Perak PR reps to go on hunger strike

By Gan Pei Ling
thenutgraph.com

PETALING JAYA, 21 May 2009: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Perak assemblypersons will be taking turns to go on hunger strike starting 25…

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By Gan Pei Ling
thenutgraph.com

PETALING JAYA, 21 May 2009: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Perak assemblypersons will be taking turns to go on hunger strike starting 25 May until the state assembly is dissolved, Chinese news portal Merdeka Review reported today.

Sivakumar Embattled Pakatan Rakyat Perak menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and Speaker V Sivakumar would be launching "Mogok Lapar Bubar DUN" at the DAP Perak headquarters at 11am on 25 May.

DAP Perak executive-secretary Chris See told Merdeka Review that the details of the strike would only be announced officially at a press conference tomorrow, after the Court of Appeal hearing today.

It was revealed that the decision to start the hunger strike was made in a meeting on 19 May.

All 28 Perak assemblypersons would take part in the strike and there would be ceramah every night.

The PR also plans to invite the public to participate in the strike to call for the dissolution of the Perak assembly.

The Perak crisis was triggered by the desertion of three Pakatan Rakyat (PR) assemblypersons who opted to become Barisan Nasional (BN)-friendly independents, leading to the PR losing its majority in the state assembly in February.

Nizar The PR's Perak MB Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin was ousted after the BN's Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir was sworn in as menteri besar on 6 Feb.

Nizar's request to the sultan of Perak on 5 Feb to dissolve the state assembly to make way for snap polls was turned down. On 13 Feb, Nizar, 52, filed a judicial review and sought a declaration from the courts that he was at all material times the menteri besar of Perak. He also sought a declaration that Zambry had no right to hold the office of menteri besar.

On 11 May, High Court (Appellate and Special Powers Division) judge Datuk Abdul Aziz Abd Rahim ruled that Nizar was the rightful MB.

But with the stay order on 12 May, Zambry reassumed the position of Perak menteri besar, and his appeal against the high court decision is currently being heard at the Court of Appeal.

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Judgment day tomorrow in MB vs MB case

Nizar and his wife taking a break from the hearing. - Picture by Choo Choy May

By Neville Spykerman - The Malaysian Insider

PUTRAJAYA, May 21 — The Court of…

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Nizar and his wife taking a break from the hearing. - Picture by Choo Choy May

By Neville Spykerman - The Malaysian Insider

PUTRAJAYA, May 21 — The Court of Appeal will decide tomorrow if it agrees with the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s ruling that Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin is the rightful Perak mentri besar.

A three men panel heard submissions today from lawyers representing Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) Nizar, in what was a repeat of the protracted trial in the High Court.

Both teams put forward the same arguments they made during the high court case.

Zambry’s team arguing that Article 16 (6) of the Perak constitution allowed the state ruler to ask the MB to resign if he is deemed to have lost the confidence of the state assembly.

Nizar’s lawyers contended that a state chief executive can only be deemed to have lost the confidence of the legislature through a vote in the state assembly.
Justice Raus Shariff says question before court is whether the trial judge had interpreted the Perak Constitution correctly.

"If wrong, the appeal will be allowed, if right, the appeal will be dismissed," he said.

The following day Zambry filed an appeal and obtained a stay order from Court of Appeal judge Ramly Ali who had sat as a single judge.

Following this Nizar filed his own application to set aside the stay order granted to Zambry.

Nizar's application is to set aside the stay order obtained by Zambry against the High Court ruling which had declared Nizar as the legitimate mentri besar.

He had also requested that the matter be heard by a five-member Court of Appeal panel, instead of the usual three, as it was a matter of public interest and touched on constitutional issues.

However, Nizar failed to get his request. It is learnt that his letter of request did not reach the Court of Appeal president Alauddin Md Sheriff on time.

This morning, the parties agreed that Zambry's appeal will be heard first.

The three-member panel hearing the matter comprises Justices Abdul Raus Sharif, Datuk Zainun Ali and Ahmad Maarop.

This legal battle between Nizar and Zambry is largely seen by many as the final judicial attempt by either party to stamp their authority as the rightful and legitimate Perak menteri besar.

The hearing is expected to take a few days before the court makes a ruling on both the matters before it.

The hearing began with Zambry's counsel Datuk Cecil Abraham arguing that High Court judge Abdul Aziz Ab Rahim had not given proper weight to the evidence produced on the legality of Zambry's appointment.

Cecil said the evidence had showed that the Sultan of Perak had ordered Nizar to resign which the latter had refused to do so.

The constitutional provision provides that Nizar resign following the Sultan's directive, said counsel.

Cecil said the Ruler was only exercising his royal prerogative under Article 16(6) of the Perak constitution to reject Nizar's request for the assembly to be dissolved.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, who has intervened in the matter to assist the court, started his submissions after Cecil ended his.

Gani said there were no provisions under the Perak constitution for a mentri besar to be voted out through a vote of no confidence to show that he had lost the majority in the House.

He argued that if the mentri besar had lost the confidence of the House, he must resign.

Nizar's lawyer Sulaiman Abdullah submitted after the lunch break.

He said that there was no provision in the state constitution that gave express power for the sultan to sack a mentri besar.

He argued that the Sultan could dismiss the state exco but not the MB.

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Tak tanding, BN mungkin fobia-Tian Chua

Aid groups demand Sri Lanka access

Aid groups say they are 'overwhelmed' by the influx of refugees fleeing the former conflict zone [EPA] The Red Cross and the United Nations have called on the Sri Lankan…

