Dr M's cross-hairs on Zaid's race horses

Sodomy II: Anwar appeals against 'qazaf' decision

Dr Xavier: It's a tough fight

Hiburan MIC di KKB

Hulu S’gor: Why does GT resources have to bail out MAIKA Holdings, why not the BN Government themselves as in all the previous bailouts like the Deposit Taking Co-operatives,Bank Rakyat, MAS, Syarikat Perkapalan.Bank Bumi, Renong etc. And why is there no written commitment about any of the offer yet – why only press statements.

The manipulations of the Indian poor continues in the MAIKA fiasco.This is yet another attempt at pre-election promises and then nothing as always. Do not be fooled.
The MIC/UMNO/BN leaders have decided on the following directly or indirectly:
1) The MAIKA Shareholders will be reimbursed their investments in MAIKA –a ringgit for ringgit.
2) The company GT resources will be the vehicle which will buy back all the shares of MAIKA from its current shareholders
3) On May 1^st GT resources will make that ringgit for ringgit offer for the entire RM 106 million stake.
4) The key player in GT resources Gnanalingam gave an assurance that that MAIKA shareholders will get back their investments within three months of the offer or the 31st of July 2010.
There is a problem with each of these propositions.
Let me quote Gnanalingam, “ We thought a fair system would be to pay back all the shareholders what they have invested even though the company is now valued at only RM 85 million.” NST 23^rd April 2010 front page
Contrary to what he said, the ringgit for ringgit payback is only an illusion, it is actually only a 25 sen for a ringgit payback. From 1984 MAIKA has not paid any significant dividend to its shareholders.
In 1987 the Government did a bailout o the 24 Chinese Deposit Taking Cooperatives (DTC) for 1.5 billion ringgits and paid out a ringgit for a ringgit to 588,000 members, mostly Chinese. But the DTCs paid out regular dividends. A ringgit for ringgit under those circumstances was reasonable. Now, if the MIC/UMNO/BN wants to bail out the MAIKA shareholders on the basis of a ringgit for ringgit then it should pay 4 ringgits for each ringgit of investment, as MAIKA has not paid any significant dividend all these 26 years.
Otherwise they must say that they are only paying back a quarter of the money invested by the largely poor 66,000 odd shareholders and not a ringgit for ringgit and create an illusion of equity when in fact they have lost 3 quarters of their investment.
When the BN Government can directly bailout the DTCs in 1987 for RM1.5 billion on a true ringgit for ringgit basis, they should do the same here. They use a private vehicle of GT resources for this purpose to deflect that responsibility.
This tactic aids the Government from accepting any responsibility for the problem, for the loss encountered by the Indian poor due to a program of one of its component parties. MIC did this in response to the NEP of the 1980s where large scale channeling of the National resource went into vehicles like the PNB and created significant dissatisfaction among the Indians and the Chinese. To counter this UMNO encouraged the formation of ethnically orientated capital mobilization vehicles . Arise Multipuprose Holding, arise MAIKA. UMNO/BN has a direct hand in the formation of MAIKA holdings and in inviting  all the Indians in the country to invest in what appeared as a PNB/ASN type scheme. But MAIKA obviously was no PNB .
When they bailed out the DTCs or all the failed BUMI owned companies the BN /UMNO Government  accepted responsibility outright,they did not use white knights companies. What is so special about this situation that you need a white Knight.Think about the “niat” in all this.
Because Indians do not really matter the best way of dealing with them is the cheapest way. Something necessarily must be done, but what is the cheapest or most expedient way of doing this – that is the niat . Whenever  it comes to Indian issues you will see this pattern and these things are very visible during election times. The facts in this case here speaks volumes about that.
In any case, we do not think that the GT resources will make the offer on the 1^st of May 2010 to buy back the shares from MAIKA shareholders. This is a Hulu Selangor Election gimmick. Just you wait and see. This is no more than gimmick. If this is not so, then can they issue a legally binding document to this effect, but they do not. Either the MAIKA Holding Management to its shareholders and put it up on the website or from GT resources to MAIKA holdings and put it out on the MAIKA website. They will surely not do this as we see this as just a pre-election gimmick.
Also we do not think that the shareholders will get their cheques by the 31^st of July 2010 as Gnanalingam is assuring . All this is just to simply delude. There is no firm commitment to any of these schedules. This is exactly what we have seen all these 52 years from the MIC/UMNO/BN politicians. Just the same theatrics.
Naragan





(refer NST online)

Maika payout by July 31

2010/04/23
By R. Sittamparam
news@nst.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: Westports executive chairman Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam has emerged as the “white knight” who will take over Maika Holdings Bhd, the failed MIC investment vehicle.
The highly-respected Indian businessman will on May 1 make a ringgit-for-ringgit offer for the entire RM106 million Maika stake through the newly-formed entity, GT Re sources.
Gnanalingam gave an assurance that Maika shareholders would get back their investments within three months of the offer.
He hoped to close the Maika saga with the recovery of its RM85 million funds, on resolving its financial liabilities and assets within six months.
Established in 1982 to enable Malaysian Indians to par ticipate in the country’s economic growth, Maika had failed to produce the required results.
The company’s failure to provide returns to shareholders has remained a major problem for the MIC and the Indian community over the past 26 years.
MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu’s son, Vel Paari, is the company’s current chief executive officer.
“I’m no ‘white knight’ but I feel it’s my duty as a responsible Indian businessman to come forward to resolve this long- standing problem for the sake of shareholders,” Gnanalingam said at a press conference yesterday.
“This is also in line with my role as co-chairman of the task force set up by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to identify and monitor issues concerning the Indian com munity, among which was to find a solution for the Maika shareholders.”
Gnanalingam said some shareholders had sold off their shares for 30 sen to 50 sen while the present shareholders were willing to sell their shares for 50 sen.
“We thought a fair system would be to pay back all the shareholders what they have invested even though the company is now valued at only RM85 million.”
Gnanalingam said it should be understood that GT Re sources’ move to buy Maika was not profit driven as the company would suffer a RM20 million loss.
It was also not a bailout to lighten MIC’s burden or politically motivated, he added.
“We hope to eventually sell off Maika’s 75 per cent stake in the RM130 million Oriental Capital Assurance (OCA), once the merger of the country’s insurance companies takes off soon.
“We are also considering a plan to develop Maika’s land assets, now worth RM11million.”
Gnanalingam said GT Resources, run by a board of trustees chaired by him and comprising Datuk Kuna Sithampalan, Bank Negara and Petronas director Datuk N. Sad hasivan, ex-Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (Mida) director-general Datuk R. Karunakaran and special officer in the Prime Minister’s Department Ravin Ponniah, had already obtained 12 per cent of the shares held by the Maika management.
He said GT Resources anticipated some problems in re- purchasing the shares from Maika’s 66,000 shareholders, who are mainly poor Indian estate workers spread all over the country.
“There will be shareholders who have passed away or those who have lost their share certificates. We need to find a method in such cases to determine the rightful share holders.
“There is also an injunction by Nesa Cooperative to block the sale of OCA, which has to be resolved in the courts. There are also Bank Negara regulations which we’ve to abide by.”

UMNO’s social engineering reduce Malaysian Indians to baggers

From rubber tappers to baggers.

A piece of Ethiopia in One Malay-sia. Indian poor couple live on left over restaurant food throw away in UMNO and PKR ruled Selangor.

