Vox Pop: Support for Eli

Women MPs demand stern action

Keputusan kes bunuh Altantuya 9 April

Malaysiakini | 17 Februari 2009

Nasib dua anggota Unit Tindakan Khas (UTK) yang didakwa membunuh wanita Mongolia Altantuya Shaariibuu bakal diketahui 9 April depan.

Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin hari ini membuat keputusan itu selepas mendengar hujahan pihak pendakwaan dan pihak pembelaan di akhir kes pembelaan selama dua hari.

Cif Inspektor Azilah Hadri, 33, dan Koperal Sirul Azhar Umar, 37, telah dipanggil membela diri pada 31 Oktober tahun lalu. Azilah memberi keterangan membela dirinya sendiri di kandang saksi manakala Sirul Azhar membacakan keterangan bertulis di kandang tertuduh, lapor Bernama.

Tiada saksi lain yang dipanggil.

Azilah dan Sirul Azhar didakwa membunuh Altantuya Shaariibuu, 28, di antara Lot 12843 dan Lot 16735 Mukim Bukit Raja dekat sini antara jam 10 malam 19 Okt dan 1 pagi 20 Oktober 2006.

Sebelum ini, mereka dibicarakan bersama-sama Pengarah Eksekutif Pusat Penyelidikan Strategik Malaysia (MSRC), Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, 48, yang dituduh bersubahat membunuh Altantuya.

Bagaimanapun pada 31 Oktober 2008, penganalisis politik itu dilepaskan dan dibebaskan tanpa perlu membela diri setelah pihak pendakwaan gagal membuktikan elemen penting dalam pertuduhan bersubahat.

Sementara itu, Timbalan Pendakwaraya Manoj Kurup telah berhujah bahawa

Azilah tidak dapat membuktikan alibi yang dia tidak berada di kawasan kejadian pada malam pembunuhan.

Katanya Azilah juga tidak memanggil seorang saksipun untuk mengesahkan perkara tersebut.

“Kita diberitahu oleh tertuduh pertama sendiri yang dia berada di Wangsa Maju. Notis alibi yang termaktub di bawah Seksyen 402A Kanun Prosedur Jenayah menyatakan seseorang itu perlu tahu akan fakta alibi. Namun, atas sebab yang hanya diketahui tertuduh pertama, dia memilih untuk tidak memanggil orang yang dinamakan dalam P430 (teman wanita Azilah, Nur Azila Baharuddin) sebagai saksi.

“Hujah kami mudah sahaja itu kegagalan untuk memanggil saksi sebagai alibinya, tertuduh pertama telah hilang peluang untuk mewujudkan keraguan munasabah terhadap kes pendakwaan,” katanya.

Manoj juga berhujah keterangan bersumpah Azilah tercemar berikutan tidak konsisten, bercanggah dan tidak munasabah, sehinggakan, hanya satu kesimpulan boleh dibuat daripadanya iaitu tertuduh pertama hanya memutar-belitkannya.

“Tertuduh pertama berkata beliau tidak bertanya kepada Abdul Razak Abdullah kenapa wanita dan lelaki Cina itu mengugutnya. Dia juga berkata DSP Musa Safri tidak memberikan butiran kepadanya mengenai masalah yang dihadapi Abdul Razak Abdullah.

“Jadi kenapa tertuduh pertama tidak bertanya kepada Abdul Razak Abdullah ‘ugut’ itu mengenai apa? Tidakkah sebagai pegawai polis, dia mempunyai rasa ingin tahu mengenai perkara itu? Dengan segala hormatnya, hujah kami ialah keterangan tertuduh pertama di sini memang cukup luarbiasa,” katanya.

Manoj berkata keterangan Azilah itu memang tidak mengejutkan atas dua alasan. Pertamanya, katanya: “Tertuduh pertama mengaku semasa diperiksa balas yang dia mempunyai budi bicara untuk mengambil apa juga tindakan berhubung masalah dihadapi Abdul Razak dan bahawa Abdul Razak menyerahkan sepenuhnya kepadanya untuk menyelesaikan masalah itu.

“Keduanya, tertuduh pertama mengaku, semasa diperiksa balas, bagi dirinya ‘masalah Abdul Razak telah selesai pada malam itu juga’. Kemudian dia segera menafikan yang dia tahu apa yang telah berlaku kepada si mati. Bagaimana dia tahu yang masalah Abdul Razak sudah selesai pada malam itu tanpa mengetahui apa yang telah berlaku kepada si mati? Tertuduh pertama terperangkap dengan pembohongannya sendiri di sini.”

Manoj juga berhujah kedua-dua tertuduh kini saling bersaing untuk meraih hadiah bagi fiksyen terbaik yang diberitahu di Mahkamah dan kedua-dua versi patut ditolak kerana tidak berjaya mewujudkan keraguan munasabah berhubung kerumitan dan kesalahan dalam pembunuhan Altantuya.

“Satu perkara kritikal yang perlukan perhatian wujud di sini. Jika benar berlaku keadaan di mana tertuduh kedua sepatutnya membawa si mati balik ke hotel, kenapa meneruskan perjalanan ke Bukit Aman dan memindahkan si mati di sana? Kenapa tidak dilakukan di tempat mereka berhenti?.

“Tertuduh pertama berkata tertuduh kedua mahu pergi ke Bukit Aman terlebih dahulu tetapi tiada penjelasan diberikan berhubung perkara ini.

Tertuduh pertama ialah pegawai atasan tertuduh kedua, tetapi dia dilihat secara membabi buta mengikut tertuduh kedua ke Bukit Aman, tanpa sebarang alasan diberikan bagi kelakuan aneh ini. Pembelaan diri oleh kedua-dua tertuduh menimbulkan pelbagai persoalan tetapi tiada jawapan diberikan,” kata Manoj.

Pada akhir hujahannya, Manoj berkata beberapa keterangan keadaan yang telah cuba dibuktikan oleh pihak pendakwaan kekal tidak disangkal, tidak dijelaskan dan tidak dijawab oleh kedua-dua tertuduh.

“Kekukuhan gabungan beberapa keterangan itu apabila dipintal telah membentuk dua utas tali, cukup kuat untuk mengantung setiap tertuduh. Dengan penuh hormat, kami berhujah bahawa tiada keraguan munasabah ditimbulkan terhadap kes pendakwaan oleh mana-mana tertuduh.

“Pihak pendakwaan telah membuktikan keraguan melampaui munasabah akan kesalahan kedua-dua tertuduh, mewajarkan sabitan terhadap pertuduhan membunuh yang dilakukan atas niat bersama kedua-dua mereka,” katanya.

Anwar promises proof of BN blackmail

By Lee Wei Lian-The Malaysian insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 — Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says he will expose how threats and inducements are used against Pakatan Rakyat state assemblymen and members of parliament in his speech in parliament tomorrow.

“I am going to show proof of blackmail in my parliament speech tomorrow,” the federal representative for Permatang Pauh told reporters today.

Pakatan Rakyat leaders have been under ferocious pressure with talk of defections rife ever since three Perak state representatives switched their support from the fledging coalition earlier this month giving BN a lead in the state assembly and causing the ouster of Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaludin.

It is speculated that the proof that Anwar plans to present tomorrow will be related to the resignation of PKR’s Bukit Selambau state assemblyman V Arumugam on February 8. The resignation was allegedly due to pressure exerted by BN on Arumugam to defect.

Arumugam had lodged a police report on various threats he received but claims no police action was taken.

