A religious fight of a different order

The Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) has stepped in to resolve a three-year-long fight between two groups over management rights over the Sri Maha Mariamman Ladang Metro Kajang (formerly known as Sin Wah Estate) temple in Kamunting, Taiping.

MHS national president Mohan Shan told Malaysiakini the present temple committee (Worshippers Association of Kuil Sri Maha Mariamman Metro Kajang-Ladang Sin Wah) and a group of 10 families are fighting to take control of the temple management and MHS was called in to seek an amicable settlement.

Mohan visited the temple recently and suggested that two members of each family who had worked in the estate register themselves as members of the worshippers association.

A date will be fixed next month for holding the AGM to select a new management committee, said Mohan, who is also vice-president of the Inter-Faith Religious Council.

The group of 10, which includes a Christian family, claimed that they had recently bought some land lots adjacent to the temple.

A member of one of these families who is also the temple's priest, S Atchuthan, claimed he had been serving the temple for 22 years.

Tug-of-war over credentials

According to Atchuthan, the estate management had promised to donate a 1.5-acre plot of land on which the temple sits to the 10 buyers through a separate Deed of Gift agreement. Therefore, those families should be the ones to manage the temple, not the existing committee.

However, the sitting committee's contention is that its members were elected by the estate workers and so they would continue to exercise their prerogative.

According to Mohan, the group's application to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) for registration had been rejected on the grounds that there was already a functioning committee. Atchuthan said they would appeal against the ROS decision.

The temple committee's secretary, R Ravindran, told Malaysiakini that Mohan had given the keys of the association's room at the back of the temple to him but the group had broken the lock and replaced it with one of their own.

What followed was a series of police reports, change of locks, exchange of verbal abuse and fisticuffs between the two groups over the issue.

Even Mohan was not spared from a police report made against him for stating that only Hindus should manage the temple and no others such as Christians.

Mohan said that he was not a racist as the group's pro-tem president R Sathen alleged in his police report.

"My stand is very simple, that Hindu temples should be managed by Hindus, just as churches are managed by Christians and mosques by Muslims," he said.

Doc says sodomy with no injuries possible

By FMT Staff

KUALA LUMPUR: Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan once again found himself in the “hot seat” when he was grilled by Anwar Ibrahim's lead counsel Karpal Singh, who accused the former of spinning tales.

The star witness, who claims to have been sodomised by Anwar, was recalled by the defence despite having finished with his testimony on Monday.

Zeroing on the complainant, Karpal tells Saiful that the alleged sodomy incident on June 26, 2008, which purportedly took place at the Desa Condominium here, did not happen.

Saiful disagreed, insisting that it did take place.

Karpal then told the witness that Anwar was in a different unit at the time, Unit 11-5-2.

Saiful replied: “No, Anwar was in 11-5-1.”

This prompted Karpal to shoot back, “You are lying”.

The witness denied that he was making a fraudulent claim and reiterated that the opposition leader was in Unit 11-5-1.

Karpal then informed the court that the defence has submitted its notice of alibi to show that Anwar was not at the scene of the crime.

Following a request by the defence, Judge Mohd Zabidin Diah agreed for the rest of the proceedings to be held in camera.

Swearing on the Quran

Earlier, Karpal had grilled Saiful on his move to swear on the Quran that he was telling the truth about the sodomy allegation.

The defence questioned the timing, as it happened on the eve of nomination day for the Permatang Pauh by-election in Augut 2008, which marked the return of Anwar to active politics.

Saiful said that it was purely coincidental, and not premeditated to dent Anwar's electoral chances.

However, he conceded to making a blog entry on Aug 2 wishing the opposition leader good luck in the by-election.

The 24-year-old former aide to Anwar was also quizzed on his sister's marriage. [read related report here]

HKL doc takes the stand

Shortly after 10.30am, the public were allowed into the courtroom again and the session resumed with the testimony of the second witness, Hospital Kuala Lumpur specialist surgeon Dr Mohd Razali Ibrahim.

The doctor told the court that he has inspected more than 100 patients with problems related to their anus, and samples were taken using cotton swabs and syringes.

He also told the court that sodomy can take place without any injuries.

Razali was quizzed on the earlier medical reports stating that no signs of penetration or injuries were found in Saiful's anus.

The doctor said at the time, they had not received the report from the Chemistry Department that semen traces were found to establish that the act of sodomy had taken place.

Karpal had expressed unhappiness that the doctor was addressing the court in Bahasa Malaysia as the defence team was finding it difficult to translate his testimony to English for Dr David Wells, the Australian forensic expert hired by Anwar.

This morning, the defence team visited the two Desa condominium units.

Both Units 11-5-2 and 11-5-1 are owned by one Hasanuddin, who is said to be a close associate of Anwar. Hasanuddin, who lives in Unit 11-5-2, is currently not in town.

PKR Youth presses for probe into Norhashimah’s death

KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 — PKR Youth leaders have urged the government to conduct open investigations into the death of Norhashimah Wahid, a civil servant who died on Monday following what her family claims was excessive physical training.

Norhashimah, 31, a diplomatic administrative officer with the finance ministry, was admitted to Banting Hospital last Friday after experiencing problems breathing during a team-building and commando-style training weekend near Banting’s Jugra Training Camp.

She was three months into the physical component of the Public Management Diploma (DPA), mandatory for new diplomatic administrative officers, when she fell ill.

She was then transferred to Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang after her conditioned worsened.

Norhashimah succumbed to severe pneumonia, septic shock and multiple-organ failure at 6.40am Monday after drifting in and out of consciousness for three days.

“We strongly urge the federal government, particularly PSD (Public Service Department), to carry out a thorough, open investigation into the affair to determine whether it was due to negligence of the trainers,” said a joint statement by Nurul Izzah Anwar, Amiruddin Shari, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Sim Tze Tzin.

“One cannot help but question the utility of such physically demanding, military-based courses for our civil servants.”

The statement went on to question the identity and professional qualifications of the trainers.

“We were informed that this module was previously conducted by the Outward Bound School but is now conducted by a consultant at... [Selangor Enforcement Training Centre (Pulapes)],” it said.

“If it was truly conducted by a consultant, does the consultant have a professional training background?”

The PKR Youth leaders added that the authorities must suspend all on-going programmes until Norhashimah’s death has been fully investigated.

Norhashimah leaves behind husband Ahmad Zulhairi Zainal Abidin, 31, and two-year-old daughter, Nor Hylda Daenia.

The Royal Malaysian Air Force has denied any involvement in her training.

In a press statement, the defence ministry clarified that all programme modules were organised by the National Institute of Public Administration (Intan) and conducted by Pulapes.

The statement stressed that the training she underwent was not done under the RMAF or any unit under the RMAF banner.

Her family has vowed to lodge a police report over her death soon.

Pro-Israeli group urges US to sever ties with Anwar

By FMT Staff
PETALING JAYA: The world’s oldest pro-Israeli organisation, B’nai B’rith International has declared Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim as 'a threat' to the Jews and urged the US cut ties with him.

