Thursday, 31 December 2009
Hindraf vs Hindraf: One faction sues, the other makes police report - Malaysiakini
The tussle between two Hindraf factions has escalated into a legal battle with the filing of a RM100 million suit by the movement's chairperson-in-exile P Waythamoorthy against four individuals and…
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The tussle between two Hindraf factions has escalated into a legal battle with the filing of a RM100 million suit by the movement's chairperson-in-exile P Waythamoorthy against four individuals and six news organisations.
In his statement of claim, Waythamoorthy (right) said the six news organisations carried statements of the four individuals who had alleged that he misappropriated public donations for Hindraf.
The four individuals are Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, Sungkai state assemblyperson A Sivanesan, and two former ISA detainees V Ganabatirau and K Vasanthakumar.
The six news organisations named as defendants are English daily The Star, online news portals Malaysiakini and The Malaysian Insider, and three Tamil dailies Makkal Osai, Tamil Nesan and Malaysia Nanban.
Since their release from ISA detention earlier this year, Ganabatirau and Vasanthakumar have each headed a splinter group under the same name, while Ramasamy and Sivanesan are prominent DAP leaders who were formerly vocal Hindraf supporters.
Five hours after the law suit was filed, Vasanthakumar lodged a report at Brickfields police station against the 'wild allegations' that he was a police agent.
He said that rumours that he was a police officer were spread via text messages and the Human Rights Party website.
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In his statement of claim, Waythamoorthy (right) said the six news organisations carried statements of the four individuals who had alleged that he misappropriated public donations for Hindraf.The four individuals are Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, Sungkai state assemblyperson A Sivanesan, and two former ISA detainees V Ganabatirau and K Vasanthakumar.
The six news organisations named as defendants are English daily The Star, online news portals Malaysiakini and The Malaysian Insider, and three Tamil dailies Makkal Osai, Tamil Nesan and Malaysia Nanban.
Since their release from ISA detention earlier this year, Ganabatirau and Vasanthakumar have each headed a splinter group under the same name, while Ramasamy and Sivanesan are prominent DAP leaders who were formerly vocal Hindraf supporters.
Five hours after the law suit was filed, Vasanthakumar lodged a report at Brickfields police station against the 'wild allegations' that he was a police agent.
He said that rumours that he was a police officer were spread via text messages and the Human Rights Party website.
'Duo not Hindraf leaders'
Waythamoorthy is seeking RM10 million from each defendant for the alleged defamatory statements that was published between July and August this year.
The suit was filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today by lawyer P Uthayakumar, who is Hindraf's most recognisable leader and also Waythamoorthy's elder brother.
Speaking to reporters later, Uthayakumar said all Hindraf monies will be handled by accountants from Jan 1, 2010 onwards and thus the money can be accounted for.
"This (suit) is also a message to the press - just because somebody make a statement, you cannot go around publishing whatever you like," said Uthayakumar (left).
Among others, Waythamoorthy's suit is also seeking an injunction against all 10 defendants to stop them from repeating the allegations against him.
Seeking unusual declarations
Meanwhile, Waythamoorthy is also seeking a declaration that Ganabatirau and Vasanthakumar are not Hindraf leaders and subsequently, for an injunction preventing the duo from referring to themselves as such.
He also seeking an injunction against media organisations from referring to the duo as Hindraf leaders or its associates.
Waythamoorthy's suit seeks several less conventional court declarations, among others, a declaration that Vasanthakumar is a police spy attached to the "Special Branch E3M" with the rank of assistant police superintendent.
He is also seeking a declaration that Ramasamy, Sivanesan and Ganabatirau were "mandores" (Tamil for labourer supervisor) of the DAP, particularly its secretary-general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
R.Seetha: HRP’s news maker for 2009
Top ten news makers.
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1) R. Seetha’s brother was murdered in cold blood by UMNO’s Malay-sian police along with four other Indian youths including a 17 year old Indian juvenile…
Top ten news makers.
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1) R. Seetha’s brother was murdered in cold blood by UMNO’s Malay-sian police along with four other Indian youths including a 17 year old Indian juvenile on 8/11/09 at Klang. Out of these five ruthless police killings done with impunity there were three coffins/dead bodies in one family to grieve. How cruel?
As Seetha could not take the pain of her brother’s said murder and that she was in no position to fight UMNO’s Malay-sian police, she took her own life by drinking paraquat. Her five children who were also given paraquat to drink survived but are likely to suffer from medical complications like kidney failure, cancer etc at a very young age. The last twenty seconds of Seetha’s life was captured by HRP’s video crew. And so was the first two minutes of her death. (see video in video section below). The height of the UMNO Malay-sian police atrocities is when the police tried shifting the blame on Seethe’s husband for her suicide. HRP was disappointed when the family of R. Seetha backed out from protesting by taking her body in a procession to Parliament house which was then in session. We will have another day. We have taken a rain cheque on this. There is no history of a tragedy of this magnitude ever happening in any other part of the world. UMNOs’ Malay-sia made it somehow
2) The pictures of A. Kugan’s brutalized body speaks a thousand words (see photos below). 
3) Even in “our” very own Opposition led DAP in Penang, the last Indian traditional village of Kg. Buah Pala was demolished with impunity by Kapitan Lim Guan Eng and ably assisted by thier Indian mandores. These villagers campaigned, carried placards and and even cried openly outside the Kapitan’s official residence but to no avail.
4) Similarly in PAS led Kedah the last piece of history and the heritage value cemetary of the Indian plantation workers in Ladang Batu Pekaka, Kuala Ketil, Kedah, 
5) 16 Hindraf/HRP anti cow head candle light peaceful assemblers were arrested on 21/09/2009. 
Whereas the malay muslim criminal protesters who stepped and spat on a severed and bloody cow head were given an audience with UMNO Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussien.
6) Release of P. Uthayakumar and M. Manoharan from ISA detention on 5/9/09 after 514 days at Kamuniting prison is the ultimate price paid for fighting for the critical Indian issues having befallen on the Malaysian Indian community .
7) Announcement of the formation of Human Rights Party and book launch “Indian Political Empowerment Strategy The Way Forward” by P. Uthayakumar on 19/6/09.
8) 2nd Anniversary of 25th November 2007 100,000 over Hindraf peaceful Rally was held with the hunger strike of 18 Hindraf/HRP supporters and a gathering of 100 over others at KLCC at 11.30 a.m on 25/11/2009. 
