Scorpenes: Bala meets French investigators at 8pm M'sian time

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

Private investigator P Balasubramaniam will be the first key witness for the French police, despite a suspicious move by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission not to record his statement in London last week.

At 2pm Paris time or 8pm Malaysian time, a French investigating team will meet and interview Bala at the Direction Centrale de la Police (DNIF) in Nanterre Prefecture.

There, Bala, a former Malaysian Special Branch detective, will try his best to tell them as much as he knows about Prime Minister Najib Razak’s RM6.7 billion acquisition of two Scorpene submarines from French defense firm DCNS.

“The French police are interested to find out what Bala knows about the commission disbursement in the 2002 submarines deal. This is what I was told by Bala’s lawyers. He has agreed to see the French authorities and will co-operate fully,” PKR strategic director Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

“The question that we need to keep highlighting to Malaysians is why did our MACC back off from the London meeting at the last minute when everything had already been prepared? Were they scared to speak to Bala or were they afraid to hear what he has to say? Did Najib exert pressure on them to change their minds and why do they try to insinuate Bala is not reliable, but yet to the French, he is a key witness?

Information could incriminate Najib

Indeed, the MACC may have reason to fear Bala’s testimony. The private eye was privy to information disclosed to him by Najib’s close friend Razak Baginda.

It is actually the RM570 million co-ordination and support services contract that Najib granted a firm controlled by Baginda that is now at the heart of the French corruption probe, following a complaint lodged by Malaysian civil rights group SUARAM in Paris earlier this year.

Last month, French prosecutors in charge of the Malaysian file had ordered the police to raid DCNS. Their aim was to find out who were the beneficiaries of the kickbacks or commission that was allegedly paid. DCNS has a notorious record of bribing politicians and is currently also facing inquiries on Taiwanese and Pakistani arms purchases.

“When I was in Paris last month, I met many French lawyers and they say Malaysian taxpayers have a strong case. The French legal circle has their own grapevine and they know the key facts of our case. They believe that the kickbacks involve high-ranking politicians from both France and Malaysia,” Tian said.

If there is sufficient evidence, France may prosecute the wrongdoers although it may not have jurisdiction on the Malaysian personalities involved. Nevertheless, Tian and SUARAM have urged the French authorities to make public all their findings so that their Malaysian counterparts can take action at home. The Malaysian government or navy may also sue DCNS for recovery of the commission if the French courts find that it did violate the anti-corruption clause.

"Yes, there is worry that even if the French provide all the details, the Najib administration won't do anything but it is important for the record to stand so that future governments - whether BN or Pakatan Rakyat - can still pursue for the sake of transparency and justice," Tian said.

Blackout

The Malaysian government has slapped an unofficial blackout on the case, refusing to initiate any probe or to even divulge if it was true that the contracts signed with DCNS contained an anti-corruption clause that makes it illegal for DCNS to pay any commission or form of kickback.

SUARAM was forced to lodge a complaint with the French authorities after the Najib administration refused to heed public outrage over the deal and launch a full-scale investigation. Bala will be accompanied by his lawyer Manjit Singh Dhillon.

The submarines purchase is also linked to the murder of a Mongolian translator, Altantuya Shaariibuu, whom Bala has said in a statutory declaration made in 2008 had helped Baginda close the deal with DCNS.

He was hired by Baginda to stop her from blackmailing him for her US$500,000 share of commission. At a press conference in London last week, Bala said he was convinced Baginda was just a scapegoat and was not involved in Altantuya’s killing.

Bala has also implicated Najib, his wife Rosmah, Najib’s aide-de-camp Musa Safri and special aide Nasir Safar in the Altanutya case. Two former bodyguards of Najib’s and Rosmah’s have been sentenced to hang for the murder, but speculation remains rife as to who were the real masterminds. Neither of the two bodyguards had met Altantuya until the night she was killed. Both pleaded not guilty and say they were victims of a conspiracy but did not give further details.

“They may have held the gun but somebody else could have pulled the trigger,” PKR vice president Sivarasa Rasaiah told Malaysia Chronicle.

RPK jangan ingat selamat di UK...

(Berita Harian) - Beberapa foto disiarkan akhbar tempatan baru-baru ini menunjukkan aksi Raja Petra Kamarudin atau RPK dalam sebuah kediaman yang boleh dianggap mewah berpandukan hiasan dalaman dan lokasinya di penempatan elit di kota London.

Umum boleh membuat apa saja tafsiran apabila merujuk gambar berkenaan, namun daripada riak wajah pengendali blog Malaysia Today itu, tidak salah jika diterjemahkan bahawa dia seakan-akan menikmati kehidupan cukup selesa walaupun dirinya tidak ubah seperti pelarian.

Berpuluh ribu kilometer dari ibu negara England itu, RPK terus menjadi topik perbualan rakyat, pihak berkuasa, media massa hingga menteri di Malaysia yang mempertikaikan bagaimana dia boleh hidup bebas di luar negara dan sampai bila?

Tidak adakah usaha membawa pulang pengendali blog berdarah kacukan itu ke tanah air untuk didakwa atas apa juga kesalahannya? Reaksi terhadap persoalan itu dijawab pihak berkenaan – memang kerajaan berusaha, namun banyak prosedur perlu dipatuhi.

Usaha dilaksanakan termasuk memohon menyenaraikan lelaki berusia 60 tahun itu sebagai ‘Individu Paling Dikehendaki Antarabangsa - Notis Merah’ namun permohonan oleh Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) itu ditolak pula oleh Polis Antarabangsa (Interpol).

Notis Merah dikatakan satu-satunya peluang membawa pengendali portal berita Malaysia Today itu pulang ke tanah air melalui proses ekstradisi untuk didakwa di mahkamah, tetapi ia juga dijangka sukar berikutan tiada perjanjian rasmi antara Malaysia dan United Kingdom (UK) dalam proses ekstradisi rakyat kedua-dua negara, terutama membabitkan kes jenayah.

Bagaimanapun, peluang membawa pulang penulis blog itu masih ada iaitu melalui saluran perundangan, sebarang keputusan mengenainya turut bergantung kepada budi bicara Mahkamah British dengan mengambil kira sebab RPK perlu dibawa pulang seperti dikemuka Pejabat Peguam Negara.

Namun, sumber memberitahu walaupun permohonan berkenaan sudah dihantar awal tahun ini melalui Pejabat Peguam Negara, dikemukakan bersama dokumen berkaitan, pihak berkuasa UK dikatakan masih berdiam diri dan belum ada sebarang maklum balas diterima hingga kini.

“Antara Malaysia dan UK, kita memang tiada perjanjian ekstradisi, kecuali dengan beberapa negara jiran terutama Singapura. Justeru, harapan yang ada sekarang melalui proses mahkamah."

“Ini bukan proses mudah dan mungkin mengambil masa kerana banyak prosedur, malah mereka (UK) juga mahu meneliti alasan yang dikemukakan mengapa perlu Raja Petra dibawa pulang,” katanya.

Baru-baru ini, Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein pada sidang medianya di lobi Parlimen, berkata Malaysia hanya akan menggunakan saluran sah termasuk mengekstradisi penulis blog yang sedang diburu itu bagi menghadapi dakwaan hasutan dan fitnah di negara ini.

“Pergi negara ketiga, kemudian culik dan seludup keluar dia (RPK) macam pengganas, itu bukan cara kita di Malaysia. Jika mahu ekstradisi, kita memerlukan kerjasama pihak berkaitan di sana. Ini sudah dilakukan sejak sekian lama dan kita tahu prosedur perlu diikuti di United Kingdom. Ia akan diuruskan sebaik-baiknya,” katanya.

Raja Petra menghilangkan diri selepas mahkamah mengeluarkan dua waran tangkap ke atasnya, masing-masing pada 23 April 2009 dan 23 Mei 2009 kerana gagal menghadiri perbicaraan menerbitkan artikel berbaur hasutan dan fitnah terhadap isteri Perdana Menteri, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

Beliau dituduh menerbit dan menyiarkan artikel Let's Send The Altantuya Murderers To Hell melalui laman Malaysia Today pada 25 April 2008, selain dituduh memfitnah Rosmah serta dua lagi dalam pengakuan bersumpah di Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Duta, 18 Jun 2008.

Difahamkan, Raja Petra sudah merancang usaha lari ke luar negara, termasuk memindahkan keluarganya ke London dan Manchester, kecuali anak lelakinya, Raja Azman, 31, yang kini ditahan di Penjara Sungai Buloh kerana mencuri motosikal.

Taktik penulis blog itu amat licik, malah dia dipercayai menggunakan identiti palsu dan pasport negara lain yang mungkin dibeli daripada sindiket hingga sukar dikesan pihak berkuasa ketika meninggalkan tanah air serta merahsiakan destinasi dituju.

Sumber memberitahu, besar kemungkinan dia mempunyai dua kerakyatan atau setidak-tidaknya taraf pemastautin tetap (PR) Britain, sekali gus memudahkannya keluar masuk negara itu sesuka hati dan menikmati kehidupan selesa di sana.

“Ada kemungkinan dia mempunyai pasport negara itu, sama ada berwarna biru (warga negara) atau merah jambu (PR) sehingga pergerakannya keluar masuk Malaysia sukar dikesan, termasuk ketika melarikan diri dulu,” katanya.

