Impressive Germany power past England

Germany's youthful side delivered a striking statement of intent by overwhelming old rivals England 4-1 in Bloemfontein to take their place in the last eight of the FIFA World Cup™.

Joachim Low's side built a two-goal lead through early goals from Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski and although Matthew Upson reduced the deficit before the break, the Germans made sure of their quarter-final place when Thomas Muller concluded two lightning breakaways with a quick-fire double midway through the second half. While Germany can look forward with confidence to a quarter-final meeting with Argentina or Mexico, England will go home to lick their wounds and reflect on yet another FIFA World Cup defeat by their old nemesis.

It was a lapse of concentration which allowed Germany to take the lead in the 20th minute, the goal coming after a spell of prolonged England possession. Manuel Neuer's long goal-kick upfield should have been dealt with by England’s central defenders, but Klose, back from suspension, got between John Terry and Upson, outmuscling the latter before poking the ball past David James with his outstretched right boot.

While having plenty of the ball, England were creating little in the way of genuine scoring opportunities, with only a Gareth Barry shot from distance which went straight at Neuer. Indeed, Germany should have doubled their advantage on the half-hour when Sami Khedira combined well with Muller to set up Klose, who fired straight at James. Yet Die Nationalelf did not have to wait too long for their second goal as Muller floated a delightful ball into the path of the unmarked Podolski. With England's defence stretched, the Cologne man had the time to recover from a poor first touch and produce a left-footed finish that squeezed through the legs of the goalkeeper and just inside the far post.

England pulled a goal back in the 37th minute when a short Lampard corner from the right was played to Gerrard who crossed into the box. Upson, atoning for his earlier error, rose highest above the Germany defence and with Neuer stranded, powered a header into the net. Meetings between these two sides often provide talking points and this one's came 60 seconds later when Lampard's shot from the edge of the box struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced down, with the referee ruling the ball had not crossed the goalline.

England started the second half strongly with Gerrard hitting a right foot shot just wide in the opening minutes and Lampard rattling the crossbar with a free-kick 30 yards from goal. However, Germany increased their advantage in the 67th minute through a counter-attack. Lampard's free-kick hit the German wall and, with England having committed men forward, they were left exposed as Schweinsteiger broke quickly before playing a delightful ball for Muller, who had started the breakaway, to fire past James.

Germany's fourth was more or less a carbon copy of their third. With England deep in their opponents' half, searching for a way back into the game, Germany won possession on the edge of their box and sprayed the ball to Ozil on the left. The midfielder outpaced Barry and played in Muller to sidefoot home from close range. England, to their credit, never gave up and only a fine one-handed save by Neuer from Gerrard stopped them from reducing their deficit – the heaviest in their FIFA World Cup history.

UMNO denies SPM 10 A’s Indian Student JPA Scholarship, Matriculation & University seats.

Anwar, PKR evasive over Khalid absence from party retreat

Anwar explains why Khalid won't show up.

SHAH ALAM, June 27 — PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim explained today that Selangor Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim’s absence from the party retreat was a result of other commitments.

“He is now in Kuala Selangor for a programme there,” Anwar told The Malaysian Insider.

“He will be here shortly.”

An aide to the embattled Selangor mentri besar was similarly evasive when contacted.

“His functions are all private. He will go to the retreat to close it,” the aide wrote in a text to The Malaysian Insider.

Khalid is also the party's state chief.

PKR has been thrown into disarray since two of the party’s lawmakers recently confirmed that a “coup” to remove Khalid from office was being led by Teluk Kemang MP Datuk Kamarul Bahrin Abbas, who has denied the accusation.

The alleged revolt is believed to have started from Azmin Ali’s resignation from PKNS three days ago.

Khalid has dismissed the revolt as mere speculation.

Azmin yesterday downplayed rumours that he is party to an anti-Khalid faction within PKR.

“We never said that Tan Sri Khalid should be fired. No. The leadership and I merely feel that the chief minister and his exco must give serious attention to the advice given by party members in Kota Bharu,” he had said.

PKR leaders at the retreat have repeatedly denied that the alleged coup will be discussed behind closed doors.

However, PKR vice-president Mustaffa Kamil Ayub hinted yesterday that Anwar might make talk to the media about the issue today.

It is understood that the PKR retreat, attended by 80 or so party leaders, was convened to discuss preparations for the upcoming general election and this November’s party elections.

The monthly PKR central leadership council meeting will also be held this afternoon.

Kuala Langat MP Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Khalid’s former political secretary, have both confirmed that the Selangor mentri besar will attend the central leadership council meeting this afternoon.

Nik Nazmi, who recently moved to Anwar's office, said Khalid had dropped by the hotel late last night, but had not been noticed by the media.

'Wrong to fund party using state coffers'

By Teoh El Sen - Free Malaysia Today

SHAH ALAM: It is wrong to fund party activities with money from the Selangor state and there should not be such expectations, said PKR's Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh.

"It is wrong for the party to be run by state money. It is wrong for anybody to expect that," she told reporters at the sidelines of the party's retreat at a hotel here.

Fuziah said the party should use its own money for administrative purposes and suggested that the media could have given the wrong impression that “we are using or going to use the money”.

She also noted that the problem could have stemmed from Khalid Ibrahim “wearing two hats” as menteri besar and Selangor PKR chief.

"So that's why people get confused, we have to differentiate between the two," she added.

Khalid was today replaced by vice-president Azmin Ali as the Selangor PKR chief amid reports of a plot to oust the menteri besar.

It is said that a group of 15MPs close to Azmin are involved, but the latter has denied any knowledge of such a plot.

Fuziah: No plot to oust Khalid

Commenting on this, Fuziah also dismissed the claim as untrue.

"It is totally baseless. Even I am confused by this episode. Why are you saying 15? We cannot even name them? I believe it is something that the media started," she said, adding that it was
perhaps a "low" media day.

Fuziah also berated party members “who go direct to the media without going to the party leadership first”.

However, she said such issues should be discussed openly in view of Pakatan Rakyat's efforts to win Putrajaya in the next election.

Meanwhile, PKR information chief Latheefa Koya said the agenda for the retreat was mainly on communications, the strengthening of the organisation as well as the formula to win the next general election.

She denied that the retreat was organised to address the Selangor crisis and Khalid's position.

Azmin replaces Khalid as S'gor PKR chief

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid and Teoh El Sen - Free Malaysia Today

FULL REPORT SHAH ALAM: PKR vice-president Azmin Ali has been named as the party's new Selangor chief replacing incumbent, Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim.

Whereas supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim has been named the Federal Territories chief while Chua Jui Meng is expected to helm the Johor chapter.


Azmin's appointment confirmed speculations that PKR was concerned about its fate in Selangor come the next general election.

Critics have claimed that Khalid has been unable to woo grassroots support despite having led the state for more than two years now.

Azmin, the influential right hand man of PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, has always been touted as the best candidate to bridge that gap.

Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the party retreat at a hotel here, Azmin said he was prepared to take on the task.

"I am ready, Khalid would focus on the state and I would concentrate on the party and we would effectively work as a team," said the Gombak MP.

The party's reason for appointing Azmin was to allow Khalid to focus on the state's development and investments, including projects in Kuala Lumpur.

Khalid: Azmin's got the skills

Meanwhile, Khalid himself conceded that he was a political greenhorn.

"I have a lot to do with the state. The party has recognised my experience in handling such things but my experience in politics is less. Azmin is the best man, with the skills for it," he said.

Aside from Azmin, other appointments announced today were Badrulamin Bahron as the new information director in the MB's office and two other special aides to Khalid, Azman Zainal Abidin and Rozali Bol Hi.

Badrulamin, an uztaz, will be part of the party's strategy for winning over the rural Malay folk.

In announcing the appointments earlier, party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said two other states would be restructured.

Meanwhile, Anwar was quizzed on whether he would contest for the top post, which was being held by his wife.

"I cannot bring myself to (do that)," he said, looking at Wan Azizah with a smile.

However, he stressed that PKR was a democratic party and others were welcomed to contest the post if they wanted to.

The opposition leader also explained that the retreat's main agenda was on how the party could win in the next general election.

As for Khalid, he said that delegates were unequivocal in their support for him as menteri besar but the party has taken into consideration all the views expressed.

Labour law amendments: Workers will be consulted

PETALING JAYA: The government has assured workers that the proposed amendments to the country’s labour laws will be tabled in Parliament only after getting their feedback.

This was conveyed to the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) by Human Resource Minister Dr S Subramaniam at the tripartite National Joint Labour Advisory Council meeting on May 27, said MTUC secretary-general G Rajasegaran.

