‘Who is she to question Karpal?’

The cracks in DAP continue to widen ahead of the polls, with M Manoharan launching a broadside against Teresa Kok for her 'outburst' against Karpal.

GEORGE TOWN: “Who is she to question Karpal Singh?” thundered a DAP leader who took Selangor exco Teresa Kok to task for being rude.

Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M Manoharan demanded that the DAP national organising secretary apologise to the veteran politician, who is also the party’s national chairman.

He said Kok’s “media outburst” with regard to Karpal’s statement on the “one man – one seat” issue was uncalled for.

Being the party’s Selangor chief and national organising secretary, he said Kok should know that Karpal as the DAP supremo had the right to announce the party’s public policies.

He said Kok had no right to question Karpal’s media statements on the “one man – one seat” issue, which had become a major political topic among party leaders and members at all levels.

He said Kok should always remember that Karpal was among the senior leaders responsible for the party’s political strength and growth over the years.

“She should retract her criticisms immediately and apologise to Karpal,” Manoharan told FMT.

Last Friday, Karpal called on the party’s nine double-hat wearers, who are both a parliamentarian and an assemblyman, to declare publicly that they would opt for only one seat in the next general election.

In other words, Karpal wanted them to show support to the proposed “one man – one seat” electoral formula.

Karpal, who first proposed the formula early last year, argued that the party now had enough capable and dynamic young grassroots leaders as candidates, unlike in previous elections.

But Kok, a double-seat holder herself, chided Karpal for highlighting “an old story” in the media.

The other DAP elected representatives who are both MPs and assemblymen are Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (Bagan MP and Air Putih assemblyman), Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy (Batu Kawan MP and Prai assemblyman) and the state senior exco and party chief Chow Kon Yeow (Tanjung MP and Padang Kota assemblyman), all in Penang; Beruas MP and Sitiawan assemblyman Ngeh Koo Ham, Taiping MP and Pantai Remis assemblyman Nga Kor Ming, both Perak; and Rasah MP and Lobak assemblyman Anthony Loke Siew Fook (Negeri Sembilan).

In Sarawak, state DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng is the Sibu MP and Bukit Assek assemblyman while state party secretary Chong Chieng Jen is the Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman.

‘She was neither here nor there’

Manoharan, who supported the “one man – one seat” proposal, said dual seat holders should put public and party interests above their own interests by accepting Karpal’s formula.

He said double-hat wearers should not draw multiple perks while dishing out poor performance as elected representatives at the expense of other single seat representatives and taxpayers.

At a glance, double-seat holders earn nearly RM40,000 per month.

In Selangor, an assemblyman’s pay is about RM11,700, inclusive of allowances, while that of an executive councillor is about RM25,000 (inclusive of state assembly pay). A MP earns about RM15,000 a month.

Manoharan recalled that during the recent July parliamentary sitting, which coincided with the Selangor state assembly session, Kok was unable to perform her duties efficiently as a senior exco, state representative and parliamentarian.

“She was neither here nor there. She was missing most of the assembly sittings,” he claimed.

Manoharan said he was now fighting a court case against the demolishment of a Hindu temple – Seafield Maha Mariamman Kovil – which comes under Kok’s Kinrara constituency.

“The temple management told me that it had been difficult to get even an appointment to meet Kok and resolve the demolishment issue amicably,” he said.

He said Kok was not able to divide and devote her time for her constituents partly because she was a MP and an assemblywoman in two different territories.

Up to party to decide

When contacted, Kok reiterated that this was an old issue.



“The party has set up a candidature committee which will deal with this question, and the CEC has discussed this issue before,” she said.

She added that placement of candidates depends on the party’s strategy in each constituency and each state.

She also said that Manoharan has not visited her constituencies to know the work she was doing there, along with her five staff to manage her state office.

She added that her work at her constituencies were regularly highlighted in her blog and her Facebook.

Bestino investors’ ‘Occupy Putrajaya’ called off

The Bestino Action Committee decides to call off its Occupy Putrajaya campaign after a meeting the prime minister's special officer.

PETALING JAYA: The Bestino gold scheme investors have called off their ‘Occupy Putrajaya’ campaign after the Prime Minister’s Office today agreed to hold a discussion with them.

Speaking to FMT, the investors’ spokesman K Kunasegaran said the campaign, which kicked off yesterday, was called off after the Bestino Action Committee met Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s special officer Ravin Ponniah at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya this morning.

Bestino was one of the nation’s largest gold investment scheme involving more than 6,700 investors nationwide who had invested more than RM400 million.

The gold trading company was operated by Perak-based gold merchant Chong Yuk Ming before it was closed down by Bank Negara Malaysia in 2010 for alleged money laundering.

The central bank also froze RM24 million following the raid.

The investors have been trying to get back their investments since then. They have held discussions with the Finance Ministry as well as with Bank Negara but todate no solution had been found.

Bestino claims that it has the money to pay back the investors but the fund was parked in Hong Kong. The company claimed that it needed Bank Negara’s approval to bring the money back into the country.

The investors then turned to the prime minister to intervene and solve the matter. Their efforts to obtain an appointment with Najib had met with a dead wall. The investors irked with the way the authorities have been passing the buck resorted to camping outside the PMO until they get an appointment with the prime minister.

Their campaign began yesterday.

On their meeting with Ravin Ponniah, Kunasekaran said the prime minister’s special officer had asked the Bestino Action Committee to send an official letter through their lawyer for a discussion with PMO, Finance Ministry, BNM, Bestino directors and investors.

“We will submit the letter very soon,” he said, adding that the government should speed-up the process of returning their money.

“It is already three years and the investors are still struggling to get back the money. If the Najib’s government has the financial muscle to settle the outstanding RM589 million debt owed by Tajudin Ramli of Malaysian Airlines System (MAS), what is the big deal to settle Bestino investors?” he asked.

In a related matter, A Gopalan, also an investor, urged MIC vice president M Saravanan to keep his hands out of the matter.

Tamil daily Malaysian Nanban today quoted Saravanan as saying that the government and MIC had put in all necessary efforts to assist the investors.

The MIC leader also slammed the investors for camping outside the PM’s office as it was becoming a trend to settle issues.

“From the very beginning MIC had eluded the issue. And now Saravanan is raising the issue just to get public attention,” said Gopalan.

Kg Railway belongs to developer, says court

The decision paves the way for the eviction of 153 residents.

PETALING JAYA: The Kuala Lumpur High Court declared today that property developer Sentul Raya Sdn Bhd is the owner of Kampung Railway, a residential area in Sentul.

The decision dismayed the current residents of the area, and their lawyer said he would file an appeal soon.

“The developer is the owner of the land, and by that virtue, they emerge the absolute owners irrespective of how and why they came to be the owners,” Justice Zabariah Yusof said in chambers.

Sentul Raya, a subsidiary of YTL Corporation, initiated the case last year. It sought a court order to evict Kampung Railway’s 153 residents, claiming they were trespassers.

The residents say they have the right to remain there by virtue of their being descendants of former Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) employees who began settling there in 1885.

They have also called on the government to turn the land into an Indian heritage site.

Commenting on the court decision, Hindraf youth chief S Thiagarajan said the judge had failed to consider what he called the “rich history” of Kampung Railway and its residents.

He also criticised the alleged haste in which the case was disposed of. “Despite the residents having over 100 witnesses and producing historical documents, the judge didn’t even grant a full trial,” he said.

“Justice hurried is justice buried, especially when it involves the Indian poor.”

He also questioned the Federal Territories Land Office’s refusal to give a detailed explanation of how the land was transferred from KTMB to Sentul Raya “without anyone’s knowledge”.

“We notice that private developers are acquiring railway land for pittance,” he said. “The Land Office’s reluctance to show us the transaction records only creates more suspicion.”

The residents were represented by P Uthayakumar, who is also Hindraf secretary-general.

PKR leaders demand post-mortem

They want the Home Ministry to order the police to refer the remains of a dead prison detainee for a post-mortem.
FULL REPORT

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR vice-president N Surendran and Subang MP R Sivarasa today demanded the Home Ministry to order the police to refer the remains of R Kumar Rajah for a post-mortem.

The Kajang prison inmate was in excruciating pain for several days and died on Oct 29, but his mother M Sooriakandhi was only informed of his death yesterday.

“We want the green light from the Home Ministry for a post-mortem to be conducted. It is a cover-up by the police, prisons department, magistrate and the hospital,” Sivarasa alleged at a press conference at the Parliament lobby.

“There is no excuse for the prisons department to delay informing the family of the death of Kumar Rajah by a day. That is very serious,” he added. Also present was human rights activist S Jayathas who had recently rejoined PKR.

Surendran chipped in: “Home Minister (Hishammuddin Hussein) must answer for this.”

He also accused the police of denying a post-mortem from being conducted and claimed that the Kajang Hospital and a magistrate were working in cahoots with the police.

