U.N. official criticizes Vatican over abuse

The Catholic Church must not sweep abuse "under the carpet," a top U.N. official said Thursday in unprecedented criticism of the Vatican by the United Nations.

Navi Pillay, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said she was "not at all" happy with how the Catholic Church has handled allegations of child abuse by clergy.

"There are children who are now coming forward on this issue and they are still hurting. They need to see justice being done," she told CNN's "Connect the World" program.

On Thursday, the Vatican issued new rules aimed at stopping the abuse of children by priests.

The new regulations give the pope the authority to defrock a priest or hand out other punishments without a formal Vatican trial.

The rules also make it a crime for a priest to download child pornography. And they say the abuse of mentally handicapped people is as bad as child abuse.

Read the statement from the Vatican (in Italian and English)

Child-safety campaigners said the new rules do not go far enough.

"The pope had a chance to do something really decisive that would affect the situation worldwide," said Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of BishopAccountability.

Instead the Vatican issued rules that she described as the equivalent of "bringing a child's sand shovel to an avalanche."

Doyle wants the Vatican to do much more, including ending "secretive tribunals" of priests accused of abuse.

"The church must release lists of credibly accused priests," she said.

Naming suspected abusers "serves a public safety function," she said, and is "not only reasonable, it's absolutely crucial."

It would help victims to have abusive priests named even if they are dead, she said.

"I know a family that was utterly destroyed by the abuse of four siblings" who were all molested by the same priest, she said.

"It tore apart a devout Catholic family. Some of them are not speaking to each other," she said. "It would be of enormous help to them for the bishops just to say, 'We know there are allegations against him.'"

The new rules come in response to thousands of recent allegations of child abuse by priests in the United States, Europe and Latin America.

They deal only with how the church itself handles allegations of abuse, Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said.

Church law already orders Catholic clergy to comply with the civil law of the country they live in if they suspect child abuse is taking place, he said.

CNN Senior Vatican Analyst John Allen said the long-awaited guidelines make "relatively minor" changes.

"They take what is already existing practice and make it church law," he said.

He doubted they would satisfy the Vatican's critics.

"The story here is a kind of disconnect between the Vatican, which seems to think that business as usual is enough, and the rest of the world who are waiting for a dramatic symbol of change," he said. "These revisions will likely come across to critics as the Vatican re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic."

CNN's Hada Messia and the CNN Wire Staff contributed to this report.

Umno, PKR members face off outside state assembly

'Umno methods need overhaul'

Zahrain, you're a blatant liar: Bala's lawyer

(Malaysiakini) The war of words between Americk Sidhu, the lawyer for private eye P Balasubramaniam, and Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Mohamed Hashim escalated today with the former PKR politician being called a “blatant liar”.

Zahrain, who left PKR to become an independent parliamentarian in February, had accused his former party of sponsoring blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin who has been living in self-imposed exile in London.

Last Wednesday, Zahrain said he had furnished the proof in the form of e-mail messages to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Aziz.

Zahrain has also said that Balasubramanian's interview with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), even if it took place in London, would be fruitless as the private investigator's revelation was scripted by his lawyers.

This has prompted an angry response the next day from Americk, who described the MP as a “dishonourable man”.

Yesterday, Zahrain retaliated and suggested that the furious reaction from Americk could be the result of the lawyer and Raja Petra feeling threatened by his revelation.

Zahrain's feeble threat
In an open letter to Zahrain today, the lawyer said the MP was holding onto the “feeble threat” of having documentary proof of the PKR sponsorship.

“The only proof you could possibly have of any sponsorship of my expenses in London would be copies of my American Express and Visa card bills,” said Americk.

“If you do indeed have copies of these statements, then you will no doubt have realised that whatever it cost to fly to London from Australia, stay in a hotel there for seven nights and then return to Australia, was paid for out of my own hard-earned money and no one else's.”

Americk proceeded to provide details of his expenses in London - both his hotel stay and his flight tickets between Perth and London.

“I have bills to back these expenses and I have proof that I paid for them myself,” said Americk.

He said the bills were paid through his American Express and Visa credit cards. Americk ended his letter by issuing a challenge to Zahrain.

“I have thrown down the gauntlet, Zahrain. Produce your proof or forever hold your loquacity,” said Americk.

Lawyers paid from own pockets

According to Americk, the other two Balasubramaniam lawyers - Manjeet Singh Dhillon and Amarjit Singh Sidhu - also paid for their respective trips to London themselves.

“You may question why we paid all this money out of our own pockets. You may also choose to question why the legal services we are providing Bala are pro bono. The answer is very simple and probably beyond your comprehension. We consider it part of our duty to the nation,” Americk said in his letter to Zahrain.

Meanwhile, Balasubramaniam has said earlier that he was sponsored by Deepak Jaikishan, a businessman who has close links with Prime Minister Najib Razak's wife, Rosmah Mansor.

While all the three lawyers were with Balasubramaniam in London last week, the private investigator was accompanied by Manjeet in his trip to Paris to meet with French investigators early this week.

Dear Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Hashim,

It has come to my notice that you have again provided the press with information pertaining to matters you actually have no knowledge of but are instead pretending to.

It seems to me that you are still so desperately trying to earn brownie points with your new masters that you have instead resorted to a pathetic and tenuous attempt to discredit my integrity based on nothing more than a feeble threat of being possessed of documentary proof of my wrongdoings, which I know for a fact you could not possibly have.

In the event you are unable to decipher the innuendo in that statement, then let me leave you in no doubt that apart from my observations of your dishonourable conduct as a parliamentarian, I am now calling you a blatant liar.

The only proof you could possibly have of any sponsorship of my expenses in London would be copies of my American Express and Visa card bills. If you do indeed have copies of these statements, then you will no doubt have realised that whatever it cost to fly to London from Australia, stay in a hotel there for seven nights and then return to Australia, was paid for out of my own hard-earned money and no one else's.

I understand this concept may be alien to a politician of your stature but please try and understand that ordinary people sometimes do pay their own bills.

So I am now going to detail those expenses for you, Zahrain. As I have said, I have bills to back these expenses and I have proof that I paid for them myself.

1. Qantas airfares for my wife and I from Perth to London return - AUD$12,560.24 (American Express)

2. Chesterfield Hotel, Charles St, Mayfair, London - Pounds Sterling 1,550 (Visa)

I also know for a fact that both Manjeet Singh Dhillon and Amarjit Singh Sidhu paid for their respective trips to London themselves but I do not have exact details of those expenses. Since you have not leveled any accusations against them as yet I will leave it at that.

You may question why we paid all this money out of our own pockets. You may also choose to question why the legal services we are providing P Balasubramaniam are pro bono. The answer is very simple and probably beyond your comprehension. We consider it part of our duty to the nation.

Bala travelled to London on a plane ticket he purchased himself in India from the funds he received from Deepak Jaikishan. He checked into a deluxe room in a 4-star hotel in Notting Hill Gate as required by the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission). They had promised to reimburse him for his flight and accommodation. I have documents to prove this. Please also remember that the MACC pulled out of this deal at the very last moment as Bala was in mid flight.

We were forced to hold a roundtable discussion at the Lagenda restaurant Holliday Villa Hotel, London, after the press conference on July 7 because Bala informed us he did not have enough money to pay his hotel bill. He had assumed the MACC would be picking up the tab.

I must confess I was greatly impressed with the speed at which all those at the table pitched in. RPK was the first person to hand over 500 pounds from his own pocket whilst other persons present passed the hat around and in no time at all, Bala was in funds again.

Needless to say, the two Special Branch agents seconded to eavesdrop were no where to be seen when that hat was passed around. Donations were received from ordinary Malaysians who were there supporting the fight of good over evil and truth over deceit. A big heartfelt 'syabas' to them all. Your nation is proud of you!

