Athens blast kills at least one

(Right) Police guard the entrance to the Ministry of Citizen 

Protection in Athens, Greece, after Thursday's bombing.

Athens, Greece (CNN) -- One person was killed in an explosion at the…

More ► More ▼

(Right) Police guard the entrance to the Ministry of Citizen 

Protection in Athens, Greece, after Thursday's bombing.

Athens, Greece (CNN) -- One person was killed in an explosion at the Ministry of Citizen Protection in Athens, Greece, on Thursday, a ministry official said.

The blast took place not far from the office of the minister, Michalis Chrysochoidis, journalist Elinda Labropoulou reported for CNN.

It is not clear whether he was in his office when the blast happened. But he appeared on Greek television shortly after the explosion, saying, "we are not afraid," Labropoulou reported.

"I lost a colleague and a friend," Chrysochoidis said.

The bomb was in a parcel delivered to the desk of the assistant to the secretary of the ministry, CNN affiliate Mega Channel reported. It is not clear whether the package was opened.

There has been no claim of responsibility, police said.

The ministry is responsible for public order, including policing.

Government buildings, banks and international businesses in Athens are targeted fairly regularly by bombers, but it is unusual for people to be killed.

Bombers often phone warnings to newspapers or police before the explosions. It is not clear whether a warning was issued Thursday.

CNN's Stephanie Halasz contributed to this report.

▲

Taib’s fortune: Trio will return to MACC with ‘own copies’

BY FMT Staff

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission's (MACC) refusal to forward a copy of a report lodged by three Sarawakians alleging corruption by Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib…

More ► More ▼

BY FMT Staff

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission's (MACC) refusal to forward a copy of a report lodged by three Sarawakians alleging corruption by Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud has shocked the trio and thrown further suspicion on the agency, which is already struggling with its battered image.

Describing the situation as “ridiculous”, the trio – James Wong Joon Min, Ting Chek Ming and Ahmad Nazib Johari – have decided to make their own copies and return on a later date to lodge again their reports with the MACC in Putrajaya.

Said Wong: “We’ve decided to come back on another day. We’ll make our own copies of the report. We want MACC to investigate it. The report touches on Taib and family’s business empire and properties in Canada.”

The trio had yesterday lodged a report against Taib at the MACC yesterday. Having done so, they asked for a copy and were denied.

Shocked, they demanded an explanation only to be told that there was “no ruling allowing for a copy to be issued to the complainant”.

Billionaire daughter

Strangely enough, said Ahmad Nazib, the officer told them that “this case was different, this is a high-profile case”.

“After hearing this, we decided to be cautious. We told them that whether it is high or low-profile, the law is the law and should be applied to all,” said Ahmad Nazib.

Their MACC report was based on a series of articles published on the web portal sarawakreport.org last week.

The report noted that Taib had assets worth RM3 billion in Canada, London and Australia.

It also placed Taib’s billionaire daughter Jamilah as the owner of Sakato Development Corporation,an Ottawa-based construction company which owned assets worth millions of US dollars, with offices in the US and other countries.

The web report also alleged that the Taib family owned a company, Sitehost Pty Ltd, which was worth millions of ringgit in Australia. The family also allegedly owned the Kuching Hilton and Mulu Resort in Sarawak.

The web has alleged that Taib had used his wealth in Sarawak to invest all over the world, thus avoiding domestic taxes.

The report also exposed several other alleged abuses by Taib in construction and timber concessions through his family-owned company Cahya Mata Sarawak.

▲

Vote buying: Najib’s blatant denial amuses opposition

By FMT Staff

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s statement in Parliament that the federal government “never promised voters programmes or projects during the by-elections, including the Sibu by-election,"…

More ► More ▼

By FMT Staff

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s statement in Parliament that the federal government “never promised voters programmes or projects during the by-elections, including the Sibu by-election," has tickled the opposition.

“He is a habitual liar. He is always twisting his words,” said Kuala Langat parliamentarian Abdullah Sani.

“It’s a habit with Najib that goes way back. When you read his comments it sounds quite funny.”

In a written response to Sibu MP Wong Ho Leng (DAP)’s question on Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s Department, while denying it had used development projects to woo voters during the Sibu by-election, admitted that it had approved 107 projects worth RM37.7 million during the campaigning period.

Wong had asked the government how much it had spent on the Sibu by-election.

"The programmes or projects approved were planned prior to the by-election, similar to other parliamentary or state constituencies throughout the nation," the response from the PM’s Department read.

Commenting on the statement, an amused Klang MP Charles Santiago said: “The people won’t buy that!”

“The public won’t easily accept Najib’s statement because the video clip on his controversial offer is now common knowledge. They won’t buy his denial.

“Besides it’s not just Sibu and the by-election in Hulu Selangor. Najib has been making pledges everywhere … he suddenly approved RM3million for Chinese schools (in Sibu) with a condition that their candidate must win in the polls.”

Santiago was referring to the video clip on Youtube where Najib had, on the eve of the hotly contested Sibu parliamentary seat by-election last month, openly offered Rajang park residents RM5million for flood mitigations if they voted his candidate Robert Lau May 16.

However Barisan Nasional, which held the Sibu parliamentary seat for a quarter century, lost it to DAP in a tightly fought race on May 16. BN polled 18,447 to DAP’s 18,845.

▲

The corruption game cannot last forever

By Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah

COMMENT The word “corruption” comes from a Latin word meaning “to break” or “to destroy”. Corruption is a cancer that steals from the poor, eats away…

More ► More ▼

By Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah

COMMENT The word “corruption” comes from a Latin word meaning “to break” or “to destroy”. Corruption is a cancer that steals from the poor, eats away at governance and moral fibre, and destroys trust.

Although corruption exists in both the private and public sector, the corruption of the public sector is a more fundamental evil. This is because the public sector is the enforcer and arbiter of the rules that hold us together, the custodians of our common resources.

Corruption is the abuse of public office for personal gain. Corruption exacts a huge toll on our economy

In a survey of more than 150 high ranking public officials and top citizens from over 60 developing nations, these officials ranked corruption as the biggest obstacle to development and growth in their countries.

Corruption empties out the public purse, causes massive misallocation of resources, dampens trade and scares away investors

The World Bank estimates that corruption can reduce a country's growth rate by 0.5 to 1 percentage points per year. Where there is a lack of transparency and a weak court system, investors stay away.