As a follow-up, the council formed a technical committee comprising government, employers and workers representatives to discuss the finer points of the amendments, he told Bernama today.

So far the committee had met twice and more meetings were scheduled next month.

In April, the government announced its intention to amend the Employment Act 1955, the Industrial Relations Act 1967 and the Trade Unions Act 1959 in tandem with the present labour situation in the country.

"Some of the proposals were very major and would have far reaching consequences on the workers rights and we needed to give our input,” said Rajasegaran.

Prefers talks over protests

He hoped the technical committee would succeed in watering down some of the proposals for the benefit of the workers security and well-being.

Rajasegaran said the MTUC preferred the negotiation table than taking to the streets to get what it wanted.

He denied that the MTUC was behind the demonstration by workers last Sunday in Shah Alam over the proposed amendments although MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud spoke at the function.

"It did not mean that it was sanctioned by the congress. The official stand of the MTUC is that since it is now negotiating with the government, it will not hold any protest until the conclusion of the talks."

"If we fail to reach a consensus, then perhaps we will decide on the next course of action which may include rallies to explain the situation to our members," he said.

Living in fear of rape and destruction

FEATURE KUCHING: Like all Sarawak’s indigenous people, the Penan are faithful practicing Christians who treat their women with respect and do not take more than one spouse.

Despite the temptations of the modern world they live a simplistic god-fearing life eating mainly from the forest.

Last Sunday, several gun-waving policemen threatened the Penan community in Long Sebayang, who had erected a blockade in protest against the savage destruction of their hereditary lands by Lee Ling Timber Company, which incidentally is linked to Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s sister Raziah Mahmud.

The incident is not new.

The fact remains that the Penan are constantly harassed and intimidated by gangs of loggers - armed with heavy vehicles, chainsaws and weapons - and their foreign workers, who rape and destroy not only their rainforest but their women as well.

The Penan women live in constant fear of these intruders who prey on their villages when the men are out hunting or attack hitch-hikers looking for transport to the nearest towns and schools.

Last September, the federal government disclosed a report which revealed strong evidence of numerous rape attacks, many of them on young girls trying to get to school, some of them as young as 10.

A number of babies have been born as a result of this abuse.

Federal investigators also noted a number of cases where logging workers pressured Penan girls to enter into unwilling relationships with them.

The report said that some managers in the logging firms were indulging themselves by keeping up to “three wives” in this way.

On desperate Penan father had told the investigators that he had approached a manager asking that he choose one wife and leave the others alone, “but he dismissed our concerns.”

Said the father: “The loggers have taken away our land, so they think they can take everything even our daughters.”

BN ministers have failed to act

In spite of the findings contained in the official report, Sarawak BN ministers have remained tacit, dismissing these incidents. They have refused to take steps to bring the attackers to justice.

Instead these leaders have continued insulting the Penan and their women, blaming them for these problems.

In an interview with BBC earlier this year, Sarawak Land Minister James Masing had reportedly described Penan women as “naturally promiscuous” and “normally start relationships as young as 12 years.”

To add insult, he alleged that the Penan were “very good storytellers”.

The so-called “stories” told by the Penan community are not isolated. It also occurs in other native communities.

Under the new Score development plans announced in January, over half a million more Sarawakian natives will be pressed from their lands in the same way as the Penan.

All this so that BN ministers can continue to exploit their territories and the loggers their women.

-The original version first appeared in Sarawak Report.

IGP must explain IGP murder probe

Athi Shankar - Free Malaysia Today

GEORGE TOWN: Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan must explain what the police have been doing for the past 36 years concerning their probe into the assassination of former top cop Abdul Rahman Hashim.

DAP stalwart Karpal Singh said the current IGP owed an explanation to the public given that his recent statement contradicted that of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

He pointed out that Musa claimed that the case was closed as two members of the Parti Komunis Malaya allegedly responsible for Abdul Rahman’s murder on June 7, 1974, were arrested.

Musa was referring to Lim Woon Chong and Ng Foo Nam, who were jointly charged for the murder that took place in Kuala Lumpur.

However, Najib commented that it would be difficult to unearth new evidence in the case because it happened nearly four decades ago.

Picking on this contradiction, Karpal said: “Musa claimed that the cased was closed but Najib thinks otherwise. Najib believes that Lim and Ng were not responsible.”

“Musa owes the public an explanation on what the police have been doing for the past 36 years," he told a press conference in Air Itam here today.

He indicated that Musa must also disclose the findings of police investigations into the murder mystery.

Nazri's "no comments" irks Karpal

Karpal pointed out that both Lim and Ng were acquitted and discharged after they categorically denied any involvement in the assassination. The prosecution had also withdrawn the case.

Lim and Ng were also jointly charged for the murder of then Perak police chief Khoo Chong Kong and his driver Sgt Yeong Peng Chong in Ipoh on Nov 13, 1975.

They were found guilty by the Ipoh High Court on March 22, 1978 and were hanged in Pudu Jail in early 1980s.

Karpal, who was the defence counsel for Lim, said that the prosecution withdrew the murder charge on his client before he was executed for Khoo’s murder.

“My client admitted to Khoo’s murder but not Abdul Rahman's,” he said.

Abdul Rahman’s assassination re-generated public interest when the tragedy was recollected in an artile penned by Abdul Rahman's son, retired Berita Harian journalist Najib Rahman. The article appeared in the New Straits Times on June 6.

Abdul Rahman was gunned down by two snipers in broad daylight alsong Lorong Raja Chulan in the backseat of his car while he was on his way to work.

Karpal has raised the subject three times in Parliament in 2004 and again last Tuesday during the debate on the 10th Malaysia Plan.

He rebuked Minister in Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz, who initially announced that the government would re-look the case, for merely replying “no comment” to journalists' when quizzed on the matter for the past fortnight.

“The IGP is the highest ranking police officer, but to date, no one has ever been detained or tried for his murder,” said the veteran politician and MP.

Beware of those who profit from religion

In the past, ulama refused to join the government. Some renowned imam were actually jailed and tortured and some put to death because they refused to join the government. Today, you do not need to threaten the ulama with jail, torture or death to get them to join the government. You just offer them money.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Shafie: Young ulama approve Umno’s Islamic credentials
The interest among young ulama in joining Umno shows that they are comfortable with the party’s brand of Islamic struggle, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said.
He said that Islamic intellectual’s membership in the party would strengthen Umno and help realise its agenda for the people and country.
“Umno constitution states that we uphold Islamic struggle. We are confident that ulama membership in the party would further consolidate our party.”
“They can help explain issues related to religion,” he told reporters when asked on the decision by 40 young ulama to join Umno two days ago.
Shafie, who is Rural and Regional Development Minister, was speaking to reporters after opening the Semporna Umno division meeting here today.
He hoped that more young ulama would join the party.
He also called on leaders at all levels to intensify effort to register new members and voters. – Bernama

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

No, I am not flustered. I am very relaxed. After all, it’s Sunday, and Sundays are normally very laid back days. Furthermore, I am listening to my favourite radio station as I write this piece (http://player.magic.co.uk/). And this radio station plays very relaxing music.
Malays are mostly Sunni Muslims of the Shāfi‘ī School, the second largest school of the Sunni branch of Islam in terms of followers and representing approximately 29% of Muslims worldwide. The full name for Imam Shāfi‘ī, the founder of the Shafi’i School, is Abū ‘Abdu l-Lāh Muhammad ibn Idrīs ibn al-Abbās ibn ‘Uthmān ibn Shāfi‘ī ibn as-Sa'ib ibn ‘Ubayd ibn ‘Abd al-Yazīd ibn al-Muttalib ibn ‘Abd Manaf, and he was from the most powerful tribe in Mekah, the Quraish.
Shāfi‘ī combined the pragmatism of the Medina school with the contemporary pressures of the Traditionalists. The Traditionalists maintained that jurists could not independently adduce a practice as the Sunnah of Muhammad based on ijtihad or 'independent reasoning' but should only produce verdicts substantiated by authentic Hadith.
Shāfi‘ī devised a method for systematic reasoning without relying on personal deduction. He argued that the only authoritative Sunnah were those that were both of Muhammad and passed down from Muhammad himself. He also argued that Sunnah contradicting the Quran were unacceptable, claiming that Sunnah should only be used to explain the Quran (which many Muslims do not follow). Furthermore, Shāfi‘ī claimed that if a certain practice was widely accepted throughout the Muslim community, it could not then be in contradiction to the Sunnah.
And what has the above got to do with the Bernama report? Nothing, really. I just wanted to demonstrate that more than 1,200 years ago the ulama were already arguing about how Islam should be interpreted. And through the ages this argument became more severe and Muslims became even more divided with so many ulama imposing their version of Islam on Muslims.
Basically, their ‘doctrine’ boils down to “I am right and you are wrong so you will follow what I believe”.
This is not only a problem with Islam. The Jews too had this problem and even the 12 disciples could not unanimously agree whether Jesus was the Son of God or a mere man but Prophet of God.
More than 400 years ago, when Elizabeth I was Queen of England, Christians who insisted on following Rome rather than Henry VIII’s ‘new’ version of Christianity suffered persecution. Jesuits were banned from English soil and those caught were put to death after many days of slow torture. It was an extremely slow and painful death for those who would not follow the ‘new’ Christianity of the Church of England.
And it was not just the rakyat who suffered. Mary Stuart or Mary, Queen of Scots, the ‘leader’ of the Catholics, was incarcerated for 19 years before she was executed for ‘treason’. And, mind you, she was the Queen’s second cousin (or ‘cousin once removed’, as the English would say) plus was the only surviving legitimate child of King James V (while Elizabeth I was the illegitimate child of Henry VIII).
There was, of course, talk that she plotted to grab the throne from Elizabeth because England had abandoned Rome, and Mary, a Catholic, wanted England to discard the ‘false’ religion and return to the ‘true’ religion of Roman Catholicism.