Now Zahrain, if you have proof to contradict my claim that my expenses in particular were borne by no other person than myself, please be man enough to reveal it. May I suggest that you ask Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz for those documents back. I am sure he would be only too happy to assist you in discrediting me.

Zahrain, be very clear that the reason why I called you a dishonourable man was for cheating those people who placed their trust in you by voting for you in the last elections. In the real world this would have meant that your credibility would have been irreparably destroyed. Not however, in the political world in which you now live, where chicanery of this nature is par for the course and is encouraged by reward.

Finally, Zahrain, even if PKR had sponsored my trip, (which unfortunately they have not), I am unable to comprehend why you would have considered this such a serious offence as to necessitate indignant press releases.

I would have thought support of this nature would have been lauded by any right thinking member of society as it would have shown a commitment by the opposition in ensuring that perpetrators of misdeeds are brought to justice, a concept you still appear not to appreciate very well.

So I have thrown down the gauntlet Zahrain. Produce your proof or forever hold your loquacity.

Let it be known that I am not intimidated by your threats. Paper tigers do not frighten me.

The writer is lawyer for private investigator P Balasubramaniam.

Controversial private eye P Balasubramaniam said that he was quizzed for three hours on Monday by French prosecutor M Ryckewaert at the Centrale de la Police Judiciare in Paris.

This was followed by a two-hour meeting the day after with a team of French lawyers led by Joseph Breham, who were hired by human rights group Suaram to bring up the case in the French courts.

According to Balasubramaniam, he told the French what he knew regarding the alleged Paris meeting between Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda - who had hired the private investigator to keep an eye on Altantuya before she was murdered in 2006.

He was also asked on the payments made by Razak Baginda to Altantuya and the purchase of an apartment in Mongolia by the political analyst for his ex-lover.

Balasubramaniam also explained the role played by Najib's wife, Rosmah Mansor, his brother, Nazim Abdul Razak and businessman Deepak Jaikishan in getting him to change his statutory declaration, which led to his self-imposed exile in India.

The private investigator also gave information on the two Special Action Forces personnel - chief inspector Azilah Hadri and corporal Sirul Azhar Umar - who last year were convicted of killing Altantuya.

Balasubramian was also questioned on the alleged French individuals involved in the multi-billion ringgit submarine deal and the details given by Altantuya of payments made by the French to Perimekar Sdn Bhd, the company owned by Abdul Razak's wife Mazlinda Mahmood.

Two Malaysian names cropped up during the questioning - Major Rahim and Abdul Rahim Saad. However, no details were revealed on who they were and what role they played in the scandal.

The Parisians are investigating whether commissions have been paid in the RM3.7 billion deal between the Malaysian government and French-based defence company DCNS, which is illegal under the French law.

Bala's press statement

Below is the statement released by Balasubramaniam on what he told the French investigators.

He was quizzed by them alone as the private eye's lawyer, Manjeet Singh Dhillon, was not allowed to accompany him.

Place of interview: Direction Centrale de la Police Judiciare DNIF, Nanterre, Paris. Interviewed by M Ryckewaert assisted by an English interpreter and another officer. Interview conducted in French through the English interpreter.

Observation: The French investigator appeared to be very familiar with the events inMalaysia relating to the Altantuya murder. The interview however centred on the Scorpene submarine deal and the alleged commission paid in connection with that.

The following were the areas covered in the interview.

1) My background [including date and place of birth] and my occupation from the time I was with the Malaysian police to the time when I became a private investigator in 1998.

2) The validity of my PI (private investigator) licence.

3) The whole story as to how I was recruited to do a job for Razak Baginda and my interview before the job done by Dhirren Norendra, a lawyer practising in Kuala Lumpur. I was questioned about the scope of my assignment, the target and objectives of my assignment.

4) The background to the Altantuya murder. I briefed them on the events leading up to and after the murder and also told them to read my first SD (statutory declaration) and the Singapore interview. Also the identity of the two police officers convicted of the murder, who they worked for as well as the identity of the various other people identified as being about when Altantunya disappeared and their link to Razak Baginda and/or the PM (prime minister).

5) Razak Baginda's relationship with our present PM, the information and events narrated to me by Razak Baginda including the SMS sent by the PM to Razak Baginda at the point of his arrest for the murder of Altantuya.

6) The Malaysian company, Perimekar, its ownership, and link to Razak Baginda and his wife. Also nature of business undertaken by Perimekar. I told them of the presence of army equipment in Razak Baginda's office. Information concerning Razak Baginda and his present whereabouts.

7) Financial payments by Razak Baginda to Altantuya, including the three US$5,000 payments by Baginda to Altantuya, which included a penalty of US$1,000 because of late banking in. Also the purchase by Razak Baginda of an apartment in Mongolia for Altantuya. Also the background to the US$500,000 payment demanded by Altantuya, how it arose, its link to the Scorpene submarine deal, Altanunya's involvement in the negotiations, and admission and confirmation by Razak Baginda that he should have paid Altantuya the money.

8) How Rosmah Mansor teamed up with Deepak to exile me from Malaysia, the threats to my family after I signed the first SD as well as the involvement of the PM's brother in the events that led to the second SD and my being smuggled out of Malaysia and asked to stay away till Najib Razak became PM.

9) I was asked to retrace the events in Rawang coffee house where Deepak, Dinesh and ASP Suresh were present.

10) The length and time I have been in exile.

11) Details concerning Altantuya's cousin, Ammy, who had knowledge of the Paris dinner where the PM and Razak Baginda were present with Altantuya.

12) The identity of the French individuals involved in the Scorpene deal.

13) My knowledge of any payments by the French to Perimekar and information given to me by Altantuya that her US$500,000 was because of the successful deal concerning the Scorpene submarine transaction.

14) The identity, background and involvement of two Malaysians identified as Major Rahim and Abdul Rahim Saad.

15) Altantuya's family background.

16) My links with Suaram, if any.

17) The need for justice to be served for the Altantuya murder and the truth to be told concerning the Scorpene deal.

I signed the statement that the French officer recorded.

Balasubramaniam also said that he met with Breham, the French lawyer acting for Suaram, on July 13 at 10 am at his office at Cabinet Bourdon-Voituriez-Burget, 156 Rue de Rivoli, Paris.

Malay-sian police shoots dead five in one day by Polis raja Di Malaysia. Good way to spend theitr RM 1 billion allocation for 2010.

Four foreigners (Republic of India) nationals and another local were all gunned down in one day but in two transactions.
To the direct contrary there has been only 18 really necessary fatal direct shootings in 61 years in New Zealand (Memorandum on “A trigger Happy Royal Malaysian Police Force” – 1.3 Persons Shot Dead Per week By The Royal Malaysian Police Force (635 From 1989-1999) The Star 11/05/99. As opposed to 18 fatal police shootings in New Zealand from 1940 to 2001 (61 Years. To The Honourable Deputy Prime Minister/ Home Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Bin Haji Ahmad Badawi Dated 31st October 2002. By Police Watch And Human Rights Committee.)
This only goes to show the declining police standards in Malay-sia, high handedness, abuse of powers and akin to a police state.
With the RM 1 billion allocation for the year 2010, there should have been quality investigations and followed by an arrest and then criminal prosecution and the appropriate sentence in a court of law after the accused having had right to defend himself. This is the due process of the law.
Murdering mere suspects by the UMNO Polis Raja Di Malaysia only reflects a police state if not an uncivilized barbaric society.
P. Uthayakumar

Selangor CPO Dato Khalid Abu Bakar refuse to release Indian youth arrested for attempting to lodge a police report against police personnel.

