MAKKAL SAKTHI
135-3-A JALAN TOMAN 7
KEMAYAN SQUARE 70200 SEREMBAN.
The Secretary to
DYMM Yang Dipertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan
Istana Hinggap
Seremban
16 December 2008
Dear Sir
RE:…
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
PETITION OF PEOPLE'S POWER TO YAMTUAN NSDK
Witness protection, with new identity and job
UPDATED
By Adib Zalkapli (Themalaysianinsider)
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 — The government will introduce a witness protection programme to protect whistle-blowers and give witnesses a change of identity as part…
UPDATED
By Adib Zalkapli (Themalaysianinsider)
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 — The government will introduce a witness protection programme to protect whistle-blowers and give witnesses a change of identity as part of the government's widespread reforms to fight graft and other dangerous and organised crimes.
The programme will be under the supervision of a director-general of witness protection, who can take all action "that is considered necessary and reasonable" to protect the welfare and safety of a witness.
Such actions will include providing the witness a new identity and to provide compensation and accommodation for the participant.
Necessary steps would also be taken to help the witness gain employment.
A law to introduce the programme was tabled in Parliament today by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.
The Witness Protection Bill is the fourth major law being proposed by the Abdullah Ahmad Badawi administration in the past two weeks.
Last week, the prime minister tabled legislation to set up the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC).
Yesterday a Bill to establish a judges' ethics committee was also tabled.
These laws are seen as part of reforms to the administration of justice and the way graft is tackled in the country, which are being rushed through in the waning days of the Abdullah administration.
The prime minister has promised to introduce a series of reforms before he leaves office, probably in March.
Today, the Witness Protection Bill, a groundbreaking law which will give a fillip to efforts to persuade witnesses to come forward in corruption and other serious cases, was tabled for first reading.
Under the provisions of the Bill, any application to be admitted under the programme would be vetted by the Attorney-General.
Applicants can appeal to the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department should the application be rejected by the A-G.
The applicants' criminal records, mental health and whether alternative protection can be provided are among factors to be considered before being admitted to the programme.
Protection can also be revoked by the A-G upon the recommendation of the director-general of the witness protection programme.
Last month Nazri had promised to provide better protection for witnesses by introducing the new law.
The Bill also sets out what a witness would have to disclose to the DG when applying, such as details of criminal history, outstanding tax, bankruptcy proceedings, immigration status, business dealings, financial liabilities and assets as well as general medical condition.
The final decision whether or not to allow a witness into the programme will be made by the A-G.
A registrar of witness protection will also be appointed to maintain a register of participants and that only the A-G, DG, minister and any other person authorised by the DG would have access to the register.
This register would also not be produced in court.
Insufficient protection for whistleblowers: Khairy
The SunThe Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Bill is insufficient to protect potential whistleblowers and witnesses, Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin said.
“The bill is not wide enough to protect whistleblowers and…
The SunThe Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Bill is insufficient to protect potential whistleblowers and witnesses, Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin said.
“The bill is not wide enough to protect whistleblowers and witnesses. We need a Whistleblowers and Witness Protection Act that can be complementary (to the MACC Bill),” he said.
Such an act was necessary to ensure that those reporting felt safe to come forward. “The acts can be separate, one for whistleblowers and one for witnesses. Both are different but they can also be merged,” he said.
Khairy said there should be a fair composition on the Special Committee on Corruption to retain public confidence in the commission.
“I hope that through convention, we will see a representation (on the MACC Special Committee) that is proportionate to the representation in the Dewan Rakyat,” he said.
“If this is not done, the rakyat will question the committee and the commission because we set this commission up to show that the government is sincere in eradicating corruption. So, once you have set up this commission, I do not think that the government will want to see it fail just because of the membership of the committee,” he said.
He said it would be “irresponsible” if the composition of the committee caused the commission to lose credibility.
“It is imperative for the government to recommend to the prime minister and the King that the membership is at least proportionate, or has a meaningful representation, by the Opposition,” he said, describing the current mix of powers between Parliament and the executive “the best of both worlds”.
“I think what you have for now is a hybrid, where it is not entirely under executive control, and it is not entirely under parliamentary control either. What you have now is you have evolved the ACA from being a creature of the executive to one that has parliamentary oversight,” he said.