“There has been no post-mortem. The police deliberately refused to allow for a post-mortem. The Kajang Hospital’s forensics department director has refused to do a post-mortem unless the police agree or a court order is issued,” he said.

Surendran said he would be lodging a report with the Malaysian Medical Council’s disciplinary committee against Kajang hospital for refusing the right to a post-mortem.

HIV claim pooh-poohed

He said that the police and the hospital’s inaction shows a possible cover-up. “Never before has the police and hospital conspired to prevent a post mortem.

“The mother cannot perform the last rites for her son until a post mortem is conducted. The home minister must immediately direct that one be done immediately,” said Surendran.

Sooriakandhi said: “My son told me I could visit him during Deepavali. He was healthy when I visited him

last Thursday. At least allow me to perform his final rites.

“I had hopes that he would help me once he is released in February next year. Now they have destroyed my hopes.”

Sivarasa said the Kajang prison authorities claimed that Kumar Rajah died due to HIV, however both Sivarasa and Surendran are doubting it.

“They is no evidence to back that up. The can only be confirmed from a post-mortem,” said Sivarasa.

Surendran claimed that the magistrate did not do his job. “The magistrate saw the body for 15 minutes and said that there was no need for an investigation and no foul play was involved.

‘Hishammuddin a liar’

In a related development, Surendran charged that Hishammuddin lied in parliament yesterday. In a written reply to Kota Melaka MP Sim Tong Him, Hishammuddin said that deaths in custody are investigated under the Criminal Procedure Code.

“Hishammuddin is lying. Never do they conduct an investigation under the Criminal Procedure Code. I’m shocked and surprised that he could lie in Parliament,” said Surendran.

After the press conference, the two PKR leaders attempted to meet Hishammuddin but having failed to do so, met Deputy Home Minister Abu Seman Yusop.

While listening to Sooriakandhi, Abu Seman Yusop stressed several times: “Let me check with the police.”

Surendran said he would organise street demonstrations in front of Bukit Aman soon if Sooriakandhi does not obtain her son’s post-mortem report in a day or two.

In Chaah itself there are at least 25 red identity card holders all born in Malaysia

Senator S.Ramakrishnan,

Yesterday 27th Oct. 2012, we had a program in Chaah, Johore to help and educate those with red Identity card, no birth certificate and citizenship problems. It was a Saturday afternoon and about 25 people came to see us. All holding red identity cards and born in Malaysia mostly in the 50s and above. In 2 cases the red identity card holders have done extensive documentation and submitted all the requirements but still blue identity card is not given.

Others were poor and simple estate folks, the mere documentation requirement and unfriendly front office in registration department have chased them away and they are looking for someone else to help in the documentation and getting the blue identity. Almost all of them have their siblings and children with blue identity cards. Yet the registration department wants documents that are 60 or 70 years old. These estate folks simply cannot produce them or they need help from those who are familiar with the procedures.

But Indonesians landing in Pengirang and other coastal towns in Johore are relocated to other districts and states on a daily basis even now. This is what Pakatan Rakyat is afraid off especially in Selangor. This is treason committed by the registration department, police and district offices and UMNO politicians to stay in power at all cost.

Yet Indians and Chinese, born in Malaysia with slightest error like born in estate without birth certificate, given red identity card. They have to get documents from penghulu, midwives, father’s and mother’s death certificates, siblings identity card copies etc to prove beyond doubt that they are Malaysians. Estate workers who are poor and ignorant cannot provide all documents and they end up living with red identity cards. These card holders don’t get as welfare, hospital support and they cannot vote. If in a small town like Chaah, Johore there are about 25 and much more, how about whole Malaysia? 300000 could be a realistic figure.

There were 2 cases of children not given citizenship because the mother is a foreigner and their marriage registered in Malaysia after the child was born therefore registration department classify them as illegitimate child. Even though both mother and father had their wedding registered in the country of mother’s origin but these so called “illegitimate” children cannot get their Malaysian citizenship under section 13/15A. This child will have difficulty in enrolling for schools. If they are Muslims the registration department will write father’s name as Abdullah and the child will be classified as legitimate.

There was one case brought to our notice where a child born in police custody and the place of birth is written as Penjara (prison). The Penjara location too not mentioned. The innocent child carries this stigma for life. This kind of couldn’t be bothered attitude of registration department clerks makes the child’s life miserable.

There was one lady who donot know how read Malay, didn’t collect her citizenship. We saw the letter dated one year ago to collect. Later on Monday she was taken to registration office in Segamat to collect but was told that the date to collect has lapsed and she has to start the procedure all over again. So near yet so far. But for Indonesians it is never far.

This is the kind of quagmire Indian Malaysians are caught in. They are kept under fear without proper rights given and misinformed. UMNO/BN has just neglected this group of estate workers who still live on the fringes of society without any right, dignity and pride. These are the people who are easily overwhelmed by hampers and rice bags.

The educated and well to Indians have to come forward to lift these poor cousins in rural areas. Unfortunately their own children are of less help due low level of education and not well to do. Political awareness is needed to bring political change.

Who do you call?

Erna Mahyuni, The Malaysian Insider 
OCT 31 ― “Kami polis. Kami boleh tanya, tahan dan tangkap siapa saja.” (We’re policemen. We can interrogate, detain and arrest whomever.)

All M (she asked I not mention her name) wanted to know was why the two policemen on motorcycles were asking for her ID.

It was a rainy night, M was driving. She saw a motorcyclist in her way and honked. He might not have seen her; she just wanted to make sure. She was being careful, she thought.

The next thing M knew, two men on motorcycles were flanking her car.

One of them berated her for honking at him. She explained why she did so and also pointed out that she had right of way.

Again, he spouted the “I’m a cop and can arrest anyone” spiel.

She asked if she could call her friend, a senior police officer, for advice.

“Panggilah, saya takut apa?” (Call, then, what have I got to be afraid of?)

M called her friend. Her friend wanted the policemen’s names and numbers. And, suddenly, the “fearless” policemen were too afraid to identify themselves.

They lied to M’s friend on the phone, saying they only “wanted to help” her.

In the end, the policemen went away leaving a very shaken M.

M was lucky. Few of us can call up a senior ranked cop for help when being harassed by rogue members of the force.

Thing is, we shouldn’t even have to deal with it in the first place.

There are decent cops. I’ve met them. But at the same time, we’ve all heard the stories or encountered “bad cops.”

Cops who ask for bribes. Cops who steal. Cops who turn a blind eye to crime or pretend to be too busy with paperwork to attend to crime reports.

We are afraid of our policemen, for all the wrong reasons.

To be honest, they scare me too. I’ve gone to make a police report and was ignored by the cop on duty because he thought I was a Filipina. It took me brandishing my IC at him for him to take me seriously. Then there were the cops who wanted to solicit bribes from me or make me get in a police car, all because they mistook me for a foreign worker.

The cops need to be held accountable for the rogues in their ranks. They need to make it mandatory to show their identification numbers at all times.

If a cop refuses to give his name and ID numbers, it shouldn’t be a crime for a Malaysian to ignore him.

The reality is that there are cops who are bullies. But when a policeman asks you to pull over, don’t automatically assume he intends to harass you. Maybe your signal lights died. Your bumper or identification plate fell off. Give the policeman the benefit of the doubt.

But when it’s clear the “policeman” you’re dealing is problematic, here’s what you can do:

1. If you’re in a car, don’t get out. Roll down the window slightly (not enough for the rogue cop to reach in and grab you) and ask for identification. Even if they furnish it and ask you to follow them, insist on driving to a nearby station. If you’re a woman, there are real risks to you stepping into a policeman’s car if his intentions are unclear.

2. Keep your mobile phone and call people. Tell family, friends where you are and who you’re with. Take pictures. Use social media: Tweet and post pictures to Facebook, if you can.

3. If you’re on foot and don’t have the safety of a vehicle to retreat to, remain calm. Make calls but don’t run. If you’re unlucky, you might be dealing with a poorly trained, trigger-happy policeman who will use “resisting arrest” as an excuse to shoot you. It’s your word against theirs and your running from policemen will be used against you.

4. Resist the urge to be flippant, rude or confrontational. Policemen are public servants but they are not your coolies. Talking down to them doesn’t do you any favours and will just make the situation worse.

Even in developed countries like the US and UK, they do have problems with rogue policemen who do not respect procedure. Don’t assume all policemen are that way but at the same time, be prepared to deal with those who are.

At the very least, every Malaysian should have some number they can call to get help if they’re being bullied by cops acting questionably.

Question is: Will the phone ever stop ringing?

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

Support the Indigenous People's Murum Dam Blockade

Dr Kua Kia Soong, SUARAM Adviser

The Penans have been blockading against the construction of the 944MW Murum Dam since Sept 26, 2012. More than 1,600 Penans from eight Penan villages (including one Kenyah Badeng longhouse) are affected by the construction of the dam which is now about 70% completed. Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), contractors and private companies involved in the project have been forced to use ferryboats or tugboats through the Bakun Dam reservoir to transport goods, machines, building materials etc. to the Murum Dam site.