(See letter to Bukit Aman Police Headquarters dated 15/07/2010 below)
Despite the public relations department DSP forwarding this complaint to the Selangor Chief Police Officer Dato Khalid Abu Bakar and when the case is so clear cut based on the complainants three police reports, and the complainant arrested at the Brickfields police station where he went to lodge the said police report the Chief Police Officer of Selangor is adamant in not releasing this Indian youth.
This is just the tip of the iceberg of the unlawful arrests of especially the Indians in Malay-sian police lockups on a day to day basis. 
We will be writing to the Prime Minister and Home Minister tomorrow on this Polis Raja Di Malaysia above the law mindset.
In the meantime we hold the said Chief Police Officer of Selangor responsible should anything happen to our client Kumar a/l Rajagopal.
P. Uthayakumar



Dear DSP Lai Lee Ching,
Public Relations Department,
Bukit Aman Federal Police H.Q
Kuala Lumpur
Dear Madam,
Re: Client detained for attempting to lodge police report against police for siding Ah Long.
Our Client was harassed by a money lender Ah Long for a debt he had already paid. He was threatened even with death if he did not pay up.
Upon lodging two police reports one Sargeant Jayakumar of the Selayang IPD called in our client and warned him to pay off the Ah Long or he would be arrested  for an offence he allegedly committed in 2001. (Note: Our client’s pasport would prove that he was in India from 1997 to 2002)
On our advise our client came to lodge a police report at the Brickfields police station as his earlier attempt to do the same at the Kepong police station was turned down. Instead he was arrested by the Brickfields police and immediately sent to the Selayang police station.
Kindly release our client forthwith and if need be charge him in a Court of law which is the due process of the law.
Further to our tele-conversation at 1.50 p.m today (15/07/2010) i hereby enclose the three police reports all No Selayang 013343/10, 013522/10 and 13506/10 which are self explanatory. Our client is Kumar a/l Rajagopal (IC No: 810507025341)
Please also take action against Sargeant Jayakumar Lkpl Norzamzarina Kpl Yusof and the Ah Longs.
Thank you.
Your Faithfully
P. Uthayakumar.

UMNO refused to honour Mount Everest climbers Mohandas and Magendran

(NST 11/7/10 at page 25)
After 14 years, they both were awarded Datukships by the DAP Penang State government.
This too only after critical postings in this our website www.info@humanrightspartymalaysia.com
But was DAP sincere or just to make up and appease the Indian anger after the demolishment of Kg Buah Pala, the last traditional Indian village in Penang Island, denial of land for all 28 Tamil schools in Penang, all Hindu cemetaries and all temples in Penang.
Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice

 

Bala spills all in Paris

PARIS: French police asked for details about the Altantuya murder although the focus of their investigation was alleged corruption in an arms deal between Malaysia and a French firm, according to Malaysia’s most famous private eye P Balasubramaniam, better known as PI Bala.

In a press statement released today, the former police special branch officer said he briefed the French investigator on events surrounding the murder and told what he knew about the relationships between Mongolian beauty Altantuya Shaariibuu, arms deal broker Abdul Razak Baginda and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

He said he also revealed how he was threatened and bribed by one of Najib’s brothers, Nazim, and carpet seller Deepak Jaikishan, a good friend of Najib’s wife Rosmah.

Bala’s Monday meeting in Paris with French prosecutor M Ryckewaert lasted three hours.

The French are interested in information relating to Malaysia’s purchase of Scorpene submarines in 2002, when Najib was Defence Minister. They want to determine whether the French-based defence firm DCNS paid commissions in the deal, which would be illegal under French law.

Bala said: “I told them about the Malaysian company Perimekar, its ownership and links to (Abdul Razak) Baginda.

“I also told them of the presence of army equipment in Baginda’s office (and gave them) information concerning Baginda and his current whereabouts.”

Perimekar, which is owned by Abdul Razak’s wife, was paid RM570 million for “coordination and support services” as part of the Scorpene deal.

Abdul Razak hired Bala in October 2006, when Altantunya began harassing him for money. She was subsequently murdered and her body blown up by C-4 explosives in a secondary jungle near Shah Alam.

Two policemen—Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar—have been convicted for her murder. Abdul Razak was charged with abetting them but was eventually acquitted.

Bala said he told Ryckewaert what Altantuya told him—that her reward as translator in the deal was supposed to be USD500,000, that Abdul Razak actually made three payments to her of USD5,000 each, and that he bought her an apartment in Mongolia.

“I also touched upon Baginda’s relationship with the PM and the information and events narrated to me by Baginda, including the SMS sent by the PM to Baginda at the point of his arrest for the murder,” Bala said.

Two other names—Major Rahim and Abdul Rahim Saad—came up during the questioning, but Bala’s statement did not say who they were or what role they played in the scandal.

US funding: Khairy calls Anwar a liar

By Teoh El Sen - Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today alleged that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim had lied about the funding from the US for the Anwar-led Foundation for the Future (FFF).
Khairy said a report released by a US whistleblower organisation, Government Accountability Programme (GAP), revealed that the US Congress approved and contributed USD21.3 million to the FFF.

"Anwar had blatantly lied when he said in a statement on May 20, 2007 that US had not contributed to the foundation. When I brought up the issue on March 17, he repeated the same statement," he said.

According to Khairy, GAP is a leading accountability organisation that monitors the spending of the US government and the said report (released on July 8) was based on 267 documents over the period of 33 months.

FFF is a non-profit organisation tasked with promoting democracy and reform in the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) region.

Khairy said the report also concluded that in order to get funds for FFF, Anwar had misled the US Congress on the spendings of other countries towards the foundation.

“The FFF management, including Anwar's good friend, Paul Wolfowitz, had misled the US Internal Revenue Service," he added.

One of the conditions for US' contribution is for a matching grant - meaning that for every dollar US spends, it must get matching contributions from other countries.

FFF's own reports show that less than USD6.4 million of the USD22.26 million in “matching funds” listed by the State Department in its communications with the US Congress as pledged had materialised.

"On July 18, when the foundation signed an agreement with the State Department regarding this funding, Anwar, the then chairman and acting president of FFF, had agreed that FFF had received the commitment from government sources other than US, for example, Qatar, Middle East, to at least match any funds provided," said Khairy.

"This is serious... that the opposition leader had misled the US government... to get funds for his foundation. Anwar had given an inaccurate explanation saying he never got money from US, it is all documented. I hope Anwar can explain this," he added.

'Be clear about your stand'
Also speaking at the same press conference, Kota Belud MP Abdul Rahman Dahlan said Anwar needs to be clear on his stand and Pakatan Rakyat's policies.

"Anwar wants to be prime minister. He needs to clear the air on the policies of Pakatan Rakyat if he wants to form government. That is why they must form a shadow cabinet. We want to know what is their economic, social and foreign policies. But they are unable to do this," he said.

Claiming to be in the dark about FFF's activities, Abdul Rahman said it is improper for Anwar to be associated with something that advances foreign interests.

"We hope that Anwar shows a firm foreign policy... to have a consistent stand on things. We have seen a lot of examples where he shifts his stand easily," he added.

Petition to Grant Clemency for Yong Vui Kong

“We the citizens of Singapore, residents in Singapore and concerned individuals from the international community humbly put forward our plea of clemency for Yong Vui Kong, a Malaysian who has been sentenced to death by the High Court of Singapore for trafficking 47 grammes of heroin. Yong was 19 years old at the time of offence. He currently faces impending execution…”
You can read the rest of the petition HERE.
I am signatory No. 440.