In a letter dated May 25 to US Foreign Relations Senate Committee president John F Kerry, B’nai B’rith blamed Anwar for inciting hatred towards the Israel and the Zionist-Jews.
The organisation voiced its concern over Anwar’s statements in Parliament in April where he linked Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to global image consultants Apco Worldwide.
They also took offence at Anwar’s speech when he exposed the infiltration of the Royal Malaysian Police's headquarters in Bukit Aman by agents linked to the Tel Aviv regime.
"Anwar Ibrahim should not be accorded the honour and respect which he now receives as a result of his good relations with the US,” said B’nai B’rith president Dennis W Glick.
“His attack on Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is tainted with lies and anti-Jewish and anti-Israel semantics,” the letter said.
"We ask Washington to terminate all relations with Anwar."
B’nai B’rith, established on Oct 13, 1843, has 200,000 members and supporters in 50 countries.
Online news portal: 'Anwar an extremist'
Last month Anwar was slammed by an American online news portal, The New Ledger, for questioning Najib and Apco’s relationship.
The writer Rachel Motte, accused Anwar of being an extremist and derided him for objecting to Najib’s decision, at the behest of the US, to pressure Iran (over the nuclear issue).
“Anwar’s right hand men said the Malaysian government had appointed Apco Worldwide which they alleged had close ties with Israel.
"They claimed that Apco's panel of advisors comprised a former security chief of Israel and former officers of Israel’s secret service.
“Anwar has continued to invoke anti-Semitic sentiments by alleging Israeli secret service's involvement in the Royal Malaysian Police’s information technology unit,” wrote Rachel.
The news portal, however, did not provide proof to counter Anwar’s allegations. Neither did it provide evidence that Apco or its staff were not linked to the Tel Aviv regime.
Anwar, who exposed the presence of Israeli agents in Bukit Aman in Parliament on April 6, based his disclosures on a PDRM’s logistics division report.

Sand-mining inquiry: Kapar MP to submit evidence

By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia Today,

FMT ALERT SHAH ALAM: Kapar MP S Manikavasagam this morning arrived at the second day of a public inquiry on allegations of graft in Selangor's sand-mining industry to deliver evidence of his allegations.
Manikavasagam, who had said earlier that he would not be testifying before the Select Committee for Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat), is expected to hand over his evidence to Selcat chairman Teng Chang Khim, who is also the state legislative assembly speaker.
The MP had previously cited parliamentary rules that required him to be granted leave from the Dewan Rakyat in order to attend the Selcat public hearing.
He had unexpectedly showed up yesterday – the first day of the inquiry – to deliver evidence of his allegations but was told to return today as five witnesses were already scheduled to testify.
While he was greeted by a small group of supporters when he arrived yesterday, today there was only a handful of them and no banners.
At 10.15am, Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne arrived and both Manikavasagam and him reviewed the evidence that the latter will present to Teng later. The evidence includes documents and VCDs.

Convoy of care or flotilla of fools?

By Joe Fernandez - Free Malaysia Today,

COMMENT The Israelis may have been right when they dismissed the so-called humanitarian mission to Gaza as a cheap publicity stunt that had little to do with helping the Gazans, and mostly to do with breaking the maritime blockade imposed by Tel Aviv.
The Israelis offered to take the aid and distribute it to the Gazans directly, saying they did not want to risk any of the aid falling into the hands of the Hamas high command.
Tel Aviv’s explanation seems to have been conveniently ignored by Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin as he went berserk on the streets of Kuala Lumpur while the police looked the other way. We have not seen him getting similarly worked up on poverty, rising prices, extrajudicial killings, the harassment of Penans, or the level of corruption in the country. Charity begins at home.
The Gaza aid organisers, the Malaysians included, foolishly vowed “no surrender” and pledged to carry on despite Israeli reminders that the convoy would not be allowed to proceed.
Now the inevitable has happened. Déjà vu? Ask the trigger-happy Malaysian police who seek refuge, after their shoot-to-kills, under four emergency proclamations.
Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who does not care that the Penans are in even greater need than the Gazans, should be ashamed that he encouraged the Malaysians on their foolhardy mission.
This is not the first time that he has pulled such a cheap public relations stunt to boost his image among the gullible rural voters deep in the heartland of Malay country and to improve his standing in the Muslim world.
He did it during the Bosnian war, when he encouraged quite a few Malaysians to symbolically adopt children from the ravaged country.
Tel Aviv's responsibility
The children of the Penans had a better claim for adoption, but for people like Mahathir they are a nuisance since they are squatting on rich timber tracts.
What the Gaza aid organisers have failed to comprehend is that the welfare of the people of Gaza and the West Bank is the responsibility of the government in Tel Aviv. No self-respecting government in the world will stand idly by and see itself challenged on this score by some bearded do-gooder lefties leading a flotilla of sampans. Usurping the functions of a legitimate government is not the thing to do in the modern world.
Foreign Minister Anifah Aman appeared on national television recently expressing disappointment with the UN Security Council for the mildness of its criticism of Israel’s use of force. Afterwards, this question was text-messaged to him: “What would be Malaysia’s response if a foreign flotilla of ships, led by the Bruno Manser Foundation of Switzerland, were to head towards the Sarawak coast with 10,000 tonnes of medical and food supplies for the starving Penans?”
Anifah has not responded.

Unholy Perkasa ties: 'Have the guts to quit Umno'

By Athi Shankar - Free Malaysia Today,

GEORGE TOWN: A human rights leader today challenged Barisan Nasional component parties to leave the federal ruling coalition over Umno’s unholy political alliance with the Malay supremacist NGO, Perkasa.
The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supremo P Waythamoorthy said it would be politically correct if the other 12 BN component parties take Umno to task for its shameful link with the racist Perkasa.
He said BN allies should question Umno, including Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, for supporting Perkasa while forsaking the multi-racial interests of the coalition.
He said the BN partners should issue an ultimatum to Umno to either sever its unholy ties with Perkasa or watch the partners walk away.
“BN allies should exercise their equal rights within the coalition. They should stop Umno’s racist agenda once and for all.
"They should have the guts to abandon Umno,” the London-based Waythamoorthy told FMT today.
He said since it was formed in the aftermath of 2008 general election, Perkasa has championed a racist Malay supremacy agenda to the detriment of non-Malay/ Muslim citizens of the country.
He said that Perkasa leaders have been trumpeting about their agenda without fear of draconian laws, such as the Internal Security Act and Sedition Act, because they were backed by Umno.
He recalled that previously Umno Youth would act as the pressure group by propagating the Malay agenda to tame other BN component parties.
Umno ploy
However, since the electoral debacle in 2008, he accused Umno leadership of franchising its own racist agenda to Perkasa to camouflage the federal ruling party’s real intention.
“Perkasa and its racist Malay agenda are simply another of Umno’s privatisation project in the country.
“It’s merely to maintain Umno’s racist policy to marginalise others and safeguard the interests of one particular community.
“There is no other ruling party in any democratic society in this world as racist as Umno.
“It’s now masking itself with Perkasa,” said Waythamoorthy.
Besides Umno, the other component members are MCA, MIC, Gerakan, PPP, and Borneo-based parties -- Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko), Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Sarawak People's Party (PRS).
Waythamoorthy alleged that Perkasa’s opposition to the New Economic Model (NEM) was merely an Umno ploy to maintain its Malay supremacist agenda in the country.
“It’s to regain the Malay electoral ground,” he said.
He added that BN allies were duty-bound to check on Umno’s wrongdoings in the coalition rule.
He said the allies should not allow Umno, with only 79 or 35.6% of the parliamentary seats, to dominate the country with a racist agenda.
He also said the component parties owed it to the people to stop Umno.
“It’s time for BN allies to give Umno the 'abandon Perkasa or we leave' ultimatum,” said Waythamoorthy.

PKR and patronage

thenutgraph.com

PKR's sixth congress in Kota Baru

PARTI Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is the future, its president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail declared at the party's 2009 congress held at the end of May in Kota Baru. But if that were so, the congress showed little direction as to how PKR would lead the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in that future.
The party's sixth congress focused more on how to convince voters to topple the Barisan Nasional (BN) government in the next general election. Strengthen the party, curb defections, and improve governance and the economy of PKR's showpiece state, Selangor. As to how it would rule the country with multiethnic policies and meritocracy, or restore the credibility of public institutions like the judiciary, there were little more than broad statements.
PKR leaders at the congress missed the chance to elaborate on its governance plans, notes political observer and academic Prof Dr James Chin of Monash University Sunway. While leaders may have convincingly explained the crisis of defections to delegates, they seemed not to have grasped a creeping issue: the tendency towards patronage.
Contradiction of values
For a party that espouses multiracialism, transparency, meritocracy and needs-based assistance, it's a contradiction when some delegates boldly call for appointments, jobs and contracts for party members. It suggests that some members have yet to fully understand the broad principles PKR says it upholds, and how these apply to internal governance.