Actually, to digress a bit, Mat Sabu of PAS (picture above) and I discussed this subject last week when we met up. And it was a most interesting discussion on Judaism, Christianity and Islam and the chasms in the three main ‘religions of the book’. I would say we agreed on almost everything so Mat Sabu is not quite the ‘close-minded Taliban-PAS’ that some might accuse him of being.
Anyway, back to the subject, by the year 300 or so, Christianity was in a total mess, for want of a better word, and in 325 the First Council of Nicaea was held to try and streamline and unify Christianity plus ‘restore sanity’ to the religion, again for want of a better word.
The Nicene Creed of 325 explicitly affirms the divinity of Jesus, applying to him the term ‘God’ (the original Nicene Creed of 325). In 381, the Niceno–Constantinopolitan Creed, however, speaks of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit as worshipped and glorified with the Father and the Son.
The Nicene Creed was adopted in the face of much controversy, as some Christian ‘ulama’ believed that although Jesus Christ was divine, God had actually created him -- which means he is mere mortal and not ‘God’ or ‘Son of God’. Anyway, might is right, as they say, and the majority, with the power of the Roman Emperor and the Roman army behind him, declared what ‘true’ Christianity should be. And those who disagreed with the Emperor’s ‘fatwah’ were jailed and/or put to death.
Convert or die, became the order of the day. And, 700 years later, during the Crusades, those who still persisted in following the ‘old ways’ were exterminated in many acts of ethnic cleansing over 300 years or so.
And Islam is not spared this same history either. As recent as the Saud-Wahhab revolt against the Ottomans of Turkey (engineered by the famous Lawrence of Arabia) ‘deviant’ Muslims in the Arabian Peninsula were put to death where entire communities were exterminated in a ‘convert or die’ expedition.
And the object of this long history on Christianity and Islam?
Simple, just because they are ulama (Christian or Muslim) does not make them right. After all, many ulama (Christians and Muslims) of the past were exterminated in the interest of standardising or streamlining religion (both Christianity and Islam). How do we know the right ulama were not murdered while the wrong ones were allowed to live? And this would mean the ulama of today are those who now follow the ulama who were allowed to live and not those who were put to death. So this would make them false ulama.
And any wonder why many ulama want to join Umno? In the past, ulama refused to join the government. Some renowned imam were actually jailed and tortured and some put to death because they refused to join the government. Today, you do not need to threaten the ulama with jail, torture or death to get them to join the government. You just offer them money.
And Islam is very clear on this. Islam forbids us from following imams or ulama that profit from religion. You must not pray behind them, not even for Friday prayers. Better you pray alone at home. That is how serious Islam is about so-called religious people who use religion for worldly gains.
That is all I want to say about ulama that participate in and support a zalim, unjust, and corrupt government.

…and the Star Chamber shows its hand…

By Haris Ibrahim,

“Not at all. I fully support Khalid’s leadership as chief minister…there is no fraud, abuse of power and corruption. In this respect, Khalid has been doing good work…Therefore he runs a clean administration … But there are bureaucratic problems. This should be streamlined” , Malaysiakini 
 quoted Azmin, in response to allegations that he was leading efforts to oust Khalid as Selangor MB.


Damn, could almost feel genuine warmth and affection accompanying those words!
He insists that the press have misinterpreted his criticism of Khalid’s administration to depose the MB.

Haven’t we heard this line all too often from the likes of Nazri and Muhyiddin?

Azmin, your UMNO roots are showing through, lah!

The Malaysiakini report carried the denials of 4 PKR leaders.

Forget Wan Azizah’s.
Teluk Kemang’s Kamarul saw fit to get into the ‘No, no, no’ act.

“There is no petition, no memorandum as reported. If there was, I would know…Who says there are 15 of them? Only the journalists – they are the ones speculating. Why are there 15 and not 20?” , he insisted.

Er, bro, why not 11?
Balik Pulau’s Yusmadi reacted like a Rip Van Winkle who’d just been roused from a long, deep slumber.

“…me, I do not know anything about a conspiracy. What I do know is that this meeting is to strengthen the party ” , he said, in reference to the ongoing PKR retreat in Shah Alam.

As for the others named yesterday in the ‘…eye of the PKR storm…’ post, other than Wee, they are probably just waking up to the fact that they have been led like rats by a self-serving piper down a treacherous path.

And have probably reckoned that the wiser course to take is to just shut up.
Now, surely I don’t have to spell out for you in  neon lights who the main players are?

UMNO an extremist Islamic party? When it can’t even be Islamic? Nah!

By Haris Ibrahim,

Najib’s efforts, as reported in Malaysiakini, to assure us that the recent entry of 40 ulama into UMNO would not turn the party into an extremist Islamic party reminded of a hilarious story narrated to me by one of my dearest of friends.


This friend was then still at varsity and one of his friends was to deliver a lecture or something like that along the lines of ‘What is a Muslim’ or something like that. Let’s call my friend’s friend J.

J took to the rostrum and asked the audience to imagine a pig, freshly circumcised, dressed in a green jubah, sitting rather dignified-like, hind legs folded in a lotus position, on a green, velvet cushion.

Imagine, J asked the audience, that you now adorn the head of the pig with a skull cap and throw an ‘Arafat’ scarf around its neck.

J went further.

Now stick a long goattee on its chin.

Then came the most difficult part.

Train the pig, J asked the audience, to scream everytime anyone passed by who was not similarly attired, “Death to the infidels! Death to the infidels”.

And when you’ve succeeded in doing all of this, J posed to the audience, take a step back, look at the pig and ask yourself, ‘Is this a Muslim?’.

My friend tells me that J barely made it out of the lecture hall to a waiting cab!

So, no Jibby, we have no concerns that UMNO might turn into an Islamic party, extremist or otherwise.

You see, all the ulama and all the clergy you entice into UMNO cannot sanitise and render kosher that which you and your ilk rob from the poor rakyat.

There isn’t two sen worth of Islam running through the veins of UMNO.

Seriously, J’s pig has a head start over you lot at ever being Muslim!
It doesn’t lie, rob or murder!

Political Parties Race To Register New And Young Voters

KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 (Bernama) — With more than four million eligible voters yet to be registered, political parties are now in a hurry to get them on the electoral rolls ahead of the next general election due in 2013.

Most of them are young Malaysians who have reached 21 years and are eligible to become voters but many have not done so as they usually do not bother to register.

Malaysia currently has 11 million registered voters out of a population of about 27 million.

Political analyst Ong Kian Ming said overall, between 25 and 30 per cent of Malaysian voters are expected to be below 35 years old by the next general election.

“This is significant when one considers the larger number of unregistered but eligible voters in Malaysia. There would also be two million Malaysians who would be eligible to vote for the first time in the next elections.

“This is in addition to the four million eligible voters, many believed to be under 30 years old, who did not register in time for the March 8, 2008 polls. In total, we are talking about six million potential voters who are most likely, to be opinionated, Internet-savvy and idealistic,” he added.