Detention without trial allowed under other laws

By The Fairly Current Show | The Nut Graph

THE Internal Security Act (ISA) has been receiving much attention, with expectation that the government plans to amend this legislation that allows for indefinite detention without trial. However, civil society groups have been fighting to draw more focus to two other laws that also allow for detention without trial.
The Fairly Current Show host Fahmi Fadzil speaks with human rights lawyer Edmund Bon who explains that many more Malaysians are currently detained without trial under the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance and the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act than under the ISA.
Bon says that while there are currently only 15 people under ISA detention, there are between 800 and 1,000 under the Emergency Ordinance and between 400 and 500 under the Dangerous Drugs Act. And while ISA detainees are often well known because they are frequently political personalities, those detained under the Emergency Ordinance and the Dangerous Drugs Act are largely unknown and hence receive little notice.
Bon is a human rights advocate and lawyer, and the Bar Council’s constitutional law committee chairperson. He is actively involved in several legal and civil society projects, including PerlembagaanKu/MyConstitution and Loyarburok.

Malaysia's Futile Paper Chase

(Asia Sentinel) The growing power of the Internet probably means government censorship of opposition newspapers is pointless The recent controversy surrounding the Malaysian government's crackdown on the opposition parties' publications Suara Keadilan and Harakah rekindles the need for some much-deserved attention on the state of press freedom, or the lack of it, in the country.

Under the terms of Malaysia's Printing Presses and Publications Act, it is a criminal offense to possess or use a printing press without a license from the Home Affairs Minister. Possession or use of an unlicensed press subjects the user to imprisonment for up to three years and/or fines up to RM20,000 (US$6,240) plus forfeiture of the deposit for the license.

The permit for Suara Keadilan, the publication of the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat, lapsed on June 30 and the government has declined to renew it. Harakah, the publication for Parti Islam se-Malaysia, was issued a demand to show cause why it be allowed to continue to publish. In response, the opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat has suspended all publications including the Democratic Action Party's Rocket until the government clarifies the situation.

The tiff has once again highlighted the negligible regard that the Umno-led government has for alternative voices and, more critically, lack of interest in fostering a civic culture respectful of a relatively free press. By extension, however, and at a more pragmatic level, this latest attempt to put the squeeze on the alternative print press and other publications actually further exposes the increasing insignificance of the act that is – and has been for years - routinely invoked to crack down on opposition and independent media.

When Abdullah Ahmad Badawi became prime minister in 2003, about 97 percent of Malaysian homes already had television sets. So while the overwhelming number of Malaysians were connected to the world via television, the government, through its almost total domination of local electronic media, had a virtual monopoly and control of the public's access to national news.

This reality only augmented the government's already tight grip on the print media, thus rendering itself – and its mouthpieces - as the primary and dominant purveyor of news, information, analysis, and moderator of the public discourse.

The significance of this government domination of the electronic and print media was made all the more apparent given that despite dramatic growth in the number of households getting connected to the Internet, only about 32 percent of homes were wired, so to speak, at the start of the Badawi era. So until recently, while Umno dominated the electronic and print media, its impact was especially overwhelming because there was little else to compete with the government's propaganda.

Even as the percentage of homes connected to the Internet reached over 37 percent by 2005, it would not be unreasonable to suggest that the number of alternative voices and local media – through the Internet - available to compete alongside the government's news and propaganda left much to be desired.

Under these circumstances, where alternative voices have had to primarily rely on print media, these voices – such as Suara Keadilan and Harakah – have of course been vulnerable to the whims and fancies of the government and its abuse of the Printing Presses and Publications Act for its own political ends.

Indeed, we have seen other high-profile crackdowns of other publications in recent months. Two especially noteworthy cases were of course the close scrutiny of Barry Wain's book, Malaysian Maverick, which resurrected the focus on Mahathir Mohamad's apparent misdeeds during his reign as prime minister, and the banning of books by the local cartoonist Zulkifli Anwar Ulhaque, popularly known as Zunar.

Despite these heavy-handed responses to alternative voices, the government must surely appreciate the futility (not to mention the political consequences) of continuing to restrict the space for independent journalism and commentary to exist. As of 2009 it is estimated that over 65 percent of Malaysian homes were connected to the Internet. Beyond this, not only have we witnessed the mushrooming of various online news outlets and sources competing for our screen time, there has also been an explosion of online citizen journalism and social media, which has – among other things - truly created a new political reality in the country.

We saw, for example, just how critical this new reality had become in the run-up to the 2008 general election as well as in the attempts to gag the other maverick, the popular blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, by jamming and hijacking his website.

The simple fact is that government-controlled television and print media is no longer the only game in town when it comes to disseminating national news. Of course the government can continue to do what it has always done; that is, present the Barisan Nasional party line and simultaneously lean heavily on alternative voices, but the evidence shows that more Malaysians than ever are looking elsewhere for information, and government-controlled news outlets have become less relevant and powerful during this past decade.

Which brings us back to the recent crackdown on the print version of publications such as Suara Keadilan and Harakah. Both these publications are also available online, and it is reasonable to assume that the online versions are now more accessible and available to interested readers than the print version ever was or will be.

So while the government can continue to intimidate alternative print media through its abuse of the Printing Presses and Publications Act, the web – and Malaysians' access to it - has made the act essentially impotent as a weapon of political control and propaganda.

Therefore there is good reason for the opposition parties not to feel aggrieved. While in principle PAS and PKR certainly have an argument about being targeted selectively, there is a part of me that wonders if this government crackdown on the publications will only backfire and at the same time have a negligible impact on the opposition's momentum.

On the contrary, the crackdown must bode well for PAS and PKR. It once again actually reminds Malaysians of the government's contempt for freedom of the press, while the growing interconnectedness via the web is rendering the act increasingly irrelevant.

As more Malaysian homes have become connected to the Internet, it goes to reason that more readers are also going to invariably be able to access not only Harakah and Suara Keadilan online, but numerous other outlets as well, thus really adding another nail to the coffin of the act as a weapon to censor and control alternative voices. Malaysians may not have a government that has respected or valued a free press, but it looks increasingly the case, nonetheless, that the government is becoming less capable of preventing a free press and alternative voices from reaching the public.

A year on, MACC tries to appease Beng Hock’s family

By Debra Chong | The Malaysian Insider


KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 — In a move to placate Teoh Beng Hock’s family ahead of his one-year death anniversary tomorrow, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abu Kassim Mohamed pledged today not to “cover up” the actions of anyone who maybe found involved in causing the DAP political aide’s death.

“The MACC will not compromise or cover up the actions of any culprit or anyone found potentially involved in the death of Teoh Beng Hock,” the nation’s top graft fighter said today in a brief statement addressed to the Teohs.

The statement was issued only in Chinese.

The 30-year-old political secretary to Selangor state councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah was found dead last year on a 5th-floor corridor at Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam, nine floors below the MACC’s Selangor headquarters.

He had been interrogated overnight by anti-graft officers probing claims his boss was misusing state funds.

“I want to emphasise that we will respect whatever decision that comes out of the coroner’s court,” Abu Kassim stressed, adding he hoped the inquest will come to an end soon.

In the statement penned in Chinese, Abu Kassim also expressed his sympathy with the Teohs.

“On behalf of myself and all MACC staff, regarding the matter of what happened on July 16, 2009, we grieve with Teoh Beng Hock’s family.

“We continue to also feel their hurt and sadness. As a father and head of my own family, I can deeply understand the incomparable pain in losing a family member,” said the man who took up his current job from the first embattled MACC head, Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan, in January this year.

Abu Kassim highlighted that the MACC had taken steps to tighten security during questioning of its witnesses “to ensure there will be no repeat of such an incident”.

Beng Hock’s younger sister, Lee Lan, told The Malaysian Insider today she had not read the MACC statement and would respond to it at a public talk organised by the DAP at the KL-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall here tomorrow night.