Apart from Kedah, BN is also rumoured to be on the prowl in Selangor where a PKR led Pakatan government holds an eight seat advantage over BN.

Last week, PKR’s Port Klang assemblyman Badrul Hashim Abdullah had to deny allegations that khalwat charges are being used against him in order to force a defection to BN.

Most recently, naked photographs of PKR’s Bukit Lanjan state representative Elizabeth Wong have been leaked to the media and Pakatan Rakyat has been quick to label the photos as BN’s attempt at gutter politics aimed at discrediting the Selangor state government with which Wong was a state executive councillor.

In a possibly related incident, a man named Ramlan Haji Abu Bakar who claims to be president of Gerakan Reformasi Rakyat Malaysia (Reformis) met with reporters in Parliament today and told them that he was issuing PKR vice president Azmin Ali with an ultimatum to meet him within five days or he would expose what he claims would be damaging secrets of the Selangor government.

In response, Azmin told reporters that he had been away performing his umrah in Mecca and then preoccupied with the political crisis in Perak which was the reason why he was not able to get in touch with the president of Reformis.

Azmin also told reporters that he installed a CCTV system in his house two days ago due to security concerns as his house was broken into four times within a year and both brake hoses in his car were recently cut. “When my house was broken into, it was not an ordinary burglary,” he says. “They wanted to put something into the house.”

On a separate topic, Azmin said that PKR would continue to defend embattled state representative Wong, and that all PKR members of parliament and state representatives would be meeting tonight to discuss the issue.

A new start for IPF as BN tries to get Indian votes

By Baradan Kuppusamy-The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR Feb 18 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has successfully brokered a deal between the warring factions of the Indian Progressive Front in a move which could help Barisan Nasional regain some Indian votes ahead of crucial by-elections in April.

Following a meeting between IPF leaders and Abdullah, the warring factions have agreed to call a ceasefire to internal bickering as the BN president dangled the carrot of a long sought after entry into the ruling coalition's fold.

IPF had for years benefited from the backing of Tamil working-class voters, much to the chagrin of MIC, which is supposed to represent the Indian voice in BN.

But infighting caused the IPF to lose its effectiveness as a BN-friendly party, with the Hindraf and Makkal Sakthi movement successfully championing the cause of the Indian underclass to revolt against BN parties at the ballot box.

Under the Abdullah brokered deal, free and fair party elections will be held either in June or July to allow "all IPF members" to elect a new leadership team.

All three faction leaders have agreed to the deal and have vowed to set aside their problems with each other to let the formula work.

An IPF leadership meeting has been called for tomorrow to endorse the deal and make preparations for the election.

All members, including the thousands who had been sacked or suspended over the years, are eligible to rejoin and contest for any post.

Abdullah also told the IPF leaders that he would appoint BN secretary-general Tengku Adnan Mansor to "supervise and oversee" the successful implementation of the formula.

At the meeting, Abdullah also told the factions that BN membership would be considered for IPF if the party can unite.

The meeting was attended by Puan Sri P. Jayashree, the widow of IPF founder, the late Tan Sri M. G. Pandithan, who claims now to be the legitimate president, K. Panjamurthi, chief of the breakaway IPF Bersatu faction, and suspended deputy president V. Senggutuan.

Vice-president M. Mathyalagan, who leads a fourth faction, was not present and IPF sources said he will have to join forces with one of the three factions and "come in" with them.

The meeting was also attended by senior aides of all faction leaders but they were not allowed to speak.

"We had a free-flowing discussion and Abdullah listened patiently and after everybody spoke the PM urged us to unite and be part of the BN political process," said an IPF member who attended the meeting.

"We are all very happy with the outcome and have all promised to set aside our differences and work together," the leader said.

"The June/July election will decide who leads the IPF. This outcome is really great. We all thanked the PM for it," the leader said.

IPF was founded in 1989 after MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu sacked Pandithan for alleged indiscipline.

It supported Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah's Gagasan Rakyat coalition in the 1990 general election when the opposition came within a whisker of unseating the Barisan Nasional.

After that the Gagasan broke up with Tengku Razaleigh and others returning to Umno, but Pandithan, while supporting BN, never gained admission for IPF because of opposition by Samy Vellu who had relied on the ruling coalition's principle that all component parties must unanimously agree to admit a new member.

Pandithan died in August 2008 after a long battle with cancer.

On his death Jayashree, helped by a lawyer, tried to "seize" control of the party and had herself appointed as acting president and later engineered to be "elected" president.

Her opponents went to court but the judged ruled he could not interfere in party matters because the Societies Act 1967 forbids it.

However last week the Registrar of Societies Datuk Alias Kalil intervened and declared the "election" of Jayashree as president void, setting the stage for Abdullah to intervene and call all factions to his office to broker a deal.

Should Hee resign?

Teresa to Eli: Reconsider quit offer

Irene: It's violence against women

Dengar bukti audio 'rasuah' Zaki

Pengerusi DAP, Karpal Singh mendedahkan rakaman audio yang membuktikan Ketua Hakim Negara, Tan Sri Zaki Azmi dikatakan mendakwa telah memberi rasuah.

Pemimpin pembangkang itu memainkan rakaman tersebut kepada wartawan dalam satu sidang akhbar di lobi Parlimen hari ini.

Menurut Karpal, rakaman tersebut adalah merupakan ucapan Zaki dalam satu konvensyen di Kuching November lalu mengenai integriti, pemangkin pembangunan mapan.

Rakaman berkualiti yang rendah, dikatakan mengandungi bahagian di mana Zaki dikatakan bercakap mengenai memberi rasuah kepada kakitangan mahkamah ketika beliau menjadi peguam.

Rakaman audio dalam bahasa Inggeris selama 29 minit itu berbunyi:

"It took me six months to be nice, to bribe each and every individual to get back into their good books before our files were attended to."

"That is my personal experience, I am telling this to all the clerks and all the registries to stop this nonsense."

Girl poet takes on the Taliban with her pen

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Tuba Sahaab looks nothing like a warrior. She is a slight girl of 11, living in a simple home in a suburb of Islamabad. But in Tuba's case, looks are deceiving.

With her pen, Tuba is taking on the swords of the Taliban. She crafts poems telling of the pain and suffering of children just like her; girls banned from school, their books

Tuba's parents say they are not afraid even as she speaks out so publicly against the Taliban.

With her pen, Tuba is taking on the swords of the Taliban. She crafts poems telling of the pain and suffering of children just like her; girls banned from school, their books burned, as the hard-core Islamic militants spread their reign of terror across parts of Pakistan.

A stanza of one of her poems reads: "Tiny drops of tears, their faces like angels, Washed with blood, they sleep forever with anger."

Tuba is not afraid to express her views. Of the Taliban forcing young girls out of the classroom, she says: "This is very shocking to hear that girls can't go to school, they are taking us back to the Stone Age."

Less than two hours from Tuba's home, the Taliban have control. The one-time holiday destination of the Swat Valley is now a no-go zone. Curfews are in place at all times. Militants kill with impunity.

Human rights activists and people on the ground in Swat Valley speak of a place called "slaughter square" where the Taliban leave the bodies of their victims with notes saying "do not remove for 24 hours." No one touches the corpses out of fear of reprisals.

Tuba Sahaab refuses to be silent. As young as she is, she is wise and brave beyond her years. The young school girl is reaching a bigger audience, regularly appearing in the media.

On the day we spend with her, Tuba and her mother appear on a talk radio program. Back home, she tells me how she would give her life for her country.