Syed Husin Ali While not all PKR defectors left because they didn't get what they thought they deserved, a few of them did leave under such circumstances, no matter the other reasons they cited. This much was admitted by Wan Azizah and her deputy Dr Syed Husin Ali.
Whether PKR's defectors were induced, or whether they left because their demands weren't met, both are two sides of the same coin. It is the expectation that political parties should care for their own kind through favours.
This was partly reflected in the criticisms against Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim during the congress. Since 2008, Khalid's efforts to run a clean administration have frustrated those who no longer stand to gain from the old formula of easy handouts. Politically, he has upset Selangor PKR division heads.
At the same time, state executive decisions are not implemented by the civil service. Problems in low-cost housing ownership and allegations against state-owned Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB), which was set up to curb illegal sand mining, are some examples.
Delegates and leaders called on Khalid to make amends quickly in the time remaining before the next general election, aptly noting that PKR cannot depend on anti-Umno sentiments.
While improving Selangor's administration and economy is indeed crucial to winning votes, PKR should also begin educating members against a patronage mentality.
Political analyst and academician Dr Ong Kian Ming notes that the bulk of complaints were targeted at Khalid, as were calls for contracts for party members, because Selangor is the only state PKR controls, and the richest one, too.

Wan Azizah (File pic)

Wan Azizah and her husband, PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, backed Khalid and said he would remain as Selangor menteri besar because he was principled and transparent. However, the party leadership could have done more to drive home the message to delegates as to why party largesse is principally wrong. It wouldn't be an easy thing to explain, but it could be what sets the party apart from its main BN rival, Umno.
Some may argue that such practice exists in every political party. On another level, the problem of patronage politics is linked to party financing. Typically, those who benefit from the state or party's largesse are to contribute financially to their patron. But PKR as a young party, a mere decade old, has a better chance of creating its own culture, and a healthier one at that.
Biting the bullet
In a broader sense, tackling mindset change about patronage is reflective of PKR's challenge to increase support from Malay Malaysians.
"The handout mentality is still there because it's common in the larger Malay [Malaysian] psyche. PAS members tend to be the exception to this norm," Ong tells The Nut Graph.

OngSo if PKR were to be less "shy", it could bite the bullet and use Selangor as its laboratory to implement more meritocratic policies. As a party with a multiracial identity, it now needs to show proof, especially to Malay Malaysians, that a needs-based welfare system can work.
PKR could address declining Malay Malaysian support with class-based policies instead of using a race-based approach. Political analyst and The Nut Graph columnist Wong Chin Huat, as quoted in an Edge Financial Daily article, is therefore against the special congress proposed by PKR Youth to deal with Malay Malaysian concerns.
Wong has also written in The Nut Graph that PR states should start a means testing scheme so that aid is given only to those who are genuinely poor.
If PKR were willing to go all out to test its espoused principles in Selangor, it could potentially weed out more bad apples who expect rewards. The party is, after all, still in the "consolidation process", and its troubles should be seen in that light, Chin adds.
However, PKR still seems to be in the habit of dwelling more on external challenges. For example, Wan Azizah cited as threats Umno's racial posturing and mainstream media propaganda.
"Talking and convincing people just to win elections is not enough. The party should be moving on to demonstrate how it will govern," Chin tells The Nut Graph in a phone interview.
Best practices
It's easy to think of PKR as the party for disgruntled Umno drop-outs, and thus assume that these members carry over the practice of largesse for loyalty. Ong doesn't think it's so much this Umno style of politics that's affecting PKR, but rather, the process of growing members and institutionalising best practices. PKR is still a newer party compared with the DAP and PAS.
"I wouldn't paint the whole party with such a broad brush [that its members subscribe to a patronage culture], but I see it as a party in the midst of shaping its culture," Ong notes.
That said, not tackling the handout mindset is unhealthy, especially given the values PKR espouses.

Anwar (File pic)

The disappointment, then, is that neither Anwar nor other leaders took the opportunity to address this particular aspect of internal change. Is the practice of patronage so part of Malaysian politics that it doesn't strike PKR leaders as a glaring contradiction to the party's values?
Instead, Anwar chose to be a tease, dangling a still unfulfilled promise to expose evidence that party defectors had been offered millions in cash plus contracts to leave PKR.
In Khalid there at least seems to be an effort to pursue a clean and transparent government. For the sake of PKR's future, hopefully, there are other party members who truly believe in the same things.

Two parliamentary questions on Najib’s three strategic initiatives to transform Malaysia but which have run aground

By Lim Kit Siang,

In the forthcoming parliamentary meeting beginning on Monday, I have given notice to pose two questions to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak on his three strategic initiatives to transform Malaysia but which have run aground because of strong opposition mostly from Umno and its outsourced organizations like Perkasa.
These three initiatives of Najib are his three strategic pillars which make up his roadmap to achieving Vision 2020 – an high-income advanced nation with inclusiveness and sustainability by 2020:

• 1Malaysia, People First, Performance Now;
  
• Government Transformation Programme; and
  
• New Economic Model.
  

My two questions are to ask the Prime Minister:

• how many Ministers in his Cabinet, naming them, regard himself/herself as Malaysian first, race second in keeping with 1Malaysia policy; and
  
• what steps have been taken to ensure that Malaysia will never go the way of Iceland and Greece of becoming a bankrupt nation requiring regional or international rescue.
  

Since the warning by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Idris Jala at the Subsidy Rationalisation Lab Open Day last Friday, that Malaysia could become a bankrupt nation by 2019 if the country is not prepared to cut subsidies and embrace the New Economic Model, the knives from UMNO leaders have been out to get at Idris – with the Prime Minister distancing himself from Idris’ warning and his immediate superior, the Chairman of Perrormance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon leaving Idris completely in the lurch.
The other focus of my questions in the forthcoming Parliament will be on Sabah and Sarawak, underlined by my question to the Prime Minister whether he would set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry on the broken promises to Sabah and Sarawak on the formation of Malaysia in 1963, in particular just and equitable development of the people from the two rich states.
Such a Royal Commission will be particularly apt and meaningful with the approach of the half-century anniversary of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia.
My other questions on Sabah and Sarawak are:

• To ask the Prime Minister the outcome of Federal Government efforts since April 2009 to resolve the long-standing problem of illegal immigrants in Sabah which have made Sabahans “foreigners in their own homeland”.
  
• To ask the Prime Minister the outcome of Brunei’s claims to Limbang and the terms of Malaysia’s ceding of offshore Blocks L and M in South China Sea to Brunei.
  
• To ask the Prime Minister to give the amounts of Federal allocations to Sabah for each year since 1963, giving a breakdown of their uses.
  
• To ask the Prime Minsiter to give the amounts of Federal allocations to Sarawak for each year since 1963, giving a breakdown of their uses.
  
My other parliamentary questions are:
• To ask the Prime Minister the progress of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in stamping out “grand corruption” of top political and government leaders and in particular why no “big fish” in the PKFZ scandal have been nabbed.
  
• To ask the Home Minister why there has been no official government apology for the trigger-happy police killing of 14 year-old Aminulrasyid Amza in Shah Alam on April 26 and why a public inquiry had not been instituted instead of a Special Panel under the Deputy Home Minister.
  
• To ask the Prime Minister the reasons for the 10-month delay in implementing the Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission (EAIC) and whether it would be replaced by an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) instead.
  