“So, maybe, instead of going all the way towards parliamentary jurisdiction, you have a balance between executive responsibility over the commission and parliamentary oversight.”
Where’s code, ask Karpal and Gobind
The SunFATHER-AND-SON MPs Karpal Singh (DAPBukit Jelutong) and Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) questioned the tabling of the Judges’ Ethics Committee Bill when, they said, the main reference of the…
The SunFATHER-AND-SON MPs Karpal Singh (DAPBukit Jelutong) and Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) questioned the tabling of the Judges’ Ethics Committee Bill when, they said, the main reference of the bill – the Judges’ Code of Ethics 2008 – was non-existent.
Karpal told a press conference at the Parliament lobby: “The 1994 (judges’) code of ethics must be repealed by the 2008 code of ethics, the one which is intended to be brought in force. Both cannot remain.
“The 2008 code of ethics is not in existence. We do not know what it is. It is extremely shoddy that the government presents such a bill.”
According to Bernama, he likened the tabling of the bill as “putting the cart before the horse”.
Gobind said “key aspects” of the bill were “left blank”.
“If you do not know what the code of ethics is, and it is left blank, how do you even debate a bill like this?” he asked.
Chee Seng residents want Bolton project stopped
Scary hill-slope project in Chee Seng Gardens, Penang
Residents want the project stopped
(By Anil netto)This is a message from George Aeria of Chee Seng Gardens, which covers the…
Scary hill-slope project in Chee Seng Gardens, Penang
Residents want the project stopped
(By Anil netto)This is a message from George Aeria of Chee Seng Gardens, which covers the Old Chee Seng Gardens, the newer parts (houses built by Leader Gardens), Straits Regency, Coastal Towers, Twin Towers and Marina Towers.
The residents are upset with the Bolton Surin project undertaken by GLM Property on a steep hill-slope, which has previously resulted in flooding in the area. They are also asking the Penang state government to emulate the stand taken by their counterparts in Selangor with regard to Class III and Class IV hill slopes.
Over 80 residents attended a meeting on 13 December with the main press in attendance. “YB Teh gave a short speech and took several questions and his message that we got is YAB Lim Guan Eng is not going to be on the side of the residents and will be alowing the Class IV hill slope construction to continue,” said Aeria.
“We have told him that if he does not stop the developers, than our vote for change has come to naught, i.e. we wanted the Gerakan and Umno government of Penang out and wanted DAP to start controlling the developers but if he does not, then we will NOT support the DAP government.”
The residents told the state government reps that if they do not stop Class IV hillslope construction, they would support any other party, including the BN i.e. they would play off one party against the other.
Walau harga turun...berjimatlah
Agenda Daily
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Kerajaan membuat keputusan menurunkan harga minyak setelah dinaikkan kepada paras harga RM2.70 seliter Jun lalu,ekoran penurunan mendadak harga minyak mentah dunia di pasaran antarabangsa.
Mengulas sama ada penurunan harga petrol dan diesel akan turun lagi, Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna, Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad berkata, rakyat jangan terlalu berharap sangat bahawa harga runcit petrol dan diesel akan diturunkan lagi selepas ini.
Sebabnya menurut beliau, harga minyak mentah di pasaran antarabangsa kini sudah mula menunjukkan trend peningkatan.
Walaupun peningkatan tersebut masih belum lagi ketara tetapi tanda-tanda kenaikan berkenaan memberikan indikasi bahawa harga komoditi berkenaan tidak dapat dijamin kekal pada paras yang sedia ada pada masa kini.
Harga pasaran minyak dunia kini berada di bawah USD50 setong tetapi terdapat petunjuk bahawa harga berkenaan akan melonjak sedikit melepasi paras USD50.
Kerajaan hari Isnin menurunkan harga runcit petrol dan diesel sebanyak 10 sen menjadikan harga petrol turun kepada RM1.80 manakala diesel pula kepada RM1.70.
Penurunan harga yang terbaru itu, adalah kali yang keenam dilakukan oleh kerajaan sejak harga runcit kedua-dua bahan bakar berkenaan dinaikkan kepada RM2.70 Jun lalu.