Jika benar, ia harus disiasat untuk mengetahui bagaimana dia memperoleh kemudahan itu, selain sumber kemewahannya sedangkan Raja Petra bankrap.

“Dari mana kemewahan itu diperoleh jika tidak ditaja. Ini membuktikan Raja Petra aset pihak tertentu untuk menyerang kerajaan dan pemimpin Malaysia,” kata sumber.

Umno Ratchets Up Tempo

From Malaysiakini
By Terence Netto

It’s the winter of Umno’s discontent with Pakatan Rakyat, with PKR in the eye of the maelstrom.

The heightened attacks on PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, the suspension of Suara Keadilan, the warnings to Harakah, the investigations of Pakatan legislators for alleged corruption, the claim that the Selangor Pakatan government is in the red, all point to the commencement of a new phase in Umno’s run-up to the next general election.

Given the stated unpreparedness of Umno allies MCA, MIC and Gerakan for the polls, it’s a surprise why Umno has gone on war footing this early.

It is too early to ratchet up the tempo to battle-speed if, say, the election is for the period April-June next year.

Public fatigue with electioneering is a real danger, and given that Umno-BN has the greater need to come up in the numbers turning out for them, they stand to lose more from any danger of voter apathy.

Could the new frenzy in Umno’s attacking salvoes on Pakatan be a tactic to disperse and cause confusion in its ranks so that an anticipated jailing of Anwar for sodomy will be a fait accompli foisted on forces too demoralised to resist?

The case is scheduled to end in August just when Ramadan begins and a verdict expected to be delivered shortly after.

Thus far, the case has been remarkable only in the court’s refusal to grant the defence aspects of due process normally accorded the accused.

In this respect, it’s ominous for Anwar that the contretemps surrounding his criticisms of communications consultant Apco Worldwide and of Israel’s attack on the humanitarian aid flotilla to Gaza have attracted adverse notices in Washington.

Those criticisms have put Anwar in the bizarre situation of being branded anti-Semitic in the US and a puppet of Jewish interests by his critics in Malaysia.

Hurtful to Anwar’s cause

A Washington rendered mute over his anticipated jailing would be hurtful to Anwar’s cause. Needless to say, his being seen as a friend of the Jews is damaging to his standing among Muslims in Malaysia.

In the event of Anwar’s jailing, no amount of pressure from his allies elsewhere in the world will have as much effect on Kuala Lumpur as an admonishing word followed by a modicum of action from the US State Department.

Umno appears determined to portray Anwar as philo-Semitic among Muslims in Malaysia even as the sodomy case against him is enfeebled by the stark refusal of the court to grant him significant aspects of due process.

They are opting for the next-most lethal stick with which to beat him after the deadliest one – a charge of sodomy – withers for lack of credibility.

And by attempting to shutter the party organs, such as Suara Keadilan (left) and Harakah, Umno is trying to shut off the conduits by which vital sections of the Malaysian electorate are fed information for an informed choice at the next election.

In this light, then, it is not surprising that Umno has gone on a war footing this early.

Sarawak Chief Minister's London Connection

(Asia Sentinel) The Taib property empire spans another country

This is the third installment by the Sarawak Report, an NGO in the East Malaysian state, detailing the vast overseas property holdings of the family of Abdul Taib Mahmud, the long-serving Sarawak chief minister. Asia Sentinel prints the report as a public service.

Racehorses, residences in swanky Fitzrovia and offices next door to the Bank of England. The family of Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud is in London too. In this latest exclusive investigation, Sarawak Report can reveal the full details of Ridgeford Properties Ltd, a multi-million pound property company in the UK owned and funded by the Taib family.

The London base of the Taib international property portfolio was started in October 1996 under a Canadian, Chistopher Murray. Christopher Murray is the cousin of Sean Murray, who is married to Jamilah Taib, the Chief Minister's daughter and a key linchpin for his foreign property empire. Sean Murray acts as Chairman of Ridgeford, while Christopher has been appointed the London-based managing director. Sean Murray is also president of Sakto Corporation in Canada and Sakti International in the US as well as a director of Sitehost Pty in Australia. These are all major property companies of which his wife and her family (the Taibs) are the owners and shareholders.

Again, while an impression has been given that Ridgeford Properties is part of a wider business started and owned by the Murray family, Sarawak report has established that it in fact relies on millions of pounds worth of soft loans from a private investor based in the British Virgin Islands. This investor has clear links to the Taib family fortune and to the public Sarawak-based company which they largely own, Cahya Mata Sarawak, or CMS. Many questions have been raised as to the legitimacy of the Taib family's ownership of CMS, which was once Sarawak's largest state-owned company, but was then 'privatized' by the chief minister into the hands of his own close family.

Scores of Stylish Flats for Sale
Ridgeford Properties Limited currently boasts seven major Central London 'mixed-use' developments, including luxury flats and thousands of square feet of rental office space. According to the company's own online information just one such property, Tokenhouse Yard adjacent to the Bank of England, is netting the company £1.5 million in annual rent, while of course remaining a valuable and appreciating asset.

Another stunning showcase for Ridgeford is 50 Bolsover Street, in Fitzrovia near Oxford Street. This massive development is in partnership with the prestigious Royal National Othorpaedic Hospital and All Souls College, Oxford along with a fellow developer, the Manhattan Loft Company. According to our research, the first part of the two-stage development consists of 210,000 square ft of prime property sold as 66 flats and four penthouses for between £1,000 and £1,200 per square foot – giving a total value of well over £210 million (just over one billion ringgit at current exchange rates). The second phase of the project, which is due for completion in 2012, will consist of another 60 flats for sale, making it almost as lucrative as stage one.

Meanwhile, in trendy Clerkenwell another Ridgeford development, Ironmonger Row, has seen 12 'prestige apartments' and two penthouses sell for what the company describes as 'well in excess of previous developments in the area'. The company retains the lower part of the building for rent as retail and office space and boasts that this is occupied by top shoe designer Christian Louboutin. Another property, a bright red, modern office high-rise, 'Maple Street', has secured a 15-year rent as the headquarters for the famous travel company Thomas Cook at record prices, according to Ridgeford's publicity material.

Developer with a difference is bullish over recession
Interestingly, while most London developers are now cash-strapped because of the credit crunch, Ridgeford Managing Director, Christopher Murray, says the company sees this period of recession as a good opportunity for more business. As he explained to one reporter, ”we see this period as an opportunity to buy right, as there is less competition. Where there were once 30 companies chasing one development now there will just be two.” His statement clearly implies that Ridgeford is less vulnerable than most to the current loan squeeze and this ties in with evidence from the company's public financial records, which show that Ridgeford has access to sizeable loans on highly favourable terms from a mysterious donor named Tess Investments, based in the British Virgin Islands. Sarawak Report has found clear links between Tess Investments and the Taibs.

Links to Sakto Canada and the Taib Family
Ridgeford's company website acknowledges that Ridgeford is a 'sister company' of Sakto Corporation, based in Ottawa Canada and run by Sean (Hisham) Murray, the husband of Jamilah Taib. Numerous members of Murray's family have been employed by Sakto since Sean's marriage to Jamilah in 1987, including Brian Murray who is in charge of office letting in Ottawa, Thady Murray who acts as President of City Gate Corporation, another sister company, and Christopher Murray in London.

Christopher Murray claimed in a recent interview that Sakto is a “family business” started by “my cousin's father and my father. They had an architectural practice and then got into development”. However, Sakto was in fact started in 1983 in Ottawa by Onn Mahmud, Mahmud Taib and Jamilah Taib, the Chief Minister's brother, son and daughter, well before Jamilah met and married Sean Murray. Likewise millions of dollars had been invested in developments before Sean Murray became involved in the company.

Sarawak Report contends that Sakto and its sister companies are in fact a Taib family business, which employs several members of Sean Murray's family in different departments of its property empire. According to Ridgeford's financial records Christopher Murray was paid a salary of £178,175 in 2009, a considerable rise from £47,917 in 1998, which apparently enables him to live in a £5 million apartment, as he claimed in the same recent interview. Ridgeford accounts also indicate the company has funded a racehorse in past years, indicating certain added value to be gained from working for the in-laws.

The financial connection
Ridgeford Properties, according to its 2009 Financial Statement 'relies significantly' on loans. This includes more than £15.5 million of mostly interest-free and open-ended loans, from Tess Investments, c/o Equity Trust (BVI) Ltd, PO Box 438, British Virgin Islands. Tess Investments was incorporated on 23 October 1996, the day before Ridgeford was incorporated in London on October 24 1996. The majority of these loans are not secured on any properties owned by Ridgeford, representing stunningly generous terms from anyone who was not a direct shareholder of the company.

The original shareholder of Ridgeford was in fact a company called Astar Properties, incorporated on October 4th 1996, also in the British Virgin Islands tax haven and also sharing the same Equity Trust Agent and PO Box 438 address. Astar Properties also has shares in Sitehost Pty, the Australian property company belonging to the Taibs.

It is notable that CMS, the once state-owned company, also has a banking division in the British Virgin Islands. CMS in the BVI is also registered at the same PO Box 438 address and with the same agent as Astar Properties and Tess Investments, according to information made public by Equity Trust and available on the internet.