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Aid groups say they are 'overwhelmed' by the influx of refugees fleeing the former conflict zone [EPA] The Red Cross and the United Nations have called on the Sri Lankan government to allow them unrestricted access to refugee camps near the former conflict zone. At least 280,000 people have been displaced due to fighting between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the military, and many of them have been sent to overcrowded camps in the country's north. Pressure continues to mount on the Sri Lankan government to open areas that have been off limits to journalists and aid workers, amid reports that thousands of civilians were killed in the crossfire between the army and the LTTE in the final weeks of the war. The request comes a day after a decision by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to suspend its aid operations in Sri Lanka due to restrictions placed on it by the government. The ICRC told Al Jazeera on Wednesday, a day after the government declared victory over the LTTE, that "additional restrictions" meant it had no choice but to halt its activities. 'Standstill' "Since last weekend there have been additional restrictions imposed on aid organisations, including the ICRC," Paul Castella, the head of the group's Sri Lanka operations, said. "The authorities have said that because of security they had to restrict access to certain areas. "What is the take of these civilians and what the conditions are we don't know because we are not granted access to the area." According to Monica Zanarelli, the deputy head of operations for South Asia for the ICRC, aid trucks have been restricted from the largest camp since last weekend, bringing the distribution of supplies there to "a temporary standstill". Until then, the Red Cross had delivered water, food, personal hygiene kits, baby-care parcels, emergency household items and kitchen utensils to the camp, known as Menik Farm, in the country's north, which housed more than 130,000 refugees, Zanarelli said on the Red Cross website. Rishard Badurdeen, the Sri Lankan minister for resettlement, said access to the camps was restricted because LTTE fighters were hiding among the refugees. "There are some 3,000 LTTE cadres in the camp and we haven't finished screening,'' Badurdeen told The Associated Press. Zanarelli also said Red Cross officials had visited and registered more than 1,800 fighters who had surrendered. 'Overwhelmed' The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also reiterated calls for more assistance, citing the lack of services available for aid workers assisting the refugees who have left the former conflict zones. "There are several issues that need urgent attention, including overcrowding and the limited services available at the camps,'' said Ron Redmond, the UNHCR spokesman. "Civilians coming out of the conflict zone are sick, hungry and suffering from acute malnourishment and dehydration,'' he said in Geneva. The Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) aid agency said thousands of refugees who had arrived in Vavuniya district are in "desperate need of medical care". "A staggering 50,000 people have arrived in Vavuniya district since last Friday 16th May. Many thousands more are still expected in the coming days," the aid group said in a statement. "Despite increasing the number of staff, MSF teams are overwhelmed by the huge and sudden influx of people." Doctors detained Separately, rights groups have called on Sri Lanka to release three Tamil doctors detained after government forces overran the LTTE's last outpost in the country's northeast. During the final stages of the conflict, journalists were prevented from entering the war zone and the international media came to rely on the reports of Thurairaja Varatharajah, Thangamuttu Sathyamurthi and V Shanmugarajah, three Tamil doctors working in the war zone. The men were arrested on accusations that they gave false information about the number of casualties to the media. Police said that they can be held for up to 90 days. Yolanda Foster, a Sri Lanka expert at the human rights organisation Amnesty International, told Al Jazeera: "Two of the doctors are now being held in the terrorist investigation division in Colombo, but no formal detention order has yet been issued. "That's a key concern because without a formal order, the relatives of the doctors do not know where they are. "If they are not to be charged formally then they should be released." The third doctor is believed to be detained in hospital after being injured while escaping fighting on Friday. However, this has not yet been confirmed. 'Outrageous' Warnings continue to be issued of the dire humanitarian situation in refugee camps [AFP] Mahinda Samarasinghe, Sri Lanka's minister for disaster management and human rights, confirmed that the doctors had been "handed over" to the police. "The Criminal Investigation Department has issued detention orders for the three doctors and investigations have commenced about possible collaboration with the LTTE," he told Al Jazeera. Mads Gilbert, a doctor at the Norwegian Aid Committee, told Al Jazeera that the doctors had fulfilled their humanitarian obligations and that it was "outrageous" that they had not yet been given full protection they are entitled to under international law. "They should immediately be handed over to the UN or ICRC and be protected from any interrogation or punishment from the Sri Lankan government." He said that the doctors should be afforded witness protection since they are some of the few who are able to talk of alleged war crimes by the government. "They are instrumental to know what is going on... The most simple thing is for the government to execute them ... then they have silenced them completely," Gilbert said. "These doctors are a threat to the government since they can tell the truth to the world." Meanwhile, concern has grown over the high numbers of civilians killed and how the government will reach out to the country's Tamil minority. The European Union has called for an independent inquiry into alleged human-rights violations carried out during the war. The UN has said that between 80,000 to 100,000 people were killed in Sri Lanka's decades-long civil war.

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Hearing begins on Perak MB crisis

PUTRAJAYA, May 21 — The Court of Appeal this morning started hearing Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir appeal against the High Court ruling last Monday that declared…

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PUTRAJAYA, May 21 — The Court of Appeal this morning started hearing Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir appeal against the High Court ruling last Monday that declared Pakatan Rakyat’s Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin the rightful Perak mentri besar.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court had on May 11 ruled that Nizar was the rightful mentri besar as the state assembly had not moved for a vote of no confidence to remove him.

The following day Zambry filed an appeal and obtained a stay order from Court of Appeal judge Ramly Ali who had sat as a single judge.

Following this Nizar filed his own application to set aside the stay order granted to Zambry.

Nizar's application is to set aside the stay order obtained by Zambry against the High Court ruling which had declared Nizar as the legitimate mentri besar.

He had also requested that the matter be heard by a five-member Court of Appeal panel, instead of the usual three, as it was a matter of public interest and touched on constitutional issues.

However, Nizar failed to get his request. It is learnt that his letter of request did not reach the Court of Appeal president Alauddin Md Sheriff on time.

This morning, the parties agreed that Zambry's appeal will be heard first.

The three-member panel hearing the matter comprises Justices Abdul Raus Sharif, Datuk Zainun Ali and Ahmad Maarop.

This legal battle between Nizar and Zambry is largely seen by many as the final judicial attempt by either party to stamp their authority as the rightful and legitimate Perak menteri besar.

The hearing is expected to take a few days before the court makes a ruling on both the matters before it. - The Malaysian Insider

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Federal Court puts off Anwar’s appeal against sacking

By Edward Cheah and Lee Wei Lian - The Malaysian Insider

PUTRAJAYA, May 21 —Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's lawsuit against the government was postponed today due to the…

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By Edward Cheah and Lee Wei Lian - The Malaysian Insider

PUTRAJAYA, May 21 —Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's lawsuit against the government was postponed today due to the large number of cases that need to be heard in the Federal Court.

The new date for hearing has been fixed for July 30.

Anwar is suing the government for sacking him illegally as deputy prime minister in 1998 and is appealing the decision of the lower courts to dismiss his case.

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On the state of HINDRAF Makkal Sakthi P.UTHAYAKUMAR's Health

It has been our contention all along during Uthayakumar’s detention that there was an element of neglect in the way that Uthayakumar has been treated for his Diabetes condition. The…

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It has been our contention all along during Uthayakumar’s detention that there was an element of neglect in the way that Uthayakumar has been treated for his Diabetes condition. The first results of the investigations into the state of his health after his release confirms this.

His blood sugar level on Wednesday last week a couple of days after his release was 10.1 mmol/L. The recommended limit is 7.9mmol/L. The Historical 3 months average count was 8.1mmol/L. This was for the 3 months prior to his release.

What this indicates is the poor management of the Diabetes condition while in detention. This is the responsibility of the Prison Director and the related doctors. Uthaya’s dosage of the drugs given while in prison were less than what had been prescribed for him from before the detention – to the extent of a 30% reduction in the dosage levels. Something which Uthaya had complained about to the Prison authorities while in prison.

Investigations into his medical condition continues as the Physician has recommended further tests and observation.

What this initial investigation reveals is that the Prison authorities, either on their own or in a very subtle conspiracy can contribute to the slow deterioration of the health of detainees – especially the troublesome ones, so that they may yet win by taking away their vitality . But when pointed out, as now, the authorities will plead all sort of other things.

This pattern of seeming innocence by the authorities in charge is repeated in so many situations concerning problems of the people. A very clear example is where the senior UMNO politicians often say that their policies are all right but the implementation is what is causing the problem. The implementers or the administrators on the other hand are seldom held to task and the sandiwara continues.

Exactly the same kind of scenario here.

We must change all of this.

S.JAYATHAS
HINDRAF Makkal Sakthi
0126362287

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My most sincere apology to the nation

I made it very clear there would be no negotiations. How can I agree to bribing police officers to get my son off the hook after speaking out against crime,…

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I made it very clear there would be no negotiations. How can I agree to bribing police officers to get my son off the hook after speaking out against crime, corruption, abuse of power and cover-ups of criminal acts by those who walk in the corridors of power?

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

I offer no excuses. My wife, Marina, and I have five children, all now grown up. Four have made a life for themselves -- two are now married and have blessed us with four grandchildren. One, Raja Azman, left home when he was still in lower secondary school and chose to end all ties with the family. That was about 18 years ago or so.

Since he left home, he has been in and out of trouble, the result of living on the streets and sleeping in the back alleys of Kuala Lumpur. Invariably, life on the streets like an urchin turned him into what he is today.

Muslims believe that heaven lies beneath the feet of one’s mother. It is therefore seldom a Muslim mother would bring herself to curse her offspring. Doing so would condemn that child for eternity. That is what Muslims believe.