• To ask the Prime Minister the terms for Petronas’ securing oil production-sharing contracts with UNOG for deep-sea Blocks MD-4, 5 & 6 in Myanmar’s Gulf of Martaban and what has been paid by Petronas.
  
• To ask the Home Minister the number of citizenship certificates he had given out during by-elections, the number of outstanding citizenship and PR applications, and why he had not resolved them instead of using them as “by-election” goodies.
  
• To ask the Prime Minister to give a full list of the oil production agreements entered into by Petronas world-wide, citing the value of each such agreement.
  
• To ask the Prime Minister to give a racial breakdown of Petronas employees (i) inside the country (ii) in each foreign country.
  
• To ask the Prime Minister to give the total number of scholarships given out by Federal government/agencies as well as government-related GLCs, giving a racial breakdown, for each year since 2000.
  

Live - Anwar trial continues

The cross-examination of Saiful continues with the defence also producing Dr David Wells, a forensics expert from Australia.

UMNO – the puppetmaster behind the wrangling between the MIC Mandores…….

What we see in the video below is only a fight amongst Mandores. The Chief Mandore Samy Vellu is not serving the purpose of their tuans UMNO, anymore and UMNO has given the signal that he has to go. The lesser Mandores are taking care of the rest. The Mandores are all just one greedy lot. Mandores are Mandores, there are no good Mandores and bad Mandores. This is the real story behind the event featured in the video.

Now consider this:

Samy Vellu has been the president of the MIC the party that purportedly represented the Indians in the Malaysian Government for 31 years, from 1979. It coincided very clearly with the Malaysian New Economic Policy period as well as with Dr.Mahathir’s reign and UMNO’s ascendancy out of a party arising out of Malay insecurity to a party implementing the Malay Supremacy policies - of the Ketuanan Melayu supremacists. Mahathir’s rule spanned 1981 to 2003.It was exactly in this period that the marginalization of the Indians in the country accelerated. Mahathir and UMNO were slanting all policies against the Indian poor and completely ignoring the devastating effect their development policies were having on the Indian poor.

Look at the way all rights and opportunities for the Indian community had been whittled away in this period.

The Indian poor still struggling to get their basic rights as citizens – ICs and BCs .

The Indian young who get 9, 10, 11 As in SPM struggling to get into Matriculation , to get JPA scholarships and to get into local Public Universities – what should be their basic right.

The Tamil Schools in such delapidated conditions

Temples and other land rights of Indians being denied

Indians still living on the edge of poverty in an era of plenty and prosperity for so many. 4 children in the Sungei Patani Indian family were hospitalised just this week for eating gravel, because they did not have food at home to eat. (reported today 1st June 2010 in NST) ? Can you imagine…

Indian youth continue to be shot and killed wily nily by the trigger happy Malaysian Police .

MIC’s role and Samy Vellu’s role in all of this was just this – in spite of the deleterious effects of UMNO’s racist economic policies , to create illusions of benevolence on the part of the BN government, that indeed the UMNO Government polices were helping the Indian poor specifically and the Indian community generally. This was a period of grand drama to conceal the truth of marginalization and impoverishment .

He was playing a key role for UMNO.

This was the only role a Mandorist party can play, anyway. The BN political arrangement would not have allowed otherwise – for in truth, what we had, what we have is “BN outside, UMNO inside”. MIC is just part of UMNO’s BN mask to hoodwink the Indian voters. Create illusions and bring in the Indian votes election after election – successful strategy for 6 general elections, 1982-2004.

For this grand drama, these leaders were given licences, contracts, permits, shares and other rewards which they greedily lapped up. On top of that they even stole from the extremely meagre allocations to the Indian community ( see what Bharath Maniam has to say about that in the video).

The main culprit in all this was and is Umno. Samy Vellu and his troupe of Mandores in the MIC leadership at all levels, including his present detractors S.Subramaniam, Bharath Maniam, KP Samy and Mugilan were mere accomplices in the game – the game to deceive the Indians. But treacherous accomplices. This is the plain truth.

All these people who today are speaking out in the video against Samy Vellu are no angels. They are all equally guilty, as is Samy Velly of conniving with the main culprit UMNO. Today Samy Vellu is no more serving their tuan UMNO’s purpose effectively. So UMNO has decided he has to go. The Indian votes have deserted the BN. MIC under Samy cannot do the job anymore. Now UMNO wants to try an MIC without Samy Vellu. Unfortunately Samy Vellu is not about ready to let go. He has a firm grip on the levers of power within the MIC party and he controls all the goodies (crumbs) that are dished out to the lesser Mandores.

So, no choice, he has to be pushed out. The signals from the Tuan are very clear. So, a few among the greedy and sycophantic lesser Mandores reading the signals now come out as the new champions of the downtrodden Indians. Just another act in the grand drama of delusion. They are just doing the dirty work for their tuans of getting rid of what Samy has come to be – baggage. They are no new champions.

Mugilan who is spearheading this effort was Muhyiddin’s choice for the Hulu Selangor seat, and this is not a mere conicidence. The “niat” occasionally is visible – like in these unfolding events. He clearly is a more acceptable new Mandore to the Tuan.

And it will be no surprise to us if UMNO is the direct puppet master in all this, though UMNO denies it and Vell Paari apologised for his outbursts to this effect. But just look at the way the mainstream media is covering all these events. The crowd size in the hall during the meeting in the video, they say was 5,000, others say it was smaller. Whatever the truth the same Utusan and Berita Harian reported a mere few thousands gathering for the historic Hindraf rally. Based on the way they tend to slant you judge for yourself. Look at Utusan, Berita Harian, NST yesterday, their screaming headlines were all slanted against Samy Vellu.They just want to replace the Chief Mandore who is now a liability to them with a new set of more useful Mandores who they hope will assist them in continuing their damned policies . That is all plain and simple.

We all must not be fooled into thinking that any of this is the beginning of a new dawn for the Indians. This is just wrangling among thieves – UMNO, Chief Mandore and the lesser Mandores. This is no good versus evil play.

Do not be fooled by any of this.

Our objective must be to destroy the Mandorist system altogether. Until we do that there will be no new dawn for the Indians in the country.

Naragan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jYYQEWcIcU

Body found after 12 killed in northern England shooting spree

A police woman stands guard beside a body near Seascale after a gunman killed at least 12 people.

 

London, England (CNN) -- At least 12 people have been killed and 25 injured after a gunman -- believed to be a local taxi driver -- went on a shooting spree through three small towns in the English county of Cumbria on Wednesday.

After a large scale search, Cumbria police found the body of the suspected gunman, 52-year-old Derrick Bird, in a wooded area of Boot, a village in the Lake District, a popular tourist area.

Authorities seized a gun from the scene where the body was found. Cumbria Police Deputy Constable Stuart Hyde said investigators believe Bird committed suicide.

"I've never known anything like this, where somebody would want to walk out and kill so many people in such a beautiful place in such a short space of time," Hyde said.

Police were working 30 separate crime scenes and are still attempting to determine the motive, Hyde said. Investigators are looking at Bird's history and his access to firearms, he said.

Police named Bird as a suspect following reports of the first shooting mid-morning on Wednesday in the Irish Sea port town of Whitehaven.

"Our focus is now on the movements of Mr. Bird this morning," authorities said. "Our thoughts are with the families in these tragic times. We are asking for any witnesses to come forward and help us with our investigation into the events of this morning."

British Prime Minister, David Cameron said the government would do whatever it could to help the communities affected.

"When lives and communities are suddenly shattered in this way, our thoughts should be with all those caught up in these tragic events, especially the families and friends of those killed or injured," he said.

Were you there? Send us photos, images

Armed police patrols and dog squads were dispatched in the hunt for the gunman after the first shots were fired at 10:35 a.m. (5:35 a.m. ET) in Whitehaven.

