Thursday, 20 August 2009
Peneroka Bandar Pandamaran minta berdialog
Ng Yap Hwa | Aug 19, 2009 05:27:36 pm
Peneroka Bandar di Jalan Papan dan Jalan Bukit Kerayong meminta agar pemilik tanah TPPT Sdn. Bhd. mengadakan satu dialog dengan mereka supaya menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi oleh mereka.
Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Bertindak Peneroka Bandar Jalan Papan, Ang Mah Chye menyaran Governor Bank Negara, Zeti Akhtar Azi menunjukkan keprihatinan terhadap situasi peneroka Bandar yang menerima notis pengusiran, kerana pemilik tanah TPPT merupakan sebuah anak syarikat yang tubuh dibawah Bank Negara.
Lebih kurang 20 orang penduduk dari kedua-dua kawasan menganjurkan satu sidang media bersama Ahli Parlimen Klang, Charles Santiago di Pusat Komuniti Ahli Parlimen Klang pada hari ini. Mereka memberi TPPT tempoh masa dua minggu untuk mengadakan dialog ini, jikalau tidak penduduk akan mengadakan tunjuk rasa di TPPT.
Peneroka Bandar Jalan Bukit Kerayong telah menerima notis pengusiran daripada pemaju pada bulan Julai 2009. Pemaju menuduh bahawa mereka menceroboh tanah punyaan pemaju.
Charles berkata, peneroka Bandar Jalan Bukit Kerayong telah tinggal di kawasan tersebut selama 70 tahun, maka mereka tidak harus dilihat sebagai penduduk setinggan dan mengabaikan sumbangan mereka dalam penerokaan tanah ini.
Katanya, beliau akan berbincang dengan Exco Kerajaan Selangor Iskandar Abdul Samad untuk mendeksa supaya TPPT mengadakan dialog dengan peneroka Bandar ini.
Menurut beliau, tujuan penubuhan TPPT adalah untuk memulihkan projek perumahan terbengkalai, membina rumah dengan harga berpatutan untuk mempromosikan pemilikan rumah, terutamanya golongan yang berpendapatan rendah.
Namun demikian, pemaju projek perumahan itu, Melati Ehsan, mengatakan projek ini akan mendatangkan keuntungan sebanyak RM150 million kepada syarikat itu. Ini jelas menunjukkan bahawa projek perumahan ini telah bercanggah dengan objektif penubuhan TPPT.
Penduduk juga menunjukkan Lesen Pendudukan Sementara (TOL) yang diberikan kepada penduduk pada tahun 1964, syarikat pemaju hanya menandatangani perjanjian pembangunan ini pada tahun 2007. Maka, adalah tidak masuk akal jika dikatakan peneroka Bandar menceroboh tanah pemaju.
*Ng Yap Hwa ialah pembantu khas kepada Ahli Parlimen Klang, Charles Santiago.
Residents association of 4 Villages met for a Discussion.
Resident Association of Kg.Buah Pala, Kg. Tg.Tokong. Kg.Balik Pulau and Kg.Makam had a meeting on the Issue of demolition, Re-location and threatenings by Developer namely Nusmetro and UDA developers. The associations vowe to work together hand in hand to handle the issue of harrassement and has promised to be united in case of Demolition threats. This is a good news especially for the Kg.Buah Pala villagers since they are the current victim of a cunning developer! Nusmetro.Here, they plan to work together without racial borderline!
Rwindraj@Cryingvoices
Wanita Umno are more supportive than wanita MIC..
Rwindraj@Cryingvoices
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This is how the Wanita Umno team members listening to and consulting the village committee Secretary Mr.Steven. They acknowledged the problems faced in the village and assured to give full cooperation and support in case of demolition attempts practised again by the Illegal developer Nusmetro. They have finalized the contract / agreement given by Nusmetro to the VIllagers as silly and a trap for the Villagers, they also stated that the agreement is not an actual agreement which is not in the actual official format. Thank you for the raceless opinion and sisterly advises.
Buah Pala Villagers sent Memorandum to Muhyiddin Yasin
Rwindraj@Cryingvoices
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The Villagers of Kg.Buah Pala submit a memorandum to the Deputy Prime Minister Malaysia Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in the Permatang Pasir constituency election Operation centre at about 5.30pm today. The Village resident association comittee members has the opportunity to speak to DPM for about 5 minutes and explain the sufferings they are going through due to the act of injustices in the Land Scam involving Koperasi Pegawai Pegawai Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang, Penang State Government and Nusmetro Ventures. Muhyiddin has given a word of confident to the Comittee members and assured to look into this matter rationally.
Policeman vs Penan girl: who is worth more?
By Susan Loone
This statement was written by Katrina Jorine Maliamauv, daughter of Irene Fernandez. It’s her respond the article in Malaysiakini: “No budget, so no to rape probe”.
The bile is rising in my throat.
For more than ten years at least, Penan girls have been raped, violated and sexually abused. The Penan women in the community have been at dire risk of various forms of sexual assault and harassment.
Young, young, school going girls have made the difficult step to come forward and say that they have been raped by members of the logging companies.
The life and dignity of a Penan woman, however, appears to be worth less than RM3600.
Investigations into the allegations of rape and abuse by loggers in Sarawak against the Penan girls have led nowhere.
Today, the Sarawak police say they can only afford the RM100 000 needed to pay for police personnel, and not the RM3600 proposed to pay for the much-needed Penan-Malay translators, if the 6-day investigation into these allegations were to be carried out.
The police can spend RM15 million on a by-election in Kuala Terengganu, but RM3600 to pay for an essential part of an investigation into rape of children is too much?
By the way, how much was spent by the police on “guarding public interest” during the recent peaceful assembly in Kuala Lumpur?
Is the interest of the people in power worth more than the safety, security and basic rights of the Penans?
READ MORE HERE: http://sloone.wordpress.com/
ISA, Police Act amendments to include freedom of assembly
By Neville Spykerman - The Malaysian Insider
Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein says the ISA is only used against threats to national security and stability. — Picture by Choo Choy May
Home Minister Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein said today that among other provisions that may be relaxed is the initial 60 days detention period of the ISA.
The amendments are part of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s promised reforms.
But it is likely to fall short of demands from the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and other activists who want the ISA repealed.
“There may be only time to hold a first reading in October but hopefully the amendments can be debated by the end of the year,” said the minister
Hishammuddin denied claims that the law, which was passed in order to counter the threat of the communist insurgency in the 1960s, had ever been abused.
However he said each provision of the ISA is being reviewed along with other restrictive laws and the Police Act, in order to make them more relevant in today’s landscape.
