Woman files suit against 'trigger-happy' police - Malaysiakini

Before there were Aminulrasyid Amzah and Norizan Salleh, both of whom were shot by the police in a hail of bullets, there was Siti Nasrinda Sumirin (above).

Twenty-three-year-old Siti Nusrinda…

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Before there were Aminulrasyid Amzah and Norizan Salleh, both of whom were shot by the police in a hail of bullets, there was Siti Nasrinda Sumirin (above).

Twenty-three-year-old Siti Nusrinda was injured in her waist by a “blind and wild rampant shot” while driving with her fiance in Klang last August.

Another bullet had apparently grazed her 'tudung' in the incident - another few inches and she would suffered the fate of 14-year-old Aminulrasyid, who was killed during a police car chase last Monday.

Siti Nusrinda has today filed a RM2 million suit against the police and the government for the lack of action taken by the police in her case and for the injury she sustained.

In addition, Siti Nusrinda also wants the police officers involved in the shooting - a constable and a corporal - to undergo two years' of community service.

According to her, this was to teach the duo a lesson to be more responsible in their action next time.

Her suit was filed at the Shah Alam High Court today by her lawyer M Manoharan, who is also the Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson.

In the suit, she named the Klang OCPD, Selangor police chief, inspector-general of police, the two police officers and the government as defendants.

Shot allegedly fired without warning

Besides seeking RM1 million in damages, her fiance Mohd Fauzi Mohd Daud, who is now her husband, is also seeking RM500,000 in damages. He was not injured in the incident.

Siti Nusrinda and Mohd Fauzi were both chatting in a car parked along a street in Klang Utama at 8.30pm on Aug 19.

A police car later arrived and flashed its headlights. Both Siti Nusrinda and Mohd Fauzi panicked and fled.

The police gave chase and allegedly started shooting without warning. A few shots were fired, with one bullet going into the passenger seat and injured Siti Nusrinda's waist.

Driver Mohd Fauzi eventually stop the car where the duo were informed by the police that they were being investigated for speeding, committing 'khalwat' (close proximity) and for obstruction of the police.

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World's first habeas corpus to free ruler filed

PUTRAJAYA: Lawyers for the Sultan of Kelantan, Tuanku Ismail Petra, have filed a writ of habeas corpus to secure his release from the Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital (HUSM) in Kubang…

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PUTRAJAYA: Lawyers for the Sultan of Kelantan, Tuanku Ismail Petra, have filed a writ of habeas corpus to secure his release from the Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital (HUSM) in Kubang Kerian where he has been admitted since Tuesday.

The writ was filed at the Special Court registry here at 11.45am today through Messrs J.S. Pillay & Mohd Haaziq.

The affidavit supporting the writ was made by the Tengku Temenggong of Kelantan, Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Sultan Ismail, the third son of the sultan.

The Sultan of Kelantan was named as the applicant.

The writ named five respondents -- the Kelantan police chief, Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Director-Geneal of Health and the government of Malaysia.

Senior laywer Param Cumaraswamy, who was present together with lawyers Gobind Singh Deo and Mohd Haaziq Pillay, said this was the first habeas corpus application in the world to seek the release of a ruler of a state.

The Special Court was set up in 1993 to hear any proceedings by or against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or the ruler of a state in his personal capacity.

On Wednesday, Haaziq and Gobind were refused entry to the hospital by the police. Haaziq later claimed that the ruler and his consort were being held there against their will.

Royal squabble

The sultan's poor health has led to a squabble between his sons, Tengku Muhammad Fakhry and Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra, who was named Regent of Kelantan last year when the sultan left for treatment in Singapore.

On Tuesday night, Tengku Muhammad Fakhry was reported to have been questioned by police for several hours, believed to be in connection with the shooting of a Kelantan palace guard.

Police are reported to have taken handguns from Tengku Muhammad Fakhry and his bodyguards for forensic testing.

Tengku Muhammad Fakhry has been in a tussle with the Regent since being dropped from the State Succession Council last year.

Previously, the ailing Sultan was reported to have made two abortive attempts to leave the state for treatment.

Accompanied by Tengku Muhammad Fakhry, and his consort the Raja Perempuan Kelantan, Tengku Anis Tengku Abdul Hamid, the Sultan was said to have been due to board a chartered private jet for Singapore for further treatment.

The plane was reported to have been refused permission to land in Kota Baru. Another flight to take him to Kuala Lumpur was also aborted.

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'Quit now IGP, don't shame force further'

By Athi Shankar - Free Malaysia Today

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Pakatan Rakyat Youth wants Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan to quit immediately to halt the further erosion of public confidence…

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By Athi Shankar - Free Malaysia Today

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Pakatan Rakyat Youth wants Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan to quit immediately to halt the further erosion of public confidence in the police force.

In a statement issued this morning, its secretariat accused the police chief of failing to manage the force and combat crime.

“Musa is responsible for safeguarding the integrity and dignity of the police force, he is the country's top cop and must be accounbatle for their actions or non-action.

“He should quit before he brings more embarrassment to the police force,” Penang PKR Youth secretary Syed Mikael told reporters after reading out the statement.

The statement was jointly issued by Syed Mikael, DAP Youth state secretary Ng Wei Aik and PAS Youh's Mohd Nor Harun.

The secretariat issued the statement prior to lodging a police report against State opposition leader Azhar Ibrahim for uttering seditious remarks at yesterday’s assembly sitting.

Syed Mikael cited the fatal shooting of teenager Aminulraysied Amzah last month and the death of detainee A Kugan last year as evidence of Musa's “failure” to manage the force and his subordinates.

“How would Musa feel if the victim was his family member?” he asked.

The PKR Youth leader claimed that the police have become “trigger-happy” under Musa, resulting in numerous cases of fatal shootings just based on suspicion.

“We are not against the whole police force. We just want Musa to be replaced by a better man,” he said.

Police report against opposition leader

In another development, DAP’s Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu lodged a police report against Penaga assemblyman Azhar Ibrahim on the behalf of the secretariat this morning.

In its statement, the secretariat accused the opposition leader of uttering seditious words, including warning of a possible repeat of the May 13 racial riots.

The secretariat said Azhar had abused his privilege as opposition leader to stir racial sentiments and threaten the people with civil riots.

“Azhar unnecessarily reminded and threatened the people of a repeat of the May 13 riots if the public loses confidence and continues to criticise the police.

“He even threatened of possible military rule if the public disapproved of the police. This is unbecoming of a state assemblyman,” read the statement.

Azhar has been referred to the Rights and Privileges Committee following a motion tabled by DAP’s Datuk Keramat assemblyman Jagdeep Singh Deo during the last day of the sitting yesterday.

Syed Mikael said Azhar had violated House Rule 46 which disallowed any legislator from uttering remarks that could trigger rebellion and racial tensions.

“We want the police to act fast on Azhar even though he had been referred to the committee because we fear his remarks would incite racial tensions,” he added.

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'M'sia yet to learn from past mistakes'

By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: Economists have warned that Malaysia hasn't yet learnt from its past mistakes which could disrupt its efforts in charting new…

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By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: Economists have warned that Malaysia hasn't yet learnt from its past mistakes which could disrupt its efforts in charting new economic direction via the New Economic Model (NEM).

At a seminar on the implications of the great financial crisis on Malaysia, they noted that many of the ideas contained in the NEM are extremely conservative and a repetition of past, unresolved issues.

According to Professor Terence Gomez, the economic practices that were prevalent during the 1997 crisis still threaten the Malaysian economy today. He named these practices as neo-liberalism and the concept of revolving doors.

“Neo-liberalism was discredited after the financial crisis,” he said. “Yet it continues to play a role in the creation of our NEM. And herein lies the conundrum.”