9) Also noted are the plight of the Indian poor handicapped and senior citizens who have been denied Welfare help, Socso payments, live in dilapidated shacks, 70% of Tamil schools in cow shed like conditions,
10) 150,000 Indian children being denied their birth certificates, another 150,000 even third, forth and fifth generation Indians have been denied their Malaysian citizenships,
Every day some hindu temple, hindu crematorium, tamil school or Indian settlement is demolished given notice to be demolished, relocated or to be relocated.
Welcome to Malay-sia, the World’s most racist and religious extremist country.
S.JAYATHAS
HRP Information Chief
HENTIKAN POLISI : TIADA SIJIL LAHIR TIADA SEKOLAH
HUMAN RIGHTS PARTY MALAYSIA
NO.6, Jalan Abdullah, Off Jalan Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 03-2282 5241 Fax: 03-2282 5245 Website: www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com
Your Reference :
In Reply : HRP/ DEC/…
HUMAN RIGHTS PARTY MALAYSIA
NO.6, Jalan Abdullah, Off Jalan Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 03-2282 5241 Fax: 03-2282 5245 Website: www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com
Your Reference :
In Reply : HRP/ DEC/ 09
Date : 29/12/2009
YAB. Dato Seri Najib Razak
Perdana Menteri Malaysia
Blok Utama Bangunan Perdana Putra,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, Fax: 03-88883444
62502 Putrajaya E-Mail : najib@pmo.gov.my.
Y.B Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
Menteri Pelajaran,
Pejabat Menteri Pelajaran,
Aras 10, Block E8,
Complex Kerajaan Parcal E, Fax: 03-8889 5846
62604 Putrajaya. E- Mail: khairulam@moe.gov.my
HENTIKAN POLISI : TIADA SIJIL LAHIR TIADA SEKOLAH
YAB/ YB,
Kami rujuk kepada perkara yang tersebut di atas
Menurut akhbar Tamil pada penghujung tahun 2007 satu Surat Pekeliling telah dikeluarkan oleh Kementerian Pelajaran kepada sekolah –sekolah Tamil supaya tidak menerima masuk murid – murid yang telah dinafikan Sijil Kelahiran mereka bermula dari tahun persekolahan Januari 2008. Dan selepas daripada itu kami telah membaca banyak laporan- laporan akhbar yang menyatakan bahawa murid – murid keturunan India yang telah dinafikan Sijil Kelahiran telah tidak dibenarkan diterima terutamanya di sekolah- sekolah Tamil.
YAB/ YB kes kanak- kanak dinafikan sijil kelahiran sebenarnya adalah satu tragedi oleh kerana akan berlaku masalah bersangkut (chain reaction) dan implikasi jauh ke hadapan (far reaching consequences) bermula dari tidak dibenarkan masuk ke Sekolah Rendah, Sekolah Menengah, Kolej- kolej Kemahiran (Skills Training Institutions) Institusi Pengajian Tinggi dan Universiti di dalam dan luar negara, tidak boleh mendapat pinjaman Pendidikan dan Biasiswa. Juga mereka akan dinafikan lesen memandu motorsikal, motorkar van, bas dan lori untuk mendapat pekerjaan dan mencari makan. Mereka tidak dapat membuka akaun bank atau membeli rumah, motorsikal, kereta, lori atau van. Tidak akan dapat lesen berniaga. Tidak dapat buka walaupun sebuah gerai makanan. Tidak akan mendapat pekerjaan walaupun pekerjaan yang tidak memerlukan kemahiran seperti pengawal keselamatan atau pekerja am dikilang ataupun cleaner di pejabat.
Dan akhir sekali, mereka tidak dapat berkahwin. Jikalaupun mereka berkahwin anak- anak generasi mereka yang seterusnya mengalami masalah tiada sijil kelahiran dan masalah ini berlanjutan kesemuanya sekali lagi (all over again) kepada generasi berikutnya. Masalah sosial yang berbangkit adalah remaja India yang terjerumus ke dalam kegiatan kongsi gelap dan jenayah. Kami merasa amat dukacita olehkerana kerajaan terpaksa membelanjakan RM 1 Billion dalam Bajet 2010 kepada Polis Diraja Malaysia untuk menangani keselamatan dan jenayah termasuk membunuh dengan menembak mati antara lain lima orang pemuda India dalam satu hari termasuk seorang remaja berumur cuma 17 tahun dalam satu transaksi di Klang pada 8/11/09.
Anggaran kami adalah 150,000 kanak – kanak India yang hampir kesemuanya lahir di Malaysia malah ada yang dalam generasi ketiga, keempat dan kelima yang sengaja dinafikan sijil kelahiran oleh sebahagian daripada 1,016,799 ‘graduan’ Biro Tata Negara (rujuk UM Buletin 21/6/09 mukasurat 19) yang menolak pengeluaran Sijil Kelahiran atas alasan- alasan teknikal yang paling remeh. Persepsi kami adalah mereka sudahpun membuat keputusan untuk menolak atas dasar perkauman terutamanya apabila pemohon adalah dari golongan kelas pekerja dari masyarakat India.
Oleh yang demikian dalam penyelesaian ikhlas jangka pendek dan jangka panjang kami memohon supaya:-
1) Surat Pekeliling yang telah dikeluarkan pada penghujung tahun 2007 tersebut dibatalkan dan satu surat Pekeliling yang baru dikeluarkan oleh Ketua Setiausaha, Kementerian Pelajaran untuk tahun 2010 dengan arahan kepada terutamanya guru- guru besar dan Ketua- Ketua Jabatan Pelajaran supaya tidak menolak sebarang dan/ atau mana- mana murid keturunan India khususnya daripada dibenarkan masuk ke sekolah- sekolah rendah dan seterusnya.
2) Satu Surat Pekeliling dikeluarkan oleh Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Dalam Negeri supaya kesemua kes kanak – kanak dari masyarakat India yang telah dinafikan Sijil Kelahiran dikenalpasti dengan segera dan diberikan Sijil Kelahiran dalam tempoh 60 hari dari tarikh disini.
Tindakan dan jawapan yang awal dari pihak YAB,YB disanjung tinggi.
Sekian,
Terima Kasih.