According to Khaw Veon Szu, executive director of the Socio-Economic Development and Research Institute (SEDAR), young and first-time voters played a decisive role in the last general election and caused Barisan Nasional to lose its two-thirds majority in Parliament. SEDAR is Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia’s think tank.

“If we are flooded with another wave such as the one in 2008, it would change Malaysia’s political landscape. If political parties ignore these young and unregistered voters, it would be at their own peril,” he said.

Khaw said Gerakan had adopted several strategies, including getting the young and eligible to register as voters, irrespective of their political leanings.

“Each component party tries to reach out, to say something to the young. They go on the offensive in the cyber world. From feedback we had gathered, it is still a daunting task for us (to reach out to them),” he said.

It is not surprising, therefore, that most political parties have stepped up efforts to register new voters because statistics from the Election Commission showed that last year alone, UMNO registered the highest number of new voters at 24,818, followed by DAP with 17,756 and PAS with 16,987.

As this gathers momentum, some political parties have doubled their endeavours such as PAS, which has set to get 500,000 new voters registered under the EC’s year-round registration programme.

The DAP, on the other hand, is targeting about a 10 per cent increase in the number of voters in every constituency by carrying out registration exercises even at night markets and shopping complexes.

“For example, in a constituency where you have 50,000 voters, we should get at least 5,000 new voters,” its youth chief, Anthony Loke, said.

The race to register more voters is getting more intense, especially in states currently controlled by the Opposition or “Pakatan Rakyat”.

The reasons are pretty obvious — each of these political parties are hoping to register more voters to work in their favour.

Selangor executive councillor Ronnie Liu revealed that in Selangor alone, there are more than 700,000 eligible but unregistered voters while Kedah and Penang, the two other states controlled by Pakatan, have more than 300,000 and 200,000 unregistered voters respectively.

“That means that whichever party that manages to register their supporters will make a lot of difference,” he said.

Another Selangor executive councillor, Datuk Hasan Ali, who is also Selangor PAS commissioner, admitted that the Pakatan-controlled states could fall back to BN if the Opposition failed to attract enough new voters.

However, other political analysts such as Dr Sivamurugan Pandian pointed out that although the young and new voters had been crucial in deciding the results in the last general election, not all the six million unregistered voters would get themselves registered for the coming general election.

“The current political landscape plays a role in their thinking because some of them are of the view that the alternatives are still the same,” he said, adding that there may not be a strong enough push factor to make them register as voters.

“As long as these unregistered voters do not see politicians as role models, it would still be very hard to convince them to register and vote in next general election,” he added.

In fact, Dr Sivamurugan cautioned political parties to also focus on older voters, especially those who had cast protest votes in the last general election.

“For example, they must understand that there are two different types of voter groups — urban and rural.

“You just can’t rely on the young voters alone. Political parties must also engage with NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and other groups who call themselves the ‘third force’ that play a decisive role,” he said.

Malaysian Among 38 Injured In Two-Boat Collision

By Jamaluddin Muhammad

BANGKOK, June 27 (Bernama) -- A Malaysian woman was among 38 people injured when two boats collided between the Ko Phangan and Ko Samui islands, about 600km south of Bangkok on Saturday night.

Perminder Grewa, 25, has been warded at the Bangkok Hospital in Samui for minor injuries.

Four other foreigners who were seriously injured are being treated at the hospital's intensive care unit.

The rest of the injured, including 17 foreigners, were warded at the Bandon Inter and Thai Inter hospitals, also in Samui.

The foreigners are from Norway, England, Australia, Iceland, Singapore, Israel and Taiwan, among others.

Samui police crime suppression division commander Senior Sergeant-Major Adipong Thepee said the collision occured during stormy weather between 11.30pm and 11.45pm.

He said the total number of passengers from the boats could not be ascertained at the moment.

Parents should guide children to prevent child mothers

The Star
by TAN SIN CHOW and IAN MCINTYRE

GEORGE TOWN: Parents should realise the importance of sex education and give their children guidance to avoid unwanted pregnancies, said MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

“Youths and teenagers are confused and cannot differentiate between love and physical lust. Most of the time, they are misinformed as they can easily source for information online.

“With the right education, children will become responsible. We must not presume that all the teenagers are aware of their actions,” she told reporters during the 2010 Convocation ceremony for the Penang UTAR branch campus here.


Dr Ng was commenting on The Star’s report that teenage pregnancy was on the rise.

She added that the public must understand that sex education does not mean encouraging teenagers to have sex.

“It will educate the students to be more responsible,” she said.

Dr Ng added that it was important to look at the issue in an objective manner and not blame teenage girls for getting pregnant.

“We have to find ways and means to educate our children on the issue. Parents must give them support and help in whatever ways they can.”

She said that as a medical practitioner, she had seen many tragic cases of underaged girls getting pregnant in the 70s.

“They were either chased out of their houses or villages. They were ostracised. It was tragic,” she said.

State Youth, Sports, Women, Family and Community Develop-ment committee chairman Lydia Ong Kok Fooi said sex education was needed to arrest the increasing trend of young girls getting into trouble.

“I believe the reported cases are just the tip of the iceberg. Many do not report teenage pregnancies, particularly in rural areas,” Ong said after launching the inaugural Penang Durians Masters bowling championship at the Penang Bowl here yesterday.

Wanita MCA secretary-general Chew Lee Giok said there was a need to review the present education system to emphasise on preventive measures to the social problem.

“They are still very young and should be given a chance to move on without any stigma.”

Wanita MCA, under its Wanita MCA Women and Children Aid Bureau, has 31 centres to help women and children in distress.

Najib Diugut Badan Perisikan Singapura Berhubung Kes Altantuya?

SHAH ALAM 26 Jun - Ahli Majlis Pimpinan KEADILAN Pusat, Badrul Hisham Shahrin mendakwa badan perisikan Singapura berkemungkinan telah mengugut Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak dengan menggunakan gambar model Mongolia, Altantuya Shaariibuu bersama beliau sebagai senjata bagi memaksa Najib memeterai perjanjian yang dianggap berat kerajaan Malaysia dan negara pulau itu.

Badrul Hisham aka CheGuBard berkata andaian ini berdasarkan kepada akuan bersumpah penyiasat persendirian, P Balasubramanian pada 1 Julai 2008 yang mengatakan Najib telah memperkenalkan Altantuya yang dikenali sebagai 'Aminah' kepada penasihat politik beliau, Abdul Razak Baginda di satu pameran berlian di Singapura.

"Maknanya Najib pernah berada di Singapura bersama Altantuya," kata CheGuBard dalam satu kenyataan media yang disiarkan dalam blognya.

Dalam lawatan tiga hari Perdana Menteri ke Singapura mulai 22 Mei lepas, Najib dan rakan sejawatnya, Lee Hsien Loong telah mencapai persetujuan atas beberapa perkara pokok yang menjadi pertelagahan antara kedua negara sejak berdekad-dekad lalu.

Antara isu yang paling penting ialah persetujuan Malaysia untuk memindahkan stesen Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) di Tanjong Pagar di Singapura ke Pusat Pemeriksaan Kereta Api Woodlands (WTCP) menjelang 1 Julai 2011.

Malaysia akan juga menempatkan kemudahan kastam, imigresen dan kuarantin (CIQ) kereta apinya di WTCP.

Menurut Perkara-perkara Dipersetujui (PoA) antara kedua negara tanah milik KTMB seluas 271 hektar di Tanjong Pagar, Kranji dan Woodlands serta tiga keping tanah tambahan di Bukit Timah, akan diserahkan kepada M-S Pte Ltd, sebuah syarikat usaha sama Malaysia-Singapura untuk dimajukan.

Syarikat itu dijangka ditubuhkan sebelum 31 Disember ini dengan pegangan 60 peratus oleh Khazanah Nasional Berhad dan 40 peratus baki ekuiti oleh Temasek Holdings Limited, agensi pelaburan kerajaan Singapura.

"Hampir pasti kos operasi KTMB akan meningkat dan bayaran penyewaan WTCP milik Singapura akan membebankan pada masa akan datang.

"Maka KTMB bakal menyertai senarai syarikat milik kerajaan yang rugi seperti Pos Malaysia Berhad dan Sime Darby Berhad yang juga dibawah perlaburan Khazanah Nasional.

"Apa yang berlaku ialah kita bakal membentuk satu lagi perjanjian seperti perjanjian air dengan Singapura yang jelas amat berat sebelah dan menggadaikan kedaulatan negara," jelas CheGuBard.

Hsien Loong kemudiannya melakukan lawatan balas ke Malaysia sebulan selepas kunjungan Najib ke Singapura.