“One the one hand, the government is aware that state intervention in Malaysia has led to the catch-up effect (poorer economies growing at a faster pace than richer economies). On the other, it also knows that this has led to a decline in investors. So the state declared the necessity to deregulate, privatise and allow the market to be the agent of growth.”

“But how do we deal with a situation where we have this hegemony of parties over the state which can abuse resources and yet argue for the point that we need to have state intervention? This is a serious dilemma.”

Beware of revolving doors

Terence pointed a finger at the revolving door concept as the main culprit of cronyism, which also contributed to the financial crisis. This concept involves the movement of personnel between two different roles.

“The most clear dimension of the revolving door is the one of businessmen going into politics and then back into business and sometimes back to politics,” he noted. “Former finance minister Daim Zainuddin is our own revolving door and has contributed to significant problems in terms of public policies.”

He went on to identify three new forms of revolving doors that exist today. The first is professionals who enter politics like Idris Jala while the second is professionals leading government-linked companies like the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC).

The third is professionals who act as bureaucrats like the Performance Management & Delivery Unit (Pemandu), which was set up by the government to drive the Government Transformation Plan (GTP).

“Is this the way forward?” he asked. “Let us be careful of the revolving doors that exist within our own economy. Let's learn from the lessons of Daim.”

He added that he has no faith in the reforms and changes that are coming about as he doesn't see any major changes in policy direction.

“The NEM is meant to be an opportunity now for us to grapple with the state of play and we are not doing that. We need to do away with neo-liberal ideas and talk about really new forms of development.”

“For all the lessons that we have learnt from the crisis, we still have not instituted the reforms that are truly required. We are back on the same path and this is a very frightening thought ”

Professor Rajah Rasiah, who was also present at the seminar, agreed with him.

“Zaid Ibrahim made a statement after his defeat in Hulu Selangor which I thought was very exciting,” he said. “He said that old politics have triumphed over new politics. The politics of ideas, reforms and progress have failed over money, machinery and media.”

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'Unstoppable' Samy slams critics in and out of BN

By FMT Staff

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president S Samy Vellu has slammed critics who constantly brand the party as weak and unable to muster support from the Indian community for…

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By FMT Staff

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president S Samy Vellu has slammed critics who constantly brand the party as weak and unable to muster support from the Indian community for Barisan Nasional.

His anger was directed at those within the ruling coalition as well.

Although he did not mention names, it is certain that the veteran politician had Umno in his line of fire as well.

“If any outsider or BN party feels that MIC is weak, that indicates their own weakness because they are unable to know or realise the strength of their own family.

“They have actually failed to understand the strength of MIC,” he said.

Samy Vellu stressed that MIC would no longer tolerate “false and unjust accusations” against the party, and that it has become necessary for him and MIC “to guide the blind to the truth”.

Recently, FMT reported that Umno leaders have been highly critical of MIC and its president of three decades

These Umno leaders have told Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak that if the component parties do not want to reform, then BN should reform them.

Sources have also claimed that Najib has been marginalising Samy Vellu, such as in the case of the senatorship offered to the latter's deputy G Palanivel.

According to sources, the MIC president was in the dark until the eleventh hour about Palanivel being sworn in to take his seat in the Dewan Negara on Monday.

Meanwhile, Samy Vellu said MIC information chief P Kamalanathan's victory over PKR heavyweight Zaid Ibrahim in the April 25 Hulu Selangor by-election had driven home the point.

He said the result showed that MIC was still strong and attractive, especially to the younger generation.

“I personally managed to swing the votes of more than 2,400 young Indian voters to the BN candidate from MIC.

“The 2,400 young Indian voters had voted for the opposition in the 2008 general election (where BN lost with a 198 vote majority), but in the last (Hulu Selangor) by-election, we (MIC) managed to bring them back into BN’s fold,” he said.

'Nobody can stop me'

Samy Vellu also reminded his detractors that nobody could stop him from reviving the fortunes of MIC although certain quarters wanted the party to “break and disintegrate”.

“I will continue to work 18 hours a day to bring back the support of the Indian community just as I did before.

“We have done it in Hulu Selangor and the Bagan Pinang by-elections. Nothing can stop me. MIC is paramount to me and my members,” he said.

He said following the party’s win in Hulu Selangor, MIC has now set its sights on winning more support from the younger voters through specific programmes.

Samy Vellu said the upcoming state MIC meetings scheduled to start from May 14 would be used as platforms to strategise and implement the programmes, especially at the divisional and branch levels.

“There will have to be stronger commitment and better coordination among state, divisional and branch leaders to carry out these programmes.

“We have to move on and capture the hearts and minds of more younger people,” he said, adding that there are more than four million new voters, majority of whom are below the age of 40 who have yet to register as voters.

Samy Vellu said MIC would make further improvements and reforms to cater for the needs of the younger generation.

He said the party would also be further strengthened with “new blood and people with new ideas".

Samy Vellu added that the party must remain focused on community-related issues and ways to strengthen its machinery, especially at the branch level.

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MIC boss nominated ex-aide for senatorship

By FMT staff

KUALA LUMPUR: While the rumblings continue over the MIC senatorship, another name has surfaced, giving it a new twist.

It appears that MIC president S Samy Vellu…

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By FMT staff

KUALA LUMPUR: While the rumblings continue over the MIC senatorship, another name has surfaced, giving it a new twist.

It appears that MIC president S Samy Vellu had nominated his former press aide and close confidant, E Sivabalan, 45, to fill the party’s first senate vacancy in January this year.

However, before his nomination could be endorsed by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, the post was given to MIC deputy president G Palanivel following a “horse-trading” between Samy Vellu and Najib just two days before nomination day (April 17) for the Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election.

Najib and Samy Vellu agreed that Palanivel would be made a senator and possibly a deputy minister, while MIC information chief, P Kamalanathan, would be the Barisan Nasional candidate for the by-election.

A source said although Sivabalan had to make way for Palanivel, he could still be considered for the second senate seat which fell vacant in April following the end of MIC treasurer-cum-lawyer G Logachitra’s term.

“However, this will depend on the prime minister who is expected to consult Samy Vellu over the party’s choice over the next few days.

“It could be between Sivabalan and MIC Youth chief T Mohan who was nominated for the April vacancy,” the source said.

Mohan’s candidacy is being disputed by Petaling Jaya Selatan division chairman V Subramaniam (better known as Barat Maniam) who had claimed that he was sidelined by the MIC president despite making his intentions known to Samy Vellu to be appointed a senator.

Mohan: I am focused on party work

The source said Sivabalan and Mohan had served the party and Samy Vellu in different capacities, and are being groomed to fill the party’s next generation of leaders.

“They are seen as future assets of the party and must be given the platform to play a more meaningful role,” the source said.

Sivabalan, who holds a double degree in political science and law, is now the press secretary to Human Resources Minister and MIC veep Dr S Subramaniam.

When contacted, Sivabalan declined to comment.

Yesterday, Mohan told FMT that he is concentrating more on party work than the talk on him being made senator.

“Let them make assumptions. I have no time to respond. As MIC Youth chief, I still have much to do,” he said, adding that he was not “chasing after the post”.

On the same note, he said if the prime minister and MIC president appoint him as senator, then he would deliver his best for the people.

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Dr M tells Umno to put Malays first

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, TMI

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad articulated today a widely held sentiment in Umno — that going after the Chinese vote is risky and…

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By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, TMI

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad articulated today a widely held sentiment in Umno — that going after the Chinese vote is risky and unproductive.

Instead, he appears to suggest in a posting on his blog today that Umno should first ensure that Malay interests are taken care of, especially in the face of what he called “attacks by the Chinese.”