This is a new and different factor compared to the campaign against the Bakun dam in previous years. While we had built a campaign against the Bakun dam in the past, there was no action by the indigenous peoples affected on a scale comparable to the Murum dam blockade. The Penan communities affected by the Murum dam have shown a commitment to defend their rights and Malaysians must give them full solidarity and support their struggle in all possible ways.

The Murum Penan communities are among the poorest in Malaysia. They have traditionally been hunter-gatherers but shifted to a more settled, agriculture-based way of life approximately 40 years ago. They rely on subsistence-based farming and hunting, fishing and gathering of forest products and the occasional sale of in-season fruit. Their livelihood has been adversely affected by low farm productivity and rapidly declining forest resources because of plantation and dam building projects.

The Bakun Dam Fiasco

The Sarawak state government with federal government support, has been carrying out highly irresponsible economic projects to the detriment of the environment, the indigenous peoples’ lives and the long-term interest of the Sarawak and Malaysian tax payers.

The 2400MW Bakun dam project has already proven to be a major fiasco not only in terms of insufficient demand for its electricity generated but a disaster for the 10,000 indigenous peoples who were displaced from their traditional ancestral land to the slum conditions of the resettlement scheme at Sg. Asap. Those who cherish their heritage and human rights would describe their fate as ETHNOCIDE if they have seen for themselves the conditions at Sg. Asap.

The total energy demand in the whole of Sarawak is only 1000MW so the government has been trying to attract the biggest energy guzzlers such as aluminium smelters which happen to be the most toxic as well. Another investment is a coal-fired power station to take up the excess energy. These environmentally polluting industries are then touted as part of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE). In fact, hydro-electric power dams and toxic aluminium smelters are all industries rejected by the developed countries. None of these countries, especially Australia, wants to have toxic industries in their own backyard. But the Sarawak State Government is willing to have these mega projects for rather dubious purposes. The desperate chase for investments to take up the excess Bakun energy AFTER the dam has been built shows a total lack of economic feasibility studies which should have been done before the dam was built. Is it surprising therefore that many SCORE contracts have been given to companies owned by members of Chief Minister Taib’s family?

As if this Bakun dam fiasco was not enough, the Sarawak state government intends to build 12 mega dams in all which will strip the state of its rainforest and displace even more indigenous communities. The Murum dam is the first of these 12 dams. The dam construction is being supervised by China Three Gorges Corporation and built by Chinese dam builder Sinohydro. After their massive investments in the Three Gorges project, you can be sure these Chinese companies are hungry for investments in other hydropower projects in Sarawak.

With such a large development scheme, international best practice calls for a “strategic environmental and social assessment.” Such an assessment looks at the overall impact that a large development scheme can have as was done for the proposed “Greater Mekong Sub-region” energy network by the Asian Development Bank. No such strategic economic, environmental and social assessment has been conducted for SCORE.

If the Bakun dam project is to be any guide, the Sarawak government’s energy demand forecasts appear to be based more on nothing more than wishful thinking rather than detailed feasibility studies. Malaysian taxpayers, be warned that all these mega projects will entail an onerous debt burden on the Sarawak and Malaysian public. You can be sure that there will be electricity tariff hikes after the 13th general elections.

There are many energy alternatives for Sarawak beyond large hydroelectric power projects such as small-scale hydropower, solar and other forms of renewable energy, energy efficiency measures, more efficiently run and managed power plants, among others. Above all, such environmentally friendly power projects respects the indigenous peoples’ lifestyles while efforts can put into helping them with better transport systems, marketing channels and other forms of development they may require.

Murum dam violates international standards

The Murum dam project is in violation of the international standards on indigenous rights as guaranteed in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), of whichMalaysia is a signatory. The Murum dam is nearing completion but the resettlement report is still being withheld. As for the Bakun dam, all studies related to the projects have not been transparent. The affected Penan and Kenyah have stated that they have never been asked for consent as demanded by the UNDRIP. The project developer, Sarawak’s state-owned electricity generating company, Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) has not provided indigenous communities with an opportunity to grant or withhold their “free, prior and informed consent” for the project as required by UNDRIP. Even in cases where there was agreement, however, it was neither FREE from coercion; the resettlement plan was not made known to the indigenous peoples PRIOR to the start of the construction, and they were not INFORMED by access to information about the project’s impacts.

The social and environmental impact assessment (SEIA) for the Murum project is seriously flawed. International standards—including the Equator Principles and the IFC Performance Standards—universally require that the SEIA must be completed during the design phase, before the government approves the project and before construction begins. This was not the case with the Murum Dam Project. The SEIA process did not even begin until after construction on the project was already underway. The Sarawak government has not yet disclosed the Murum Dam Project’s SEIA to the public or to the affected communities.

The Indigenous Peoples’ Demands

Without transparent access to the crucial information at the centre of this project, the affected communities were placed in an unfair situation when the Sarawak government asked them to negotiate a resettlement package. The monthly allowance to be paid after resettlement falls below the poverty level and ends after four years. However, the state government turned down the other demands of the Penan, which included compensation of RM500,000 for each family for the loss of their customary land. Their other demands were 30,000 hectares of land for every village, 25 hectares for every farming family, education for their children, a community development fund and rights to their land that is not submerged by the dam waters. The indigenous communities affected by the Murum Dam project have already issued a memorandum describing how the government could still remedy the situation.

Support the Murum indigenous peoples now!

Sign the Murum Appeal at http://www.sarawakreport.org/murum-appeal or at saveriversnet@gmail.com . You can support their blockade by donating to their cause at these two websites.

Samy Vellu luluskan projek kondo Batu Caves – Anwar

(Oleh Aisha Geoffrey)
KUALA LANGAT 31 Oktober: Bekas Presiden MIC, Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu individu yang bertanggungjawab meluluskan Kondominium Batu Caves sekaligus menepis kontroversi Umno BN mengatakan kononnya pembinaan projek itu diluluskan Kerajaan Selangor sekarang.

Mendedahkannya pada ceramah Merdeka Rakyat di sini malam tadi, Ketua Umum KEADILAN, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berkata, pembinaan dua blok kondominium 29 tingkat berhampiran Kuil Sri Subramaniar Swamy itu mendapat kelulusan MIC dan Umno pada 2007.

Beliau menempelak pemimpin MIC kerana menipu rakyat India, malah meletak kesalahan ke atas Kerajaan Selangor.

Ia ekoran tindakan Samy berdemonstrasi bersama masyarakat India pada 26 Oktober lalu kononnya membantah pembinaan kondominium tersebut.

“Samy Vellu buat tunjuk perasaan, padahal dia yang luluskan projek pada 2007, ingat Tuhan dia tidak tahu? Sudahlah tipu rakyat, Tuhan pun dia nak tipu,” kata Ketua Pembangkang.

“Lepas itu mereka cabar Menteri Besar hentikan pembinaan, saya beritahu Khalid (Ibrahim), kita jangan ikut kata mereka dulu, kita siasat, cari siapa yang luluskan dan kita dakwa orang yang bertanggungjawab,” tegasnya disambut tepukan gemuruh lebih 5,000 penduduk Kuala Langat.

Sebelum ini, Exco Selangor, Dr Xavier Jayakumar menjelaskan, kelulusan pembinaan kondominium itu dikeluarkan oleh pihak majlis pada 31 Mei 2008 manakala ahli majlis baru di bawah Pakatan mengangkat sumpah pada 5 Julai 2008.

“MIC dah dapat duit hasil penjualan tanah kuil dan luluskan projek yang menyalahi peraturan alam sekitar dengan ketinggian 29 tingkat, sekarang nak lepaskan diri tuduh kita pula, nak suruh kita bayar. Kepada rakyat India, usahlah sokong lagi pemimpin penipu seperti ini,” kata Anwar.

Semalam di Parlimen, Khalid mengumumkan penubuhan pasukan petugas bebas untuk menyiasat isu berkaitan pembinaan kondominium tersebut.

“Kami mahu tunjukkan kepada rakyat bahawa kami telus membuat keputusan, jadi kami akan menubuhkan jawatankuasa bertindak khas yang akan diketuai seorang bekas hakim,” katanya.

Oil Trading: Dark Side of PETRONAS

By Koon Yew Yin
Last week, the international financial media carried the story that Canada intended to block the planned $5.3bn acquisition of Calgary-based Progress Energy Resources by Petronas. According to these reports, the country’s industry minister, Christian Paradis had issued a statement saying he had written to Petronas saying he was “not satisfied that the proposed investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada”.
Much of the subsequent analysis has focused on questions related to Canada’s policy on foreign takeovers and its investment policy especially with regard to foreign state-owned entities. This should be of little interest to us.
Of greater interest to Malaysians should be how the Petronas takeover of Progress will benefit our country. Is it in our best interests? What are the pros and cons of this very expensive takeover? Let us always remember that the company belongs to all Malaysians, and not simply to the government of the day or a group of company directors.
Petronas has done well. Since its incorporation, Petronas has grown to be an integrated international oil and gas company with business interests in many countries. The group is engaged in a wide spectrum of petroleum activities, including upstream exploration and production of oil and gas to downstream oil refining. Oil trading is one of the key activities of the group.

