religion.

Anyone who has never studied Islam in depth or is a practitioner of Islam would be forgiven for thinking that way. If you know very little about Islam then you would certainly come to that conclusion. If Muslims are bad then surely this must reflect on Islam. How can a good religion turn out bad people?

Only when you know Islam would you be aware that most Muslims do the opposite of what Islam says. They are bad not because Islam is bad. They are bad because they are bad Muslims. They violate everything that Islam stands for.

No, I am not trying to be a Muslim apologist. I am not trying to apologise for the conduct of Muslims or trying to propagate Islam. I am not trying to convince you that Islam is good or begging you to not judge Islam by the conduct of the Muslims. I am beyond that already.

For decades I have been preaching that Muslims are Islam’s worst enemies. I have repeated that statement over and over again. I no longer want to argue this point.

Muslims, in particular Malay Muslims, are going to take this article with antagonism. Muslims, Malays included, have a very low tolerance level for criticism. To criticise Muslims tantamount to criticising Islam, argue these people. And criticising Islam means you are insulting the religion. And the punishment for this ‘crime’ is violence.

That is how Muslims rationalise things.

I have lost many friends these last few years since I have been writing about Islam. Of course, my credentials have been put to question. Who am I to write about Islam? Which Islamic university did I go to? What are my qualifications? Do I have a certificate to preach Islam?

People who were once very close to me now consider me the enemy. Those who I once spent endless hours with to discuss Islam now no longer want to have anything to do with me. They even celebrated my ISA detention in September 2008 for what the government alleged was my crime for ‘insulting Islam’.

Anyway, now Dr Mahathir has echoed what I have been saying for so long. Okay, maybe Dr Mahathir is not so abrasive in his language and does not use the ‘colourful’ words that I use. But the message is the same. The Muslims, in particular the Malays, are giving Islam a bad name. The conduct of the Muslims, Malays included, violates Islam teachings and does not reflect true Islam.

Do I really need to offer examples to support this view? Do I need to remind you that corruption is most rampant amongst the Malays? Do I need to remind you that half the Malays support Malay supremacy or Ketuanan Melayu, which is haram in Islam? Do I need to remind you that most police officers are Malays and that the ex-IGP himself personally told me that if they wanted to clean out the police force then 99% of the police would have to be sacked? And I am not yet even touching on extrajudicial killings, deaths under detention, police brutality, and whatnot, which involve Malays with some Indian ‘contribution’.

No, let’s not go into the endless list of examples to highlight the misconduct of Muslims to prove that they violate Islam teachings every step of the way. Those few examples I mentioned are enough to demonstrate what I am talking about.

Muslims are the worst example of what Islam is all about. They actually put shame to the religion. If you were to judge the religion by the conduct of its followers and if you hardly had any knowledge of what the religion teaches then you would form the opinion that Islam is a religion of Satan.

This is the sad fact and a fact that cannot be denied. And the faster Muslims accept this instead of whacking those who criticise Muslims and label them as enemies of Islam the faster will Islam’s image problem be solved.

I have always said this and I shall say it again. Islam suffers from a serious image problem. And the problem is the Muslims themselves. But this can never be resolved because the Muslims are suffering from a denial syndrome. And until they break out of this denial syndrome then expect Islam to forever be regarded as a pariah religion by those from the civilised societies.

No surgery on RPK's son to remove razor blade

(Malaysiakini) - Doctor's attending to blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin's son, Raja Azman, have decided not to surgically remove the razor blade in his stomach.

According to one of his lawyers, they felt it was unnecessary as the blade had broken in two and should be allowed to exit the natural way.

The lawyer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Raja Azman, warded at the Sungai Buloh Hospital, is in stable condition. He is handcuffed to his bed with prison guards on duty.

"We are making an application today to see him during the long Chinese New Year break," he told Malaysiakini.

Raja Azman (left), had used the blade to slash his wrist before swallowing it. It is not immediately known how the blade found its way to his cell.

Yesterday, it was reported that Raja Azman had been warded since Tuesday night incident.

Gombak police chief Abdul Rahim Abdullah in confirming this said a weak Raja Azman was spotted in his cell at the Sungai Buloh prison by a warder.

Raja Petra had claimed in his blog that his son inflicted the injuries on himself as he could no longer take the physical and mental torture he was subjected to by the prison authorities.

Rahim, however, refused to comment on the allegation, saying only that investigations were at the early stage.

Raja Azman under pressure

The lawyer confirmed that his client had been assaulted by two prison guards in his cell.

He said the incident happened late last year, when they found a hand phone in the cell which held 30 inmates.

They beat up Raja Azman on suspicion that the handphone belonged to him.

"This was related to us by Raja Azman at one of his recent court hearings," he said, adding that questions could be raised on how a handphone could be smuggled into a cell.

The lawyer also said Raja Azman was been placed in solitary confinement for several days after the assault.

Asked why the victim did not report the incident to the police, the lawyer said he believed that no action would be taken.

"When Raja Petra lodged a police report at the Sentul police station last year that Muslim Internal Security Act detainees in Kamunting, were not allowed to perform Friday prayers, the matter was not investigated.

"The police could have investigated the truth of such allegations by asking him or taking action against Raja Petra for lodging a false report if it was wrong. However, nothing happened," he said.

Hence, the lawyer said Raja Azman also believed that there would be no police action against the prison guards if a report against them had been lodged.

"However, it is better that Raja Azman is out of the prison," he said.

The lawyer said it was puzzling the razor blade and handphone could have made their way in prison cells.

'Punishment cell'

Raja Azman, the second child of Raja Petra, had been remanded after he claimed trial at the Shah Alam Magistrate's Court to four counts of theft, and receiving stolen property and criminal trespass.