He pointed out the ISA was still relevant and cited the example of the prevention of terrorism.
The Home Minster was speaking to the press today after chairing a special meeting on national security issues with Minster in the Prime Minster’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz and Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim.
He added the government is considering holding an “aggressive” nationwide campaign to explain their stand in reviewing the ISA and their determination not to abolish the controversial law, which allows detention without trial.
The planned campaign will provide a comprehensive explanation on the various provisions of the ISA, so people will understand the law is not draconian or used arbitrarily.
He said the awareness campaign is to inform the people that the government was serious in overcoming the weaknesses in the ISA and were moving to ensure there is no room for the law to be abused, to prevent further allegations.
“We want the people to understand that the ISA is a preventive law to protect the country and its multiracial communities.”
When asked if the ISA would still be used against politicians, he said the Home Ministry had been consistent and used the law against any threat to national security and stability.
He added the right of the majority deserved equal protection.
Today’s meeting was held following a Cabinet decision which called on the Home Ministry, the Prime Minister’s Department and the Information, Communication and Culture Ministry to co-ordinate the roles of the various agencies under their jurisdiction.
Hishammuddin said while there would not be censorship of the internet, existing laws and agencies will be used against those who commit sedition, including against bloggers who touch on sensitive issues such as religion and the royalty.
He said the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will work more closely with the police and the Attorney-General to ensure cases are dealt with more effectively.
Mystery letter delivers new twist to Teoh inquest
By Debra Chong- The Malaysian Insider
SHAH ALAM, Aug 19 — The ongoing inquiry to discover how political aide Teoh Beng Hock died got a shot in the arm today when lawyer Gobind Singh Deo handed in a letter said to contain explicit details which may prove crucial to the inquest.
Magistrate Azmil Muntapha Abas, who is acting as coroner in the inquest, ordered the police investigating officer, ASP Ahmad Nazri Zainal, to immediately look into the contents of the letter and check all its claims.
Azmil also told the lawyers involved not to disclose the details of the letter to anyone but did not issue a “gag order” as requested by the lawyer heading the Attorney General's team and assisting him in the inquest, Tan Hock Chuan.
Tan asked for the “gag” to prevent putting the police follow-up at risk, as several notable people are said to be named in the controversial letter.
But Gobind, who is representing Teoh's family, said a gag would not necessarily prevent the details from leaking out.
“If it reached me, I'm sure it may reach others,” he later told reporters.
Gobind said the letter was handed directly to him late yesterday afternoon, just as he was leaving the court here.
The envelope it came in was not addressed to him, he said. He refused to say who it was directed to.
He admitted there was an “insignia” on the cover of the letter, but clammed up when quizzed further.
The inquest today was postponed without any witnesses called to testify. It will resume on Monday at 2pm.
Teoh’s family — father Leong Hwee, mother Teng Shuw Hor, elder brother Meng Kee and younger sister Lee Lan — had driven all the way up from their hometown in Alor Gajah, Malacca to follow today’s inquest, which was to have continued with Selangor graft buster Mohd Anuar Ismail’s testimony.
Mohd Anuar had been tasked to head the operation investigating claims DAP Selangor state assemblymen were misusing state funds.
a different set of rules
By Tengku Razaleigh
I don’t know En. Rohaizat. He may be a fine upstanding citizen. However, his public record of dishonesty would long ago have disqualified him from being a candidate for public office in any normal political party.
Is Umno so short of people that we have to find a lawyer disbarred for financial dishonesty to stand? Has financial misconduct become so common among us that we no longer see it as a factor in a candidate’s suitability? The party leaders who select and screen candidates must have known of this impediment but considered financial misconduct a trivial matter.
Honesty is a minimal condition for public office. Whatever the other virtues of the candidate, he should not be considered if he fails this test. The candidates we field for election must have a clean record because we are asking the public to place their confidence in him as their leader, and democratic government breaks down without public confidence. We are also saying this candidate represents us. I’m sad to have to say such obvious things.
By fielding a disbarred lawyer, today’s Umno is projecting the image that it lives by a different moral code from the rest of Malaysia. One set of rules for Umno, and another for everyone else. Either that, or this is the best we can do.
How and why has Malaysia swiftly joined the world’s top eight countries with the highest death toll from A (H1N1) flu pandemic in less than a month?
By Lim Kit Siang,
It is a great relief that there has been no single case of fatality from A (H1N1) flu pandemic in the past 24 hours after a meteoric rise in the past week, totaling cumulative death toll of 67 as of yesterday in a matter four weeks since the first case of fatality.
The question remains however how Malaysia has swiftly joined the world’s top eight countries with the highest death toll from A (H1N1) flu pandemic in less than a month, chalking up a cumulative death toll of 67 after United States (482 fatalities), Argentina (404), Brazil (379), Mexico (163), Australia (118), Chile (112), Thailand (97) and tying with Canada (67) for eighth place?
In a matter of four days, the cumulative death toll in Malaysia had increased by eight fatalities, moving it up from world’s ninth placing with 59 deaths to eighth placing with 67 fatalities, while in other countries the mortality rates have stopped or slowed considerably, like Chile which had registered 105 deaths last weekend, with Thailand remaining static at 97 while Canada had increased by one fatality during this period.
Unless the momentum of this cumulative death toll is stopped or reduced drastically, Malaysia is set to overtake Canada, and might even overtake Thailand and Chile in terms of the total A (H1N1) mortality cases.
This world-beater role is one Malaysia must not achieve.
It was only in yesterday’s press that the Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai announced a national health emergency due to the pandemic, with him toying with the possibility of a health curfew if the mortality rate goes above 0.4 per cent. The country was told that the mortality rate for A(H1N1) flu is currently between 0.1 per cent and 0.4 per cent.
Today, however, Malaysians are told a different version with the idea of a health curfew pooh-poohed by the Director-General of Health, Tan Sri Dr. Ismail Merican who said that the A(H1N1) mortality rate in the country at present is only 0.007 per cent.
How can be there such a vast difference in the estimates of A(H1N1) mortality rate between the Health Minister and Health Director-General, a difference of some 400 to 700 per cent between Ismail’s 0.007 per cent and that Liow’s 0.1 to 0.4 per cent.
What are the figures that Ismail and Liow are using to arrive at these vast differences in estimates about the A(H1N1) mortality rates, which should be made public, as it is such mixed signals and confusion emanating from the highest Health Ministry quarters which are undermining confidence in the efficacy and professionalism of the national campaign against A(H1N1) flu pandemic.