Police issued a photo of the Bird and urged members of the public to stay indoors until further notice.

More shots were fired in the small towns of Seascale and Egremont, with officers attempting to track the suspect on land and by air while ambulance crews attended the victims. Footage from one of the shooting scenes showed a covered body lying on a street.

"Police are working to identify the individuals and inform relatives," Cumbria police said. "Ambulance crews are in attendance across the area."

Peter Leder, who said he was a friend of Bird's, told CNN he spoke to Bird last night and was told: "You won't see me again."

Bird was initially driving a dark gray or silver Citroen Picasso, but police later said he had abandoned his car in the area of Boot, in the Lake District, and was traveling on foot.

Soon afterwards police said they had found a body in a wooded area.

The Lake District is a scenic rural retreat in northern England which is popular with walkers, hikers and tourists.

Leder said Bird has been an independent taxi driver in Whitehaven for more than 20 years and described him as "an outgoing, well-known guy, who everyone liked."

Bird was divorced several years ago and has two children, both boys, who have moved away from home, he said. Bird is very close to his mother, who is very ill in a local nursing home, Leder said.

He said his friend enjoyed scuba diving, went on several diving trips abroad and practised regularly at the Whitehaven swimming baths.

The vehicle police said Bird was driving at the time of the shootings was his regular taxi cab, Leder said.

A police hotline was set up for concerned relatives of those involved.

John Bevir, a reporter for CNN affiliate ITV, described nearby Whitehaven as a sleepy seaside town. "Things like this just don't happen here," he said. "Well, they didn't, until this morning."

MIC Boss 1Week to quit latest

Pakatan Youth: Sever ties with Apco now

Indian SPM high achievers denied scholarships Matriculation and University. Six serious and urgent Action plans.

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 Email:info@humanrightspartymalaysia.com

MEDIA STATEMENT (2/6/2010)
Re: UMNO led Barisan Nasional Government has developed an ugly and a horrible plan to submerge the Indian high achieving students from becoming successful in their lives and willingly destroying their ambitions simply because of their being Indians.
1. It has been a yearly occurance at least over the last thirty-five years when high achieving Indian students have been denied JPA and other government scholarships, places at the country’s nine Matriculation Colleges and Public University places and admission to critical courses therein.
2. Hundreds of high achieving Indian students have appealed and the result will be made known on 4^th June 2010. We urge the Malaysian Government in particular the Ministry of Higher Education to seriously consider in favor of those high achievers. We would excuse all your technical or overlooked problems as it always happens when come to Malaysian Indian problems. In other words we are allowing you to rectify your intentional mistakes against in particular the innocent Indian students who have scored 7As and above. We will be also glad if the same can be done to all qualified SPM students immaterial of their race and religion.
3. If these students in the opinion of Higher Education Ministry of Malaysia still does not qualified for Matriculation courses, entry to Local Public Universities or to obtain JPA scholarships, Hindraf Makkal Sakthi and HRP would like to challenge in return to prove to Malaysians that all those 50,000 students in Matriculation colleges are better candidates with greater educational qualifications compared to those Indian students who have been rejected for the same.
4. Almost all these high achieving Indian students cannot afford private University education let alone in foreign Universities.
5. Why are even PTPTN loans denied to almost all private Malaysian Indian medical students pursuing medicine in Russia, Ukraine, Romania, India, Indonesia and even many in AIMST University.
6. Failing to our above mentioned clarifications we have no choice but to assume that the UMNO led Barisan Nasional Government has developed an ugly and a horrible plan to submerge the Indian brilliant youths from becoming successful in their lives and willingly destroying their ambitions simply because of their being Indians.
7. We as Malaysians who strongly uphold the Federal Constitution principles will never allow this to happen. In order to draw your serious attention and to expose your direct and blatant racial discrimination with impunity we will : -
i) Today launch an online and nationwide 10,000 signature campaign to urge the government to grant JPA scholarships and grant places in Matriculation Colleges and Universities and also in the critical courses of the students’ choice.
ii) Assemble peacefully front of Parliament on 15^th June 2010 at 11.00a.m to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister of Malaysia and The Minister of Higher Education.
iii) We will urge the government to set up a Royal Commission of Enquiry to investigate the years of injustices and to make proposals to rectify and implement needs based and race based and discriminatory educational policy.
iv) We will burn the effigy of 1Malaysia logo without the resembling of Malaysian Flag on it to expose the truth that Prime Minister of Malaysia is simply wasting Malaysians money propagating without practicing his “1 Malaysia” concept.
v) We will file a civil suit to compel the Higher Education Minister, Prime Minister and the Malaysian government to grant JPA and other government Scholarships, Matriculation and Public University places to all students who had secured 7As’ and above in their SPM and to stop all forms direct discrimination in the admission to public educational institutions.

                                                             
vi) We would convene a meeting to discuss the above at our HQ as above on Sunday, 6^th June 2010 at 11.00am with the affected parents and students.

Therefore we urge the Malaysian Prime Minister and Higher Education Minister to seriously prove to the Malaysian Indians that you are being equal to every citizen of this country without any biasness immaterial of their race, religion or skin color according to Article 8 (Equality) and Article 12 (no discrimination in the intake into public educational institutions) of the Federal Constitution.
Yours Sincerely Disappointed Malaysian Indian,
W. Sambulingam
HRP/Hindraf National Coordinator

HINDRAF & HRP Petition to PM.Najib Razak on Indian students denied JPA scholarships, Matriculation & University especially in critical courses and Royal Commission of Enquiry to stop such UMNO’s racial discrimination.

Please download, circulate and return to us by fax 03 22825245, email info@humanrightspartymalaysia.com or post asp.
S.JAYATHAS
Information Chief

Nine Indian parties with BN. Zero in PR. HRP excluded as we refuse to become PR mandores.

  As the tamil proverb goes ‘where there is sugar that is where ants will congregate’ really suit the nine Barisan Nasional component and BN linked Indian political parties.
Utusan Malaysia today 2/6/10 at page 6, reported that four (Indian) parties namely IPF, Kimma, MUIP and MMSP be admitted into BN.
Besides the above, the other five BN linked parties are Malaysian Ceylonese Congress, Mindraf, Punjabi Peoples Party, while MIC and PPP are BN component parties.
In the opposition front HRP is the only Indian based political party.
But in the Opposition Alliance Pakatan Rakyat(PR) there are no Indian based political parties. PKR is a Malay party, DAP Chinese party and PAS an Islamic party. PR does not want Indian based HRP as the Indian component party. And neither does PR’s Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kiat Siang and Hadi Awang want to admit HRP into PR as the fourth and only Indian based component party, as they all know that HRP will never become their Indian mandores. In the pretext of being supposedly “multi-racial” parties they would rather create their own ‘internal” Indian mandores to merely showcase the Indian front.
HRP is not prepared to start off on the wrong footing by begging PR to be admitted as the fourth component party member as how the aforesaid nine Indian political parties are begging to be admitted into or remain in BN.
Be that as it may, HRP will stand alone in their struggle for especially the Indian poor being excluded from the national mainstream development of Malaysia, and also denied equality, equal opportunities and equal upward mobility opportunities that has never been seriously taken up by the top Malay and Chinese leaders in PKR, DAP and PAS in over the last 53 years. We have in the last 20 years stood alone.
We will remain the third force and as a check and balance on both BN and PR vis a vis the Indian poor.
Why in fact in the 25th November 2007, 100,000 Hindraf Rally, we pulled it off almost alone with zero support from PKR, DAP and PAS.
And this time we will do it again all alone in the 2012/2013 general elections vis a vis our Project 15/38, ie., our targeted creating, contesting and winning in fifteen Indian majority parliamentary and 38 State Assembly seats.
P. Uthayakumar

No voice and place for Indians at PKR Convention: Selangor PKR Exco mandore’s MIC style damage control.