He was accused of stealing a Nokia mobile phone, a Seiko watch, and a bunch of motorcycle keys, all worth about RM3,850, belonging to student Saipul Adli Mohamad Yunus, 21, at No 16, Jalan Sastera, U2/1K, Section U2, Shah Alam, at about 10am on April 2, last year.

It was reported in the Malaysia Today website run by Raja Petra that his son was subjected to further beatings earlier in the week and was transferred to a 'punishment cell'.

It was during the confinement that the razor blade apparently made an appearance.

Anwar’s ex-aide has lead on RPK's whereabouts

(The Star) - A 41-year-old former aide to PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has come forward here to provide police with information to assist them in investigations to trace the whereabouts of Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin.

Anuar Shaari, a former Finance Ministry officer who worked for Anwar between 1996 and 1998, arrived at the Melaka Tengah district police station at about 10am on Thursday and spend about 30 minutes with Melaka Tengah OCPD ACP Salehhudin Abd Rahman to pass on the information.

“I gave him details and a written description including a photograph of Pakistani-born American Aasil Kazi Ahmad who may be able to provide information on the whereabaouts of Raja Petra," he told reporters here.

Anuar, who currently runs a business here Ayer Keroh, said he came forward with the information following the advice of the police in connection to a press conference he held in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 6 regarding the matter.

“I urge the authorities, in particular the police, to track Aasil’s whereabouts and movements to get him to assist investigations,” he said.

“Both men (Aasil and Raja Petra) are very close and share similar expertise as media strategists,” he said, adding that Aasil is based in Washington but has been making frequent trips to Malaysia since 2004.

He added that Aasil, who works for a politician and acts as a consultant for a local organisation, was often seen in Kuala Lumpur.

He also said he informed police that Dr Munawar Anees, Anwar’s former speech writer, also shared a close bond with Aasil and may be able to shed light on his whereabouts.

As why he decided to come forward now, Anuar said he was merely passing on information to assist police in locating Raja Petra. When met later, Salehhudin confirmed the meeting with Anuar, adding that the information provided by him would be passed to his counterparts in Bukit Aman.

Raja Petra is wanted for failing to appear in court on two occasions last year over a sedition charge. He is accused of defaming the Prime Ministers wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, in an article on his website.

Zahid: Our submarine can’t dive

(AFP) - Malaysia’s first submarine, a European-made Scorpene delivered last September, has developed problems that make it unfit for diving, Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

The KD Tunku Abdul Rahman sailed into a grand reception last year as the first of two commissioned from French contractor DCNS and Spain’s Navantia for a total of 3.4 billion ringgit.

Named after the country’s first prime minister, it was hailed as an important acquisition despite opposition allegations of corruption in the deal.

"The submarine can still dive but when we detected the defects, we were advised that it should not dive," Zahid told reporters.

"The (parts found with) defects are still under warranty so the supplier and contractor are repairing them," he added.

Navy chief Abdul Aziz Jaafar said a problem first emerged in the submarine’s cooling system last December. After being fixed, another defect was identified in a different system last month.

"We hope it can dive again after February 18, so we can carry out the tropical water trials," Abdul Aziz told reporters.

The navy chief said the second submarine, the KD Tun Razak which is named after the nation’s second premier, is expected to arrive from France on May 31. It was originally scheduled for delivery in late 2009.

The two submarines have attracted controversy since the deal was signed in 2002.

Malaysia’s opposition claims that a 540-million-ringgit commission was paid to a close associate of Prime Minister Najib Razak in brokering the contract.

Najib has denied there was any corruption in the deal, which was made when he was defence minister.

Break the shackles of ‘tribal think’ or suffer BN’s racist rule forever

Posted by Haris Ibrahim

Boleh Singkir PM Tanpa Undi Tidak Percaya

Dari TV Selangor

Profesor Dr. Abdul Aziz Bari menyifatkan keputusan mahkamah persekutuan mengenai isu siapa Menteri Besar yang berpihak kepada UMNO Barisan Nasional, membangkitkan persoalan mengenai kedudukan kerajaan dalam sistem demokrasi dari sisi perundangan.

Professor Undang-Undang di Universiti Islam Antarabangsa itu berkata perkara ini serius kerana Menteri Besar sepatutnya hanya boleh disingkir melalui Dewan Undangan Negeri.

“Pada hakikatnya kalau di negeri Perak itu Sultan boleh menyingkirkan Menteri Besar tanpa melalui undi tidak percaya dalam dewan secara formal, maka di peringkat pusat juga peringkat persekutuan boleh menyingkirkan perdana menteri tanpa melalui undi tidak percaya,”katanya.

Aziz berkata demikian ketika ditemubual TVSelangor.com

Beliau percaya kepada amalan yang dipraktik selama ini iaitu melalui undi tidak percaya secara formal di Dewan Undangan Negeri bagi menentukan siapa Menteri Besar.

“Jadi, itu yang menyebabkan timbulnya perspepsi ataupun tanggapan bahawa apa yang berlaku itu boleh memberi kesan kepada perlembagaan dan ini semakin boleh mengkompromikan sistem Raja itu sendiri,”katanya.

Kes ini akan menjadi rujukan tetapi malangnya ia perkembangan yang tidak sihat kerana undang-undang pada masa ini boleh menyingkirkan pemimpin dengan mudah, tanpa mematuhi prosedur yang betul.

“Dengan keputusan yang terbaru itu, mengatakan bahawa Menteri Besar ataupun Perdana Menteri boleh disingkir tanpa melalui undi tidak percaya, ini merupakan kesan langsung, dengan kata lain undang-undang yang dihuraikan yang diputuskan mahkamah semalam adalah perkembangan yang tidak sihat pada kes-kes akan datang,”katanya.

PDC Board Has Awarded The Open Tender Of Managing The Bukit Jambul Golf & Country Resort(BJCC) That Is Worth More Than RM 40 Million.