MIC Elections 2009: NSTLive session with Datuk S. Subramaniam
3:13 | Lokman: Good afternoon, and welcome to today's NSTLive session with Datuk S. Subramaniam, who will be contesting for the Deputy President's post at the MIC party elections. |
3:13 | Lokman: Our guest has not yet arrived. The session is scheduled to start at 3.30pm, but viewers can start sending in their questions and comments now. Thank you. |
3:32 | [Comment From KFTANG] A very good afternoon, Datuk Subra, En. Lokman and everyone else. Datuk, since you were ousted in the 2006 party elections and was not picked to stand in the 2008 12th General Elections, can you tell us what you have been doing all this while. |
3:35 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: I was not picked to contest in the 2008 election and since then I have continued my services to the mebers and community through my positions in the party, as chairman of the MIC Seputeh division. I have also provided the necessary advice for the growth and sucess of Nesa Cooperative of which I am the president, the Malaysian Idnian Sports Council, Selangor Indian Association, a hundred year old organisation, of which i am the leader. All these have kept me very busy. |
3:36 | [Comment From Miss Rudd] Congratulations Dato. Wishing you the Best in your coming Elections. My burning question is this. Is MIC for all Malaysian Indians or Samy Velu's Family and cronies. |
3:37 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: MIC as the founding fathers envisioned was meant for all Indians regardless of their religion, language or the place of origin in India. |
3:38 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: Nobody can have or claim exclusivity of the party. |
3:38 | [Comment From Mrs.Athi] Do you truly believe that you can revive MIC? |
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3:42 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: It's a big challenge. The MIC I believe is in one of its lowest ebb in terms of unity and strength. But there is hope. If the members are made to believe and are convinced, then the party can be revived. The Indians who are outside the party and who are waiting to get into the party should be encouraged and welcomed. No Indian should be kept out. It's everybody's duty to bring them in. They must accept that MIC is relevant and will continue to serve the interest of the Indian community. |
3:42 | [Comment From Veera] U have been missing from active MIC since 2006 and seldom meet branch leaders, do u still fill u have chances of winning.... |
3:46 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: I'm in touch with MIC leaders throughout the period. In my opinion over the last several years, Activities at the local levels have been on the decline, maybe not much encouraged. Otherwise, I have met them at MIC and social functions. Im not a new comer to the MIC and members throughout the country know me, my character, my commitment to the party. They are aware Im a party loyalist. And I think they know that I have the capabilities to take the party forward, to unite the Indians and face the current challenges facing it. |
3:46 | [Comment From bbguy] why are you contesting for the deputy president again this time around and did not go for the no1 post? |
3:48 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: The number one post was held early this year in March 2009.After the general election in the 2008 when the party faced its biggest setback and defeat, obviously the party was in bad shape. There was disunity, low morale |
3:51 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: and a sense of hopelessness. I put the party interest above everything else. I felt if I had contested for the presidency, the party will be pushed to an even greater weakness, disunity and dissaray. hence I refrained myself from the contest even though there was pressure from all quarters that I should contest for the presidency. |
3:51 | [Comment From observer] the knives, it appears, are already out against you in the run up to your deputy presidency bid. Your view on this? |
3:53 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: This are normal tactics and strategies that are employed by my opponents in all the elections. I just want the elections to be a clean one, a democratic one where delegates can choose their deputy president. |
3:53 | [Comment From ipohmali] what will be your next move, if you lose? |
3:54 | [Comment From Mrs. Athi] I sincerely hope and wish that you will win in this election and bring some hope for the dying MIC |
3:54 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: The question does not arise based on the broad based support I enjoy. I believe victory is not far off, unless underhand, unethical, undemocratic means are used. |
3:55 | [Comment From MIC Sri Manjung,Bhg Lumut] Advance Congratulations |
3:55 | [Comment From All For The Road] Good afternoon, Datuk and everyone at this NSTLive coverage. Datuk Subra, you are a very experienced politician. You were MP for Segamat from 1990-2004 and MIC deputy president from October 1979 to June 2006. You will be contesting the MIC deputy president post again against president-backed Datuk Palanivel and S. Sothinathan. How do you rate your chance this time around? |
3:55 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: The chances are very good. |
3:55 | [Comment From Veera] Why not u team up with Datuk Sothi, so that either one contest for Deputy President post, I storngly fill chances of winning is brighter.. |
3:57 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: Well, I am reclaiming the position that I held in the party for quite some time. My strength was the unity that I brought and maintained in the party. I have no problems with Sothi, but obviously, he too wants to be the deputy president for reasons unknown to me. |
3:57 | [Comment From nameless] why doesn;t anyone challenge the presidency post in MIC. Is datuk seri samy vellu that powerful? even those who challenges his presidency either changes their mind or have their dream are short-lived? kindly shed some light on this situation |
4:00 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: I have fought the presidency once and secured more than 40 per cent of the votes at that time. Nobody is powerful for all times. Leaders come and leaders go. I exlpained why I did not contest in 2009. I should have because now the president is taking me on for the post of deputy president as if he is the fourth candidate. |
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4:01 | [Comment From fence-sitter] you view on former VP Datuk S.S. Subramaniam joining PKR? |
4:02 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: I strongly believe the party must at all times endeavour to keep their members within the party fold. We have had enough people leaving MIC and forming new parties thereby not contributing to the Indian unity. |
4:03 | [Comment From vasugi] hi dtk subra. do you honestly think datuk seri samy vellu should stay or go? |
4:04 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: I think he has been the president of the MIC for 30 years and re-elected for the 11th term. That itself speaks volumes as to what he should do. Nobody is indispensable in the party. |
4:04 | [Comment From deviga] what are your plans for MIC if you win datuk' |
4:08 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: My plans will be to pronged. One, on the party front, the party needs to ensure that indians are united. For this, the Indians who are outside the MIC should be encouraged to join MIC, so that MIC can truly represent the interest of the Indian community. Secondly, the community needs a new direction where every Indian genuinely feels he has a role to play to take the community to a new level. This way, the various issues facing the community - political, economic, educational and social - can be tackled systematically. |
4:08 | [Comment From vasugi] are you planning to contest in the next general election? or you have resorted to being a party loyalist? |
4:09 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: I have never declined to contest in the general elections. On the contrary, I was denied the rights to contest in the general election even though I was the deputy president of the party. |
4:09 | [Comment From Balasubramaniam] Maika Holdings was established as the Economic Front for all Indians in Malaysia. How many Indians have benefitted from this vehicle? |