Corruption is a form of theft. But it is a form of theft that also damages what is not stolen. This is because corruption involves the capture of decisions involving public funds.

Corrupt decisions mis-allocate public resources and cause tremendous waste in the expenditure of public money. Public money is poured down the drain when projects are selected not because of the value they deliver to the public but because of what can be skimmed from them.

But corruption is more than an economic cost. It is a curse that attacks the root of the tree.

Corruption destroys trust, which is nothing less than the glue holding a society and its institutions together. When it becomes rampant and is conducted with impunity, it also demoralizes even those public servants not involved in it.

The common people’s experience with government breeds the expectation that they need to pay before things will move. Small businesses suffer as city hall officials come on their rounds to collect mandatory “donations.”

Single biggest threat

It is time we recognise corruption as the single biggest threat to our nation. In our economy, corruption is the root of our inability to make the economic leap that we know we are capable of.

There is no other reason why a country so blessed with natural resources, a favourable climate and such immense talent should not have done a lot better than we have.

In our political system, corruption is the real reason why our political parties refuse to reform. Some people say the party I belong to has debased a once noble nationalism and a concern with the welfare of marginalised people into a rush for the gravy train.

They also said that the economic development we must bring our people is reduced to nothing more than patronage, and patronage is inflated into a right.

Therefore, it appears that the root cause is in our political parties. It is an open secret that tender inflation is standard operating procedure. Within the parties and among politicians, it is already an understood matter that party followers must be ‘fed’. Politics is an expensive business, after all.

Where else are we to get the funds? Thus theft of public goods is normalised and socialised among an entire community, and what we had planned to attain by capability is seen by some as something to be attained through politics.

Politicians are the villains in this piece, but they themselves are the villains but they themselves are also trapped. The leadership is trapped because they are beholden to political followers who demand that they are looked after.

They demand patronage, and turn the party’s struggle for the welfare of a community into their sense of entitlement to that patronage. So they take their slice of the project.

By the time they and each person down the line all the way down to the contractor takes a lot and there is not enough left to do a decent job, bridges collapse, highways crack, stadiums collapse, hospitals run out of medicine, schoolchildren are cheated in their textbooks. Corruption may look to its perpetrators like a crime without victims, but it leaves a trail of destruction.

No domain seems safe. Some say that the humble school canteen is the domain of party branch chiefs. The golf course becomes a favoured way to pass the cash over. We can place bets for RM5,000 a hole. For some reason one party keeps losing. And there are 18 holes. Money thus obtained is legal. It can be banked.

Expensive military toys

We spend billions on the refurbishment of defence equipment; on fighter jets, frigates and submarines. When a supplier lays on an exorbitant commission to some shadowy middleman, that commission is built into the price the government pays. That money comes from the ordinary Malaysian.

Military toys are very expensive. I remember from my time in the Ministry of Finance. Even then, patrol craft cost about RM280mil each.

We loved Exocet missiles. As minister, I had to sign each time the military fired an Exocet missile for testing. Every time we test fired one of them, RM2mil literally went out with a bang.

When the UK went to war against Argentina, the UK government tried to borrow them from us because outside of the UK we had the most of them in the world. We must have been under some extraordinary military threat which I did not understand.

The list is long: procurement of food and clothing for the military, medicine for hospitals and so on. In all these things the government has been extraordinarily generous. And paid extraordinarily high prices.

Government servants have to face pressure from politicians who expect to be given these contracts because they need money for politics. This corruption is justified because the party’s struggle is sacred. The civil servants can either join the game or be bypassed.

For every government job big or small that goes down, someone feels entitled to a slice of the pie, not because they can do the job, not because they have some special talent or service to offer, but because it is their right.

They do not realise that what they demand is the abuse of power for the sake of personal gain, or party gain. They elect those leaders among themselves who are most capable of playing this game.

So we get as our leaders people who have distinguished themselves not by their ability to serve the public but at their long proven ability to be party warlords, which is to say, distributors of patronage.

And that is an euphemistic way of saying that because of corruption the old, stupid and the criminal are elevated to positions of power while young, talented and honest individuals are frozen out.

Corruption destroys national wealth, erodes institutions and undermines character. And it also destroys the process by which a community finds its leaders.

The consequence of this is that the majority are marginalized. Government contracts circulate among a small group of people. Despite all attempts at control and brainwashing, the majority soon catch up to the game.

This game cannot last forever. The longer it is played the more people hate the government and the governing class. They vote against the government, not for the opposition.

They resent the government of the day. In 2008 we saw how the Malaysian people feel about the abuse of power and incompetence caused by corruption.

Reform political funding

Since party funding has become the excuse and the vehicle for wholesale corruption, any measure we take to fight it must include the reform of political funding.

It is time we enact a law regulating donations to political parties. Donations must be capped. No donor is to give more than a specified limit, on pain of prosecution. This is to prevent special interests from dominating parties. Such money is source of corruption.

Let us limit political donations by law. On top of that let the government set up a fund to provide funding to registered political parties for their legitimate operational needs. This money can be distributed based on objective criteria and governed by an independent panel.

This would close off the excuse that the parties need to raise political funding through government contracts.

Another idea is that we should freeze the bank accounts of people who are being investigated for corruption. Public servants and politicians are by law required to be able to demonstrate the sources of their assets.

Those with suspiciously ample asssets should have these assets frozen until they can come up with evidence that they have accumulated them legally.

This may sound harsh, but only because we live in a country in which almost no one ever gets nabbed for corruption. In China, those found guilty are shot.

In Malaysia we read about MACC investigating this and that but there are no convictions. No one has been punished. We are the nation with no consequences. The MACC finds no fault. The courts do not convict. And our newspapers do not have the independence and vigour to follow up.

We have an MACC with no results. It was a good idea to model our anti-corruption agency after one of the most successful in the world, Hong Kong’s ICAC. However we have taken just bits and pieces of that model. So really this will be no more than PR exercise unless we adopt the model wholesale.

We should repeal the OSA so that people can go to the MACC and the authorities with documentary information on corrupt practice.

As things stand, any document which might be incriminating to corrupt public officials is stamped an Offical Secret. A whistleblower risks 7 yrs jail for being in possession of such documents.

We need to identify rot eating through our roots as a nation. It is corruption. We cannot expect the corrupt to embrace reform. It is time for our citizens to stand up and call corruption by its name, and demand reform.

Speech by former Umno vice-president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah at a book launch in Kuala Lumpur on June 19.