Not even worth writing out the details of this Anwar Ibrahim appointed Selangor Exco mandore’s illusion as he has become so predictable within a mere two years. He has learnt the ropes so well. In due course he may just beat the MIC Chief mandore himself. ( See MO 2/6/10 at page 16).
Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice
 

UMNO JKKK does not reach out to Indian poor

The paid Jawatan Kuasa Kerja dan Keselamatan Kampong (JKKK) personnel are the grassroots eyes of the Malay-sian government (SH 28/5/10 at page S12). But they will choose to sidestep or overlook the Indian poor. UMNO leaves the MIC branch and Division mandores to do their usual wayang kulit illusions and contortions. In return they get some peanuts, sub-sub-sub of a small contract, etc.
Which wayang kulit contortionism is now able aped by PKR, DAP and PAS in Selangor, Penang and Kedah.
Thousands of poor Indians suffer and live in misery as a result of this UMNO, PKR, DAP and PAS ommission policies.
P. Uthayakumar

Ananda Krishnan second top billionaire in Malaysia is UMNO illusion wayang kulit

 (See NST 28/5/2010 at page 2)
If this was so, ie., Tan Sri Ananda Krishnan’s net worth is RM 8.1 billion then the at least the 10% Income Tax he has to pay amounts to RM 1.62 billion or thereabouts. This tax if exempted alone could make all 523 Tamil schools fully air conditioned in multi storeyed buildings from its present near cowshed conditions.
A stroke of Ananda’s pen on his cheque book would do this job. But he cannot because he is merely an UMNO front man and proxy.
Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice

Kg Railway Indians cheated by UMNO using Indian MIC deputy minister mandore

The Developer supposedly will built new homes by 2012, but nothing is in writing.
Just a few minutes before penning this piece I received a phone call from Mahen of Kg Lindung, saying that his previous fellow villagers were similarly told to move out some 16 years  ago by then UMNO’s Indian MIC mandores without anything in black and white.
Until today 16 years later, some two hundred over Indians who moved out of Kg Lindung to Lembah Subang are still homeless! The change of state government to PKR’s hands did not make a difference or bring any change.
P. Uthayakumar

Two fifths of civil servants suspected of graft, claims Cuepacs

TEMERLOH, June 2 — A total of 418,200 or 41 per cent of the 1.2 million civil servants in the country were suspected to be involved in corruption last year, said Cuepacs president Omar Osman.

He said this was worrying and needed to be tackled urgently.

“To combat the scourge, Cuepacs will work closely with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission so that civil servants involved in corrupt activities can be brought to book,” he told reporters after opening the triennial general meeting of one of the affiliates of the umbrella union, here today.

Omar said besides corruption, Cuepacs would also not protect civil servants who had discipline problems like playing truant or forging medical certificates.

“There have been cases where a 1 day medical leave prescribed by the doctor have been amended to read 11 days,” said Omar. — Bernama

Mugilan, K.P. Samy appeal MIC sackings

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 – Former MIC leaders V. Mugilan and G. Kumar Aamaan have appealed party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu’s controversial decision to sack them from the party after they spoke out against him.

The duo submitted their appeal letters to the party’s central working committee (CWC) today through their lawyers at 12.30pm and 2pm respectively at the MIC party headquarters here.

Mugilan’s lawyer, T. Rajasekaran said that following this, the CWC would then convene a meeting to discuss whether to accept or reject the appeals.

“According to party rules, the president and his deputy (Datuk G. Palanivel) cannot be present during the meeting,” he said.

The lawyer noted that the CWC meets once monthly and would hold its next meeting by month-end.

He said that Mugilan had also appealed to the CWC to allow him to state his stand verbally during the meeting.

“He wants to meet with them face to face so that he can be given the due opportunity to explain his actions. It is only fair,” said Rajasekaran.

Mugilan said that he would leave the final decision to the CWC.

“I hope they will give me fair consideration,” he said.

Should the committee reject his appeal, Mugilan will no longer have any other avenue to reverse Samy Vellu’s sacking order.

The former MIC Youth deputy chief was summarily expelled from the party last month when he spoke out against Samy Vellu and called on the veteran leader to retire earlier than his stipulated quit plan.

His words were then repeated by Kumar Aamaan and K.P. Samy, both CWC members.

The duo were subsequently expelled.

Following their expulsions, former MIC secretary-general S. Murugessan was also sacked after he disagreed with the expulsions.

He was replaced by MIC Negeri Sembilan chief Datuk T. Rajagopalu.

Rajagopalu confirmed with The Malaysian Insider this evening that he had received the appeal letters from representatives of Mugilan and Kumar Aaman.

“I have not received any from Samy,” he said.

He added that he would forward the letters to the CWC for further discussion.

“Rest assured, the proper appeal process will be followed. There is no doubt of that,” Rajagopalu said.

In a press conference today, Samy said that he was yet to decide on whether he would appeal his sacking.

“If I appeal and the appeal gets rejected then what will happen to my political career? I am currently consulting with my close friends, including my lawyer, about what my next move should be. I need to know what are the pros and cons.

“I feel that we are qualified to be reinstated. We never did any harm to the party or Barisan Nasional. In Hulu Selangor, I gained back 90 percent of the Indian votes by admitting that we were wrong. By admitting that MIC and BN was wrong, we won the heart of the voters,” he said.

Semesta admits giving out hefty bonuses

By Patrick Lee - Free Malaysia Today,

SHAH ALAM: The public inquiry into allegations of graft in Selangor's sand-mining industry opened today with a shocking revelation: Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB) had paid itself an all-round 3.49-month average bonus between September 2008 and June 2009.
Abdul Shukor Nahor, non-executive chairman of KSSB, the state-owned company in charge of sand-mining operations in Selangor, revealed this when the Selangor government's Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) got the inquiry started on the first day.
“In June, the profit was around RM7 million, and the royalty paid (to the state) was RM2 million. The board of directors felt that it was right to reward the staff,” said Shukor.
He added that in the fourth quarter of 2008, KSSB employees had received a two-month's interim bonus.
Selcat chairman Teng Chang Khim, however, was not impressed by Shukor's statement. “Is it right for a company that has only been running for three to four months to be giving out an interim bonus of two months?” he asked.
“If you get a two-month bonus within four months of work and if you multiply by three, you would get a six-month bonus in a single year. Not even big companies such as Telekom, MAS, Maxis and all the others pay themselves bonuses like that,” said Teng.
Shukor defended Semesta's decision, saying the sand-mining industry was a difficult one and that the bonuses were a way of encouraging the employees who had “worked very hard”.
He said that KSSB's employees had lodged up to 40 police reports in the past 18 months based on a series of threats made against them ever since the sand-mining issue was played up in the media.
Market share
Shukor also said that KSSB's market share -- at 17% -- was not very large, a claim quickly shot down as unimportant by Teng.
Teng said that market share was a separate issue, and as KSSB was Selangor's only sand-mining operator, it amounted to a monopoly.
According to Shukor, KSSB made a profit of RM1.12 million in its first three months of operation (September to December 2008). He said the following year, the company raised its profit to RM5.7 million.
Earlier, Selangor state executive councillor Yaakob Sapari, who was the first witness summoned by Selcat, said that KSSB did not have the right to apprehend illegal sand-miners.
He said that the company's role was to facilitate mining operations, adding that it was up to the Land Office to take action against illegal contractors.
The hearing also took an interesting turn when Teng asked Yaakob how the name Semesta was chosen.
Yaakob said that prior to Semesta's formation, its board of directors intended calling it “Khazanah Negeri Selangor”.
Teng chided Yaakob about the name, saying that it gave the public the impression that the government was contracting sand-mining operations to a private company.
The inquiry continues tomorrow.
Earlier a group of people gathered outside the state secretariat to show their support for Kapar MP S Manikavasagam for highlighting the sand-mining scandal in the state. (photos above)

Manikavasagam also appeared before inquiry today to hand over some documents and was instead to be present tomorrow.