My wife made it very clear to our prodigal son that he turns his back on the family and resorts to a life of crime at his own peril. It does not matter the severity of the crime. Crime is crime whatever it may be, big or small. And is it not the tendency that petty criminals eventually migrate to hardcore crimes? He therefore invites his mother’s curse if he brings shame to the family. That was my wife’s final word on the matter.

Our son was warned that if he ever got into trouble he was entirely on his own. He can’t expect the family that he has disowned to rally to his side. He has made his bed so he must now lie in it. That was our irrevocable and uncompromising stand and this was delivered in no uncertainty to our son. He would have to make the decision as to what it was going to be.

Marina and I received a phone call a couple of months ago that our son, yet again, was in trouble. It was a call from a police officer. The phone was passed to our son so that we could be assured he was in the hands of the police. Although it was a huge disappointment to both of us, it was no shock, neither a surprise. This was yet another brush with the law that our son has got himself into over more than a decade.

The purpose for the phone call became clearer after our son handed the phone back to the police officer. They wanted to negotiate a settlement. The problem is small, we were told. This can be settled easily enough. They know we would rather bury this problem than let it become public knowledge. We are, after all, high profile. And bad publicity such as this would not help our image.

I made it very clear there would be no negotiations. How can I agree to bribing police officers to get my son off the hook after speaking out against crime, corruption, abuse of power and cover-ups of criminal acts by those who walk in the corridors of power? Sure, maybe no one would know about it. Once I pay up, the matter will be buried so deep no one would be the wiser. But I would know. My wife would know. My family would know. And the police officers who I had bribed would know.

How can I continue speaking out against what ails this country when I am not able to walk the talk? It is so easy to talk when you have nothing to lose, except maybe your freedom. But when it comes to a member of your family, you compromise your principles and violate the very thing that you speak out against.

When I hung up the phone, I could see the pain in my wife’s heart. After all, are not the eyes the window to the heart? Which mother can abandon a child, never mind how evil that child may be. It takes a very determined woman to put principles before the welfare of the family.

We knew it was with dire consequences that we had turned down the offer to settle the matter. We would be made to pay dearly for our stubbornness. They would make sure that we would suffer shame never before suffered by our family.

My children are devastated. The thought of our son having to spend a good part of his life in prison is only part of it. The fact that he carries the family name and that this would be held against the family was their main concern. They knew we would be made to suffer for what Raja Azman had done.

This was a predicament we would never be able to avoid. It would have been so simple to just agree to meet the police officers and pay them the money they wanted and all would have been settled. But it would have been settled only for that short moment in time. I would have to carry the knowledge that I sold out my principles and was not able to walk the talk for the rest of my life.

How can I continue doing what I am doing knowing that I am not able to practice what I preach? I would lose the moral high ground and would no longer be qualified to talk about change and about a better Malaysia. I am, after all, as corrupted as those people who walk in the corridors of power. My son may walk free. But I shall be taking his place in prison -- not a physical prison, but a prisoner of my own nagging conscience, which will haunt me till my last day on earth.

As a father, it was a most difficult choice I had to make. It was more difficult for Marina, the mother who gave birth to that son. We held each other’s hands and looked each other in the eye without speaking. Words were unnecessary. In that silence our hearts did all the talking. We knew we had to bite the bullet and face whatever lies ahead of us without wavering.

Marina and I apologise to the nation for what our son has done. As parents, Marina and I accept that responsibility.

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Nazri: Hindraf remains illegal organisation

(NST) - The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) is still a banned movement and no activities can be held under its name.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri…

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(NST) - The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) is still a banned movement and no activities can be held under its name.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said although the movement's leaders were released as they were no longer deemed a threat to the country, the same could not be said about Hindraf.

Nazri cited the now-defunct Communist Party of Malaya, which remained outlawed despite its former members being freed.

"In the case of CPM, its former members sat down with the government and pledged to abandon their ideologies. But CPM remains a banned party.

"In law, individuals and organisations are two different entities. It does not mean that since they (Hindraf leaders) were released, the ban on their organisation has been lifted," said Nazri.
All five Hindraf leaders held under the Internal Security Act were recently released.

On the move by several key Hindraf members to form the Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party, which is led by former Hindraf national coordinator R.S. Thanenthiran, Nazri said they had the right to do so.

"After all, Makkal Sakthi means people's power and there is nothing wrong with that.

"The Constitution allows it as long as the party's struggles are not against the laws of the country."

Its pro tem secretary-general, Kannan Ramasamy, had said that since Hindraf was outlawed, the movement needed an alternative conduit to champion the Indian cause.

The new party, he said, would remain neutral and work with whichever coalition that was willing to support Hindraf's 18-point demands.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said yesterday that no action would be taken against P. Uthayakumar for not turning up at Kamunting on Tuesday for a scheduled advisory council meeting.

Hishammuddin said Utha-yakumar's presence before the council was not a condition for his release.

The panel called him and other former ISA detainees to assess their level of rehabilitation and attitude.

"He has not gone against any conditions or committed any offence, but the panel will submit a report to me."

Hishammuddin, however, warned Uthayakumar not to make further threats, not only against him and the ministry but also the government.

"I view seriously his statements on street demonstrations and other accusations he has been hurling against us.

"You can issue all kinds of threats but once you convert them into actions and breach the conditions and the laws, we will act."

The four other Hindraf leaders -- Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M. Manoharan, K. Vasantha Kumar, V. Ganabatirau and R. Kenghadharan -- showed up for the meeting in Kamunting.

Uthayakumar said he would continue the struggles in a "peaceful, legal, constitutional and democratic manner".

He added he had done nothing wrong and was prepared for the worst.

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Appeals court hears Zambry, then Nizar

By Deborah Loh
thenutgraph.com

(Nizar pic courtesy of theSun)

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 May 2009: At 9.30am the Court of Appeal started hearing Barisan Nasional (BN)’s Datuk Seri Dr Zambry…

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By Deborah Loh
thenutgraph.com

(Nizar pic courtesy of theSun)

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 May 2009: At 9.30am the Court of Appeal started hearing Barisan Nasional (BN)’s Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir’s appeal against the High Court ruling that Pakatan Rakyat (PR)’s Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is the rightful Perak menteri besar.

The court started hearing Zambry’s appeal before hearing Nizar’s application to set aside the stay of execution it granted to Zambry on the High Court ruling.

Nizar, 52, was appointed menteri besar on 17 March last year after the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) won 31 seats in the 12th general election.

He was ousted after the Zambry was sworn in as Perak menteri besar on 6 Feb. This was following the BN takeover of the state government, precipitated by the defection of three Pakatan Rakyat (PR) assemblypersons who had opted to become BN-friendly independents, leading to the PR losing its majority in the state assembly.

Nizar sought an audience with the sultan of Perak on 5 Feb to request the dissolution of the state assembly, but was turned down and instead ordered to step down as menteri besar. Subsequently, Nizar filed a suit against Zambry.

On 13 Feb, Nizar filed a judicial review and sought a declaration from the courts that he is at all material times the menteri besar of Perak. He also sought a declaration that Zambry has no right to hold the office of menteri besar.

On 11 May, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that Nizar was the rightful menteri besar of Perak. High Court (Appellate and Special Powers Division) judge Datuk Abdul Aziz Abd Rahim ruled that there was no provision in the state constitution for the menteri besar to be fired or for the post to be vacant in the event that the menteri besar refused to resign.

However, on 12 May, the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya granted Zambry a stay of execution on the High Court decision.

The next day, Nizar applied to the same court to set aside the stay order.

Live updates:

4.58pm: Court adjourns. Defers judgement on Zambry's appeal till tomorrow after Friday prayers.

4.29pm: Zambry's counsel Datuk Cecil Abraham begins his submission. He states that despite lacuna in Article 16 (6) of the Perak state constitution, judges must reinterpret and decide whether it holds if a vote in the house is indeed the only way to determine majority confidence of MB.