▲

All eyes on Taib's beard

By Joseph Tawie - Free Malaysia Today

COMMENT All eyes are on Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud's beard. In Sarawak, the length of the veteran politician's beard is an indication…

More ► More ▼

By Joseph Tawie - Free Malaysia Today

COMMENT All eyes are on Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud's beard. In Sarawak, the length of the veteran politician's beard is an indication that the state polls could be called soon.

It is an open secret that when the chief minister's beard grows to a certain point, he would be looking for “ilham” or inspiration on when to hold the election.

Athough there is still a 12-month window for the next election, political parties in Sarawak are not taking any risk with regard to Taib's beard or his inspiration.

In view of this, both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat are already making election preparations, with their leaders travelling the length and breadth of the state, organising various functions.

On the BN front, its state assemblymen have started announcing funds for various development projects.

Also not prepared to be caught with its pants down, the Election Commission has started to train personnel for the coming state polls.

Pundits, who are also keeping a close eye on Taib's beard, believe that the state elections could be called towards the end of the year, while there are those who predict that it might be held as early as August.

BN minister: We need to win big

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a political secretary to the chief minister said the federal government’s five-year 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP), which starts in the middle of this year, will see massive development funds being dished out throughout the nation with special attention given to Sarawak’s Corridor Renewal Energy (SCORE).

Tenders for mega projects such as the Bakun road to the proposed Murum Dam, the Bintulu/Tunoh/Baleh/Kotai road and Kapit/Song/Sibu road will be out soon. The three trunk roads are expected to cost close to RM2 billion.

There are also several major projects which are to be implemented under the 10MP in other parts of Sarawak, for which funds amounting to RM3.4 billion had been announced by the Rural and Regional Development Minister Shafie Apdal.

The state BN headquarters has also issued a reminder to its four component parties -- Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) -- to get their machinery ready.

“These are not only tell-tale signs that the election is around the corner but is also an overall effort of the state BN to ensure that the voters do not run away from them,” said a veteran politician close to the chief minister.

There is little doubt that BN will win the state election, but Shafie in a recent visit cautioned against being complacent.

“We need to work harder to ensure we will win in a big way,” he had said.

The minister's fear is understandable. While PBB and PRS are free of internal problems, the situation is not exactly peaceful in SPDP and SUPP and this could undermine their performance in the election.

Personality clashes and broken promises

The problem in SPDP revolves around a clash of personalities, policy implementation and broken promises. Tension started brewing last March when certain leaders wanted to expand SPDP to Peninsular Malaysia, but this was strongly opposed by another faction.

The latter felt that SPDP should focus on strengthening its position in Sarawak first.

Another important factor that led to the squabble was the rumoured intention of deputy president Peter Nyarok to resign to pave the way for treasurer Tiong King Sing to take over during the party's triennial general assembly last December.

At least half of the party’s supreme council members did not want Tiong to be deputy president, so they came up with another list to challenge president William Mawan and those in the president’s list.

However, in order to avoid being challenged, Mawan called for a status quo. They agreed and Sylvester Enteri was to remain as secretary-general.

But after the party election, Enteri was sacked and this triggered four state assemblymen, including Enteri and one MP, to walk out of the supreme council meeting.

They have refused to bury the hatchet, saying they will not return as long as Mawan, Nyarok and Tiong remained in the party.

The crisis in SUPP

As for SUPP, the party has been bogged down by a power struggle. The “Dudong branch” issue, for example, has been a thorn in its flesh for the past three years without any sign of it being resolved. In fact, it has gotten from bad to worse.

While one section of the party wanted to form the branch, another group opposed it

When SUPP president George Chan failed to solve the sticky situation, some 28 branches requested for an extraordinary general meeting, setting the stage for a major clash between the supporters of

Bawang Assan state assemblyman Wong Soon Koh and Dudong state assemblyman Soon Choon Teck.

This protracted crisis is bound to have an impact on state seats in the Rajan basin. Based on the previous elections, the party is expected to face an uphill task in seats like Repok, Dudong, Pelawan and Bawang Assan.

SUPP has already lost Meradong and Bukit Assek to DAP in the last election. Elsewhere, the party also lost Kidurong, Batu Lintang, Kota Santosa, Padungan, Pending and Engkilili.

These are some of the issues which Taib is pondering about while his beard grows, and when the inspiration strikes, the chief minister will be all set for a shave.

▲

Government cleric claims Asri’s views could lead to extremism

By Adib Zalkapli - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 — Government Islamic cleric Zamihan Mat Zin acknowledged yesterday that while Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin was not involved…

More ► More ▼

By Adib Zalkapli - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 — Government Islamic cleric Zamihan Mat Zin acknowledged yesterday that while Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin was not involved in terrorist activities, he insisted the influential scholar’s controversial and hardline views encouraged extremism.

Zamihan has been at the heart of a brewing controversy over a security briefing he recently gave which purportedly linked Asri and other high-profile personalities such as former Perlis Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim to Wahhabism and Jamaah Islamiyah (JI).

According to his presentation notes made available to The Malaysian Insider, Zamihan (picture) claimed that terrorist activities involving JI have its roots in Wahhabism.

Wahhabism, known locally as Sunnah Perlis, advocates purging Islam of practices that did not exist during the time of Prophet Muhammad.

During the briefing Zamihan had described the unconventional interpretation of Islamic laws by the Wahhabis as the cause of terrorist activities.

He cited a book by Asri, the former Perlis mufti who is being courted to join Umno — “Bid’ah Hassanah: Istilah yang disalahfahami” (Innovation: The misunderstood term) — to prove his point.

Zamihan said that while the book did not encourage terrorist activities, Asri’s opposition to certain Islamic rituals widely practised by local Muslims could potentially lead to extremism.

“Anyone who propagates hardline views, non-mainstream interpretation, that is the manifestation of extremism, because it will lead to forcing others to accept the views,” said Zamihan.

“He is not linked to JI, but he likes to give harsh views,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

Zamihan dismissed the suggestion that his criticism against Wahhabism was a result of his personal disagreement with Asri.

“I am a government officer, invited by the Higher Education Ministry, by Bukit Aman to do my job,” said Zamihan, who has been engaged by the Home Ministry since 2007 to rehabilitate alleged JI members under ISA detention.

He was earlier accused of linking Islamic missionary group JIM, Perlis mufti Dr Juanda Jaya, former Perlis Mentri Besar Shahidan and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to terrorist activities during the briefing.