Najib: I won't join anti-Israel procession

By Teoh El Sen - Free Malaysia Today,

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak today said that he would not be joining a procession and "round-table" conference on Friday organised by the opposition to protest the Israeli assault on the Gaza-bound aid ships on international waters.
Pakatan Rakyat had earlier challenged Najib to join the conference with all the other political parties in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, to support the protest against the Israeli attack. [read here]
"No, we will debate this in Parliament on Monday. We will be tabling a motion to strongly condemn the violent Israeli attack on the humanitarian convey and the violation of fundamental human rights,” said Najib.
He said this was to show that the Malaysian Parliament representing 28 million people, including the opposition, has taken a strong stand against Israel.
Najib was speaking to reporters after a walkabout at the Seapark police station in SS2 this afternoon.
On Monday, nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed when Israeli navy commandos raided one of the six ships on a humanitarian mission to ferry some 10,000 tonnes of medicines, food supplies and construction material to the blockaded Gaza Strip. Dozens were injured, including seven Israeli soldiers in the morning attack.
Ministers picked on ability
On the minor Cabinet reshuffle, Najib said that the people appointed were picked based on ability.
"Based on ability, age is not a matter. As you know, I was Pahang menteri besar when I was 29 and deputy minister (of energy, telecommunications and post) by the age of 25, " said Najib, who was asked why Chua Tee Yong was picked and not Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and others who are more senior. (Tee Yong is deputy agriculture and agro-based industries minister.)
"Tee Yong is well qualified. I went through the list. It does not matter if his father is the [MCA] president, as long as he can perform as a member of the Cabinet. And I have confidence in the new deputy ministers," he added. [read here]
Najib said there were many responsibilities that need to be looked into, and with the new appointments, he hopes the work could be performed well.
"They [new Cabinent members] must be wholly dedicated and support government policies and initiatives and strengthen the confidence of the people," he said.
People feel safer
On today's event, Najib said he was at SS2 to observe the situation and operations of a police station.
He said that the overall crime rate in the country had dropped by 15.1% in the first three months of this year compared with last year, adding that the street crime index had also decreased by 39.6% during the same period.
"This is part of the NKRA [National Key Result Areas] effort where we have redeployed some 7,402 administrative duty policemen to go on crime-prevention rounds," said Najib, adding that 4,729 civilians will replace the police personnel.
He added that based on public feedback, the people now feel safer and have greater confidence in the police force.
During the walkabout, Najib was accompanied by Home Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Minister in the Prime Minister's Deparment Koh Tsu Koon, chief secretary to the government Sidek Hassan, and Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan.

Brother-in-law claims Saiful lied under oath

By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia Today
KUALA LUMPUR: Faez Khairi, the brother-in-law of Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, today claimed that Saiful had lied to the High Court on Monday when he alleged that his sister's marriage was illegal.
Saiful, who has accused Anwar Ibrahim of sodomising him, told counsel Karpal Singh while testifying under oath that his sister Saidati Adha Azlan was 'taken' to Thailand and that he was unsure of her marital status.
Twenty-seven-old Faez today produced a photocopy of his Thai marriage certificate and claimed that his marriage to 21-year-old Saidati is legal. Faez held a press conference at his lawyer's office to clarify the matter.
He said they married in Thailand on March 2, 2009 and he was in the process of registering his marriage in Malaysia when his father-in-law, Azlan Mohd Lazim, threw away the marriage certificate.
Azlan, he said, also got rid of his professional certification, resulting in his current unemployed status.
When asked how the certificates fell into Azlan's hands, Faez explained that he had kept most of his personal belongings in Saidati's house in Kuala Lumpur while he lived in Ipoh.
According to him, they lived apart because Saidaiti is still studying in Universiti Teknologi MARA.
“Ive never met my father-in-law before but he was dead-set against our marriage. This is why Saidati wanted to get married in Thailand. But I did not marry her against her will,” said Faez.
“Saiful met us on two occasions after our marriage and he knew we were legally married. But I haven't been in touch with him since last year. So I was shocked when I learned what he had said in court.”
Faez also alleged that three of Saidati's uncles had approached him on May 4, 2009 to force him into divorcing Saidati but he refused. “My marriage is still legal,” he insisted.
“Saiful's allegation implies that I'm co-habitating with a woman which is against Islamic teachings. This has sullied my name and caused me great embarrassment.”
His lawyer N Surendran said that Faez had no choice but to hold a media conference in order to deny the allegation that has sullied his reputation.
“Any statement made in a court of law must be true,” he said. “And since Faez is not on the witness list in the Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trial, he has no other opportunity to clear his name.”
Saidati was not present at the press conference.
Mohd Saiful has accused his former boss Opposition Leader Anwar, 63, of sodomising him at Unit 11-5-1 of the Desa Damansara Condominium, Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara, between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008. The trial against Anwar continues tomorrow with the defence continuing to cross examine Saiful.

Tunaikan janji, Pakatan Rakyat. Kami menuntut penerbitan Utusan Rakyat

The petition to the Pakatan Rakyat leadership, the Menteris Besar, Chief Minister and the Excos of the Pakatan Rakyat state governments to honour their pledge to the rakyat to take the necessary measures to ensure and safeguard the freedom of the press and, to that end, to publish, print and distribute at least one state government daily newspaper in the Malay language, may be viewed and endorsed HERE.
Please give this effort your support and get everyone you know to do the same.
_____________________________________________________
Remember the tabloid, said to be political, Kabar Era Pakatan, that had 3,000 copies of its debut and 3rd issue seized by the Home Ministry?
Malaysiakini has a report on that HERE.

The copy on the right in this photo is the third issue

I got a copy of the 3rd issue last week.
Sorry, this is no political tabloid.
It’s nothing else but a Pakatan Rakyat propaganda tool, and not a very honest one, at that.
If you, too, have a copy of the 3rd issue, you will note that the lead story, with the headlines, “Najib, Razak Baginda tersenarai’ reports that Razak Baginda received commissions amounting to RM3.7 billion from the Scorpene purchase contract.
I thought the commission was in the region of RM500 million?
No?
I hope that the Pakatan Rakyat leadership have no illusions that Kabar Era Pakatan is anything than that : their propaganda tool.
The editor’s column, entitled ‘Minda editor’ in the 3rd issue, lends fortification to our call for an independent state government newspaper, without any delay.
The same is reproduced below.

by Haris Ibrahim

Jangan Berlengah Lagi!

Berikutan desakan Pakatan Rakyat agar Dato’ Sri Najib Razak mengambil tindakan tegas berhubung isu serangan Israel ke atas konvoi keamanan, saya difahamkan kabinet hari ini bersetuju untuk membentangkan satu usul bagi mengecam keganasan tersebut pada hari Isnin minggu depan.

Namun demikian, pada pandangan saya adalah lebih baik YAB Perdana Menteri memanggil satu sidang khas parlimen pada esok hari atau hari Jumaat. Dato’ Sri Najib boleh memaklumkan kepada Tuan Yang Di Pertua Dewan di bawah perkara 11(3) Peraturan Tetap Majlis Mesyuarat Dewan Rakyat bagi membahaskan isu ini. Kita semua bersetuju serangan ke atas konvoi keamanan itu merupakan jenayah kemanusiaan. Kemarahan serta kekesalan ini dikongsi oleh mereka yang mempunyai nurani, tanpa mengira ras mahupun kepercayaan.