In 2001 documents show that Astar's shareholding in Ridgeford was then passed directly to City Gate International Corporation, which is based at Sakto's Headquarters in Ottawa. Jamilah Taib and Sean Murray are the registered directors of City Gate and Thady Murray is employed as President.

Sarawak Report challenges Abdul Taib Mahmud to acknowledge that Ridgeford Properties in London was set up and financed by the Taib family and remains part of the Taib global property empire, which is largely owned and ultimately controlled by him. We further ask how with him earning a salary of just RM20,000 a month his family has been able to afford to pay millions of pounds into this property company and others across the globe. So far the Chief Minister has found no answer to our revelations, so will it be different this time?

Panel happy with Aminulrasyid shooting probe

KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 — The Home Ministry’s panel on the fatal police shooting of schoolboy Aminulrasyid Amzah has completed its probe and is satisfied with how the force had investigated the case.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, in a written reply to a question from Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) issued last Thursday, said that the special panel was “at this point” satisfied that the police’s investigation on the case had been “transparent” and that it had been concluded in a short time.

He noted that since Aminulrasyid’s case had been handed over to the Deputy Public Prosecutor’s office, the issue on why the government had not formally apologised to the youth’s family was now “irrelevant”.

“The issue of whether the suspect had committed an offence or not is now under the jurisdiction of the courts.

“Hence, it is not appropriate for the government to take any action before the case is heard in court,” he said.

In his question to Parliament last week, Lim had asked why the government had not issued a formal apology for carelessly “killing” the 14-year-old Aminulrsyid in Shah Alam on April 26.

He also asked why the investigation into the case was only carried out by the ministry’s special panel, led by deputy minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop, and why it had not been an open investigation.

Hishammuddin explained that the special panel was formed with two main objectives — to directly monitor the investigation process by the police to ensure that it was fair, transparent, fast and would be fair to all parties and to observe police procedures on the use of firearms as well as other procedures related to the operations and duties of the police.

“The panel was also set up to, after its probe, prepare proposals to improve police procedures,” he said.

Aminulrasyid was killed following a 6km chase in Shah Alam on April 26 after, as claimed by the police, allegedly reversing and ramming into policemen.

His family have cried foul over the death and have called on the authorities to apologise to them for accusing the youth of being a suspected criminal.

The eight-man government panel was formed to quell rising resentment towards the police following the shooting.

Shady deals, funding scandals rock France

(Anil Netto) All is not well in the state of France as some hard questions are being asked of the leadership about kickbacks and other funding scandals.
The BBC has a story: ‘How ‘rotten’ is France’s politics’?

One pending inquiry, involving the sale of submarines to Pakistan in 1994 when Mr Sarkozy was budget minister, may come back to haunt the president.
The irony is that the explosion of funding scandals in the past two decades has coincided with unprecedented attempts to clean up France’s political life.
It began in the late 1980s, when it was revealed that the then-governing socialists – among others – had set up bogus consultancies to collect kickbacks from firms bidding for public contracts and channel the cash back to party coffers.

Allegations of kickbacks on the sale of French submarines to Pakistan have surfaced as well. The  French President’s office, however. described the media reports as “nonsense” and “grotesque”. The Hindustan Times has the story here.

'Military intelligence officers tortured me'

(Malaysiakini) EXCLUSIVE A solitary bulb hangs from the ceiling, barely lighting the blackened walls of the cell that trap him like a rat.

In the tiny, windowless room, he battles madness from within and relentless chill from without.

He has lost all sense of time, of how long he has been left to freeze in this hole, how long he has gone without sleep.

A loud rap or a kick against the door ensures he is kept on the brink of consciousness and reason.

Ironically, he holds on to his fragile sanity by virtue of the physical pain visited upon him by the man whom, to the victim, has come to embody fear itself.

Fear runs down his spine with every blood-curdling scream he hears from beyond his confines, every sickening thud that echoes through the walls. It's only a matter of time before 'he' comes back for more

A year has passed, but N Tharmendran, 42, can vividly recount every detail of the internal military investigation that he claims he was subjected to, as if it was just yesterday.

Tharmendran, a former RMAF sergeant who has been charged over the theft of two jet-fighter engines, claimed he was detained and tortured by military intelligence for three weeks in connection with the case.

Tharmendran alleged that the favourite method of his interrogators - allegedly led by a major and his assistant, also a major - was to make him wear a crash helmet and repeatedly hit him as hard as possible.

“They used a golf stick and something long like a cricket bat. The reason is that when you hit me with a helmet (on), there's no mark. You can't find any mark, but the pain is internal pain,” he told Malaysiakini.

“That's what Major (name withheld) told me. (He said) 'I can hit you how hard I want, but there won't be any mark. Even (if) you go to the doctor he will say you only have (a) headache'.'”

And because of the physical abuse, Tharmendran said he suffered severe pain in his neck and shoulders and was barely move his left arm for a few days after the interrogation ended.

He also claimed that he was repeatedly stripped to his underwear, made to stand on a block of ice for up to an hour at a time, and threatened with death.

“I was told by this major, he has friends in the UTK (special forces) and KDN (Home Ministry) and it won't take him much time to get some men to shoot and kill me.

“Another thing he said was that nobody would believe me (if I report the torture), because he is the IO (investigating officer) and he has the authority. He said that, even if I go to the hospital and say I was being tortured by these people, he said nobody would believe me.”

Tharmendan said he was not allowed to contact anyone to inform them of his whereabouts during the three weeks of his detention.

His father N Nagarajah filed a police report last month to report Tharmendran's alleged torture while under military detention.

'Lost pride, dignity'

Tharmendran said he lost 20kg after being tortured and during the six months he was detained in the Sg Buloh Prison for not being able to post the initial bail of RM150,000 in connection with the charge.

He believes he is not the only one being tortured by the intelligence officers, claiming at least 30 others were also experiencing the same ordeal for reasons unknown to him. He does not know what has happened to them.

Tharmendran said he is grateful for his release on reduced bail of RM50,000, but that adjusting to life after six months of detention is hard.

“I've lost my dignity, my pride... I'm very, very embarrassed to face the public because it's been (publicised) that I am the one who was involved in the theft of the engine(s), but actually I am not the one,” he said.

He expressed his gratitude to prison officers and warders who had taken care of him and helped him with his problems.

Now that he is back in society, Tharmendran said he needs to pick himself up and deal with the debt facing his family, who had to borrow money to post bail.

“They (his family) were very happy to see me, but now I have to look for a job. I'm jobless now, and it doesn't matter what (kind of work)... I can do anything,” he said soberly.

“As long as I can get a job... I need to pay back whatever money my family borrowed. My mom's jewellery has all been pawned and it's not fair to my relatives.”

Tharmendran said he feels most for his daughter, who deserves an explanation for his absence.

“I have to go and see my daughter, but I don't know how I am going to face (her). She's 12 years old. I'm divorced so she's living with my ex-wife in Ipoh,” he said.

“I saw her last November during the school holidays. I used to get her for the holidays and she'll be with my mom for three weeks... I need to do a lot of explaining to her.”

Tharmendran has been charged with company director Rajandran Prasad Kusy over the theft of two F-5E engines at the air movement section of the Subang air force base in December 2007.

If found guilty on charge under Section 380 of the Penal Code, he faces up to 10 years in jail and whipping.

He faces another charge of abetment under Section 109 of the Penal Code for allegedly collaborating with senior airman Mohamad Shukri Mohamad Yusop to steal the engines from the Sungai Besi air force base.

Mohamad Shukri was not charged with the theft and is likely to be one of the main prosecution witnesses.

PKR newspaper out under new name

A PKR Youth member distributes copies of “Keadilan” to passers-by at the Masjid Jamek LRT station in Kuala Lumpur, July 12, 2010.—Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 — PKR’s Suara Keadilan finally hit the streets today — 12 days after the party newspaper’s annual printing permit expired — and under a new name, “Keadilan”, to avoid seizure.

The government had refused to renew the permit pending explanations over an article, “Felda Bangkrap”, but PKR vowed to defy authorities and continue printing the weekly.

PKR Youth leaders distributed about 400 copies of Keadilan to city dwellers at the Masjid Jamek LRT station this morning.

The newspaper will also be sold nationwide beginning today, PKR Youth said.

Among those distributing Keadilan today were PKR Youth information chief Lee Khai Loon, Wilayah Persekutuan Youth chief Mad Zaman Mad Tasi, Batu Youth chief Rozan Azen and PKR Youth exco member Ramlan Roes.

Lee told The Malaysian Insider that PKR has printed a total of 100,000 copies despite not having a publishing permit for the weekly.

“We all know that the home ministry had not renewed the publishing permit of Suara Keadilan. However, it is a very important party organ as it reports views often shunned by the mainstream media,” said Lee.

“PKR Youth will fight for as long as it needs to distribute the party’s organ to tell the truth to everyone,” he added.

Suara Keadilan’s printing permit expired on June 30 and it can no longer be printed or published under Section 5(1) of the Printing Presses and Publication Act (1984), after the home ministry refused to renew the permit, citing the unsatisfactory reply from the weekly over its front page “Felda Bangkrap” article.