Zamihan dismissed the accusation, describing it as an attempt to belittle his counterterrorism work.

He also claimed that the Deputy Minister of Higher Education Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah did not object to his presentation on Wahhabism and terrorist activities during the controversial security briefing.

The assistant director of the government’s Islamic training institute, ILIM, told The Malaysian Insider that Saifuddin only approached him after the end of the meeting.

“After my presentation when the minister asked those present if they have anything to ask, there was complete silence,” said Zamihan.

“During the break somebody approached me outside the room and angrily told me, ‘ustaz, I do not agree with your presentation’,” he added.

Zamihan said he only found out later that the man who approached him was Saifuddin.

“Why was he angry with me? Why was he so emotional? If there was any disagreement he should have spoken up during the meeting,” he told The Malaysian Insider in an interview yesterday.

“I told him that was my view which was backed with evidence. You can have your views, but we can always discuss any disagreement,” said Zamihan.

Incidentally Saifuddin had told Parliament yesterday that the government was not going on a “witch hunt” to punish individuals who followed the Wahhabi school of thought.

The security briefing was also attended by Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar, Minister of Higher Education Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and more than 100 senior officials from public universities.

It was held following reports of an alleged JI recruitment drive in local universities.

Early this year, police arrested 10 men, claiming they were members of JI and were allegedly plotting to blow up non-Muslim houses of worship.

All of them have been deported, except a Malaysian, who has been placed under restricted residence in Petaling Jaya

▲

Gambling licence: Why stop there?

By Chang Kheng Hoe | The Nut Graph

(Pic by vierdrie / sxc.hu)

A LICENCE has been issued to allow sports betting. At least, that is according to Tan Sri…

More ► More ▼

By Chang Kheng Hoe | The Nut Graph

(Pic by vierdrie / sxc.hu)

A LICENCE has been issued to allow sports betting. At least, that is according to Tan Sri Vincent Tan, although according to our prime minister, no such licence has been issued. Bursa Malaysia has yet to take any action on the announcement because they, too, are apparently uncertain as to whether Tan or the prime minister is telling the truth. No point taking action and thereafter looking silly if it’s against the wrong person.
Those who favour a government licence claim that sports gambling is an inevitability, hence there is no reason why we should not extract some revenue from it. It is “the ends justify the means” kind of argument. Just imagine how much revenue we all could enjoy. Just think of all the subsidies that can be maintained if sports gambling was allowed. Why, we could even retire Datuk Seri Idris Jala and Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon from their respective ministerial portfolios since there would be no need to look at how to restructure and reduce subsidies any longer.
Since we’re using the “ends justify the means” logic, why not take the opportunity to license a few other things as well?
Why stop at gambling?
How about we also legalise and regulate prostitution? That would be the first other thing that comes to mind. You cannot deny it. As long as there are men with means and women without, prostitution will take place.
In fact, prostitution would be a better candidate to be licensed as compared to gambling. Yes, gambling brings tax revenue. Prostitution would also bring tax revenue, in addition to various other benefits. Not least of all, there would be health benefits all around. We could control the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases if licensing conditions require all sex workers and their clients to undergo frequent medical checkups. Certainly, both the sex worker and the long-suffering spouse of the philandering man would also be protected.

(Pic by agastecheg / sxc.hu)

How about abortions? Babies are dumped regularly. Illegal abortions happen under unhygienic conditions, risking the lives of pregnant women who decide to abort. Why not license abortions and ensure that they are carried out under safe conditions, after proper counselling and reasonable opportunities are offered to would-be mothers for them to explore all other alternatives?
Well, perhaps one may argue that abortion is tantamount to murder. Very well. Let’s license the sale and purchase of babies instead. In this way, no accidental mother would be forced to abort since she could openly sell her baby in the free market. Stamp duty could be payable on the instrument of sale, similar to how it is now imposed on the property market. Unwanted babies would end up in loving homes, cared for and nurtured by parents who have paid a handsome sum for the child.
Am I being preposterous? Yes, but not more ridiculous than the person who says with a straight face that we should license gambling because it is inevitable. Revenue and rampancy are never good enough reasons to permit vice.
After all, if crime gets too rampant, nobody would ever suggest licensing crime instead of curbing it.
Who loses, who benefits?
Gambling, too, is not exactly a victimless vice. There are victims involved, especially when gambling becomes an addiction. A gambler’s family would, of course, suffer first. The gambler, too, may be exposed to risks if he or she seeks to fund the habit through Ah Longs or crime. Society suffers the loss of a productive member.
Conversely, who gains if a gambling licence is issued? Of course, the licence holder would be the primary party who profits. It is not conclusive that the government will gain unless a thorough study has been made into the actual costs of gambling. The study would need to compare this cost with the projected amount of revenue before a conclusion can be made that licensing sports betting would indeed help increase the government’s coffers.
Who else might gain from a sports-betting licence? We could all probably gain personally because some subsidies could remain if the government has increased revenue from gambling activities. Yes, our rice and sugar may remain a few sen cheaper. But it only takes one family member or friend to be sucked into the gambling trap to make the rice taste stale and the sugar bitter.

▲

KL Festival 2010 Set To Entrall Audiences

KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 (Bernama) -- With the World Cup football fever still gripping the nation, the capital will play host to the Kuala Lumpur (KL) Festival…

More ► More ▼

KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 (Bernama) -- With the World Cup football fever still gripping the nation, the capital will play host to the Kuala Lumpur (KL) Festival 2010 by arraying over 100 arts and cultural events next month.

Maintaining the theme "Here the Arts Flourishes" since the festival kicked off in 2006, the city will be abuzzed with 115 events, including performing arts, visual arts, traditional games, language and literary events, tourism and recreational activities.

Banners on KL Festival have already adorned the streets since last week. The festival will take off after it is launched by Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa on Sunday.

Several major locations around the capital have been chosen as venues, including Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Istana Budaya, National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas), Kraftangan Malaysia, Tourism Ministry, National Arts and Culture Department, Petronas Gallery, Kuala Lumpur Tower, Actors Studio and Central Market.

Eight concerts of different musical genres are set to fascinate the audience.

They are Ella and the National Choir Concert at Istana Budaya, Gambus Concert: Tradition to Fusion (Taman Tasik Titiwangsa), Environmental Concert (Zoo Negara), Rain Vs Bunkface Concert (Live Hall KL, Life Centre).