"Semua ini mengarut dan tak masuk akal. Selepas pengumuman di Singapura , banyak bantahan kedengaran di Malaysia. Namun Perdana Menteri Singapura hadir pula ke Kuala Lumpur seolah ‘mengingatkan’ Najib mengenai sesuatu agar Najib terus mempertegaskan persetujuan Malaysia dengan keputusan berat sebelah yang dipersetujui di Singapura.

"Seolah seperti ada sesuatu yang mengikat Najib untuk akur walaupun ia jelas merugikan negara. Dari aspek politik juga Najib jelas akan rugi kerana suara bantahan yang keras sudah mula kedengaran. Namun Najib seolah terpaksa meneruskan.

"Adakah Najib diugut dalam mempersetujui perjanjian ini? Adakah ‘perisik’ Singapura telah mengumpulkan rekod tersebut? Adakah rekod tersebut digunakan untuk mengugut Najib dalam akur dan bersetuju dalam satu lagi penggadaian hak dan kedaulatan negara?," soal beliau dengan tegas.

CheGuBard mendesak agar Najib tampil dan berterus terang kepada rakyat Malaysia.

Kata beliau lagi, jika benar Perdana Menteri diugut oleh badan perisikan Singapura untuk menyetujui satu perjanjian yang merugikan Malaysia dan menyentuh kedaulatan negara, rakyat Malaysia seharusnya bangkit bersatu menentang usaha tersebut.

"Walau apa pun tuduhan terhadap Perdana Menteri sebelum ini namun jelas mereka mempertahankan kedaulatan negara dan tidak mahu menerima tawaran rundingan Singapura yang jelas berat sebelah.

"Namun baru-baru ini hasil pertemuan tertutup Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak dengan rakan sejawat di Singapura kononnya telah menyelesaikan beberapa isu tertangguh sekian lama," jelas beliau.

CheGuBard yang juga penyelaras Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) berkata badan bukan kerajaan itu akan menghantar surat terbuka kepada Perdana Menteri mengenai isu ini dan sebanyak 20,000 salinan surat itu akan dicetak dan diedarkan seluruh negara bagi mempertingkatkan pemahaman rakyat agar bangkit mempertahankan kedaulatan Malaysia.

Gyan fires Ghana into the last eight

Ghana marched on to the quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ after emerging 2-1 victors over USA following 120 minutes of drama in Rustenburg. Asamoah Gyan scored the winner in the 93rd minute after Landon Donovan's penalty had cancelled out Kevin Prince Boateng's early opener.

The Black Stars, who are the sole African representative left in the continent's first FIFA World Cup, will now meet Uruguay in Johannesburg on 2 July. They become the third African nation to advance to the last eight of a FIFA World Cup, after Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002.

The west Africans stunned the US in just the fifth minute after Ricardo Clark had given possession away in midfield. Boateng ran at the defence and, having shifted the ball to the left, beat goalkeeper Tim Howard at his near post with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area. Left reeling, the US were second best until the break.

Their best in the opening period came in the 35th minute, when Jonathan Mensah gave the ball away in his own third to Clint Dempsey. The Fulham man slid the ball to Robbie Findley, who raced clean through on Richard Kingson, but the goalkeeper reacted well to save with this left foot. Coach Bob Bradley's reaction to a lacklustre first-half performance was to bring on attacking midfielder Benny Feilhaber at half-time, and the move almost paid immediate dividends.

Donovan's pace made the chance down the right, and Jozy Altidore did well with the LA Galaxy player's cross to feed the on-rushing Feilhaber. But Kingson came out aggressively and pulled off a fabulous reaction save. Ghana were being pegged back at this stage, and on the hour mark Dempsey skinned Gyan at the edge of the area and broke free into the box. Mensah clattered into him to concede the penalty, and Donovan calmly slotted in his kick off the inside of the post.

As the second half wore on, the US continued to ask questions of the Ghana defence, but Kingson saved the Black Stars twice in succession. In the 68th minute, he raced 15 yards off his line to clear the ball at Altidore's feet, and eight minutes later he got down well to smother Michael Bradley's shot after the coach's son had beaten the offside trap. Altidore had another chance in the 81st minute, but the defence did just enough to put him off and he fired wide from ten yards.

However, just as they did at the start of the match, Ghana opened the extra time with a goal. The impressive Ayew, son of Ghanaian legend Abedi Pele, spun a long ball with the outside of his left foot into the path of Gyan. The Rennes man held off two defenders and smashed the ball past Howard for his third goal of the tournament and his seventh for his country in 2010.

The US, who scored a dramatic last-gasp winner against Algeria to qualify for the second round, seemed to tire after the goal, and though they sent ball after ball into the Ghana box in the final minutes, they could find no late heroics at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. All of Africa seemed to explode at the final whistle, and the youngest team in the tournament will continue to fly the continent's colours for one more round.

Suarez double downs South Koreans

Luis Suarez struck twice as Uruguay beat Korea Republic 2-1 in Port Elizabeth to reach the FIFA World Cup™ quarter-finals for the first time since 1970. The South Koreans pushed hard but Lee Chung-Yong's header in the second half was not enough with Suarez scoring both early and late on for the South Americans.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez made one change to the team that defeated Mexico 1-0 in their final group match, with Diego Godin replacing Mauricio Victorino at the back. Back at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where his side beat Greece 2-0 in their opening game, Korea Republic coach Huh Jung-Moo made a notable change to his midfield, with winger Kim Jae-Sung making his first start in place of Yeom Ki-Hun.

The South Koreans got off to a bright start, with their captain Park Ji-Sung running through the middle of the park to the edge of the area only for Diego Lugano to cut out his attempted through-pass. Minutes later, they came desperately close to taking the lead, Park Chu-Young's curling free-kick from 20 yards smashing the left post as Fernando Muslera stood watching helplessly. Instead it was La Celeste who drew first blood in the eighth minute, when an unmarked Suarez, lurking on the right side of the area, turned the loose ball into an empty net after Jung Sung-Ryong had failed to deal with Diego Forlan's low cross from the left.

The Taeguk Warriors probed away, looking for holes in the stubborn Uruguay defence that had not conceded a goal in the first round. Park Ji-Sung surged down the left but saw his low cross blocked by a timely intervention, then Park Chu-Young tried his luck with an effort from 25 yards that went just wide of the left post. It was Cha Du-Ri's turn next but he saw his audacious shot from 30 yards sail just over the crossbar.

With the rain pouring down in the second half, Kim Jung-Woo almost paid for a sloppy pass across the back, with Suarez intercepting but failing to trouble Jung with a tame shot. At the other end, Lugano's attempted clearance from a Lee Jung-Soo cross fell into the path of Park Chu-Young, who fired a powerful volley over the bar. Park Ji-Sung then managed to connect with a Cha cross from the right, but Muslera did well to hold on to his header, jumping to his left.

South Korean coach Huh had no other option but to reinforce the attack, and brought striker Lee Dong-Gook on for Kim Jae-Sung on the hour mark. The Asian side finally broke through after 68 minutes, when Lugano's headed clearance from Ki Sung-Yueng's free-kick fell to an unmarked Lee Chung-Yong, who headed home the equaliser from close range to finally end Muslera's lengthy unbeaten run. However, the Uruguayans fought back. Suarez saw his shot from an acute angle parried over by Jung, before the Ajax forward then miscued his header with only the keeper to beat. But the Uruguay No9 made no mistake when the ball came to his way on the edge of the box following a Forlan corner, sidestepping a white shirt and curling a spectacular shot in off the far post to make it 2-1.

The Koreans responded by bringing on another forward, Yeom Ki-Hun, for midfielder Ki, and within two minutes, Lee Dong-Gook spurned a glorious chance to equalise as the Jeonbuk Motors marksman saw his low shot half-stopped by Muslera before Lugano cleared the ball as it trickled slowly towards the net. With that, the South Koreans' final opportunity had passed as La Celeste held on to book their place in the last eight.

Michael Jackson's dad files wrongful death suit

CNN's Don Lemon speaks exclusively with friends and family members about Michael Jackson's last days in "Michael Jackson: His Final Days," at 8 p.m. ET Friday on CNN.

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's father filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against Dr. Conrad Murray on Friday, the anniversary of the pop star's death, Joe Jackson's lawyer said.

The suit alleges that Murray gave paramedics and doctors false information about the "polypharmacy" of drugs Michael Jackson had been given and hindered efforts to revive him in an ambulance and at UCLA Medical Center, according to a copy obtained by CNN.