Indian poor couple live on left over restaurant food throw away in UMNO and PKR ruled Selangor
We have heard stories like this happening in poverty stricken India some forty years ago but today this no longer happens in India but still happens in the UMNO regime in Malay-sia and PKR ruled Selangor. Perhaps this R.Kanniappan (60) would have been better off in India had the British not brought his ancestors to Malaysia.
The picture of the frail, skinny, bone and skin of R.Kanniappan (below) speaks a thousand words.
But why does this happen only to the poor Indians in Malaysia? All other poor Malays, Chinese, Orang asli or natives are unheard of suffering and labouring in this level of poverty.
The former rubber tapper Kanniappan is today unemployed.
The cowshed looking hut Kanniappan and his 59 year old wife stays has no water and electricity. He lives in dirty filthy and dark living conditions. The picture paints a scavenger with no personal belongings in his home. They both have been denied birth certificates identity cards and Malaysian citizenship although they are both born in this country. (MN 21/4/2010 front page and page 10).
This is the result of UMNO’s social engineering. Had UMNO given Kanniappan a piece of the ten acre Felda likeland ownership schemes as granted for the poor Malays, Orang asli and natives, Kaniappan would not be in this position today
Read more:-
http://www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com/2010/04/21/a-piece-of-ethiopia-in-one-malay-sia-indian-poor-couple-live-on-left-over-restaurant-food-throw-away-in-umno-and-pkr-ruled-selangor/

Chief Justice but no Justice in P.Uthayakumar’s Kg Medan “ethnic cleansing” criminal malicious prosecution. AG, IGP and UMNO chicken out. Berani kerana benar, takut kerana salah.

Chief Justice but no Justice in P.Uthayakumar’s Kg Medan “ethnic cleansing” criminal malicious prosecution. AG, IGP and UMNO chicken out. Berani kerana benar, takut kerana salah.
K.L 23/4/2010. This morning the Criminal Court proceedings against P.Uthayakumar on his ‘ethnic cleansing’ of Kg Medan Indians came up for hearing of an application for specific documents before High Court Judge Datuk Zabidian Mohamad Diah for the following documents:-
1. All papers and minutes as to why a Royal Commission of Inquiry was denied in the Kg Medan racial attacks specifically targeted against the Indians where five Indians were killed and 100 over others were brutally slashed and caused grievous bodily injuries.
2. All minutes and papers as to why the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia has refused to hold an Inquiry.
3. All papers, minutes and documents on why the Chief Justice and the Attorney General had refused to hold an inquest into the murder of five Indians in the Kg Medan racial attacks tragedy.  
4. All papers, minutes and documents on why the Attorney General has refused to seriously prosecute for the murder and manslaughter of five Indians and grievous bodily harm and injuries one hundred over Indians.
5. The white paper on Kg Medan to be presented in Parliament.
The Attorney General and UMNO knows how to maliciously prosecute but are refusing to be transparent in handing over the aforesaid documents to P.Uthayakumar to prepare for his ethnic cleansing trial.
Despite P.Uthayakumar’s lawyer N.Surendran’s spot on and right to the point submissions, the said High Court Judge, listened to the AG through his alter ego DPP Noorin Badaruddin and dismissed P.Uthayakumar’s application for the aforesaid documents.
UMNO, the AG and IGP are bent on silencing and by putting P.Uthayakumar in jail for up to three years in Malaysia’s Kangaroo Court which will take UMNO’s instructions.
This aforesaid court decision is testimony to this biased and partiality to UMNO judiciary in Malaysia. So that P.Uthayakumar will again be locked up in prison and so that he will no longer be able to speak up for the poor Indians who are oppressed and suppressed by the UMNO regime.
In Malay-sian Courts right up to the highest Federal Court we will only get racist UMNO justice by the 95% Malay Muslim dominated Judiciary.
M.Krishnan

Hulu S’gor: Anwar Ibrahim’s PKR Indian Exco mandore’s last minute and desperate MIC style kosong wayang kulit

  Hulu S’gor: Anwar Ibrahim’s PKR Indian Exco mandore’s last minute and desperate MIC style kosong wayang kulit
This Chief Selangor Indian Exco mandore is doing his last minute and desperate kosong Tamil newspaper politics by false promises of acres and acres of land for Tamil schools and peanut thousands of Ringgit for Tamil schools in Selangor.
As usual the titles to these Tamil schools are never made public just like how the MIC has been doing in the previous 50 years.
We want an end to this MIC trademark and PKR’s ably aped and trademark infringement mandore politics. We want all 98 Tamil schools in Selangor to be granted state government land so that this ‘malnourishment’ of these Tamil schools would be put to an end when the UMNO Federal government would be forced to give them full financial aid status, as the schools would be located on their own land.
And also that these MIC and PKR Exco mandores can no longer play ‘mahjong’ and keep on telling us stories of Tamil school land here and Tamil school land there just to remain politically relevant by their kosong Tamil newspaper politics.
This PKR Indian Exco mandore dishes out peanuts of a few thousand ringgit for this or that Tamil school. But why can’t he get his Tuan Menteri Besar to grant RM120 million or RM6 million per Tamil school, as was given to the 99% Malay Muslim Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Trolak and the Hulu Selangor Chinese school respectively! Millions for the Malays and Chinese but “mere Tamil newspaper announcements of peanuts thousands, but even then which works out to a mere RM100 per head per year for Tamil school pupils.
End MIC and PKR, DAP and PAS copied Mandorism by the Tuans and Tow Kays!
P.Uthayakumar

Malay muslim dominated judiciary – concerns in the pre-independence 1956 Reid Commission proposal. Zero Indian Judge in Federal Court.

Malay muslim dominated judiciary – concern in the pre-independence 1956 Reid Commission proposal. Zero Indian Judge in Federal Court.
20th Meeting of the Reid Commission on 24/8/1956
What is discrimination is to be defined. Cannot leave it to Malayan Courts.
Tamil Representative Council Penang and Province Wellesley letter dated 15/7/1956
Public Service monopoly of any community will lead to hatred and injustice.
Memorandum by peoples Progressive Party (Dr. Seenivasagam (18/7/1956)  
Appointment of Judges – to implement a policy of “Malaysianisation” by indiscriminate appointment of Judges without sufficient regard to their suitability is bound to plunge the country into chaos and destroy public confidence in the administration of Justice. Proviso in Constitution that for some time Judges from India and Pakistan are to serve in Malaya.
Today after 53 years of independence this concern has become a reality. One race dominates the judiciary.
Today 95% of the Malaysian Judiciary has become reserved for the Malay muslims, however qualified or deserving the Indians or Chinese may be (see UM 17/4/10 at page 7).
Even up to in the 1980s’ the No 2 job in the Judiciary ie the post of the Chief Justice was held by Justice Gill.
There is zero Indian Judges in the federal court. Indians in this country are well known and calibred lawyers but they do not accordingly get chosen to become judges simply because they are Indians.
This level of racism does not happen in any other part of the world except in Prime Minister Najib Razak’s One Malay-sia.
P. Uthayakumar

Hulu S’gor: UMNO menafikan bekalan elektrik kepada Sekolah Tamil Eskot

UMNO menafikan bekalan elektrik kepada Sekolah Tamil Eskot
TANJUNG MALIM, 10 April – Sekolah Tamil Eskot diselubungi kegelapan sejak 50 tahun yang lalu kerana tiada bekalan elektrik. “Walaupun Kerajaan di bawah pimpinan UMNO sudah memerintah negara lebih daripada 52 tahun namun Ahli Parlimen kawasan tersebut tidak mengambil sebarang usaha untuk mendapatkan bekalan elektrik bagi sekolah tersebut,” kata Ahli Parlimen Sungkai Sivanesan. Malah sekolah ini juga tiada kemudahan bekalan air. Kini sekolah tersebut mempunyai jumlah murid seramai 59 orang. Dan 45% daripada murid tersebut telah lulus dalam peperiksaan UPSR.   
Komen HRP: Dari jumlah sebanyak RM191.5 Bilion yang telah diperuntukkan dalam bajet 2010, RM30 Bilion telah diagihkan untuk pembinaan 80 buah sekolah baru, 1,100 bangunan tambahan dan 347 projek pemindahan sekolah (school replacement projects). Namun usaha untuk menukar sekolah-sekolah tamil kepada sekolah bantuan penuh seperti sekolah tamil Eskot masih tidak dapat direalisasikan daripada jumlah yang diagihkan khas untuk bahagian sekolah. Ini jelas menunjukkan bahawa sekolah-sekolah Tamil masih ke hari ini dinafi untuk dijadikan sebagai sekolah yang mendapat bantuan penuh kerajaan. Malah air dan bekalan elektrik dinafikan. Gagasan 1 Malay-sia? Rakyat Didahulukan …?





 

Nine Kampung Buah Pala residents seek justice

By Athi Shankar - Free Malaysia Today

GEORGE TOWN: Nine disgruntled former residents of Kampung Buah Pala in Bukit Gelugor have filed an application seeking a court review and declaration on the land status of the demolished village.