Yang Benar,
____________________
P.Uthayakumar
Setiausaha Agong (penaja)
Court says ‘yes’ to Allah for Christians
By Debra Chong - The Malaysian Insider
In a landmark ruling today,…
By Debra Chong - The Malaysian Insider
In a landmark ruling today, the High Court here lifted the home minister’s ban against the Catholic church publishing the word “Allah” to refer to the Christian God in its weekly paper, Herald.
Counsel for the Herald, Porres Royan, told reporters outside the crowded court, “The court has granted the declaration that the applicant has the Constitutional right to use the word Allah. I believe the ministry is bound by the court’s decision.”
He added that he will consult the ministry for new instruction, when asked about his next course of action.
The government had said that the ban was necessary to avoid confusing the majority Muslims in the country. Islam is the official religion in Malaysia.
But the church claimed the ban violates its constititutional rights to practice its religion freely.
According to Father Lawrence Andrew (picture) who edits Herald, the term “Allah” has been used by Christians in the region to refer to their God since four hundred years ago. He added that it is still actively used today.
Lawrence explained that “Allah” in the Christian context is used to refer to the trinitarian concept of “God the Father” which is different from the Muslim use of the verse to refer to the “one and only God”.
Herald’s editor claims the use of the word has not died out and is still being used in church worship among indigenous East Malaysians, who form a substantial number of the Christian faithful in the country.
The church first took the government to court last year after the home ministry threatened to revoke its annual publishing permit for Herald, Malaysia’s only Catholic paper.
It was forced to refresh its suit again this year after its 2008 permit expired without any decision from the court.
Umno man says ‘Allah’ judgement will stir racial tension
By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - The Malaysian Insider
By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - The Malaysian Insider
A jubilant Father Lawrence holds up an Arabic version of the Holy Bible, said to contain the word Allah - Picture by Jack Ooi.
The High Court today lifted the home minister’s ban against the Catholic church from publishing the word “Allah” to refer to the Christian God in its weekly paper, Herald.
The landmark decision may be of joy for some 850,000 Catholics in the country but for Tajuddin, the suit itself, filed by Herald’s lawyers, is an act of provocation.
“What is their motive (for the suit) ? Why all of a sudden they want to use the word Allah when all this while they have been using the term God?
“This is definitely provocation, they are just using all this human rights, religious rights as excuses. This is sensitive to the Muslims and this will create racial and religious tension,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
The controversy over the word “Allah” has stirred huge debate among Christians and Muslims alike in Malaysia and attracted international attention as well.
The Home Minister, who controls giving the annual mandatory publishing permits in the country, had banned the church from using the word “Allah” outside the Muslim context.
But some have questioned if there can be a copyright over the word “Allah”, which Muslim representatives here say is a special word reserved to refer to the Muslim God, meaning “the one and only Almighty”.
The act of questioning the exclusivity of the word “Allah” for Muslims said Tajuddin is a clear indicator that “certain quarters” have become “bolder”.
“They have dared to do these things because the Muslims have been soft..but if you put some one in a corner, they will bounce back,” lamented the Pasir Salak MP.
“What the High Court thinks is right, may not necessarily be right outside (the court),” he added.
Meanwhile PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar said Muslims must respect the decision of the High Court and remain calm.
“We must not be hasty and jump to conclusions. We should let the religious authorities to decide on its next course of action,” he said.
Asked if he agreed with the decision, Mahfuz ignored the question and reiterated that the country’s Muslims must respect the High Court decision and allow the religious authority to decide on its next course of action.
Though it is unclear if the Home Minister will seek to reverse the decision through the Appellate Court but he is likely to do so given the sensitivity of the issue.
MACC is the Malaysian of the Year
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 — Today marks the first year of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) which started with promise and is now dismissed as another political tool to earn…KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 — Today marks the first year of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) which started with promise and is now dismissed as another political tool to earn it being named The Malaysian Insider's Malaysian of the Year for 2009. At a time when politics continue to dominate the national discourse, one institution — the MACC — has stood out as an unfortunate symbol of all that is wrong in the country, unkept promises.
Indeed, the idea for a Malaysian of the Year should inspire a search or a look-back at a personality or institution that we should aspire or look up to.
But there are times in history — such as in 1938 when Time magazine controversially chose Adolf Hitler as its Man of the Year — when negatives, such as tyranny in the case of the German leader or failure in the case of the MACC, merit the award of the accolade.
From the ashes of the impotent Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) which made few headlines during its existence, the MACC was born on Jan 1, 2009.
The cynical among the public expressed little hope that the new institution could achieve much more than its maligned predecessor.
The more optimistic ones among us would give the MACC a chance to prove itself.
After all, it had been invested with more powers by the departing administration of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to deal with the one scourge — corruption — which has grown to a level that it has become part of the country’s fabric.
But few would have anticipated the depths the MACC would sink to.
The MACC will forever be linked to Teoh Beng Hock’s death. His funeral was attended by a big crowd. — File pic
But the unsavoury means and the fervour it chose to investigate the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government that ultimately led to the mysterious death of Teoh Beng Hock could only be matched by how it appeared to look the other way when it came to some Barisan Nasional (BN) personalities.
This is not to say that the MACC must only probe BN and ignore any corrupt practices by PR government officials.
Nor is it the point that the MACC must arrest and charge members of both political coalitions to show its even-handedness as it did recently when it brought to court a host of minor BN and PR politicians.
In all of these cases and more the MACC has failed to win over the public to believe that the administration is serious about tackling graft.
Soon after Teoh, the DAP aide, was found dead, Tan Sri Yong Poh Kon, a member of the MACC advisory panel was quoted as saying: “We must get the support and confidence of the public to combat corruption. In Hong Kong I believe that 97 per cent of the population has confidence in the IACC. The same cannot be said of the ACA and now the MACC.”
A glaring example of why the MACC has not received the backing of the public is the investigations into the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal.
Newspaper reports that something was amiss in the massive government project surfaced as long ago as 2007.
The ACA then conducted an investigation, but nothing happened.
It was only after the exposure caused by the public mudslinging in MCA that the MACC finally decided to spring into action.
Datin O.C. Phang was one of those charged in the PKFZ scandal. — File pic
At least that is the public perception of what the MACC has done so far.
A recent poll conducted by the independent Merdeka Center found that 74 per cent of those surveyed were dissatisfied with the government’s handling of corruption and abuse of power issues.
The poll also found that a majority of Malaysians thought the MACC was biased.
Crucially, the MACC has just not risen to the task of tackling corruption, from vote-buying in Umno to graft in public institutions.