4:12 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: It started off as a new hope for the Indian community in the economic field but became a sad story. 25 years ago, a RM108 million was collected from the Indian community especially the lower income groups to uplift the Indian community economically and provide them numerous business opportunities. It failed. Today, the shareholders are eagerly waiting for the refund of at least their share capital. |
4:13 | [Comment From Nada] As a Deputy President for more that 20 years, your contubutions toward MIC was very minimum..... and i fill u were only a passanger in MIC all the years.... do you aggree with it.... |
4:19 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: Do not insult the wisdom and intelligence of the MIC delegates. They will not elect somebody who has made little contribution. They are the judges. The biggest contribution that I have continously making to the party was unity. I had continously attempted to prevent the deluge of members from MIC to other parties or outside the party. For every project that the MIC started, I had done more than my fair share - for the Maika Holdings, MIED, Tafe College, Koop Didik and the Aimst university, in fact the project paper of the setting up of the MIED was done by the late Datuk K. Pathmanaban and me for the CWC's consideration. Of course I could have contributed much more if the president had permitted. For example, even the Youth and Women delegates meetings were opened and closed by only the president. |
4:19 | [Comment From Prem Lata] Dato, my parents invested 5000.00 in Maika. Can you tell us when we can get our money back. Why dont you take the company and run it so that my parents can get back their money with some returns. Thank You Dato |
4:22 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: The Maika Holdings directors are not taking any initiative to sell the insurance company. If they are, they are keeping it a secret. If it was sold to the buyer who came forward to buy it at a RM149 million, your parents would have got their money back. But, they just rejected the offer. Well, if the Maika directors give the responsibility to me, definetly your parents will get their money. But, they should do it fast and not wait for the company to plunge into depeer financial problems |
4:22 | [Comment From Appalanaidu] Dato, What do you think of caste politics in MIC? |
4:25 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: I do not believe in the caste system. All Indians are created equal. My political base has always been built upon my service and my relationship with all Indians which has no caste affiliations. But, it cannot be denied that there are caste organisations in the country. Sometimes, they are for cultural, social and educational objectives. Some politicians try to use them for their political agenda.If it suits them, they don't complain. If it is not going their way, they will shout "Caste Politics". |
4:25 | [Comment From KFTANG] Datuk Seri Samy Vellu has said his team of candidates for the 12 September, 2009 party elections represents a cross-section of the Indian community. Do you also have a team to garner the party top posts? If there is, who are your running mates for the important posts? |
4:26 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: There is no team at the moment. I may be forced to have one after the nomination day |
4:27 | [Comment From Manivannan] We always hear that there is a big problem of corruption in the political parties nowadays. It seems UMNO & MCA are voicing out their intent to weed this problem, but we have not heard MIC saying the same. Does this mean MIC doesnt suffer from problem or is there no intent to weed this problem out? |
4:29 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: Corruption if it exist anywhere or in any party, the government and the MACC has the responsibility to wipe it out. Action should be taken to wipe out corruption whether it is voiced out or not. Sometimes, there may be silence but MACC should carry on its job. |
4:29 | [Comment From Sakuntala Chanderasekar] The word around is that for many years you have had three generations of your family leaving under the same roof. Taking care of your family, your parents and your in-laws. How did you manage that Dato? |
4:31 | [Comment From sona] Dato.we congratulate you for your tenacity.You will get your chance eventually and you will be able to show what you can do as president and how the people have been shortchanged with the myopic leadership that they had top endure all these years.We pray for your success in the coming party elections and please stay the course and we will rally round you to move things ina big way.the current tyranny has to end.All the best |
4:31 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: I believe in the institutions of family. It's one of the streght of the Asian communities, we have had my parents, my wife's parents living together until their last days. It helped my children in understanding family bonding and of the institution. My wife has been mainly responsible because she took care of all of them |
4:31 | [Comment From uncle boing] you support arsenal right so do you think they will win the epl championship this year? |
4:31 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: I support Arsenal because of their style of play but I enjoy a good game no matter what team is playing. They have a good chance |
4:32 | [Comment From svg69] Gd evening Dato..... other BN component party already changed their prsident many times in last 20 years.....MIC still the same....is that mean that there no more capable indian leaders? |
4:34 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: Change brings about new dimensions and progress. Stagnation is one of the biggest problems for hopelessness. There are numeorous people who can lead the party and the community. We are not as clever as other as component parties. |
4:34 | [Comment From visionary] Datuk, why is the Maika CEO so bent on attacking you in politics instead of finding a solution for Maika? |
4:38 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: This is an act of diverting the community's attention from the debacle of MaikaHoldings. Its done sometimes by the CEO and sometimes by the his father, the president of MIC. The CEO said he is not contesting in the MIC because he wants to find time to sell the OCAB insurance company and return the money to shareholders. Now that seems to have been pushed to the last priority and keeps making all kinds of political statements. Neither the community nor the Maika Holdings shareholders are buying it. |
4:38 | [Comment From Mrs David Lingam] Dato, My observation of MIC is that , Samy Velu has no respect for the women folk in MIC. Would you change that aspect of it during your tenure? |
4:39 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: Women in MIC form a very large number and I would accord them proper respect and status. I am not very clear of your allegation. |
4:39 | [Comment From unlimitedxces] i like your choice of words. are you saying its just a matter of time before samy lets go or is forced to let go? |
4:40 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: Let time be the judge of this |
4:40 | [Comment From KFTANG] What do you think of the newly-elected MIC Youth chief in T. Mohan and Wanita chief in Datuk Komala Krishnamorthy who were both backed by Datuk S. Samy Vellu? Do you think you can work with them if you were elected deputy president for the betterment of the party? |
4:42 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: I have no enemies in the MIC. And I respect the decision by delegates. Anybody who is elected by the delegates, must be respected and all cooperation must be extended. Congratuation to T. Mohan and the Wanita leader. It does not matter if Samy Vellu backed. I too supported and did not do anything against their victory. |
4:42 | [Comment From meena] you have not changed one bit from the person that we knew 10-15 yrs ago. i mean in looks. what is your secret |
4:44 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: Thank you for the compliments. Actually I have put on a lot of weight. since giving up smoking about 5 years ago. Looks I attribute to Brahma, the creator and Sinniah and Muthammah, my parents |
4:45 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: I exercise whenever I can by playing badminton, drink a lot of water every morning and never worry about anything |
4:45 | [Comment From A Sad Indian] cool answer on your looks Dato |