"I want to give peace to my nation," she says, "I will fight for it."

And Tuba has an inspiration: U.S. President Barack Obama.

She prayed for his elections, she says. She sees in him the hope of peace in her own country. Tuba Sahaab has a dream to meet her hero. She can hardly contain her excitement.

"I want to go the White Palace and show him my poems, show him what is happening and ask him to come to Pakistan and control it because he is a super power."

Meeting and listening to Tuba Sahaab, it is easy to forget she is still a young girl.

In her playground at school, Tuba dances and laughs with her friends. She loves writing her short stories (she has already published one book) and shows me a cartoon character she has created called "Tomato Man."

Tuba's parents are proud of their daughter. They say they are not afraid even as she speaks out so publicly against the Taliban.

Tuba is their only child but as her mother tells me, she is "worth more than seven sons and seven daughters."

And Tuba has the dreams of any young child. She tells me she wants to be an astronaut and then one day lead her country.

"I will do anything, if my life goes I don't worry, I just want to do something." "I think you will get the chance," I say.

"Yes, if someone gives me the chance you will see what I can do."

Of that, I have no doubt.

Uthayakumar in Taiping hospital

Satu Lagi Penipuan BN Jambatan Baru Tiada Peruntukan

Bagi pertanyaan lisan yang dijawap secara bertulis , YB Menteri Kerjaya berpendapat bahawa kesesakan di Bandar Klang hanya akan dapat di atasi melalui pembinaan Jambatan Ketiga merentasi Sungai Klang.

Walau bagaimanapun, Kementerian Gagal mendapatkan Siling Tambahan dalam kajian separuh penggal Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan. Beliau menjawap sedemikian bagi soalan saya :

Minta Menteri Kerjaraya Menyatakan Adakah Kerajaan Akan Mempercepatkan Projek Naiktaraf Lebuhraya Persekutuan Di Bandar Klang Yang Menyebabkan Kesesakan Lalu Lintas Yang Amat Serious Dan Apakan Langkah-Langkah Yang Telah Dan Akan Di Ambil Oleh Kementerian Bagi Mengatasi Kesesakan Di Klang.

Yang amat menghariankan saya ialah bagaimana pemimpin Barisan Nasional termasuk bekas Menteri Kerjaya dan bekas Menteri Besar Selangor dapat melancarkan Projek pembinaan Jambatan Ketiga tersebut sewaktu Kempen Pilihanraya Umum Ke 12. Bukankah ini suatu Penipuan yang berunsurkan cubaan memperdaya pengundi menyokong mereka? Atau dengan erti kata sebenar cubaan RASUAH .

Lihat bagaimana cerianya mereka melancarkan projek tersebut pada 4hb Mac 2008 . Gambar dan berita dipeti daripada BERNAMA Online :

PROJEK JAMBATAN KETIGA DI KLANG SIAP DALAM DUA SETENGAH TAHUN

“KLANG, 4 Mac (Bernama) — Projek pembinaan jambatan ketiga merentasi Sungai Klang sepanjang 3.8 km di sini yang menelan kos RM230 juta dijangka siap sepenuhnya dalam masa dua setengah tahun, kata Menteri Kerja Raya Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

Katanya kerja-kerja pembinaan kemudahan jalan raya dan jambatan untuk projek berkenaan akan dimulakan dalam tempoh empat bulan ini.

“Saya percaya dalam tempoh empat bulan ini bolehlah kita mula projek ini….reka bentuk untuk projek semuanya sudah selesai dan tawaran akan dipanggil secepat mungkin,” kata Samy Vellu.

Beliau berkata demikian selepas menghadiri majlis pelancaran projek jambatan tersebut oleh Menteri Besar Selangor Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo di sini, hari ini.

Samy Vellu berkata pelaksanaan projek itu, yang merupakan sebahagian daripada Jalan Lingkaran Bandar Klang, bertujuan untuk mengurangkan kesesakan di kedua-dua jambatan sedia ada, iaitu Jambatan Kota dan Jambatan Musaedin.

“Panjang keseluruhan projek ini adalah sepanjang 3.8 km di mana ia meliputi pembinaan jalan baru sepanjang dua km, jambatan baru sepanjang 0.5km dan penaiktarafan jalan sedia ada sepanjang 1.3 km,” kata Samy Vellu.

Selain itu, beliau juga berkata kementeriannya telah mengenal pasti dan memperakukan satu jalan penghubung di Bandar Klang, yang merupakan sebahagian daripada jalan lingkaran di sana.

“Cadangan jalan baru ini yang merentasi Jalan Meru hingga ke Jalan Sungai Udang akan mengandungi empat persimpangan,” katanya.

Terdahulu dalam ucapannya, Samy Vellu berkata projek ini merangkumi pembinaan jalan dan jambatan yang akan menjadi satu lagi laluan alternatif bagi penduduk sekitar Bandar Klang.

“Pelaksanaan projek ini kelak akan dapat merangsangkan lagi pertumbuhan kawasan-kawasan perindustrian dan pembangunan sekitar Bandar Klang di samping meningkatkan taraf sosio-ekonomi penduduk sekitar,” katanya.

Beliau berkata kementeriannya juga merancang untuk membina jambatan keempat yang akan memudahkan pengguna menggunakan Lebuhraya Pantai Barat untuk terus ke Bandar Klang dan sebaliknya mereka dari Bandar Klang boleh pergi ke Banting dengan lebih mudah.

–BERNAMA

Saya mencabar Barisan Nasional untuk mengkotakan janji-jani mereka sewaktu Kempen Pilihanraya Umum yang lepas. Zaman menipu rakyat jelata dengan kata-kata Indah dan pelancaran projek dengan berjuta-juta ringgit sudah hapus.

Jawapan YB Menteri Kerjaya dilampiran :

Sultan Selangor Terlupa Fakta!!! Maka Rakyat Ingatkan

err…maaf patik biadab Tuanku..kenapa nama keris tu Keris Beruk Berayun? maafkan patik tuanku, nak tanya je…
Ampunkan patik CAPAL yang hina kerana biadab tuanku! Biadapkah patik Tuanku? Apa beza patik dengan yang di bawah ni tuanku?

ulang tayang keratan akhbar lama2 yang melingkupkan kekebalan Raja2 dan menegakkan kebebalan…

sapa biadab tuanku?

depa suruh siasat kalau2 ada Raja2 kowtim projek dengan tauke2 cina, Tuanku..cuba besarkan gambar ni tuanku..kalau tak percaya pergi Arkib Negara tuanku cari paper ni tuanku…

tuanku pernah tengok memorandum di bawah tak? carilah tuanku yek? Patik pun pinjam kat otai pencinta sejarah, dia kerabat juga Tuanku, tapi digulingkan British sebab Datuk Nenek dia melawan British lalu Selangor diperintah keturunan yang lain yang tunduk dengan British Tuanku,

Patik tak bermaksud biadab Tuanku, ampunkanlah patik ye?