A year on, the tougher anti-graft body has been a monumental failure, and that is why The Malaysian Insider is naming it the Malaysian of the Year.
Looking forward, we hope to, however, award this accolade once again a year from today, for the right reasons.
Makeover of the decade: PAS and the non-Muslims
By Joan Lau - The Malaysian InsiderKUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 — If somebody had predicted back in 1999 that Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) would one day enjoy the support…
By Joan Lau - The Malaysian InsiderKUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 — If somebody had predicted back in 1999 that Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) would one day enjoy the support of non-Muslims in the country, he or she would have been laughed out of the room.
After all, the fear of the green tide (PAS is closely associated with the Islamic colour) was what kept diehard opposition supporters from voting for the DAP in the 1999 general election. That year, DAP had joined forces with PAS, Keadilan and Parti Rakyat Malaysia to challenge Barisan Nasional under the Barisan Alternatif banner.
DAP turned out to be the biggest loser in the election that saw Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh vanquished. PAS was the biggest winner that year as it took Terengganu as well as Kelantan which it first took control of in 1990.
Malaysians then — not just non-Muslims but any Malaysian fearing the curtailing of his/her civil liberties should PAS take over — simply could not accept PAS. And the fact that it now had two states made them even more nervous.
“If PAS is in control, finish-lah for us… no more pork” or “We will become like Iran” were remarks commonly bandied about in those days. Yes, they may sound improbably childish now but the fear of a repressive Islamic regime was very real.
Nizar keeps the PAS flag flying. — File pic
Fast forward to 2009 and you will find that while there is still some unease over PAS’s insistence on hudud laws and the banishing of alcohol sales, there is a much wider acceptance of the party. Over the years, it worked on more inclusive policies and presented a less fundamentalist image of itself. Example: at the Bukit Gantang by-election this year, the Chinese-majority consitutency of Kuala Sepetang voted overwhelmingly for PAS candidate Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin.
Over the years, the party had simply shifted closer to the middle. After March 8, 2008 stories emerged of PAS MP Khalid Samad speaking to his constituents in a church. Imagine that. When was the last time an Umno politician did that?
Then there was Tok Guru saying there was nothing wrong with Christians using the word “Allah.” This at a time when the Catholic church was in court fighting for the right to use the word. Coincidentally, the judgment of the Allah case is later this afternoon.
Ironically, it was Umno which was sounding more and more extreme with its insistence on ketuanan Melayu, calling the Chinese and Indians pendatang and branding any form of dissent as being anti-monarchy or a threat to the Malays.
Malaysians, tired of this rhetoric, wanted politicians who stood for honesty and justice. PAS, with its strong religious core, came across as just that. Suddenly it was okay that it was a party with strong Islamist principles. At least it had principles.
Cops zero in on RPK
(NST) - Fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin’s location has been confirmed by Malaysian police.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said the Malaysia Today website editor, popularly known as…
(NST) - Fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin’s location has been confirmed by Malaysian police.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said the Malaysia Today website editor, popularly known as RPK, was currently hiding in London.“Our intelligence reports have confirmed that RPK is in London, but we have yet to confirm his exact location,” he said in an interview with the New Straits Times.
However, Musa said he could not verify if Raja Petra was staying at the posh Trinity Court apartment in Gloucester, Bayswater, in London, as reported by the media.
He said Malaysian police have sought the help of their British counterparts to bring Raja Petra back.
“The British courts might call for an inquiry and request the relevant documentation to support the extradition process before making a decision,” Musa said, adding that the police were also working with the Attorney-General’s Chambers in preparing the documents.
Musa also advised Raja Petra to return to Malaysia of his own accord.
“If you’re not guilty then come back and defend yourself. Why should you hide in another country?
He is a bankrupt and we believe he must have used a false passport to leave the country,” he said.
On the recent allegation that a person or organisation was sponsoring Raja Petra in London, Musa said police would investigate the claim.
A source familiar with the investigations said there had been no movement of money from Malaysia to Raja Petra’s account.
Raja Petra, 59, disappeared after two arrest warrants were issued against him for failing to attend court in April and May. He had claimed on his website to be in a self-imposed exile.
Since then, rumours in the Malaysian blogosphere have variously pointed at Raja Petra’s location to be in Thailand, Australia and, most recently, the United Kingdom.
Last week, Musa said the government would seek an extradition order for Raja Petra upon confirmation by the British authorities of the wanted blogger’s location in the UK.
In postings in several sociopolitical blogs and media reports over the week, Raja Petra is said to be hiding at the posh Trinity Court apartment in London.
Many blog postings have criticised him for running away from the law and seeking refuge in other countries.
It is learnt that Malaysia does not have an extradition treaty with the UK.
The Malaysian authorities will have to apply for the return of Raja Petra through provisions under the UK law.
Raja Petra, through his Malaysia Today portal, has been attacking Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s administration.
Last year, Raja Petra was detained under the Internal Security Act but he was subsequently freed.
Rosli Dahlan Was Fixed So That A Criminal Can Be Released
Lawyer Rosli Dahlan was fixed so that a Criminal Can Be Released
by Din Merican
December 31, 2009
Rosli Dahlan
Rosli Dahlan’s trial will resume on January 5 through to…
Lawyer Rosli Dahlan was fixed so that a Criminal Can Be Released
by Din Merican
December 31, 2009
Rosli Dahlan
Rosli Dahlan’s trial will resume on January 5 through to January 7, 2010 at Special Criminal Sessions Court No:10. Already MACC Officer Azmi Ismail had testified that Rosli was never considered a suspect in any investigation by the MACC. The Prosecution’s star witness, DPP Anthony Kevin Morais, who is also MACC Deputy Director of Legal and Prosecution, being the person who had issued to Rosli the s. 32 Notice, further confirmed that not only was Rosli not a suspect, but Rosli’s role was just to help MACC as a witness in the investigation on Dato’ Ramli.
So Rosli is now a witness. Not the way the mainstream media had previously quoted MACC sources as saying that Rosli is wanted for hiding Dato’ Ramli’s alleged RM 27 million assets. The mainstream media and the MACC have been very quiet about this story that they previously publicised widely.
DPP Zulqarnain Hassan even emphasised several times in his submission before Judge Abu Bakar Katar that Rosli’s allegations that he was “Fix-Up is not relevant because neither Rosli nor Dato’ Ramli was charged for corruption. They were charged for failing to comply with the terms of the s.32 Notice”. So now you have it, this is not a corruption case after all.