Incidentally, Keadilan’s “Ada Niat Jahat” front page article accuses the government of not renewing Suara Keadilan’s printing permit to “protect Barisan Nasional’s interests”.

Lee also vowed to fight till the PPPA is abolished.

“We urge all Malaysians to support our fight and follow the truth from all alternative channels that are available,” he added.

Ramlan, on the other hand, urged the home ministry to “act professionally” when granting printing permits to newspapers.

“From what I can see, the home ministry is not professional. A Malay daily pits one race against another on a daily basis, but we don’t see anything being done to it,” he said.

Suara Keadilan editor Dzulkarnain Taib, who was also present at Masjid Jamek LRT station this morning, stressed that the party will continue to print the weekly with new names, even if they do not obtain a printing permit from the home ministry.

The law is silent on newspapers that are not published regularly. All other scheduled publications require annual permits before going to the presses.

A police patrol car was spotted at the scene, with two policemen keeping a close watch on the situation.

PKR chief strategist Chua Tian Chang had said last week the newspaper will be published, though it had failed to appear until today.

The law is silent on newspapers that are not published regularly. All other scheduled publications require annual permits.

Another Pakatan Rakyat (PR) party organ, PAS’ Harakah, is publishing without a permit under the assumption it will be issued soon.

Party leaders had said home ministry officials usually dragged their feet when it came to permit approvals.

PM's defence of Singapore raises more suspicion

By FMT Staff

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s call to Malaysians to keep an open mind on his decisions involving Singapore in the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) land swap deal and investments in Iskandar Malaysia (IM), has drawn flak from the opposition and raised even more suspicion.

Jerai MP Mohd Firdaus Jaafar said as long as Najib does not explain the true reason behind his decision to surrender the KTMB land in Tanjung Pagar to Singapore and the deals struck with the island republic over investments in IM, “there will always be suspicion”.

“Najib wants us (PAS) and the rakyat to maintain an open mind and attitude towards IM when he has not revealed to the people his motive for being pally with Singapore.”

“As such, it is only fair that the rakyat question his (Najib's) actions. Why is he so concerned about safeguarding Singapore’s interest in the Iskandar region?”

"If you look at IM, what kind of profit will the rakyat enjoy when their land is being sold to foreigners? Why is Najib encouraging Singapore’s interference in IM?” he asked.

Firdaus, who is also the PAS election department Youth chief, said Najib’s actions, which appeared to sell the nation’s sovereignty, had led to increased awareness among the people, especially the Malays.

Last month, several Pakatan Rakyat leaders had alleged that Najib’s decision to surrender Tanjung Pagar to Singapore was not legal because the issue was not raised in Parliament and brought before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Arbitrary moves

Firdaus said, given these arbitrary moves by the government, it was now important for the people to set aside their political differences and view the actions of the leaders rationally.

“It is time we set aside our political differences and defend our sovereignty. We cannot allow certain leaders to betray the country for their own selfish ends.

“We must collectively, irrespective of whether we are supporters of BN or the opposition, send a reminder to the leadership by voting for change in the 13th general election,” he said.

Najib had, while officiating at the Pulai Umno division delegates convention in Johor Baru last night, reportedly urged Malaysians to maintain an open attitude in evaluating the federal government’s dealings with Singapore.

Quoting a Bernama report, Firdaus said: “Najib said if we want to see Iskandar Malaysia and Johor succeed, then we must keep an open attitude towards all investments.”

Najib had also said that “investments in the commercial Iskandar region should prioritise profits irrespective of whether the investments were from the US or Singapore”.

“What is the difference between American and Singaporean investments?

“There is no difference... as long as both are profitable (to us),” Najib had said.

'No pushover' Orang Asli ready to fight back

By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia Today,

KUALA LANGAT: Mukim Tanjung 12 in Kuala Langat is the largest, richest and last piece of native land in Selangor. Its sprawling 17,800 acres received the Federated Malay States (FMS) Government Gazette in April 1927, which gave its inhabitants full rights to the land's natural resources of timber, tin and even gold.
The six villages thrived on the land's abundance as well as from the spoils of their crops and orchards.
Barely half a century later, however, an omnious shadow fell upon them in the shape of the state government.
Recognising the wealth that Mukim Tanjung 12 contained, the government decided to help itself to little pinches of it. Those pinches gradually grew into handfuls and soon, government projects were mushrooming across the land. It wasn't long before the land began to suffer.
Polluted water from the mining ponds seeped into orchards and forests to destroy these two sources of livelihood. In one area, an entire gazetted forest reserve was wiped out. To add insult to injury, the Orang Asli never saw a single sen from the government's tin mining operations.
Just as the vilagers had adjusted to the painful drop in income, another village set up home on the land. The seventh village had been forced to relocate from Sepang to Mukim Tanjung 12 when the low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) project commenced.
Mukim Tanjung 12 found itself with 4,000 mouths to feed and barely enough resources. Once again, the villagers struggled to make ends meet. And once again, just as they had found their footing, the state government dropped another bombshell. It was plundering the land's last plentiful resource – its sand.
The real sand-mining scandal?
“We've had enough!” thundered Dewi Malam, a representative of the village head of Kampung Orang Asli Pulau Kempas. “The government has been robbing us of income from our own land for years and we're not standing for it anymore.”
Dewi has a particular axe to grind with the government. According to him, the Orang Asli had set up their own sand-mining company late last year called Sambutan Mewah. The company intended to sell sand to the state government in the hope of creating an alternate source of income.
As Sambutan Mewah waited for its permit to be approved, Dewi was tasked with guarding the stockpile of sand. During that period, he had urgent matters to attend to in Negri Sembilan and left for three days.
His return was greeted by frantic villagers who told him that a government company had carted their precious sand away. That company was none other than Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB).
“KSSB came here in December 2009,” Dewi recalled. “Its contractor's permit has expired in March but its operations haven't ceased. In the past three months, it has transported RM1 million worth of sand every day. That's how much we have lost so far.”
KSSB was recently slapped with allegations of graft in the sand-mining industry, which led to a public inquiry early last month. Despite reports of rampant illegal sand-mining activities occurring throughout Selangor, the inquiry only found KSSB guilty of mismanagement of funds.
According to a source familiar with the sand-mining operations in Mukim Tanjung 12, the sand is being funnelled towards three big projects – the LCCT, the Pulau Carey highway and the Jenjarom highway.
He alleged that the state government had been secretly feeding other sand-mining sites to the media and possibly even to Kapar MP S Manikavasagam – who made the graft allegations against KSSB – in a bid to divert attention away from Mukim Tanjung 12.
Dewi agreed, saying that operations in other areas like Sungai Rampai, Hulu Selangor and Kuang were child's play compared to what was taking place on their land.
“How can the government hold an open tender for a project on land that doesn't even belong to it in the first place?” Dewi asked, with bitterness. “And how can it exclude the owners of that land from that process?”
A deaf government
Dewi's brother, Jafrin, is equally frustrated. He claimed that the village heads and Tok Batins have approached and written to many government agencies and authorities but to no avail.
“I have filed five reports since last year and not one has spurred the government into any action,” he said. “We don't want to dramatise the situation, but the state government is refusing to cooperate so we have no other option.”
“And we're not just talking about the Pakatan Rakyat government but the previous Barisan Nasional government as well. Our troubles only heightened with the sand-mining operation but it started way before that.”
Dewi pulled out a thick folder of documents he had paintaksingly collected over the years as evidence that Mukim Tanjung 12 belongs to the Orang Asli.
Among those documents were letters of acknowledgement by the State Executive Council, the Kuala Langat District Office and the Department of Orang Asli Affairs. But those letters turned out to be mere pieces of paper in the Orang Asli's fight for their land.
“I went through so much trouble to get the original copy of the FMS Government Gazette,” Dewi said. “But when I showed it to the officer at the district office, he scolded me for being too smart for my own good.”
“Look, our income today barely sustains us on a daily basis, but we have never asked the government for money and we are not about to start now,” added Jafrin. “All we want is to feed our families and raise our standard of living from the resources of our land. But the government isn't giving us that opportunity.”
When asked whether they had approached the Kuala Langat MP, Abdullah Sani, and the chairman of the Selangor Orang Asli Land Task Force, Elizabeth Wong, the brothers exchanged sardonic smiles.
“Do you think it would make a difference?” Jafrin asked. “Don't you think they would be in a position to already know about this? If they haven't done anything before, why would they do something now?”
A prophecy
Since the government began staking its claim on Mukim Tanjung 12, the Orang Asli have discovered that their space of land has considerably shrunk. From having free rein over a luxurious 17,800 acres, they now only have access to 4,000 acres. And this has made them very angry.
“I don't have a lot of money but I will fight this matter in court if I have to,” Dewi swore. “When I was young, I didn't understand the full gravity of the matter but now that I do, I am not going to sit back and watch this continue.”
Dewi also prohesised that the Orang Asli would be the country's next social problem within two years if the government continued sidelining them.
“Few of us are university graduates,” he pointed out. “We know how to survive on the land that we have and and if that is taken from us, we will have to find other means of survival or escapism like prostitution, begging and drug addiction. This will happen, mark my words.”
The Orang Asli are a peaceful people by nature but they are not pushovers. And when pummelled into a corner, they will fight back.
“We are this close to the corner right now,” Jafrin said, holding his thumb and index finger an inch away from each other. “And taking the matter to court is just one avenue.”
Dewi extracted an old but pristine photograph of a keris from his folder. Tapping it thoughtfully with his finger, he said, “This keris was given to our previous penghulu by the late Sultan Abdul Samad, who told him to use it to fight any threats upon our village or community. Perhaps the time has come.”