She said she had only been alerted to the news by a reporter from a Chinese newspaper.

The MACC statement was not available in Bahasa Malaysia or English.

Government To Reduce Subsidies For Petrol, Diesel And LPG

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) -- The Government Thursday announced subsidies for petrol, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and sugar will be reduced as a first step to the gradual subsidy rationalisation programme effective Friday (July 16.)

Subsidies for RON 95 petrol and diesel will be reduced by five sen a litre and LPG by 10 sen a kilogramme, said a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.

This means RON 95 grade petrol will cost RM1.85 a litre while LPG will be sold at RM1.85 per kilogramme.

"RON97 petrol will no longer be subsidised. It will be subjected to a managed float under which the price will be determined by the automatic pricing mechanism.

"For sugar, the upward price adjustment is 25 sen a kilogramme, it said.

The statement said the minimal changes would help Malaysia achieve a position of fiscal responsibility and "put us on a path towards reducing our deficit."

"To meet these objectives, we have chosen to make adjustments to our subsidies," it said.

Even after these changes, the Government will still spend an estimated RM7.82 billion on fuel and sugar subsidies this year.

Fuel and sugar prices in Malaysia will still be among the lowest in the region, it said.

It said the subsidy rationalisation will allow Malaysia to reduce Government expenditure by more than RM750 million this year.

The decision to reduce fuel and sugar subsidies was based on the fact that reducing fuel subsidies would have the greatest impact on Government spending and reducing sugar subsidies "will allow us to promote healthier lifestyles, it said.

What is PM’s Dept doing with RM4 billion?

By Anil Netto,

It is alarming to read that the government has set aside RM4 billion for the PM’s Department alone this year.
Equally shocked to hear that the number of civil servants in the same department has doubled in the space of seven years since Mahathir stepped down – from 21,045 in 2003 to 43,544 in 2010.
That’s a hundred per cent increase in headcount in seven years! Is this part of the “KPIs”?
RM4 billion is many times more than the annual budget of any state government.
In contrast, the budget for the Selangor government, which has to look after over 5 million residents in the state, is RM1.3 billion for 2010. For Penang, the state government’s budget for 2010 is RM0.7 billion.
The Prime Minister needs to justify the large allocation for his department and explain what 43,544 staff are doing. The accounts for his department must also be made public to show how all this public money is being spent.
According to the Malaysian Insider, Nazri says the increase is due to the ‘creation of new agencies’ and additional posts. What new agencies? and what additional posts during a time of economic difficulties?
The PM’s Department should take a leaf from the White House and put online the list of all the employees in the PM’s Department, along with their official job titles and salaries.
That’s RM4 billion of public money.
Who is subsidising whom now?

EC Chairman talks like BN man of facing “enemy” (Pakatan)

Something worth noting re: recent comments by the EC chairman:
EC CHAIRMAN MUST BE REMOVED FOR BLATANT SUPPORT FOR BARISAN NASIONAL AND REFERRING TO PAKATAN RAKYAT AS “THE ENEMY”
Pakatan Rakyat refers to the Elections Commission Chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof’s recent interview titled “EC says elections not likely next year” in the Malaysian Insider on 13 July 2010.
Firstly, it is not the business of the EC Chairman to speculate about when polls will be called. That is the decision of the leaders of ruling governments of the day at both federal and state level.
Reading the interview as a whole, the EC chief has displayed a total lack of independence, competence and fairness that one would expect from him as the head of the Elections Commission. He has clearly shown not only his support but indeed partiality to the Najib Tun Razak’s government and UMNO and looked at his role as maintaining the status quo instead of conducting a free and fair election as required under the Federal Constitution and the law.
Pakatan Rakyat takes particular offence when he said:
“(The warnings by Umno leaders) are to ensure that we are always prepared to fight the enemy. We must always stay united and always implement programmes. We must have programmes, policies, and agendas,”
“If you ask me, this is only the first gear and we are now entering the second gear. There are five gears, so why the rush?” asked Abdul Aziz, adding that Najib’s administration was just beginning to “heat up”.
When talking about the Prime Minister’s “leadership” he is reported to have said “ It is becoming popular. When a song is becoming a hit, we should not cut it short. We should let people enjoy it”.
His constant reference to “we” meaning himself and the government/ UMNO clearly showed that he seems to think that he and the EC are part and parcel of the Barisan Nasional Government.
He also referred to Pakatan Rakyat as the “enemy” – an astonishing and shocking remark which again clearly pointed to the total absence of independence, competence and fairness that is expected from any staff in the EC, what more as the head of the EC.
In order to salvage whatever little public confidence left in the EC, Pakatan Rakyat calls for the EC chief’s immediate removal as obviously he is not a fit and proper person to hold such an important position after having displayed his blatant bias and support for the present government and UMNO.
Y.B. SIVARASA RASIAH
Member of Parliament Subang
Parti Keadilan Rakyat
Y.B. FUZIAH SALLEH
Member of Parliament Kuantan
Parti Keadilan Rakyat
Y.B. TONY PUA
Member of Parliament PETALING JAYA UTARA
Democratic Action Party (DAP)
Y.B. DZULKEFLY AHMAD
Member of Parliament Kuala Selangor
Parti Se-Islam Malaysia (PAS)

India: ISI behind Mumbai attacks

India's foreign minister is in Pakistan to revive talks suspended after the 2008 Mumbai attacks [AFP] A senior Indian official has accused Pakistani intelligence of orchestrating the 2008 Mumbai attacks. G K Pillai, India's home secretary, said on Wednesday that the perpetrators of the attacks in which 166 people died were "clients and creations" of the Inter-Services Intelligence [ISI] agency of the Pakistan army". "They [ISI] were literally controlling and co-ordinating it from the beginning until the end," the Indian Express newspaper quoted Pillai as saying. India has in the past blamed the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group for the Mumbai attacks and alleged ISI involved, which Pakistan denies, but Pillai's comments were the most direct accusation India has made against the government agency. Pillai said the evidence against the ISI emerged from the interrogation by Indian officials of David Headley, a US citizen, who pleaded guilty to working with Lashkar to plan the attacks. The accusation comes on the eve of talks aimed at reviving a peace process between the two countries, which was broken off after the deadly assault. Pakistan pressure Prerna Suri, Al Jazeera's India correspondent, said that while it was not a new allegation, the timing of the statement was very significant. "In his confessional statement, Headley named the ISI as being behind the co-ordination and logistical support of the Mumbai attacks," Suri said. "New Delhi is sending a clear message to Pakistan that security will be the main concern during these talks. "They [India] would like Pakistan to crack down on those groups, who they feel are operating against Indian interests, meaning LeT as well as individuals such as [its chief] Hafiz Muhammed Saeed, who many in India feel are being given patronage by various elements in Pakistan." in depth S M Krishna, India's foreign minister, said he would press Pakistan on the progress of its probe into the Mumbai attacks as he arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday for the meeting, saying he was looking forward to receiving feedback from the Pakistanis on India's "core concern of terrorism". He said the issue was discussed during last month's visit of  P Chidambaram, India's home minister, to Pakistan and he would raise it again in talks with Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Pakistan's foreign minister, on Thursday. "We hope to discuss all issues of mutual interest and concerns that can contribute to restoring trust and building confidence in our bilateral relationship," Krishna said as he arrived in Islamabad. "This is an important visit as it marks the new beginning of a journey in our effort to build a peaceful, friendly and co-operative relationship between our two countries." Resuming dialogue between the countries is crucial not only for improving their ties but also the security outlook in Afghanistan where the two countries vie for influence. India broke off a four-year-old peace process with Pakistan after the Mumbai attacks, saying reviving the dialogue would depend on action against Lashkar and Saeed, who India says masterminded the assault. Pakistan has put seven people on trial for the Mumbai attacks but has maintained that India has not provided enough evidence to prosecute Saeed. Pillai said Saaed's role in the Mumbai attacks was not "peripheral", but that "he knew everything".