In my previous posting, I narrated that DPP Kevin Morais was very evasive when cross-examined by Rosli’s counsel, Dato’ K Kumaraendran. Kevin appeared to come to court unprepared without the documents that were critical to the case. He claimed not to be aware or remember facts that he had testified about just the day before in the trial of Dato’ Ramli. To top it all, the trial was taken off on the third day to allow Kevin Morais to take time off to England to celebrate the Christmas holidays. That is the most absurd reason I have ever heard of.
Consider this – the case was so urgent that the MACC must arrest and charge Rosli on the eve of Hari Raya Aidilfitri of 2007, and when Rosli was to have his day in Court in 2009, Kevin needs time off to go on holiday! Such cavalier attitude by these officers of the august A-G Chambers. Charge a person and then let him rot!!!
The public also does not need to be reminded of the MACC’s very bad track record of how it treats witnesses. Teoh Beng Hock was found dead, which according to the Dr Pornthip, the Thai pathologist, Teoh was murdered. Tan Boon Wah was detained for long hours until early morning whereas under Rule 20 Lock up Rules 1953, prisoners and suspects are to be rested between 6.30 pm to 6.30 am. And what was all that for? A mere allegation of abuse of wakil rakyat’s allocation for RM 2,400!
MACC is Malaysian of the year by Malaysian Insider
In the case of Lawyer Rosli Dahlan, his office was stormed, he was shouted at in front of his staff, then assaulted and handcuffed until his wrist bled only to be publicly paraded for maximum humiliation the next day. Violations of fundamental rights cannot be more evident than in these three examples.
Yet today, RPK’s post made a startling revelation of an SD by the ADC of IGP Musa Hassan that Rosli was fixed to frighten off anyone who dare to go against IGP Musa Hasan and the A-G Gani Patail. Why? So that a criminal can be released! Although, the SD did not mention by Rosli name, it is unmistakeable that paragraph 14 of that SD referred to Rosli. That paragraph reads:
14. A sense of fear also gripped many within PDRM and outside when not long after that, in October 2007 during Ramadan, the lawyer who assisted CCD in the Goh Cheng Poh @ Tongku matter (after the A-G Chambers declined to prepare affidavits for these CCD), was himself arrested in a most humiliating manner and charged in court one day before Aidilfitri.”
Read on what RPK revealed in the posting below:
The IGP wants the British police to detain me and to send me back to Malaysia. He believes I am in London and am living in a luxury flat in Bayswater. But why does he worry so much about me when I am sure he has other bigger problems on his hands? Well, I suppose one of the many, many reasons is this Statutory Declaration about his dirty dealings, which I revealed earlier.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
STATUTORY DECLARATION
I, XXXXXXXX Police I/C No: XXXXX, a Malaysian citizen of full age and residing at XXXXX Kuala Lumpur, do hereby sincerely and truly affirm and say as follows:-
I joined Polis DiRaja Malaysia since XXXXX and am currently serving as XXXX am the aide de camp (ADC) of the Inspector of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan (IGP Musa) XXXXXX
2. During the period that I XXXXX as ADC to IGP Musa, I observed many things that caused me to lose confidence in the leadership of IGP Musa. Many of his actions undermined the integrity and credibility of PDRM as the principal law enforcement agency entrusted with the maintenance of law and order of the country.
3. On many occasions, I observed that the public persona displayed by IGP Musa is totally opposite to his private conduct and actions which are unknown to the public and the Government. IGP Musa’s actions constitute a betrayal of his oath of office as the country’s No. 1 Policeman which in Malay would be considered as “Pengkhianat.”
4. I became disillusioned when Dato’ Christopher Wan, then Director CID, revealed to me that IGP Musa had directed a covert blog to be set up to make allegations of corruption against Dato’ Johari Baharom, then the Deputy Minister of Home Security. Dato’ Johari Baharom became the subject of an ACA investigation which damaged Dato’ Johari’s credibility.
5. I am also aware of various statutory declarations made by several policemen, police informants and subjects of police actions showing linkages between IGP Musa and the underworld, specifically concerning the RR detainee, Goh Cheng Poh @ Tongku, and one shadowy figure, BK Tan.
6. Based on my personal knowledge and involvement as the ADC to the IGP, I can confirm that the statements made by these deponents concerning IGP Musa are true and do correctly reflect the events as described by them about IGP Musa.
7. In specific reference to the events narrated in the SDs of ASP Mior Fahim Bin Ahmad (G/13237) and ASP Hong Kin Hock (G/10990) about the manipulations of promotions, ranks and postings in the hierarchy of the PDRM involving BK Tan, these are indeed true. I have personal knowledge and involvement in that I was asked, as ADC, to compile and co-ordinate such posting orders based on the drafts and proposals made by BK Tan. A copy of this draft which was subsequently implemented as police posting orders is marked herewith as Attachment “A”.
8. Officers were transferred to achieve certain objectives. In some cases, there were entrapments that made certain officers appear guilty of wrongdoings. In others, allegations were made against certain officers that resulted in them being given either 24 hour transfer orders or short notice transfers. This gave the impression that IGP Musa was eradicating corruption and abuses within PDRM, whereas in most cases that was furthest from the truth.
9. The credibility of these officers would be demolished such that whatever information they have gathered about IGP Musa would be discredited. These officers would suffer hardships being transferred away from their family and home base. They will also get bypassed in promotions and will suffer disciplinary actions without the proper process. Consequently, less able officers climbed the ranks and the victimized officers were used as warnings against others of similar consequences. This process of “mencantas” explains the apparent lack of ability by PDRM to tackle crime, the lack of motivation and low morale within PDRM that saw crime escalating at an alarming rate during the tenure of IGP Musa.
10. I tried to inform the higher echelons in PDRM about this matter in the hope that these superior officers could do something about the matters I have witnessed. Among those whom I had spoken to were:
a) Tan Sri Najib, former DIGP;
b) Dato’ Amir Sulaiman, Ex-Director of Admin;
c) Dato’ Kamaruddin Ali, Director of Admin;
d) Dato’ Othman Salleh, Chief of Police Negri Sembilan;
e) Dato’ Khalid, Chief of Police Selangor;
f) SAC II Lau Hong Soon.
11. When nothing was done about my complaints, I also raised this with some people outside PDRM namely:
a) former IGP Tun Haniff Omar;
b) Dato Johari Baharom, former Deputy Home Minister;
c) Dato’ Radzi Sheikh Ahmad;
d) Tuan Che Md Ismail of the Police Force Commission and another member of the Commission.