Rural 'uprising' to tear into Taib’s ‘fixed deposit’

By Pushparani Thilaganathan - Free Malaysia Today

KUCHING: Riled by the smug confidence displayed by Barisan Nasional leaders here recently, a newly empowered agrarian network of rural planters is set to “seriously puncture” Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s “Bumiputera vote bank".

Fuelled by the immense success of their three-year-old economic outreach project – Project Ekonomi Rakyat Sarawak (PERS) – the state-level network of farmers have boldly declared that they will contest in the next state election.

The project involves the cultivation of the Jatropha Curcas (oil plant) that saw hundreds of thousands of Sarawakians develop a sustainable income.

“We have been working with the rural community since 2008. We have shown them a sustainable income through our shared-plantation programme.

“We now have a one-million strong network. Many are now self-sufficient and earn between RM400 and RM500 a month.

“This is something the BN has not been able to do... even Pakatan Rakyat cannot achieve this,” Mohamad Noh Bakeri, the pro-tem secretary of the soon-to-be-registered Parti Ekonomi Rakyat Sarawak Bersatu (PERSB), told FMT.

Taking a swipe at Taib, Noh said the “shared-plantation” concept had helped pull many rural Bumiputeras out of the poverty cycle, which Taib alleged had kept them dependent on BN.

Billionaire Taib had last month shocked the nation when he admitted that Sarawak Bumiputeras were poor.

To add salt to wound, he had reportedly said: “Sarawak Bumiputeras know they are poor and in difficulty” and are “humble enough to recognise that they still depend on a working government for their fate".

On the heel of his painful revelation came a statement by State Land Development Minister James Masing who confidently declared that rural voters were “BN’s fixed deposit and would never vote for the opposition”.

To which, Noh sarcastically said: “It’s no more a fixed deposit… the situation is changing.”

Success and hope

Perusing the project website recently, FMT picked up a telling comment by a reader, Magdalene.

In her posting, she wrote: “I have done some background checks on PERS… It is hard to believe they have actually helped the poor in Sarawak for the past two years to uplift their economy.

“My own relatives planted Jatropha in Miri and are now making at least RM500 per month for two acres in less than eight months only. If they keep up this noble work, this is no doubt a
big hope for the people in Sarawak.”

Riding on this hope, Noh said these “sums of consistent money” were something many had not seen in more than 30 years under the BN regime.

Sarawak, like Sabah, shares the dubious honour of being the richest in natural resources but possesses the poorest populations.

In contrast, latest reports circulating in cyberspace have exposed Taib to be a millionaire many, many times over, with an extensive portfolio of properties abroad acquired purportedly on his RM20,000 a month salary.

This revelation, compounded with the simmering discontent over Native Customary Rights (NCR) land, deforestation and mega projects, which are displacing communities throughout the state, has lent weight to the emergence of new forms of opposition.

PERSB is not the first newbie to announce its bid to contest in the Sarawak state election.

Last month, another group announced the formation of the Peace Party led by grassroots leader Julian Petrus Jout.

Noh is unfazed
Despite its yet-to-be registered status and the fact that PERSB may not get the approval on time, an optimistic Noh said the “party is prepared for whatever outcome”.

“A lot of the candidates who will be contesting under the PERSB party label are former Parti Pesaka Bumiputera (PBB) members.”

‘We know the process…we know how they (government) work. Twice before, we had to re-submit our application because they found some fault... but we will not let this stop us.

“If they delay our approval or reject us, our people will stand as independents in all the constituencies and we are prepared for this.”

Apart from contesting in all the 71 state constituencies, PERSB is also expecting to field 31 candidates for the parliamentary polls in the 13th general election.

Already, several of the faces of the 71 candidates are available on the www. pers.com.my website.

MIC AGM: Anti-climatic finish after Samy's silence on successor

By S Retnanathan, B Nantha Kumar and G Vinod - Free Malaysia Today MIC AGM round-up The much anticipated announcement by MIC chief S Samy Vellu on his departure from active politics at the end of the party's 64th annual general assembly, which concluded here yesterday, turned out to be anti-climax after the long serving party chief failed to speak on the touchy subject.
Failure to provide a full explanation on the issue by Samy Vellu has also raised questions if deputy president G Palanivel would indeed succeed the president who has announced that he would quit from the post which he held since 1979, in September 2011.

He was widely anticipated to announce his successor at the end of the assembly to clear the air on speculation if Palanivel would takeover the MIC presidency in the future.

The 74-year-old veteran leader in his winding-up speech spoke on various issues ranging from economy, Tamil schools, higher education opportunites for Indian students and social problems but left out party politics.

Instead he took a swipe at ineffective MIC branch members who failed to carry out their duties but wanted positions in the party.

Disciplinary action in the form of a show cause letter would be issued to some 358 delegates to the assembly, who failed to show-up for the assembly despite taking up accomodations prepared by the party.

“These are the kind of leaders we have. They would be issued show cause letters on Wednesday. I want an explanation on why they did not attend the assembly,” said Samy Vellu.

While he spoke on various issues, the closest he came to naming Palanivel as his successor was when he answered as query from a delegate who wanted the party to provide financial aid to branch chairmen.

Presently the party subscribes to an insurance scheme which provides RM10,000 to widow of a branch chairman who had passed away.

“Instead of providing money after we die, it would be better if the money was given when we are alive,” the delegate had requested.

To this Samy Vellu replied:” I cannot decide on that. I will leave that to the next president...Palanivel will see to that.”

Another hint dropped by Samy Vellu, that he would relinquish the post, was when he spoke about the role of the media and how some newsmen went to great length to tarnish the image of the MIC and Samy Vellu.

“But don't worry about that, soon they will not write anymore,” he said.

Samy Vellu in his opening address at the assembly on Saturday had fuelled speculation that he would name his successor at the end of the assembly.

Tribute from Najib

Departing from the norm, the MIC chief spent a good amount of time thanking all those who had helped him throughout his 30-year journey as president and admitted that some decisions he made during the tenure as difficult.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak who opened the assembly also paid tribute to the veteran leader, pointing out how Samy Vellu was always vocal at cabinet meetings fighting for Malaysian Indian community.

However, Najib also said that not only the Barisan Nasional was at crossroads but also all component parties including MIC, indicating on the need for a change of leadership in the party.

He has been calling for change in the party leadership since the party polls last year but to date the party had maintained its status-quo.

Since the 2008 general election which saw the ruling coalition suffer a devastating defeat, losing its two-thirds majority in Parliament, Samy Vellu has been under pressure to quit and hand over the party to a younger leader in an effort to woo Indian voters who had deserted the BN in the polls.

The failure of the MIC chief to explain the leadership transition would definitely raise to further speculation on who the next MIC president would be.

The assembly was the best forum for Samy Vellu to tell MIC members what was in his mind, however it is uncertain if the MIC supremo left out the topic on purpose.

When approached by reporters at the end of the assembly he declined to answer to queries about his presidency only saying,” I do not want to talk about my presidency.”

Chinese Perkasa = All that’s wrong w/BN & Stupidest Idea Ever

vs.

I think “stupidest idea ever” pretty much sums it up.
If you need the ‘serious’ explanation, this is exactly what is wrong with the BN race-based model.
This ridiculous zero-sum model of fighting fire with fire looks to bring our country backwards in time instead of forwards.
The Chinese in this country do not need someone frothing at their mouth ‘defending’ Chinese rights (especially that short fler pictured above) – they, like ALL Malaysians, just need a clean government whose belief in Malaysian unity goes beyond some bullsh*t slogan.
ps- travelling for a few days again, sorry!

Iniesta puts Spain on top of world

Champions of Europe and now champions of the world, Spain captured football's Holy Grail for the first time with a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands thanks to Andres Iniesta’s 116th-minute strike at Soccer City.

The solitary goal came with penalties looming as substitutes Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas combined to play in Iniesta and the little Barcelona midfielder drove emphatically across Maarten Stekelenburg and into the far corner. With this victory – their fourth successive single-goal win in South Africa – Spain became the eighth name on the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy and also the first European team to have triumphed on a different continent. For the Netherlands, who lost defender John Heitinga to a red card in extra time, there is only the heartache of another tale of what might have been after completing a hat-trick of Final losses.

This was a match preceded by much talk of two like-minded footballing cultures, of the influence of Dutchmen like Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels on Barcelona, of 'tiki taka' and Total Football. In many ways, as the first 116 minutes showed, it was also a case of the irresistible force versus the immovable object. The Dutch had won 14 straight games to get to the Final, in qualifying and the tournament proper, and Spain 15 out of 16, their only slip the defeat by Switzerland in their first game here in South Africa.