4:46 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: Yes I do. www.datosubrablog.com |
4:46 | [Comment From EAT] On a lighter side, what do you do in you leisure? Do you jog and exercise? What is your favourite food and drink? |
4:47 | [Comment From Sunita] Wow!!!! that was indeed a very cool answer. |
4:48 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: I enjoy reading, watching TV especially football, badminton and tennis. Favourite food anything that is delicious. Its not the content but the taste. And I like teh tarik |
4:48 | [Comment From R.Nada, Manjung] What is your comment on the protest of "members" at MIC HQ recently regarding MAIKA Holding share? |
4:51 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: The government had recently said if anybody wants to protest, they will arrange for a place like the stadium to vent their feelings. And, here they gave a memorandum. At the same time, the CEo of Maika announced that he will bring the group to Nesa Cooperative building. My reply was, let us know the number and we will arrange a 'moor panthal' - a sour milk tent for them to rest and savour the moor. |
4:51 | [Comment From allaboutdmoney] would you agree that maika was and is still in the wrong hands? |
4:51 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: Most certainly. |
4:51 | [Comment From BigFan] Dato the real link is http://www.datosubra.com/ |
4:52 | [Comment From Alice] Aproom Datuk, do you think MIC should have and increased participation in the cabinet, ie more minister/deputy minister post? |
4:53 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: Without a doubt. Should have happened long ago. We had two members when the total Cabinet consisted of about 14. Now the total is about 30 ministers. |
4:53 | [Comment From anthony] u have been accused of being a stumbling block to the sale of one of maikas cash cow...is this true and if so why are u doing it |
5:00 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: Some people absurdly believe that continuous telling of lies will make it true. I have repreatedly said that the injunction to prevent the sale is on two counts. One, sell it to an Indian company, cooperative or an individual so that the equity of the Indians will not be further eroded. Two, value the insurance company and obtain the best price. The best price so far was RM149 million that was offered to buy the OCAB insurance. This was rejected by Maika within 24 hours - offered received on 31 July 2008, rejected on 1st August 2008. The court gave the injuction in its wisdom after hearing our agruments. If you are aggrived, go to court. Anyway, I am told that apart from the injunction obtained by Nesa Cooperative to protect its 625,000 shares in Maika, there were 8 other shareholders who had taken injuction. But, no mention is made of them. Because both the CEO and his father are trying to put blame on me for political mileage. |
5:01 | [Comment From believer] Dear Dato, I hope you prevail victorious! There are many of us young malaysian indians, outside the party who believe in you. How can we support you to make the change? |
5:02 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: Thank you for your wishes and good thoughts. You can tell your friends who are delegates that when I win, join me in uniting the community. |
5:02 | [Comment From All For The Road] Will you be campaigning in the coming Permatang Pasir state by-election in Pulau Pinang? Were you asked by the party and BN? What do you think of BN chances in wresting the seat from PAS? |
5:03 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: I have not been asked by the party. The number of Indians is very small. Chances, I'm told is 50-50. |
5:04 | [Comment From Mr. kandasamy] As a young graduate you were responsible for the successful reorganisation of the MIC post 1969. Can you achieve the same if you take over the party now? |
5:06 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: I was the first Malaysian Indian graduate from MU who held a senior position in MIC. The re-organisation of the party and the ensuing success should be attributed to the late Tan Sri V. Manikavasagam, the then president. I was executive secretary and later appointed as secretary general for a period of nine years. It was a pleasure to serve under him. |
5:11 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: The 1969 was also a difficult and challenging time, Emergency was declared and went on until 1974. It was the late Tun Razak, then Prime Minister, who steered the nation to parlimentary democracy in a short period of four years, founded the Barisan Nasional by bringing in parties who were in the Opposition. The new economic policy was formulated during his period, giving hope to all races in the country. Now, it is a similar situation. The BN had faced a serious setback and the PM is the late Tun Razak's son, Datuk Seri Najib. I believe if we can bring about the right changes and engage the entire population for change, then we can bring about a similar situation. |
5:11 | [Comment From Mr. Achiah Rao] Dato, you guranteed Nesa Shareholders their monies in the bad times. Can you do the same for Maikka Shareholders? |
5:13 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: I guaranteed the Nesa shareholders their monies and it was successfully done. However, it took us about four years. In the case of Maika, I will do the same, provided the responsibility is given to me. Will they dare! |
5:14 | [Comment From A Sad Indian] My first remark and question was censored, maybe it was too heavy to accept the truth which is so true of us indians. Maybe what i would like to ask now is , "where have all our indian men with integrity, morals and family values " gone??? why are we bickering and quarrelling amongst ourselves as one family? |
5:16 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: There are many Indian men with intergrity,high morals and good values around. But there are also men who are without intergrity, immorality and no regard for family values. Naturally, there will be bickering and quarelling because they are not the same. We need to support the right ones |
5:16 | [Comment From Darshini] You started an Educational fund for the Late Dato Padmanathan. Who is managing it now? |
5:22 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: Yes, a fund called Datuk Pathmanaban, named after the late deputy minister and vice-president was launched on the day of his memorial service that I had organised. The fund stands slightly above half a million ringgit and our target is to increase it to RM1 million. The board is chaired by me and its members are Dr Ranjan Pai, (CEO of Manipal College), Datuk V.L Kandan (Tan Sri Manikavasagam's brother), Mr Prashant Pathmanaban. The last member Mr R. Balakrishnan passed away a month ago, leaving a vacancy. |
5:22 | [Comment From BigFan] Sir can you explain your role in/on Hindraf movement? 1st you supported them, then at MIC AGM last year you dumped them saying they cheated your.. ANd now , of course, they ( Hindraf ) have dumped the community!!! |
5:27 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: I had no particular role in Hindraf or the movement. However, I had read some of their religious activities especially the role they played in protecting wives who faced problems when their husbands converted to Islam. They had filed cases in court to defend the rights of the wives and their children. When there was a death of detainee in Brickfileds police station who was found in the Klang river, they championed his cause. Such activities filled a void in the community. No other NGO had championed such causes. So I had expressed my support of the movement and in fact encouraged some of my supporters to do so. But, when they became political and they made statements calling on hindraf movement and its supporters to back the opposition in the last election, I was surprised. The movement which was apolitical and religious in nature turned political. |
5:27 | [Comment From Ms Indian] Dato', Are your family members involved in politics? Will you bring in your children in the future, as most politicians think that the political parties are their dynasty and must be passed on to the family members! |
5:28 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: none ofmy family memebrs are involved in politics. I have no intention to bring any family member into politics nor do my children have the interest. |