By Lim Guan Eng

The Penang Development Corporation (PDC) Board decided on 9 February 2010 to award the open tender of managing the BJCC to a company that is worth more than RM 40 million over 10 years. Full details of the tender award will be published after the Chinese New Year in accordance with CAT principles of Competency, Accountability and Transparency.

BJCC is run by Island Golf Properties Bhd(IGP), a PDC owned subsidiary company. At the present moment Bayan Baru MP Dato Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim is still the Chairman of IGP. Zahrain has been the Chairman and Director of Island Golf Properties Bhd since 9th July 2008. PDC has informed me that no letter has been sent by either PDC or IGP to any director of IGP of any changes.

Certain actions and claims by Zahrain on the IGP has compelled PDC to monitor IGP closely to ensure that IGP is run in the public interest and in compliance with CAT principles. PDC has been concerned at how Zahrain was leading the IGP, when he and the IGP recommended on 12 January 2009 that the operations of the BJCC be outsourced and awarded to a RM 2 company.

PDC Board meeting on 10 February 2009 rejected Zahrain and IGP’s recommendation that the RM 2 company be selected. Instead the PDC Board agreed with the Chief Minister’s recommendation that a fresh open tender be called.

The Chief Minister had based his recommendation for a fresh open tender for the management of BJCC on two important reasons. One, to allow a RM 2 private company to win the tender for running BJCC, that involves expenditure of tens of millions of ringgit, would make a mockery of the meaning of open tender system. Two, the RM 2 company had no track record of running a golf club and was established on 29 Sept 2008. The RM 2 company was established a mere two months before the tender, clearly with the sole intended purpose of bidding for the tender in December 2008.

I had refused to heed requests to follow the recommendation by Zahrain and IGP to select the RM 2 company. Instead I had insisted on full compliance with the PDC Board’s directive that a fresh open tender must be held in line with the CAT principles. The fresh open tender exercise was carried out last year with 7 interested applicants.

The PDC Board decided on 9 February 2010 meeting to select a company that offered a combined value of more than RM 40 million to BJCC over 10 years. The company selected has a track record and most importantly its paid up capital is not RM 2.

The time has come to look at open tenders and government contracts based solely on performance and public interest.

Malaysia would have been spared the religious troubles of the past month if inter-religious dialogues had been institutionalized as an important aspec

The Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council decided on 31st January 2010 to convene tonight’s inter-religious dialogue because we believe that the overwhelming majority of Malaysians from all religions are men and women of good will and good sense who want religion to unite and not divide, to build and not to destroy, the nation.

During the course of the historic dialogue tonight, bringing together representatives from all the great religions in Malaysia to freely and frankly exchange views and share their common concerns for the best welfare of the country, I was struck by the thought that Malaysia would have been spared the religious troubles of the past month if inter-religious dialogues had been institutionalized as an important aspect of nation-building in the past five decades.

Bapa Malaysia and the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, established the Inter-Religious Organisation to provide a common platform to bring representatives of all religions together to work for the common good and it is most unfortunate that Tunku’s initiative was discarded in the past few decades.

Tonight’s inter-religious dialogue is a historic one. As Dr. Herman Shastri has said, the mechanism of trust has broken down and in our challenge and task to rebuild this mechanism of trust, regular inter-religious dialogues among the different faiths in the country plays an important part.

We pride in holding out to the world that Malaysia is a model multi-religious country in the international campaign to promote tourism to Malaysia. Our leaders go on international forums to advocate inter-civilisational and inter-religious dialogues.

But the greatest anomaly is that inter-religious dialogues in the country are not encouraged by the authorities concerned, so much so that Pakatan Rakyat has to take this initiative to organize this historic inter-religious dialogue tonight to address the recent spate of attacks on places of worship of different faiths, which is giving Malaysia such a bad name internationally.

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has come out with his 1Malaysia slogan and concept. What is 1Malaysia?

I have always advocated that the objective of nation-building is to create a Malaysian who regards himself as a Malaysian first and his race (whether Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan or Iban), religion (whether Muslim, Christian,Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh) or region second.

But over the years, I had not found any Barisan Nasional leader endorsing my definition of the objective of Malaysian nation-building.

I was pleasantly surprised that this definition has been adopted in the 1Malaysia Government Transformation Programme (GTP) Roadmap – “a nation where, it is hoped, every Malaysian perceives himself or herself as Malaysian first, and by race, religion, geographical region or socio-economic background second”. (p 11)

But is the Barisan Nasional government really serious about this objective of Malaysian nation-building?

If so, there would have been no need for any 1Malaysia slogan and concept for Malaysia today would be a 1Malaysia in fact and reality!

Let tonight’s event be the belated but historic start of the institutionalization of inter-religious dialogues as an important contribution to Malaysian nation-building, involving all stakeholders including the ruling parties.

[Closing remarks at the Inter-Religious Dialogue organized by Pakatan Rakyat held at The Club, Bukit Utama Golf Course on Wednesday, 10th February 2010 at 10.30 pm]

Current Leaders Should Work With Previous Leaders - Najib

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak believes that current leaders should work with previous leaders to lead the country towards greater heights.

"I appreciate positive remarks and comments from our previous leaders. It means that they are very much together, to face the challenges.

"We need to work together...present and past leaders, so that we can really take Malaysia to greater heights," he told reporters after launching the Malaysia Corporate Identity Number (MyCoID) here Thursday.

Two days ago, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad gave his nod of approval to Najib's leadership for having an administration that met both the needs of the people and the country.

On a statement by former Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin that the opposition would be willing to cooperate with the Perak Government if several conditions were met, Najib said he left it to Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir to decide.

The conditions involved allowing the opposition to use the community hall, not to bar them (opposition members) from attending the state action community and district action community meetings, and providing allocations for opposition assemblymen.

Asked whether the government would negotiate with China to reduce its exports to Malaysia, Najib said the negotiation needed to go on the basis of Asean-China FTA (Free Trade Agreement) as a multilateral agreement.