French show interest in Razak Baginda during Bala interview

 

LONDON, July 15 — Despite being acquitted of the gruesome murder of Altantuya Shariibuu, Abdul Razak Baginda may yet be haunted by the saga centred around the RM7 billion purchase of Scorpene submarines from French company DCN.

Even though his former private investigator, P. Balasubramaniam, claimed Abdul Razak was innocent of the murder, French authorities are keen to examine the political analyst’s role.

Balasubramaniam (picture), who was hired by Abdul Razak in October 2006 when Shariibuu began harassing him for money, spent a substantial portion of a three-hour-long interview with French police detailing his former client’s involvement in the affair.

The interview, held on Monday in Paris, is part of investigations into alleged irregularities in the payment of RM570 million to Perimekar, a company owned by Abdul Razak, for what the Malaysian government calls “co-ordination and support services” in clinching the submarine deal.

In the course of the interview, two new names also surfaced — Malaysians identified as Major Rahim and Abdul Rahim bin Saad.

A statement released by Balasubramaniam after the interview said that the investigators wanted to know the identity of the two Malaysians, their background and involvement in the matter.

But the private eye did not detail what, if any, information on the two Rahims he divulged, or if he knew them at all.

Balasubramaniam had, however, talked about Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, the two police officers convicted of Shariibuu’s murder who were also part of then-Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s security detail and other people who were around when the Mongolian disappeared on the night of her death.

The former Special Branch officer spoke about “their link to Baginda and Razak Baginda’s relationship with our present PM” as well as other information relayed to him by Abdul Razak, an Oxford graduate said to be a confidante of Najib’s.

The interview also touched on Abdul Razak’s current whereabouts and Balasubramaniam detailed what he knew about payments that his client had made to Shariibuu, including the US$500,000 (RM1.6 million) demanded by her for her part in the successful submarine deal.

Balasubramaniam made his way to Paris after arriving in London for an interview with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on the same matter but was then informed that the anti-graft body would merely be sending questions for him to answer.

His lawyers expressed disappointment at the last minute pullout, saying that a “golden opportunity was lost” in which they would have detailed a “conspiracy web that goes to the very highest level”.

Protesters blame state govt for rampant sand mining

By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia Today

FMT ALERT SHAH ALAM: A group of volunteers from Skuad Komunikasi Selangor have gathered at the state secretariat here to "defend" their Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim from protesters who plan to gather over the sand mining scandal in the state.

“We don't know who these protesters are but we have received information that they will be holding a rally here today. So we decided to come and set up a defence wall to counter any unnecessary problems,” said state communications director Dr Badrul Amin Baharom.

He added that the state volunteers were undergoing training this morning in Ampang and were re-routed to Shah Alam after news about the protest came in.

About 60 of them stood outside the state secretariat, waiting for the protesters. They were also holding banners in support of Khalid.

“The Umno people are raising this sand mining issue now without any evidence. They are just angry that the state government has stopped their illegal activities.

“When we (Pakatan) took over the state, we discovered that there were about 26 illegal mines and we shut them down. These Umno people are unhappy as their income was affected,” he said.
Meanwhile PKR youth deputy chief Fariz Musa said those criticising the state government over the sand mining issue should direct queries to Mohd Khir Toyo, the former MB.

He said that in 2007 when Khir was the MB, the revenue from sand mining was RM2.9 million.

“In 2008 (when Pakatan took over), it was RM6.3 million. RM5.4 million (in 2009) and until June 2010, the state has made RM10.3 million.

"Why is it that when Pakatan took over we were able to get so much revenue?" he asked.
Khir meanwhile arrived at the state assembly sitting with a posse of supporters after ending his one-year suspension.
The protesters arrive
The protesters arrived at the state secretariat at about 11.20am. They were led by Ismail Kijo, the former Lembah Jaya elected rep and Ampang Umno division chief. Ismail submitted a memorandum to Khalid’s special officer Azman Abidin.

Ismail said that state agency in charge of sand mining, Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd, and the state government have failed in curbing illegal sand mining activities in the state.

“The illegal mining is out of control now. It has destroyed the environment and can lead to a natural disaster in Selangor,” he said.

The protesters, numbering about 200, marched to the state secretariat with banners and chanted anti-Khalid slogans. They also broke a police barrier to enter the state secretariat compound.

The protesters were 'received' by the Selangor volunteers, who also reciprocated the chants and shouts by the protesters with their own.

All have right to vote

By Ken Vin Lek - Free Malaysia Today

FMT FOCUS KUALA LUMPUR: Democracy has taken firm roots in Malaysia ever since the country held its first general election in 1955. From that early days, the people were given the responsibility of choosing a government to lead the country. They had tasted democracy and the voting trend through the years had been peaceful.

But the 1969 race riots in the aftermath of a tumultuous election interrupted the smooth curve and democracy was reined in briefly. Then it returned and the ride had all along been smooth for the ruling party until the 2008 political tsunami.
In that historic polls, the Barisan Nasional won 51.4% of the popular vote while Pakatan Rakyat garnered 47.5%.

But the turnout for the 2008 polls was low. FMT carried out a study and found that the percentage of Malaysians who played a role in electing the current government was only a meagre 28.64% or 7.94 million of the total population (28.3 million).

Why the low turnout? One of the reasons was that 42.68% of the population is actually made up of people aged below 21 – which is the legal age to vote.

In Malaysia, a voter must be 21 years old on the “qualifying date”. This means he must be 21 on the day he registered as a voter and not on the date of the election.

Thus, it is hard to describe Malaysia as a democracy, given that the simple majority held by the government only makes up about one-fourth of the population.

The minimum voting age was introduced when the Federal Constitution was formulated in 1957 and has never been amended since.

Many parties, including politicians, academics and NGOs, have called for the voting age to be lowered.

In fact, this was one of the many proposals Bersih, an NGO, recommended in its memorandum submitted to the Election Commission.

Comparisons between countries

Based on a FMT survey of 221 countries or regions where democratic elections take place, it was found that the voting age in seven countries is 16.

In six countries, including Indonesia and Sudan, it is 17 whereas as many as 188 countries opted for 18 as the legal age for voting.

Only 15 countries fixed the right to vote at 21. Malaysia is one of them.

In Asean, every country (except Malaysia and Singapore) set the voting age at 18 or younger and Thailand stands out by being the only country to make it compulsory for all citizens to vote.

In Malaysia, fixing the voting age at 21 has the undemocratic effect of shrinking the electorate as evidenced in the 2008 polls where only 28.64% of the total population cast their votes.

Earlier this year, Emeritus Professor at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi, wrote in The Star that “this state of affairs draws our attention to the law relating to the right to vote in our political system. In a functioning democracy, the rules must permit as many mature citizens as possible to have the right to participate in the electoral exercise of choosing a new government”.

”Lowering the voting age will immediately expand the number of voters and improve the legitimacy of the government in power.”

“This will force political parties to look more seriously into issues that affect young people’s lives and to court young citizens for their votes. Of course, our education system will have to be improved to provide better political education,” Shad Saleem wrote.

Arguments against lowering the voting age
Shad Saleem stated that the main argument in favour of keeping the voting age at 21 or higher is that voters must have the maturity to assess the candidates and the national issues at stake.
“These arguments are hardly convincing. Malaysian data indicates that 69% of our population is urbanised, and 54% uses the Internet. Total adult literacy rate is 92%.”