“We hear a lot about demands by Chinese extremists questioning the provision of Malay special rights in the constitution, demanding an end to the NEP, [a] reduction of quotas for Malay students. They even say the Malays are also ‘kaum pendatang’ or immigrants. An article even claims that there is no such thing as a Malay race.

“Umno remained silent. In fact when an Umno member said that the Chinese and Indians are descendants of immigrants, he was suspended by Umno. It seems to many Malays that Umno is incapable of countering the attacks by Chinese extremists against Malays,” wrote Dr Mahathir.

His latest remarks are expected to put more pressure on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who has been pushing his 1 Malaysia agenda to unite the country.

But while Najib has had mixed results in reaching out to Indian voters, the results of ten by-elections since Election 2008 showed Chinese voters have now become a solid vote bank for Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

Dr Mahathir warned today that Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) risked losing Malay support if they continued to introduce “Chinese-friendly” policies and abolishing affirmative-action measures under the New Economic Policy (NEP).

READ MORE HERE: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/

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Saving the police

thenutgraph.com

WILL the late Aminulrasyid Amzah be the last victim of state violence? Like political aide Teoh Beng Hock's death…

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thenutgraph.com

WILL the late Aminulrasyid Amzah be the last victim of state violence? Like political aide Teoh Beng Hock's death in custody — the anniversary is two months away — the extra-judicial killing of Aminulrasyid has caused a lot of anger because he was not one of the "usual suspects".

Screencap of the Facebook groupWhat if Aminulrasyid were 25 and not 15, or if he were a mat rempit? Would Malaysians be so outraged that more than 68,000 would join the Facebook group KAMI BENCI KEKEJAMAN POLIS MALAYSIA! — JUSTICE FOR AMINULRASYID? Would the cabinet have issued a condolence statement? Would an eight-person panel with eminent membership but doubtful powers make a late night visit to the scene of his death?
There have been many Aminulrasyids and Teohs out there, but because many have had criminal records or tainted reputations, their deaths at the hands of enforcement authorities have gone unnoticed.
If Aminulrasyid were Indian Malaysian, Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar would probably attribute his death to racial profiling and call it "institutional racism". But Aminulrasyid was Malay Malaysian. So was Norizan Salleh who sustained five gunshot wounds from police who claimed that she was driving a stolen car.
How would we explain this then? Institutional sadism?
Perhaps it's best to start by putting things in perspective.
Holding the police accountable
Police shootings are commonplace in many countries, including the US.  In his book Blink, Malcolm Gladwell documents how Amadou Diallo, a 23 year-old Guinean immigrant, was killed by police in the Bronx, New York City. Police fired 41 shots at him while he was standing in his apartment doorway. Apparently when he reached into his jacket, they thought he was pulling out a gun — it was really a wallet, there were no weapons on Diallo's body.
But police in many other countries rarely shoot suspects dead, the UK being one example. England and Wales have recorded only five deaths by police shootings per year, on average, for the past 10 years, with only single deaths in 1994 and 2006, and none in 1997.
Why? One simple explanation is that every time a person is killed or injured from the UK police's use of firearms, an automatic investigation is triggered. If the person dies, a coroner's inquest will follow to examine the causes of the fatality.
And as much as the independence of the UK's Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is questioned, at least the Britons have it.

Where is our IPCMC?

Where is our Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC)? The proposal to set up the IPCMC was eventually retracted because of police pressure. Even the proposed inferior substitute, the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC), has not been established. In fact, in the wake of Aminulrasyid's death, the inspector-general of police even threatened to pull cops from street patrols should the public continue condemning them over the killing.
One question we must ask then is what makes our police force so defiant and defensive of public opinion? The answer is straightforward: It appears that our police force cannot live up to legitimate expectations of their performance.
The police force is unfortunately so notorious for corruption that they have to pledge against it by wearing a badge. They are also largely incompetent. One only needs to look at the growing number of gated communities to ask if tax payers should request rebates — they have to pay private security firms to ensure everyday safety.
Fairness to the police

However, no matter how tempting it is to blame the situation squarely on these officers in blue, I cannot bring myself to. I have personally come across police officers who moonlight as burger sellers because their approximately RM1,000 monthly salary simply cannot sustain, say, a family of four.
I wonder: Has the combination of low public respect and low pay not contributed to the "trigger-happy" state of the force?  With so much public ridicule and economic pressure (if they live honestly by their official income), can they be mentally stable enough to handle confrontational situations?
How can the police break free from the vicious cycle of low pay and respectability, leading to incompetence and abuse of power, leading back to low pay and respectability?
Rethinking police accountability
One simple solution would be to depoliticise the police force.
Given its historical role of combating the communist insurgency from 1948 to 1960 and subsequent communist threats, the police force was highly politicised from the start. This explains the huge size of the Special Branch whose function was expanded from monitoring and infiltrating only communist groups to all political enemies of the ruling coalition. It is no surprise then that appreciation of human rights has no place for the police in such a highly politicised environment.
As an important ally of the Umno's electoral one-party state, the police force largely enjoys impunity in cases of corruption and abuse of power. And it is also no surprise that efforts to regulate the force are often seen as attempts to assault a "Malay" institution.
But rank-and-file police officers remain low-paid with meagre salaries not corresponding to the occupational risks they face. The police like to joke that they have a high "gaji mati", referring not to their ceiling salary, but the compensation in store should they die while on duty.
The combination of low official income and largely unconstrained power naturally induces corruption — from collecting bribes to protecting different mafia groups — and makes the force institutionally dependent on more political protection.
As long as this politicisation continues, can we expect a professional police force?
Depoliticisation requires more than the removal of the current IGP or a change of federal government. Without institutional changes, the police force may remain corrupt even under a Pakatan Rakyat federal government.
What is needed here is to place the police under the Federal Constitution's Concurrent List (jurisdictions shared between the federal and the state governments) instead of the current Federal List in the Ninth Schedule.
In other words, the police should serve two masters — the federal and the state executives. Given Malaysia's emerging two-party competition, the police force will be forced to depoliticise itself and end its corruption and abuse of power.
Perhaps then we may realistically talk about "police reform". Only if such decentralisation of police power happens can we hope that Aminulrasyid will be the last victim of extra-judicial killing.

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Dead teen: Jigsaw pieces start falling into place - Malaysiakini

The owner of a vehicle that slain teenager Aminulrasyid Amzah had accidentally grazed has corroborated portions of the account provided by Azamuddin Omar, the key witness to the shooting.

Shah…

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The owner of a vehicle that slain teenager Aminulrasyid Amzah had accidentally grazed has corroborated portions of the account provided by Azamuddin Omar, the key witness to the shooting.

Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad (right) said at press conference today that the vehicle owner had approached him on Tuesday for advice.

"He came to my office and asked if he should make a police report. He was afraid that the police might remand him (for questioning)," he said.

He said the vehicle owner subsequently lodged a police report at 8pm that day.

Khalid said that the owner of the damaged vehicle had lent the vehicle to a friend that night.

“His friend went for drinks with three other friends. These other friends then got on their motorcycles to pursue (the boys who grazed the car),” he said.

Friends gave chase

He said one of the motorcyclists fell off his machine during the pursuit after clipping the rear end of the car driven by Aminulrasyid.

The injured motorcyclist then later lodged a police report on the incident.

“When he fell off his bike, his friends stopped chasing the boys and took their friend to the hospital where he received outpatient treatment and he then lodged a police report,” said Khalid.

Azamuddin, who was the passenger in the vehicle driven by Aminulrasyid, wrote in his April 26 police report that the driver accidently grazed a stationary car near the restaurant and was then pursued by motorcyclists.

The witness also related the incident when the motorcyclist took a fall, which he said aggravated the 14-year-old driver into further panic.

Can the police confirm this?

Khalid argued that the police reports lodged by the damaged vehicle owner and motorcyclist have helped confirmed the first part of Azamuddin's story.