It was the Spanish found their stride first, living up to their pre-game billing as favourites. Vicente del Bosque's side, playing in navy blue, dominated possession and fashioned the early chances. With the Dutch penned inside their half, Maarten Stekelenburg had to make a save after five minutes, diving low to stop a Sergio Ramos header from Xavi's free-kick in from the right. Gerard Pique looked poised to follow up only to be denied by a combination of Joris Mathijsen and Dirk Kuyt.

Ramos came again in the tenth minute, beating Kuyt on the right and driving in a low centre that Heitinga deflected behind. From the corner came another scare for the Netherlands. Xavi played the ball back to Xabi Alonso whose ball went beyond the far post to David Villa but the in-form No7 sliced his volley into the side-netting.

After those near things, however, both defences got on top with none of the flair players on either side able to take a grip on proceedings. Instead the yellow-card count began to rise with Nigel de Jong becoming the fifth player in Howard Webb’s notebook by the time we reached the half-hour mark, the Netherlands midfielder, newly returned from suspension along with Gregory van der Wiel, having clattered into the chest of Xabi Alonso.

With the orange sections of the 84,490 Soccer City crowd finding their voice, their favourites almost gave them something to sing about from a corner in the 37th minute. Robben rolled the ball to Mark van Bommel on the edge of the box and although he failed to make a clean connection he unwittingly diverted the ball on to the unmarked Mathijsen but the defender missed his kick. As half-time approached, Iker Casillas had barely had a save to make but entering stoppage time, Spain’s custodian had to be alert to deny Robben at his near post as a spell of Dutch pressure ended with the winger spearing in a low shot from the corner of the box.

Puyol, Spain's semi-final matchwinner, showed his aerial threat once more minutes after the restart when he rose above Heitinga and headed to the far post but Joan Capdevila failed to make contact. The game was gradually opening up and Dutch spurned a golden opportunity in the 62nd minute when Wesley Sneijder sent Robben running clear. Casillas came to Spain’s rescue, deflecting the shot behind with his right foot when falling the wrong way.

Spain coach Del Bosque had already sent on Jesus Navas for Pedro on the hour and the winger helped pick a hole in the Dutch defence in the 70th minute. Xavi sent him flying down the right and into the box and when Heitinga failed to deal with Navas’s low cross, the ball fell to Villa who looked odds-on to score only to see his effort deflected behind. Ramos was equally profligate after 78 minutes when he headed over a Xavi centre when unmarked, after Villa had forced another corner.

Spain were looking the more likely winners and it took Sneijder of all people to foil Iniesta with a smart tackle after his jinking run into the box. Yet Robben’s pace is a persistent threat and the Oranje No11 almost embarrassed Puyol in the 82nd minute, speeding clear of the Spain defender when second-favourite to reach a through-ball. Resisting Pique’s attempt to tackle too, he was foiled only by Casillas, the captain saving at Robben’s feet as the Dutchman sought to round him.

Extra time began with opportunities for Spain. Xavi failed to connect when well positioned and when the ball ran to Villa, his shot went wide off an orange shirt. Substitute Cesc Fabregas then broke clear on to Iniesta’s through-ball but was foiled by Stekelenburg. Mathijsen headed wide from a corner but like waves, Spanish attacks kept rolling on to the Netherlands back line and Navas was close with a shot deflected into the side-netting.

Fernando Torres replaced Villa midway through the extra period and Spain gained a man advantage four minutes late with Heitinga’s dismissal for pulling back Iniesta on the edge of the box, the offence earning him a second yellow. Iniesta would not be denied, however, as his late strike put Spain in the history books and shattered the men in Oranje.

Mengapa Malaysia tidak pernah layak ke Piala Dunia?

WRITTEN BY ZAKI SAMSUDIN

Pertandingan Piala Dunia Bolasepak 2010 di Afrika Selatan sudah hampir ke penghujungnya. Sudah hampir sebulan peminat bolasepak di Malaysia bersorak menyaksikan pertarungan antara negara-negara selain daripada negara tanahair mereka sendiri. Dalam keghairahan bersorak pasti ramai yang tertanya, ‘Bilalah agaknya pasukan kebangsaan Malaysia akan beraksi di pusingan akhir Piala Dunia?’

Melihat pada prestasi pasukan kebangsaan sepanjang beberapa tahun yang lalu, agak mustahil Malaysia dapat beraksi di pentas Piala Dunia. Senarai ranking mutakhir Persekutuan Bolasepak Antarabangsa (FIFA) meletakkan Malaysia di tangga 146, setaraf dengan ‘gergasi’ bolasepak yang lain seperti Turkmenistan, Burundi dan Madagascar.

Walhal, kurang 30 tahun yang lalu pasukan bolasepak kebangsaan duduk setaraf dengan Jepun dan Korea Selatan yang sudah berturut kali layak ke pusingan akhir Piala Dunia.  Saya sempat menyaksikan pertarungan antara Malaysia dan Jepun sebanyak dua kali di Stadium Merdeka pada tahun 1980-an. Pertamanya di peringkat separuh akhir Pestabola Merdeka 1986: Malaysia menang 2-1 dalam masa tambahan. Perlawanan kedua ialah di pusingan kelayakan Piala Asia 1988: Malaysia tewas 0-1.

Sekarang, sekiranya Malaysia berjaya menewaskan Jepun ataupun tewas tipis di tangan mereka, pasti dianggap kejayaan yang sangat besar.  Walaupun tewas 0-1 pada tahun 1988, hakikatnya Malaysia pada perlawanan tersebut menguasai pasukan Jepun sepanjang tempoh perlawanan.  Kekalahan tipis ketika itu dianggap cukup mendukacitakan.  

Kemerosotan pasukan bolasepak kebangsaan boleh dilihat daripada pelbagai sudut.  Yang pasti, kemerosotan ini banyak mencerminkan beberapa perkara  ‘pelik’ yang berlaku di dalam negara.

Pertama, jika dilihat pada barisan pemain kebangsaan sekarang, sudah tidak ada lagi pemain berbangsa Cina yang menyarung jersi kebangsaan. Malah, hanya S. Kunalan, pemain dari Negeri Sembilan yang merupakan pemain bukan Melayu tunggal yang sering turun dalam kesebelasan utama pasukan kebangsaan.

Sudah pasti kemerosotan prestasi pasukan bolasepak kebangsaan bukan kerana tiadanya pemain berbangsa Cina. Cuma, apa yang berlaku ialah menularnya polarasi kaum dalam arena sukan negara.

Bolasepak kini boleh dianggap sukan untuk kaum Melayu sahaja, manakala kaum Cina lebih tertumpu pada acara sukan lain seperti bola keranjang dan bola tampar . Dalam bersukan pun sudah kurang integrasi antara kaum! Bukankah ini sesuatu yang amat menyedihkan?

Saya percaya kepelbagaian kaum dalam sebuah pasukan bolasepak ada manfaatnya.  Lihat saja pada pasukan Jerman dalam kejohanan Piala Dunia kali ini. Dalam kesebelasan utama pasukannya yang membenam England dan Argentina, ada permain yang berbangsa Turki, ada yang berasal dari Ghana dan Tunisia, dan di bangku simpanan ada pemain-pemain yang berasal dari Sepanyol dan Brazil. 

Pemain-pemain ini membawa pembaharuan dalam corak permainan pasukan Jerman.  Jika sebelum ini mereka dianggap hanya bergantung kepada disiplin dan organisasi permainan yang tinggi, pasukan Jerman kali ini dilihat mempamerkan aksi menyerang yang baik dan kreatif.

Jangan dipolitikkan sukan

Pasukan kebangsaan Malaysia dahulunya punya kelebihan ini.

Pemain-pemain Melayu dan India lebih exspresif mempamerkan skil permainan manakala pemain-pemain berbangsa Cina dan Sikh punya daya tumpuan dan disiplin yang tinggi. Maka, tidak hairan jika dilihat pada senarai pemain kebangsaan pada tahun 1970-an dan awal 1980-an, tembok pertahanan negara dibarisi pemain-pemain seperti Soh Chin Aun, Santokh Singh, Lee Kin Hong dan Serbegeth Singh; dan tonggak serangan digalas pemain seperti Mokhtar Dahari, Shukor Salleh, Hassan Sani dan Zainal Abidin Hassan.

Budaya yang berbeza membawa gaya permainan yang berbeza, dan ini membawa manfaat bila diadun dengan sempurna. 

Seperkara lagi yang menyedihkan dalam bolasepak negara ialah penglibatan ahli-ahli politik. Memang benar, daripada sudut kewangan penglibatan ahli-ahli politik itu membawa manfaat. Mereka mampu menarik dana yang diperlukan untuk mengurus persatuan bolasepak tempatan. Selain daripada itu, penglibatan mereka sebenarnya tidak perlu. 

Saya tidak faham misalnya mengapa jawatan presiden persatuan-persatuan bolasepak negeri sering dipegang menteri-menteri besar. Tidak cukupkah kerja di pejabat menteri besar sehingga perlu mencari kerja tambahan mengurus persatuan bolasepak?  Mengapa tidak dibiarkan sahaja pentadbir profesional mentadbir dan membuat keputusan?

Saya percaya ramai menganggap penglibatan ahli-ahli politik ini tidak lebih daripada usaha mencari publisiti murahan.        