The suit said that "other parties responsible for Michael Jackson's death" would be added but that the plaintiff "has not yet gathered sufficient information regarding their potential liability or responsibility."

A complaint filed by Joe Jackson with the California medical board this month also named AEG, the company that was producing his son's comeback concerts.

Murray was hired to serve as Jackson's personal doctor two months before the London debut of the concerts were set.

The Los Angeles County coroner ruled that Michael Jackson's death was caused by an overdose of propofol, a powerful anesthesia that Murray has acknowledged the pop star used to help him sleep.

Joe Jackson attorney Brian Oxman obtained a court order this year giving him medical records from UCLA Medical Center, where Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009.

The suit also alleges that Murray delayed calling for paramedics for over an hour, after he found Jackson not breathing minutes after he injected him with propofol to help him fall asleep. The suit contends that Murray used the time to hide evidence of drugs he had been giving Jackson.

When the ambulance carrying Michael Jackson from his home arrived at the emergency room at 1:13 p.m., he was identified as "Soule Shaun," the suit said. He had "no pulse, blood pressure, spontaneous respiration or heartbeat," it said.

Murray, who had taken over control of resuscitation efforts from paramedics, said nothing to emergency room doctors about the propofol or "other drugs" he had given Michael Jackson earlier in the day, it said.

It quoted a report written the next day by one of those doctors, who wrote that Murray told them "the patient had been working long hours but had not been ill."

"The only reported medications reported for the patient were valium and Flomax," Dr. Richelle Cooper wrote. "There is no history of drug use by the patient as reported by Dr. Murray."

A police report said Murray told investigators two days later that "he was afraid Michael Jackson was addicted to propofol."

"He had a history of addiction, and the defendant was trying to wean him off the drugs, yet he told Dr. Cooper two days earlier that Michael Jackson had no drug use history," the suit said.

The toxicology results included in the autopsy report said the propofol level found in Michael Jackson's body was equal to what would be used to sedate a patient for major surgery.

Murray, who has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in Michael Jackson's death, did not give him that much of the anesthesia, his defense lawyer said recently.

"There is no way that Dr. Murray pumped Michael Jackson full of propofol sufficient for major surgery," attorney Ed Chernoff said. "No way. I would stake anything that I own on this fact."

The lawsuit contends that Jackson showed "neurological, pulmonary, and amnesia signs" in his final weeks as he rehearsed in Los Angeles for the London shows.

It said Jackson borrowed jackets from others and used a heater at rehearsals "to control the shivering."

"In May and June, 2009, Michael Jackson was confused, easily frightened, unable to remember, obsessive, and disoriented," the suit said. "He has impaired memory, a loss of appetite, and absence of energy. He was cold and shivering during the summer rehearsals for his show, and as shown in photographs and motion pictures of him, he uncharacteristically wore heavy clothing during the rehearsals, while other dancers wore scant clothing and were perspiring from the heat."

Nationwide Police report against PM, DPM and Higher Education Minister. SPM 13As top Indian students denied Scholarships, Matriculation and University places.

HRP Kedah, Muniandy lodge at Lunas IPD was the second after S.Jayathas lodge police report at Bricksfield IPD against PM, DPM and Higher Education Minister. SPM 13As top Indian students denied Scholarships, Matriculation and University places.
Human Rights Party (HRP) of all state will also lodge this nationwide police report against the injustices of the UMNO led One Malay-sian government. We also invite all concern citizen to also make this police report and fax to us a copy of the report to 03 2282 5245

S.JAYATHAS
Information Chief
www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com

More Malaysians Victims Of Fake Soothsayers, Says UM Study

By P. Vijian

COIMBATORE, June 26 (Bernama) -- The truth is not always soothing. Despite constant media expose on fake soothsayers, an increasing number of gullible Malaysians continue to be duped by them.

A University of Malaya (UM) survey of 300 urban Malaysian Indians who frequently consulted astrologers revealed that at least half of them were cheated under the guise of spiritual remedies.

"The rest said fortune telling was good because consulting (soothsayers) gave guidance to shape their lives," UM's Indian Studies Department senior lecturer Dr G. Sivabalan told Bernama.

Speaking on the sidelines of the World Classical Tamil Conference in Coimbatore, he said the 2008-2009 study was specially focused on the famous Hindu 'Nadi' astrology or palm leaf reading, a practice where expert fortune-tellers forecast a person's past, present and future by just reading an ancient text written on a leaf.

According to Sivabalan, palm leaf reading was popularised in the late 1980s, after dozens of self-proclaimed south Indian astrologers, equipped with volumes of palm leaves, arrived on Malaysian shores to seek their fortune.

So far, about 50,000 Malaysians have consulted these soothsayers, mostly urban professionals, who wanted to excel in their lives, said the study.

As cases of unscrupulous astrologers surfaced, the university conducted a study in Johor, Klang Valley and Perak to investigate the effects of astrology, and discovered that each person on average, spent nearly RM1,000, to know the future.

UM is now planning to set up a Tamil manuscript palm leaf study centre, with the association of Malaysian Tamil Writers Association, where they would collect palm leaves found in Malaysia since the 1890s, which contain 'Siddha' prescriptions for aliments.

There are plans to tie up with the Tanjavur Tamil University based in South India to train Malaysian staff on the subject, to create awareness among believers on soothsayers.

Azmin says only gave advice to Khalid

Azmin said he merely ‘advised’ Khalid.

SHAH ALAM, June 26 — PKR vice-president Azmin Ali downplayed today rumours that he is party to an internal PKR coup to oust Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, pointing out instead that he had only offered advice to the Selangor mentri besar.SHAH ALAM, June 26 — PKR vice-president Azmin Ali downplayed today rumours that he is party to an internal PKR coup to oust Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, pointing out instead that he had only offered advice to the Selangor mentri besar.
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Azmin said he had merely “advised” Khalid to pay heed to the grouses of businessmen who were unhappy with the speed at which their permits were being processed.

“Approvals must be quick, transparent and responsible. This is what we advised. We didn’t ask that Tan Sri Khalid be let go,” he said at Quality Hotel here where PKR is having its weekend retreat.

“We never said that Tan Sri Khalid should be fired. No. The leadership and I merely feel that the mentri besar and his exco must give serious attention to the advice given by party members in Kota Baru (during the recent party convention).”

However, he added that it was unfortunate that action had yet to be taken one month on from the PKR Congress held in Kelantan.

PKR has been thrown into disarray since two of the party’s lawmakers recently confirmed that a “coup” to remove Khalid from office was being led by Teluk Kemang MP Datuk Kamarul Bahrain Abbas, who has denied the accusation.

The alleged revolt is believed to have started from Azmin’s resignation from PKNS three days ago.

Khalid has dismissed the revolt as mere speculation.

Azmin said Selangor’s economy would be slowed down by lengthy approval times and too much bureaucracy as it was based on investment, industry and land, not natural resources.

“This is our concern... as a leader, not a question of challenging any individual,” he said.

He added that he was prepared to give his full support to Khalid and his team but cautioned that they will have to take a more proactive attitude towards developing the state economy.

“Our message [to Khalid] is that the problem is serious,” he said.

“Complaints and criticisms from the business community and the people of Selangor are serious and must be addressed immediately. That’s all.”

Azmin reiterated his support for Khalid but said that as a mentri besar who has been entrusted by PKR to translate the party agenda to policy, Khalid should do it as soon as possible without bureaucracy, graft, misuse of power and bribery.

“From this point of view, Tan Sri Khalid has done a good job, meaning his administration is clean. There’s no graft, misuse of power or bribery. But the problem of [excessive] bureaucracy remains, and this has be fixed,” he said.

He said Selangor had to perform at its best because it was a “role model” to showcase the policies and administrative capabilities of Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

“If this can be done, I don’t see Pakatan Rakyat having any problems getting to Putrajaya.”

Azmin said that Barisan Nasional (BN) and the media have mistaken his motives due to “cultural” differences.

“I feel the media, Umno and Barisan Nasional have never seen such a culture of openness,” he said.

He said BN MPs and state assemblymen who comment on their leadership would have been blacklisted.

“But for us, we advise our leaders openly because we love the party and this state,” he said.

Azmin also denied any knowledge of an anti-Khalid faction within PKR.

“I never said Pakatan 15 or Group of 15. This is all media terminology. There is no pakatan (alliance), only Pakatan Rakyat,” he said.

The DAP earlier today issued a statement warning PKR to keep its house in order and to sort out any internal bickering at its current weekend retreat as rumours of the coup have begun to negatively affect PR component parties.