"It's a multilateral agreement. It can't be on the basis of bilateral arrangement.

"Whatever it is, (it should be) negotiated on Asean-China FTA basis. But the most important thing is for us to be as competitive as possible. We need to be competitive and make whatever adjustment necesscary for us to succeed," he added.

The Asean-China FTA came into effect on Jan 1, this year.

However, some parties have expressed concern that the trade liberalisation agreement had hurt local manufacturers.

Justice prevails for land scam victim! And for Norizan?

by Nathaniel Tan

Remember this guy?

I wrote some time back on how this elderly, very humble living gentleman had RM 17 million worth in land stolen from him.

This morning, I accompanied my friend (the gentleman’s grandnephew) to the Shah Alam High Court, where we received wonderful news – the land has been returned to its rightful owner! Justice prevails!

I think the good guys at theSun might do a fuller follow-up on it, so we’ll wait on that :)

My friend and I then headed up to Suhakam, where there was a meeting with a commissioner over the Norizan shooting case.

It was heartening to meet this petite but brave young lady, and to see Malaysians from all backgrounds – including old friends and comrades it was good to see again – gather to support her cause.

The Memo they presented in full:

Complaint on the infringement by Police of the Human Rights of Cik Norizan Bt Salleh

The Facts

1) On 30.10.2009, 29 year old Norizan bt Salleh was shot 5 times by police.

2) Norizan was travelling in a car when the incident happened. Without justification, police shot at the car from behind, the bullets penetrating through the body of the car and hitting Norizan who was seated at the back seat.

3) After being shot, Norizan was then kicked and stepped on by the police personnel despite bleeding profusely from being shot.

4) No person in the car was armed with any firearm and there was no threat of any kind to the police. Despite this, police chose to open fire repeatedly at the car.

5) Norizan is an innocent woman who has never been charged in court for any crime. She has suffered serious injuries including permanent damage to her hand. A bullet lodged close to her heart had to be removed by surgery at Institute Jantung Negara. Miraculously, Norizan has survived to tell the public what happened to her.

6) Norizan lodged a police report on 16.11.2009 complaining of attempted murder by police, but no action has been taken by the authorities against any police officer involved in her wrongful shooting and beating.

7) One of the other occupants of the car has told lawyers of how he was tortured by police in an attempt to get him to confess that the occupants of the car were involved in robbery. He alleges that police hung him upside down and chilli powder was rubbed on his body.

The complaint

1) Neither Norizan, nor any of the other occupants of the car, were armed with any weapon capable of posing any threat to the life or safety of the police personnel pursuing them.

2] The discharge of firearms by the police at the car, was intended to kill or seriously injure the occupants therein and not to stop the vehicle and apprehend the occupants.

3] The use of excessive force and shooting to kill by police in this case, is consistent with many other cases documented by activists. In almost every case, the police version of the events has been similar; that the victims opened fire and police returned fire, killing all of them. It has been easy for police to get away with this version, as the victims are usually dead and the truth buried. This has also been the police version in two recent shooting cases. [Kulim shooting (February 2009) and Klang shooting (November 2009)].

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED;

1. call upon Suhakam to institute an urgent public Inquiry into the shooting and beating of Norizan Salleh;
2. to advise the Government to take immediate steps to institute wide- ranging reforms in the police force and to implement fully the recommendations made by the Royal Police Commission.

Complaint filed by :-

1. Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)
2. Democratic Action Parti (DAP)
3. Civil Liberties Malaysia
4. Police Watch & Human Rights Committee
5. Human Right Party (HRP)
6. Lawyers for Liberty.

‘You lied, Sir’ Karpal makes waves by accusing judge in Anwar sodomy trial. (The Star headlines 11/2/2010)

But would Karpal Singh put his foot down to this extent had it even been a critical Indian issue? On a similar note would The Star cover it in their headlines or would they cover the story in the first place had it even been a critical Indian issue?

A cursory perusal of this HRP’s website www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com over the last few months would answer these questions.

S. Jayathas

Information Chief.

40% of Indians yet to register as voters

Water, electricity, basic food to be exempted from GST

By Lee Wei Lian - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 — About 40 basic goods and services will not be subjected to the new goods and services tax (GST).

These include basic foodstuffs, residential accommodation, health services, public transportation and domestic consumption of water and electricity up to a certain limit, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah at the national conference on GST here today.

He added that the government will also introduce an anti-profiteering law to ensure that businesses do not try to gain unjustifiable profits from GST.

The Najib administration is proposing the implementation of GST to broaden the government’s tax base and raise revenue.

In the region, only Malaysia, Brunei, Myanmar and Hong Kong have not implemented GST.

“If 143 countries have done it, why not us?" said Husni.

There has been some public concern that prices would be much higher post-GST implementation but Husni said that according to government calculations, the consumer price index, a measure of the inflation rate, would be lower.

Dr Zakariah Abdul Rashid, executive director of the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER), said that GST will not result in higher prices across the board but will be lower in some categories and higher in others.

He acknowledged however that GST will incur higher compliance costs but tax leakages will be reduced through thorough auditing.

He also said that experience in other countries showed that consumers would stock up on items perceived to go up in prices ahead of GST but it would be a temporary effect.

“Consumption and growth returns to normal after a short period of time,” said Zakaria. “GST will result in a one off change in aggregate price level.”

He also suggested that the government provide rebates to cushion the effects of GST and that through GST, other forms of tax such as corporate and income may be reduced.

Husni said that the government would continuously look at ways to make Malaysia’s tax structure regionally competitive.

“We have reduced our corporate tax and we have shown to be willing to reduce personal income tax in specific instances (Iskandar),” said Husni. “The GST therefore should be seen as an integral part of the country’s economic strategy.”

Muhyiddin says PERC report is nonsense

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 — Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (picture) has described a regional political risk consultancy report which said Malaysia was veering towards instability as “nonsensical”.