Kita juga berharap Dato’ Sri Najib hadir ke persidangan meja bulat, jam 11.30 pagi di Kampung Baru, Jumaat ini. Persidangan tersebut turut menghimpunkan pertubuhan-pertubuhan bukan kerajaan. Kita tidak boleh berlengah dan mesti segera mengecam jenayah kemanusiaan yang mengorbankan 19 nyawa itu.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

308 Political Tsunami crossing South China Sea

Part 2
Part 3

Reassignment Of Police Personnel Enhances Public Confidence - Najib

PETALING JAYA, June 2 (Bernama) -- The move to reassign desk-bound police personnel to the operations division has enhanced confidence among the public on their safety, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

He said feedback from the public showed that they felt safer with the presence of policemen in their midst, especially in hot spot areas.

The initiative, involving some 7,400 police personnel nationwide, started in January.

Under the initiative, 4,279 staff of several ministries were transferred to police headquarters nationwide to carry out administrative duties in place of those who were reassigned to field duties, he told reporters after a walkabout at Sea Park, here Wednesday.

"The process did not involve additional cost or intake of new personnel. By reassigning them, they are able to carry out their core business, which is to conduct patrols, fight crimes and maintain security," he said.

The prime minister also said that since the government introduced the National Key Results Area (NKRA), the crime index had gone down -- by 15.1 per cent during the first three months from the same period last year.

Street crimes showed a significant reduction of 39.6 per cent during the periods, he said.

Najib said he was confident that the target of reducing street crimes by 20 per cent this year was achievable.

"This is something which we can be proud of." The enhanced presence of policemen had brought about a huge impact to the people's daily lives, he added. "I can see that people are becoming more confident... they feel safe and confident."

He said there were 218 police personnel in Sea Park alone compared to only 137 prior to the reassignment.

Polis Peranchis serbu pejabat DCNS

Polis Perancis menyerbu pejabat pengeluar senjata DCNS dan kumpulan industri Thales berhubung siasatan terhadap penjualan kapal selam kepada Malaysia, demikian menurut sumber kehakiman semalam.

Dokumen-dokumen dirampas dalam serbuan tersebut minggu lalu, tambah sumber itu.


Thales enggan mengulas perkara itu, manakala DCNS memberitahu AFP bahawa ia "tidak mengesah atau menafikan maklumat tersebut."

"Satu siasatan sedang dijalankan dan kami tidak boleh memberi sebarang komen."

Mac lalu, Pejabat pendakwaraya Paris memulakan siasatan terhadap penjualan kapal selam tersebut pada tahun 2002 ekoran aduan yang dibuat oleh badan hak asasi manusia dari Malaysia, Suaram.

Suaram mendakwa Armaris - anak syarikat Thales dan DCN - telah membayar komisyen sebanyak 114 juta euro kepada syarikat Malaysia Perimekar, yang dikaitkan dengan individu yang rapat dengan Perdana Menteri sekarang, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak .


Najib merupakan merupakan menteri pertahanan pada tahun 2002 dan bertanggungjawab dalam rundingan kontrak tersebut.

Sejak tahun 2000, bayaran komisyen bagi kontrak yang berkaitan dengan pemimpin asing merupakan satu rasuah di bawah undang-undang Perancis.

Pada 2002, The DCN menyertai Thales dan kumpulan pembinaan Navantia dalam kontrak untuk menjual tiga kapal selam kepada Malaysia pada sekitar harga satu bilion euro.

Lewat April lalu, seorang jurucakap Pejabat Perdana Menteri menegaskan bahawa "tiada kes" untuk dijawab.

Menurutnya, urusniaga tersebut bebas daripada rasuah dan tidak benar Perimekar mendapat manfaat secara tidak betul daripada urusniaga tersebut.

AFP

While they talk about removing subsidies... - Anil Netto

Life could get harder for more people once subsidies are removed.
Spotted this comment posted on the Aliran website. Mahasiswa marhaen reflects on the tough life faced by some university students as they struggle to make ends meet:

Saya baru sahaja menamatkan pengajian di kampus … dan akan bergraduasi tidak lama lagi. Baru saja tadi saya ingin menyemak keputusan peperiksaan, keputusan peperiksaan digantung. Alasan? Saya masih berhutang dengan universiti sebanyak RM360.90. Padahal saya telah menjelaskan pembayaran pada awal sesi pengajian. Read more

Minors held by cops under EO, the lesser known ISA

ps- Another reminder: man detained for 8 years without trial under ISA.
Thought I’d reprint this TMI article on minors that are held under the Emergency Ordinance (EO).
The EO is much less known than the ISA, but I think it affects far more lives. It’s always good to broaden our fight to all types of detention without trial – one of the worst aspects of BN governance that they have shown no interest in changing.
There are hundreds of Malaysians suffering from indefinite detention. Even a few days being locked up is traumatic enough – imagine being held and never knowing when you may get released.
Even if you do get released, you may end up like Jiegandran here.
I think the cops should not be allowed to get lazy – as someone once told me, detention without trial just allows them to put people away without bothering to do proper investigations.
In the end, all sorts of innocents get caught in an indiscriminate dragnet.
Let’s not forget these easily forgotten Malaysians.

*

Teenager Jiegandran Panir Selvam has been grounded. Not by his parents, but by the home ministry.
Arrested at 17, he was taken by the police and locked up for 60 days under the Emergency Ordinance before being banished. He was then brought to this sleepy hollow and left to fend for himself for the next two years.
“I am a labourer,” Jiegandran told The Malaysian Insider in a low voice.
In his first interview, the boy who should be getting ready to sit for the SPM examination this year but was expelled for being absent for three months from school, related his daily routine since being thrown out of his home state by the authorities.
The Selangor-born has been pulling 10-hour shifts at an oil palm estate for the last two months to earn RM15 a day.
The bulk of his wages go towards food. The rest of it is spent on paying for the calls home to his family on his prepaid cellphone. He no longer keeps in touch with his schoolmates.
He works daily, from 8am to 7pm, before returning to the company quarters he currently shares with two Indonesian workmates.
Jiegandran has to be in the house by 8pm and remain there until 6am the next day, under the strict terms of the banishment order.
He washes his clothes while they take care of dinner, which is usually ready by 9pm.
His kitchen skills are limited to making instant noodles and frying eggs, so he pays his housemates for his share of the evening meal. Breakfast and lunch are provided for by the “tauke” at the plantation.
“We eat rice, curry, vegetables. Sometimes fish,” the thin boy described.
“It’s OK,” he shrugged, but added, it was nothing like his mother’s cooking.
His eyes darted to his mother sitting across the table from him at a Malay food stall in what passes for Linggi town — two rows of double-storey shophouses huddled around a T-junction.
Sumathy Ramasamy, 44, who works as a cook in a university near Broga, looked away.
The mother of three last visited her middle child two weeks ago and promised him a slap-up meal to make up for missing his birthday, but failed to keep her word.
Jiegandran turned 18 on May 22.
His employer gave him an extra RM20 for the occasion and offered to buy him a birthday cake. Jiegandran declined.
All in, the working life is alright, the boy said. No one bullies him at the estate even though he is the youngest there.
But Jiegandran misses home.
“Life here is hard. I want to go home,” said the boy who — before this — had never before spent a night away from his family in Semenyih.
Jiegandran who has no history of causing trouble in school, let alone a criminal record, is challenging the home ministry’s harsh order, which is normally served on suspected terrorists and hardcore gangsters, in court.
But precedent may be against him.
Another 17-year-old boy from Pahang, who two years ago had been detained under the Emergency Ordinance (EO), had also taken the home ministry to court, but lost.
“I remember it because he was sent to Simpang Renggam the day before the general election,” Suaram co-ordinator, E. Nalini, told The Malaysian Insider.
The Pahang boy is now spending time in a prison in Machap, Kelantan.
The human rights watchdog has been championing the fight against detentions without trials.
Nalini is also not sure how many children under 18 have been detained and claimed the ministry has been very secretive over the statistics.