Ditanya adakah penurunan harga ini ada kaitan dengan pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Kuala Terengganu, 17 Januari depan, Shahrir menolak andaian tersebut.
“Ini bukan gula-gula politik walaupun pembangkang jadikan minyak sebagai isu politik. Ini adalah janji kerajaan untuk menurunkan harga minyak,” katanya.
Andaian sama juga diberikan apabila kerajaan buat pertama kali menurunkan harga minyak sebanyak 15 sen sebelum pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Permatang Pauh, Ogos lalu.
Namun cakap-cakap bahawa penurunan harga minyak tersebut kerana kepentingan politik akhirnya lenyap apabila kerajaan terus menurunkan harga runcit petrol dan diesel ekoran penurunan harga minyak mentah dunia di pasaran.
“Dulu bila kita turunkan harga sebelum pilihan raya kecil Permatang Pauh, orang kata ini kerana politik tetapi selepas itu bila turun lagi, terbukti kerajaan sebenarnya menunaikan janji,” jelasnya.
Beliau berharap, penurunan harga runcit petrol dan diesel di bawah paras RM1.92 selepas naik kepada RM2.70 Jun lalu akan memberi banyak manafaat kepada rakyat.
Cumanya beliau mengingatkan, walaupun harga petrol dan diesel turun dan rakyat mempunyai lebihan untuk berbelanja, mereka dinasihatkan agar berjimat.
Miba kesal pegawai bank sebut 'orang asing'
By Malaysiakini
Persatuan Perniagaan India Malaysia (Miba) kesal dengan sikap tidak sensitif seorang pegawai bank milik kerajaan yang menggunakan istilah 'orang asing' terhadap kaum lain ketika berucap di seminar anjuran…
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Persatuan Perniagaan India Malaysia (Miba) kesal dengan sikap tidak sensitif seorang pegawai bank milik kerajaan yang menggunakan istilah 'orang asing' terhadap kaum lain ketika berucap di seminar anjuran…
By Malaysiakini
Persatuan Perniagaan India Malaysia (Miba) kesal dengan sikap tidak sensitif seorang pegawai bank milik kerajaan yang menggunakan istilah 'orang asing' terhadap kaum lain ketika berucap di seminar anjuran Miba di Kuala Lumpur hujung minggu lalu.
Seminar tersebut dianjurkan bersama oleh Miba dengan sebuah bank milik kerajaan berhubung kemudahan bantuan dalam bentuk pinjaman kepada ahli-ahli Miba.
Kira-kira 70 peniaga menghadiri seminar tersebut.
Presiden Miba, P Sivakumar memberitahu Malaysiakini bahawa peserta merasa jengkel apabila seorang pegawai tinggi dari bank tersebut didakwa mengulangi perkataan 'orang asing' itu sebanyak dua kali.
Katanya, pegawai berkenaan "merujuk kepada masyarakat India" ketika memberitahu para hadirin bahawa 'orang asing' kini boleh memohon pekerjaan di bank-bank berkenaan.
Sehubungan itu, Sivakumar menggesa para penceramah di seminar-seminar awam supaya lebih berhati-hati dan lebih bertanggungjawab.
Beliau juga menyifatkan insiden itu sebagai sesuatu yang "memalukan", tidak bertanggungjawab, tidak berperlembagaan dan berunsur hasutan.
"Masyarakat India adalah rakyat negara ini. Beberapa generasi telah berlalu sejak Malaya mencapai kemerdekaannya," tegas beliau.
"Harus diperjelaskan bahawa negara ini mencapai kemerdekaannya dari British hanya selepas ketiga-tiga kaum utama melalui Umno, MCA dan MIC bersetuju dengan Pengisytiharan Perlembagaan Persekutuan untuk mencapai kemerdekaan," katanya.
Sivakumar berkata, masyarakat India telah menyumbang kepada kemajuan negara sejak awal lagi dan turut bekerja keras untuk kemakmuran negara.
"Bagi kini, negara ini adalah tanahair kita, tetapi malangnya masih ada mereka yang menganggap kita sebagai orang asing dan terus menerus menyemai rasa tidak percaya," tambahnya.