He adds that the police report by another witness, Zafrullah Ahmad Zainal Abidin, helped confirmed the second part of Azamuddin's story.

“I hope (Selangor police chief) Khalid Abu Bakar will reveal these facts to confirm that whatever that was reported by Azamuddin is true,” said Khalid.

Azamuddin and lawyers of Aminulrasyid's family have been under fire by the police for revealing details of incidents.

The Selangor police have called Azamuddin “unethical” while the Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan said the teenager was jeapordising police investigations.

However, lawyers involved in the case and the Bar Council has defended Azamuddin's decision because the police have been quick to accuse Aminulrasyid as being a criminal and that the vehicle he was driving contained a machete.

Are they trying to trap the witness?

Khalid also expressed concern the police decision to call up Azamuddin for questioning three times, to mostly answer the same questions.

“My fear is that this is done for the purpose of tricking him into making contradictory statements, which can be used to portray him as an unreliable witness,” he said.

He expressed hope that the authorities would not place any pressure on Azamuddin's father, who is a sergeant attached to the Section 11 police station.

Khalid later criticised the Selangor police chief for saying that he should not be involved in the Aminulrasyid's case.

“Should I, as an MP, just shut my eyes? These things happen to my constituents so I should get involved. Where did (Khalid Abu Bakar) vote?” he asked.

Meanwhile, Khalid announced that a reward programme was underway to pay tribute to good Shah Alam-based police officers.

He said Shah Alam residents are invited to nominate officers whom they feel had provided good services between the period of April 30, 2010 to May 1 next year.

“The first prize winner will receive a cash prize of RM5,000, the second RM3,000 and the third RM2,000,” he said, adding the programme will be officially launched on June 1.

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Zaid's effigy set on fire outside PKR HQ

Malay-sian UMNO Cabinet rightly express condolences to Aminulrasyid’s family. But zero such condolences for hundreds of Indians shot dead by police and murdered in police lock-ups.

Malay-sian UMNO Cabinet rightly express condolences to Aminulrasyid’s family. But zero such condolences for hundreds of Indians shot dead by police and murdered in police lock-ups.
The Cabinet expressed its…

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Malay-sian UMNO Cabinet rightly express condolences to Aminulrasyid’s family. But zero such condolences for hundreds of Indians shot dead by police and murdered in police lock-ups.
The Cabinet expressed its sadness and condolences to the family of Aminulrasyid Amzah, 15, who was killed in Shah Alam on April 26. “The incident was most regretted,” said a statement issued by the prime minister’s office in Putrajaya yesterday. The cabinet wanted investigations to be carried out in fair and transparent manner and as soon as possible so that everyone, especially the boy’s family and the policemen involved, would get justice, the statement said (NST 6/5/10 at page 2).
The Special panel to investigate this death is led by a high profile team lead by the Deputy Home Minister, Tan Sri Hanif Omar and the former Inspector General of Police etc down to work early this morning (MM 5/5/10 at page 3).
But this very same UMNO controlled Malay-sian Cabinet has zero history of ever expressing condolences, regrets etc on the hundreds if not thousands of Indians shot dead by police and murdered in police lock ups over the last twenty years.
Malaysia is about the only country in the world where race matters to this level when you are a victim of an injustice.
In A. Kugan’s case, the evidence was overwhelming of police murder but the Malay-sian Cabinet did not ever even once express regret or convey their  condolences to the family of A. Kugan simply because the victims was merely the soft target Indians.
The Malay-sian cabinet never bothered to express their regrets or condolences to the family of the two Indian brothers who were murdered by the police sharp shooters in their shoot to kill policy in Taiping on 11/4/2010 and when there were three eye witnesses.
When it comes to Indian victims, they are quickly branded as criminals and deserve to die at the hands of the police without having to go through the due process of the law. When it is Aminulrasyid or Teoh Beng Hock, different standards are applied by UMNO, PKR, DAP, PAS, NGOs’ the Indian elite & journalists and the “multi –racial” Malaysian civil society.
But when we cry against this racism, even the PKR Supremo, Raja Petra, the Indian elite accuse us of being racist. UMNO otherwise says this is One Malay-sia!
While UMNO is guilty by commission the rest of the aforesaid supposed multi-racial Malaysian community is guilty by omission. Note the headlines, front page news and news herein below for the ninth day in a row. When the victim is a Malay or Teoh Beng Hock they similarly received headlines and high profile news coverage.
But on the same day of Teoh Beng Hock’s murder in MACC custody, one P. Gunasegaran was killed in the Sentul Police station. But UMNO, the Malaysian Cabinet, PKR, DAP, PAS Malaysiakini.com, the Indian elite, NGOs etc did not care simply because the victim was a “mere Indian”.
Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice

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UMNO & PKR Empty promises hampers or mock cheques for Indians after Bagan Pinang. Millions for Malays and Chinese.

UMNO & PKR Empty promises hampers or mock cheques for Indians after Bagan Pinang. Millions for Malays and Chinese.
UMNOs’ MIC mandore is only empowered to make empty promises that…

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UMNO & PKR Empty promises hampers or mock cheques for Indians after Bagan Pinang. Millions for Malays and Chinese.
UMNOs’ MIC mandore is only empowered to make empty promises that ‘estate workers from Siliau Bradwall Atherton and Sungai Salak would see changes in a few months’ time creation he is not empowered to deliver. But creating illusions of delivering the answer is yes.
Within 48 hours of the Hulu Selangor by elections the Chinese school in Kuala Kubu Baru received not the mock cheque which most often does not come down or comes down in further bits and pieces and after further begging but the real cheque.
The Malays without even any general or by elections get the chunk RM300 Million (totaling RM 1.8 billion) per UITM for six UITM campuses UM 5/5/10 page 8).
But for the Indians it is a few thousands by PKR and UMNO and that too mock cheques as if mocking the intelligence of the Indians. Or hampers, or RM100.00 per poor Indian, or a packet of groceries by both UMNO and also PKR, DAP and PAS.

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Straight As’ Indian students given zero places in Matriculation Colleges however deserving they are.

Straight As’ Indian students given zero places in Matriculation Colleges however deserving they are.
There are 40,000 places in the nine matriculation colleges nationwide (UM 2/11/08 at page 4) plus…

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Straight As’ Indian students given zero places in Matriculation Colleges however deserving they are.
There are 40,000 places in the nine matriculation colleges nationwide (UM 2/11/08 at page 4) plus the MARA Kulim and Kuala Nerang which also provides matriculation courses and the three technical matriculation colleges. 70% of these matriculation students undergo a mere one year foundation courses in critical fields like Law, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy etc to get into the Institutions of Higher Learning (UM Headlines 6/4/2010).
We estimate that a mere 0.1% of these places are given to the Indians however deserving they are.
In addition to this, 6,000 places per semester is made available to Malay Muslim students in UiTM who had failed to secure places in these matriculation courses (UM 30/4/2010 at page 28).
Indians students are excluded completely from the 200,000 places in UiTM which only admits the Malay Muslim students (Utusan Malaysia 1/1/09). About 10% of the intake every year into UiTM are foreign students who come from Muslim countries – ironically.
In The Star today (30/4/2010 at page N57) reported quoting Buntong Assemblyman that “a limited number of Indian students were given the opportunity but this year, none was given the chance to pursue the classes.”
This UMNO racist religious extremist and supremacist policies are in direct contravention of Article 7 of the Federal Constitution which provides for Equality for all citizens irrespective of their ethnicity and Article 12 of the Federal Constitution which specifically stipulates that there shall be no discrimination in an educational institution which receives government fund.
But UMNO does not follow even the highest law of the land. In fact UMNO blatantly violates these laws with impunity.
How then are the 70% of the Indians who are poor or in the lower income group going to come out from their cycle of poverty when they are denied equal opportunities in the field of education.
This UMNOs’ racist, religious extremist and supremacist policies must be forthwith ended.
P. Uthayakumar

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PKR’s free tuisyen rakyat. But like UMNO Indians excluded (See SH 5/5/2010 at page S 24)

  PKR’s free tuisyen rakyat. But like UMNO Indians excluded (See SH 5/5/2010 at page S 24)

PKR & UMNO: Batu Caves Tamil school children dicing with danger and their lives on dilapidated bridge. Africa or Malaysia?