4.21pm: Another counsel for Nizar, Ranjit Singh sumbits that Nizar's state of mind at the time he wrote to the Perak Sultan seeking a dissolution of the state assembly on 4 Feb was to resolve deadlock and not because he had lost majority confidence.

3.57pm:Sulaiman submits that the provision that the MB does not hold office at the pleasure of the sultan was not addressed by Zambry's lawyers.

3:18pm: Sulaiman cites the Stephen Kalong Ningkan 1996 case that the chief minister cannot be removed even if he loses majority confidence. Because of this judgment, the Federal government imposed emergency rule in Sarawak as there was no other solution.

2.30pm: Nizar's lawyer Sulaiman Abdullah began his submission at 2.30pm. He is going through other cases for precedents that the MB cannot be dismissed or his office deemed vacant unless after a vote of no-confidence by the assembly.

1:13pm: Gani wraps up his submission that because Nizar has already lost the majority, Article 16(6) of the State Constitution requires his resignation, failing which his office and that of the executive councillors are deemed vacated. The court has taken a break and will resume at 2pm.

12:31pm: Gani says it follows that there is no need for a vote of no-confidence to be taken in the assembly to determine if Nizar has lost the majority's confidence. The fact is that he has already lost his majority.

12:24pm: Case intervener, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, is now submitting that Nizar's request for dissolution, based on the 28-28 deadlock, is a self-admission that he lacks the majority's confidence.

11:41am: Zambry's lawyer, Datuk Cecil Abraham, is submitting that the Perak Constitution has no provision requiring a vote of no confidence to determine if Nizar should resign. A three-person bench of judges is hearing Zambry's appeal.

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Gerakan's Suggestion On Chin Peng Unbecoming - Cheras Umno

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- Umno Cheras division has described a Gerakan Penang's suggestion that former communist leader Chin Peng be allowed to return to the country as unbecoming…

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KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- Umno Cheras division has described a Gerakan Penang's suggestion that former communist leader Chin Peng be allowed to return to the country as unbecoming of a Barisan Nasional member.

Its division head, Datuk Syed Ali AlHabshee said the genocide committed by the Malayan Communist Party on the people could not be forgiven and many soldiers had been killed and maimed by the insurgents.

"Chin Peng had left a black spot in the history of the country. It was rather strange for Gerakan to make the suggestion in the light of the present political scenario," said

Penang Gerakan Chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan urged government to re-look at Chin Peng's case and he should be allowed him to return to the country on humanitarian grounds as he was no longer a security threat.

Association of Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak) president Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang said it sent shockwaves down his spine to think of the implication if the government agreed to the suggestion.

"Although the government is open and liberal, we should not forget the history of the communist insurgency," he added.

Majlis Muafakat Ummah (Pewaris) deputy president Rahimuddin Md Harun described the suggestion as preposterous and off tangent.

"It is like adding salt to injury. Does he (Dr Teng) forgets history? The government should not entertain such request," he added.

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Makkal Sakti versus Hindraf - Malaysiakini

The formation of a new Indian-based political party by a breakaway disgruntled group from the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) does not come as a shocker.

MCPX

Those with close…

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The formation of a new Indian-based political party by a breakaway disgruntled group from the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) does not come as a shocker.

MCPX

Those with close links to the movement would testify that it was long coming.

Contrary to the pessimism expressed by some that thid will split Hindraf, the newly formed Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) will strengthen the unity and struggle of the minority rights group.

Suspended Hindraf national coordinator RS Thanenthirran's move to go on his own by establishing MMSP is seen by several observers as doing more good than harm to Hindraf.

Over the short term, the Indian Malaysian community may be confused by MMSP's popularity propaganda, which will naturally invite widespread publicity by the mainstream media.

However, in long run, the people, including some in MMSP, will return to the original struggle led by Hindraf.

Meeting with PM

Sources close to Thanenthirran said he met Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in Putrajaya recently. The meeting was arranged by senior aides of a powerful Barisan Nasional Indian leader.

It was purportedly arranged after PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim turned down Thanenthirran’s request to be fielded as the Pakatan Rakyat candidate for the Bukit Selambau by-election, held on April 7.

Sources said Najib, who is also the Umno president, had asked Thanenthirran and his friends what measures should be taken by the Putrajaya administration to woo back Indians to BN.

Thanenthirran’s five-man delegation then laid down the release of the three remaining Hindraf leaders – P Uthayakumar, T Vasanthakumar and M Manoharan – as a major step forward.

Najib had earlier ordered the release of two other Hindraf leaders - V Ganabatirau and R Kengadharan - hours after taking office as the new leader last month.

The five were detained under the Internal Security Act in December 2007 in connection with a mammoth anti-government rally in Kuala Lumpur.

Thanenthirran had also told Najib to allow the London-based Hindraf leader P Waythamoorthy to return safely to Malaysia.

He suggested that the Putrajaya administration implements Hindraf's 18-point demand to improve the living standards and conditions of Indians.

Sources said Najib told Thanenthirran that the government was already working on this.

One such step was the recent RM80 million allocation set aside by the federal government for Tamil schools.

When the allocation was first announced during the Bukit Selambau by-election campaign, Thanenthirran lauded Najib's move to help Tamil schools, contrary to the stand taken by Waythamoorthy who dismissed the allocation as an "election gimmick and peanuts".

The 18-point demand, touching on contentious issues such as housing, education and employment was drafted by Waythamoorthy with the assistance of several aides in 2007, when Thanenthirran and his MMSP colleagues were not in Hindraf.

Since Thanenthirran and his colleagues are no longer in Hindraf, they have automatically relinquished their right to deploy the Hindraf 18-point charter as their political cause.

They have to now come up with their own charter to manifest their political agenda to the public.

Battle line has been drawn

Despite a denial yesterday by Thanenthirran, the fast-track approval given to MMSP’s registration has raised suspicion that the new political party is linked to BN.

When Thanenthirran was the Hindraf national coordinator, there were widespread complaints that his leadership style had caused a rift in the movement.

Thanenthirran's meeting with Najib was the last straw as far as Waythamoorthy was concerned.

Following this, the 10-man local Hindraf coordinating body was suspended in a move to alienate the Butterworth-based Thanenthirran.

According to sources, It would not be a surprise if a certain former ISA detainee were to helm MMSP.

Observers suggest that Thanenthirran could have already dealt with Vasanthakumar on the matter. It is known that Uthayakumar and Vasanthakumar do not see eye-to-eye.

The imminent return of Waythamoorty to Malaysia in the next month will further spice up the Indian political scene.

The battle line has been drawn to undermine Hindraf and promote MMSP as the genuine and ultimate champion of Indian rights, benefits and interests.

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Sri Lanka destroys evidence, prevents ICRC, UN access - Prof. Boyle

Noting that the slow genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka accelerated to more than 10,000 killed in the last few months, far exceeding the horrors of Srebrenica, Professor Boyle in…

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Noting that the slow genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka accelerated to more than 10,000 killed in the last few months, far exceeding the horrors of Srebrenica, Professor Boyle in conversation with Los Angeles KPFK radio host, Michael Slate, Tuesday, accused Sri Lanka Government of bulldozing and destroying evidence of massacres in the Safety Zone while preventing access to the Red Cross and UN agencies. Boyle added that the United States Government with spy satellites would be knowing exactly what Sri Lanka's actions are in the Safe Zone, and stand implicated along with UK, France, and India in allowing the genocide to happen.