Mesti minta maaf
Bagaimanapun, Sivakumar berkata beliau tidak mahu isu ini disensasikan oleh pihak-pihak lain, termasuk parti-parti politik.
"Tidak perlulah kita memperbesar-besarkannya. Ia adalah satu kes terpencil," tegasnya.
Sivakumar berkata, Miba telah menulis surat kepada pegawai terbabit dan juga akan menulis surat aduan kepada pihak bank berkenaan, Gabenor Bank Negara dan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
"Kita mahu beliau (pegawai berkenaan) memohon maaf. Ia juga bukan untuk kepentingan kita tetapi demi kepentingan umum. Ia harus menjadi peringatan kepada yang lain," katanya.
Menurut beliau lagi, insiden itu juga tidak memberi contoh teladan yang baik kepada pegawai-pegawai baru bank yang turut hadir di seminar tersebut.
"Pegawai-pegawai ini memegang jawatan penting dan semestinya bersikap tidak memihak dalam menjalankan tanggungjawab mereka. Lagi pula, beliau adalah pegawai bank dan tidak seharusnya bersikap seperti seorang ahli politik," katanya.
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Persatuan Perniagaan India Malaysia (Miba) kesal dengan sikap tidak sensitif seorang pegawai bank milik kerajaan yang menggunakan istilah 'orang asing' terhadap kaum lain ketika berucap di seminar anjuran Miba di Kuala Lumpur hujung minggu lalu.
Seminar tersebut dianjurkan bersama oleh Miba dengan sebuah bank milik kerajaan berhubung kemudahan bantuan dalam bentuk pinjaman kepada ahli-ahli Miba.Kira-kira 70 peniaga menghadiri seminar tersebut.
Presiden Miba, P Sivakumar memberitahu Malaysiakini bahawa peserta merasa jengkel apabila seorang pegawai tinggi dari bank tersebut didakwa mengulangi perkataan 'orang asing' itu sebanyak dua kali.
Katanya, pegawai berkenaan "merujuk kepada masyarakat India" ketika memberitahu para hadirin bahawa 'orang asing' kini boleh memohon pekerjaan di bank-bank berkenaan.
Sehubungan itu, Sivakumar menggesa para penceramah di seminar-seminar awam supaya lebih berhati-hati dan lebih bertanggungjawab.
Beliau juga menyifatkan insiden itu sebagai sesuatu yang "memalukan", tidak bertanggungjawab, tidak berperlembagaan dan berunsur hasutan.
"Masyarakat India adalah rakyat negara ini. Beberapa generasi telah berlalu sejak Malaya mencapai kemerdekaannya," tegas beliau.
"Harus diperjelaskan bahawa negara ini mencapai kemerdekaannya dari British hanya selepas ketiga-tiga kaum utama melalui Umno, MCA dan MIC bersetuju dengan Pengisytiharan Perlembagaan Persekutuan untuk mencapai kemerdekaan," katanya.
Sivakumar berkata, masyarakat India telah menyumbang kepada kemajuan negara sejak awal lagi dan turut bekerja keras untuk kemakmuran negara.
"Bagi kini, negara ini adalah tanahair kita, tetapi malangnya masih ada mereka yang menganggap kita sebagai orang asing dan terus menerus menyemai rasa tidak percaya," tambahnya.
Mesti minta maaf
Bagaimanapun, Sivakumar berkata beliau tidak mahu isu ini disensasikan oleh pihak-pihak lain, termasuk parti-parti politik.
"Tidak perlulah kita memperbesar-besarkannya. Ia adalah satu kes terpencil," tegasnya.
Sivakumar berkata, Miba telah menulis surat kepada pegawai terbabit dan juga akan menulis surat aduan kepada pihak bank berkenaan, Gabenor Bank Negara dan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
"Kita mahu beliau (pegawai berkenaan) memohon maaf. Ia juga bukan untuk kepentingan kita tetapi demi kepentingan umum. Ia harus menjadi peringatan kepada yang lain," katanya.
Menurut beliau lagi, insiden itu juga tidak memberi contoh teladan yang baik kepada pegawai-pegawai baru bank yang turut hadir di seminar tersebut.