As everyone knows, Petronas provides a substantial source of income with 45% of the government’s budget dependent on Petronas’ dividend. Is this focus on one single indicator of success – providing funds to run government – perhaps the reason why we are blinded to possible darker aspects of the company’s overall track record?
Oil Trading: Facts and Figures Needed
Any trading business – which Petronas partially is – has to observe some key principles to be successful. These include

1. Don’t try to predict the future
   
2. Flexibility in forward contracts as no one knows when the market will move
   
3. Having trading relationships that maximize your options
   

In recent years, questions have been raised as to whether our state owned oil business executes these or some other principles when it engages in trading. In addition, allegations have been made with regard to possible cronyism in some of its deals.
Perhaps the most serious allegation was the disclosure made by Jeffrey Kittingan in June 2008 that 80% of Petronas oil is not sold directly to the world market but is funneled through six option holders. Apparently these option holders or selling agents have obtained their supply from Petronas at well below market price for the next 20 to 30 years.

If this allegation proves to be correct then these profits would be much less than what could have been realized had the sales been conducted through open and more transparent forward sales.
When he initially made these allegations more than 4 years ago, Jeffrey Kittingan asked for a white paper or royal commission of enquiry to investigate this scandal. He also asked for a review of the Petronas agreements and to make Petronas open and transparent.
As far as I am aware, there has been no response from Petronas or the government on these concerns. If what amounts to a leakage from giving contracts without open tenders is taking place, then it is necessary that the issue be taken up during this coming election. What makes the trading strategy of Petronas inexplicable is that oil is a strategic and diminishing resource. Surely any oil trader is aware that the price trend in view of scarcity and lack of substitution can only be upwards, with the degree of price increase the only major risk. Also, it does not make business sense to tie up so much of forward sales with long term contracts since a mix of short, medium and long term contracts is clearly the superior strategy.
Malaysia’s Transparency Record in 2010 scored below average in a study on transparency of revenue management of extractive industries that covered 41 countries. The country obtained 48.4 points compared with the study average of 51.8 out of the maximum of 100 points in a joint study by Revenue Watch Institute and Transparency International.
Malaysia sits in the group of countries with “partial revenue transparency”, that is countries which provide citizens with information about extractive sectors, yet show important transparency gaps in one or more specific categories of (the Revenue Watch Index).
Malaysia in fact falls below the average 50.1 points obtained by other Asia Pacific countries.
Malaysia is behind Indonesia, which scored an average 50 points, and also is behind Papua New Guinea, Trinidad and Tobago, Kazakhstan and even Timor Leste.
According to the study which rates countries on accessibility of information on contracts, licensing and government payments, as well as institutional structure compelling transparency, Malaysia drew a poor mark for access to information on contracts and licensing procedures.
Petronas Needs to be Accountable to the Country
According to the Petroleum Development Act 1974, Petronas is only accountable to the prime minister of the day, not even to Parliament.  This is wrong.
In a recent speech Woo Wing Thye, a distinguished Professor of Economics who presently heads the Penang think tank, Penang Institute, pointed out the hazard that exists in the key role that Petronas plays in the country’s finances. According to Professor Woo, the world’s experience with state oil companies is that they would fail in the middle of a boom. Indonesia’s Pertamina failed in 1974 in the middle of the Opec boom and PetroMexico collapsed in the midst of the second Opec shock.
“These state oil companies were overextended and not very transparent”, Woo said. “They were basically the cash registers of their governments. It is a good thing to have more transparency because the balance sheet of Petronas links directly to the government budget. If Petronas is in trouble, the government budget is in trouble.”
We need to take these cautionary words seriously. The first step to reform is to open up the account books of the company especially related to oil trading and to investigate the allegations of Mr. Jeffrey Kittingan.
Petronas belongs to all Malaysians and the majority of them are Bumiputeras who are better educated than before. They can see all these misuse of power, corruption and mismanagement and I believe they will know how to vote in the coming general election.

Members Of Parliament Agree To Postpone AES

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- Several members of parliament (MP) have agreed, at the urging of some parties, especially Umno Youth, that the implementation of the Automatic Enforcement System (AES) be postponed.

In fact, they are of the view that a comprehensive study be carried out before the system is implemented.

Kangar MP, Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, said the AES was implemented without obtaining the views of the people and road safety experts.

"I agree with the government's efforts to reduce road accidents nationwide but the installation of AES should be located at appropriate places," he told Bernama at Parliament building here Wednesday.

Yesterday, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin called on the government to postpone implementation of AES as there were too many weaknessess in its implementation plan.

Kinabatangan MP, Datuk Bung Moktar Radin, said the purpose of AES was to discipline road users but many did not know of its implementation.

"All of a sudden, they received summonses. The people are therefore, unhappy," said the Barisan Nasional Backbencher Club deputy chairman.

Pasir Mas MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali also welcomed the proposal to postpone AES and suggested a trial period for the system.

"I am proposing a six-month trial period as a process to educate the people and later, the Road Transport Department could put up a report on where the AES should be installed to effectively curb road accidents," he said.

Lenggong MP Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah however, said he supported the government's effort to reduce road accidents as the total number of accident cases in the country was among the highest in the world.

He said the system was needed as it was proven that road users liked to beat the red light and speed.

Kubang Kerian MP Salehuddin Ayub said AES should be postponed as it was not a solution to reduce road accidents but more of a burden to consumers.

"All parties should raise their voices on the issue to ensure AES meets its objectives to solve road accidents, and not make the motorist a victim of ineffective enforcement," he said.

Newest Opposition Party Keeping Options Open For Five Seats

SIBU, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- Sarawak's newest opposition party, Sarawak Workers Party (SWP), is still keeping its options open on its candidates for five seats it plans to contest.

Its president, Larry Sng Wei Shien, told reporters here today that it would want to get the best possible candidates.

SWP, which claims to be a Barisan Nasional (BN)-friendly party, is taking the fight to only Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), a Dayak-based state BN component party, in the coming election.

It plans to field its candidates in PRS seats like Sri Aman, Lubok Antu, Selangau, Kanowit and Hulu Rajang.

Sng has, so far, confirmed that Meluan state assemblyman and former senior vice-president of the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) Wong anak Judat would take on three-term BN/PRS incumbent Datuk Joseph Salang anak Gandum for the Julau seat.

Salang is also information communication and culture deputy minister.

Kohilan washes his hands off Batu Caves condo

(Malaysiakini) Deputy Foreign Minister A Kohilan Pillay has contended that he was not involved in the approval of a controversial 29-storey condominium near the Batu Caves temple although he was a local councillor when the decision was made.

Denying the allegation by Selangor exco Ronnie Liu, the senator claimed that the approval was given by the One Stop Centre (OSC) of Selayang Municipal council (MPS).

"I was only a councillor. It was not me who gave the approval. It was the OSC in the council that gave the approval. I was not involved. If he (Liu) wants to accuse, (he should provide) the facts...

"Many facts have been spun. There was nothing to show (that I) gave the approval. I have checked the files. I was not involved in giving the approval," he told Malaysiakini yesterday.

According to the MPS official website, the function of OSC is to receive and process applications of building plans, land work plans and project planning for the approval of the local council.

Kohilan was a councillor in MPS for 11 years, serving from 1997 to 2008.

The construction of a massive condominium near the iconic Subramaniar Temple in Batu Caves came under the spotlight after the temple committee, backed by MIC top guns including former president S Samy Vellu, led a protest against the Selangor government last week.

However, Liu later revealed documents to show that BN had approved the tower block - considered by many as an eyesore - when it controlled Selangor in 2007.

Last Wednesday, Liu reportedly alleged that Kohilan and Hulu Selangor MP P Kamalanathan were among those responsible for approving the project.

However, Kamalanathan denied the accusation yesterday and lodged a police report on the matter. Kohilan has also lodged a similar report last night at the Batu Caves police station.

About-turn by Kohilan

Kohilan told Malaysiakini that he found out that he and Kamalanathan were linked to the condo approval after this was raised by the temple committee recently.

He described the allegation as "baseless" and "reckless".

"See who actually made (the decision in approving the project). Don't simply guess. This (allegation) smells of a political agenda."

While Kohilan conceded that the approval for the project was given during the BN administration - an about-turn from his allegation last Friday - he nevertheless ticked off the current councillors appointed by the Pakatan government.

"Did they monitor it (the project) or are they not aware of the issue... What have the councillors been doing (after Pakatan took over Selangor)?" he asked.

Scrap Batu Caves condo now, Karpal tells S'gor gov't

 

Even as his colleagues in Pakatan Rakyat are embroiled in a blame game with the BN over the Batu Caves condominium project, DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh has called on the Selangor government to end the bickering quickly.