…Patik memang biadap dengan Tuhan Tuanku, pagi tadi azan Subuh yang muazin laungkan “sembahyang itu lebih baik dari tidur” tapi patik bangun lambat Tuanku..biadab patik dengan Tuhan…Isyak semalam pun patik lengah2kan Tuanku…. Biadabnya patik ni…

Sumber : Kulub Sakah

Jasa-Jasa UMNO (Parti Perosak Agama, Bangsa dan Negara)

1. UMNO buka jalan Malaysia jadi republik

2. 30hb Desember 1992 Pak Habib pergi ke P.W.T.C, masuk ke dalam Dewan Tun Hussein Onn berkumpul bersama-sama ahli UMNO untuk mendengar taklimat Dr. Mahathir kepada ketua-ketua UMNO mengenai Pendirian kerajaan hendak melucutkan kekebalan raj -raja. Baca di SINI

3. UMNO BUKAN HANYA PENIPU, MALAHAN PENDERHAKA

Eli could remain assemblyman, exit exco

By Neville Spykerman-The Malaysian Insider

SHAH ALAM, Feb 18 – There is still a glimmer of hope for the political future of Elizabeth Wong, who offered to resign yesterday as state executive councillor and Bukit Lanjan assemblyman after semi-naked pictures of her were circulated to the press.

According to PKR insiders, the embattled Wong may be allowed to continue as Bukit Lanjan assemblyman but will relinquish her executive council position in the Selangor Government.

Given the wave of public support expressed for Wong and circulating in cyberspace, PKR leaders have no doubt that they will be able to retain the Bukit Lanjan seat if a by-election is called.

However the compromise will allow Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to avoid another costly by-election while salvaging Wong’s political career and pacifying her supporters within PKR.

“Our resources are limited and are already being stretched by the upcoming by-elections in Perak and Kedah.

“We can ill afford another in Selangor, despite our good chances of retaining the seat,” said the source.

Meanwhile Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim yesterday told The Malaysian Insider he was open to the idea of Wong only relinquishing her executive council position.

However Khalid said he would seek the advice of the Selangor Ruler and discuss the matter with the state executive council before making any decision.

“I accept her stand (to resign) but I will not make a decision at this point.”

Khalid said Wong was a victim but her willingness to resign from all posts is a selfless decision on her part to protect PKR because she is well aware that BN will continue to exploit the issue to damage the party.

“I sense the trauma she is going through which will leave an (emotional) scar on her, more so since she is a woman, and we need to understand what she is going through.”

However he added that he was confident that Wong had the fortitude to overcome the challenges.

Khalid said he hopes the culprits responsible for circulating the pictures of Wong and the politicians who are exploiting the issue are brought to task.

“Their character and intelligence is below the norms of sensible society.”

Khalid said politics was sometimes a dirty business but the politicians using the issues were compromising themselves and the generation they represent.

Sparks fly from get-go in MB vs MB case

By Debra Chong and Edward Cheah-The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 — Sparks flew from the get-go at the High Court this morning in the Menteri Besar vs Menteri Besar case pitting Pakatan Rakyat's Datuk Seri Mohammed Nizar Jamaluddin against Barisan Nasional's Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir.

Nizar, represented by an eight-member legal team led by Sulaiman Abdullah, immediately moved to disqualify Perak State Legal Advisor Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid from acting as the lawyer for Zambry.

As expected, Sulaiman objected on the grounds that Zambry was sued in his personal capacity and not officially as the MB of Perak and had no right to use the state's resources, including its state legal advisor.

He added that Ahmad Kamal had no "locus" or standing to be the Zambry's counsel in the case.

Ahmad Kamal countered that Sulaiman's objection was "premature" as he had yet to receive an affidavit from Nizar supporting his claims.

The sitting judge in the Appellate and Special Powers division, Justice Mohamad Ariff Yusof, also confounded the court when he volunteered to step down from hearing the case on the basis he had acted as legal advisor and counsel to Pas, PKR and Barisan Nasional on several legal matters in the past before he became a judicial commissioner.

Ariff explained he felt the need to recuse himself to preserve the integrity of the judicial institution and maintain the impartiality of the court so that justice may be seen to be done, saying that the interest of the public was paramount.

"If you ask me, personally, I feel I should recuse myself," Ariff said, but added several other options the contending parties could take included taking the matter directly to the Federal Court "in the interest of speed and finality".

Ahmad Kamal supported Ariff's suggestion.

He explained that Zambry had given him instructions to ask the judge to recuse himself and to ask that the case be transferred or be heard at the Ipoh High Court on grounds that Zambry and Nizar both live there and the fact that the case involves the Perak government and holds interest to the people of Perak.

Sulaiman disagreed with Ariff's proposal to remove himself from overseeing the case. He also objected against the transfer to Ipoh, arguing the need for the case to be heard on "neutral territory and before a specialised court... dealing with judicial reviews".

He reminded Ariff that he had a duty to uphold justice and his suggestion to recuse himself could be seen as evading his duty.

Sulaiman added that Ariff's voluntary admission earlier proved that he would not be likely to be biased towards either Nizar or Zambry in this case.

Ariff postponed setting the date of mention to Feb 23.

He told the court he wants the views from the Attorney-General's Chambers first on his own suggestion to recuse himself; the idea to move the case straight to the Federal Court; and the contention over the legal standing of Ahmad Kamal in representing Zambry.

Police to question Wong's ex-boyfriend

By Lee Wei Lian-The Malaysia Insider

SHAH ALAM, Feb 18 - Police will record a statement from Bukit Lanjan assemblywoman Elizabeth Wong’s former boyfriend on Wednesday over circulation of her nude pictures, Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said.

He said police had received two nude photographs, as well as a compact disc, of the 37-year-old politician from a Malay Mail journalist, Bernama reported today.

Police have already recorded statements from two Malay Mail journalists and two other journalists from theSun in connection with the case, he told reporters here.

He said police were now monitoring websites which posted the pictures.

He advised those in possession of the politician’s nude pictures to either destroy or hand them over to the police, adding that stern action would be taken against those found distributing the pictures.

On Tuesday, Wong offered to resign as an assemblyman and also Selangor executive councillor over the case.

In Parliament, dozens of reporters mobbed Petaling Jaya Selatan MP Hee Loy Sian as his former aide, Hilmi Malek, was said to be Wong’s ex-boyfriend and widely believed to have released the private photographs.

Hee did not say much and only revealed that Hilmi had worked for him after Election 2008 for about nine months and he was unware of his current whereabouts.

He urged the media to let police investigate the case but was cut short by PKR information chief Chua Tian Chang who told reporters to respect Wong’s privacy.

“Don’t harass Elizabeth Wong,” said the Batu MP who calls himself Tian Chua.

“BN wants the media to dig up her past. The media should not try to try this case. Let the police investigate,” he said, referring to the ruling federal coalition that had just toppled Pakatan Rakyat from the Perak

Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin making a call after leaving the Kuala Lumpur High Court, which has begun hearing the suit he brought against Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir over the legitimacy of the Barisan Nasional state government in Perak. Nizar maintains he is still the menteri besar as he has not resigned. – Pic by Choo Choy May Sparks fly from get-go in MB vs MB case By Debra Chong and Edward Cheah KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 — Sparks flew from the get-go at the High Court this morning in the Menteri Besar vs Menteri Besar case pitting Pakatan Rakyat's Datuk Seri Mohammed Nizar Jamaluddin against Barisan Nasional's Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir. Nizar, represented by an eight-member legal team led by Sulaiman Abdullah, immediately moved to disqualify Perak State Legal Advisor Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid from acting as the lawyer for Zambry. As expected, Sulaiman objected on the grounds that Zambry was sued in his personal capacity and not officially as the MB of Perak and had no right to use the state's resources, including its state legal advisor. He added that Ahmad Kamal had no "locus" or standing to be the Zambry's counsel in the case. Ahmad Kamal countered that Sulaiman's objection was "premature" as he had yet to receive an affidavit from Nizar supporting his claims. The sitting judge in the Appellate and Special Powers division, Justice Mohamad Ariff Yusof, also confounded the court when he volunteered to step down from hearing the case on the basis he had acted as legal advisor and counsel to Pas, PKR and Barisan Nasional on several legal matters in the past before he became a judicial commissioner. Ariff explained he felt the need to recuse himself to preserve the integrity of the judicial institution and maintain the impartiality of the court so that justice may be seen to be done, saying that the interest of the public was paramount. "If you ask me, personally, I feel I should recuse myself," Ariff said, but added several other options the contending parties could take included taking the matter directly to the Federal Court "in the interest of speed and finality". Ahmad Kamal supported Ariff's suggestion. He explained that Zambry had given him instructions to ask the judge to recuse himself and to ask that the case be transferred or be heard at the Ipoh High Court on grounds that Zambry and Nizar both live there and the fact that the case involves the Perak government and holds interest to the people of Perak. Sulaiman disagreed with Ariff's proposal to remove himself from overseeing the case. He also objected against the transfer to Ipoh, arguing the need for the case to be heard on "neutral territory and before a specialised court... dealing with judicial reviews". He reminded Ariff that he had a duty to uphold justice and his suggestion to recuse himself could be seen as evading his duty. Sulaiman added that Ariff's voluntary admission earlier proved that he would not be likely to be biased towards either Nizar or Zambry in this case. Ariff postponed setting the date of mention to Feb 23. He told the court he wants the views from the Attorney-General's Chambers first on his own suggestion to recuse himself; the idea to move the case straight to the Federal Court; and the contention over the legal standing of Ahmad Kamal in representing Zambry. -The Malaysian Insider

PUBLIC BRIEFING ON WATER IN SELANGOR

The Selangor State government is holding a public briefing on the status of its takeover of the water sector in line with its ‘merakyatkan ekonomi Selangor‘ policy aim of realising a ‘welfare state’.

It’s the first time a public briefing on the status of the water sector “restructuring process” is being held.

Wed, 18 February, 11.00am

Auditorium Dewan Jubli,Bangunan SSAAS, Shah Alam.

Members of the Water Review Panel of the Selangor state government will brief the public.

Forum - “Can We Have Our Highways Back?”

Public Forum : “Can We Have Our Highways Back?”
Venue: Crystal Crown Hotel, Petaling Jaya (Map)
Date: 18 February (Wed) - TODAY
Time: 7.30pm

The panel speakers include:

* Sdr Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary Leader
* Sdr Tony Pua, MP Petaling Jaya Utara
* Sdri Teo Nie Ching, MP Serdang
* Sdr Tommy Thomas, Corporate & Constitutional Lawyer
* Sdr Teh Chi Chang, Economic Advisor to DAP Secretary-General

Puncak Niaga spent RM11m on directors in 2007

UPDATED 2.30PM: Let’s take a quick look at Puncak Niaga, one of the main water concessionaires in Selangor.

You can see that the firm is making huge profits. (Profits for 2006 were higher as there was a gain arising from the partial disposal of a subsidiary of RM206m in 2006.)

The group had close to a billion ringgit in deposits, cash, and bank balances as at 31 December 2007 and a net current asset ratio of 1.2. In other words, very liquid.

Syabas, which is 70 per cent owned by Puncak Niaga, received a government grant of RM250 million (that’s our money) “solely for the purpose of financing the costs and expenditure of the non-revenue water” to reduce unaccountable water loss.

The federal government also provided a support loan (current carrying amount close to RM80 million) to finance construction of the Wangsa Maju water treatment plant. It was originally repayable over 20 years (from 1999) at 8 per cent interest rate. But in 2004, the federal government “restructured” the loan: the interest rate was reduced to 3 per cent per annum retrospectively and the repayment schedule revised. How thoughtful.

Having made super profits with the help of public money, Puncak Niaga is now asking for a higher price than what the Selangor government is prepared to pay (RM1.6 billion for Puncak Niaga and RM1.5 billion for Syabas) to nationalise water assets in the state.

The total offer price of RM3.1 billion in total is based on the valuation of the water assets using book value (without any liabilities being assumed) as at 31 December 2007:

Puncak Niaga

Asset Value : RM1,140,000,000

Equity Value : RM 543,047,000

Total: RM 1,683,047,000

Less: Dividend (RM 75,330,000)

Offer Price for Puncak Niaga : RM1,607,717,000

Syabas:

Asset Value : RM1,088,000,000

Equity Value : RM 424,004,000

Total: RM1,512,004,000

Less : Dividend : (Nil)

Offer Price for Syabas : RM1,512,004,000

(Source: Puncak Niaga’s general announcement to Bursa of the letter of offer from Selangor state government dated 13 February. Deadline for acceptance of offer is 20 February.)

For the record, these are the directors of Puncak Niaga (during the financial year 2007):

• Tan Sri Rozali bin Ismail
• Dato’ Matlasa bin Hitam
• Dato’ Ruslan bin Hassan
• Dato’ Ir Lee Miang Koi
• Dato’ Syed Danial bin Syed Ariffin
• Tan Sri Dato’ Hari Narayanan a/l Govindasamy
• Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Ting Chew Peh
• Datuk Dr Rahman bin Ismail
• Tan Seng Lee
• Tengku Dato’ Rahimah binti Almarhum Sultan Mahmud *

* This Director had been redesignated to Non-Independent Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 January 2007.

The firm paid out close to RM11 million in directors’ remuneration in 2007.

According to the Annual Report 2007, these are the number of directors whose total remuneration for 2007 fell within the following bands:

• RM1 to RM100,000 - 1
• RM100,001 to RM200,000 - 2
• RM200,001 to RM300,000 - 1
• RM500,001 to RM600,000 - 0
• RM600,001 to RM700,000 - 1
• RM800,001 to RM900,000 - 0
• RM900,001 to RM1,000,000 - 2
• RM1,000,001 to RM1,100,000 – 0
• RM1,100,001 to RM1,200,000 – 0
• RM1,200,001 to RM1,300,000 - 1
• RM1,300,001 to RM1,400,000 - 1
• RM4,500,001 to RM4,600,000 – 0
• RM5,100,001 to RM5,200,000 - 1

Total directors’ remuneration rose 17 per cent from RM9.2 million in 2006 to RM10.8 million for 2007. In 2006, only one director received more than RM1.2 million and no one received more than RM4.6 million. But in 2007, three directors received more than RM1.2 million, including one director who received more than RM5.1 million.

Gamuda also has an interest in water in Selangor.

These firms are rolling in profits - and yet, there could be a 30 per cent water tariff hike in Selangor from April!-Anilnetto

By-Elections Acid Test Of New BN Leadership

By Muna Khalid and Erma Idayu Mohd Yusop

PENANG, Feb 18 (Bernama) -- Even 11 months after the tumultuous 12th general election, the dust has not settled in the local political scenario.

With the Bukit Gantang parliamentary and Bukit Selambau state by-elections to be held simultaneously on April 7, political parties will hit the campaign trail again, barely a month after the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election.

Political pundits believed that the by-elections would gauge the people's acceptance of the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as he would have already took over the reins from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi by then.

It would be an acid test for Najib whether he would be able to get Umno leaders and members to close ranks after party elections at its general assembly from March 24 to 28.

The by-elections will also be a test for the incoming Umno deputy president and deputy prime minister as in previous by-elections, the deputy prime minister took charge of the campaigning.

Universiti Sains Malaysia Social Science Studies senior lecturer Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said the Umno leadership transition in March would lead to changes in the party, which would have a bearing on the people's support for the party.