"Pegawai-pegawai ini memegang jawatan penting dan semestinya bersikap tidak memihak dalam menjalankan tanggungjawab mereka. Lagi pula, beliau adalah pegawai bank dan tidak seharusnya bersikap seperti seorang ahli politik," katanya.
Message from Mr.Uthaya to all Hindraf supporters
Dear HINDRAF Supporters,
Though HINDRAF has been banned by this Government I urge all of you to continue the true spirit of HINDRAF that has been to pressure the government…
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Though HINDRAF has been banned by this Government I urge all of you to continue the true spirit of HINDRAF that has been to pressure the government…
Dear HINDRAF Supporters,
Though HINDRAF has been banned by this Government I urge all of you to continue the true spirit of HINDRAF that has been to pressure the government to address all issues affecting the Malaysian Indian Community.
The most crucial demands of the Malaysian community are contained in the 18 demands we had submitted in August 2007 and I stand by those demands and am willing to be in prison for as long as it takes for the Government to fulfil those urgent needs of the community.
I take full responsibility for those demands made and urge the Government to release my fellow Lawyer brothers who merely acted in helping me and my brother Waytha Moorthy in various matters in court. The 3 Lawyers have suffered in prison for a year and there are no valid reasons for the Government to hold them and they should be immediately released.
This one year of prison life has taught me to be strong and I am resolved to struggle for the rights of Malaysian Indians. UMNO Government has cheated the Malaysian Indians for more than 51 years and this has to come to an end.
Let us all unite as one voice to speak for our rights. Keep our differences at bay. No two man can think alike and have the same opinions. But basic rights are something that we should all demand equally and to do so we have to have a single voice. With this single voice we should continue to push forward and I urge all of you to be prepared for a higher task of not only demanding our rights from this government but to also make yourselves available to serve the community in a positive way.
Year 2009 should be dedicated to serve the community and I urge all of you to come forward to join us in our next agenda to serve the public.
GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND WE WILL TOGETHER COMPLETE THE GREAT TASK THAT LIES AHEAD.
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Though HINDRAF has been banned by this Government I urge all of you to continue the true spirit of HINDRAF that has been to pressure the government to address all issues affecting the Malaysian Indian Community.
The most crucial demands of the Malaysian community are contained in the 18 demands we had submitted in August 2007 and I stand by those demands and am willing to be in prison for as long as it takes for the Government to fulfil those urgent needs of the community.
I take full responsibility for those demands made and urge the Government to release my fellow Lawyer brothers who merely acted in helping me and my brother Waytha Moorthy in various matters in court. The 3 Lawyers have suffered in prison for a year and there are no valid reasons for the Government to hold them and they should be immediately released.
This one year of prison life has taught me to be strong and I am resolved to struggle for the rights of Malaysian Indians. UMNO Government has cheated the Malaysian Indians for more than 51 years and this has to come to an end.
Let us all unite as one voice to speak for our rights. Keep our differences at bay. No two man can think alike and have the same opinions. But basic rights are something that we should all demand equally and to do so we have to have a single voice. With this single voice we should continue to push forward and I urge all of you to be prepared for a higher task of not only demanding our rights from this government but to also make yourselves available to serve the community in a positive way.
Year 2009 should be dedicated to serve the community and I urge all of you to come forward to join us in our next agenda to serve the public.
GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND WE WILL TOGETHER COMPLETE THE GREAT TASK THAT LIES AHEAD.
Commemorate the 1st Anniversary of the ISA Detention of the Hindraf 5
by Andrew Khoo Chin Hock
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Marked the first anniversary of the arrest under the Internal Security Act 1960 (“ISA”) of P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, V. Ganabatirau, R.…
by Andrew Khoo Chin Hock 
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Marked the first anniversary of the arrest under the Internal Security Act 1960 (“ISA”) of P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kengadharan and K. Vasantha Kumar, otherwise known as the “Hindraf 5”.
Approximately 40 people comprising the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer and members of the Malaysian Bar, family members of some of the Hindraf 5, family members of other persons currently being detained under the ISA and members of the public gathered at the Bar Council Auditorium for a simple yet meaningful ceremony to remember the occasion.