In a statement, he said this can happen if the state government scraps the proposed 29-storey condominium complex.

Karpal argued that this would "end the blame game" as to whether the BN or Pakatan is liable for the conundrum, and quell growing unrest among Hindus over the threat of damage to the world-renowned shrine to Lord Murugan which is located in the area.

Other than the religious sensitivities involved, he pointed to environmental and conservation concerns as the project may negatively impact the 400 million-year-old limestone caves, whose tourism potential makes it important not only to Hindus but all Malaysians.

"The state government cannot ignore the manifestation of protests against the project," he warned.

Reinforcing his argument, he said the project itself is not viable for more mundane reasons, quoting the disclosures by Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu who cited:

• Department of Environment letters to the Selayang Municipal Council stating the dangers of building high-risk projects in the area; and

• Minerals and Geoscience Department warnings to the council over the "unsafe"project is unsafe and the failure of developer Dolomite Industries Sdn Bhd to submit an environmental impact assessment report.

‘Relocate project’

Karpal said there are plenty of other more viable sites to which the project can be moved and appealed to the developer to act in good faith and re-site the condominium.

The veteran lawyer offered pro bono legal services to the Batu Caves temple committee, should his suggestion be ignored and the committee seek recourse in the court.

The committee has said it is prepared to take legal action if no permanent solution is found within one month.

Karpal also threatened to mobilise the DAP to mount an all-out campaign against the project if the state refuses to scrap the project.

This is reminiscent of what the party did to stop planned development that would have ruined the pristine environs of Bukit Cina, Malacca, in the early 1980s.

Independent task force set up over Batu Caves condo

(Malaysiakini) Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has announced that an independent task force will examine the issues surrounding the construction of condominiums near the iconic Subramaniar Temple in Batu Caves.

"We want to show the people that we are transparent in our decision making, so we will set up an independent task force that may be headed by a former judge,” he told a press conference at the Parliament lobby this afternoon.

"It will include committee members who are well known planners, lawyers and other people related to the industry."

The details and timeline, Khalid said, will be announced after these are discussed at the state exco meeting tomorrow.

The committee, he said, will advise the state government on the situation and how best to move forward, while safeguarding the sacred site and allowing development in the surrounding areas.

"We want the process to be very systematic until we get a conclusion, then we will make the appropriate decision," he said.

Asked if the temple committee-members will be represented in the task force, Khalid said it would be made up only of independent individuals without any interest in the issue.

To defuse tensions which are running high in some quarters, a stop-work order was issued last week on the 29-storey condominium project.

The controversy broke after the temple committee, backed by MIC top guns including former president S Samy Vellu, led a protest against the Selangor government.

However, state exco Ronnie Liu later revealed documents to show that BN had approved the project when it controlled Selangor in 2007.

200 pelabur emas berkampung di pejabat PM

Dishonourable crime: Woman assaulted, disrobed to pay for brother’s ‘sins’

"The FIR was registered on the details of the complaint that the victim lodged with the police", says DPO Sher Akbar. PHOTO: FILE

MANSEHRA: A married woman was stripped and dragged in the street allegedly to pay for her brother’s actions, the victim told media persons on Monday. She was hospitalised with bruises and other injuries, hospital sources said.

At King Abdullah Hospital, Shirin Bibi*, 39, a resident of Matiyal village of Ghazikot, told media persons that she was home on Friday afternoon when Akbar*, his brother Feroz* and cousins Shahnawaz* and Farooq* barged into her house and started thrashing her. She said they tore apart her clothes and dragged her onto a nearby street where several villagers witnessed her “bitter humiliation”.

Some elderly villagers came to her rescue, urging the attackers from exposing her to public view. Paying no heed to their pleas, the accused punched and kicked her and hit her with rifle butts, leaving her unconscious, she narrated.

She said that the motive behind exposing her to public disgrace was the alleged elopement of her brother Samad* with the sister of one of the accused. She said the attackers wanted to avenge the disrespect that her brother had brought upon them.

Earlier, she lodged a First Information Report (FIR) with the Saddar Police Station. However, the police registered a case under section 354/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) which states that whoever assaults a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, shall be punished with imprisonment of up to two years with or without fine. On the other hand, the contents of her complaint indicate that the FIR should have been registered under section of 354-A of the PPC, which states that whoever assaults a woman and strips her, shall be awarded a death penalty or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.

District Police Officer Sher Akbar Khan said that the FIR was registered on the details of the complaint the victim lodged with the police. The police have registered a criminal case against five accused who are still at large.

*Names have been changed to protect identities

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2012.

Somali comedian who poked fun at Islamists shot dead

An African Union soldier from Uganda guards his commander after Somali government soldiers and AU forces captured weapons from Al Shabab Islamist militia, Marka, Somalia, 24 October 2012. Included in the weapons haul where RPG rocket launchers and other heavy arms. EPA/ELYAS AHMED 

Gunmen assassinated a well-known comedian and musician who poked fun at Al-Qaeda linked Shebab insurgents in the Somali capital Mogadishu, police and colleagues said Tuesday.

Warsame Shire Awale, a famous composer who had worked with Somalia's national army band before joining Radio Kulmiye as a drama producer and comedian, was attacked by two gunmen late on Monday.

"Gunmen killed him... we are investigating the matter and the killers will be brought to justice," police chief Ahmed Hassan Malin told reporters.

"Two men armed with pistols shot and wounded him near his house in Waberi district, he died shortly after in hospital," said Abdi Mohamed Haji, a colleague at Radio Kulmiye.

The killing, the latest in a string of attacks on media workers in Somalia, follows the murder of fellow comic Abdi Jeylani Malaq Marshale in August, who also worked at Kulmiye.

Press rights watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called 2012 the "deadliest year" on record for Somalia, surpassing 2009 when nine died.

At least 17 reporters have been killed this year in the war-ravaged country.

Several killings are blamed on Al-Qaeda linked Shebab insurgents, but other murders are also believed to be linked to struggles within the multiple factions in power.

Malaysia’s consumer confidence shaken by uncertain global economy, survey shows

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 — Consumers in Malaysia are less optimistic this quarter, their confidence rattled by a belief that demand and investments may not be as resilient due to the slowing economy in Europe, North America and China, according to the latest global online consumer confidence findings from Nielsen, a global provider of information into what consumers watch and buy.

Malaysia’s consumer confidence fell six points in the index to 105 in the third quarter of 2012 from 111 three months ago, despite seeing its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growing by 5.4 per cent in the second quarter of the year and inflation at its slowest pace in September.

“Although domestic conditions remain stable consumers may have increasing concerns that external demand and investments may not be as resilient as expected and the economic situation in Europe, North America and the slowing down of demand in China may be contributing to the decline in optimism,” Nielsen Malaysia’s managing director, Richard Hall, said in a statement today.

Southeast Asia’s third biggest economy ranked ninth out of 58 countries surveyed in the Nielsen Global Online Consumer Confidence Survey 2012, falling four rungs from the previous quarter and landing behind neighbours Indonesia and India which both drew 119 points.

While it remained in the top 10, it also placed behind the Philippines (118), Thailand (112), China (106), the United Arab Emirates (114), Saudi Arabia (113) and Brazil (110) in the survey but ahead of Singapore, which ranked 15th out of the 58 countries surveyed.

Consumer confidence levels above and below a baseline of 100 indicate degrees of optimism and pessimism.

However, consumer confidence rose to 118.3 in the third quarter of 2012 from 114.9 in the second quarter of 2012, according to the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER), which polls a sample of over 1,200 households in Malaysia every quarter to gauge consumer spending trends and sentiments.

The local research house has found that historically, from 2005 until 2012, Malaysia’s consumer confidence averaged 106.54 reaching an all time high of 124.10 in March of 2007 and a record low of 70.50 in June of 2008.

The Nielsen survey found that consumer confidence in Malaysia dropped by six points due to the drop in optimism based on job prospects as well as personal financial status.

Consumers are split between saying the country is in a recession or not.

Just over half of the online consumers surveyed or 51 per cent felt that the nation is in an economic recession, while 49 per cent said that Malaysia is not in recession.

Slightly more than a quarter of those surveyed by Nielsen believed that the recession would last for another 12 months.

Four out of five consumers have changed their spending patterns to save on household expenses, Nielsen said, pointing a slowdown in the total Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) tracked by Nielsen, which showed a year-on-year decline of 3.1 per cent and 2.4 per cent in sales value during the Ramadan fasting month and Hari Raya Aidilfitri festival last July and August.

It said only 36 categories experienced positive growth during the two-month period, which usually peaks as the Aidilfitri festival is celebrated by the 60-per cent majority Muslim population.

“The trends suggest that consumers are spending cautiously and holding back spending amid global economic uncertainties.

“On the other hand, Nielsen’s survey reveals that they have increased both their contribution to savings and retirement funds (increased by three and five per cent respectively),” Hall said.

He noted that pre-budget sentiment may have also contributed to the slowdown in growth on a year-on-year basis.