"Najib faces a daunting task of uniting Umno members, who would still feel the bruises of party elections.

"Umno has to ensure that the losers will not sabotage the by-elections," he said, adding that Umno's debacle in the last general election and subsequent by-elections was not because it had weakened or that the opposition had gained the upperhands, but because of sabotage.

For the opposition, it had alleged that the Election Commission (EC) sided with the Barisan Nasional (BN) by holding the by-elections simultaneously, with the nomination day on March 29, a day after the Umno General Assembly.

The EC refuted PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub's insinuation that the date was chosen to please the BN, especially Umno, to ensure that the party's general assembly went unhindered.

On the contrary, Sivamurugan said PAS should look at the date positively as it would give the opposition an advantage over Umno, which would be busy with the tussle for top posts in the Supreme Council and its wings.

"Besides Umno, MIC will also be having its elections for top posts including the presidency in March.

"Umno and MIC need to divide its time between the by-elections and party elections whereas the opposition can concentrate on the by-elections," he said.

Sivamurugan said the opposition had the tendency of being selective in its attitude towards decisions made by the authorities.

"We should not be selective in our attitude by objecting certain things which don't work our way. The opposition is populist in nature as it strives to win sympathy votes," he said.

On Perak politics, he said the opposition felt that the sentiment at the grassroots at the moment was in its favour but was worried that it would no longer be the case in the next general election.

On the other hand, BN is ready for the crunch as echoed by Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that party elections would not be a stumbling block in the coalition's preparation for the by-elections.

"We have enough machinery and manpower at the divisional and branch levels. This is not a problem for us," said Muhyiddin, who is vying for Umno deputy-presidency.

Uthayakumar in Taiping hospital

Nude photos: Wong offers to quit

Nude pix - political motives

Manoharan kekal ditahan bawah ISA

Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Kota Alam Shah, M. Manoharan kekal ditahan di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA), demikian diputuskan oleh Mahkamah Persekutuan hari ini.

Hakim Datuk Nik Hashim Nik Ab Rahman, Datuk Augustine Paul dan Datuk Zulkefli Ahmad Makinuddin membuat keputusan sebulat suara untuk menolak rayuan Manoharan terhadap keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi menolak permohonan habeas corpus yang dikemukakan tahun lepas.

Dalam kehakiman tersebut, panel hakim berkata mereka berpuas hati bahawa Manoharan telah gagal untuk menyakinkan mahkamah bahawa penahanannya adalah tidak sah, lapor Bernama.

Ini merupakan kali kedua Manoharan, 49, gagal dalam usaha untuk dibebaskan daripada tahanan ISA di Pusat Tahanan Kamunting, Taiping.

Manoharan ditahan pada 31 Disember 2007 kerana didakwa terbabit dalam penganjuran protes jalanan di Kuala Lumpur pada 25 November tahun yang sama serta membuat kenyataan berbau hasutan terhadap kerajaan.

Manoharan sebelum ini memfailakan permohonan habeas corpus pada kali pertama di Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur dan ditolak pada 26 Disember 2007.

Rayuannya di Mahkamah Persekutuan juga ditolak pada 14 Mei tahun lepas.

Beliau memfailkan satu lagi permohonan habeas corpus di Mahkamah Tinggi Ipoh bagi mencabar kesahihan perintah tahanan bertarikh 13 Disember 2007 yang dikeluarkan mengikut Seksyen 8(1), ISA tetapi sekali lagi ditolak oleh mahkamah pada 8 September tahun lepas.

Pada 12 November tahun lepas, Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur sekali lagi menolak permohonan habeas corpus.

Peguam A. Srimurugan memberitahu mahkamah bahawa anak guamnya tidak mungkin mengancam keselamatan negara kerana dia merupakan wakil rakyat yang dipilih pada pilihanraya umum ke-12 tahun lepas.

Timbalan Pendakwaraya Najib Zakaria, yang bertindak bagi pihak menteri dalam negeri, berkata alasan pemilihan sebagai wakil rakyat adalah tidak relevan kepada penahanan itu.

Politician foils kidnap ploy to dupe him of RM500,000

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 — Federal Territory Gerakan secretary Dr Wong Ruen Yuan today lodged a police report against an unknown caller who tried to extort RM500,000 as ransom, claiming that he had kidnapped his 10-year-old daughter from her school in Brickfields.

According to Dr Wong who made the police report at the Jalan Travers Police station, his mother-in-law who was in Melaka, had received a phone call from an unknown person at 12.30pm yesterday, asking her to pay RM500,000 as ransom.

“The unknown caller had claimed that my daughter had been kidnapped from her school in Brickfields. My mother-in-law called me to inform me of the call and I quickly went to my daughter’s school and found her safe there,” Dr Wong told reporters here today.

Dr Wong said it was an attempt by someone to dupe him into paying the ransom and made the police report at 5.15pm yesterday.

“My safety and that of my family seems to be under threat. I cannot understand how they were able to source my background and information, including my mother-in-laws phone number in Melaka,” he said. — Bernama

Eli continues to attract sympathy

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 — Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Elizabeth Wong continues to attract sympathy from various groups including non-governmental organisations.

While condemning the distribution the pictures as violating a woman’s privacy, they also called on the authorities to promptly investigate and resolve the matter.

Wanita Gerakan chief Datuk Tan Lian Hoe said the police must quickly and thoroughly investigate the matter and to bring to book “the culprit or culprits behind this irresponsible act that has violated her privacy”.

“The decisive action by the police will deter future incidents and protect all Malaysians, especially women, from such an invasion of their privacy,” she said in a statement here, today.

Tan also said that Wong needed not resign, and cautioned all women to be careful and be constantly vigilant against unscrupulous people who would stop at nothing to smear the image of any individual.

Federal Territory Gerakan legal bureau head Datuk Baljit Singh Sidhu said the distribution of the nude and partially nude photographs of Wong must be strongly condemned as it caused embarrassment of the highest order to a lady.

“Immediately after this so called ‘scandal’ broke out, there were comments by certain quarters questioning Wong’s decency and calling for her resignation, notwithstanding the circumstances leading to the snapping of these photographs.

“We urge all parties to refrain from making any suggestion to futher demoralise and victimise Wong and causing her career downfall until the final investigation is completed or some other evidence surface thereafter,” she said.

Baljit urged the authority to take punitive action against those responsible.

Wanita Parti Keadilan Rakyat chief Zuraida Kamaruddin demanded “a just and thorough investigation” and called on the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“The gross violation of basic human right and privacy of politicians or any mmber of the society is not part of a culture that values good morality,” she aid.

Meanwhile, several student associations, including the Malaysian graduates olidarity, Malaysian youth and student democratic movement and the University Malaya Islamic students association also condemned the distribution of the nude pictures.

Wong, 37, who is Selangor executive councillor in charge of tourism, consumer affairs and environment, has offered to resign the post and as Bukit Lanjan assemblyman. — Bernama

Zambry meets Perak Speaker

IPOH, Feb 17 — The Perak assembly speaker V Sivakumar has asked Menteri Besar Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir and two journalists to appear before the Committee of Special Privileges tomorrow.

Zambry showed up at the speaker's office today, and met Sivakumar for 20 minutes —presumably to talk about the committee hearing.

When leaving the BN leader refused to comment on their discussion, on whether it was related to a newspaper report or the proceeding tomorrow.

He only disclosed that he showed up today as a courtesy, and added that his position on the matter will be known tomorrow.