In her brief opening remarks, President of the Malaysian Bar Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan noted that apart from the ISA, there was other legislation that allowed for detention without trial, and that approximately 2,000 people were being detained. In respect of Hindraf, she questioned the logic of the Government in banning not an organisation per se but a cause. She wondered whether this was a first anywhere in the world. In her subsequent remarks after members of families spoke, she commented that she had written to the Ministry of Home Affairs about the issue of no physical contact between family members and detainees. She also said she was very concerned during recent releases when detainees were referred to as terrorists, etc. None of this had been proven, and such references only served as an attempt by the Government to “legitimise” their detention.
Vice-President of the Malaysian Bar Ragunath Kesavan articulated the need to continue to support the 4 members of the Hindraf 5 who were practising advocates and solicitors, many of whom were sole proprietors. He said that all of them were struggling to maintain their practice, but the Malaysian Bar would do what it could to help them with their Sijil Annual applications. He wanted them to be able immediately to return to the practice of law once they were released. The Malaysian Bar would also continue to issue press statements and mount signature and other campaigns to call for the release of the Hindraf 5, as well as all those being detained. He also praised Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (“GMI”) and Suara Rakyat Malaysia who have been doing a lot to keep the issue of the ISA in the forefront. He said that the Government did not like the public saying they did not want the ISA, or for ordinary citizens to be cycling around the country distributing flyers highlighting human rights issues. He re-iterated the fact that the Government had not produced any evidence to justify the continued detention of persons under the ISA. He added that the injustices of the ISA had been highlighted and brought home to the ordinary citizen with the arrests of Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Theresa Kok MP and journalist Tan Hoon Cheng.
Next to speak was Mrs. Puvaneswary, the wife of V. Ganabatirau. She related the experience of herself and her 2 children in the year since her husband’s arrest and detention. Her older child kept asking daily where “Papa” was, while her younger child was unable to recognise her father since she was very young when Ganabatirau was arrested. She maintained that her husband had done nothing wrong, and so should never have been arrested. She thanked members of the Bar, especially those who had been helping very closely, for their assistance. She had had to rent out half of her husband’s office space in order to make ends meet. She added that clients had also been very understanding.
The Master of Ceremonies for the event, Malaysian Bar Treasurer George Varghese, then read out a letter from Dr. Kalaivani, the proud wife of R. Kengadharan. She apologised for not being present in person due to her once-a-week visit to her husband in Kamunting. She too highlighted the cost to her parents-in-law and her young son of her husband’s detention, and spoke of the nightmare which evolved on 13 December 2007. Their 2½ year old son’s first word was “Papa”, but now he spoke it very rarely. At every family visit to Kamunting, their son has to be reminded to hug and kiss “Papa”. Their home environment was lifeless, empty and lonely. She thanked Prabhakaran, her brother-in-law, who toiled each day and most nights to keep Kengadharan’s law firm going, as well as to some members of the Malaysian Bar who helped him along, and also clients who continued their support. She was glad that the issue of the ISA was now being addressed by many individuals, groups and parties including the Malaysian Bar, and hoped that this struggle and the call for the immediate release of the Hindraf 5 would continue. She hoped and prayed that the suffering would end as soon as possible.
Puan Norlaila Othman, wife of almost-7-year detainee Mat Sah Satray, also spoke about the plight of families of ISA detainees. She mentioned Dr. Abdullah Daud, who had been arrested in December 2001, as the current longest-serving detainee. She highlighted the isolation of family members not being able to touch their loved one, and of speaking over an intercome separated by a glass window. She said that this last Hari Raya Haji visit was the first time in 4 years that she had touched her husband and for her son to hug his father. She half-humorously complained that she was jealous of the lawyers who visited Kamunting, who were allowed to shake hands with the detainees and meet them without physical barriers. She spoke of the emotional assistance rendered through the mutual giving and receiving of support among ISA detainee families, even if they initially did not know each other.