He said consumers are deferring spending especially on discretionary items such as major durable goods while waiting for the government to roll out people-friendly incentives or measures before the close of the third quarter.

Nielsen said nearly one-fifth of online consumers polled were most concerned about the state of economy, followed by job security and political stability.

Another death in prison, family cries foul

Family of R Kumarajah are demanding answers, alleging his death was due to negligence of Kajang prison authorities.

PETALING JAYA: A 27-year-old man, serving time at the Kajang prison, died yesterday, and his family is alleging that his life could have been saved if prison authorities had been sensitive to his plight.

Relating the case at the Kajang Hospital mortuary, G Sivamalar of Lawyers for Liberty said inmate Kumarajah died due to negligence of prison officials.

Kumarajah, 27, who was serving time for petty theft, had complained of stomach ache last Friday and prison authorities allegedly did not provide him medical attention.

The prison’s doctor only gave Kumarajah pain killers on the second day when the pain persisted.

However, on the third day, his stomach bloated up. According to Sivamalar, the doctor had the audacity to suggest that Kumarajah was faking his illness.

“The doctor told Kumarajah to stop play acting and that if he wanted to die, to go ahead. He was sent back to the cell while still in pain,” said Sivamalar.

Kumarajah’s body was brought to the Kajang Hospital Mortuary at 4.40pm yesterday and his family was informed of his death at 10.30am today by the prison officials, said Sivamalar.

Negligence and carelessness

No post mortem has been conducted thus far and the family is demanding that it be done swiftly so as not to delay his burial.

“We are waiting for a post mortem to be conducted. There is not even a single officer from the prison here to explain what actually happened,” said Sivamalar outside the mortuary.

“The case is clear cut. Kumarajah’s death is due to negligence and carelessness of the prison doctor and officials.

“If only they had given proper medical attention to him, most probably his life could have been spared,” she said.

Kumarajah was serving time after being found guilty of motorcycle theft. He was to be released in February 2013.

“We will consult a pathologist for the preliminary findings and also lodge a police report against the prison authorities and the doctor who treated Kumarajah,” said Sivamalar.

“Although we do not think there is any foul play, there is definitely negligence on the part of prison authorities. Looking at his body, we found blood stains near his mouth.”

Kumarajah’s mother M Suryaghandi, 51, when met at the mortuary, said she learnt of her son’s death from his friend in the prison at 9am today.

The prison warden only called much later at 10.30am, said Suryaghandi.

Suryaghandi is a single mother and Kumarajah is her youngest. She lives alone as her daughter is married. She said last saw her son on Oct 25.

Police report filed against Kohilan

An NGO accuses the deputy minister of providing 'false and confusing information' with regard to the controversial condominium project in Batu Caves.

BATU CAVES: The police has been asked to investigate Deputy Foreign Minister A Kohilan Pillay over his “confusing information” on the Batu Caves 29-storey condominium project.

S Surendran, deputy chairman of the People’s Welfare and Rights Organisation (Power), lodged a police report with the Batu Caves police station this morning.

Kohilan had claimed that he did not approve the condominium project but only approved the preliminary planning proposal of the Dolomite township project during his tenure as a councillor in the Selayang Town Council (MPS) in 2007.

Kohilan had blamed the Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor state government over the condominium approval after he attended a protest held by the Batu Caves temple committee last Friday.

However, Selangor exco Ronnie Liu provided evidence showing Barisan Nasional’s hand in approving the proposed condominium.

At a recent a press conference, Liu had exposed a planning approval issued on Nov 30, 2007 that detailed the height, size and type of the development slated on the land.

He explained that the building approval, which was issued in March 2008, was the work of BN councillors.

He said this was because Pakatan councillors were only sworn in during July 2008.

“So, it is crystal clear that Kohilan has confused the Indians with ‘false information’,” said Surendran.

“Thus, it is the police’s duty to investigate the deputy minister,” he added.

Last week, the Sri Mahamariamman Devasthanam chairman R Nadarajah raised concerns over the proposed 29-storey project to be built adjacent to the temple.

He said the matter might be referred to the courts if there was no sign of a permanent stop work order against the developer, Dolomite Properties Sdn Bhd.

Today Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim Selangor said the state has ordered a temporary halt to the project pending the findings of an independent state-level task force.

RM100m suit: Kugan’s mother to testify on Nov 2

The hearing over the case of A Kugan, who died in police custody, will see the plantiff calling five witnesses while the defendants calling nine.

KUALA LUMPUR: The mother of A Kugan, the suspected car thief who died in police custody three years ago, will take the stand on Nov 2 at the Kuala Lumpur High Court in her RM100 million civil suit against the Deputy Inspector-General of Police and four others.

N Indra had filed the suit on Jan 13 this year against Khalid Abu Bakar, police officer V Navindran, former Subang Jaya police chief Zainal Rashid, the then-inspector-general of police (IGP) as well as the government for negligence and breach of statutory duty.

In the statement of claim, Indra had said Kugan was arrested by the police on Jan 14, 2009. On Jan 20, at about 9pm, a police officer informed her that her son had died while he was in police custody.

Indra had claimed on Jan 21, Khalid had issued a false explanation to the media on the cause of death, alleging that Kugan had asked for a glass of water and then collapsed and died.

She had claimed that the defendants made attempts to cover-up the real cause of death and issued statements calculated to exonerate the police from blame or liability.

In a separate trial in June this year, Navindran had been found guilty on two counts of causing hurt to Kugan. Shah Alam Sessions Court judge Aslam Zainuddin sentenced him to three years’ jail on each count, to be served concurrently.

Today, the Kuala Lumpur High Court was told that before his death, Kugan had taken care of his mother and provided her with a portion of his salary every month.

Thus, as the plaintiff, Indra would also be making a liability dependency claim.

Pathologist left the country

Lawyers for the defendants later told reporters that they were willing to pay the amount as long as it was a “reasonable sum.”

“They said that Kugan earned RM3,000 a month and paid his mother RM1,00 every month,” said Azizan Md Arshad.

“We are now trying to solve the issue of income as they have not provided us with his pay slip,” he told reporters.

“But if it’s a reasonable sum, then we will pay,” he added.

Lawyer RL Bani Prakash, who is representing Indra, had also told Justice VT Singham in court that they would call a total of five witnesses, including former lead counsel N Surendran who is now a key witness.

R Sivarasa, who was not in court today, would replace Surendran as lead counsel for the plaintiff.

Bani also revealed that they were not able to subpoena University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) pathologist Dr N Prashant, as he was not in the country.

Dr Prashant had conducted the second autopsy on Kugan which revealed that his death had been caused by “acute renal failure…due to blunt trauma to skeletal muscles.”

This was after the first post-mortem had concluded the death was due to fluid accumulation in the lungs.

“We are still waiting for confirmation from the hospital on whether Dr Prashant is returning to the country,” Bani told the court today.

“We went to serve the subpoena , but was informed by the front desk that he was no longer there.”

Instead, Bani said, they will subpoena Dr Nazarina Abdul Rahman, the head of UMMC’s forensic pathology department.

Defendants have nine witnesses

Singham rebuked Bani for not informing the court earlier that Dr Prashant was not in the country, pointing out that arrangements could have been made to compensate for his absence.

“I am only interested in justice. The doctor is a material witness and we could have made arrangements to record his statement earlier,” said Singham.

“He is a foreigner, so you should have checked for how long he would be remaining in the country. For the sake of justice to prevail in the courts, you could have applied to record his evidence earlier.”

Meanwhile, the lawyers for the defendants informed the court that they would be calling in nine witnesses.

Kugan, from Puchong, had been arrested to facilitate investigations into a luxury car theft syndicate. He died six days later.

The case was then reclassified as murder following the results of the second autopsy, and 11 rank-and-file policemen were transferred to desk duty at the Selangor police headquarters over this case.

However, only Navindran was charged with Kugan’s death.

Negeri Sembilan semakin lemah di bawah BN

Dari memiliki 'aset' berjumlah RM23.40 juta pada tahun 2010, aset dalam bentuk saham tersebut cuma tinggal RM590,000 sahaja menjelang tahun 2011.

PETALING JAYA: Laporan Audit Negeri Sembilan 2011 telah membongkar banyak kelemahan dan ini menunjukkan prestasi pentadbiran negeri di bawah Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) kini semakin lemah.

Pengasas Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM), Badrul Hisham Shaharin dalam satu kenyataan media berkata pihaknya memandang serius perkara ini.

Pada tahun 2010 katanya, kerajaan Negeri Sembilan memiliki ‘aset’ berjumlah RM23.40 juta dalam bentuk saham di beberapa syarikat seperti Telekom, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Malaysia Airport tetapi menjelang tahun 2011 pegangan tersebut cuma tinggal RM590,000 sahaja.

“Media propaganda Umno-BN menuduh kerajaan negeri Pakatan Rakyat Pulau Pinang mengenepikan pembangunan Islam namun semua
ini berjaya dipatahkan dengan peningkatan setiap tahun peruntukan Hal Ehwal Agama Islam.