“A 16-year-old can be tried in the courts as an adult. An 18-year-old may get married; may join the army; may start a company, invest in stocks and pay income tax,” he said.

The FMT survey revealed that almost everything is legal in Malaysia by the age of 18 except for voting.

In 2008, Bar Council president Ragunath Kesavan rubbished the idea of lowering the voting age asking, “Why lower the voting age when millions of young voters over 21 have yet to register as voters?”

“The way forward should be to make voter registration compulsory at 21 instead,” he said.

A walk in history

Back in 1971, the “Age of Majority Act” was passed in Parliament, which set 18 as the age where individuals are no longer considered a minor.

The then DAP Opposition Leader, Lim Kit Siang, said in his winding-up speech at the Dewan Rakyat that if 18-year-olds were treated as mature people and be able to own property, enter into contractual obligations and rights, then there was a strong case to give them the right to vote as well.

“People ought to have the right to vote and to have a say about the way in which their lives are governed and in which the country is being run – at the age at which society expects them to assume adult social responsibilities,” he said.

“I mention this because the prime minister had said that Malaysia does not intend to reduce the voting age of voters because it is not being widely practised in other countries. The fact is more and more countries are doing so,” he added.

Lim's argument was and is still valid: 30 years later, as many as 188 countries have lowered their minimum voting age to 18 or less. It is about time Malaysia took the same road.

By lowering the voting age, more and more people will be enfranchised and can play a pivotal role in deciding who will become their elected leaders. Democracy can only work “when everyone participates...when everyone is voting”.

The 32nd president of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt, once said, “Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a president and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country.”

Buah Pala 2: More squatters face eviction

By Hawkeye - Free Malaysia Today,

PENANG: Land-scarce Penang is now facing the prospects of forking out huge compensations to squatters in the aftermath of last year's Kampung Buah Pala controversy.

In fact, the quantum of compensation accorded to the squatters could be the highest in the country if one were to analyse the deal.

In 2009, 23 families fought tooth and nail against a developer, the Federal Court and the state government for almost six months, disobeying a legal writ for them to leave a 2.6ha plot.

The land, destined for a condominium project, housed a traditional Indian village where cattle are reared with limited farming activities.

Led by a Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) technician, the families, descendents of settlers from the now defunct 100-year-old Brown Estate, laid siege when a demolition crew decended on their village.

Several women squatters even threatened to immolate themselves during the tense encounter with the demolition crew, the developer and the police.

After intense negotiations, the squatters were promised that the developer would share the land parcel with them and also build a double-storey terrace house for each family.

The local market value for such homes, especially if one took into account the strategic middle-class location, was estimated to be RM200,000 to RM400,000.

Fourteen of the families took the deal while the remaining nine did not commit themselves as they were concerned over the grey areas in the legal documentation distributed to them.

Precedent set in Buah Pala

Today, five villages in Jelutong are facing a form of eviction, with two taking the battle to the courts.

It remains to be seen how the Tanjong Tokong villagers handle the issue of their own forced relocation.

In Butterworth, the Rumah Hijau longhouse squatters are also embroiled in a stand-off with another developer.

Both private sector developers and government-linked companies here are facing the prospect of dealing with their respective squatters, with the precedent set in Buah Pala looming in the background.

Several squatters in Jelutong and in Tanjong Tokong continue to stave off eviction notices, including court writs served on them by baliffs as their land are now owned by developers.

Penang DAP leaders have in private contended that Buah Pala has become a precedent in a state with a limited landbank and property prices said to be among the country's highest.

"It is a headache for us. Even if the remaining squatters do not get the terrace houses, they may end up demanding cash compensation equalivent to what the folk in Buah Pala got."

A DAP leader, who preferred not to be named, said besides dealing with legality issues, the squatters are holding a series of street protests, a trend unheard of before 2009.

Last weekend, about 50 families from Kampung Pokok Assam in Jelutong demonstrated, demanding that they be not evicted.

Serves Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng right! says Penang-based Parti Cinta Malaysia vice-president Huan Cheng Guan.

Politicians must walk the talk

The compensation with the Buah Pala squatters was made without considering long-term implications, Huan said.

Developers have to be fair when they evict the squatters, he said, adding that a tribunal needs to be set up to mediate the issue as Penang's growth is hindered by such disputes.

"In an age where foreign direct investments are dwindling and domestic consumption is valued as a tool to spark growth, the property market would suffer if the development costs end up as too pricey," said Huan.

M Sugumaran, the TNB technician who led the Kampung Buah Pala fight, said he is glad to note that squatters in Penang are using the Buah Pala episode as a precedent here.

"We may have lost. Our homes have gone but we have left a legacy on how developers address the issue of evictions.

"We are not anti-development, we want compensation which takes into account the rising costs of living," said Sugumaran.

He noted that the nine families who did not take the initial offer of a double-storey house, remained in limbo as nobody from the state government has bothered to look into their plight.

Sugumaran said last year's controversy serves to be a lesson to politicians to walk the talk.

"A promise was made that we need not move. We fought on that premises. Politicians need to be wary when they deal with squatters, not only in Penang but in the country," said Sugumaran.

Paul picks Pakatan over BN

By RK Anand - Free Malaysia Today

The Germans want him in the frying pan, the Spaniards love him and the rest of the world venerate him. But should the psychic Octopus find his way to the Straits of Malacca, he risks being detained under the Internal Security Act.
Paul, who resides in a fish tank in Germany, became a household name after the cephalopod oracle predicted eight successive World Cup match winners correctly.

Bolstered by his success in the sporting industry, the octopus decided to stick his tentacles into politics as well, predicting the outcome of the next general election in Malaysia.

Much to the chagrin of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and other Barisan Nasional leaders, Paul chose the box with the logos of PAS, PKR and DAP instead of BN's “dacing” (scales).

Putrajaya sources claimed that the special branch has been instructed to be on the lookout for Paul, with Najib purportedly telling Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan, “I want that sotong for lunch.”

On the other hand, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim is said to be contemplating on inviting Paul to attend his ceramah when the next general election comes around.

Jokes aside (pardon the irony), Malaysians are having a laugh over an e-mail which is now being widely circulated.

The e-mail depicts a doctored image of a calm and composed-looking Paul confidently wrapping his tentacles around the clear plastic box bearing the logos of the Pakatan Rakyat parties.

The image first started circulating in Facebook.

Paul's credibility at stake

Soon after the doctored image started making the rounds, Paul's credibility fell under the spotlight and he is now accused of having a dodgy history.

However, sources cannot confirm if Information, Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim and the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia are involved in this conspiracy.

Officially, Paul is listed as having been born in Weymouth (England) three years ago, after which he moved to a tank at the Sea Life centre in Oberhausen, Germany.

However, The Daily Mirror, had quoted Paul's trainer Verena Bartsch as claiming that she caught him off the Italian island of Elba in April.

“I caught him with my bare hands. He was only a few weeks old,” she had said, casting serious doubts on the oracle's age.

If Paul is indeed only a few months old, he is therefore not the same octopus that predicted the Euro 2008 results.

The shocking revelation led Italian newspaper La Repubblica to make a humorous claim that Paul's real name is actually “Paolo”.

Seizing the opportunity for a political jibe, Italy's opposition MP Andrea Sarubbi quipped: “I have just read the shocking news that the famous predicting octopus Paul is not English but in fact from Italy.”

“I have written to the director of the German Sea Life centre and asked that he be repatriated as soon as possible because never has our country ever needed someone to make clear and decisive judgments such as now.”