KPFK discussion with Prof. Boyle (start @4:00)

"Today ICRC still does not have access when the area should be flooded with food and medicine to urgently attend to the 300,000 Internally Displaced Tamils held in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) supervised camps," Boyle said, adding, survivors from the Safety Zone, from starvation, resembled escapees from Nazi death camps.

Prof Francis Boyle, University of Illinois College of Law

The situation was similar to what happened in Gaza, Boyle said, but in Gaza people had access to food via under ground tunnels, whereas the Tamils holed up in the Safety Zone were completely cutoff from the outside and were entirely dependent on food transported by the ICRC ships.

Tracing the history of the conflict, Boyle and Slate agreed that Sri Lanka was an apartheid state from the very beginning of independence, and pointed to the violent elements of the Buddhist clergy, and the India's dravidian-oriented racism as elements that exacerbated the deterioration of the conflict towards genocide.

Peace processes failed, Boyle argued, because Sri Lankan Governments, instead engaging in good faith negotiation, "wanted control, domination, and elimination of the Tamil population."

"We may be at the beginning of a humanitarian catastrophe for the Tamil people in Sri Lanka which would fit the ultimate objective of the Government motivated by chauvinist, violent racism," Boyle said, adding "my experience in working in genocidal situations says once the government and the people are possessed of this genocidal mentality it's very difficult to stop."

Slate added, "Tamil people are a severely oppressed nation. Anyone of conscience must stand up and support their resistance."

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Hishammuddin Speaking about Uthaya

Unfazed by arrests, vigils to proceed

'Hishammuddin, explain abuse of police powers'

Manoharan wants Bumiputra status for all born after independence

By Shannon Teoh- The Malaysian Insider

SHAH ALAM, May 20 – Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader M. Manoharan today called for all those born in Malaysia after independence to…

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By Shannon Teoh- The Malaysian Insider

SHAH ALAM, May 20 – Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader M. Manoharan today called for all those born in Malaysia after independence to be accorded Bumiputra status, saying that this would truly unite Malaysians and give 1Malaysia some meaning.

Fresh from being released from Internal Security Act (ISA) detention, M. Manoharan may well be courting trouble again with his speech at a teatime function today.

“I want to meet the prime minister to propose that we accord Bumiputra status to all Malaysians born here after August 31, 1957 to dismantle racial barriers,” he said.

In an interview with The Malaysian Insider later, he said that such a move might give PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1 Malaysia slogan of unity a chance of bearing some fruit, as it would be the first step towards recognising all citizens as equal Malaysians.

Recognising the sensitivities surrounding Bumiputra status, he explained that it was not meant to impinge on the constitutional rights and privileges of Malays.

“The constitution enshrines the rights of Malays, not Bumiputras, so they can still continue to enjoy their special status. I am not trying to take it away from them,” he said.

The Kota Alam Shah assemblyman added that, along with four other Hindraf leaders released recently from ISA detention, he would resume its 18-point demands to the government which includes affirmative action for ethnic Indians as well as protection for its schools and temples.

In his own capacity as a DAP assemblyman in Selangor’s Pakatan Rakyat government, he hopes to pursue some of these issues.

“I have a masterplan for Selangor. If we solve these three problems – Tamil schools, Hindu temples and graveyards or crematoriums – then we will have solved 90 per cent of Indian problems,” he said.

He said the state government had the power to end these Indian issues as it was in charge of giving out land titles.

“We are asking for nothing more than what are government obligations to its citizens. We are not asking to be prime minister, deputy prime minister or to be astronauts,” he quipped.

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Makkal Sakthi will split Indians: Hindraf leader

By Shannon Teoh - The Malaysian Insider

SHAH ALAM, May 20 – A “hurt” M. Manoharan believes the newly-formed Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP) will only cause disunity among Indians…

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By Shannon Teoh - The Malaysian Insider

SHAH ALAM, May 20 – A “hurt” M. Manoharan believes the newly-formed Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP) will only cause disunity among Indians who are already a minority in Malaysia.

One of the five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders recently released from Internal Security Act detention, the Kota Alam Shah assemblyman said that the splinter party was merely adding to an already crowded field that would do nothing to solve the problems faced by ethnic Indians.

“It hurts me to see Makkal Sakthi being formed. Those of us who were detained under ISA were from different political backgrounds – whether from DAP, MIC or independent – but we worked to unite Indians.

“This will cause a split, a crack in the unity because there are too many parties, too many ideologies and agendas which will not solve Indian problems,” he said.

He insisted that Hindraf would continue as an NGO to champion the rights of Indians with its members free to contribute from within existing political parties.

“New parties will only split up Indians who are already a minority in Malaysia,” he reasoned.

He said that Hindraf should instead continue to be effective in the long term without becoming a political party in the same way the Chinese education group Dong Jiao Zong has been championing the cause of vernacular education.

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What is UMNO up to now with Thanenthiran ?

by naragan

What is UMNO up to now with Thanenthiran ?

Games must be stopped and the reality faced.

History is filled with stories of betrayal of people’s movements for…

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by naragan

What is UMNO up to now with Thanenthiran ?

Games must be stopped and the reality faced.

History is filled with stories of betrayal of people’s movements for petty profit. We have one happening right under our noses. However even more significant is the story of the invisible hand behind this betrayal.

Thanenthiran even while in Hindraf was trying all his best to get an appointment for some political position right from after the elections till his final days with Hindraf. He failed. He tried to get nominated as the PR candidate for Bukit Selambau and failed there too. He dragged the whole Hindraf movement along in that petty direction in the mean time. The rest of the democratic and progressive elements within Hindraf were pulled along because he kept threatening to drop his mantle and run off, every time a meaningful return to the struggle against injustice was brought up.

Then on the other side UMNO had totally lost support from the Indian citizens in this country and needed very badly to regain that support if they were going to maintain their hold on power. From their standpoint MIC was history on all these counts – MIC could not play their Mandore role effectively any more. UMNO needed a new Mandore.

Does it take much more to imagine what happens next – UMNO with its ultra short sight sees a strategic fit. Approves Thanenthiran's new party at lightning speed and voila what do you have - another mirage of the Indians flocking back to UMNO - 300,000 of them mind you!. A party with grassroots Indian support back in the folds of UMNO. Good work Najib, old boy!

Keep dreaming. What UMNO has got is yet another Mandore and yet another MIC. And one more act to play out more treachery against the Indian people. .Just you wait and see the verdict of the people - petty histrionics do not make them move beyond some initial worry.

History is as much about progress as it is about telling the story of that progress. Progressive forces can be slowed down but never stopped. So, UMNO keep this clear in mind, either you align with the progressive forces of history or face the possibility of being relegated to the dustbin of that history along with all your so-called partners.

It is time that games be stopped and the reality faced.

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HAF E-Press: HAF Urges Malaysian Government to Engage HINDRAF Leaders

HAF URGES MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT TO ENGAGE HINDRAF LEADERS

May 19, 2009 (Washington, DC) -- The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) expressed concern over the Malaysian government's ordering a review board to…

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HAF URGES MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT TO ENGAGE HINDRAF LEADERS

May 19, 2009 (Washington, DC) -- The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) expressed concern over the Malaysian government's ordering a review board to consider the case of Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) leader P. Uthayakumar just after his release from the Kamunting Detention Centre. “Such a review seems both unlawful and unconstitutional," said Ishani Chowdhury, Director of Public Policy, HAF. "We urge the Malaysian government to act quickly and productively to resolve outstanding issues with Malaysian Hindus and engage HINDRAF leaders in finding a lasting solution to address the disparities faced by the Hindu community.”