“Dari peruntukan sebanyak RM25.7 juta pada tahun 2008 ketika di bawah BN, kini kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang di bawah Pakatan memperuntukan sebanyak RM64.03 juta pada 2012 untuk Hal Ehwal Islam.

“Berbanding di Negeri Sembilan di bawah pemerintahan Umno-BN peruntukan bagi hal ehwal Islam menurun dari RM7.15 juta pada tahun 2010 menurun kepada RM5.63 juta pada 2011,” jelas beliau yang juga dikenali sebagai CheguBard.

Menurut beliau, pengurangan serius ini akan mengakibatkan banyak program pembangunan dan keagamaan telah terbantut. Pengurangan bajet Hal Ehwal Agama ini berkaitan dengan kelembapan ekonomi dan berkurangan pendapatan kerajaan negeri.

Selain itu katanya, peruntukan pembangunan agensi kerajaan bawah kerajaan negeri dari RM85 juta jelas berkurangan kepada RM82.49 juta yang akan memberi kesan secara langsung terhadap keselesaan hidup rakyat.

Beliau menegaskan bahawa kerajaan negeri jelas makin hilang kemampuan untuk mengumpul pendapatan negeri.

“Pendapatan kerajaan negeri dari hasil utama seperti cukai tanah, terimaan dari agensi, perkhidmatan, perolehan dari segi lesen dan permit dari tahun 2010 berjumlah RM326.99 juta menurun dengan serius kepada RM280.11 juta pada 2011.

Katanya, ketika Laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2011 memuji negeri-negeri Pakatan seperti Selangor dan Kelantan, kerajaan Negeri Sembilan di bawah Umno-BN terus ditimpa kelemahan pentadbiran, hanya dapat terus bernafas kerana berhutang dengan kerajaan pusat.

“Selangor walaupun memberikan air percuma dan perbagai bentuk kebajikan pada rakyat namun masih mampu mencatat lebihan hasil RM60 juta dan Kelantan dalam keadaan kerajaan pusat menafikan banyak haknya tetapi dapat menambah aset sebanyak RM90 juta,” katanya.

CheguBard berkata banyak lagi kelemahan kerajaan negeri, kalau hendak dibongkar satu persatu seperti dalam isu perumahan dan kerugian yang dialami YNS Management Sdn Bhd.

Beliau mengajak rakyat berfikir dari segi rekod empat tahun berturut-turut pencapaian dan rekod pentadbiran negeri di bawah Pakatan cemerlang berbanding pentadbiran Negeri Sembilan di bawah Umno-BN.

Petronas Carigali discovers more oil reserves in Bertam, says PM

(Bernama) - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today announced that Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd and Lundin Oil have jointly discovered additional oil reserves, under a production-sharing contract (PSC), at Block PM 307 of the Bertam oilfield.

He said the oil field, located 160 kilometres offshore Peninsula Malaysia, is opposite the state of Pahang at the depth of 76 metres.

PM 307 PSC is operated by Lundin Malaysia which holds a 75 per cent interest and Petronas holds the remaining equity.

“This is very significant because we never discovered oil in commercial quantity at Penyu Basin and this is a major breakthrough.

“Based on the findings of commercial and technical feasibility studies, crude oil production will begin at the oil field in the third quarter of 2014 with a projected output of between 17,500 and 20,000 barrels per day,” Najib (picture) told reporters after chairing the Biotechnology Implementation Council meeting here today.

The prime minister said with the additional discovery, the Bertam oilfield is estimated to have oil reserves of 64 million barrels.

Najib, who also is Finance Minister, said Pahang was expected to receive a special payment of RM100 million a year, once production begins in the third quarter of 2014.

“This discovery proved there is oil and gas at the Southern region of the Malay Basin towards the Penyu Basin.

“The oilfield is located on the continent shelf which is under the jurisdiction of the Federal government.

“This is our policy to distribute oil wealth with five per cent cash payment to Pahang,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ramlan A Malek, Vice-President, Petronas Nasional Bhd, Exploration & Production Business, Petroleum Management said the commercial and technical feasibility studies were expected to be completed in the second quarter of next year.
He also said this was the first oil discovery in the Pahang state.

Election dilemma among Indian voters

“In relation to the job placement in Government, we are now having a 3% of Indians in the government work sector and we will further upgrade to advance the current percentage up to 7%. In terms of privilege, the government has allocated 180 million Ringgit Malaysia for the Indians in terms to consolidate any business”, said Komala.

The Malaysian Times
The Indian community makes up a majority of two million in the current population, and to picture, if Barisan National loses this majority of voters due to their decline in involvement of voting, how would it be possible for the ruling party, to prevail in this election?

Comparing the votes posted for BN from year 2004 to 2008, there is a radical drop in the number of votes. In year 2004, studies reveals that the vote count for BN was 90.87 and in year 2008 the total amount of votes dropped to 51.50 even though the percentage of electorates shows a sum of 100.00% electorates participated in the voting.

We could assume that social disharmony is an aspect to be taken into account for the decline of Indian voters.

Under the umbrella of one Malaysia, we are all supposed to be united regardless of racial, religious or cultural backgrounds.

Be it BN or Opposition, they are still serving the country in different ways; nevertheless they still contribute to the same responsibility; to make the country a better place to live instead of fighting over power.

The dispute over racial harmony can be visibly noticed when the very day, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, publicly unveiled the 1 Malaysia logo and Tan Sri Muhyiddin  Yassin said, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, said “ UMNO would fight to the last drop of blood to protect Malay rights”.
Highlighting the statement said above, has this probably affected the mentality of our Indian Community to not vote as they are perception that the government is biased?

How can this type of biased statement be announced especially in a 1 Malaysia seminar? Shouldn’t the statement be general and not too specific to ensure that the government is not mistaken by the Indians and even Chinese?

This may be an explanation to why Indian voters are fading away time to time.

COMMENTS

To a further study on why Indian voters are declining; interviews were conducted by TMT reporter, in random with the public to observe their views on the decline of Indian voters.

“I personally feel that there is a decline in Indian voters it is probably due to the distribution of wealth to the respective races, not on an equal basis and the Indians are looking for fairness”, said Ahamad Azmi Alip, 36, a Bank Executive.

“The Indians is not given adequate chance to fill the government jobs regardless if you are a Malay, then only you may be a part of the government sector, I also think that the current government should dissolve and new government should be established”, said, Rajendran, 50, a driver.

“I would say it is all started from the government unfairness, and that can be visibly seen through the education system, whereby there is inequality when it comes to the receiving of scholarships and the entrance into local universities”, said, Raaj Kumar, 22, a Software Engineer.
In regards to these voices of the Rakyat, TMT reporter then carried out an interview with Datin Paduka Komala Devi, National Wanita MIC Chief, to give out her views based on the voices of the Rakyat.
“We are doing our part for the Indians, I also know that many are dissatisfied about the government, but we are also doing our part as a government to serve all with benefits and privileges”, said Komala.
“We have set up SITF, Special Implementation Taskforce on Indian Community, which was established to ensure that Malaysian Indians are able to access the service, programs and projects of the federal government in a just fair and equitable way, which is wanted by everyone”, added, Komala.
“In relation to the job placement in Government, we are now having a 3% of Indians in the government work sector and we will further upgrade to advance the current percentage up to 7%”.
“In terms of privilege, the government has allocated 180 million Ringgit Malaysia for the Indians in terms to consolidate any business”, said Komala.
“Meanwhile about education, we have increased the amount of intake of students into the matriculation, and the scholarships will be given to those who have reached the standard qualification criteria”. However, if they are not qualified for the scholarship, they still receive funds assistance from PTPTN thus they are still able to study, In addition to education fund assistance, MIED  also helps those who are in need of financial help for education”.
Komala also continued further by saying, “We are expecting a percentage of 70-80% of votes from the Indians for BN, because we have taken up so many initiatives for the betterment of the Indians”, added Komala.
Thus we can conclude that the, Malaysian government must focus on building a strong, impartial executive, legislative and judiciary system, as a result to keep up with the Malaysian society of today. The government must grow up and shed its childish race-based mindset.

Ucapan Pimpinan ABIM Era 70-an dan 80-an

Ramai di kalangan pimpinan ABIM yang masuk PAS antaranya Almarhum Ustaz Fadzil Nor (mantan Presiden PAS), Dato’ Seri Tuan Guru Presiden PAS Abdul Hadi Awang (bekas Pengerusi ABIM Terengganu), Mohamad Sabu, Ustaz Abdul Ghani Shamsudin, Husam Musa, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, Ustaz Abu Bakar Chik (sekarang AJK PAS Pusat), Ustaz Muhammad Mustafa, Ustaz Mohd Daud Iraqi dan ramai lagi.