Kampung Buah Pala Residents Association chairman M Sugumaran said senior resident M Ayamah, 69, filed the application on the behalf of the ex-villagers in the High Court here two weeks ago.

Lawyers Danny C Navaratnam and V Sivagurupatham are representing the nine families.

In her affidavit, Ayamah has also sought a court order to instruct the Penang government to compensate the nine adequately over the loss of their livelihoods and homes.

The nine households are until today denied any compensation by the DAP-led state government, which advocates competency, accountability and transparency (CAT) as its official motto of governance.

The nine are V Odayappan, 88, Draviam Arul Pillay, 84, M Karupiah Thevar, 81, M Ayamah, 75, I Muniandy, 73, P Kaliammal, 66, I Pasunagi, 61, R Indiani, 60, and R Supramaniam, 58.

“We have sent four legal notices of action to the state government seeking compensation for the nine households.

“However, until today the state government had kept a deafening silence on the issue,” Sugumaran told reporters at the former village site today.

In her affidavit to support her application, Ayamah has sought a court redress on how the land status of the village, kept as Brown Estate Trust under federal trust, was changed into a state temporary occupation licence (TOL) land.

Ayamah also wants a court’s verdict on how the current Pakatan Rakyat-led state government could have transferred the land title to a civil servants cooperative society, Koperasi Pegawai Kanan Kerajaan Pulau Pinang, when the land was still under federal trust.

“We want to know when and how a federal trust land had changed status to a state-owned TOL land, and subsequently sold for a private project, ” Sugumaran said.

He said the villagers wanted a court declaration on whether the land title transfer approved by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on March 27, 2008 was legitimate.

Kampung Buah Pala was once known as Penang Tamil High Chaparral for its population of cowherds, cattle, goats and other livestock, unique Indian cultural features and festivities.

Harsh lesson

The 200-year-old Indian traditional village was demolished last September by developer Nusmetro Venture (P) Sdn Bhd, while families were still living there, to pave the way for a posh condominium project called the Oasis.

The nine were the only residents among the original 33 left uncompensated.

The nine had accepted the compensation and shifted elsewhere, leaving behind the 24 families to fight out their case in court.

Following a Federal Court’s refusal to allow a full trial to determine the status of the village land mid-last year, the developer moved in swiftly to demolish the homes.

The state government had given an assurance that the 24 families, including the nine, would get a double-storey house each.

But until today, no sales and purchase agreement has been signed between the developer and former villagers for the double-storey houses.

Sugumaran called on the state government to show proof, if any, that the houses had been documented and legalised.

He also slammed Lim, his deputies Mansor Othman and P Ramasamy, Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh and Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer, for their incompetence in resolving the compensation issue.

“All of them have neglected their duties to the Kampung Buah Pala villagers.

“These are the leaders who have promised to save the village for us,” said Sugumaran.

Meanwhile, the association assistant secretary C Tharmaraj called on Hulu Selangor voters to cast their ballot wisely on Sunday.

He recalled that Ramasamy and Rayer had vowed that the developer would have to demolish the village over their dead bodies.

He also recalled that PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim made a pre-election promise to save the village if Pakatan came to power.

“But now our village has gone and will be replaced with houses for the rich, courtesy of Guan Eng.

“Hulu Selangor voters should learn a harsh lesson from our predicament,” he said.

Kg Buah Pala to Hulu Selangor: Vote BN

Kg Buah Pala to Hulu Selangor: Vote BN (refer www.Malaysiakini.com 23 April 2010)
Frustrated Kg Buah Pala residents have called on Hulu Selangor voters to cast their ballots in favour of the Barisan Nasional candidate P Kamalanathan.
"This is a humble request from us, please vote for the BN candidate; please do not become victims like us, who were all taken in by their (Pakatan Rakyat government) sweet words,’ pleaded resident I Pasu (right), at the village site today, also known as High Chapparal due to its long history of cattle rearing.
He also pleaded with them to give Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak a chance to prove that his 1Malaysia concept works.
Pasu, a newspaper vendor, was speaking to reporters at Residents Association’s press conference held at a cowshed.
Residents continue to lament that the state government has yet to compensate the nine out of 24 families evicted from the village last September.
Empty promises letdown
At the height of the controversy, the villagers were told they would receive a RM600,000 double storey terrace house each as compensation.
In February, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy had said the state had already secured double-storey homes for 15 of the 24 effected families and was still trying to negotiate for more.
However, the villagers claimed it was all "verbal and not documented".
"This is a lie, they have given us nothing, where are the documents, where is it in black and white?" demanded the RA’s assistant secretary C Thamaras.
"Nine of us who were actively involved in organizing the rest of the village have been singled out by the Penang PR government and are being victimised," he alleged.
He called on the Indian voters of Hulu Selangor to be wary of who they will pick as their parliamentarian.
"Our suggestion to the Indian voters of Hulu Selangor is this…please exercise your votes carefully, so you do not have to face miseries like what we are facing, by voting for an untrustworthy party and untrustworthy individuals," said Thamaras (above), who is a businessman.
He urged them to take a leaf out of their experience and not listen to promises from "untrustworthy politicians".
"Their talk of a better future has not meant anything to us, will not mean anything to you," he added.
"The politicians only want our votes, they do not care for our problems especially so with the Indians because of our numerical and economic weaknesses, so brothers and sisters, please be careful," he added.
The association’s chairperson M Sugumaran (left in pix) also called on the Hulu Selangor electorate not to let their votes go to waste.
"Please think carefully before casting your votes, do not let it go to waste because your vote is very valuable," he said.
"Kg Buah Pala has remained empty promises; do not be swayed by their sweet words, where are all the promises of the Pakatan Rakyat government now?" he asked.

S. Nadarajah: Maika deal ‘Samy Vellu-friendly’

[Nadarajah urged Maika shareholders to vote for PR if buy-out share price is too low. - Picture by Jack Ooi]

Nadarajah urged Maika shareholders to vote for PR if buy-out share price is too low. - Picture by Jack Ooi
By Yow Hong Chieh

KUALA KUBU BARU, April 23 — Maika activist S. Nadarajah today called Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam’s offer to buy out Maika Holdings Bhd a “Samy Vellu-friendly deal” and called for a revaluation of the company.

“It appears that it is politically motivated for Samy Vellu’s exit plan because there are a lot of skeletons in the closet wherein they have not taken the interest of the shareholders seriously,” he said.

Nadarajah, representing the Maika Holdings Shareholders Good Governance Task Force, also repeated his claim that the buy-out is a bid to win back Indian support for the MIC and BN in the run-up to the Hulu Selangor by-election.

“He (Gnanalingam) claims that he’s doing social service. This doesn’t look like a social service. It looks like more like short-changing the shareholders.

“It reinforces further (the notion that) this is... politically motivated,” he stressed.

“We’re not very sure if Gnanalingam is very serious. Is he there to cium tangan the prime minister or taking the Indian interest at heart?”

Nadarajah said if Gnanalingam was really inspired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, as the prominent businessman claimed, he should work closely with the government to make sure shareholders get the best deal.

“It might be even possible to get an interest waiver. Maybe they might save another RM10 million,” the activist suggested.

He said the government should provide projects from GLCs to assist the turnaround, like they did for KUB’s failed investment in Sime Bank.

“They can be more like a broker and make RM30-40 million. This will enhance the offer.”

Nadarajah pointed out that the detailed proposal will only be made after May 1 and asked if the government was going to keep its word if they lost the by-election.

He urged Najib to make a statement on the matter to reassure shareholders.

Nadarajah said that while he welcomed the move by Gnanalingam to buy out Maika, he felt the offer was too low.

“The price is grossly undervalued. We reckon the price would be RM1.10. We don’t know how he got his valuation because the main asset of the company is OCAB (Oriental Capital Assurance Berhad), [an] insurance company.”

Nadarajah pointed out that Ananda Krishnan, through Usaha Tegas Sdn Bhd, had been prepared to offer RM149 million in June 2008 for OCAB’s 74.6 percent stake in Maika.

He said this meant that Ananda had valued Maika at RM200 million.