Muhyiddin said that the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) must be “talking through their nose”.

“I don’t think we need to react to all these nonsensical reports coming from those who know nothing about the country.

“Maybe those guys are sitting at a table somewhere in a remote corner of Hong Kong.

“They have to come here and we will be happy to bring them down here and see what is stability, what is security, what is war, what is trouble,” he told reporters today after a function at the Felda headquarters here.

PERC reported that the impression that Malaysia has given since New Year’s Day was that the situation in the country is becoming increasingly unstable.

In a blistering report on Malaysia released at the end of January, PERC also asserted that a group of elite minorities were dominating the national agenda to the extent that it was hurting Malaysia’s attractiveness to investors.

The consultancy, which also publishes reports on the risk ratings of other Asian countries, said it is “probable” that no other Asian country is suffering from as much bad press as Malaysia.

Among the developments that caught its attention were the theft of military jet engines, detention of terror suspects from a number of African and Middle East countries following warnings that Islamic militants were planning attacks on foreigners at resorts in Sabah, renewed ethnic and religious “violence” that included arson at some churches and desecration of mosques, and controversy over the integrity of key institutions like the judicial system in the sodomy trial of opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The report noted that the government is blaming the international media for exaggerated reporting and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had argued that the focus should not be on the fringe groups that are causing problems but on the majority of Malaysians who are coming together to condemn the recent acts of violence following the ‘Allah’ controversy.

But PERC maintained that the root of the problem was a vocal minority that is dominating the national agenda.

Muhyiddin claimed that the report appeared to be part of a hidden agenda to destabilise the country.

“All these reports have obvious ulterior motives with intention of not helping. We are not asking them to help us anyway. We are helping ourselves and we don’t need their comments because I think a lot of other people know and evaluate ourselves very objectively. We are not basing it on emotions but facts and reality. The fact is that Malaysians are happy and are not facing any major disaster and there is no racial trouble in the country or war among us. So what are they talking about?

“I think they must be talking through their nose,” he said.

Blogging is so yesterday, politicians turn to Twitter

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 — The political battleground is changing. Blogs, once the main source of “alternative” political news and the perfect arena to court public opinion, are giving way to Twitter.

Internet pundits here note a steady decrease in traffic for blogs while microblogging services like Twitter have seen the opposite, a phenomenon observers believe is brought about by opposition icon Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Sodomy II trial.

The 62-year-old PKR de facto leader has been actively tweeting as a way to counter what has been described as the ruling coalition’s alleged attempt to demonise him through government-linked media.

“Our observations show that there has been a steady decrease in blog traffic while sites like Facebook and Twitter have seen an increase in visitors,” DAP information technology chief Goh Kheng Teong told The Malaysian Insider.

“This can be attributed to the ongoing Sodomy II trial and also the quick and mobile nature of Twitter. Blogs are usually only frequented by hardcore supporters,” said Goh, who maintains and operates DAP’s online activities.

The keywords are mobility and speed. Unlike blogs, Twitter’s emphasis on short status updates over often personal journals has made it more attractive.

A microblogging site like Twitter allows political leaders like Anwar, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang and Umno maverick Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to send short instant updates, ideas and thoughts on current affairs instead of long personal journals.

This means subscribers get “live” updates by following these leaders on Twitter. Anwar’s 5,108 Twitter followers are constantly fed with “live” updates of the trial, an element absent with blogging.

A Twitter subscriber noted this through a tweet. The subscriber by the name “badyanaril” said: “I join Twitter because I need to have live feed on Anwar Ibrahim’s case.”

A study showed 3G mobile user numbers are rising sharply. From 3 million in 1999, the numbers have skyrocketed to 28.9 million up to last year and is still growing, which makes applications like Twitter, designed specifically for mobile-phone users, the preferred option for information.

This has prompted leaders from Barisan Nasional, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who has more than 10,000 followers on Twitter, to hop on the bandwagon.

“It's a new phenomenon. Twitter subscribers can get updates on what they think, feel about a particular issue and it’s inclusive. This is something that other media like televisions and newspapers cannot do.

“It’s short, attractive and the best way for them to connect with the voters instantly,” said Ibrahim Suffian, director of independent polling house Merdeka Center.

PKR communications director Jonson Chong, a “hardcore tweeter”, however, believes blogs are still relevant. Unlike Twitter, blogs give readers the chance to learn in detail what political leaders feel about current issues.

“They are two different things. They are catered for two different crowds. With Twitter, you get snippets of information but blogs give you in-depth information,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

But Chong admitted that Twitter is attracting more hits than blogs. In fact, information from Twitter will reach voters first instead of blogs which makes the microblogging service the primary arena to win public opinion, said the PKR leader.

“So we use Twitter to promote our blogs,” he said smiling.

Muhyiddin expects mass exodus from failed Pakatan

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the current infighting in the opposition pact shows that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has failed as a coalition.

The Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman believes that there will a mass exodus from PR.

“I imagine that there would be a mass exodus and I think it is already happening for obvious reasons because the problem is very glaring. The dissatisfaction cannot be hidden anymore,” Muhyiddin (picture) told reporters at the Felda headquarters here.

“It is out in the open, how they are not satisfied with the way Lim Guan Eng is running the state. They are not happy with how Khalid Ibrahim is running the state. Of course, even in Kedah with the failure of managing the state in terms of providing water and utilities. Obviously it has shown the failure and what we hope is that the public would be aware of this,” added the Umno deputy president.

Muhyiddin said the animosity between the different opposition parties was a clear indication that PR is not sustainable.

“The fact that there is a war out in the open among the various components of the opposition indicates that they can’t work together. It is only a year plus after the last election but they seem not to be sustainable. Whereas BN has shown the way forward. I think the comparison is very clear,” he added.

PR is currently embroiled in a crisis as its de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim faces a career-ending sodomy trial with infighting between its members intensifying.