5:28 | [Comment From Raja] How much did your basic degree and masters thesis on the politics of Malaysian Indians help you in your MIC political career? |
5:29 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: My basic degree was an Arts degree from MU and my Masters on the Politics Of Indians in Malaya. It created a great interest and I was already executive secretary of the party then. |
5:29 | [Comment From A Sad Indian] Dato, than please expose the other 8 shareholder for the benefit of others |
5:31 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: I don't have their names. Maika CEO would certainly have their names as the injunctions would have been served on him. |
5:32 | [Comment From Krishnan] Gd wishes to you Dato. Can you make some efforts to consolidate all the Indian based organisations,NGOs,societies,associations,Cooperatives to get united under one umbrella so that there prevails unity and strength.tq |
5:32 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: That is my mision. |
5:32 | [Comment From anthony] how come the MACC is not investigating Samy and his son for all their corrupt practices...how else could they have accumulated so much money... |
5:32 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: Please direct the question to MACC |
5:33 | [Comment From All For The Road] How is your present relationship with the party president in Datuk S. Samy Vellu? Many say it is strained to a point of no return. Is it true? How would you go about to mend fences with the president if you were to win the deputy president post on 12 September? Do you think both of you can work together for the welfare and betterment of the Indian community? |
5:40 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: There is no personal relationship. I have no personal disagreement. However, he has vascillated in what he says and does. He has made allegations which are baseless and totally untrue. When he likes someone, he will be full of praises. When he doesn't, he will condemn to the core. Would he accept this if it is done to him? The party has deputy ministers, if he doesn;t like them, at any point of time, he will allege that they are good for nothing, made no contribution. What is the position of the Indian community today in the country vis-a-vis its support to MIC? Is the deputy president responsible for this? Will the president take responsibility for any debacle, at all? My disagreements and strained relationship are all based on such important matters, pertaining to the party and the community. |
5:42 | Datuk S. Subramaniam: Thank you NST for this opportunity. I am a faithful reader of NST. I hope the online answers will clear any doubts that some of the readers may have had regarding my political career and any other matter. Thank you |
5:43 | Lokman: Ladies and gentlemen, those remarks end our NSTLive session for today. Thank you very much to our guest Datuk S. Subramaniam for joining us today, and to you, our viewers, for your comments, questions and participation. |
5:44 | [Comment From KFTANG] Thank you. |
5:44 | [Comment From All For The Road] Thank you everyone. |
5:45 | Lokman: Today's event will be available for replay on the nst online website, as well as the NSTLive archive. Stay tuned for future NSTLive events. |
5:46 | [Comment From A Sad Indian] THANKS DATO AND LOKMAN. SHOULD DO THIS OFTEN |
MIC Elections 2009: Samy Vellu To Complete Presidential Term
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- As the race for the MIC deputy presidency heats up, many branch and divisional leaders, fearing that the party would break up, have urged Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu to complete his term as president to ensure the party remained intact.
The initial plan was that whoever was elected deputy president after the MIC elections on Sept 12, would take over the president's post from Samy Vellu before the expiry of his term in mid-2012.
This led to a "mad scramble" as one divisional leader put it, for the number two post between incumbent Datuk G. Palanivel, former deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam and incumbent vice-president Datuk S. Sothinathan.
In an interview with TV3 tonight, Samy Vellu confirmed that he had decided to complete his full-term as party president.
"I have decided to complete my term of office since I was elected for a three-year term," he said.
Samy Vellu was elected unopposed last March 22, when the lone rival, Datuk M. Muthupalaniappan, failed to secure enough nominations to take on the veteran leader.
Earlier news reports indicated that Samy Vellu would relinquish his post somewhere between Sept 12 and 2012, but due to the intense power tussle for the deputy president's post, Samy Vellu has decided to remain at the helm till the end of his term.
There have also been reports of candidates indulging in money and caste politics to woo the delegates, causing several factions to be formed, which many leaders felt could break up the party.
Such a scenario was reminiscent during the MIC's previous leadership in the 1970s which led to the party almost on the verge of destruction.
Samy Vellu acknowledged that supporters of "some" of the aspiring candidates for the deputy president's post "crossed the line" by indulging in money and caste politics.
He feared that such actions could smear the image of the MIC and eventually cause its destruction.
Samy Vellu has endorsed Palanivel for the post of deputy president.
-- BERNAMA
themalaysianinsider.com
Samy Vellu wants to stay till 2015
By Baradan Kuppusamy
No retirement in sight for Samy Vellu, who is looking to stay till at least 2015. – Picture by Jack Ooi
In March Samy Vellu was “elected” unopposed as party president for a three-year term which expires in 2012, after his sole challenger Datuk M. Muthupalaniappan was disqualified because he did not have the required nominations.
His decision to stay on until 2015 is also well past the due date of next general election which must be called by 2013 but is expected much earlier
The 2015 time frame indicates Samy Vellu wants to re-contest in the Sungei Siput parliamentary constituency, which he had held since 1974 but lost to Parti Sosialis Malaysia leader Dr M. Jeyakumar last March.
“He wants to stay, win back Sungei Siput and retire in a blaze of glory,” said an MIC leader who attended the Sepang MIC meeting on Monday where Samy Vellu declared he would stay on
His declaration was front paged by the Makkal Osai Tamil daily today.
“We are all shocked by the declaration. He has the MIC in his grip and nobody dares challenge him. If he wants to stay then he stays…who can stop him?” the MIC leader said.
“The party leadership is in the grip of the Yes-men…the rest of us are all spectators,” the MIC leader said.
At the function to open the new Sepang MIC building, MIC sources said, Samy Vellu also lashed out at money politics and how certain leaders were simply buying up votes for as much as RM1,000 a delegate.
He did not name any person but it is no secret that some of the candidates contesting for the various posts are either multi-millionaires themselves or having the backing of millionaires.
Non-stop dinners at posh restaurants are the order of the day with cash in envelopes, air tickets and other “presents” thrown in to sweeten the high-end food.
Cash-poor contestants often wait outside these restaurants and meeting places to give leaflets to departing delegates.
Their main platform is reform but no one has yet spelled out what action they would take largely for fear Samy Vellu might come down hard on them.
One vice-presidential candidate was even issued with a show-cause letter for publicly saying the MIC needs “more wise men, not Yes-men.”
Samy Vellu also told the meeting he would double the MIC’s 3,000 branches to 6,000 over the next few years and warned branch leaders against getting carried away.
Tomorrow Samy Vellu is making public his “preferred” list of candidates for all posts, which MIC officials say would be a mixture of old and new faces.
All other contestants, and there are many this time, would be pitting themselves against the “preferred” candidates.
An anti-Samy Vellu movement is gathering force in the MIC and if it holds until polling on September 12, many of his candidates are going to crash.
Saturday is nomination day and all camps are mustering their supporters to rally for a big show.
Hindu temple to be built in Section 23 despite protests
2009/08/19 NST
SHAH ALAM: A Hindu temple will be built in Section 23 here despite protests from residents of the Malay-majority neighbourhood.
Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said yesterday there were no plans to move the temple, which is being relocated from Section 19, to Section 22 instead or elsewhere."For the time being, we are proceeding with the plan and we will explain this to the Section 23 residents."
He said this at a press conference after addressing state employees at their monthly morning assembly here.
Khalid blamed the former state government for approving the construction of the temple in Section 19, which had led to the current relocation problem.
"Politically, the temple issue is the problem of the previous state government.
"The problem has existed since earlier and Pakatan Rakyat is solving this problem."
On Sunday, about 200 residents in Section 23 protested against the construction of the temple.
They demanded that the temple be built in Section 22, as was approved by the previous state government.
IMF's call for GST is part of neo-liberal agenda
The IMF’s call for Malaysia to expedite a goods and services tax (GST) and slash subsidies is part of its larger – and now widely discredited – neo-liberal agenda. The IMF itself is struggling for relevance now as many developing countries especially in Latin America have shunned its advice after seeing the damage done to the national economies of that continent.
The neo-liberal agenda, part of the “Washington Concensus”, is to cut taxes for the rich and the corporations, slash subsidies on social spending, and promote privatisation of essential services or “user-pay” models that benefit large corporations, including MNCs.
The GST is a regressive tax that will hurt the poor, who are now outside the income tax bracket. If a tax on spending is introduced, the poor will bear a disproportionately higher tax burden (in terms of their spending compared to their income) than the rich.
What Malaysia needs is progressive tax system that will narrow the gap between the rich and the poor and provide more funds for public spending (minus all the corruption, skimming off, rent-seeking and cronyism) for essential services such as health care and education. Look how our under-funded general hospitals are struggling to cope with H1N1 and how many patients have to wait for ages to see a specialist.
The IMF should keep out of Malaysian affairs. It is a failed body that is irrelevant – and indeed, harmful – to developing countries.
This excerpt from the Singapore Straits Times (17 August):
KUALA LUMPUR – THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cautioned Malaysia not to delay plans to introduce a goods and services tax (GST) and to remove subsidies to ease pressure on its budget.
The taxes were proposed in 2005 but were shelved due to political and inflationary pressures and since then, Malaysia’s budget deficit has surged and will hit 7.6 per cent of gross domestic product this year.
Raja Aziz Addruse is Anwar’s new lead counsel
Malaysiakini | August 19, 2009
Former Bar Council president Raja Aziz Addruse will now head the defence team in Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy trial.
The prominent lawyer replaces Sulaiman Abdullah, another former Bar Council president, who has excused himself due to health reasons.
Raja Aziz is also one of the three Malaysians to have been appointed commissioner of the Geneva-based International Commission of Jurists.
He will be joined by an all-star cast of lawyers including Param Cumaraswamy (former UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers), DAP chairperson Karpal Singh, CV Prabakharan and Sankara Nair.
“In making this announcement, our client, his wife and his family would like to express their deepest and most sincere gratitude to Sulaiman for having rendered exemplary services to our client and would like to wish him all the best,” Nair said in a statement today.
Anwar’s trial is scheduled to resume on Sept 2 with an application for a judicial review to quash a written statement by the prosecution.
Anwar is appealing against a High Court order which prevents him from obtaining documents from the prosecution that are he deems crucial to his defence.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Young Voters And Fence-Sitters Begin To Accept BN
BUKIT MERTAJAM, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional (BN) has received positive feedback from the young voters and fence-sitters since the party machinery launched its operation to get closer to these groups in the run up to the by-election for the Permatang Pasir state seat on Aug 25.
Umno Youth national vice-head Datuk Razali Ibrahim said the outcome of the operation focusing on these groups in the past three days had shown positive signs that they were beginning to accept the BN.
The party would give special emphasis with several strategies to get bigger support from the younger generation and fence-sitters, he told reporters after attending a gathering with 24 Umno Youth branch heads from the Permatang Pauh division, here.
Razali, who is also Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, said the by-election could also be used as a guide for the BN in evaluating to what extent the 1Malaysia concept had been accepted and understood by the multi-racial community in the constituency.
The by-election is called following the death of incumbent assemblyman Datuk Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman of PAS on July 31.
In the by-election, the Barisan Nasional, represented by the Permatang Pauh Umno division secretary, Rohaizat Othman, 38, will face the Penang PAS commissioner, Mohd Salleh Man, 52.
There are 20,290 voters in Permatang Pasir.
Umno Youth national vice-head Datuk Razali Ibrahim said the outcome of the operation focusing on these groups in the past three days had shown positive signs that they were beginning to accept the BN.
The party would give special emphasis with several strategies to get bigger support from the younger generation and fence-sitters, he told reporters after attending a gathering with 24 Umno Youth branch heads from the Permatang Pauh division, here.
Razali, who is also Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, said the by-election could also be used as a guide for the BN in evaluating to what extent the 1Malaysia concept had been accepted and understood by the multi-racial community in the constituency.
The by-election is called following the death of incumbent assemblyman Datuk Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman of PAS on July 31.
In the by-election, the Barisan Nasional, represented by the Permatang Pauh Umno division secretary, Rohaizat Othman, 38, will face the Penang PAS commissioner, Mohd Salleh Man, 52.
There are 20,290 voters in Permatang Pasir.
Friday - D-Day for High Chaparral - Malaysiakini
As the nation gears up for the Merdeka celebrations on Aug 31, the 300 residents of Kampung Buah Pala in Penang are waiting with bated breath on news about their future.
Come Aug 21, this Friday, the Federal Court will decide on whether to allow or dismiss the application by a senior resident M Ayamah to ask for leave to refer whether the Court of Appeal was right in its decision made on May 11 this year on the question of locus standi of the villagers.
In the application filed through her lawyer Darshan Singh Khaira, Ayamah, 74, has also sought a stay of execution of the bailiff's order to demolish the nearly 200-year-old Indian traditional village, popularly known as High Chaparral, located in Bukit Gelugor.
The application was filed on July 31 and came up for case management hearing on Tuesday before Federal Court senior assistant registrar Surita Budin in Kuala Lumpur.
Represented by Darshan's daughter, Damina Khaira, Ayamah named the state land office, land owner Koperasi Pegawai Pegawai Kanan Kerajaan Pulau Pinang and developer Nusmetro Venture (P) Sdn Bhd as respondents.
Although the respondents' legal counsels have asked for a hearing date in October, Surita fixed the date this Friday, citing it as an 'urgent case'.
Kampung Buah Pala residents have twice, on Aug 4 and 13, resisted vigorously and blocked the developer's attempt to demolish the remaining 24 village houses.