And the Umno Melayus are still foaming at their mouths

Don’t get mad; get even. That’s what Lee Iacocca’s wife told him when he got sacked from the Ford Motor Company, the top US automobile company. And, to get even, he took over the almost bankrupt Chrysler Corporation and made that company the top US automobile company, dislodging Ford. So who says I am mad (angry)? I am getting even (revenge). And they say revenge is a dish best served cold -- if you Umno Melayus know what that means.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

(Bernama) -- Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin and Americk Sidhu, the counsel for private investigator P. Balasubramaniam, could have felt threatened by his revelation that they had condemned and threatened him in a blogsite.

He said the two in their statements in Malaysia Wednesday recently, had called him a dishonourable man after he had handed over the proof on the sponsor of the their expenses in London.

"If they are right and have done nothing wrong, why should they get so angry? Why attack me, say all kinds of things about me? I was just furnishing the information which I received for investigation to be carried out.”

"The truth always hurts," he told reporters at the parliament lobby Wednesday.

Recently, Zahrain handed over the documents to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz which link Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) to the sponsoring of the fugitive Raja Petra and Balasubramaniam's expenses in London.

Zahrain, a former PKR member, also challenged the two to return to Malaysia to be investigated if they were really innocent.

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

(Malaysia Instinct) - The question: Has the police done its best to arrest blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin who is free in London?

This was asked by Rembau Member of Parliament Khairy Jamaluddin adding that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak himself had instructed the police to arrest Raja Petra.

Khairy also questioned why the police seemed to be a step behind investigating Raja Petra as well as the ones behind him.

MP Rembau had also added that Raja Petra could not be arrested in London due to the lack of power in a foreign land. He had suggested that the police cooperate with Scotland Yard to detain the fugitive blogger.

To the writer, Bukit Aman has its own strategy to execute the arrest of Petra. And if indeed there is one, it surely cannot be made public to Khairy. After all, one cannot be all that sure if indeed the people who fund RPK are from the opposition! For all we know, Khairy could have been providing a 'smokescreen' for himself!

To arrest Raja Petra is easy and he could be detained anytime but the strategy to charge him is more important, unless he will be arrested under the ISA.

As the party that will be charging Raja Petra in court, the Attorney-General Chambers needs more than solid evidence that requires detailed investigations.

It is just a waste of both time and money, should Raja Petra be acquitted in court.

We have heard that the Attorney-General might return its investigation papers to the police for it to be improved if they are not satisfied with it.

For the record, Raja Petra was charged with slander and sedition but was let off the hook after the failure of execution of the arrest warrant on the fugitive. RPK had skipped police bail and has been on the lam since.

He was charged with slandering Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor while Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was the Deputy Prime Minister along with her accompanied officer at that time Lt Kol Norhayati Hassan and husband Lt Kol Abdul Aziz Buyong.

The slander was in the form of a sworn testimony made under oath at Jalan Duta Courts Complex in Kuala Lumpur at 10.25am on June 18, 2008.

The slander is connected with his article 'Let's send the Altantuya murderers to hell' which was downloaded from his blog.

Unta Belang is frustrated with Khairy's comment about the issue as the police need a detailed and complete plan in order not to mess the repatriation should they be successful in the execution of the warrant of arrest.

Khairy should be rational as his statement might render the police officers imbecile as there was a severe lack of judgement on his part.

Politicians should not interfere with police duties.

Khairy should instead focus on making Pemuda relevant again and leave the police to handle matters of the law.

There is no reason for the Inspector-General of Police to slowdown investigations on Raja Petra.

The time and place of his impending arrest will happen!

“They think I don’t know Malay”

Mohd Azlan Iskandar (all pics courtesy of Mohd Azlan Iskandar)

By Gan Pei Ling | The Nut Graph
BORN on 1 June 1982, Mohd Azlan Iskandar started playing squash when he was eight. He turned professional in 2001 and has won 11 professional titles since then.
The Asian champion is currently ranked 18th in the world. His highest ranking was 11th, in September 2008. The national number one is also setting up his own squash academy soon.
Azlan shared his experience growing up as a Malaysian and a Malaysian athlete with The Nut Graph in an exclusive interview on 15 June 2010 in Petaling Jaya.
TNG: Where are you from?
Mohd Azlan: I was born in Kuching, Sarawak.
Can you trace your ancestry?
My dad was born in Scotland, my grandmother is Scottish and Celtic, and my granddad is Norwegian and also a Viking.
On my mum’s side, my grandfather is half-Indian and half-Malay, and my grandma is Hokkien. So I have a very mixed lineage.
How was growing up like?

Azlan with his mother, in Kuching

To be honest, it was a sheltered life in the beginning, I was in a private school till about Form One, and then I moved to Kuala Lumpur for squash. My two sisters were already studying in Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar in Negeri Sembilan then. I think I was supposed to go to Royal Military College but I opted for squash instead.
I was one of the 15 squash players selected, and the youngest player as well, to join the Jaya 98 Programme (also known as the Commonwealth Games 1998 Athletes Preparation Programme) sponsored by the National Sports Council (NSC).
It was tough because I moved here when I was 13, on my own. During the first two years, I stayed in an apartment with three other players in Subang Jaya. We had to cook for ourselves and do our own laundry. It was a culture shock for me, and on top of that, my parents were separated at the same time, so I didn’t feel comfortable going back to Kuching. But I would still feel really excited and happy when my mum came to visit me.
I studied in Sekolah Menengah Subang Jaya for two years, and then moved to Bukit Jalil Sports School. Looking back, I think I didn’t really have any school friends. I don’t remember hanging out with them much after school hours because I had to head straight to the training centre. I was so committed to the sport that for me, going to school was just something I had to do, it wasn’t to make friends or socialise. I already knew I wanted to be a professional squash player back then, so I guess my mind set changed.

Azlan at Sukma 2002 with ex-national squash player, Timothy Arnold (left)

I was able to train twice a day after I moved to Bukit Jalil, but I’m not sure how many top athletes are there anymore. I think there has been a slight drop in the standard of athletes studying there.
I moved to England to train when I was 17. (Ong) Beng Hee and I, our budget was limited, so all the money went into squash. I still train there for six months a year now, but when I was 17 till about 24, I spent around 10 months training there.
When did you become aware of race?
Growing up in a private school in Kuching, (if) kid A and kid B were not the same, it didn’t make a difference. I only sensed the difference when I moved to Kuala Lumpur and was put into a government school. There were different cliques in school, and different races would hang out on their own. I was kind of singled out, but I didn’t really care because I was blinded by the love affair with the game.
Did you struggle with your identity as a Malaysian when growing up?
Not at all, I play squash for the country; everything I do is to make Malaysia proud. Sometimes people take you for granted because you’ve been playing for so long, but I guess people also expect me to do well for the same reason. It’s not as easy as people think to stay on top all the time in squash.

Azlan competing in the Hong Kong Squash Open, 2009

Is there any aspect of your identity that you struggle with?
No, except for the fact that I don’t look Malaysian. It’s quite frustrating sometimes, when I’m being served by locals, they speak Malay behind my back. They think I’m a white person and that I don’t know Malay, but I can speak the language fluently.
Describe the kind of Malaysia you would want to see in future.

A young Azlan dressing up as Spiderman

Many Malaysians still treat sports as just a hobby. I think more could definitely be done to help people realise that you can make a career out of it. It’s been my career for the past 15 years.

I hope the country can produce more world champions in future, with better athlete identification programmes, facilities, and the right funds being channelled into producing quality athletes, and for our athletes to be managed properly.

Right now a lot of athletes are giving up because there are no perks and incentives to stay in the game. Our next generation of squash players are being paid RM400 a month to be full-time athletes. They are living with the bare minimum, and are only surviving because the government subsidises their food and accommodation. If anything, I would like to see a change in this area first.