Three PKR federal lawmakers — Zulkifli Nordin (Kulim Bandar Baharu), Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim (Bayan Baru) and Tan Tee Beng (Nibong Tebal) — have been referred to the party disciplinary committee for their outburst against the party’s partners in PR.

Also ordered to face the disciplinary committee is former law minister and architect of PR’s common policy framework Datuk Zaid Ibrahim for criticising the party for not taking immediate action against Zulkifli, who had lodged a police report against PAS’s Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad over the “Allah” row.

Zulkifli has also predicted on national television there will be mass resignations from PKR in the next two or three weeks, saying party members have lost faith in PKR’s leadership for ignoring their complaints about the DAP.

He also said that DAP was not needed and that it was a “thorn in the flesh” of PR.

Bala says no to Singapore rendezvous with MACC

By G. Manimaran - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 — Elusive private investigator P. Balasubramaniam (picture) has declined to meet the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in Singapore in order to give his testimony about allegations surrounding the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.

He is the MACC key witness in its investigation into allegations made about the involvement of Datuk Seri Najib Razak's family in the Mongolian model’s case.

“They (MACC) want to take my client’s testimony at our High Commission in Singapore, but we decline,” said his counsel Americk Sidhu to The Malaysian Insider.

He did not give specific reasons but it is known that Balasubramaniam has made his personal security a prerequisite for his testimony and was unwilling to compromise it.

Americk said his client had other objections too.

“They want to classify all our correspondences as ‘secrets’ under the OSA, which we disagree to, and I am not at liberty to say more until we receive feedback to our letter expressing our disagreement to the conditions they intend to impose on us,” said Americk.

In mid-January after becoming Chief Commissioner of the MACC Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamed on Jan 1 stated that his team was willing to meet Balasubramaniam anywhere overseas to get his testimony, after the release of a new recording connected to Altantuya.

Balasubramaniam has been abroad for more than a year after making two statutory declarations (SD) in relations to Altantuya, who was murdered in 2006.

His second SD made the day after his first one, debunked his initial declaration.

Abu Kassim sees Balasubramaniam as the key witness in their investigations and has said the MACC is willing to take any measures to get Balasubramaniam’s assistance in the matter.

In early January Balasubramaniam expressed through his attorney that he was willing to speak to the MACC

In the email sent to the MACC, Balasubramaniam outlined six conditions, including having the interview in either Singapore or London.

Americk stressed that his client was willing to assist the MACC as long as his security was not compromised.

On Dec 4, PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin made a report and handed over recordings of a Balasubramaniam interview implicating Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s brother in the filing of his second contradictory SD.

The said interview was made with three lawyers in Singapore last year.

After local websites posted the interview, PKR Youth leaders filed a report to the MACC naming Datuk Nazim Razak and carpet trader Deepak Jaikishan, asking them to be investigated.

Deepak is alleged to be a close associate of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, the wife of the prime minister.

Raja Petra's son warded after swallowing razor blade

(Bernama/Malaysiakini) - Raja Azman Raja Petra, a son of Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin, who was recently jailed for theft has been warded after he was believed to have swallowed a razor blade.

Gombak police chief ACP Abdul Rahim Abdullah said the 34-year-old Raja Azman was spotted in a weak condition in his cell at the Sungai Buloh Prison by a warder while making his rounds on Tuesday evening.

Abdul Rahim said Raja Azman, who also had slashes on his wrist, was immediately rushed to the Sungai Buloh Hospital and was reported to be in a stable condition.

In his blog, Raja Petra claimed that his son inflicted the injuries as he could no longer take the physical and mental torture he was subjected to by the prison authorities.

Rahim, however, refused to comment on the allegation.

"Investigations are still at the early stages. Give us time," he said when contacted.

Raja Azman, the second child of Raja Petra, had last year pleaded guilty at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court to four counts of theft, receiving stolen property and criminal trespass.

He was accused of stealing a Nokia mobile phone, a Seiko watch, and a bunch of motorcycle keys, all worth about RM3,850, belonging to student Saipul Adli Mohamad Yunus, 21, at No 16, Jalan Sastera, U2/1K, Section U2, Shah Alam, at about 10am on April 24.

He was also accused of stealing a Yamaha 135 LC motorcycle worth about RM6,000 from student Ahmad Firdaus Jalaludin, 23, at the same location and time.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Bernama and Malaysiakini reports above are inaccurate. Raja Azman pleaded guilty to the charges after he was beaten up in the police station and was forced to plead guilty. He later told the court he was beaten up to force him to plead guilty.

He then withdrew his guilty plea and pleaded NOT guilty

Raja Azman has also not been jailed as the reports say. He is under remand in the Sungai Buloh Prison while awaiting trial because he did not apply for bail.

Both the Bernama and Malaysiakini reports are incorrect.

Furthermore, Raja Azman was admitted into the psychiatric ward after going berserk during a beating session and was later transferred to solitary confinement.

On 6 February 2010 he was again subjected to a beating and then transferred to a punishment cell meant for one. However, Raja Azman was made to share this cell with five other prisoners.

While in this punishment cell, Raja Azman was given the razor blade, which he used to slash his wrist and then he swallowed the razor blade.

This is to correct the errors and omissions in the Bernama and Malaysiakini reports, which we believe was done with malicious intent.

Nazri: Malaysia Upholds the Rule of Law

The Wall Street Journal

The editorial published prior to the beginning of the judicial proceeding against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim ("Anwar's Second Sodomy Trial," Feb. 2) presented a misleading characterization of the trial by focusing on the view of the defendant, rather than presenting a balanced account that included a fair presentation of Mr. Anwar's alleged victim. As a consequence, The Wall Street Journal Asia falsely cast this trial as politically motivated and portrayed the defendant as the victim.

This case is not political, but a matter to be worked through in our criminal justice system, as it would in any other country. The alleged victim and his family are seeking justice, as is their right under the law.