12. I also informed Dato’ Ramli Yusuff, the former Director CCD, whom I knew had been IGP Musa’s superior for 6 years and who, at that time was investigating some money lending syndicate linked to IGP Musa. I believe Dato’ Ramli would have reported this information to the Deputy Home Minister within the scope of his investigations on the money lending syndicate.
13. However, nothing much could be done when IGP Musa was given an extension of service of 2 years in July 2007 by the previous Prime Minister who was also the Home Security Minister. This served as a powerful endorsement that the Government is fully behind IGP Musa.
14. A sense of fear also gripped many within PDRM and outside when not long after that, in October 2007 during Ramadan, the lawyer who assisted CCD in the Goh Cheng Poh @ Tongku matter (after the A-G Chambers declined to prepare affidavits for these CCD), was himself arrested in a most humiliating manner and charged in court one day before Aidilfitri.
15. The message was clear that IGP Musa had the support of the ACA, the Attorney-General and the Prime Minister in all his actions. This fear, amongst officers in PDRM, translated into a need for self preservation after six rank and file policemen and Dato’ Ramli were charged for various offences. Not long after that, the A-G ordered the release of the said Goh Cheng Poh @ Tongku. Many in PDRM became demoralized that a criminal is released by resort to legalities whereas our own fellow brothers were charged.
16. It is not my intention to be disloyal to IGP Musa, but I feel guilty if I am contributory to this cancer spreading within PDRM. I am a career police officer and I have pledged to serve and defend PDRM and the country.
17. I am not unaware that I may be exposed to dangers by swearing this SD, but all that I have stated above are the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I hope that what befell the 6 policemen, including Dato’ Ramli Yusuff, who are all facing prosecution, will not happen to me. Many of these officers who were charged ended up becoming taxi drivers, security guards etc which caused great hardships to their families.
18. Even if they are acquitted by the courts, as have recently happened to C/Insp Nordin, Cpl Wong and Dato’ Ramli, sufficient damage are already done to their careers and families. There is the added fear that the A-G Chambers will also appeal against the acquittals and drag these matters further until they are totally forgotten.
19. I hope that I will be given protection by the Minister and the Government for making this disclosure as it is made with the hope to improve PDRM in expectation of a new leadership era under DIGP Tan Sri Ismail Omar and that there should be an end to the persecution of officers who dare to do the right thing.
And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtue of the provision of the Statutory Declaration Act, 1960.
SUBSCRIBED AND SOLEMNLY )
DECLARED by the abovenamed );;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
at Kuala Lumpur this)
day of 2009 ) …… …
=
————————————-
Commissioner of Oaths
Apa banyak cakap? Jawab ini, bahlol!
I am eagerly awaiting 2010 when I can start releasing the documents on corruption involving various Ministry of Defence contracts. Meanwhile, as we celebrate New Year’s Eve tonight, get a…
I am eagerly awaiting 2010 when I can start releasing the documents on corruption involving various Ministry of Defence contracts. Meanwhile, as we celebrate New Year’s Eve tonight, get a load of what the IGP has been up to in this Statutory Declaration by a Chinese underworld figure. Hey, even the crooks are calling the IGP a crook. And there is more.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
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No Holds No Barred
THREATENING MINARETS
1. Switzerland has decided that Muslim mosques in that country would not be allowed to have minarets. It seems that minarets would overwhelm the Swiss.
2. I wonder what would…
2. I wonder what would…
1. Switzerland has decided that Muslim mosques in that country would not be allowed to have minarets. It seems that minarets would overwhelm the Swiss.
2. I wonder what would happen in Malaysia if Hindu temples are not allowed to have statues, for example. I think there would be an explosion. The whole world will condemn us as being undemocratic, not respecting human rights, not upholding religious freedom etc.
3. But when the Swiss bans minarets (there are only four minarets in the whole of Switzerland) and the French ban headscarves, these are very democratic. Always double standards and unfortunately the discrimination is always against Muslims.
2. I wonder what would happen in Malaysia if Hindu temples are not allowed to have statues, for example. I think there would be an explosion. The whole world will condemn us as being undemocratic, not respecting human rights, not upholding religious freedom etc.
3. But when the Swiss bans minarets (there are only four minarets in the whole of Switzerland) and the French ban headscarves, these are very democratic. Always double standards and unfortunately the discrimination is always against Muslims.
5. In fact more soldiers have been sent by him to Afghanistan and Iraq. He is now preparing to attack Iran together with his ally, Israel.
6. There will be excuses of course. They will show evidence that Iran is making nuclear bombs and is about to launch nuclear war against the world.
7. But after the evidence that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction to justify the invasion of that country, can we believe that the attack against Iran is due to the imminent nuclear attack by that country???
‘Zaman Joli Katak Sudah Berakhir’
Dari Malaysia Kini
Oleh Aidila Razak
Zaman ‘joli katak’ sudah berakhir dan wang ‘loteri minyak’ makin berkurangan, khususnya akibat kelemahan pengurusan kerajaan, kata pemimpin veteran Umno Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
Menurut…
Dari Malaysia Kini
Oleh Aidila Razak
Zaman ‘joli katak’ sudah berakhir dan wang ‘loteri minyak’ makin berkurangan, khususnya akibat kelemahan pengurusan kerajaan, kata pemimpin veteran Umno Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
Menurut pengasas Petronas itu, rancangan asal gergasi petroleum itu tidak termasuk mengeluarkan minyak berlebihan untuk membayar kos projek kerajaan bernilai berbilion ringgit.
“Ia bermula dengan perjanjian (pembelian peralatan ketenteraan) dengan (perdana menteri Britain pada masa itu) Margaret Thatcher.
“Kemudian, pengeluaran minyak tiba-tiba berganda daripada 650,000 tong sehari kepada lebih satu juta tong sehari (untuk menampung pembelian senjata). Itu sudah terlalu banyak untuk kita,” katanya.
Sebagai seorang perancang utama kepada rancangan minyak Malaysia, bekas menteri kewangan itu kini cuba untuk membetulkan keadaan, lebih-lebih lagi untuk negeri asalnya sendiri yang beliau percaya mempunyai “hak berdaulat” untuk menerima bayaran royalti minyak bagi sumber yang ditemui di perairannya.