RTM Rentak Juara Final Concert (Anniversary Theatre, Taman Tasik Perdana), Dir... the Voice of 1Malaysia Concert by the National Choir (Live Hall KL, Life Centre), Nanta Cooking Musical (Plenary Hall, KLCC) and Zainal 31st Green Anniversary Concert (KL Tower).

For theatre fans, the Malaysian version of a Broadway musical, "Shout! The Mod Musical" at Kuala Lumpur Performing Art Centre (KLPac) from July 17 to 21 is much awaited.

The musical, which revolves around five women who love the latest fashion during the 60s and 70s, will feature popular artistes like Ning Baizura as the lead character as well as Niki Palikat, Tria Aziz, Shanel Shanty James and Tisha Zarina.

Other theatre performances include Uda and Dara Musical, Cuci Musical, Mak Yong, Ulek Mayang, Semarak Bangsawan Aladdin, After Juliet (English) and Apedi Apedi (Tamil).

Movie goers will have eight films to choose from at Finas - Santau, My Spy, Evolusi KL Drift 2, Pisau Cukur, Lu Pikirlah Sendiri the Movie, Duhai Si Pari-Pari, Adnan Sempit and Niyang Rapik.

Other events in the pipeline are poetry recitation, a wedding promotion, coffin, Snake vs Snake and photo exhibitions, a street artists (buskers) performance and a Chinese opera.

The KL 1Malaysia Family Fair, 1Malaysia Contemporary Arts and Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival from July 24 to Sept 16 will be added attractions to foreign tourists.

The KL Festival 2010 is jointly organised by the Information Communication and Culture Ministry, the Tourism Ministry and the Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Ministrty in efforts to make Kuala Lumpur a world class cultural city.

▲

Rafidah: Licensed betting will curb illegal gambling

The Star 
by IZATUN SHARI and MUGUNTAN VANAR

PETALING JAYA: Former Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz has backed legal sports betting saying that it will help regulate…

More ► More ▼

The Star 
by IZATUN SHARI and MUGUNTAN VANAR

PETALING JAYA: Former Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz has backed legal sports betting saying that it will help regulate gambling among non-Muslims.

She said licensing would curb the spread of illegal gambling which had been going on for many years.

“Illegal gambling does exist, including football syndicates. We’ve talked about it during several Cabinet meetings (in the past). Legalising it will provide non-Muslims an avenue for gambling.

“If it is not regulated, then we will not be able to know who is gambling and there will be no legal recourse if they are cheated,’’ she said.

Furthermore, she said conditions such as minimum age, maximum betting amount and where gambling operations are carried out could be laid out.

“Now, illegal syndicates do not have to pay taxes and play by their own rules.”

The activity, if legalised, would mean that the Government could collect revenue and channel them to a separate fund to help the needy, she added.

The controversy began last month when Berjaya Corp Bhd announced that the Finance Ministry had given approval for the re-issuance to Ascot Sports Sdn Bhd of the licence to carry out sports betting operations.

However, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak later said that the ministry had yet to issue the licence and that it was in the midst of finalising discussions over the terms and conditions.

Umno Youth has come out against the proposal, saying that it will bring more bad than good. Its chief Khairy Jamaluddin said that after getting views from the grassroots, its stand was to oppose legalised football betting.

“We hope a statement that the Government has agreed (to issue the licence) is not true,” he told reporters after opening the Tawau Umno Youth divisional delegates meeting.

Cheras Umno division chief Datuk Syed Ali Alhabshee stressed that it was appropriate for the Government to issue the licence but there should be stringent enforcement.

“Licence should be approved for gambling involving non-Muslims while Muslims are aware that gambling is prohibited by the religion,” he said in his blog yesterday.

▲

Clinical Japan cruise past Danes

Two wonderful free-kicks from Keisuke Honda and Yasuhito Endo in the first half and a late Shinji Okazaki strike were enough for Japan to beat Denmark 3-1 at Royal Bafokeng…

More ► More ▼

Two wonderful free-kicks from Keisuke Honda and Yasuhito Endo in the first half and a late Shinji Okazaki strike were enough for Japan to beat Denmark 3-1 at Royal Bafokeng Stadium and claim a place in the Round of 16. Japan, who will next face Group F winners Paraguay at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on 29 June, ended the hopes of a Denmark side who fell at the first hurdle for the first time.

Japan knew a draw would suffice to earn the runners-up spot in Group E and reach the second round, while Denmark needed all three points to leapfrog them into second place. Understandably, coach Takeshi Okada opted for the same side that impressed against Cameroon and the Netherlands. His counterpart Morten Olsen, meanwhile, made two changes to the side that had defeated Cameroon, bringing midfielder Thomas Kahlenberg in for Jesper Gronkjaer, and giving centre-back Per Kroldrup his FIFA World Cup debut in place of the suspended Simon Kjaer.

The Japanese got off to a bright start, with Daisuke Matsui forcing a good save from Thomas Sorensen following a Yoshito Okubo cross from the left, before Makoto Hasebe shot just over the bar. At the opposite end, Jon Dahl Tomasson broke free on the left side of the area before dragging a low shot narrowly wide. Japan made the breakthrough after 17 minutes, when Honda fired home a superb free-kick from 30 yards into the left-hand corner of Sorensen's goal.

Tomasson could have equalised soon after but he failed to connect with a lobbed pass from Christian Poulsen, and Eiji Kawashima did well to parry the ball away. Instead on the half-hour, the Danes fell further behind, Yasuhito Endo curling in a right-footed free-kick from 25 yards past the outstretched hand of Sorensen after Okubo had been fouled by Kroldrup.

With the Danes struggling to take control in the middle of the park, Olsen responded by replacing veteran Martin Jorgensen with Jakob Poulsen. Christian Poulsen tried his luck with a free-kick from distance that Kawashima comfortably gathered, but Japan did not just sit back and on a breakaway, right-back Yuichi Komano tested Sorensen with a shot from an acute angle, the Stoke City custodian turning the ball over the bar.

The second half opened with a scare for Denmark as Endo's looping free-kick was mishandled by Sorensen and bounced on to the left post behind him. For their part, Denmark had a couple of half-chances but neither Kahlenberg nor Tomasson could convert from close range. Jakob Poulsen then sent a shot straight at Kawashima, before Daniel Agger saw his free-kick punched away by the Kawasaki Frontale goalkeeper.