“If the price is RM0.80 [per share]... I recommend the 1,500 shareholders in Hulu Selangor to vote for the opposition. If it’s RM1.00 or above, [they should] vote the candidate of their choice.”

Nadarajah further urged Pakatan Rakyat Indian MPs and state assemblymen to apply political pressure to ensure that Maika shareholders “are not taken for another ride.”

Maika was established in 1982 to enable Malaysian Indians to increase their market equity but has been plagued by underperforming shares from the start.

Most of its 66,000 shareholders are poor Indian estate workers, some of whom had withdrawn their life savings to invest in the company.

The relatively poor return on investment of Maika shares has been a nagging problem for MIC and the Indian community for the past 26 years.

Gnanalingam revealed yesterday that he was the “white knight” who will buy out troubled Maika Holdings Bhd to the tune of RM106 million.

The executive chairman of West Port already has a 12 percent stake in the troubled company and says he will complete the buy-out in three months.
He claimed it was his intention to return all monies invested by shareholders.

Nik Aziz defends Zaid, calls Umno’s attacks childish

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA KUBU BARU, April 23 — Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat made a last ditch attempt to salvage Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) Hulu Selangor campaign tonight, slamming the attacks on Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s drinking past as “childish”.

The Pakatan Rakyat candidate is facing a blistering campaign from rivals Umno over his “un-Islamic” drinking past but Nik Aziz (picture), who Islamic credentials are well-respected, chose to back the former law minister ahead of Sunday’s polls.

“Itu kerja bodoh (it is a stupid thing to do),” said the charismatic Kelantan Mentri Besar to a packed press conference here.

“He is a candidate of a party so you attack the party and not the candidate. It is childish,” blasted Nik Aziz

The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government is said to be leading the race for the parliamentary seat due to several factors including the effective smear campaign used by Umno.

In recent days, Umno and BN have stepped up their campaign with even Datuk Seri Najib Razak hitting the hustings.

On the stump, the prime minister and Umno president has made uncharacteristically aggressive attacks against PR, by calling Zaid a “Cabinet reject” and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim a two-faced politician.

Umno’s aggressive attacks on Zaid’s character by dredging up his past drinking habit and ownership of race horses have also caused PR to go on the defensive.

DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang had also admitted that PR was trailing its rivals and have sounded the alarm in a desperate attempt to scrape a much needed victory.

Umno leaders had also dug the brittle relation Zaid had with PAS in the past when the former had sued the Terengganu government over attempt to enact the hudud law. Terengganu was under PAS at the time.

PR hopes to capitalise on the holy image of Nik Aziz to cast away doubts over Zaid’s Islamic credentials in the final stretch of the 8-day long campaigning trail.

Aware of BN’s attempt to drive a wedge between PR over the drinking issue, Nik Aziz, just like his fellow PR leaders, moved quickly to contain the damage by reassuring PAS’ support for Zaid and PKR.

“We have no problems being with PR. The Chinese and Malays all support me,” he said after explaining that all man are created equal in Islam.

“There is no racism in Islam,” he added.

Zaid, who was present at the press conference, said he had always look up to the PAS leader and express appreciation for his support.

“He called me almost twice a day everyday when he was in Mecca. He told me to be patient, patient, patient,” said the former Umno man.

Both BN and PR have less than 48 hours to campaign for the crucial by-election.

It is generally agreed that the outcome is a verdict, either support for the Najib administration or a continuous and expanding influence for PR.

Make or break final dash for candidates

By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia Today

KUALA KUBU BARU: The clock is ticking and the heat is on for P Kamalanathan and Zaid Ibrahim. With only two days more before polling stations open, both candidates have quickened the pace of their aggressive schedules to meet and greet as many more voters throughout Hulu Selangor.
From the very start, it was clear that the candidates' individual styles were like chalk and cheese. While Kamalanathan indulged in leisurely chats with the voters on their daily struggles, Zaid was more aloof and addressed the national dimension of local issues.

With election day looming ahead, FMT visited each candidate's walk-about yesterday to observe if the rising temperature had crept under their skin.

Losing his cool?

As soon as he arrived in Kampung Baru Kalumpang, Kamalanathan hit the ground running. Literally. Speed-walking from door to door, he briefly chatted with voters and asked for their support come Sunday. He even approached the village's PKR center to greet the locals sitting outside which promptly unleashed a torrent of 'Reformasi' shouts from party volunteers there.

Kamalanathan was already behind schedule but graciously obliged requests for a photo session and even spared a few minutes clowning around with the locals. Yet when an elderly gentleman wanted to speak to him about his welfare needs, Kamalanathan was heard to say, “Sorry I don't have the time.”

He also sternly brushed off a National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) volunteer who was seeking his support for a 90-day maternity leave. The volunteers told FMT that they would follow him for the rest of the day until he took the time to hear them out.

This was a far cry from two days ago when Kamalanathan spent almost half an hour listening to a family's woes in Kerling and unhurriedly discussing local issues with one of the village leaders.

The usually affable man was also unusually reticent towards the media. He declined to answer any questions and instead directed the media to his blog which he said had all the answers. This about turn is assumed to be linked to the recent allegations that his educational qualifications are fake.

Playing it too cool?

Zaid, on the other hand, is still his usual self. Unflappable and vague. His noon walk-about was scheduled at a small eatery in Kuala Kubu Bharu. He distributed handshakes and some light ribbing to the lunchtime crowd and gamely posed with an ikan bakar stall owner.

Zaid also appeared to have shed his initial reservations and was more responsive towards the crowd's enthusiasm at meeting him. Despite the controversy over his drinking issue and allegations of gambling, his feathers remained unruffled.

“Muslims are sensible people,” he told the journalists there. “Only the Umno leaders lack sensibility. Even some of the Umno fellows have sense which is why they will vote for me.”

However, Zaid remained frustratingly vague on his agenda for the marginalised communities in Hulu Selangor, particularly the Indians. When asked about his plans for the Indian community, all he said was that it was time the Indians put their trust in someone else who wouldn't make empty promises.

“If the Indians still choose to believe in BN then I feel sorry for them,” he said. “I am not the prime minister and I cannot make the promises that he makes. But I will promise to take care of the Indian community as best I can.”

The next 48-hours are a make or break for both candidates and they will have to pull out their aces soon if they haven't already. But one thing is already clear. Both need to pay more attention to how they walk their talk if they want the 'X' to fall on their side of the ring.

PM throws money at Hulu S'gor voters - Malaysiakini

With only less than 48 hours to polling, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today spent his time handing out millions of ringgit to Hulu Selangor voters.

His first stop was Sungai Buaya, where he gave out long overdue cash payment of RM50,000 each to 100 of the 363 Felda settlers.

The payments were compensation promised by the BN government following a failed attempt to develop the Felda land into a northern hub.

In 1994, the Felda settlers had signed off their 10 acres of land each to a developer for RM121,000 an acre, which comes up to RM1.2 million. The total transaction involved 1,335 hectares of land.

The project was later abandoned partly due to the 1997
economic crisis, and the settlers were paid not more than RM250,000 cash in instalments.

'Your misery ends today'

The premier, who joined the villagers for Friday prayers and later had lunch at a nearby school, vowed that BN will pour in more money to develop the area, including a RM85 million North-South Expressway interchange.

He said the construction of the elevated interchange is expected to boost property prices in the abandoned project area.

But there is catch - Najib said that the additional money will only come provided that Selangor falls back into BN's hands in the next general election.

"We have agreed to pay RM160,000 an acre. The payment will be taken care of when the land is developed... (but) that is in your hands. Make sure that in the upcoming general election, Selangor returns to BN's control," said Najib.

While information is sketchy over today's payout, it is understood that the federal government is bringing in a new developer to rescue the abandoned project and will be offering RM160,000 per acre to the settlers.

The RM50,000 from the federal government is apparently a down payment.

"Today, we are giving RM1,000 cash and RM49,000 in bank drafts. I give my word that our promises will be fulfilled," he said.

"Your misery and your long wait ends today.”

MB vs PM

BN's P Kamalanathan and Pakatan Rakyat's Zaid Ibrahim will face off in the Hulu Selangor by-election on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim attempted to blunt Najib's move a few hours earlier in a visit to the same area.