The Committee of Special Privileges presently is made of by five from Pakatan Rakyat and one from Barisan Nasional, with Sivakumar as chairman.

Sivakumar explained later that Zambry and the journalists from Sin Chew Daily were called to gain further information to a report which appeared in local dailies on Sunday, regarding his behaviour as state assembly speaker.

He confirmed that Zambry was receptive in the meeting.

3 princes battle to decide Umno's future

By Adib Zalkapli KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 — With less than two months before the departure of Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi, his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin said Tuesday night the transition of power to Datuk Seri Najib Razak scheduled for early April must be followed by promised reforms. His opponents in the race for the coveted Umno Youth chief position, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir and Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, also spoke on the need for reforms to Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) in a nationally televised debate Tuesday night. But all three contenders agreed that the country's affirmative action policies favouring the Malays would have to be continued because they felt the community was still lagging behind economically. “Do not think that the transition of power will solve everything. The transition is just like laying the foundation. Without reform, the transition will be meaningless,” said Khairy. The Rembau MP was responding to a question from the host, Dr Agus Yusof on the reason why Umno performed badly in the general election last year, to which Khairy replied that the Malay nationalist party still managed to retain most of its support base. The three candidates were subjected to a series of tough questions including one on which they were asked to comment on Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's Ketuanan Rakyat slogan. “I am concerned that this Ketuanan Rakyat means Malays and other races, Islam and other religions will be placed on a level footing. The fact is Malays have a special position while Islam is the constitutional religion,” Dr Mohd Khir said, in what appeared to be an attempt to appeal to the more conservative Malay ground. “The social contract is not unfair. I challenge those who do not agree to get into Parliament and change the Constitution then.” Khairy said Umno's failure to maintain the support level it enjoyed in the 2004 election was because the party has failed to deliver on the promises of change it had made. “We must return to the message of hope in 2004. In 2008 we failed because we failed to manage our biggest victory ever,” said Khairy. Mukhriz promised to emulate the leadership qualities of his father Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who ruled Malaysia for 22 years, while Khir said Umno needs to return to the foundation which it was formed which is defending the Malay rights and Islam. The Selangor Opposition Leader attributed the party's poor performance in the last election to its failuare to defend Islam and the Malays. “When we are seen not to be fighting for religion, those who are religious would support Pas,” said Khir. He added that the scheduled transition must emulate the similar hand over of power that took place after 1969 when the then Alliance lost its two-thirds majority in the Parliament. “The renewal led to Pas joining the Barisan Nasional,” said Khir. Both Mukhriz and Khir also expressed their disappointment at the government for not invoking the Internal Security Act when dealing with street protestors. The Jerlun MP said the high number of protests led to BN losing the two by-elections. Khir said that ISA would stop the proliferation of street protest. “In the case of Karpal Singh, where more than 100 reports have been lodged, but no action has been taken. This is the root of people's disappointment leading to street demonstration,” said Khir referring to the treason allegation against the DAP chairman.

NIZAR vs ZAMBRY CASE

The case of Yang Amat Berhormat Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ir. Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin Vs Dato' Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir (MK 25-25-09) is coming up for hearing:

Date: 19th February 2009 (Wednesday)

Time: 11am

Venue: Kuala Lumpur High Court, Jalan Duta.

It is sincerely hoped that the unscrupulous UMNO-led Barisan Nasional government does not 'instruct' the presiding Judge to make a decision in their favour.

Elizabeth Wong and Our Hope for a New Politics in Malaysia

By Farish A. Noor

As someone who has known Ms Elizabeth Wong, former ADUN and Exco member of the Selangor state government, for almost ten years, I am profoundly distressed by the treatment that has been meted out to her by the mainstream and tabloid press over the revelation of photos that have compromised her. There are no words adequate enough to describe my feelings of disgust and anger over how this capable and committed activist-politician has been slandered and abused recently.

The facts surrounding the case are well known by now and one need not dwell upon them here. Suffice to say that one of the brightest, capable and efficient politicians of our land has been discredited via a malicious campaign to tarnish her reputation, that reeks of hypocrisy and conspiracy of the highest order.

What needs to be emphasised in the midst of this media hullabaloo is this: That the private lives of politicians are as sacrosanct as the right of any other citizen, and that politicians deserve the same degree of respect as anyone else. This is what we are fighting for; and this is what the elections of March 2008 were all about: Our earnest wish to see a new kind of politics in Malaysia, a new politics that would reflect and mirror the new Malaysian society that we live in today.

The ascendancy of Ms Wong and a host of other younger politicians who were elected to office last March signalled – in the clearest terms – the desire for change and reform. Malaysians of all creeds, races and gender have demonstrated that we are sick and tired of the old mode of neo-feudal communitarian politics which has hitherto been propped up by nothing more than an assembly of tired and outdated clichés. We yearn for a new Malaysia that is colour-blind, anti-racist, anti-sexist, democratic, tolerant and plural. We yearn for a new generation of professional politicians who can do their job well in the spirit of accountability and transparency. We yearn, in short, for a new political culture altogether.

Ms. Wong’s election to office demonstrated that a significant section of her constituents had faith in her abilities to translate those ideals into reality and political praxis. They voted her into power because they believed that this was a woman who would stand by the rights of all her constituents; who would further a politics of inclusivity and non-communitarianism, and that she would also foreground the needs and concerns of women as well. The proof of this is evident to all who have followed her career that has now been tragically cut short: as an advocate for gender equality, her presence in the state assembly of Selangor has ensured that the sexist culture that was so prevalent in the past ceased to continue. During the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide tragedy she was one of the few politicians who was seen present at the ground-level doing relief work while some other politicians merely procrastinated and pontificated while doing nothing.

The unfortunate turn of events that has led to her resignation has therefore robbed us – the Malaysian public – of one of the few capable elected representatives that we could count on; and the loss is that of the Malaysian public’s as much as it is hers.

Today as Malaysia heads into a recession under the febrile leadership of old politicians who remain in a state of denial, we are in need of a younger generation of elected representatives whose political orientation and political culture are different: Elizabeth did not lead, she represented. And she gave a voice to the voiceless who clamoured for attention on her behalf. Her passing out of political life – which I personally hope will be temporary – has been a blow to our common struggle for a better, newer Malaysia. It is my earnest wish that despite the setbacks she has suffered, Elizabeth Wong will continue in the struggle for a better and newer Malaysia in whatever capacity that she can.

This struggle for a new Malaysia and a new Malaysian politics is our common struggle, the struggle of the new generation of Malaysians today. One of us among our ranks has been attacked and fallen. We owe it to her as a friend and comrade to support her now, and to remain focused on the pressing need to reform the old order of our authoritarian, racist, communitarian past and its attendant institutions.

Sponsor Denies Arumugam's Resignation Due To BN Threat

SUNGAI PETANI, Feb 17 (Bernama) -- The individual who sponsored V.Arumugam in the March general election last year has denied that the resignation of the Bukit Selambau State Assemblyman was due to threats by certain quarters, particularly the Barisan Nasional (BN).

Zamil Ibrahim, who was also a former Kedah Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Youth chief, claimed that Arumugam had never been offered any reward to resign, on the contrary, he did so because of other reasons.

"After being appointed a member of the (State) Exco for a month, Arumugam complained that he was feeling uncomfortable and was being 'sidelined' by the state government. So, I advised him to leave the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and that's why he resigned.

"He (Arumugam) told me all his problems because I was responsible for fully sponsoring his expenses in terms of the candidate's deposit, campaign cost and preparing his candidacy forms in the last general election," he said when met here on Tuesday.