Mr. Uthayakumar had been incarcerated since late 2007 under Malaysia's draconian Internal Security Act, a law which allows for arrest and incarceration without the need for trial. “If the Review Board orders the re-arrest of Uthayakumar, the Malaysian government will have effectively reneged on promises to deal fairly with the Hindu community," furthered Chowdhury, "It will be a major setback not just for the Hindu minority, but all minorities in Malaysia”.

The Hindu American Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, non-partisan organization promoting the Hindu and American ideals of understanding, tolerance and pluralism.
Contact HAF at 301.770.7835 or on the web at www.HAFsite.org.

For media inquiries, please contact:

HAF Director of Public Policy
Ishani Chowdhury
Email: ishani@hafsite.org

Office: 301.770.7835
Fax: 301.770.7837

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PKR Negeri Sembilan nafi ADUN akan letak jawatan

Ariffuddin Ishak, mStar

Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Negeri Sembilan, Datuk Kamarul Baharin Abbas menafikan dakwaan sekurang-kurang dua wakil rakyat dari parti itu membayangkan untuk meletakkan jawatan.

Beliau…

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Ariffuddin Ishak, mStar

Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Negeri Sembilan, Datuk Kamarul Baharin Abbas menafikan dakwaan sekurang-kurang dua wakil rakyat dari parti itu membayangkan untuk meletakkan jawatan.

Beliau berkata dakwaan sedemikian tidak berasas dan hanya beranggapan perkara tersebut sebagai sesuatu yang melucukan.

"Tak ada, tak ada...ini semua lucu bagi saya. Apa asasnya? Mereka semua bekerja seperti biasa dan tak ada masalah," katanya kepada mStar Online.

Media hari ini melaporkan kenyataan Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan yang mendakwa Barisan Nasional (BN) negeri mempunyai maklumat ada wakil rakyat pembangkang merancang pelbagai alasan untuk meletak jawatan kerana sudah tidak berupaya untuk berkhidmat kepada rakyat.

Dua Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) dari PKR yang disebut-sebut itu ialah ADUN Sikamat, Aminuddin Harun dan ADUN Ampangan, Rashid Latiff.

Bagaimanapun Kamarul berkata beliau tidak faham motif Menteri Besar membuat kenyataan sedemikian kerana situasi yang dimaksudkan tidak wujud sama sekali.

"Saya tak tahu kenapa beliau beri kenyataan macam itu, setakat ini semua wakil rakyat kita jalankan tugas seperti biasa.

"Dua-duanya kerja bagus, ADUN Ampangan (Rashid) mungkin ada masalah sikit sebab dia baru buat pembedahan jantung...dia tak begitu sihatlah.

"Tapi Aminuddin...dia kerja keras," katanya.

Ditanya sama ada PKR negeri akan mengambil sebarang tindakan terhadap kenyataan Menteri Besar itu, Kamarul berkata buat masa ini pihaknya mengambil langkah untuk hanya berdiam diri.

"Tak perlu buat apa-apa, kita ketawa sahaja cukuplah dengan gelagat mereka, kita tak perlu ambil tindakan.

"Cerita satu lawaklah... orang seperti seperti Menteri Besar tidak sepatutnya cakap seperti ini kerana tidak mencerminkan kebijaksanaan," katanya.

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Shad Faruqi’s article on Perak crisis becoming a “hydra-headed monster” should be compulsory reading for Najib and Cabinet

By Lim Kit Siang,

Professor Shad Faruqi’s latest Star weekly column “Reflecting on the Law” on “Put interest of the nation first” and how the Perak crisis has…

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By Lim Kit Siang,

Professor Shad Faruqi’s latest Star weekly column “Reflecting on the Law” on “Put interest of the nation first” and how the Perak crisis has become a “hydra-headed monster” should be compulsory reading for the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his Cabinet.

Shad Faruqi has made many points which I had tried in the past three -and-a-half months to communicate to the Prime Minister and the Barisan Nasional leaders but to no avail.

For instance, Shad Faruqi started his article thus:

“THE Perak political crisis can be likened to a malignant cancer that is voraciously spreading to the lymph nodes of our other institutions – the Sultanate, the judiciary, the federal executive, the civil service, the police, the law officers of the Crown, the court registry, the Anti-Corruption Com­­mission and the Election Commission.

The longer we wait, the farther the affliction will spread. It is time, therefore, to stop this madness, this divisiveness, this polarisation.”

One consistent point I had made for over three months is that the constitutional and political impasse has precipitated a new crisis of confidence in credibility, legitimacy and integrity of all the key national institutions of the country, whether the police, election commission, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency, the civil service, the judiciary or the monarchy and impaired Malaysia’s international image and competitiveness to face up to the world’s worst economic crisis in a century.

In March, I had invoked the imagery of “Nero playing the fiddle while Rome burns” to deplore Najib’s failure to act boldly to end the protracted political and constitutional crisis in the face of the world economic crisis.

Shad Faruqi is now invoking the same imagery when he said:

The country as a whole is more important than the fate of Barisan or Pakatan in Perak.

In Rome, Nero played the fiddle while the city burned. We should not allow that to happen to us.

Perak politicians have no right to paralyse the rest of the country or to distract us from the many urgent and daunting tasks staring us in the face.

Najib should take heed and he should take responsibility for the unethical, undemocratic, illegal and unconstitutional power grab he had orchestrated in early February by agreeing to dissolve the Perak state assembly to return the mandate to Perakians to elect the government of their choice.

In February 20, I had called for the swift and democratic resolution of the Perak crisis to avoid months of stand-off and stalemate in the Perak political and constitutional crisis – in a manner which could be accepted by all Perakians without poisoning the Malaysian body politic for years and decades so that national energies could be mobilized to face the looming economic crisis.

If my proposal for a snap Perak state elections to held within 30 days had been acted upon by Najib, the Perak political and constitutional crisis would be behind the state and nation for more than two months!

As Shaq Faruqi has perceptively pointed out, the courts cannot supply any satisfactory solutions to the Perak political and constitutional crisis.

Najib should not drag his feet any longer but rise to the occasion to agree to the dissolution of the Perak State Assembly so that the crisis could be behind all Perakians and Malaysians within 30 days.

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Gobind against suspending Khir Toyo’s allowances

By Deborah Loh
thenutgraph.com

PETALING JAYA, 20 May 2009: DAP Member of Parliament (MP) Gobind Singh Deo is against the suspension of Selangor Barisan Nasional assemblyperson…

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By Deborah Loh
thenutgraph.com

PETALING JAYA, 20 May 2009: DAP Member of Parliament (MP) Gobind Singh Deo is against the suspension of Selangor Barisan Nasional assemblyperson Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo's allowances and privileges.

Former Selangor menteri besar Khir, could end up being in the same boat as Gobind, the Puchong MP, who was suspended from Parliament for a year on 16 March without his salary and privileges.

The Selangor state legislative assembly's Rights and Privileges Committee yesterday recommended that Khir be suspended for being in contempt of the assembly.

The charges included not appearing before the Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) to testify in the Wives of Selangor Barisan Nasional Parliamentarians and State Assembly[persons] Welfare Organisation (Balkis) inquiry.

Gobind was suspended for alleging that then deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was involved in murder and for insulting the Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker. His suspension became effective after the Dewan Rakyat passed a motion to suspend him.

In a press statement today, Gobind said that errant assemblypersons could be punished by being suspended from attending the assembly.

However, suspending an elected representative's allowances and privileges would affect the assemblyperson's ability to continue serving his constituents.

"The fact that the member remains an assembly[person] does not change even when he is suspended. He is still duty bound to see to the problems of his constituents and for all intents and purposes, his recognition as an assembly[person] in the local councils and all other government agencies continue.

"As such, he should be accorded all those privileges an assembly[person] is entitled to and paid his salaries and allowances so that he can serve his constituents," Gobind said.