He said the state government would take over the abandoned land and compensate the Felda settlers in three months if the existing developer fails to rescue the Sungai Buaya project.

Khalid, who made the announcement at a community hall in the village, leaked news of BN's cash offer and cautioned them on "BN's tricks" to garner votes.

"Take the money because it is your money but don't sign any documents," Khalid told the people and promised to get them a lawyer to ensure that the transaction is proper.

He pointed out that the BN state government, which was in power for more than 50 years, had failed to address their problems.

The Selangor MB also said the state government would not approve any development project which does not have the settlers' interest at heart.

'Vote for a bigger angpow'

In addition to the cash payments, Najib also promised that troubled Yayasan Basmikan Kemiskinan (YBK) project to construct the UiTM branch in Serendah will be revived if BN is back in power.

"We want change, we will make change if Selangor is won by BN. UiTM will be built in Serendah."

At his next stop this afternoon, Najib vowed to donate RM90,000 for a Chinese cemetery in Hulu Yam Bharu.

Referring to it as an early 'angpow', he pleaded to the Chinese community in the area to vote for a bigger 'angpow'.

Touching on his visit to the United States recently, he told the local residents that he was invited to have bilateral discussion with President Barack Obama.

"The US president wouldn't have wasted his time with us if Malaysia is not good enough," he said in an attempt to refute the opposition's claim that the visit was a public relations stunt.

"Malaysia is an oasis of stability in the region and to be successful we need the mandate of the people of Hulu Selangor," said Najib.

"I want to tell the US president we have the support of Hulu Selangor... We win here and Obama will know that BN is strong.

“Even though Obama doesn't know Hulu Selangor, he will now know," said Najib drawing tumultuous applauses from supporters present.

'Seditious' degree charge: MIC Youth warns RPK

By FMT Staff

PETALING JAYA: MIC Youth has warned popular blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin not to make seditious claims without checking the facts.
This was in response to Raja Petra's claim, published on the Malaysia Today website, that Barisan Nasional candidate P Kamalanathan's degree could have been forged.

“This is a false claim, and the issue was raised with the intention to soil the reputation of the BN candidate for the Hulu Selangor by-election,” said MIC Youth chief T Mohan in a statement.

Earlier, Mohan held a joint press conference with Olympia College's academic director Chan Chee Seng, who confirmed that Kamalanathan had done a twinning programme with the institution.

Chan said Kamalanathan, 44, was a student with Olympia between 2003 and 2004 and successfully completed his course to obtain a bachelors degree in mass communication.

He said the candidate's name is listed in the Edith Cowan University (ECU) alumni, and to verify this on the varsity's search engine, his name must be typed as “P.Kamalanathan /P.Panchanathan”.

In view of this, Mohan said there is no reason to raise this issue again.

'Unprofessional campaign'

The MIC Youth chief stressed that just because Raja Petra is a supporter of PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, it does not give him the right to make seditious claims.

“This also shows Pakatan Rakyat has mounted an unprofessional and immature campaign for the by-election.

“Their campaign has hit a brick wall, forcing them to exploit baseless issues,” he said, adding that MIC Youth is looking into the possibility of taking legal action against Raja Petra.

After questions were raised about his academic qualification, Kamalanathan posted his degree certificate on his blog.

Yesteday, Raja Petra claimed that he did a search on the ECU website and could not locate Kamalanathan's name.

He then raised the possibility of whether the degree could have been forged.

Internet service disruption from tomorrow till Sunday

(Bernama) - Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) says there will be internet services disruption due to cable works on the Southeast Asia-Middle East-Western Europe (SMW4).

TM’s consortium members have detected a cable fault on the SMW4 submarine cable netwrok between Alexandria in Egypt and Palermo in Italy linking Malaysia to Europe and the United States (US).

“The consortium will be carrying out repair works on site on Saturday, April 24, 2010 and it is expected to be completed on Sunday, May 2, 2010,” it said in a statement today.

During the restoration process, there will be some interruption to the traffic to Europe and the US carried through that cable.

“TM is taking active steps to minimise disruptions, we have added additional links on other routes and coordinated with other international carriers in order to provide additional bandwidth for our customers,” it explained.

TM also said despite these initiatives, customers using Internet services nationwide may experience some degree of service degradation such as slow browsing while accessing international websites.

“Customers using Virtual Private Network (VPN) and other critical business applications linked to Europe and the US will be assured minimal degradation of service, if any,” TM said.

Adding further, TM said it will provide necessary updates on the progress of the restoration works.

Customers can call TM at 100 and select ‘Technical Assistance’ or e-mail at help@tm.com.my This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for Internet related problems.

RPK Speaks His Mind - UMNO, Melayu dan Emosi

NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin 

ONLINE POLL AT YAHOO

EUROPE IN RECESSION

1. The recession is not yet over in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe or in the United States. The British pound has devalued much against the Malaysian Ringgit and the Euro has come under strong attacks by the currency traders.

2. Not only are the businesses and banks being bailed out but whole countries (Greece and probably Spain) are being bailed out by the European Union. There seems to be no end to bailing out. They have completely forgotten what they told us in 1997-98.

3. The workers unions are still going on strike and the executives of failed banks and businesses are still demanding to be paid big bonuses. The public screams but there is nothing they can do about it as their money is used to bail out failed companies and banks.

4. It looks like the financial crisis will not be over any time soon.

5. We may feel like applauding. What they did to us in 1997-98 is now hitting them back hard. But unfortunately both America and Europe are big markets for us. If they go down they will drag us down with them.

6. What is certain is that both these continents will not regain their past prosperity. They will recover but not fully. They will be poorer than before the crisis. This is because their former wealth was acquired through abuses of their monetary, financial and banking systems. Since they cannot abuse these systems as freely as before and have to return to doing real business under Government enforced rules and laws they will not be making the big millions they used to i.e. through sub-prime loans, hedge funds, currency trading, leveraging, credit cards etc.

7. The real business of producing and sellling goods and trading will not yield the big money that the financial markets yielded for them. Besides they have lost most of their real industries and they cannot compete with the eastern countries.

8. It will take time for them to accept the new reality i.e. that they are no longer as rich as they were. But accept it they must.

9. I hope we Malaysians appreciate what is happening around the world. If we don't then we may become very poor and will not recover for a long time.

Convincing Orang Asli in Hulu Selangor

thenutgraph.com

A house in Kampung Pertak

IT's been a busy week for the Orang Asli in Hulu Selangor, with Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) both trying hard to win the over 700 votes in the community. The Orang Asli are usually wary of outsiders, but a senior couple in Kampung Pertak warmly welcome The Nut Graph journalist on 21 April 2010 onto their porch and invite her to the evening jamuan. "Come to the (BN organised) event," they say. "There'll be rice served today. Yesterday, there was mee hoon. There'll also be singing although we won't sing, but the young ones will."
The couple, however, are wary when it comes to talking about the elections. "Yes, there is an election on the 25th (of April), (but) it's still some way away. We like both sides. Life here is all right," they say diplomatically.
Diplomacy aside, will the Orang Asli in Hulu Selangor benefit more with a BN or a PR Member of Parliament?
BN goodies
Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal certainly paints a bright picture to woo the Orang Asli. Speaking at a program ramah mesra in Kampung Gerachi Jaya on 20 Apr 2010, Shafie regales the crowd with BN's achievements: "This village has been provided with various facilities. Houses, roads, a surau, a football field, a kindergarten, electricity; some houses even have Astro."