“Ianya bukan isu yang sukar sebab selagi minyak itu ditemui di perairan Kelantan, sama ada ianya kawasan usaha sama atau sama ada ia di luar pantai dalam zon ekonomi eksklusif negara, Petronas tetap perlu membayarnya,” katanya.
Seperkara lagi yang perlu dijelaskan ialah rundingan di antara negeri dan pusat, yang disifatkan Tengku Razaleigh sebagai lapuk dan tidak mampu menyediakan pulangan yang diperlukan bagi pembangunan di setiap negeri.
Bekas menteri kewangan itu, dalam wawancara dengan Malaysiakini minggu lalu, juga tidak kisah dengan peringatan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin supaya jangan menerima jemputan pembangkang untuk mengetuai satu kaukus parlimen berkenaan royalti minyak.
“Saya tidak peduli siapa yang beri amaran. Saya lakukan ini demi negara. Saya tidak terhutang budi dengan sesiapa.
“Saya tidak peduli. Saya mahu lihat hak daulat rakyat ini terjaga,” katanya lagi.
After nine months, “1Malaysia. People First. Performance Now” has proved to be mere publicity and propaganda puff of Najib premiership with no meaning
By Lim Kit Siang,
Malaysians enter the new year of 2010 with Datuk Seri Najib Razak completing three-quarters of his first year as the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia.
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Malaysians enter the new year of 2010 with Datuk Seri Najib Razak completing three-quarters of his first year as the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia.
After…
By Lim Kit Siang,
Malaysians enter the new year of 2010 with Datuk Seri Najib Razak completing three-quarters of his first year as the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia.
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Malaysians enter the new year of 2010 with Datuk Seri Najib Razak completing three-quarters of his first year as the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia.
After nine months, “1Malaysia. People First. Performance Now” has proved to be mere publicity and propaganda puff of the Najib premiership with no meaningful change or consequence to the lives of Malaysians.
Are Malaysians of diverse races, religions and regions more united as one Malaysian people or even more divided than ever?
Do Malaysians feel safer from the endemic tide of crime which had deprived them of the two fundamental freedoms of any citizen in any civilized society – to be free from crime and the fear of crime?
Is Malaysia becoming a country where accountability, transparency and integrity are not just slogans but taken seriously by the government with the political will to take action against the “sharks” and not just “ikan bilis”?
Have Malaysians started to regain confidence in the credibility, professionalism and integrity of the key national institutions in the country, in particular the judiciary, police, Attorney-General’s Chambers, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Election Commission?
Have the government started to check the brain-drain and migration of the best and brightest Malaysians?
Has Malaysia regained her international competitiveness to ensure economic growth and development to become a high-income country with justice for all Malaysians?
The answers to these questions are a clear and categorical negative.
These are among the issues Malaysians should ponder and confront with the ushering in the new year for they comprise the challenges to be surmounted if Malaysia is to regain her rightful place not only to in the international comity of nations but to fulfill the founding aspirations of our forefathers on national independence in 1957 and the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
Sugar Price Will Increase By 20 Sen
PUTRAJAYA, Dec 31 (Bernama) -- The price of sugar will increase by 20 sen to RM1.65 per kilo in peninsula and RM1.75 in Sabah and Sarawak from…
PUTRAJAYA, Dec 31 (Bernama) -- The price of sugar will increase by 20 sen to RM1.65 per kilo in peninsula and RM1.75 in Sabah and Sarawak from midnight today, said Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism secretary-general Datuk Mohd Zain Mohd Dom.
Allah be praised! - Anil Netto
What a brilliant way to start the new year, 2010, with the news that the Herald is free to use the word ‘Allah’.
The High Court declared that the Home…
What a brilliant way to start the new year, 2010, with the news that the Herald is free to use the word ‘Allah’.
The High Court declared that the Home Minister’s order banning the use of the term was illegal, null and void; the term is not exclusive to any religion.
This is as it should be. Wisdom has prevailed. This is a victory not just for the Herald team, but for the country and its international image – and for all its people, Muslims, Christians and others alike. It is a victory for those who cherish inclusiveness and harmony – and a defeat for the small-minded and the chauvinists among us.
Of course, there could be a Round Two (appeals) and that could be a different story. But I hope not. It’s time to move on. There are other serious issues facing our nations that we have to grapple with.
Selamat Tahun Baru, Happy New Year, one and all!
Ku Li dismisses KPIs as a waste of time - Malaysiakini
National expos notwithstanding, veteran Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah remains unconvinced that KPIs (key performance indicators) is the solution to the country's problems.
Speaking to Malaysiakini in an interview last…
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Speaking to Malaysiakini in an interview last…
National expos notwithstanding, veteran Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah remains unconvinced that KPIs (key performance indicators) is the solution to the country's problems.
Speaking to Malaysiakini in an interview last week, the former finance minister said that the prime minister's pet project merely serves to distract from the main issues - corruption, security, education and the economy.
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Speaking to Malaysiakini in an interview last week, the former finance minister said that the prime minister's pet project merely serves to distract from the main issues - corruption, security, education and the economy.
"To me the main problems are corruption, security, education and the economy. These are the main problems he has to tackle, not measuring the performance of agencies and ministers. I don't believe in it.
"You can probably look at the bottom line and measure the management's performance in a corporate organisation. But this is difficult in the government service. Only in the general elections do you know if you've been successful."
As such, the Gua Musang MP said that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak can only hope to regain lost ground if he is willing to let some heads roll.
"If he does take drastic action...sack people who are corrupt, put them in jail, spruce things up so that the delivery system is improved tremendously, then people would respond."
However, Razaleigh believes that Sarawak will nevertheless remain in the hands of the BN due to difficulties in campaigning in the vast state.
The following are excerpts of the interview. Content has been edited for brevity.
Malaysiakini: Najib has been the prime minister for almost a year now. What is your report card on him so far?
Razaleigh: If you compare him to the previous prime minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) I think he's done better, but in terms of meeting the aspirations of the people, I think he had not even come quarter of the way. He is labouring on his 1Malaysia slogan that he has introduced, which I think is a side issue.
To me the main problems are corruption, security, education and the economy. These are the main problems he has to tackle, not measuring the performance of agencies and ministers. I don't believe in it.
You can probably look at the bottom line and measure the management's performance in a corporate organisation. But this is difficult in the government service. Only in the general elections do you know if you've been successful.