Zamil, who was also the former Merbok PKR director for strategy, had full power over Arumugam and could ask him to resign at any time, he had never offered Arumugam any payment to do so.

He claimed that the decision to sponsor Arumugam was made privately after PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had chosen a candidate, Saiful Izham Ramli, who was not agreeable to the PKR Merbok, and his candidacy was rejected by the Election Commission (EC) for failing to submit his budget for the 2004 general election.

In the general election on March 8 last year, Arumugam, who contested as an Independent before joining PKR, defeated the BN candidate from MIC, S. Krishnan with a majority of 2,362 votes.

However, he gave up the seat after receiving threats from various quarters, including a RM5 million offer purportedly from an individual representing the BN to switch party.

Arumugam had sent a letter, through a representative, vacating his State Assembly seat and resigning as a State Executive Councillor on Feb 8.

-- BERNAMA

Images from the RPK ISA trial

Photos by a citizen reporter providing us with live coverage

Supporters wait anxiously outside court

Large crowd in Klang for ceramah on Perak crisis

0044: Revised estimate of crowd size is 3,500-4,000, according to organisers, who say there were 2,500 inside the hall and the rest outside - difficult to estimate accurately as lots of people going in and out during the ceramah. A couple of you, however, are saying the turnout was just 1,000.

2220: The crowd has now swelled to 6,000, according to organisers.

2100: Some 3,000 people have turned up at the Dewan Hamzah, MPK in Klang tonight for a Pakatan ceramah on the crisis in Perak. Among the speakers are Khalid Samad and Charles Santiago.

But the main draw, Nizar, is unable to attend.

-anilnetto

Sejak Bila UMNO Utamakan Perihal Moral?

Satu lagi babak keji muncul buat menyerlah lagi kebejatan amalan politik Malaysia. Azizah, saya dan pimpinan kanan parti telah mendapat penjelasan YB Elizabeth Wong dalam pertemuan panjang di rumah kami semalam.

Dalam sidang media tadi saya membayangkan amalan dan bentuk kegelojohan penguasa rakus menghalalkan apa jua cara. Saya kira mahaguru mereka Machiavelli akan mengerut kening kerana kehebatan merekayasa kaedah canggih yang tak terduga oleh beliau.

Terpancar senyuman sinis mereka lantaran berhasil menempelak pemimpin KeADILan. Namun di benak hati kita, terlontar persoalan.

Apakah benar isu akhlak dan moral utama buat mereka? Jika benar, bagaimana mungkin dilenyapkan bukti berkaitan kes pembunuhan, dipadamkan lapuran siasatan awal dakwaan kes Port Dickson, dilesapkan wang ribuan juta habuan istimewa dari pembelian peralatan senjata?

YB Elizabeth menawarkan untuk meletakkan jawatan. Ini menggambarkan sikap tegas beliau, mengelakkan parti dan kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat dari difitnah dan dihina. Sepertimana kata Menteri Besar Selangor Tan Sri Khalid, kami berbangga dengan prestasi dan pengurbanannya selaku Ahli Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri dan ADUN Bukit Lanjan.

Tan Sri Khalid menasihatkan beliau mengambil cuti dan kedudukan beliau selaku Ahli Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri akan dibincang dengan DYMM Tuanku Sultan Selangor. Manakala kedudukan selaku ADUN akan diputuskan olih pimpinan parti satelah berbincang dengan beliau nanti.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

HINDRAF PRESS STATEMENT ON THE INAUGURAL UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW (UPR) 11TH FEB 2009

"Wayang Kulit" of Ministry of Foreign Affairs & AG at the UPR in Geneva
I attended as an observer at the recent concluded Universal Periodic Review on Malaysia in Geneva on the 11^th February 2009.

The ultimate aim of this UPR mechanism is to improve the human rights situation in all UN member countries, address human rights violations wherever they occur and indicate the actions that have been taken to improve human rights situation but the Malaysian session turnout to be a gloated congratulatory event by the NAM and OIC countries on the righteousness and success in protecting human rights by the UMNO led Malaysian government.

The report submitted by the Malaysian delegate was a mockery so were the “crony” countries to a large extend who failed to question objectively on the human right violations and uphold the aim of the UPR mechanism save for a few countries.

Every member states if they had read the summary prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Right for the UPR review recognizes that Malaysia have not ratified most of the major international human rights instruments, that there has been major Human Right violations and Suhakam is practically toothless and hardly an independent body to oversee the human right violations in Malaysia.

If only the member states had actually read the summary, then many objective questions on the human right violations could be raised and only if the Malaysian delegate acknowledges the human rights violations that are widespread and propose actions that are being taken to minimize these violations to actually serve the very purpose of the UPR.

In any event, in recap of the AG's, who had answered to some of the questions raised by the concerned states such as Article 11 which provides for freedom of religion and the demolition of the temple that was necessitated by the law of the country is rather dumfounding, absurd and clear indication of discrimination, marginalization of the ethnic minority in Malaysia and a derailed justice system.

The demolition of such temples such as the over 100-year old Sri Maha Mariaman Hindu temple (Shah Alam), the Sri Maha Periyachi Amman Hindu temple (Malacca) and the Sri Kaliaman Hindu temple (Shah Alam) demolished in 2007 could not have been necessitated by law as such national land code, building plan laws and relevant land ordinance were not in existence during that time.

In Malaysia, the National Heritage Act 2005 is an Act to provide for the conservation and preservation of National Heritage, natural heritage, tangible and intangible cultural heritage ie aesthetic, archaeological, architectural, cultural, historical, and scientific. Doesn't a temple over 100 years qualify under this act, or is it only selective for a particular ethnicity in a multicultural society?

In another round of answer, the “learned” Attorney General failed to address the independence of the judiciary and arbitrary detention on the issue of the prisoners of conscience ie the HINDRAF 5 but rather how RPK was released after being detained under the ISA to show the independence of the judiciary but then why is the government now appealing which is again a total abuse against the concept of the rule of law and basic commitment to human rights and the independence of the judiciary by the UMNO led government.

On the torture of Prabakaran and murder of A. Kugan, he claims that Malaysia does not condone to any torture. What happened to over the 1,000 Indians who were murdered in custody or shot dead over the years? Has there been any conviction against the police personnel for those who had been murdered so far? If only not for the brave HINDRAF heroes who barged into the mortuary, alternative media and public pressure, the cases of Prabkaran and A. Kugan would had been swept under the carpet just like the rest of them. What action had the government taken other than to investigate so far on Kugan's murder that took place in custody although over three weeks had past and no arrest has been forthcoming simply because the culprits are members of the Royal Police Force

On freedom of assembly, expression and religion, he claims everything is done in accordance to the Constitution. How do one justify the arrest and charge against peaceful protesters such as HINDRAF, BERSIH, JERIT and the abolish ISA vigils that had taken place as oppose to inciting and provoking racial protest that are orchestrated and conducted by the UMNO let fascist government?.

Such blatant lies and condescending replies by the Attorney General at the august International Forum only reflects the dire state the nation faces through imposition of fear and intimidation against the will of the public in seeking and living within the sphere of the constitution.

The present glorified Malaysian government definitely does not deserve to be in the Human Right Council with its atrocious track record on human right violations. All the NGOs and importantly the Malaysian People Power need to increase their tempo and act in questioning and addressing issues that concerns the society irrespective of the race, religion, color or following for us to move forward in Malaysia.

Thank you.

P. WaythaMooorthy

Hindraf – Chairman