On 23 April, Gobind filed a suit against Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia seeking a court declaration that his suspension is null, void and of no effect.

Although Khir's suspension still has to be voted on by the legislative assembly, he has said that his lawyers would study the legal implications with the possibility of filing a suit.

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No action against Uthayakumar: Hishammuddin

PUTRAJAYA, 20 May 2009: No action will be taken against former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee P Uthayakumar for failing to appear before an ISA advisory panel meeting at the…

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PUTRAJAYA, 20 May 2009: No action will be taken against former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee P Uthayakumar for failing to appear before an ISA advisory panel meeting at the Kamunting Detention Centre in Taiping yesterday, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

He said that he was informed that Uthayakumar's presence before the panel was not a condition for his release (from ISA detention).

"The advisory panel calling former detainees to appear before it is not to evaluate their level of rehabilitation. If he (Uthayakumar ) did not attend, this will be entered into the panel's report but it does not violate any conditions whereby action can be taken," he told reporters after chairing his ministry's post-cabinet meeting here today.

Hishammuddin was asked to comment on the action by the leader of the outlawed the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) in not attending the meeting scheduled for 10.30am yesterday despite four other Hindraf leaders, who were also released from ISA detention, doing so.

Asked about Uthayakumar's refusal to sign for the conditions of his release from ISA detention, he said: "The fact he did not sign it is not against the law, and it will not affect the release."

Hishammuddin, however, said he viewed seriously the statements being made by Uthayakumar concerning street demonstrations and his accusations and threats against the government, particularly the ministry.

"We will not compromise on this matter and if laws are broken, we will take the appropriate action," he said.

On the review of several laws that came under the ministry, Hishammuddin said besides getting the feedback of experts, he would also be going to the ground to get the views of the public.

"All preventive detentions, those involving assemblies and issues regarding free speech will be reviewed, and most probably will be more lenient," he said.

Asked on police action in clamping down on gatherings, including small ones and candlelight vigils, and claims that their action has made as if wearing black was an offence, Hishammuddin said:"It is not as simple as the way it is being painted."

"That's how it has been made to look at but there are many things which the public, including those involved (in gatherings), do not know or realise. Just wearing black of course is not an offence. Don't think I'm too naive to say we are going to imprison everybody who wears black.

"But there is more to it than that. And if they want to sue me and the Inspector-General of Police for that, both of us are willing to go to court and explain whatever actions that have been taken," he said. — Bernama

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Bar Council Calls on SUHAKAM to Conduct Public Inquiry Into The Arrest of Bar Council LAC Quintet

On 20 May 2009, Ragunath Kesavan, President of the Malaysian Bar presented a memorandum to SUHAKAM Commissioner, Professor Chiam Keng Heng calling upon SUHAKAM to conduct a public inquiry into…

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On 20 May 2009, Ragunath Kesavan, President of the Malaysian Bar presented a memorandum to SUHAKAM Commissioner, Professor Chiam Keng Heng calling upon SUHAKAM to conduct a public inquiry into the arrest of the (5) Bar Council Legal Aid lawyers on 7 May 2009.

Also present at the meeting were George Varughese, the Hon. Secretary, Council members - Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan, Puan Hendon Mohamed and Brendan Navin Siva, Human Rights Committee member, Noor Arianti Osman, and (3) of the (5) Bar Council Legal Aid Lawyers, namely Fadiah Nadwa Binti Fikri, Ravinder Singh Dhalliwal and Murnie Hidayah Binti Anuar.

Ragunath said that an arrested person’s right of access to a legal practitioner was guaranteed by Section 28A (4) of the Criminal Procedure Code and Article 5(3) of the Federal Constitution and this made it incumbent on lawyers to try to see their clients at police stations. He said the arrest of the Legal Aid lawyers was an attempt by the police to punish and humiliate them, and to discourage lawyers in general from being present at police stations to assist detained persons.

Professor Chiam said that Suhakam would consider the Bar Council request at its next meeting scheduled for June. Meanwhile the 5 Legal Aid Lawyers who are presently on police bail have been asked to report to the Brickfields police station at 10 a.m. on Friday, 22 May 2009.

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Fears mount for safety of doctors arrested by SLA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 May 2009, 02:34 GMT]
Whereabouts of three doctors, Medical Superintendent Dr. Shanmugarajah who was attending the wounded at the makeshift hospital at Mu'l'li-vaaykkaal junior school, Regional Director…

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[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 May 2009, 02:34 GMT]
Whereabouts of three doctors, Medical Superintendent Dr. Shanmugarajah who was attending the wounded at the makeshift hospital at Mu'l'li-vaaykkaal junior school, Regional Director of Health Services (RDHS) doctors, Dr. Varatharajah and Dr Sathiyamoorthy, arrested by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) after fleeing the Safety Zone Saturday, are still unknown, and several Rights groups feared for doctors' lives, sources in Colombo said.

"Amnesty International said it was concerned for the safety of the doctors and that it had received reports that Dr. Sathiyamoorthy and Dr. Shanmugarajah may be detained at the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) in the capital, Colombo," a BBC report said.

A Sri Lanka health ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media told the Associated Press that an inquiry was being conducted into their conduct, including allegations they disseminated false information.

Physicians for Human Rights and Reporters Without Borders also appealed for safe release of the three doctors.

The three doctors were earlier praised by the UN for their heroic services to the wounded during trying conditions of war.

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Anwar Ibrahim: Prime Demolition Target of UMNO-Barisan Nasional

By Din Merican

I agree with Syed Nazri, Group Editor of the government controlled The New Straits Times (see his article of May 19, 2009 titled “Anwar …forever victim, never…

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By Din Merican

I agree with Syed Nazri, Group Editor of the government controlled The New Straits Times (see his article of May 19, 2009 titled “Anwar …forever victim, never villian”), that Anwar Ibrahim is “a victim”. But we differ because the Group Editor is putting a spin on behalf of Najib and UMNO-BN by saying that Anwar is seeking international and public sympathy. Nothing is further from the truth than this line of thinking.

The facts will show that since his dismissal from UMNO in 1998, Anwar has been a target of incessant attacks by the government of the day which sought and still seeks to demonise and discredit him. In fact if they can, they will deny him bail and send back to gaol (Sodomy 2) this July, 2009. What are these facts?

Dr. Mahathir and his mischief makers were able to convict him on trumped up charges. As a result, Anwar spent 6 years in Sungai Buloh in solitary confinement, only to be released in 2004. The Lingam tapes showed that the PKR’s Ketua Umum was a victim of a political conspiracy which was vicious, rancourous, and almost deadly (recall the Black Eye incident and the arsenic poisoning). They also launched a well orchestrated and funded anti-Anwar campaign which sought to further tarnish his image by branding him as pro-International Monetary Fund and Washington Consensus, Pro-Jew, Anti-Malay politician, and a sodomiser to boot.

All these charges were found to be baseless. Anwar Ibrahim is not a foreign agent, but a patriot and a symbol of courage and honour in the face of overwhelming political odds. If those of us who interested in understanding Anwar Ibrahim, then they should read Anwar’s The Asian Renaissance to know his political, economic and social agenda. The still popular book was published in 1995 when he was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. His ideas received the tacit support of Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir at the time.

Anwar is a reformist who is committed to the cause of freedom, democracy and justice. He advocates good governance and is a fierce adversary against corruption and abuse of power. Parti KeADILan Rakyat embodies his struggle and aspirations for an all inclusive and multiracial Malaysia. He remains committed to reform, and the rebuilding our country so that it can compete with its neighbours and hold its own in a globalised world.