Malaysia recognizes the presumption of innocence, and this case is no exception. As is the standard practice in Malaysia, the rights of both the accuser and the accused will be respected during the trial of Mr. Anwar. We support due process as each party has an opportunity to present their case to an impartial judge.

Similarly, our government is dedicated to upholding the rule of law and the principle that no one is above the law. Again, this case is no exception. Malaysia's legal system has the obligation to proceed, not because the accused is Mr. Anwar, but because it has the responsibility to protect and pursue justice on behalf of Malaysian citizens, irrespective of politics.

Nazri Abdul Aziz

Anwar suffers another setback

PUTRAJAYA: The Anwar Ibrahim trial may be over by the time the opposition leader gets a hearing on his application for a review of the Federal Court’s ruling that denied him access to key documents to help him prepare his defence.

According to a Bernama report, one of his lawyers said yesterday that the Federal Court Registry had told him the hearing would be on Feb 25 in the afternoon.

“It is most regrettable that such a late date is given for such a crucial decision,” said the lawyer, S.N. Nair. “By then the Criminal High Court would have adjourned the sodomy trial. The High Court had fixed Jan 25 until Feb 25 for trial.”

On Feb 3, Anwar’s defence team met Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Alauddin Mohd Sheriff and asked for the review application to be heard urgently, but the court did not give any date.

thenutgraph.com

IT is a cardinal rule in the game of musical chairs that once someone has occupied a seat, no one else can validly sit in it. The Federal Court however, appears to think otherwise in declaring the Barisan Nasional (BN)'s Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir the rightful Perak Menteri Besar. This is despite the fact that ousted Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, from Pakatan Rakyat, never resigned from office.

The Federal Court ruled that the sultan could establish a loss of confidence in the menteri besar by referring to "extraneous sources" and therefore appoint a new menteri besar. In its 11 May 2009 decision, however, the High Court said that this could only be decided by a vote of no-confidence in the legislative assembly.

Party politics and even Perak aside, has the Federal Court's decision helped or hindered Malaysia's progress in becoming a more genuine democracy? Should the sultan or any other head of state have the power to decide when a menteri besar has lost the assembly's confidence? Or is a democratically-elected legislative assembly the proper forum for such issues to be settled?

"Extraneous sources"

Article 16(6) of the Perak Constitution states that if a menteri besar loses the majority's confidence in the state assembly, then he or she shall resign together with the executive council. This must happen unless the sultan dissolves the assembly at his or her request.

The Federal Court's unanimous decision was that Nizar had indeed lost the majority's confidence in the assembly. They cited several reasons for their conclusion:

Nizar himself admitted this loss of confidence by requesting the sultan to dissolve the assembly under Article 16(6), and

Thirty-one out of 59 Perak representatives had declared their support for the BN to the Sultan of Perak.

The court rejected Nizar's argument that he had invoked Article 36(2) instead of Article 16(6). Article 36(2) confers general powers on the sultan to dissolve the assembly without mentioning any prerequisites.

At any rate, the Federal Court ruled that regardless of which article Nizar invoked, it was clear that Nizar had lost the majority's support. This was because of the undisputed testimony of the 31 elected representatives to the Perak Sultan.

The sultan was therefore right in concluding that the assembly had lost confidence in Nizar and hence was also correct to direct Nizar to resign. Since Nizar failed to resign, to give effect to Article 16(6) which states that the menteri besar shall resign upon losing confidence, his seat was therefore deemed vacant and a new menteri besar appointed.

The Federal Court also affirmed the sultan's right to refuse to dissolve the assembly despite the menteri besar's request as this was within the ruler's absolute discretion.

Legislative assembly decides

High Court Judge Datuk Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahim, whom the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court overruled, took a different view.

He held that only a vote in the legislative assembly could determine the loss of the majority's confidence as described under Article 16(6). Although he firmly affirmed the sultan's constitutional role to appoint a menteri besar, Justice Aziz said the sultan's opinion was "irrelevant" when it came to ascertaining a loss of confidence amongst assembly members. His reasons were as follows:

Nothing in Article 16(6) says the sultan is involved in ascertaining a loss of the majority's confidence in the assembly.

Article 16(7) expressly states that the menteri besar does not hold office at the sultan's pleasure. The sultan therefore has no power to dismiss or direct a menteri besar to resign.

Article 16(5) also states that the executive council, which the menteri besar heads, is collectively responsible to the legislative assembly.

Justice Aziz concluded that as the menteri besar was accountable to the assembly, and not to the sultan, it is only through the assembly that a loss of confidence can be determined.

This was in line with established precedents such as the Stephen Kalong Ningkan case in 1966. It was held by the Borneo High Court then that the Sarawak Governor had no jurisdiction to direct the chief minister to resign. This was despite the governor receiving a letter signed by a majority of the state assembly declaring their loss of confidence in the chief minister.

Deemed vacant?

Justice Aziz also ruled that even if it was established that the menteri besar had lost the majority's confidence, the constitution did not give the sultan any power to direct him to resign.

NizarHe acknowledged that there appeared to be a lacuna in the law as the constitution was silent on what would occur if the menteri besar refused to resign. Justice Aziz stressed that nonetheless, it would be wrong to therefore conclude that the seat would be deemed vacant, stating: "...the Court is not at liberty to stretch or pervert the language of the constitution for the purpose of supplying omission or of correcting supposed errors."

Any lacuna should be dealt with by proposing an amendment to the constitution which can be debated in the assembly and not by the courts reading their own corrections into it.

As no vote was taken in the assembly on Nizar, a loss of the majority's confidence was therefore not established. Nizar therefore did not need to resign according to Article 16(6). And since he had indeed not resigned, Nizar was still the menteri besar. And as there was nothing in the constitution that allowed for Perak to have two menteris besar at the same time, Zambry's appointment was therefore invalid.