Shafie praises the BN (pic source: parlimen.gov.my)"In the past, life was hard, there was no income. Now that there has been planning and rearrangement, life has gotten better," Shafie tells the roughly 100 Orang Asli present.
Shafie lists other government contributions to the Orang Asli: The Orang Asli hospital in Gombak, allowances to attend Mara, and an almost RM400 million development allocation.
He also talks about the proposed amendments to the Orang Asli land policy, which intends to parcel out about two to six acres of land to each Orang Asli family. He later elaborates on the land scheme to The Nut Graph: "...the Orang Asli are increasing, so how will we divide the land? We can give 30 to 50 acres, but then the number that receive land will be few...This is not all the assistance we give. If the produce from the land is insufficient, if their income falls below RM400, they will be classified under hardcore poor and the government will give assistance."
When asked whether parcelling out land to the Orang Asli in this manner would threaten their way of life and culture, Shafie answers, "This Land Act is being amended because there are changes, because there are changes around the [Orang Asli]. We want to help. The current Act doesn't allow us to help them..."
Shafie, however, declines to elaborate on whether the government will amend the law in line with the case of Sagong bin Tasi v Selangor State Government, which recognises Orang Asli customary land rights. Shafie says, "Sometimes, we know an area is not their customary land, but just roaming land. We will see. We will discuss with the state governments."
Government's duty

Antares and wife Anoora Chapek

Blogger, Parti Keadilan Rakyat member and Kampung Orang Asli Pertak resident Antares however scoffs at the minister's claims. "The reason why we elect a government is to provide amenities and facilities to the public. To do it and claim credit for it, that's really low. To claim credit for providing pipe water and electricity to people — that is [the government's] duty!"
Centre for Orang Asli Concerns coordinator Dr Colin Nicholas is also dismissive of Shafie's claims to development in Selangor, saying that the Orang Asli villages in Kelantan are much better equipped. "It's only giving the Orang Asli what is their right," he says.
All about land
Shafie also neglected to mention that Kampung Pertak and Kampung Gerachi Jaya villagers were deprived of their ancestral land about 10 years ago when the government built the Selangor Dam. They were reportedly told to "move or get nothing".

The Selangor Dam

"This is their tanah keramat (sacred land)," says Antares, gesturing to the hills around him. "Traditions say life began anew here after the great flood...This land is beautiful, it's prime land... The [BN] government comes here and thinks the 'blue-skinned monkeys' don't deserve it, and they want it for themselves,'" he says. Antares is referring to the Na'vi in the movie Avatar whose land was threatened due to the presence of a precious mineral.
As far as respecting Orang Asli land rights is concerned, Nicholas says the BN track record has been poor. "The BN has done many things to destroy the Orang Asli's rights and recognition to their land and culture," he says. He adds that the BN has not recognised Orang Asli land rights and are still challenging the Sagong Tasi decision, which recognised common law customary rights over the land.
"Orang Asli land in Hulu Selangor is still being encroached upon and taken away...The [BN government] treat the Orang Asli like children. They give them goodies and expect them to vote for BN."
Antares says the new land policy will try and pressure the Orang Asli into being farmers and move them out of their customary land. "You cannot force them to be farmers," he says. "If they move out of their land and if they fail as farmers, they will become a lost tribe. They would have lost their land and lost their identity."

Nicholas

Pakatan Rakyat's efforts

Nicholas is supportive of the PR government's efforts so far in Selangor. "The Selangor Menteri Besar has met and listened to the Orang Asli, not in the BN way of giving ceramah and talking down to them then leaving during the question and answer time," he says.
Nicholas lists other steps taken by the Selangor government. "They've set up an Orang Asli land task force headed by Orang Asli, they withdrew the appeal against the Sagong Tasi case, they gave out long-pending land titles. They've also conducted the first of several training sessions for Orang Asli on how to do community mapping with GPS (global positioning system) and GIS (geographic information system) so they can map out their areas," he says.
How will they vote?
PR reportedly received only 1% of the Orang Asli vote in 2008, so they have an uphill battle this election.
"Saya memang sokong BN," says Kampung Gerachi Jaya batin Ramsit Anggong, when approached by The Nut Graph during the BN's event in his village.
Ramsit was reportedly strongly against the village's relocation when the dam was built but his tone is conciliatory now. "Things here are alright, just that we need street lamps and roads to our old orchards. I've asked before, since 2004, but we have not been given these things." He adds that he will try to persuade his villagers to vote for BN in the by-election.
But whether that is what will really happen among the Orang Asli is left to be seen come polling day. After all, any political party or candidate who dismisses the Orang Asli as being clueless and easily influenced would be gravely mistaken.

If Najib Has Something To Say, Then Be Man Enough To Say It

MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
23 April 2010

Prime Minister Najib Razak should stop casting aspersions on my character and Parti Keadilan Rakyat through devious tactics, including employing the resources of the government machinery to disseminate lies and slander. He should stop making insinuations to mislead the people.
If Najib has something to say, then he should be man enough to say it. It is very demeaning for a leader of a political party, let alone the Prime Minister to hide behind turncoats like Zahrain and Zulkifli.
I have already openly accused Najib of being tainted with the Scorpene corruption scandal and the failure to deal with all the unanswered questions in the Altantuya murder, not to mention the other issues plaguing the nation and the people. Najib should answer them instead of indulging in scurrilous gossip and rumour mongering.

Anwar Ibrahim
Party Leader of KEADILAN
Opposition Leader of Malaysia

Producer Quits Malaysian Show, Alleging Interference

Accuses prime minister's office, PM's wife, of blocking programs

(Asia Sentinel) Joshua Wong, the producer of a popular Malaysian current affairs program "Editor's Time" resigned earlier this week, charging that the NTV7 channel, which is controlled by the United Malays National Organisation, buckled under from complaints from the Prime Minister's Department and Rosmah Mansor, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's wife.

NTV7 is owned by Media Prima Group, which also owns Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Bhd, the New Straits Times Press, the Malay Mail and the Malay-language Berita Harian and other publications. Media Prima claims it controls roughly half of all Malaysian television viewership, as well as 50 percent of the newspaper market share in the country.

In a publish statement issued to the independent website Malaysiakini, Wong said he had resigned on Nov. 20 because "I am dissatisfied on the way the company has handled two complaints which came from the Prime Minister's Department and the First Lady (Rosmah Mansor). The complaints came after the airing the program's Kuala Lumpur roadshow (March 19) and Penang roadshow (April 8). The company, without conducting due investigation, set unreasonable restrictions for the talk show on the issues to be discussed as well as those to be invited as panel speakers. "

Apparently on orders, Wong said, the show was not allowed to discuss political issues, opposition leaders could not be invited and a show was pulled discussing the 'Hulu Selangor by-election' which is set to go forward on Sunday

"These restrictions are not justifiable," Wong said."They have threatened the independence of my job as producer. It is also a form of self-censorship, which is against the principal of fair and independent reporting. These restrictions have seriously affected the professionalism of the producing team."

The first complaint was made on March 19 in a text message from an anonymous official in the Prime Minister's Department, Wong said, which did not make sense and was full of racial remarks. "Without finding out more about it, the company threatened to cease the production and demand my explanation."

Wong and his superior urged the station to lodge a police report over the message, but instead, the company ordered that the talk show be prohibited from discussing political issues. When he suggested that Tony Pua, an opposition member of parliament, be a guest speaker to talk about Najib's New Economic Model on an April15 show, "my direct superior Tan Boon Kooi told me this: ‘If you invite Tony Pua, then this production will cease.' He also told me that from now on, no opposition party member can be invited to the talk show."

When Wong scheduled a show on the upcoming by-election, he said, the general manager, Sofwan Mahmood, said it was not advisable as the Barisan Nasional, the ruling national coalition, "had faced a major blow in its selection of the candidate for the by-election, and the show would embarrass Najib Razak's administration."

After another occasion, he said, after broadcasting a political show on Penang, his immediate superior called him in said "'On Monday, the First Lady complained about your Penang roadshow - all the way from Washington... I hope you will change the topic.'" I later found that the First Lady had received complaints from other people, and she re-directed the complaint to the top management."

The complaints basically left the public affairs show, whose aim was to discuss current issues, with no current issues to discuss.

"As long as the analysis is balanced, objective, and not tilted to one side, I believe that the show can, and will, result in an in-depth and meaningful discussion. We do not need to over-react on a totally unreasonable complaint, or impose such high level of self-censorship and stop discussing about the by-election altogether," he wrote.

Eight reasons why the 8,000 MCA members in Hulu Selangor should teach MCA and UMNO leaderships a severe lesson by voting for PR candidate Zaid Ibrahim on Sunday’s by-election

There are only 36 hours of campaigning left before the Hulu Selangor voters go to the polls in the Sunday by-election.