Bekas pimpinan ABIM yang telah ke Umno antaranya Anwar Ibrahim (sekarang Ketua Umum PKR), Kamaruddin Mohd Nor, Fuad Hassan (bekas ADUN Hulu Klang), Roslan Kassim, Kamaruddin Jaafar (sekarang PAS), Sanusi Junid, Fauzi Rahman, Zambry Abdul Kadir, dan ramai lagi..

Bekas pimpinan ABIM yang telah menyertai PKR ialah antaranya Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty, Dr Badrulamin Bahron, Anuar Tahir (sekarang PAS), Mustafa Kamil Ayub dan Fauzi Rahman (sebelumnya Umno, anak Rahman Talib)

Video di bawah ini pula adalah “Mengenali Anwar Ibrahim melalui sahabat-sahabat beliau yang telah lama bersamanya sejak dari Abim mahupun Umno.

BR1M – Betrayal Rakyat 1M’sia

by Mariam Mokhtar - Malaysiakini

Without any surgical instruments, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has managed to create the Malay master-race. Dr Josef Mengele, the Nazi ‘Angel of Death’, would have been proud of him.

Mengele is best remembered for his work to create an Aryan master-race, befitting the Third Reich. During WWII, he performed experiments on inmates at Nazi concentration camps, many of which had no scientific basis.

People were operated on without anaesthetics. Mengele was motivated by the desire for racial purification and he satisfied his passion for the study of genetics, by experimenting on twins.

These experiments started during WWII and continued in Argentina, after his escape from Germany.

We are aware that Mahathir has a morbid obsession with all things Jewish. He has a special mention of the Jews in his book ‘The Malay Dilemma’; he blamed the 1997 financial crisis on a Jewish conspiracy; and, in 2003, his anti-Semitic speech caused an international outcry.

Last week, he reiterated his stance that the Jews “created many problems for us and the rest of the world” but then, appeared to distance himself from the comments of his former cabinet minister, Sanusi Junid, who said Mahathir’s economic policies were anti-Jewish.

In their youth, both Mengele and Mahathir were both intelligent and popular men, but within a few years of finishing their medical degrees, their racist views shaped their future lives.

In Nazi Germany, the Sturmabteilung or ‘Brownshirts’ played an important role in bringing Adolf Hitler to power in the 1920s and 1930s. They provided the security during Nazi rallies and assemblies, created trouble for the opposition and harassed the Jewish community. Young boys between 14 and18 years of age were encouraged to join the Hitler Youth movement.

The parallels with the Malaysian scene are uncanny. Extremist groups aligned with Umno, harass NGOs and the opposition. Teenagers in secondary schools are allegedly encouraged to join Umno Youth organisations. Some are allegedly told that their prospects of a job and advancement in their chosen career will be higher.

Many Malaysians see Mahathir as unrepentant, unforgiving, dismissive, divisive and irrational, when they read newspaper reports about him. Umno is in dire straits but when Mahathir attacks the current premier, Najib Abdul Razak, one feels that Mahathir has designs on the premiership.

Mahathir and Najib may play the ‘good cop, bad cop’ routine, but make no mistake, their objective is the same: to create fear in the divided Malay population and make them vote Umno.

If Umno wins, even by a whisker, Mahathir will be safe.

If Umno falls, then everyone in Umno, MCA and MIC will be in trouble; but the chief engineer of the Malay master-race, Mahathir will be doomed.

Umno indoctrination

Mahathir bullies and confuses the Malays with conflicting views. He says they are strong and respected, but then changes his mind and describes them as greedy and beggars in their own land.

He blames everyone, including the Jews for the failure of the Malays, but he ignores two things – himself as the chief architect of the denigration of the Malay mind, and Umno, the party which he manipulated to support him, his family and his cronies.

Malaysia is defined by its multicultural diversity but Mahathir took away our tolerance and uniqueness, and he left us without any shared values. Without shared values, no country can move forward, as we focus only on our particular racial interests.

Mahathir introduced a system of patronage and cronyism that puts those in other banana republics to shame. He bought off individuals and groups. He and his party continued to renege on their promises. The poor get poorer while the middle classes are increasingly isolated. The inability of the government agencies to tackle corruption, drives everyone to despair.

Mahathir is conscious that Najib has lost his grip on Umno and the country. Recently, members of the KL Taxi Association threatened Najib that they would vote for the opposition if Umno does not accede to their demands. Groups such as these, which Umno cultivated in the past, have lost confidence in Umno.

This is where the taxi drivers are wrong. They are nothing more than blackmailers. They should only vote for the opposition if they think their policies will benefit them and their children’s future.

This is what Mahathir has done to a majority of the Malays; he has disengaged their brains.

For generations, the Malays were indoctrinated by Umno with handouts and cheap gimmicks. Malays functioned by demanding or bullying others into doing something for them, because they were the master-race.

Now that Malaysians are coming out of the cycle of dependence, Mahathir’s greatest fear is not that he will be jailed or punished for his past deeds. An egotist like Mahathir is more afraid that his ‘legacy’ will be lost.

There are two things Mahathir dreads.

First, that the people he trusted will betray him. In the run-up to GE13, Mahathir is afraid of people who will reveal details of how they were instigated to follow his instructions. These people are watching from the sidelines, wondering who will be first to expose his past deeds.

Mahathir’s second fear is that people will realise that he has betrayed them; he sold them a lie, and that three generations have been mired in that lie.

The evidence is available for all to see.

The New Economic Policy has been a failure; Mahathir’s heavy industries have failed; we don’t have a decent national transport network; our once-proud national airline is floundering; our education is in the doldrums; mega-projects like the Bakun dam only benefit the cronies; our cost of living has increased because whenever we pay for almost any commodity or service, a levy to some crony is included in the price.

The confessions of people, coupled with the sense of betrayal, will be enough to annihilate Umno and erase all traces of Mahathir’s legacy.

Mahathir has betrayed the rakyat but the irony is that he himself would feel betrayed, if his legacy were not continued and his son does not inherit the country. As far as Mahathir is concerned, that would be the ultimate Betrayal Rakyat 1Malaysia.

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MARIAM MOKHTAR is a non-conformist traditionalist from Perak, a bucket chemist and an armchair eco-warrior. In ‘real-speak’, this translates into that she comes from Ipoh, values change but respects culture, is a petroleum chemist and also an environmental pollution-control scientist

'Don't Regard Malaysia As A Terrosist Nation' - Ahmad Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysia should not be regarded as a terrorist country after two Malaysians were detained in Lebanon on suspicion of having links with the AL-Qaeda group, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said, on the other hand, Malaysia endeavoured to curb such activities from spreading in the country.

"The Malaysian Armed Forces, police and National Security Council cooperate in monitoring terrorist activity," he told Bernama after taking part in the me 'Dalam Radar' programme on Bernama's Radio24 station at Wisma Bernama, Tuesday.

He was asked to comment on the detention of Razif Mohamad Ariffin, 28, and Mohamad Razin Shahar Mustapha Kamal, 21, at a hotel in Beirut on Oct 18 after they were suspected to have been trained as suicide bombers and had links with Al-Qaeda.

Both the youths will be represented by four counsel during re-mention of their cases at Lebanon's Military Tribunal in Beirut, Wednesday.

Meanwhile, when answering a question from a caller on the progamme, he said biological warfare would be a new threat to Malaysia.

As such, he said Malaysia planned to draw up a law as preparation in the event biological warfare took place in the future.

"Biological warfare is a new war which can happen not only in Malaysia but also in the Asean region," he added.

Malaysian Embassy In Washington Activates Disaster Relief Committee

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's embassy in Washington DC has activated a Disaster Relief Committee to monitor developments in the wake of the Hurricane Sandy disaster along the east coast of the United States and its effects on Malaysians living there.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said some 1,500 Malaysians were living in the affected areas, mainly New York, Maryland and Virginia.

"There also about 1,200 Malaysian students in the affected areas. The Students Affairs Department at the embassy is in contact with the International Students Department of the universities concerned so that all necessary steps can be taken to ensure their safety.

"The Malaysian Embassy in Washington and Malaysia's Consul-General in New York have not received any reports of Malaysians in danger," he said in a statement here Tuesday night.

He said only one Malaysian family was stranded at New York's La Guardia Airport and that they were now placed at a hotel in Queens (New York). "All other Malaysians including students are safe," he said.

Anifah said due to a declaration of an emergency situation in Washington DC, the Malaysian embassy there was closed on Monday.

"All Malaysians had been advised to look after their personal safety and always be alert towards hurricane warnings issued by the local authorities.

"Wisma Putra (Foriegn Ministry) will continue to monitor the situation and priovide updates on the latest developments," he said.

Preliminary reports showed affected states like Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut and New York had declared emergencies and had started the process of relocation, including 375,000 people in Manhattan, and other parts of New York City; 50,000 in Delaware and 30,000 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

More than 5,000 flights at all major airports (Dulles International and Ronald Reagan National) in Washington DC had been shifted to other airports.

According to media reports, at least 65 people have been killed in the Caribbeans Islands due to the hurricane.