PKR & UMNO: Batu Caves Tamil school children dicing with danger and their lives on dilapidated bridge. Africa or Malaysia?
An old bridge children are forced to take to school…

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PKR & UMNO: Batu Caves Tamil school children dicing with danger and their lives on dilapidated bridge. Africa or Malaysia?
An old bridge children are forced to take to school every day. Both UMNO and the PKR led Selangor state government does not care. The pictures speak a thousand words.
P. Uthayakumar

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1,230 full time government personnel for Orang Asli affairs and welfare. Zero full time government personnel for Indian poor

1,230 full time government personnel for Orang Asli affairs and welfare. Zero full time government personnel for Indian poor.
Even most of the Indian elite will (out of minority complex…

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1,230 full time government personnel for Orang Asli affairs and welfare. Zero full time government personnel for Indian poor.
Even most of the Indian elite will (out of minority complex and inferiority syndrome) will tell you that the Malay poor, orang asli and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak are far worst off than the Indians.
But these natives at least have the social safety net land base ie their land base traditional villages and ancestral land. And the sky is the limit for them to open up land and embark on agriculture for survival.
But for the Indians they do have neither their traditional villages (squatters called Kg. India may be) nor ancestral land.
No way can the Indians open up land for agriculture. When things get worst the Indians are only left with four options:-
Either they are thrown into the streets, welfare homes and orphanages, forced into world of crime or the simply have to commit suicide. The Indian suicide rate is 600% higher than in the Malay community anyway.
There are zero full time government civil servants to take care and care for the welfare of the Indians poor.
Who then speaks for the Indians (unlike the said 1,230 civil servants for the orang asli) PKR, DAP, PAS?
P. Uthayakumar

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DAP pounces on weak MIC

By Baradan Kuppusamy - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 — The DAP is looking to recruit MIC leaders unhappy with the party and its many failures.
But political…

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By Baradan Kuppusamy - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 — The DAP is looking to recruit MIC leaders unhappy with the party and its many failures.
But political experts say it might not be a good idea to go after MIC leaders because many of them are tainted by their unquestioning support for party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and the Barisan Nasional (BN).


“It is better to rely on DAP Indian leaders and promote them than rely on MIC leaders,” said a political observer familiar with Indian politics.

“The Indian grassroots situation is changing and in the long run it is better to develop young and independent-minded leaders.”

DAP vice-chairman and Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran is understood to have met several MIC leaders and held discussions with them.

He is believed to have held talks with leaders like MIC Central Working Committee member K. P. Samy and others who are staunchly anti-Samy Vellu.

However observers note that while these leaders are anti-Samy Vellu, there are question marks about whether they are still loyal to BN.

“After supporting Barisan for so many years they would feel out of place in the DAP which is highly critical of Umno and Barisan,” the observers said.

When contacted, Kulasegaran said the DAP was always looking for new blood and fresh talents and not just from the MIC but also from other political parties.

“There’s nothing wrong in looking at MIC leaders,” her said adding he had held some discussions with several MIC leaders who are interested in joining the DAP.

“They are frustrated in the MIC and toying with an exit as they feel the party is dead. They want to do some good for the Indian community and feel staying in the MIC is a waste of time,” Kulasegaran said.

“We will welcome them but they have got to be credible and start at the bottom as ordinary members,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

K. P. Samy confirmed he had been approached by the DAP but was “unsure” about the right move.

“I am a politician and I want to serve the Indian community but doing that is getting difficult in the MIC,” he said.

“The MIC is trapped in the past.”

He said that not all former BN leaders are rejects and cited MCA leader Dr Chua Jui Meng as an example.

Recruiting credible Indian leaders in DAP has become urgent after Indian support for Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in the recent Hulu Selangor by-election dropped from 48 per cent in 2008 to 41 per cent.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his 1 Malaysia campaign is also beginning to show results with voters as first seen in Bagan Pinang in October last year and last month in Hulu Selangor.

It is because of all these considerations, political insiders said, that PR parties are on a recruitment drive from MIC.

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Activists torch effigy of 'traitor' Zaid

By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia Today

FULL REPORT PETALING JAYA: Some 30 activists from Perkasa and other Malay rights societies staged a protest outside PKR headquarters in Tropicana…

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By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia Today

FULL REPORT PETALING JAYA: Some 30 activists from Perkasa and other Malay rights societies staged a protest outside PKR headquarters in Tropicana here this afternoon, setting alight a wooden effigy of Zaid Ibrahim, PKR supreme council member.
The effigy was a parody photograph of Zaid flexing his muscles and holding a bottle of Carlsberg beer, with the words "Hero of Traitors" emblazoned across the figure.

PKR official Radin Shamsulkamar said the protesters, who carried banners and placards, hurled obscenities and harassed the staff as well.

They also chanted slogans such as “Zaid kaki botol” (alcoholic) and “Chase him away from Selangor”. Zaid was PKR's election candidate in Hulu Selangor last month, where he became the subject of a similar character assassination campaign.
The protesters then read out a memorandum before handing it over to a PKR representative.

Radin said PKR was tipped off about a protest to be held tomorrow, leading him to file a report with the Tropicana police station. On returning from the police station at about 4.30pm, he was shocked to discover that the protest was already under way.

“I rushed back to the police station but the police told me that they did not receive instructions to take any action. No policeman showed up during or after the protest,” he added.

'Sultan higher than political parties'
Contacted later, Perkasa Youth chief Armand Azhar Abu Hanifah, who led the protest, said they were angry with Zaid for showing  “disrespect” for the Selangor Sultan.

The protesters were irked by Zaid's comment on his blog yesterday that the sultan had not decreed that mosques were not to be used for political purposes, but instead was a personal view which carried little weight.

Zaid's blog comments were also carried in the Malay daily Sinar Harian today.

Armand demanded that Zaid publicy apologise to the sultan. He said a massive protest would be held outside Shah Alam mosque tomorrow.

“The Selangor government (led by PKR) should respect the sultan and they should understand that the ruler is higher than any political party. Zaid is adviser to the state government and his view represents that of Pakatan Rakyat.

“If Zaid doesn't apologise, then PKR should pack its bags and move out of its Selangor headquarters,” he told FMT.
Despite numerous attempts, Zaid could not be reached for comment.

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Karpal wants 'brave' court to put Nazri in the dock

By FMT Staff
SHAH ALAM: Lawyer Karpal Singh today urged the coroner's court to allow the application to cite Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Aziz for contempt…

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By FMT Staff
SHAH ALAM: Lawyer Karpal Singh today urged the coroner's court to allow the application to cite Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Aziz for contempt for calling Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand a “liar”.
He argued that Nazri should appear in court to answer the charge against him.

Furthermore, he said that a precedent should be set to prevent interference in the court process, especially by Nazri since he is the de facto law minister.

"What is before this court is a very contemptuous matter and the court is expected to act without fear or favour and should be brave enough in allowing the application, besides proving a point that court officials are not affraid of the executive," he said.

Karpal, who is acting for Teoh Meng Kee, added that the Attorney-General, as guardian of public interest, should not interfere in this matter.

Teoh had filed an ex-parte application on April 16 to cite Nazri for contempt based on a report by online news portal Malaysiakini which quoted the minister.