Klang MP Charles Santiago said PAS and DAP will soon meet up with Khalid to discuss the latest matters pertaining to the state.

Perkasa not an obstacle to 1Malaysia, says Ibrahim

KOTA BARU: The Malay right-wing group, Perkasa, has denied the allegation by Rembau MP, Khairy Jamaluddin, that its approach on certain issues posed an obstacle to the 1Malaysia concept.

Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali said the movement championed the cause of the Malays and was not a racist organisation which encouraged hatred against other races.

"Perkasa's criticisms regarding several issues such as the latest on the statement by MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong should not be misconstrued as being an obstacle to the 1Malaysia concept," he told reporters here today.

Wee was criticised by Perkasa for raising the issue on the award of scholarships by the Public Service Department (PSD) to the Bumiputera.

Ibrahim, who is also the Independent Pasir Mas MP, said there were now many issues concerning the Malays and that Perkasa was responsible to defend them as provided for in the federal constitution.

-Bernama

I never thought of resigning, says Khalid

SHAH ALAM: Khalid Ibrahim said the thought of quitting as Selangor menteri besar had never crossed his mind.

This, he said, was despite rumours there was a group in PKR wanting to oust him.

"I never thought of it," he told reporters after opening the 17th Selangor Malaysian Indian Youth Council annual general meeting here today.

He was commenting on the existence of a group comprising 15 PKR MPs who wants him to step down as menteri besar, a post which he has been holding since March 2008.

Meanwhile, PKR vice-president R Sivarasa said there was no proof of the group's existence, describing it as merely media speculation.

"Sometimes, in an organisation, we have our differences and these differences will be discussed and resolved through existing channels in the party, like the retreat and the party's supreme council meeting scheduled tomorrow," he said.

In SHAH ALAM, the PKR retreat today did not discuss the call by the group of 15 MPs from the party who wanted Khalid to relinquish his post.

Instead, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the meeting merely discussed issues on the party's preparation to face the next general election and the election of the party's supreme council members in November.

"I don't know anything and there was no discussion on the matter," she told reporters when met outside the meeting hall, here.

'There's no group of 15'

Meanwhile, several PKR MPs denied the alleged existence of the group of 15.

Teluk Kemang MP Kamarul Baharin Abbas said he did not know of any development on the issue and questioned the existence of such a group.

the Pact of 15.

"Why 15, why not 20 or 29? They are just numbers as claimed by someone," he said.

Asked on the allegation that he was the leader of the pact, Kamarul Baharin said: "In the party, I head the MPs and State Assemblymen Secretariat. If you are referring to that, then it's correct.

"The question raised in the media was not discussed specifically. There's no petition, no memorandum. If there is, certainly I would know."

However, he did not rule out the possibility that it might be discussed if it were raised at the party leadership council meeting tomorrow.

Gombak MP Azmin Ali said he had never asked Khalid to resign.

"We criticise, we did not ask Khalid to be removed. We never said that Khalid must be removed. There is no group of 15 MPs. What we have is only the Pakatan Rakyat," he said.

However, a small group of PKR MPs were not happy with the problem of bureaucracy in Khalid's administration and the delivery system was still weak, he said at the two-day PKR retreat.

- Bernama

In the eye of the PKR storm : He who wields the unsheathed dagger

By Haris Ibrahim,

You get on a packed bus headed to Taiping.

Same journey for all 50 passengers, but each having their own agenda in wanting to reach that common destination.

The same can be said of the group of 15 PKR MPs, now called ‘G15′ by certain quarters, who are reported to be pushing an agenda to displace Khalid Ibrahim as MB of Selangor.

My sources tell me that G15 actually numbers 11.

Khalid claims to be in the dark about this agenda.

Yeah, right!

As does Azmin, even as he conceals the unsheathed dagger beneath the cloak of political intrigue and  deception.

“I don’t know of any move by MPs to start a petition on this matter. I am not denying it, I don’t know. How could I agree or disagree when I have no access to information…I am not part of this so I wouldn’t know, I was not at the meeting, when was the meeting honestly? Let me check with my colleagues” , Malaysiakini reported Azmin as saying of this rumoured uprising.

“If I wanted to pull him down, I would have done it after March 8 general election. Why now? His term is expiring soon, so why now? If that was my game, I should have done it before” , FreeMalaysiaToday reports Azmin as responding to suggestions that he is behind moves to topple Khalid as MB.

Yet, the truth, as known by anyone who is anything in PKR, is that Azmin has long wanted to bring Khalid down, the former coveting the MBship of Selangor for himself even as the dust of the 12th GE began to settle.

PKR’s Elizabeth Wong has called on the G15 members to ‘show their faces’.

Huh!

The truth, again, is that anyone who is anything in PKR knows who they are.

That necessarily includes Anwar.

Indeed, at the just concluded PKR national congress in Kota Baru last month, the MP for Teluk Kemang, representing  10 other PKR MPs, brought to Anwar’s attention their grievances about Khalid’s leadership of the Selangor government, and their demand that Khalid be immediately relieved of the office of MB.

Anwar, I am told, assured Kamarul that their grievances would be looked into and addressed.

The next day, after delivering her presidential address, and at a press conference, Wan Azizah made it clear that Khalid would remain as MB of Selangor.

In her presidential address, she defended Khalid against the criticism leveled at him.

“He has defended the principles of transparency and accountability by chipping away at the wastage and corruption that have become part of Umno’s culture. The courage of the Selangor government in introducing Selcat – exposing all, is the renewal that we can be proud of” , Malaysiakini reports her as saying.

Did Anwar, then, renege on any assurances given to Kamarul? Were there any assurances given to placate the group?

Only Anwar and Kamarul can tell us.

I had sms’d Anwar several times asking to meet in the hope of clearing this with him.

No response.

I guess he’s been too busy.

Now slighted by the president’s defence of Khalid, the group of disenchanted MPs began to make their moves.

And as they did, some from within their ranks, big boys within the party set up who, until then, were said to be aligned to he who wields the unsheathed dagger, either grew somewhat alarmed with the direction the group was taking or came to be viewed with suspicion, given the plot that was being hatched.

Whatever the reason, he who bites, another who holds the party purse strings and one of the party’s v-ps, either withdrew or were dumped from G15.

And in their place stepped in Gwo Burne and Kapar Mike.

So who make up the 11 in G15 now?

Here’s the list.

Manikavasagam of Kapar, Gwo-Burne of Kelana Jaya, Rashid Din of Merbok, Abdul Aziz Abdul Kadir of Ketereh, Kamarul Baharin of Teluk Kemang, Azan Ismail of Indera Mahkota, Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff of Balik Pulau,  Zuraida Kamaruddin of Ampang, and Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid of Kuala Langat.

That’s only 9, did you say?

Well, throw in that low-life, froggie Wee Choo Keong of Wangsa Maju, and he who wields the unsheathed dagger, and there’s your 11.

Now, if nothing else, the presence of Wee in this clandestine effort to depose the leadership in Selangor must cast serious doubts on the intentions of some, if not all, involved.

Unless Wee’s complicity is not known to all the other 10, which then lends a more sinister sheen to their agenda.

Why the move to unseat Khalid, then?

Last night, 17 out of 22 Selangor PKR division leaders turned up at MB Khalid’s house to pledge their support for MB.  Malaysiakini has a report on this HERE.

He who wields the unsheathed dagger was amongst the 5 not present. No reasons given.

Selangor PKR, the Aduns and the Exco members, it would seem, are, rightly or wrongly, generally supportive of Khalid.

If this whole issue is indeed about Selangor and little else, where do the non-Selangor MPs fit in?

What gives?

I spoke to several Selangor Adun and Excos before last night’s meeting at the MB’s residence.

All said the same. The problem with Khalid is that he is not a politician, but a corporate bureaucrat, and not a very good one, at that.

Quite a few said he’s not decisive enough.

And afraid to tackle some thorny issues head on.

And there’s little deliberation between him and other party leaders.

But he’s clean, they all say.

And there was no-one else to helm the state government in the wake of the 12th GE tsunami.

What about he who wields the unsheathed dagger, I asked.

“The word is that if you want to make money, align yourself to Azmin. Do you want him as MB?”, one Adun responded.

So what’s the beef that these MPs have with Khalid, then?

Contract opportunities and money, I am told.

Kamarul, a long time and loyal supporter of Anwar, and who apparently dug deep into his own financial resources to help the party, is said to be now up against the wall, in financial dire straits.