Barisan Nasional has the lead in the Hulu Selangor by-election. The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir have unleashed a blitzkrieg Umno/Barisan Nasional assault marked by a campaign of falsehoods and character assassination against the Pakatan Rakyat and candidate.

The impact of such intensive Umno/BN campaign, particularly on the Malay voters in the outlying areas without easy access to Pakatan Rakyat information, cannot be underestimated.

I am sounding this alarm alert as I believe it is still possible to overcome this Barisan Nasional lead in the next 36 hours for Datuk Zaid Ibrahim to be elected as the new MP for Hulu Selangor, provided all Pakatan Rakyat leaders and campaigners from PKR, PAS and DAP make a supreme effort to get every possible voter out to the polling stations on Sunday.

It is also crucial and critical that Malaysians who support the cause of Pakatan Rakyat to effect far-reaching changes in the country to assume citizenship responsibilities by ensuring that not a single vote is lost among their friends, relatives and neighbours as every vote count in this by-election.

In the 2008 general elections, about 63% of the Chinese voter turn-out voted for the PKR candidate Datuk Zainal Abidin but this percentage will not be able to ensure Zaid Ibrahim’s victory on Sunday.

Every effort must be made to raise this 63% to 80 – 85% on Sunday.

MCA has 8,000 members in Hulu Selangor and it regards this as solid vote-bank for BN.

I call on the 8,000 MCA members of Hulu Selangor to reject the BN candidate and to teach the MCA and UMNO leaderships a severe lesson by voting for the PR candidate, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim on Sunday.

I give eight reasons why the 8,000 MCA members in Hulu Selangor should teach the MCA and UMNO leaderships a lesson on Sunday, an action which not only win the applause of Malaysians in general but also the support of the millions of ordinary MCA members who could make the distinction between right and wrong unlike the MCA national leaders.

These eight reasons are:

1.In the “great debate” in Parliament yesterday to victimize Parliamentary Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over the 1Malaysia-APCO-1Israel controversy, Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat had four speakers for each side.

For PR, apart from Anwar himself, the other three speakers were PKR’s Azmin Ali (Gombak), PAS’ Mahfuz Omar (Pokok Sena) and myself from DAP.

For BN, the four speakers were Nor Jazlan (Pulai), Abdul Rahman Dahlan (Kota Belud), Khairy Jamaluddin (Rembau) and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz (Padang Rengas).

The PR parliamentary debaters came from all the three parties in PR – DAP, PKR and PAS – demonstrating that PR is the real standard-bearer of 1Malaysia.

1Malaysia, however, is a farce to Barisan Nasional as all the four BN speakers came from Umno.

One important message of the March 8 “political tsunami” of the 2008 general elections was public anger and rejection of UMNO political hegemony at the expense of the relevance of MCA, Gerakan, MIC, SUPP and other Sarawak/Sabah BN component parties.

This message of the March 8 “political tsunami” had fallen on deaf ears as after two years, UMNO political hegemony has worsened to the extent that Umno had gobbled up MCA, MIC, Gerakan, SUPP and the other Sarawak/ Sabah BN component parties so much so that all the four BN MPs who spoke in the “great debate” yesterday came from UMNO with no one from the other 13 BN component parties!

The MCA leadership may feel no shame or dishonor for being completely gobbled up by UMNO – all the more why the 8,000 MCA members in Hulu Selangor should teach the UMNO and MCA leaderships a strong lesson by rejecting the BN candidate on Sunday.

2.Tabling of the Road Transport (Amendment) Bill in Parliament on Monday to impose many arbitrary and oppressive measures, like the more than three-fold increase of compound fines for traffic offences from RM300 to RM1,000. Although this oppressive Bill was withdrawn from Parliament in super-quick time within 48 hours because of the Hulu Selangor by-election, MCA Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Keat and the other MCA Ministers must be taught a lesson as to how they could be so divorced from the people’s problems and needs as to propose such oppressive measures.

3.The boneless and gutless response of the MCA Ministers and national leadership to my challenge to all Barisan Nasional Ministers to prove they are serious and sincere about Najib’s signature concept of 1Malaysia by declaring that they are Malaysians first and their race second. Neither the MCA national leadership nor the MCA Cabinet team dare to censure Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin when he said that he is Malay first and Malaysian second.

4.Today’s press reported the tearful scene of the Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein in Kerling when he resolved the 50-year-old problem of a senior citizen who had waited for half a century to get blue identity card.

While I appreciate Hishammuddin’s initiative for resolving this problem, it raises many questions.

Firstly, why did this problem drag on for 50 years unresolved? Why must it wait for the Home Minister to come down to Kerling before it is resolved? What about the tens of thousands of such problems throughout the country. Must some MP or State Assembly representative die to cause a by-election before the Home Minister will go down to the constituency concerned looking for such problems to be resolved?

Furthermore, is Malaysia a nation of laws or men? If former, why wasn’t such problems resolved long ago? Previously, there were MCA Deputy Home Ministers including former MCA President Datuk Seri Ka Ting and Datuk Chor Chee Heung. Was this because the MCA Deputy Home Ministers had failed in their duties and responsibilities?
 
5.Why the silence and subservience of the MCA Ministers and national leadership to the emergence of the right-wing, extremist and racist Perkasa?

6.Building of new Chinese primary schools – why must there be a by-election before the MCA and Barisan Nasional Ministers have anything to announce about the government building of Chinese primary schools?

It is the duty of the government to build Chinese primary schools whenever and wherever there are adequate parental support for such schools. Why couldn’t the MCA Ministers and MCA national leadership get the Barisan Nasional government to institutionalize solution of this problem by declaring that it is government policy to build Chinese primary schools at public expense wherever and whenever there is the parental demand?

7.Governmment recognition of United Examination Certificate (UEC) instead of using it as a political football for votes in a by-election or general election. All the top universities in the world recognize the UEC except Malaysia. How long more is such nonsense to continue in Malaysia?

8.The press censorship of popular hour-long ntv7 talk show “Editor’s Time” involving the Prime Minister’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor resulting in the resignation of senior producer Joshua Wong must be deplored by all Malaysians as an undesirable and dangerous precedent. Why are the MCA Ministers dumb, deaf and blind to this important issue of media freedom and democratic rights of Malaysians?

Najib-Obama Meeting A Recognition For Asia, Says South Korean President

From Hasnul Hassan,

SEOUL, April 24 (Bernama) -- The meeting of President Barrack Obama and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on the sidelines of the recent Nuclear Security Summit in Washington was a recognition not only for Malaysia but also for Asia, said South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.

"I think this clearly shows how much the Americans and the United States administration recognise the importance of Asia," he said.

It also reflected how much Obama was committed to expanding his partnership with Asian partners, said Lee who was also in Washington for the summit.

"When you look at just the size of the economy of many other countries in the Asian region, I think it is safe to say that Asia as a whole is in a position to contribute to the international community, do its part and carry its responsibility on the global stage," he said.

The President made the remarks during an hour's meeting with the heads of 41 regional news agencies from 33 countries who are here to attend the Organisation of Asia Pacific News Agencies (OANA) Summit Meeting.

Lee held the audience at the Presidential Office - Blue House.

He said it was unprecedented to have top officials of 41 news agencies from around the world together in one place to discuss the future of their business.

Saying news agencies played an active role in providing the international community accurate and fair news, the President believed cooperation among such media framework was very important.

Asked by Bernama to elaborate on his New Asia policy, Lee said South Korea was committed to expanding its partnership with not only Malaysia and the 10-member Asean but also with other Asian countries.

"Strengthening cooperation between (South) Korea and all other countries will not only be beneficial for (South) Korea but collectively can contribute to the recovery of the global economy.

"It will also sustain the prosperity of the community," he said.

Lee said the cooperation among the partners of the Asian region should be based on the spirit of equal partnership and mutual respect.

"This was evidently shown last year when the Asean members managed to come together to take substantive action to overcome the economic crisis," he said.

At last year's Chiangmai meeting, Asean and its three regional partners - South Korea, China and Japan - exhibited the kind of close cooperation when they created a fund in response to the crisis.

"This is the idea and concept of the New Asia policy," Lee said.