The coroner's court is holding an inquest to determine the cause of death of Teoh's brother, Beng Hock, whom Pornthip claimed could have been a victim of foul play.

Pornthip later claimed that she was pressured against testifying in the inquest, leading Nazri to dispute this as a fraudulent allegation.

Unsupported by the report
Meanwhile, senior federal counsel Amarjeet Singh, who is representing the AG Chambers, argued that Teoh's leave application should be dismissed on the ground that it failed to establish a prima facie case for the court to initiate contempt proceedings.

"The charge framed by the applicant is unsupported where the crucial evidence here is the Malaysiakini report," Amarjeet pointed out in his submission.

"What we have is an affidavit by Teoh, where he cites the article which quoted the minister following a telephone interview. But it was not supported by the said article, which was not produced,” he said.

The lawyer also argued that since Malaysiakini published the report, it is the news portal, and not Nazri, who should be cited for contempt.

Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas fixed May 21 for his decision on whether to grant leave to initiate contempt proceedings against Nazri.

Beng Hock, 30, was found dead on the fifth floor of Palaza Masalam here on July 16 after he was interrogated by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers.

The former DAP political aide was grilled overnight regarding the alleged discrepancies in the disbursement of state funds on the 14th floor of the building where the Selangor MACC office was located.
The coroner last week had set May 20 to hear the expert views of Pornthip, who was hired by the Selangor government, after hearing the testimony of British  forensic expert Prof Dr Peter Vanezis, who was engaged by the MACC.

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Sultan to remain in USM hospital

By FMT staff
KOTA BARU: The ailing Sultan of Kelantan, Tuanku Ismail Petra, whose poor health has resulted in squabbling between two of his sons over who will act in…

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By FMT staff
KOTA BARU: The ailing Sultan of Kelantan, Tuanku Ismail Petra, whose poor health has resulted in squabbling between two of his sons over who will act in his place, is to remain warded at Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital in Kubang Kerian for follow-up treatment for his heart problem, comptroller of the Kelantan Royal Household, Datuk Abdul Halim Hamad said today.

Bernama quoted Abdul Halim as saying there were no plans as yet to transfer the ruler to another hospital, such as Kuala Lumpur Hospital. He said the sultan was admitted to the hospital last Tuesday.

The Sultan's second wife, Che Puan Elia Suhana Ahmad, visited her husband at the hospital last night, Bernama reported.

She arrived at the hospital at about 11pm, accompanied by a policewoman and two male aides, and was at the Royal Ward for about two and half hours before leaving about 1.30am today. Elia Suhana was said to be overseas, but returned yesterday after being informed that the Sultan had been admitted to HUSM, Bernama reported.

The Sultan's family has been embroiled in the squabble between the royal brothers for months, especially while the sultan was in hospital in Singapore for eight months.

Earlier this week he was reported to have made two abortive attempts to leave the state for treatment.
Flight aborted
Accompanied by his younger son, the Tengku Temenggong, Tengku Muhammad Fakhry, and his consort the Raja Perempuan Kelantan, Tengku Anis Tengku Abdul Hamid, he was said to have been due to board a chartered private jet for Singapore for further treatment.

The plane was reported to have been refused permission to land in Kota Baru, press reports said. Another flight to take him to Kuala Lumpur was also aborted.

On Tuesday night, Tengku Muhammad Fakhry was reported to have been questioned by police for several hours, believed to be in connection with the shooting of a Kelantan palace guard. Police are reported to have taken handguns from Tengku Muhammad Fakhry and his bodyguards for forensic testing.

The guard is believed to have been shot in a conspiracy to assassinate the sultan's eldest son, Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra, who was named Regent of Kelantan last year when the sultan left for treatment in Singapore.
Marital dispute
Tengku Fakhry has been in a tussle with the Regent since being dropped from the State Succession Council last year.

He had previously been in the headlines when his teenage wife, Indonesian model Manohara Odelia Pinot, fled from Singapore while on a visit to the sultan in hospital, and returned to Indonesia with her mother. She made sensational revelations about being abused by her husband during her marriage.

Tengku Fakhry has since taken out several court actions against her.

Earlier today, the Regent, Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra, bestowed awards and medals on 344 recipients at a supplementary investiture ceremony at the Istana Balai Besar.

The recipients included three state executive councillors: Agriculture, Rural Industry and Biotechnology chairman Che Abdullah Mat Nawi, State Information, Science Information Development and Technology Committee chairman Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan and State Women, Family and Health Committee chairman Wan Ubaidah Omar. They received the Ahli Yang Ketiga (Taulan) Bagi Darjah Kebesaran Jiwa Mahkota Yang Amat Mulia (JMK).

Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, met after the investiture ceremony, said he did not receive any information on the Sultan's health. "I would like to visit him at the hospital if there is an opportunity for me to do so," he added.

— Bernama

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Lay off royal tiffs, says Rais

(Bernama) - Members of the royalty and the Malay media should help to ensure that domestic matters in royal houses do not become national controversies to the extent of tarnishing…

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(Bernama) - Members of the royalty and the Malay media should help to ensure that domestic matters in royal houses do not become national controversies to the extent of tarnishing the image of Malay rulers, information minister Rais Yatim said.
Although the Malaysian Constitution clearly stated that the future of the monarchical system was guaranteed, some humiliating incidents involving the Malay rulers, nevertheless, had been widely reported in the newspapers, he said.
"We should have the integrity to restrict this kind of stories so that they can be resolved by the parties concerned. Unfortunately, these kind of stories, as in what is happening in Kelantan, have become such a hot topic," he told reporters after opening simultaneous branch meetings of Jelebu Umno here.

He said the preoccupation of the Malays in talking about such a hot topic, had made them forget about the importance of honouring the sultanate. Worse still it was Malay newspapers which were highlighting the issues, he said.

"In this case, both parties should play their roles, but those inside the royal houses should also take care of their castles, besides relying on the government as the guardian of the Constitution," he said.

Asked how the Malays could react to tackle these issues, and attempts to weaken Islam, Malay rights and the monarchical system, Rais said: "There is no other way than through the Umno voice."

He also explained that the 1Malaysia concept would not cause Malay rights to be abolished because this assurance was enshrined in the constitution.

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Upah memaki hamun Anwar

Apakah tidak mustahil Najib sedang memprojek Ezam sebagai bakal Ketua Pemuda Umno yang baru? Khairy sudah tidak layak, sebab pertama, beliau menang tipis apabila undi perwakilan pemuda terbahagi tiga, bermakna…

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Apakah tidak mustahil Najib sedang memprojek Ezam sebagai bakal Ketua Pemuda Umno yang baru? Khairy sudah tidak layak, sebab pertama, beliau menang tipis apabila undi perwakilan pemuda terbahagi tiga, bermakna beliau hanya dipercayai satu pertiga pemuda sahaja.

Mohd Rashidi Hasan, Harakahdaily

ADA beberapa persoalan pokok yang harus diajukan di sebalik pelantikan bekas Ketua Angkatan Muda KeADILan, Mohamed Ezam Mohd Nor sebagai Senator yang baru.

Pertama, apakah sumbangan beliau kepada agama, bangsa dan negara sehingga melayakkan beliau dilantik sebagai Senator?

Kedua, dengan kedudukan beliau sebagai ahli biasa Umno, apakah peranan yang boleh beliau mainkan di Dewan Negara?

Atau, apakah beliau akan dilantik menjadi Menteri atau Timbalan Menteri, bagi membolehkan beliau berperanan di Dewan Rakyat pula?

Merujuk kepada persoalan ini, sejurus pelantikannya Ezam mendakwa beliau layak dilantik menjadi Senator berdasarkan banyak sumbangan beliau untuk memerangi rasuah, antaranya dengan menubuhkan Gerak.