Yusmadi, it seems, enjoys a life style that exceeds his means. His wife, a legal practitioner, receives work from the Selangor state government but, it seems, that’s just not enough.

All, it seems, are moved by personal interest with little consideration for the people of Selangor.

And for one, that personal interest is about removing the competition for the race to the top.

“Everyone knows that Azmin wanted the MB’s post and has resented Khalid’s appointment. Azmin still wants the post but this has nothing to do with the well-being of Selangor”, the Adun I spoke to offered.

It would seem that he who wields the unsheathed dagger has set his sights beyond just the seat of power in Selangor.

Well beyond Selangor.

Much has come to pass since 8th March, 2008.

Syed Husin Ali has announced he will not be looking to defend his incumbent position as deputy president at the party elections this coming November.

Number 2 post is therefore up for grabs.

And whilst it was always assumed by certain quarters that Wan Azizah would make way for Anwar to rise uncontested to the position of party president, this now hangs precariously in the balance given the real uncertainty of Anwar remaining at large upon the conclusion of the ongoing Sodomy 2 trial, appeal and all.

Anwar, however, I’m told, has been insisting that he will not avail himself for the position of party president, much to the annoyance of many in the party.

Is number 1, too, ripe for the picking?

Who, in the party, are seen as likely candidates?

Khalid, for all the criticism that has rained on him, cannot be discounted.

And then there is the new kid on the block, Zaid.

He who wields the unsheathed dagger, too, fancies his chances.

A possible three-horse race, then?

And in comes G15, made up by a majority of non-Selangor MPs, maneuvering to finish off Khalid, leaving only Zaid to be dealt with on a  later date, if the internally sabotaged Hulu Selangor by-election is not seen as having done enough.

Against this backdrop, the G15, minus Wee, is beginning to look like a national team built along the lines of BN, to wrest power in PKR this coming November.

Why like BN?

Well, Gwo-Burne and Mike representing the ‘nons’ in an otherwise all-Malay team does look line BN all over again, does it not?

All this for an aspirant to high office?

Is this the politics of PKR that we should brace ourselves for?

Is this the politics that will pave the way for Pakatan Rakyat to Putrajaya?

Where is Anwar whilst this drama unfolds?

Make no mistake, Anwar is aware of all that is happening.

Yet he appears to turn a blind eye to this, seemingly unable to rein in his protege.

This does not appear to be the first time.

As two Sabah PKR divisional chiefs observed some time back, and reported in Malaysiakini, “We don’t know what kind of hold Azmin has over Anwar and that disturbs us. Something is just not right here.“

Indeed, little is right in PKR at the moment.

Much of what is dreadfully wrong is seen by many in party leadership as stemming from Anwar’s indecisiveness in dealing effectively with the cancerous cells within the party.

Remember Zul Nordin?

I just got this sms from someone who is at the PKR retreat at Shah Alam.

“If Anwar does not shape up, there will be no PKR in 6 months”.

I’ll end this post with an excerpt from Martin Jalleh’s ‘Please pack up and go, PKR’.

“Please, please PKR stop pushing your fanciful dreams about occupying Putrajaya when you are in such a pathetic and pitiful state with your prima donna politicians parading their shameless petty and puerile politics in public.As a party you have become laughable, and as RPK predicts you could be facing your last days!…Your endless intra-party squabbles, spats and skirmishes and splintered groups sicken those of us who once supported, voted and stood steadfastly by you…We are tired of your MPs and Assemblymen’s threats to resign, their taunts to one another to quit and their theatrics and tantrums to be turncoats…Your politicians are made up mainly of clowns who crap, crow, clamour for and cry aloud about change but cling on to their political charades, chicanery, claptrap and conspiracies, instead of collaborating at all costs in your professed commitment to bring about concrete change…Yes, go for your weekend retreat PKR leaders. I hope you will prove me and many others wrong but my guess is that you will still be a party weak, wavering, wobbling, wandering and wanting to do each other in…as you chart your way into political wilderness! The road to Putrajaya requires stomach, stamina, synergy, solidarity and the sacrifice of personal agendas for the larger national agenda. Sadly, this journey has been stymied by your somnolent, selfish, self-centered and supercilious political representatives, whom Bolehland can do well without”.

Don’t Condone Najib’s Excesses, Anwar Tells Obama

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, who faces a return to prison on controversial sodomy charges, is asking the United States to temper its enthusiasm for building ties with his country.

MCPXOn a visit to Washington, Anwar welcomed the attention paid to Malaysia by President Barack Obama but said the administration needed to be careful not to be “condoning the excesses” of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government.

“Just because we have a prime minister coming here and agreeing with whatever Obama wants him to do or to say does not erase or protect him from the crimes committed at home,” Anwar told AFP.

Najib visited Washington in April for a major summit on nuclear security and backed Obama in opposing any move by Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

Some Malaysian officials saw Najib’s visit as a breakthrough after years of rocky ties. Veteran former leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad was a strident critic of US foreign policy, although the countries have long been major trading partners.

The Obama administration has put a renewed focus on Southeast Asia, believing it was overlooked under former president George W Bush, and on reaching out to the world’s moderate Muslims.

“What do you mean by a moderate Muslim country? Does that mean you can detain people without trial, deny basic freedom, you can ill-treat and discriminate against religious minorities?” Anwar said.

“We can be very tolerant, we can condemn the Iranians – can that cover the stench in your backyard? I don’t believe so.”

‘Political assassination’

Anwar is accused of sodomy by a 25-year-old former aide, who said Anwar propositioned him at an apartment in 2008.

Sodomy, even among consenting adults, is illegal in Malaysia. If convicted, Anwar could face up to 20 years imprisonment.

Anwar, a 62-year-old father of six, previously spent six years in solitary confinement on separate sex and corruption counts after being sacked as deputy prime minister in 1998 following a falling out with Mahathir.

In prison, Anwar said he read the complete works of Shakespeare four times.

The Malaysian government says that the court is independent and obliged to pursue lawsuits filed by any individual.

But Anwar said the trial amounted to “political assassination” by Najib to prevent him from taking power. The opposition made major strides in 2008 elections, stunning the BN coalition that has been in power for half a century.

Anwar has lost a series of legal maneuvers in his trial, including failing to win access to medical reports and to statements by his accuser.

Anwar in Washington DC

He said he appreciated support from the United States but found the Obama administration’s overall record on human rights “disappointing.”

“We expect them to do more than Bush – these people who believe in freedom, human rights, the rule of law,” Anwar said.

Anwar met in Washington with senior policymakers including Kurt Campbell, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian affairs, who promised in April that the United States would closely scrutinise Anwar’s trial.

Anwar was in the US capital at the invitation of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, where he delivered a lecture arguing that democracy was compatible with Islam in Southeast Asia.

In his public remarks, Anwar strongly criticised a former Malaysian government ban on non-Muslims using the word ‘Allah’ as a translation for ‘God’.

A court struck down the ban on December 31, after which assailants attacked a number of churches.

“It’s completely insane and ridiculous to suggest that you can impose on others, non-Muslims, a law denying them a right to call their God whatever name,” Anwar said.

“This can only come from a ruling establishment or clique that is myopic, racist, clearly intolerant and undemocratic,” he said.

- AFP

Ulama's Participation Won't Turn Umno Into Extremist Party - Najib

KUANTAN, June 26 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said on Saturday the participation of many ulama in Umno will not turn the party into an extremist Islamic party.

On the other hand, the Prime Minister said, their participation proved that the policy of Umno's struggles in promoting the sanctity of Islam in the country was recognised by the ulama.

"We don't want Umno to be perceived as an extremist party. Islam is actually not a religion that practices extremism. So, we will champion Islam that is acceptable to everyone," he told reporters after opening a programme organised by YaPEIM, the Muslim economic development foundation, here.

Also present was the prime minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who is the patron of YaPEIM, and the chairman of the YaPEIM board of trustees, Datuk Ahmad Tajudin Abdul Rahman.

He was commenting on the move by 40 young ulama throughout the country who had submitted their Umno membership forms to him in Kuala Lumpur last night.

Najib, who is also the Umno president, said the party had always welcomed intellectuals well-versed in Islam to join Umno.

"I hope this marks the beginning of more participation by academicians in Islamic studies to join and support the Umno cause," he said.

The Prime Minister said Umno had proven that the policies of its struggles all this while had made Malaysia into a model Muslim nation at the international level.

"We will continue to strengthen Umno's struggles and ensure that what we are doing is in line with the wishes and requirements of Islam," he said.

-- BERNAMA