Kita tidak mahu ahli-ahli politik masuk campur kerana tidak mahu ‘penyakit politik’ meresap dalam bolasepak. ‘Penyakit’ yang paling ketara ialah kurangnya fokus pada rancangan jangka panjang. Banyak dana dan tenaga lebih tertumpu pada kejayaan serta merta. Siapa di kalangan ahli-ahli politik yang mahu membuang masa merancang pelan jangka panjang seperti ‘Malaysia ke Piala Dunia 2018’? Tahun 2018 itu sangat jauh dan jangka hayat politik mereka mungkin tamat sebelum itu.

Sekiranya perancangan rapi dibuat, saya percaya pasukan bolasepak kebangsaan mampu bersaing di peringkat antarabangsa. Saiz dan tubuh pemain yang kecil tidak lagi boleh dijadikan alasan. Pemain-pemain Jepun dan Korea Selatan sudah membuktikan ia bukanlah penghalang untuk mengecap kejayaan. Kejayaan pasukan kebangsaan merangkul pingat emas Sukan SEA tahun lalu perlu dijadikan asas kejayaan yang lebih besar pada masa hadapan.

Bersorak untuk pasukan Brazil, Sepanyol dan Argentina dalam pertandingan Piala Dunia banyak membawa kepuasan. Namun, bagi setiap peminat bolasepak di tanahair, tidak ada yang lebih memuaskan dan membanggakan daripada bersorak untuk pasukan Malaysia dan mendengar lagu Negaraku berkumandang di stadium. Bilalah agaknya impian ini boleh menjadi kenyataan?

Bangkok Pundits

Reds-Hunting Watch: Scenes from the Thai Entertainment Industry
by Thorn Pitidol
While on the state's affairs front, CRES extends its emergency rule, and thus,
continues its special power to invite any suspect who threatens national
security (i.e. Reds) to stay under arrest or detention without warrant or
charge (see a post below: CRES has decided again).
What's happening within the Thai society is equally noticeable. The Thai
entertainment industry can perhaps provide a good reflection on this. Today,
I bring you some of the news from Thai media outlets, especially ones from
the ASTV-manager website, the cyber-homeland of the PADs. It's important
to note first that the news and comments on this website cannot represent
the whole picture of the Thai society. Still, the ASTV-manager website is
really famous among the Thai middle class, and the student abroad. In fact,
it's been the most popular Thai news website for the last 7 years (see the
stats here, http://directory.truehits.net/shownewsdetail.php?id=1109).
The entertainment section of the ASTV-manager website has been
instrumental to the web-site's popularity. I remember that 7-8 years ago,
when my friends and I just started using the internet to read news and
stories online regularly, most of us got to know www.manager.co.th through
its celebrities gossiping column called "Sor-Jed", which is famous for its
notorious and sexually-related contents. Nowadays, Sor-Jed is still there,
but the website is perhaps more popular from its association with the PAD.
And it has already been a while that the entertainment section of the ASTV-
manager website, and its readers, has been diligently performing the so-
called PAD's sacred task of Reds-Hunting.
This started from a story of a singer called Mint Mintita Wattnanakul (AF3), a
singer and actress, and a daugther of an actor Kovit Wattanakul.
Mint and her dad was accused of being "Reds" first in the "Sor-Jed" collumn.
And incidents during the Nataraja Award ceremony, the same ceremony
that Pongpat Wachirabunjong made his hugely famous (among the Thais)
speech "if you don't love the father, just get out of here", (please see the
video with English sub-title though the hyperlink, warning: plenty of scenes
with tears) made her life much worse. Her dad, Kovit, was spotted as
leaving the ceremony early, and was rumored to be leaving because of his
dissatisfaction with Pongpat's speech. And Mint was spotted as not being
able to sing His Majesty's Song "Kwam Fun Un Soong-Sud (The Highest
Dream)" while she was performing the song on the stage with other stars
for the ceremony (see min 7.50 of this video http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=OmvYxLDochI). Her response was that she did not have enough
time to prepare for this song, as she was informed of her role in the show
very late. Still, as a result of these incidents, Mint has been a subject of hot
debates among the Thais, and her controversial status already caused her to
lost a starring role in two TV dramas. She recently said "if I have lost all my
opportunities in the Thai entertainment industry, then I will go back to live
my life as a normal student".
In addition to Mint, even one of the all-time most popular singers in
Thailand, "Bird Thongchai McIntyre", is also affected from the accusation of
him being "Reds". Thongchai recently had to come out to refuse the rumor
that he supported the Red-shirt movement. Thongchai said "I have no color,
and I am loyal to the King". Some of the PAD supporters, however, do not
seem to believe him. I recently found him to be still on the list of Reds
supporters to be condemned) on this facebook page; "Please help spread the
words on the Reds' Evilness"
Now, let's come to a more recent event, a story of "Mark Thawkumlue",
a contestant in the present season of Academy Fantasia (AF7) show on
Truevisions.
Mark, a high-school boy from Chiangmai, was found to had criticised another
Mark who is the present Prime Minister on his facebook with something
equivalent to the F-word. Mark.T. rudely criticised Mark.A. (the PM) on his
facebook because he believed that Mark.A. should have resigned, and if
Mark.A. resigned, the protest would not have ended with the Reds' "fires".
This news, and the labelling of him being Reds, was spread through the
ASTV-manager website (see mark1), and there has been a huge pressure
on True AF (the organiser of Thai AF show) to expel him from the AF7 show.
True AF, however, decided to keep him, stating that he did not break any
of the show's rules. ASTV-manager continues to put pressure on Mark and
True AF by spreading another news that Mark.T. once posted his opinion on
his facebook saying that "...when will the picture be taken down from all the
houses" (see mark2). Interestingly, since all these news about him came
out in the Thai media, Mark's popularity on the show rose tremendously.
He has so far received the most popular votes, almost twice more votes
(17% versus 9.5%) than the second most popular contestant (see the AF7
website here).
Finally, the latest incident from yesterday (7th July 2010), the ASTV-
manager website posted a specific attack onBen Anderson's first genuine
genius Thailand has produced since 1960s, Apichatpong Weerasethakul.
The topic of the news posted on the ASTV-manager website read "Jei got
annoyed while on-air because he could not accept a different opinion on the
Red-shirts protest". Basically, the story presented is that Apichatpong (Jeoi)
was interviewed by the manager radio station (owned by ASTV), and was
asked by the DJs questions regarding the interview he gave after he received
the award in Cannes Festival. Apichatpong mentioned that he was simply
trying to explain the truth about Thailand to the foreign journalists, and it's
important for the Thais to be honest in saying things about the country, for
example, to accept that there is a large inequality in our society. Apichatpong
also stressed that it's important to accept that a class struggle is the root
of the present conflict, and the Thais should not see all the Reds as just
simply being "bought". At this point one the manager radio's DJs responded
by lecturing Apichatpong back that the Red-shirts movement has nothing
to do with the issues of class and inequality, and that Apichatpong has a
moral responsibility to help tell this truth to the Thai public. Apichatpong said
what he mention was just his view, and everyone should be able to express
their view. But the DJ argued back using the case of lies related to the Thai
King that some views cannot be withstand. Apichatpong responeded that
the such lies can be dealt with by the legal process, and asked the DJs that
he would like to end the interview there because he felt "terrible" and felt
he was "forced to wear a colored shirt". The comments posted on the ASTV-
manager website on this news is full of criticisms and contempts by the
readers on Apichatpong, for example, Jeoi, you are Reds that pretend to be
neutral; or Jeoi, you are so naive to relate the Red-shirts with class struggles
when it's all about Thaksin.
Like other countries' entertainment industry, the entertainment world can
be a bit surreal. But, certainly, it can also reflect a current taste of the
audiences.

Petition to King DYMM YD Agong call for Royal Commission of Enquiry further to Article 93 of the Federal Constitution on the exclusion and segregation of especially the poor Indian students from being granted JPA Scholarships, PTPTN study loans, Matriculation and University places.