Ezam menafikan dakwaan bahawa pelantikannya sebagai 'upah' dari Umno-Barisan Nasional.

Namun bagi penulis, jika Ezam menafikannya pun siapa yang hendak percayakan dia.

Orang-orang Pakatan Rakyat sudah lama tidak mempercayainya, malah, orang-orang Umno sendiri pun belum tentu percaya kepada beliau.

Hakikatnya pelantikan Ezam sebagai Senator banyak dipertikaikan. Kelompok Pakatan Rakyat tidak ada sebab hendak pertikaikan kerana pelantikan tersebut adalah progatif Perdana Menteri.

Yang banyak mempertikaikan pelantikan Ezam adalah orang-orang Umno sendiri.

"Dia (Ezam) dah 'kenyang' kat sana, buat onar macam-macam burukkan kita (Umno), lepas tu dia masuk sini, pun dia 'kenyang' juga, dapat Senator lagi," keluh seorang pemimpin pemuda Umno.

Apa maksud 'kenyang' itu, hanya Ezam dan orang-orang Umno yang terlebih faham.

Persoalan yang mengguris hati kebanyakan orang Umno ialah bagaimana bekas pengkhianat Umno, baru setahun kembali ke dalam Umno, sudah mendapat 'reward' sebegini besar?

Di luar sana, ramai lagi pemimpin tertinggi Umno, di peringat negeri dan bahagian, yang berjuang sehidup semati mempertahankan Umno, sejak dulu, kini dan selamanya, 'habuk pun tak dapat.'

Malah ada antara mereka yang menjadi penyokong tegar Dato' Seri Mohd Najib Razak tatkala ditindas Khairy Jamaluddin, pun tidak mendapat apa-apa.

Malah begitu komitednya perjuangan mereka dalam Umno, diumpamakan, jika ditoreh lengan mereka sekalipun, akan keluar 'darah cap keris'! Tetapi mereka-mereka ini diketepikan oleh pemimpin tertinggi Umno. Mengapa mereka diketepikan?

"Kes Ezam buat PM, ini ibarat 'kera di hutan disusukan, anak di rumah mati kelaparan," kata seorang penganalisis politik.

"Ada bunyi-bunyi kata hendak lantik Ezam pula sebagai Timbalan Menteri, habis kami orang Umno yang ramai-ramai ini hendak jadi apa?" soal seorang pemimpin pemuda dengan nada kemarahan.

Ya tak ya juga. Bukan AJK Pemuda atau pemimpin bahagian Umno sahaja, malah berlambak-lambak Ahli Parlimen Umno-BN yang mengharap jawatan Menteri atau Timbalan Menteri yang akan kempunan nanti.

Yang paling kempunan sudah tentunya Ahli Parlimen Rembau, yang juga Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda Umno. Selepas bapa mertuanya dijatuhkan dari tampuk kuasa, Khairy tidak mendapat apa-apa dari Umno, walaupun suatu ketika dahulu beliau kelihatan amat berkuasa.

Penentangnya Dato' Mukhriz Mahathir dah jadi Timbalan Menteri. Begitu juga Naib Ketua Pemuda Umno, Dato' Razali Ibrahim, juga Timbalan Menteri.

Maka kali ini jika Ezam dilantik menjadi Timbalan Menteri, maka riwayat Khairy sebagai Ketua Pemuda Umno yang sedang berantakan dengan exconya sekarang ini, sudah hampir di penghujung.

Apakah tidak mustahil Najib sedang memprojek Ezam sebagai bakal Ketua Pemuda Umno yang baru? Khairy sudah tidak layak, sebab pertama, beliau menang tipis apabila undi perwakilan pemuda terbahagi tiga, bermakna beliau hanya dipercayai satu pertiga pemuda sahaja.

Alasan kedua, beliau dikritik oleh exconya sendiri, malah disuruh meletak jawatan kerana gagal mengemudi pemuda Umno.

Alasan ketiga, ialah kerana Khairy tidak mendapat kepercayaan Najib, dengan tidak dilantik menganggotai kabinet, dan sama sekali tidak boleh diterima oleh orang-orang Najib.

Oleh kerana Mukhriz kelihatan sedikit 'lembap' untuk dijadikan galang-ganti Khairy, maka seseorang seperti Ezam yang kelihatan rancak dan bertenaga, harus dipupuk mulai dari sekarang untuk mengambil alih tugas Ketua Pemuda.

Ezam dalam konteks ini dilihat ada sedikit 'command'. 'Command' atau karisme Ezam, bukan untuk dikemudikan untuk mengembleng tenaga muda menyokong Umno, sebab penyokong Umno sudah semakin pupus.

Ezam sebenarnya hendak dipergunakan sebagai alat Najib untuk menyekat kemaraan Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Ezam adalah 'ayam sabung' terbaru Umno-BN untuk menentang Pakatan Rakyat, selepas Ahli-ahli Parlimen Umno-BN yang ada gagal berfungsi.

Sebab apa Najib mempercayai Ezam? Sebabnya ialah selepas mengkhianati 'tuannya' dalam KeADILan, Ezam begitu konsisten memaki hamun Anwar.

Tiada topik lain yang dicakapkannya selain memburuk-burukkan Anwar. Beliau akan muncul setiap kali ada pilihan raya dan setiap kali wujud perpecahan dalam KeADILan, 'menangguk di air yang keruh' untuk menjatuhkan maruah Anwar.

Ada rakan-rakan dalam KeADILan mendakwa, peristiwa beberapa orang anggota AMK KeADILan dan lain-lainnya keluar dari parti itu, berikutan daripada kerja keras Ezam dan bekas Timbalan Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, Mohd Fairus Khairudin.

"Kerja mereka mudah, mereka round satu Malaysia, hubungi semua 'budak-budak Ezam' dalam parti, tawar macam-macam kepada mereka," dakwa seorang ahli MPT KeADILan.

"Ezam dan bekas Setiausaha Agung KeADILan, Dato' Salehuddin Hashim rapat dengan Najib.

Mereka jadi broker 'tukang beli' orang-orang KeADILan," dakwa seorang yang lain.

Di sini, bukan persoalan jumlah banyak mana RM yang 'dibayar' untuk mereka yang sedia mengkhianati perjuangan. Tetapi, ianya adalah soal keberkesanan tugas Ezam untuk melemah dan memporakperandakan KeADILan.

KeADILan adalah antara komponen utama Pakatan Rakyat. Dan Anwar dilihat sebagai pencabar terbesar kepada Najib. Tugas Ezam dan pecacai-pecacai yang lain adalah untuk memperlahankan gerakan Pakatan Rakyat.

Walaupun kocaknya KeADILan, seumpama 'kocakan air dalam cawan', namun ianya cukup untuk memuaskan hati Najib. Di atas kepuasan hati itulah, beliau menganugerahkan jawatan Senator buat Ezam.

Jelasnya, ianya upah yang diberikan kerana berjaya memaki hamun Anwar!

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Tegas Menyatakan Prinsip, Bukan Membuta Tuli Menurut Perintah.

Sekembalinya dari Oslo dan Cambridge beberapa urusan menyangkuti Pejabat Penasihat Ekonomi Negeri Selangor perlu diteliti dan diberi perhatian segera. Hari ini jadual saya padat dengan pertemuan serta perbincangan yang diadakan…

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Sekembalinya dari Oslo dan Cambridge beberapa urusan menyangkuti Pejabat Penasihat Ekonomi Negeri Selangor perlu diteliti dan diberi perhatian segera. Hari ini jadual saya padat dengan pertemuan serta perbincangan yang diadakan di Shah Alam.