Puan Norlaila also provided some statistics on current and recently-released detainees. According to her, 46 people were still being detained under the ISA. She drew attention to the fact that her husband had been questioned by Special Branch on her activities with GMI, and said it had been suggested to her husband that he could be released if she stopped. But he had told them that it was up to his wife. So his continued detention was no longer about what he had been alleged to have done, or whether he continued to pose a threat to the security of the country. Indeed, others arrested around the same time as him had been released. However the issue was no longer simply about fighting to free her husband but to ensure that other people would not be subject to the ISA. She reminded those present that Nelson Mandela had been detained for 27 years. She also said she had now become a blogger.
Haris Ibrahim was invited to say a few words. He mentioned the continued vigils being carried out, including a few for which permits had been applied, and the ludicrous permit conditions. He spoke about recent efforts by the police in Batang Kali to prohibit Hindus from praying for Hindraf in temples.
Puan Hendon Mohamed, a former President of the Malaysian Bar, recalled that even when she was a schoolgirl she had known people detained under the ISA, for example the Puthuchearys and Sidney Woodhull. There was, and still is, total disregard for the rule of law through the use of draconian legislation.
The commemoration ended with two songs presented by Amin Iskandar, better known as “Black”.
Dare ACA or MACC answer like this?
By Lim Kit Siang
Q: How does the ICAC maintain its independence?
A: We are independent. There is nothing to maintain.
This is from the Sunday Star interview with Hong…
By Lim Kit Siang
Q: How does the ICAC maintain its independence?
A: We are independent. There is nothing to maintain.
This is from the Sunday Star interview with Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) deputy commissioner and head of operations Daniel Li to illustrate the difference between ICAC and Malaysia anti-corruption body, whether the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) or the soon-to-be MACC.
I quoted this Q & A in Parliament during the debate on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC).
I asked which Malaysian anti-corruption chief would dare to answer with such insouciance and categorical assurance without any hesitation or shadow of doubt about the independence of the Malaysian anti-corruption body?
Unthinkable! Only last Thursday, the No. 2 in the ACA was publicly admitting that the ACA was being perceived as a “lapdog” of the authorities!
This was my answer to attacks from UMNO MPs in the debate for my criticism of Daniel Li who had praised the MACC Bill as even better than Hong Kong anti-corruption legislation and had gone on to praise the “determination” of the Malaysian Government to fight corruption.
I said I accepted Donald Li as an authority on ICAC and the battle against corruption in Hong Kong but that does not make him an authority on the MACC Bill or the corruption situation in Malaysia.
In my speech, I said when standing up to debate the MACC Bill, I had four images following the day-to-day developments in the country after the first reading of the Bill last Wednesday:
(1) First the pervasiveness and the far-reaching effects, including lethal consequences, of corruption arising from the Malaysiakini (10/12/08): report “Landslide survivor: We are victims of corruption”, which stated:
“A furious Ungku Farid Ungku Abdul, 54, did not hesitate in identifying the cause – and culprits – of last Saturday’s landslide in Bukit Antarabangsa.
“’We are victims of the corruption in Malaysia’, alleged Farid, a businessman, whose house was one of the 14 destroyed in the incident.” Read more
Vigil outside Rawang police station as cyclists held
By Anilnetto
2050: Police are now recording the details of 45 Jerit northern team cyclists in the Rawang police station (phone 03-6091 6222). Outside the station, a candlelight vigil is…
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2050: Police are now recording the details of 45 Jerit northern team cyclists in the Rawang police station (phone 03-6091 6222). Outside the station, a candlelight vigil is…
By Anilnetto
2050: Police are now recording the details of 45 Jerit northern team cyclists in the Rawang police station (phone 03-6091 6222). Outside the station, a candlelight vigil is now being held
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2050: Police are now recording the details of 45 Jerit northern team cyclists in the Rawang police station (phone 03-6091 6222). Outside the station, a candlelight vigil is now being held
At first, the police tried to use Section 32 of the Child Act; they wanted to hold the cyclists until their parents came. Then they tried the usual s112 of the CPC. Now, they are just documenting the particulars of the cyclists - name, IC number, address.
“They seem disappointed that all the cyclists below 18 have consent letters from their parents,” says one of the Jerit coordinators inside the station.
Meanwhile, the Jerit southern region cycling team have been freed and they are now in Kajang.