Democracy

Although the loss of the majority's confidence may seem like a simple mathematical sum which anyone can calculate, democratic structures and constitutions must be followed to ensure accountability and fairness. Malaysia has a constitutional monarchy and a ruler's prerogatives and discretions are strictly governed by the federal and state constitutions.

In the absence of any provision conferring power on the sultans, their opinions would be as legally relevant as any other Malaysian's in deciding state matters. Perak has a democratically elected state government, accountable to the people and subject to fresh elections every five years. Justice Aziz's conclusion that it was the assembly that should have determined the confidence issue, rather than the sultan, seems closer to democratic principles.

Zambry

Although the Federal Court is the apex court in Malaysia, and can freely overrule the High Court, it still has to do so based on sound reasoning and in reference to established precedents. In affirming Zambry's position, the Federal Court has read extra meanings into Article 16(6) of the Perak constitution other than what a plain reading would produce. These extra meanings are that:

The sultan can conclude that a menteri besar has lost the majority's confidence through extraneous sources despite the constitution giving no role to the sultan on this matter; and

That the menteri besar's seat can be deemed vacant if he doesn't resign, even though the constitution is silent on this.

Whatever the merits of this recent decision, its weaknesses will certainly not help build public trust and confidence in the judiciary's already battered image. And that surely cannot bode well for democracy in Malaysia.

Malaysia would have been spared the religious troubles of the past month if inter-religious dialogues had been institutionalized as an important aspec

The Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council decided on 31st January 2010 to convene tonight’s inter-religious dialogue because we believe that the overwhelming majority of Malaysians from all religions are men and women of good will and good sense who want religion to unite and not divide, to build and not to destroy, the nation.

During the course of the historic dialogue tonight, bringing together representatives from all the great religions in Malaysia to freely and frankly exchange views and share their common concerns for the best welfare of the country, I was struck by the thought that Malaysia would have been spared the religious troubles of the past month if inter-religious dialogues had been institutionalized as an important aspect of nation-building in the past five decades.

Bapa Malaysia and the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, established the Inter-Religious Organisation to provide a common platform to bring representatives of all religions together to work for the common good and it is most unfortunate that Tunku’s initiative was discarded in the past few decades.

Tonight’s inter-religious dialogue is a historic one. As Dr. Herman Shastri has said, the mechanism of trust has broken down and in our challenge and task to rebuild this mechanism of trust, regular inter-religious dialogues among the different faiths in the country plays an important part.

We pride in holding out to the world that Malaysia is a model multi-religious country in the international campaign to promote tourism to Malaysia. Our leaders go on international forums to advocate inter-civilisational and inter-religious dialogues.

But the greatest anomaly is that inter-religious dialogues in the country are not encouraged by the authorities concerned, so much so that Pakatan Rakyat has to take this initiative to organize this historic inter-religious dialogue tonight to address the recent spate of attacks on places of worship of different faiths, which is giving Malaysia such a bad name internationally.

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has come out with his 1Malaysia slogan and concept. What is 1Malaysia?

I have always advocated that the objective of nation-building is to create a Malaysian who regards himself as a Malaysian first and his race (whether Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan or Iban), religion (whether Muslim, Christian,Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh) or region second.

But over the years, I had not found any Barisan Nasional leader endorsing my definition of the objective of Malaysian nation-building.

I was pleasantly surprised that this definition has been adopted in the 1Malaysia Government Transformation Programme (GTP) Roadmap – “a nation where, it is hoped, every Malaysian perceives himself or herself as Malaysian first, and by race, religion, geographical region or socio-economic background second”. (p 11)

But is the Barisan Nasional government really serious about this objective of Malaysian nation-building?

If so, there would have been no need for any 1Malaysia slogan and concept for Malaysia today would be a 1Malaysia in fact and reality!

Let tonight’s event be the belated but historic start of the institutionalization of inter-religious dialogues as an important contribution to Malaysian nation-building, involving all stakeholders including the ruling parties.

[Closing remarks at the Inter-Religious Dialogue organized by Pakatan Rakyat held at The Club, Bukit Utama Golf Course on Wednesday, 10th February 2010 at 10.30 pm]

Muslims In The Country Should Project True Islamic Teachings - Dr Mahathir

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- The Muslim community should be more active in projecting the true Islamic teachings to the non-Muslims in the country by practising the true teachings of the religion.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Muslims should review deeply the Islamic teachings as stated in the Al-Quran, the true traditions of Prophet Muhammad (hadis) and must practise the true Islamic teachings so that the religion would be preceived to be dynamic and holy.

"In order to give such a picture, it is most important that the Muslims themselves demonstrate the culture propagated by Islam. At times, we find that the Muslims themselves behave in a manner that tarnishes the Islamic religion," he said in his speech at the 50th anniversary of Perkim 2010/1431 at the Federal territory Mosque, here Wednesday night.

In fact, he said there were still much criticisms and slanders against the Muslims especially the Malay Muslims.

"We are frequently branded as a religion of terrorism. In fact, there are people who accuse that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was a terrorist leader. Our image is very bad currently," he said.

Accused in arsenic demo acquitted!

The magistrate in the long-running arsenic protest case has acquitted the 27 accused after the prosecution failed to produce material witnesses in court.

Free at last! - Photo courtesy of Tian Chua

The prosecutors had failed to produce the seven remaining witnesses including CID director Bakri Zinin in court, according to Tian Chua, one of those acquitted.

The marathon case lasted 10 years and five months and passed through the hands of six magistrates and five deputy public prosecutors, he noted. Thirty were originally charged: two of them passed away, one pleaded guilty (and was fined), leaving 27 behind.

The accused were charged with participating in a protest on 19 September 1999 over an alleged attempt to poison Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim with arsenic at a time when his first sodomy trial was ongoing.

Among the others acquitted are Hishamuddin Rais, Hatta Ramli, Sivarasa Rasiah, and Abdul Malek Hussin.