Japan remained a threat on the counter-attack, with Okubo sending a curling shot at Sorensen. Denmark also had a glorious chance to halve the deficit, only for Tomasson to miscue his shot from close range after Dennis Rommedahl had broken into the area from the right. Denmark desperately needed a goal to get back into the game, and it finally arrived from the penalty spot after 81 minutes. Hasebe pushed Agger from behind inside the area, and Tomasson stepped up to take the resulting penalty. Diving to his right, Kawashima parried the effort but the Danish captain responded well to flick in the rebound for his 52nd international goal – tying Poul Nielsen's all-time scoring record for Denmark.

However, there was still time for the Japanese to seal their victory, as substitute Okazaki slid the ball into an empty net after Honda's clever footwork had beaten a defender and Sorensen to set up their third goal of the night. It was the first time Japan had hit three in a FIFA World Cup match and Honda might even have added a fourth goal, but his shot sailed well over the bar just before the final whistle.

▲

Robben returns as Dutch stay perfect

Arjen Robben came off the bench to help the Netherlands secure a 2-1 victory over Cameroon that seals top spot in Group E and sets up a last 16 date…

More ► More ▼

Arjen Robben came off the bench to help the Netherlands secure a 2-1 victory over Cameroon that seals top spot in Group E and sets up a last 16 date with Slovakia. Robin van Persie and Dirk Kuyt were on target either side of a Samuel Eto’o penalty at Cape Town’s Green Point Stadium as Bert van Marwijk’s Oranje preserved their unblemished record at South Africa 2010.

With the Dutch already through and the Indomitable Lions consigned to elimination, some might have expected a game lacking in passion and excitement. As it was, any fears of an under-strength Netherlands side facing an unmotivated Cameroon proved groundless, with both coaches sending out their strongest XIs in front of a noisy capacity crowd.

The Indomitable Lions were the first to threaten, with Aurelien Chedjou twisting into space 25 yards from goal and forcing a solid save from Stekelenburg after just three minutes. However, Cameroon’s early promise steadily diminished and, with 19 minutes played, the Netherlands should have moved in front.

Captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst split the Cameroon central-defenders with a terrific lofted pass for Robin Van Persie, but although the Dutch No9 controlled well on his chest, he fired in a tame volley on his weaker foot that Hamidou Souleymanou was able to gather comfortably. But the Dutch were getting closer, and after Souleymanou had again been called upon to deal with Van der Vaart’s curling free-kick, the unmarked Dirk Kuyt drilled a right-foot effort wide of the far post when he should really have hit the target.

The Liverpool striker made amends five minutes later, however, when he was involved in a slick interchange on the right flank with Van der Vaart and Van Persie that ended with the latter being threaded through on goal. Again, the chance fell to his right foot, but this time the Arsenal striker was deadly, coolly slipping the ball between the legs of the advancing Souleymanou.

The goal was Van Persie’s first at South Africa 2010, and he might have doubled his tally five minutes into the second half after his pace and powerful running took him clear of the Cameroon defence. This time though, he wasn’t able to outfox the keeper, with Souleymanou saving well from his powerfully-struck shot.

Van Persie made way for Huntelaar soon after and this change coincided with a switch in the balance of power, as Cameroon took control. First, Samuel Eto’o was denied by an excellent saving challenge from Joris Mathijsen, then Landry Nguemo side-footed just wide and, finally, with the best chance of the three, Maarten Stekelenburg saved from Jean Makoun’s unconvincing effort.

Frustrated from open play, Cameroon finally made the breakthrough from the penalty spot, Samuel Eto’o placing an inch-perfect spot kick high to the Stekelenburg’s right after Van der Vaart had handled inside the area. However, Van Marwijk still had a trump card to play in Arjen Robben, and after being introduced for his first taste of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, the Bayern Munich winger provided the inspiration for his side’s winning goal.

In a typical display of skill and directness, Robben drove inside from the right, beyond Rigobert Song and curled a superb left shot against the inside of the post. Fortunately for the Dutch, the ball rebounded fortuitously to another substitute, Klaas Jan Huntelaar, and with Souleymanou stranded, the AC Milan striker made no mistake with a perfectly placed right-foot shot.

▲

Paraguay seal top spot with Kiwi draw

Paraguay did what they had to do to top Group F with a scoreless draw with New Zealand in Polokwane on Thursday. The South Americans finished with five points, one…

More ► More ▼

Paraguay did what they had to do to top Group F with a scoreless draw with New Zealand in Polokwane on Thursday. The South Americans finished with five points, one ahead of Slovakia, who knocked out holders Italy in the group's other match, while the All Whites go out unbeaten after their third consecutive draw.

Chances were very few and far between in a contest between the naturally defensive New Zealanders and a Paraguay side who looked comfortable enough playing for the draw that would take them through. There were a few early opportunities from free-kicks, as Kiwi Chris Killen almost got to the end of a long ball to the far post and Paraguay captain Denis Caniza shot wide two minutes later, but given each side's well-organised defence, most of the action was restricted to the midfield. Caniza had the closest effort of the first period just before the half-hour mark, but his swerving shot was too high to trouble the goalkeeper.

New Zealand knew that a goal could send them through to the knockout rounds for the first time in their history, and they came out a bit more determined to go forward after half-time. The Oceanian representatives were almost rewarded in the 48th minute after some good work by Tony Lochhead down the left. The full-back's cross found Simon Elliott just outside the area, but the veteran midfielder blazed past the corner of the goal with plenty of space.

A measure of the lack of opportunities was that the first corner of the match did not come until the 62nd minute, but from that Paraguay went close to scoring. Claudio Morel took a clever short delivery, which reached the head of Cristian Riveros, but his glancing effort was saved by the quick reflexes of Mark Paston in goal. Paston proved himself the hero for New Zealand as Paraguay pushed hard for a winner as the match wore on. In the 76th minute, he dived well to save Edgar Benitez's shot, and then just got a touch at the feet of Lucas Barrios from the rebound to keep the ball out of his net. Shortly after, the big goalkeeper denied Roque Santa Cruz twice, once when he came off his line to smother at the striker's feet from a breakaway, next with a punch from a dipping shot off a free-kick.

It was still a historic finals for the All Whites, who won their first points in the FIFA World Cup, and finished the group undefeated and in front of four-time world champions Italy. Paraguay will now face the second-placed team from Group E, which will be the Netherlands, Japan or Denmark on 29 June in Pretoria.