Court to hear bid against Jayashree on Thursday
Bernama, Dec 15 2008 -- The High Court has fixed Thursday to hear the application by Indian Progressive Front (IPF) vice president V. Mathiyalagan to stop Puan Sri Jayashree Gnanapandithan…
Bernama, Dec 15 2008 -- The High Court has fixed Thursday to hear the application by Indian Progressive Front (IPF) vice president V. Mathiyalagan to stop Puan Sri Jayashree Gnanapandithan from continuing to serve as the party’s president.
Mathiyalagan brought the suit on Nov 24, naming Jayashree, party secretary-general K. Velayutham and assistant secretary K. Neducheralanathan as defendants.
Besides the injunction, he also sought aggravated and exemplary damages, costs and other reliefs deemed fit by the court.
He also sought a court order to stop Jayashree from intervening in the affairs of the party and a declaration that she was not a legitimate IPF president and all actions by her as the president were null and void.
He also sought a declaration that the letter appointing Jayashree as party president dated April 20, 2008 and the meeting of the party’s supreme council held at Kuala Lumpur Hospital on April 20, 2008 also null and void.
Mathiyalagan alleged that the IPF supreme council’s statement on Jayashree’s appointment as acting president and later party president in place of her late husband, Tan Sri M.G. Pandithan, was a fraud.
He said Jayashree’s action in calling herself IPF president without any legitimate policies or powers had brought confusion to IPF supreme council members, IPF members and the public.
In her reply filed on Dec 11, Jayashree said there was no fraud, complot or falsification in her appointment as party president and sought the court to throw out Mathiyalagan’s application.
The three defendants were represented by lawyer S. Selvam while K.
Saraswathy acted for Mathiyalagan.
Besides the injunction, he also sought aggravated and exemplary damages, costs and other reliefs deemed fit by the court.
He also sought a court order to stop Jayashree from intervening in the affairs of the party and a declaration that she was not a legitimate IPF president and all actions by her as the president were null and void.
He also sought a declaration that the letter appointing Jayashree as party president dated April 20, 2008 and the meeting of the party’s supreme council held at Kuala Lumpur Hospital on April 20, 2008 also null and void.
Mathiyalagan alleged that the IPF supreme council’s statement on Jayashree’s appointment as acting president and later party president in place of her late husband, Tan Sri M.G. Pandithan, was a fraud.
He said Jayashree’s action in calling herself IPF president without any legitimate policies or powers had brought confusion to IPF supreme council members, IPF members and the public.
In her reply filed on Dec 11, Jayashree said there was no fraud, complot or falsification in her appointment as party president and sought the court to throw out Mathiyalagan’s application.
The three defendants were represented by lawyer S. Selvam while K.
Saraswathy acted for Mathiyalagan.
PAK MAN TELO - NEW YORK
1. Today's Starbiz reports that 50 billion US dollars of investor's money were lost by just one man.
2. Bernard Madoff invested US5000 of his money to set up an…
2. Bernard Madoff invested US5000 of his money to set up an…
1. Today's Starbiz reports that 50 billion US dollars of investor's money were lost by just one man.
2. Bernard Madoff invested US5000 of his money to set up an investment firm. Such was his personality and sales talk that he was able to convince lots of rich people to invest their money with him. The returns were so good that his fund became exclusive, open to select people only.
3. When he was arrested recently by the FBI he admitted that "There is no innocent explanation".
2. Bernard Madoff invested US5000 of his money to set up an investment firm. Such was his personality and sales talk that he was able to convince lots of rich people to invest their money with him. The returns were so good that his fund became exclusive, open to select people only.
3. When he was arrested recently by the FBI he admitted that "There is no innocent explanation".
5. Apparently the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of America did not detect Madoff's operation for years. He was even made Chairman of Nasdaq Stock Market.
6. He was living a high life, with a 5 million dollar mansion in Manhattan and membership of the most exclusive clubs.
7. Pak Man Telo would probably have done better if he had gone to New York where he would not have the Malaysian Government overseeing such activities. Or perhaps the SEC might learn some lessons from Malaysia as indeed the US Government has learnt about bailing out companies.
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