Manakala urusan parti serta Pakatan Rakyat turut menjadi agenda utama, apatah lagi pilihanraya kecil Sibu semakin hampir. Sementara saya di luar negara beberapa perkembangan yang mengejutkan, sedih serta memberansangkan diikuti dengan dekat sekali.

Saya difahamkan acara khusus pendaftaran pengundi yang dilancarkan Pakatan Rakyat mendapat sambutan menggalakkan. Namun apa yang kekal tidak berubah adalah judul muka hadapan akhbar milik pemerintah. Kerana berhasrat mengalih pandangan dari tragedi menimpa allahyarham adik Aminulrayid, saya dijadikan tajuk berita utama.

Hanya minggu lalu saya dituding boneka Israel, nah tiba-tiba semalam, terpampang di muka hadapan, saya tidak lagi bersekongkol dengan kawan-kawan di Amerika Syarikat kerana isu kontrak Apco dengan Kerajaan Malaysia serta kebimbangan akan anasir perisikan asing menyusup masuk ke dalam PDRM. Melucukan kerana isu itu dibesar-besarkan walhal ianya hanya memetik rencana yang berjudul The Reversal Of Anwar Ibrahim.

Saya ingin tegaskan jikalau melindungi kepentingan nasional dan Rakyat Malaysia, saya dikatakan “meninggalkan” kawan-kawan walaupun siapapun mereka, itu bolehlah dikira sebab yang absah! Sedari mula saya sememangnya tuntas menyatakan sikap kepada rakan-rakan di dunia Barat. Tidak salah berkawan berasaskan persefahaman membina jambatan dialog. Jambatan yang sama selain merapatkan jurang juga digunakan untuk tegas menyatakan prinsip, bukan membuta tuli menurut perintah.

Apa yang membimbangkan pula berdasarkan rencana tersebut, Dato’ Sri Najib layak diangkat sebagai sekutu Amerika Syarikat kerana sanggup menuruti apa sahaja kehendak negara itu. Saya menggesa perdana menteri agar segera memberi penjelasan berhubung dakwaan rencana tersebut kerana ianya menggambarkan Dato’ Sri Najib sebagai boneka Amerika Syarikat yang sanggup dicucuk hidungnya untuk ditarik ke mana sahaja.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

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Bakun Dam cost over-run hits RM1.7b - Anil Netto

Sime Darby is reported to have incurred an estimated cost over-run of RM1.7 billion on a Bakun Dam contract worth RM1.8 billion.
It is understood the government has agreed to…

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Sime Darby is reported to have incurred an estimated cost over-run of RM1.7 billion on a Bakun Dam contract worth RM1.8 billion.
It is understood the government has agreed to reimburse Sime around RM0.7 billion, leaving the firm to absorb the remaining RM1 billion, The Star reported.
But who actually owns Sime Engineering, which reportedly was awarded the RM1.8 billion contract? The firm is a 100 per cent subsidiary of Sime Darby Bhd, according to the group’s 2009 Annual Report.  Sime Darby Bhd in turn is owned by Amanah Saham Bumiputera Scheme (39 per cent), EPF (14 per cent) and PNB (13 per cent).
That means the government will have to absorb RM0.7 billion and the Sime Darby GLC the remainder. And who benefits? Energy-intensive private firms will enjoy cheap electricity tariffs generated by the dam – if (and that is a big IF) the jinxed dam is functional. Socialising costs/losses and privatising profits.
As the Bakun Dam bleeds red ink, the displaced and marginalised Penan, who lost their ancestral burial grounds to the dam, could well have the last laugh – though one suspects there could be a few more ‘last laughs’ in store.
The government has to give us a breakdown of the total cost incurred on the Bakun Dam, indicating how much of it is incurred by the private sector, by GLCs and by the government itself. The resettlement and other associated costs of the dam should also be included.
Update: Sime Darby has now announced it will be conducting an investigation.

Sime Darby addressing challenges in its energy and utilities Division
KUALA LUMPUR, 6 May 2010 – With reference to recent media reports about Sime Darby’s Energy & Utilities Division, including projects in Qatar and Bakun, the Group would like to confirm that a Taskforce is investigating all aspects of this Division’s business operations in an effort to address the tough and challenging situation it is currently facing. The Taskforce has yet to complete its investigations, and once completed, the Group will make all relevant disclosures during its 3rd Quarterly Results announcement on 27 May 2010.
The Sime Darby Management is aware of the difficulties and challenges besetting its Energy & Utilities Division, especially with regards to operational efficiency and project management, and has instituted a new management team at the Division.
The Group is currently addressing the situation by implementing appropriate measures.

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Nazri calls Porntip liar, Malaysiakini should be cited for contempt?!

 By Nathaniel Tan,

MK:

Senior Federal Counsel Amarjeet Singh today urged a coroner’s…

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 By Nathaniel Tan,

MK:

Senior Federal Counsel Amarjeet Singh today urged a coroner’s court not to grant permission to commit cabinet minister Nazri Abdul Aziz to contempt proceedings as he claimed the application made was incomplete.
Amarjeet said for contempt proceedings, the court must be satisfied there is prima facie evidence.
He said in this application, the report in question was not produced and thus a proper charge of contempt against Nazri could not be framed.
Amarjeet, who represents the Attorney-General’s Chambers, argued that it was Malaysiakini which should be cited for contempt as the media outlet was allegedly interfering with the administration of justice.
“This is because they came out with the report,” Amarjeet said.

Okok, lemme get this straight.
Nazri calls witness Dr. Porntip a liar. Malaysiakini reports this. Malaysiakini should be cited for contempt of court.
:|
Sigh. I suppose we cannot help but expect this logic from the state that gave us such hits as:
Ahmad Ismail said Chinese are pendatang. Tan Hoon Cheng reports this. Tan Hoon Cheng is arrested under ISA (for protective custody).

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Brave Azamuddin consistent: No police lives threatened before shooting

By Nathaniel Tan,

We should salute the bravery of Azamuddin Omar, the 15 year old young man who was with Aminulrasyid when he was shot.
Azamuddin has had to give…

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By Nathaniel Tan,

We should salute the bravery of Azamuddin Omar, the 15 year old young man who was with Aminulrasyid when he was shot.
Azamuddin has had to give a statement no less than 3 times, and last night was made to return to the scene of the crime.
Even I find police questioning intimidating, and I can’t imagine the trauma of having to revisit the whole scene. Azamuddin however, is showing a consistent commitment to truth and justice, despite these challenges.
Now, an important aspect of this investigation keeps coming up: Were any police lives at threat when they fired at the car with the two boys?
MK:

Among such questions, said Surendran, was: “Was the last shot fired before, or after the crash?”
Commenting on this, Surendran said, “The witnessed confirmed that the last shot was fired when the car was still moving, which contradicts the police version of events.

TMI:

He had recounted how Aminulrasyid was shot in the back of the head, how his friend’s body slumped into his lap and how the car kept moving forward because the dead schoolboy’s foot was still on the accelerator.
He made no mention about Aminulrasyid trying to reverse the car to ram policemen, contradicting police claims of what had transpired.
Azamuddin also alleged he was kicked in the head and assaulted by no fewer than five policemen, before he escaped.

Well, this would not be the first time in Selangor that the police version of events turned out to be complete bollocks.
The important thing however is that this testimony suggests that Aminulrasyid did not at any material time pose a threat to the lives of any policemen.
So why was he shot? >:(

*

On another note: Observe another case of police shooting.
This time, the cops non-fatally shot an armed robber in the leg.
I think we should take this as an example of both better policing and the effect of public pressure.
Even in this case, where the armed individual gave much more justification for shooting than in Aminulrasyid’s case, the policeman wisely practised restraint – maybe due to all the uproar over Aminulrasyid.
I think that’s the way it should be.

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