Aug 31 deadline
On Aug 13, the developer had given the residents a final chance to move out from their village by Aug 31.
The villagers now face eviction in the next 12 days to pave the way for a RM150 million high rise condominium project called the Oasis.
Ayamah also filed a separate application on behalf of the villagers yesterday seeking the Court of Appeal to revise its own decision on the question of locus standi of the villagers.
No date has been fixed for the hearing.
In its May decision, the appellate court decided that the villagers have no locus standi and were not entitled for any compensation.
Darshan said in the application, his client has pointed out that the appellate court's decision contradicted many landmark decisions made by the Federal Court, the country's apex court, on the status of long living occupiers or residents of a land.
He said Federal Court decisions have always maintained that long living occupiers or residents are entitled to compensation and to have equity satisfied if vacated.
Meanwhile, Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P Waythamoorthy expressed hope that the apex court would establish the truth.
The lawyer said Hindraf hoped that the judiciary would open the door for the beleaguered residents to have a full trial in an open court on the perceived botched village land transactions.
An open full trial, he said, would allow the residents to seek justice by providing documented evidence to substantiate their claims of rightful ownership of the land.
Come Aug 21, this Friday, the Federal Court will decide on whether to allow or dismiss the application by a senior resident M Ayamah to ask for leave to refer whether the Court of Appeal was right in its decision made on May 11 this year on the question of locus standi of the villagers.
 |
The application was filed on July 31 and came up for case management hearing on Tuesday before Federal Court senior assistant registrar Surita Budin in Kuala Lumpur.
 |
Although the respondents' legal counsels have asked for a hearing date in October, Surita fixed the date this Friday, citing it as an 'urgent case'.
Kampung Buah Pala residents have twice, on Aug 4 and 13, resisted vigorously and blocked the developer's attempt to demolish the remaining 24 village houses.
Aug 31 deadline
On Aug 13, the developer had given the residents a final chance to move out from their village by Aug 31.
 |
Ayamah also filed a separate application on behalf of the villagers yesterday seeking the Court of Appeal to revise its own decision on the question of locus standi of the villagers.
No date has been fixed for the hearing.
In its May decision, the appellate court decided that the villagers have no locus standi and were not entitled for any compensation.
Darshan said in the application, his client has pointed out that the appellate court's decision contradicted many landmark decisions made by the Federal Court, the country's apex court, on the status of long living occupiers or residents of a land.
He said Federal Court decisions have always maintained that long living occupiers or residents are entitled to compensation and to have equity satisfied if vacated.
 |
The lawyer said Hindraf hoped that the judiciary would open the door for the beleaguered residents to have a full trial in an open court on the perceived botched village land transactions.
An open full trial, he said, would allow the residents to seek justice by providing documented evidence to substantiate their claims of rightful ownership of the land.
FRU to check rowdy MPs
(NST) KUALA TERENGGANU: Federal Reserve Unit and Light Strike Force personnel may be deployed in the frontlines of a by-election if politicians insist on unsavoury behaviour.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said this was to ensure the safety of citizens.
He was commenting on the commotion created by Padang Serai member of parliament N. Gobalakrishnan who was detained after a stand-off with police at the nomination centre for the Permatang Pasir by-election.
Police had earlier told him to stop addressing the public using a loudhailer, but the warnings went unheeded.
Police moved in to detain him but a group of about 50 supporters intervened, resulting in a fracas.
Hishammuddin said based on the smooth and mature democratic process during the Manik Urai by-election, he felt the FRU and LSF was not necessary for the Permatang Pasir by-election.
"I feel guilty. I have to apologise to the police. I convinced them not to send in the FRU in place of a friendlier police face, only to get treated this way," Hishammuddin said after chairing the state Umno liasion committee meeting, here, yesterday.
In Kuala Lumpur, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said Gobalakrishnan had brought shame to the title "Yang Berhormat".
"This very unbecoming behaviour for an MP. He should know better," he said after launching the reactivated Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board hotline here.
Nazri said the police should not be afraid to take action against MPs as no one was above the law.
PAS continues to hit out at BN’s tainted candidate
By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - The Malaysian InsiderPERMATANG PASIR, Aug 19 — PAS leaders today continued to capitalise on the controversy surrounding Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Rohaizat Othman in the Permatang Pasir by-election by calling him “wet rice” or a devalued candidate.
Umno and BN information chief Ahmad Maslan, at a press conference here last night, said Rohaizat was a “victim of circumstances” and that it was his legal firm’s partner who had absconded with the RM161,000 belonging to the Penang Rubber Tappers Co-operative.
He further claimed that Rohaizat has already been exonerated after he repaid the co-operative with his own money, and should be praised for his "admirable" qualities instead of being chided.
Bar Council president K. Ragunath told The Malaysian Insider the reimbursement would not change the fact that Rohaizat had breached his professional ethics and committed a serious offence.
"The point is he already committed the offence. Whether he paid them back or not is a non-issue," he said.
PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub said the issue was certain to impact the campaign efforts of the ruling coalition, saying that it would contradict Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak's 1 Malaysia concept.
"If they want to talk about integrity and 1 Malaysia, why don't they pick a better candidate. This has got nothing to do with Umno, this is about the people, about a representative who is going to serve the people," he said.
BN, which has been put under severe pressure over its “tainted” candidate, has been doubling up efforts to explain to the Permatang Pasir electorate that Rohaizat is innocent.
Collision at sea: 16 rescued, nine still missing
PORT DICKSON, Aug 19 — Sixteen crew members of an oil tanker, which caught fire after colliding with a bulk carrier about 20 nautical miles off here last night, have been rescued while nine others are still missing, police said.
The 16 crewmen, including the captain, were taken to the Port Dickson jetty at 3.30am, Port Dickson OCPD Supt Mazlan Othman told reporters.
The search for the nine other resumed at 7am.
He also said that the vessel had drifted into Indonesian waters.
"A passing container ship assisted in rescuing the crew members," he said, adding that some of the crew members had jumped into the sea to escape the flame while others used the tanker's emergency boats.
He said that except for two Koreans, the rest of the 16 rescued crewmen were from China.
"They sustain minor injuries and have been taken to the Port Dickson Hospital," he said.
He said the heat from the burning vessel prevented rescuers from approaching the vessel.
The tanker's captain, Jiang Han Cheng, told reporters that the vessel was heading to Singapore to refill en route to South Korea when it collided with the British-registered bulk carrier at about 9pm.
He said there were explosions onboard following the collision.
The bulk carrier was reported to have sustained only a slight damage and continued its journey to Singapore. — Bernama
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