'I saw accused beat Kugan'

The New Straits Times

PETALING JAYA: A witness told the court that he saw constable V. Navindran beating suspected car thief, A. Kugan, with a rubber hose in a police station, but he did not report the incident to his superiors.

The witness, Lance Corporal Junid Harun, 34, said he did not report the incident as he was not on duty when the incident took place.

Junid said Navindran was at the D9 unit of the Taipan police station just before 4pm on Jan 16 where he spoke to Kugan in an angry tone.

To a question by deputy public prosecutor Lailawati Ali, Junid said he then saw Navindran beating Kugan repeatedly with a rubber hose.

Lailawati: You saw the beating?

Junid: Yes.

Junid added that when the beating took place, both Navindran and Kugan were facing each other. However, Kugan was moving to the left and right, trying to evade the blows.

The witness said he then ordered Navindran to leave as he (Navindran) was not on duty (to guard Kugan).

At an earlier hearing on April 6, another police officer, Constable Mohd Fauzi Mohd Nor, 29, also testified he saw Navindran hitting Kugan with a rubber hose.

Lailawati: Did you make a record of the incident, or did you report the beating to your superiors?

Junid: No.

Lailawati: Why?

Junid: Because I was not on duty yet. My duty started at 4pm while the beating took place before that. I was to watch over Kugan from 4pm to 8pm.

Junid was the 19th prosecution witness to testify in the case of Kugan who died in police custody on Jan 20 last year.

Navindran, 28, was charged with causing grievous hurt to Kugan, 23, at the interrogation room of the Taipan police station at 7am on Jan 16.


He had also pleaded not guilty to two alternative charges of causing hurt to Kugan at the same place.

Hearing before Sessions Court judge Aslam Zainuddin will resume on April 29.

BN holds edge; Pakatan builds momentum - Anil Netto

LIVE discussion on this blog tomorrow from 4.00pm to 5.00pm
A Pas grassroots source tells me that he feels the odds in Hulu Selangor are 46:54 in the BN’s favour, with a margin of error of plus/minus 2 per cent. (I asked him how come his instincts are so precise!)

Niz Aziz having dinner with Zaid Ibrahim tonight before hitting the ceramah circuit. They will attend a PKR Chinese dinner in Rasa at 9.30pm attended by 2,000 people. Nik Aziz will also be speaking at a DAP ceramah in Asam Kumbang and a PKR ceramah in Batang Kali – Photo courtesy of Fahmi Fadzil
Another Pas source, an MP, who has campaigned in Hulu Selangor, concedes that Felda areas are proving “difficult to penetrate”. All the top guns will be descending there in the next couple of days. Najib, for instance, has reportedly distributed RM50,000 each to 100 Felda settlers and promised more money. (How blatant can you get! – and this was aired over television news at 8.00pm.)

In the kampung areas, however, he says the word is that some BN supporters are not in favour of the MIC candidate: they feel that Umno should represent them instead. “There is even talk that Pakatan should be handed victory so that, the next time around, the BN candidate would be from Umno,” according to the Pas MP. “This gives us a bit of hope.”
Despite the BN holding the edge in the kampungs and plantations, the Pas MP says momentum for Pakatan in these outlying areas has been rising from an estimated 26 per cent support on nomination day to around 36 per cent now.
The Pakatan machinery in Hulu Selangor, however, had not been running at optimum level. Until recently, PKR had been heading the operations and “maybe they are not that experienced”.
Since then, Pas has stepped up a couple of gears from supporting the Pakatan machinery to playing a leading role in the campaign, according to the MP. “We have now mobilised 60-70 per cent of the Pas national machinery compared to 20-30 per cent earlier.’
If at all Pakatan wins, the MP expects the majority to be small, perhaps 500 to 1,000.

Pilihan Hulu Selangor: Integriti atau Kelemahan?

TMI:

Apa sebenarnya yang akan dipilih oleh pengundi Hulu Selangor Ahad ini?
Soalnya bukan Melayu lawan India, PKR lawan MIC, bahkan mungkin tidak pun Pakatan lawan Barisan.
Pertandingan ini — di Hulu Selangor dan untuk seluruh negara — adalah antara integriti dan kelemahan.
Slogan BN Selangor dilihat merata Hulu Selangor — “BN Mampu Berubah”. Ini petanda baik bahawa BN cukup sedar bahawa penyelewengan yang berleluasa di kalangan pimpinan tertinggi BN telah menjadi budaya yang menjangkiti seluruh sistem.
Di antara dua calon yang sedia ada, kita harus tanya sesama sendiri — siapakah yang lebih layak, lebih dipercayai, dan lebih terbukti boleh membantu mengembalikan integriti kepada Malaysia?
Siapa yang bakal memperjuangkan kebenaran, menentang rasuah habis-habisan dan menjunjung amanah rakyat dalam rumah tertinggi demokrasi negara kita?
Salah satu calon kurang mempunyai rekod bersuara untuk hak-hak rakyat marhaen dan tidak nampak beberapa berani menegakkan keadilan sejati dalam mana-mana persada. Yang dilihat adalah hanya kemahiran mencium tangan dan menjanjikan Hulu Selangor sebagai hadiah kepada Perdana Menteri — seumpanya Presiden Umno, dan bukan rakyat jelata, adalah bos beliau yang sebenar.
Ada pihak-pihak yang mungkin senang dengan kecenderungan calon MIC untuk tunduk sebegitu kepada pemimpin-pemimpin Umno, tetapi sebenarnya, tabiat-tabiat sebegini tidak wajar diamali oleh mana-mana calon wakil rakyat.
Seorang yang terlalu sedia merendahkan diri kepada pemegang-pemegang jawatan sukar dipercayai untuk mendahulukan kepentingan rakyat sebelum cita-cita peribadi atau kehendak bosnya.
Rakyat semua kaum sepatutnya diwakili oleh seorang yang jelas mempunyai satu tuan sebenar sahaja — rakyat sendiri. Wakil rakyat harus tunduk terlebih dahulu kepada kepentingan dan kebajikan rakyat serta prinsip-prinsip keadilan untuk semua sebelum fikirkan keuntungan, jawatan, atau kepentingan sendiri.
Begitulah kepimpinan yang diamalkan oleh Zaid Ibrahim. Ketika memegang jawatan Menteri pun, beliau tidak teragak-agak untuk menyuarakan kebenaran dan memperjuangkan nasib rakyat yang tertindas atau dibelakangkan, walaupun pendirian beliau tidak disenangi pemimpin-pemimpin Umno yang lain.
Apabila kerajaan tetap meneruskan dasar-dasar yang tidak adil dan menzalimi rakyat, Zaid terus meletakkan semua jawatan kerajaannya, dan membuktikan bahawa untuk beliau, rakyat dan prinsip adalah lebih penting dari kepentingan dirinya. Kepatuhan tegas beliau kepada soal prinsip serta pendiriannya yang menentang korupsi tanpa kompromi mengakibatkan beliau akhirnya dipecat oleh Umno.
Insan sebeginilah yang boleh dipercayai untuk meneruskan perjuangan demi membersihkan Malaysia dari gejala rasuah, dan membebaskan institusi-institusi negara dari penyelewengan yang telah melesapkan kekayaan rakyat serta menjejaskan perpaduan sosial.
Dalam 2008, sebahagian pengundi Hulu Selangor yang cukup besar telah mengundi BN di peringkat DUN dan PKR di peringkat Parlimen. Sekarang, ketiga-tiga kerusi DUN di Hulu Selangor dikuasai BN.
Para pengundi Hulu Selangor dijangka akan sekali lagi menunjukkan kebijaksanaan mereka dan membuat pilihan yang menjamin mereka diwakili dengan baik di peringkat kerajaan negeri mahupun perseketuan, serta mengalakkan wakil-wakil rakyat mereka bertanding antara satu sama lain untuk membuktikan parti manakah yang lebih ikhlas dan berjiwa rakyat.
Seluruh Malaysia kini memandang ke Hulu Selangor, dan mengharapkan ianya akan menjadi satu titik permulaan gerakan untuk selamatkan Malaysia, di mana pemimpin yang lemah dan pentingkan diri ditolak, dan pejuang rakyat sejati diangkat.