So all the talk about KPIs is a complete waste of time?
I think so. Politically, you can't measure it, because after all it all depends on the wishes of the people. If you don't meet the wishes of the people, you are dead (laughs). That's the measurement.
Expectations are much higher after March 2008 and Najib has a tough job in meeting these expectations. As you said, he's making piecemeal changes and is not looking at the big issues. Would this be enough for him to win the next election?
The next election is three years away if you go through the normal run of things, and he has that time to prepare himself. Whether he is prepared to take the bold steps to reform is anybody's guess. But if he does take drastic action... sack people who are corrupt, put them in jail, spruce things up so that the delivery system is improved tremendously, then people would respond.
Based on what I hear and what I see, even the opposition is not able to put things together. People are getting disenchanted with the opposition. Unless the opposition can get their act together, people are not going to ditch a government that has been there, however bad they may be, but it is better if the government reforms.
Do the PKFZ arrests show that the government is serious against corruption?
I'm surprised that only some people who were involved in the administration and management of PKFZ were taken in for questioning. What about those big players? The people who are the decision makers from the Ministry of Transport...
I'm not saying that they are responsible, but why (were they not taken in)? Does it mean that only these people (who were arrested) are involved and others are not? What about those people who buy and sell properties, who are involved of the development of the port?
But the attorney-general said there would be more arrests.
How long more must we wait? This thing has been going on for some time.
We were talking about the general elections. What about the Sarawak elections?
Sarawak is bigger than the peninsular. Access and communication is difficult. They speak different languages. Even the Chinese - the Kuching Chinese and the Sibu Chinese - they're different crowds of people entirely, and there are so many parties.
You can't even go up the Rejang River. It's so big a river with people straddled along that river and campaigning period is seven days.
How do you get from point A to point B? You may be able to win over Kuching, but beyond that is difficult.
In other words, you are saying that BN can still win Sarawak?
I think so, and money is a big factor. If you don't go in with big money, there's no way you can change the attitudes of the people. Not that I'm encouraging the use of money or money politics, no, but that's how the game is played.
Dutch, Nigerians to use full body scans for air travelers
(CNN) -- The Netherlands and Nigeria will begin using body scanners on airline passengers following the attempted terrorist attack on a U.S.-bound flight on Christmas Day, authorities in both nations…
(CNN) -- The Netherlands and Nigeria will begin using body scanners on airline passengers following the attempted terrorist attack on a U.S.-bound flight on Christmas Day, authorities in both nations said Wednesday.
The millimeter-wave body scanners will be in place at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport in about three weeks and will be used on all passengers traveling to the United States, Dutch Interior Minister Guusje ter Horst told a news conference at The Hague.
"We've escaped a very serious attack with serious consequences, but unfortunately in this world there are individuals who do not shy away from attacks on innocent people," she said.
Nigeria did not say when it would begin the new scans. "In combating the new threat of terrorism as unfolded recently, Nigeria will be upgrading its security screening system to 3D Total Body Imaging Scanner," the country's airport authority said in a statement. It gave no further details.
Nigerian suspect Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, 23, is accused of trying to blow up a Northwest Airlines plane going from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan, with explosives that had been concealed in his underwear. He is charged with attempting to destroy an aircraft.
The militant group al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has claimed responsibility for the December 25 plot.
Dutch authorities have already said they were confident in the security measures that were carried out when AbdulMutallab transferred to the Detroit flight from an earlier flight from Nigeria.
The measures they had in place were metal detectors and X-ray machines, however -- and ter Horst admitted they could not have picked up the explosive material that AbdulMutallab was allegedly carrying.
"The introduction of these body scanners would certainly have helped in detecting that he was carrying something on his body," she said. "We know that metal detection does not help to detect non-metal explosives, and these millimeter-wave scanners can do this, which would mean that this would be an improvement."
One passenger on same plane as AbdulMutallab told CNN's "Larry King Live" that the security checks at Schiphol were not as stringent as those she is used to in the United States.
"We walked through and did not have to take our shoes off," said Wisconsin native Richelle Keepman. "Also, my mother had a water bottle in her bag that she'd completely forgotten about. And it went right through and we didn't realize it until we were on the plane."
Ter Horst acknowledged that the systems currently in place are "not watertight," which is why the body scanners are being introduced.
As to privacy concerns -- namely that the scanners could pick up private features of a person's body -- ter Horst said the scan results would first go through a computer, which would then flag any suspicious items to a human.
The scanners will be permanent at Schiphol, and any passengers bound for the United States who do not go through them will be body-searched, ter Horst said.
Erik Akerboom, the Dutch national coordinator for counterterrorism, said part of the investigation is looking at whether the explosives were brought into Schiphol by someone else for AbdulMutallab to pick up later.
Dutch authorities are also looking into whom he was in touch with while at Schiphol awaiting his connecting flight. They are combing surveillance camera footage from the connections hall, Akerboom said.
Asked about reports that AbdulMutallab paid for his ticket in cash and was flying only with hand luggage, Akerboom said neither would have necessarily raised any alarms.
"There are several travelers who do this," he said.
AbdulMutallab's name had come to the attention of U.S. authorities before the attack, sources have told CNN in recent days.
His father talked twice about his son's extremist views with at least one CIA representative at the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria and a report was prepared, but the report was not circulated outside the agency, a reliable source told CNN's Jeanne Meserve on Tuesday.
Had that critical information been shared, the man might have been denied passage on the flight, the source said.
A U.S. intelligence official said AbdulMutallab's name, passport number and possible connection to extremists were indeed disseminated. But the official added, "I'm not aware of a magic piece of intelligence -- somehow withheld -- that would have put AbdulMutallab on the no-fly list."
CIA spokesman George Little defended the agency's actions regarding AbdulMutallab, but also said the agency is reviewing data to ascertain whether more could have been done.
State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said department staff did what they were supposed to by sending a cable to the National Counterterrorism Center in Washington about the matter. Kelly said any decision to revoke the suspect's visa would have been an interagency decision.
Ter Horst said Dutch authorities did not know that AbdulMutallab had raised any security flags, and she called for a global watch list for all suspect travelers in the future.
Who do you think is “Indian of the year 2007-2009″ ?
Survey from:-
http://www.indianmalaysian.com/sound/modules.php?name=Surveys&pollID=8
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2.93% (83)Survey from:-
http://www.indianmalaysian.com/sound/modules.php?name=Surveys&pollID=8
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