▲

Slovakia advance, eliminate Italy

Slovakia survived a late onslaught to beat Italy 3-2, reach the Round of 16 and eliminate their illustrious opponents. A Robert Vittek double and a stoppage-time lob from substitute Kamil…

More ► More ▼

Slovakia survived a late onslaught to beat Italy 3-2, reach the Round of 16 and eliminate their illustrious opponents. A Robert Vittek double and a stoppage-time lob from substitute Kamil Kopunek proved enough for Vladimir Weiss's team to advance as Group F runners-up, after late goals from Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella had ensured a dramatic conclusion to a thrilling contest in Johannesburg.

Slovakia went into the meeting at Ellis Park needing victory to progress. While Italy also required three points to guarantee a place in the knockout phase, they knew a draw would likely prove enough, as transpired to be the case. Disappointingly for the FIFA World Cup™ holders, the visionary Andrea Pirlo was only fit enough to make the bench, but Gennaro Gattuso and Antonio Di Natale were handed starts.

Weiss had urged his Slovakia side to be bold but rational against Marcello Lippi's men, and they were clearly enjoying the better of the play in the initial exchanges. They could certainly claim to have had the better chances. In the sixth minute, Vittek nodded a long ball into the path of Marek Hamsik, but the latter could only drag his volley wide. And the two exchanged roles six minutes later, with Hamsik squaring the ball to Vittek, but Italy goalkeeper Federico Marchetti was quickest to react.

So, perhaps, it came as no surprise when, in the 25th minute, Marchetti found himself picking the ball out of the back of the net. The pressure of the occasion clearly got to Daniele De Rossi, whose pass was easily intercepted by Erik Jendrisek just outside the Italian box. He promptly found Vittek and the Slovakian fired into the bottom corner to give his side a deserved lead.

Marcello Lippi's men had failed to get going in their previous two matches, and they were lacking inspiration here, too. Di Natale, De Rossi and Simone Pepe all found themselves in potential scoring positions, but were unable to make them count. Gattuso's threatening cross was headed over by Martin Skrtel as Vincenzo Iaquinta looked to profit, but there was no real punch to the Italy attack. The AC Milan veteran was typically terrier-like in midfield, looking to knock the Slovakians out of their stride, but it was Weiss's side that continued to look the more likely scorers – Zdenko Strba forced Marchetti to palm his 35-yard drive off target, Miroslav Stoch had a shot blocked, and Juraj Kucka watched his long-range effort flash inches wide deep into first-half stoppage time.

Lippi reshuffled his side at the break, with Christian Maggio and Quagliarella coming on in place of Gattuso and Domenico Criscito, as Italy went in search of a crucial goal. Iaquinta almost the found the target five minutes in but his header lacked direction. The same could be said for his team as a whole, who were lacking the required creativity – which explained why the Italian fans, at last, found their voice when Pirlo was introduced to the game in the 56th minute, shortly after a woeful finish from Di Natale.

As Pirlo begin to guide proceedings from the centre of the park, Di Natale almost made up for his miss but Jan Mucha was equal to his curling shot. Italy were, at last, stepping up a gear and when Pepe's cross was beaten away by the Slovakia goalkeeper, Quagliarella could only look on in dismay as his left-footed shot was hooked off the line by Skrtel. Slovakia, however, remained a match for Italy and minutes after Stoch's drive had fizzed a yard over, Vittek thought he had put the game out of Gli Azzurri's reach when he beat Giorgio Chiellini to Hamsik's squared ball. However, Di Natale was able to pull one back ten minutes from time, before Kopunek restored the two-goal advantage. Quagliarella's late strike set up a thrilling finish, but it was not enough for Lippi's men, who were left to contemplate a disastrous FIFA World Cup campaign.

▲

Police raid Belgian Catholic HQ

The Catholic church has been hit by child sex abuse scandals around the world Police have raided the headquarters of the Belgian Catholic church over allegations of child sex abuse.…

More ► More ▼

The Catholic church has been hit by child sex abuse scandals around the world Police have raided the headquarters of the Belgian Catholic church over allegations of child sex abuse. A Brussels prosecutor said the raid followed accusations "denouncing abuse of minors committed by a certain number of church figures". Jean-Marc Meilleur said police entered the archdiocese of Brussels-Maline, north of the Belgian capital, "in order to establish if these accusations are backed up or not". The Roman Catholic church in Belgium was rocked in April when 73-year-old Roger Vangheluwe, its longest-serving bishop, resigned from his Bruges post after admitting sexually abusing a boy for years. Belgium is one of a number of countries in Europe, along with the United States, in which abuse claims have recently been made against the Roman Catholic church. Pope Benedict XVI has condemned paedophile priests several times, and met with abuse victims in Australia, the US and Malta.

▲

Detainees subjected to torture: UN team

MACC report against Taib's RM3 bil empire 'retracted'

(Malaysiakini) A complaint lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud for alleged misappropriation of state funds was retracted today when the commission refused to…

More ► More ▼

(Malaysiakini) A complaint lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud for alleged misappropriation of state funds was retracted today when the commission refused to provide a copy of the report to the complainants.

According to complainant Ahmad Nazib Johari (left), a lawyer, this is not normal practice and slammed the MACC for failing to justify its decision.

"First the officers cited the MACC Act, then the Official Secrets Act and then the Criminal Procedure Code, but when we asked them to show the provisions of the law which state this, they refused, saying that it was their standard procedure," he told reporters after spending about three hours attempting to file the complaint.

He added that the officers at the commission's Selangor headquarters in Shah Alam also claimed that they had to exercise extra care as the case involved a high-profile individual.

Ahmad Nazib, a Sarawakian based in Selangor, along with two other Sarawakians - James Wong and Ting Chek Ming - had tried to jointly lodge the complaint with Selangor MACC deputy director Yip Pit Wong.

Yip was unavailable for comment when contacted.

"The report was written in (MACC's) book, and we wanted a copy to protect ourselves and to make sure that nothing was added to or removed from it," Ahmad Nazib said.

He added that they will try again soon but will come with two copies of a typed report which will require the attending MACC officer to acknowledge receipt.

"We were very inexperienced so now we know what to do. We'll likely try to lodge our complaint at the Putrajaya office instead," Ting said.

No action taken

According to Wong (right), their complaint was based on article published by an anonymous blog, sarawakreport.org, which featured Taib Mahmud's property empire in Canada worth up to RM3 billion.

The allegations also implicated Taib's children and siblings, who were said to have a slice of the large empire each.