Date : 11^th July 2010
To
His Royal Highness DYMM Yang Dipertuan Agong
Duli Yang Maha Mulia Al Wathiqu Billah, Al-Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Almarhum Al-Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah Al-Haj Istana Negara. Jalan Istana.
50500 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia. Tel: 03 20788311 Fax: 03 20704646 / 03 20311535
DYMM Tuanku,
Re: 1) An estimated 2,237 top and high achieving Indian students segregated and denied JPA scholarships, PTPTN loans, Matriculation and University seats.
(2) Call for Royal Commission of Enquiry further to Article 93 of the Federal Constitution on the exclusion and segregation of especially the poor Indian students from being granted JPA Scholarships, PTPTN study loans, Matriculation and University places.
(3) Abolish STPM and One Pre-U for One Malaysia.
(4) United Nations nominated official head the Selection Committee and three (3) others for JPA scholarships, Matriculation and University places for five years.
We respectfully and humbly wish to bring to your kind attention as the guardian and custodian of the Federal Constitution for all your Royal Highness subjects irrespective of race and religion, for the compliance of Article 8 of the Federal Constitution (Equality before the law) and Article 12- rights in respect of education of the Federal Constitution. Article 12(1) reads, "without prejudice to the generality of Article 8, there shall be no discrimination against any citizen on the grounds only of religion, race and descent or place of birth."
Year in and year out over the past 40 years or so, thousands of especially top and high achieving poor Malaysian Indian students have been denied JPA scholarships, Matriculation & University places. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s claims One Malaysia policy, but top and high achieving poor Indian students are being denied the opportunities from becoming graduates, professionals and reputable citizens who would take Malaysia into the international arena.
This denial of fair and equal educational opportunities has forced an alarming number of poor Indians into the world of crime.
In any part of the world scholarships and study loans are granted by the government to deserving students without fail but only in One Malaysia is this discrimination, exclusion and segregation against the Malaysian Indian students going on and on.
A prime example is Prahsanna who ever since her childhood days grew up with the ambition to of becoming a medical doctor. Her parents, teachers and the community leaders motivated her to pursue medicine and shine in her academic qualifications. She took up the challenge. She worked hard day and night and proved that she is capable of achieving her ambition of becoming a doctor by scoring 11As in the Science stream. However her dreams were shattered when her applications to enter Matriculation, local Universities and JPA scholarship were turned down without any reason. And when she approached the Putrajaya officials she was told to drop her ambition! How would a sober person justify this! Her father is a retiree and her mother is a housewife. Who would help this poor young high achiever’s dream to come true if not the government? And this is just one and being the latest example and the tip of the iceberg to the even the sixth generation especially poor Malaysian Indian students being segregated and excluded from the national higher education opportunities of Malaysia.
Malay Muslim students from Pasir Salak MRSM who scored 7 Ds and 8 Es managed to secure a place in Matriculation colleges whereas Menaka who scored 8As from the same college is rejected. She was like a beggar knocking every government agencies’ door to get mercy. Is this the One Malaysia concept Prime Minister Najib is advocating?
Niquesan Nair was in the PLKN National Service Training while waiting for his SPM results. At the Camp they were taught of One Malaysia, that we are all One and happily sang the song Satu (One) Malaysia. But when he got his results, he scored 10A’s but was denied JPA scholarship, Matriculation and University places while his Malay Muslim friends in PLKN who scored 2A’s and 3A’s got seats in Matriculation/University and were relieved from PLKN training. At this young and tender age Niquesan Nair for the first time felt that just because of his Indian minority ethnicity he was denied the opportunity to contribute to his country.
While Malaysian Indians are denied their constitutional rights as enshrined in Article 8 and Article 12 of the Federal Constitution, the Higher Education Minister Khalid Nordin allocates scholarships to 363 foreign Muslim students to study in local Universities and upon completion they are to be given the opportunity to work here and the option to take up Malaysian Permanent Residence status (Malaysian Nanban 6/7/2010 page 1). In University Institute Technologi Mara (UITM) out of the 200,000 places, 10% are allocated to foreign Muslim students while even the sixth generation Malaysian born Indian students are completely denied entry. This is Najib Razak’s One Malaysia policy.
About 7,600 students were identified as “Excellent Students” or “Pelajar Cemerlang" upon the SPM results being announced this year (2010). There are 40,000 Matriculation seats available (UM 2/11/08 at page 4). Surely all 7,600 students should have secured places in matriculation colleges at the very least and there should have been zero complaints. But we alone have 67 SPM, STPM and Polytechnic students in our list who have complained to us that they were denied JPA scholarships, Matriculation and University places.
The above cases are only the tip of iceberg. We estimate 2,237 top and high achieving Indian students who have been denied JPA and other Scholarships, Matriculation & University places for the 2010 academic year.
DYMM Tuanku, we request the pre University STPM to be Abolished and create a one pre-university examination in One Malaysia for all Malaysian students so that the higher education opportunities are given out fairly to all deserving students especially so as not to exclude and segregate the Indian poor.
As it is education, which is the responsibility of the federal government (and similarly by any other government in any other part of the world), it is not fair because it is race, supremacy and segregation based as opposed to what should rightly be needs based. Through one Google or Wikipedia search the whole world would know that our education system is not fair. How can it be fair when we have different pre-university programmes? Many qualified poor Malaysian Indian students have been denied their basic rights to higher education in contravention of Article 8 (Equality before the law) and Article 12 (no discrimination in higher educational institutions entry financed by the government) of the Federal Constitution. They have to go through the tougher path of STPM without any guarantee of securing a place in the Universities. They are growing up with inequality and injustices in every corner of their lives. How then do they become a part of the true meaning of One Malaysia?
Whereas almost all Malay Muslim students opt for the matriculation programmes. Almost all of the over 40,0000 places in the eleven Matriculation colleges nationwide are reserved for malay muslim students in the 10 month course as opposed to the two year STPM course (Wikipedia). This has become a source of contention because matriculation students, who will enter university one over year earlier compared with their STPM peers, are considered on equal standing with STPM only in Malaysia for the purposes of University admission though it is significantly easier than STPM with a streamed down Form 6 syllabus.
Not all applicants for matriculation are admitted and the selection criteria have never been made public which has led to the perception that the entry has not been fair. The matriculation programme is not as rigorous as the STPM. The matriculation programme has come under some criticism as it is the general consensus that this programme is much easier than the sixth form programme leading to the STPM and serves to help malay muslim students enter the public university easily. Having been introduced after the supposed abolishment of racial quota based admission into local public Universities, the matriculation programme continues the role of its predecessor, albeit in a modified form. It is considered easier because in the matriculation programme the teachers set and mark the final exams that their students sit for whereas in the STPM the final exam is standardised and exam papers are exchanged between schools in different states to ensure unbiased marking. Also, the matriculation programme adopts a semester basis examination (2 semesters in the programme) whilst STPM involves only one final examination, covering all 2 years’ syllabus in one go. The scope and depth of the syllabus in matriculation is also lesser to that of STPM. The disparity between the programmes does not end there, for it is a known fact that in critical courses offered by local public universities (such as Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Engineering, Accountant, Law, Bio Science etc), almost 70% of the students comprise matriculation students. On the contrary, STPM students form the majority in courses which are less in demand, such as a Bachelor in Science. Defenders of the matriculation programme have described the two programmes as distinct and different, drawing the analogy of an apple and an orange. However, having served the same purpose (i.e. as an entrance requirement to Universities), we criticize the matriculation programme as a blatant practice of double standards.
The following is a fact – bright Indian students are systematically denied their entitlements for Government Scholarships, for admission to Public Universities especially in critical courses and for the Matriculation programme and this is becoming a more serious problem as more Indian students begin to excel academically as has been highlighted by HRP in the past few weeks.
Our sincere question is why does the UMNO led Government not become transparent about the selection process? Why do we need double standards in 1 Malaysia? Why hasn’t the public Universities and scholarship list and it’s selection criteria not been made transparent and public?
DYMM Tuanku, 70% of the Indians are from the poor and hardcore poor, category and the only way for them to break out of poverty is through education and they are denied even this very basic right.
DYMM Tuanku, we request that the JPA Scholarships, Matriculation, University seats and PTPTN loans selection committee should be headed by United Nation nominated official so that no Malaysian is denied their constitutional rights as per our Federal Constitution.
We humbly request for Your Royal Highness to constitute a Royal Commission of Enquiry further to Article 93 of the Federal Constitution to address the exclusion and segregation of especially the poor even the sixth generation Malaysian born ethnic minority Indian students from JPA, Mara, Petronas, 13 Yayasan Negeri, Yayasan TNB, Telekom Malaysia, Bank Negara, Sime Bank and other Scholarships, PTPTN study loans, Matriculation and University places.
We hereby enclose herewith:-
1) Our list containing a total of 69 SPM, STPM and Polytechnic top and high achieving students who have been denied of their constitutional rights to education.
2) A total of 31 Nationwide Police reports lodged by concerned citizens against the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister (Education Minister) and Higher Education Minister on the exclusion and segregation of especially the poor Malaysian Indian students of JPA scholarships, PTPTN loans, Matriculation and University places.
3) A total of 14,207 signatures from Malaysian citizens supporting this, our proposal to constitute a Royal Commission of Enquiry.
We hereby look forward to a Royal Commission to be constituted within two weeks as this is a matter of urgency and in the general public interest and long outstanding. We look forward to your favorable reply on this critical Indian problem at your earliest convenience.
Daulat Tuanku!
Thank you
Yours sincerely,
…………………………
S.JAYATHAS
Information Chief
Human Rights Party Malaysia HRP (pro tem) and HINDRAF
Note Relevant Article in the Federal Constitution:
93) Inquiries, surveys and statistics.
(1) The Federal Government may conduct such inquiries by Commission, authorize such surveys and collect and publish such statistic.
Article 93 read together with the Commission of Enquiry Act, 1950 (Act 119) – An Act to make provision for the holding of commissions of enquiry.
Act 119(2) Issue of Commissions.
(1) The Yang di-Pertuan Agong may, where it appears to him to be expedient so to do, issue a Commission appointing one of more Commissioners and authorizing the Commission to enquire into:-
(a)   The conduct of any federal officer:
(b)   The conduct or management of any department of the public service of the Federation:
(c)    The conduct or management of any public institutions
(d)     Any other matter in which an enquiry would, in the opinion of the Yang di- Pertuan Agong, be for the public welfare