His humane agenda which has the backing of his partners, PAS and DAP, is a progressive one designed to improve our national competitiveness, and ensure that our affirmative action policy is based on needs and justice for all Malaysians. Under Badawi and now Najib, the same Mahathir game plan is being implemented by UMNO-Barisan Nasional to ensure that Anwar will be stopped at the gates of Putrajaya, no matter what that would take. You can see that over the last 6 years and counting, all state assets, both physical and intellectual, have been deployed for this purpose.

Since March 2008 general elections and by-elections, the UMNO-BN have used the Police and Federal Reserve Unit, the media especially TV1, TV2 and TV3 and Utusan Malaysia, The New Straits Times and The Star, the judiciary and the civil service to spread misinformation to the voting public and suppress political opposition and civil society which are deemed to be hostile towards UMNO and Barisan Nasional. The politics of fear and intimidation continues. In the case of Perak, even Royalty has been dragged into the rough and tumble of Najibian politics. The shameful use of the ISA to detain political activists without trial is another blemish on Malaysia’s international image.

Anwar’s physical safety is always at risk. The man himself is fearless. But his friends and colleagues have taken it upon themselves to ensure that his security is given careful attention. The same applies to Najib who, I am sure, is protected from harm by a elite corp of well trained commandos and police personnel. In Najib’s case, this protection is paid for by the taxpayers, whereas Anwar does not enjoy that luxury. In fact, as Leader of the Opposition, Anwar should be accorded similar protection. Who is talking about double standards?

The Anifah Aman’s performance before Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the State Department in Washington recently, described by Syed Nazri as a “humdinger”, is part of a systematic and persistent campaign against Anwar Ibrahim. The fact that Anifah made an ass of himself at the press conference is not highlighted. In stead Syed Nazri struck a complimentary note when he said that the Foreign Minister’s response to a question from one of the journalists “strikes at the very heart of the Anwar agenda”. The comedy will be heightened when Jamaluddin Jarjis, a close political ally of Najib’s, is made our Ambassador to the United States. The two of them will make a couple of novices in diplomacy and foreign policy and destroy whatever that is left of our image vis-a-vis the United States.

What agenda is Syed Nazri talking about? As far as I know Anwar’s political reform and economic agenda resonates well with the industrialised countries and foreign investors. There is nothing that Anifah could add to the debate. He was merely, in fact, confirming that Malaysia is in a political mess (please go back to my earlier posting where you can lock-in to the Clinton-Anifah Aman press conference on YouTube). He also rekindled interest on the Mongolian woman who was brutally murdered in Malaysia in 2006. We must thank Anifah for doing Mr. Setev Shaaribuu a great favour. In Malaysia, we are barred from mentioning the dead model and Mongolian beauty’s name.

Furthermore, the foreign media were not impressed with his remark that our judiciary is independent. All one has to do is to visit the State Department’s website to read its annual human rights report which contains references to our record on human rights, democracy and the Rule of Law.

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Teresa Kok, Jenice Lee and Teo Nie Ching must be more dangerous than all the snatch thieves in KL

by Nathaniel Tan

Update: Well, glad to see they’re soldiering on.. :)

In case you missed the video earlier:

So what is up with all this nonsense? So many…

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by Nathaniel Tan

Update: Well, glad to see they’re soldiering on.. :)

In case you missed the video earlier:

So what is up with all this nonsense? So many strange aspects to this case.

Let’s start with this: what was the OCPD himself, the top cop of Brickfields, doing at a candelight vigil and signature gathering campaign attended by a grand total of about 12 people?

If the cops can pick up on an event as tiny and miniscule as this (12 people!!), can you imagine how much manpower and resources they are investing on intelligence gathering?

But perfectly justified right? I mean, YBs Teresa Kok, Jenice Lee and Teo Nie Ching are all infinitely more dangerous to society than all the snatch thieves in KL put together right?

Clearly this is the case, if the no. 1 cop in the whole area has to *personally* come down, kick ass and take names.

Sigh. Orang bakar lilin kena tangkap. Orang bakar kereta, bakar rumah, semua bebas.. And according to the courts, polis sendiri bakar orang! (deep in the Shah Alam jungles).

(My alternative title for this piece was: Orang bakar lilin, polis tangkap; polis bakar orang, lilin tangkap? :P )

I was talking to some nice people gathered in Brickfields last night in solidarity. One related the story of a bookstore owner in Damansara Uptown. The information is unverified, but apparently, the shopkeeper reported FOUR TO FIVE SNATCH THEFTS in front of the shop EVERY DAY!

EVERY DAY!!

This is in Damansara Uptown, like what? 300m from a police station?

Having now met more people from Residents Associations, I often hear tales of how in meetings with OCPDs (probably just like Brickfields, whose area of responsibility happens to include my neighbourhood, sigh), they always complain they are under-resourced, and under-manned.

I’ve repeated it ad nauseum, but if so, how then, were there so many cops last night - doing the arrests, ‘defending’ the police station from the ‘violent’ crowd :| , ‘protecting’ Lim Kit Siang’s car (4 traffic cops) ??

Why are there always so, so many FRU’s and Light Strike Force personnel hanging around? Can’t retrain them to hang around street corners instead to deter criminals? (You can start in front of that bookstore).

Have there been so many violent riots in Malaysia that justify the number of riot police we have? Can’t we retrain the Field Force (I mean, the communists *are* gone you know - didn’t get memo?)

Sigh.

And to think. All this probably because BN Just Can’t Stand To Hear Anything About Perak. Takut kerana salah. Just hold the damned state elections, and we can stop all this tomfoolery.

ps- And what’s up with this profiling trend? Are these idiots trying to incite a particular community? Najib wants to go the way of his father? Well, that’s a damned fool’s quest, if ever I’ve heard one.

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Not Crazy For Power, Says Najib

PUTRAJAYA, May 20 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he was not like someone who was crazy for power for the sake of…

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PUTRAJAYA, May 20 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he was not like someone who was crazy for power for the sake of power only.

"I don't craze for power for the sake of power but I need power to serve the people and ensure successful nationbuilding.

"But there are some people who cannot wait to be in power," he said at a function in his honour at the Finance Ministry here.

"Power is only a means to an end and the end is about serving the people and nation," he said obviously hitting at a certain opposition leader.

Najib said to reach where he was now, he did not "take an express bus" but a "normal bus which journeyed 33 years in his political career".

Najib said the experience made him not only ready but humbled to take on such a heavy responsibility.

He said this was why he needed everyone's cooperation to carry out the responsibility entrusted to him.

The Prime Minister said one of the people's yardsticks was how the government managed the economy.

He said the people would accept the existing government if it could carry out its duties well.

"The public will like us, businessmen will like us, smallholders will like us and this will translate into greater support for us," he said.

The function was held to celebrate the appointments of Najib as prime minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah as Finance Minister II and Datuk Wira Chor Chee Heung and Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin as deputy finance ministers.

It was also to appreciate the services of former Finance Minister II Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop who is now Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and former Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha who has been made Housing and Local Government Minister.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said Nor Mohamed's experience in handling the 1997 financial crisis made him very suited to handle the nation's economic planning through the Economic Planning Unit.

He said Ahmad Husni's experience as Deputy Finance Minister before this would hold him in good stead in his new role.

As for Kong, Najib said he (Kong) now held an important portfolio in terms of delivery and services to the people.

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Umno ditalkinkan di Sabah...

gambar ini dihantar melalui email. Menurut sumber tersebut peristiwa ini berlaku di kawasan Naib Presiden Umno dari Sabah, ia merupakan protes penduduk setempat kerana tidak puas hati dalam isu tanah.

Umno telah mati di hati rakyat !!