Asked about the credibility of the allegations, he said: "The articles have been available online for a while and if they were wrong, Taib would have taken legal action."

Ahmad Nazib added that their responsibility was only to lodge a complaint and for MACC to investigate its credibility, pointing out that they were not representing any political party.

"We know of complaints made to Sarawak MACC which are not investigated so we are taking the opportunity of lodging one in the peninsula where we are now based, hoping for a better outcome," he said.

He added that the trio are aware of the identities of the "concerned citizens" behind the Sarawak Report blog, but "cannot disclose them yet".

In a statement later, MACC explained that Section 29(4) of the MACC Act 2009 bars the commission from providing copies of reports lodged.

Under this Act, a report shall be “kept secret and shall not be disclosed by any person to any person other than officers of the commission and the public prosecutor, until an accused person has been charged in court for an offence under this Act or any other written law in consequence of such report, unless the disclosure is made with the consent of the public prosecutor or an officer of the commission of the rank of commissioner and above.”

“This is normal procedure provided by the law, which should be obeyed. Refusal to give cooperation will disrupt and affect the investigation process of the case,” the statement read.

▲

VIDEO: Police report against PM, DPM and Higher Education Minister. SPM 13As top Indian students denied Scholarships, Matriculation and University places.

Video HINDRAF / HRP: UMNO Demolish HINDU Temple.

Police report against PM, DPM and Higher Education Minister. SPM 13As top Indian students denied Scholarships, Matriculation and University places.

Report no: TRAVERS/005189/10

Penerima report: Azaliyah bt hambali

No personel: R141825

Pangkat: Konst/p

Police Report against-                                                                                                                                           24^th June 2010

Datuk Seri Najib Razak (Prime Minister of Malaysia)

Tan…

More ► More ▼

Report no: TRAVERS/005189/10

Penerima report: Azaliyah bt hambali

No personel: R141825

Pangkat: Konst/p

Police Report against-                                                                                                                                           24^th June 2010

Datuk Seri Najib Razak (Prime Minister of Malaysia)

Tan Sri Muyhiddin Yassin (Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister)

Datuk Seri Mohamed Khalid Nordin (Higher Education Minister)

I, JAYATHAS A/L SIRKUNAVELU (IC.No: 670430-04-5341) Information Chief of the Human Rights Party Malaysia (HRP) hereby lodge a police report against the Prime Minister of Malaysia Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muyhiddin Yassin (Education Minister) and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khalid Nordin on the disbursements of JPA Scholarships, PTPTN study loans, Matriculation and University seats.

Article 8 of the Federal Constitution 8(1) provides that all persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law and Article 8(2) provides that there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground only of religion, race, descent of place of birth. Article 12 of the Federal Constitution – rights in respect of education. Article 12(1) read, "Without prejudice to the generality of Article 8, there shall be no discrimination against any citizen on the grounds only of religion, race and descent of place of birth." in the admission to any higher education institution that is government funded.

We hereby lodge this police report that there are an estimated 2,237 Malaysian Indian bright and intelligent students who scored up to 13A’s, 12A’s, 11A’s, 10A’s, 9A’s, 8A’s, 7A’s but who were denied their rights from receiving the 10,500 local and 1,500 overseas JPA scholarships, 40,000 Matriculation seats (Utusan Malaysia 2/11/08 page 4) and 847,485 Public University seats (NST 7/8/08) and also places in critical courses such as Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Accountancy, Law, Bio Technology etc. While Malaysian Indian students had been denied their rights, malay muslim student with a mere 2A’s and 3A’s are given places choices of their course and seats which is in contradiction with Article 8 and 12 of the Federal Constitution.

We hereby also lodge a police report that medical students studying in Russia, Romania, Ukraine, India and Indonesia have had their valid and lawful medical degrees maliciously derecognized on racial and supremacist grounds and with the intention of reducing the number of Malaysian Indian medical doctors when Malaysia is on the contrary facing a shortage of Medical doctors by 100%.

 

Government PTPTN study loans have also been denied to almost all Malaysian Indian students studying Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Law, Accountancy, Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering etc overseas and also even at the local Aimst University and other local private Universities and Higher Education Institutions.

The Certificate of No Objections requirement by the racist and supremacist UMNO led Malay-sian government for Malaysian Indian and Chinese students to study overseas is void, illegal, unconstitutional and an abuse of powers by the PM, DPM and the Higher Education Minister. We also question how and why then were 360 students allowed to study medicine in Egypt in 2007 with only their SPM qualifications (The Star 31/5/07).

We want the police to investigate PM Najib Razak, DPM Muyhiddin Yassin, the Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khalid Nordin and the UMNO led Malay-sian government on especially the violations of Article 8 and Article 12 of the Federal Constitution for denying the Malaysian Indian students of even their very basic right to education. This level of racism, religious extremism and supremacy does not exist in any other part of the world except in Najib Razak’s One Malay-sia. Today Malaysia is the most racist and supremacist country in the world.

Please investigate this and reply to me in writing within two (2) weeks failing which I shall assume the contents of this police report to be true.

This is my report

JAYATHAS A/L SIRKUNAVELU

Human Rights Party Malaysia (HRP)

Information Chief

012 6362287

▲

UMNO will not publish names of JPA scholarship recipients. Ploy to deny top Indian students.

The government should direct the Public Services Department (PSD) to publish the list of all scholarship recipients as done for national services trainees.
“It is an annual problem that has…

More ► More ▼

The government should direct the Public Services Department (PSD) to publish the list of all scholarship recipients as done for national services trainees.
“It is an annual problem that has been going on for many years. It is time for the government to publish the names of recipients, their identity card numbers and even their results,” Kohilan, who is Deputy Foreign Minister, told The Star here yesterday.
(See The Star 23/6/10 at page N 30).
But will be this possible only in Prime Minister Najib Razak’s One Malay-sia.
P. Uthayakumar

▲

UMNO style gives one PSD scholarship, maximum media propaganda but takes away 2,236 scholarships @ RM 600,000.00 to RM 1,000,000.00 per overseas scholarship.

56 Indian top and a high achieving students in our list alone having scored 7As to 13As’.
But this is UMNO Prime Minister Najib Razak’s One Malaysia.
P. Uthayakumar

Maika Holdings: 66,459 poor Indians become poorer. UMNO’s Value Cap with RM 10 Billion allocation refuses to bail out poor Indians.

(See Starbiz 23/6/10 at page B3)
Value cap could easily pay out RM 2.6 billion at RM 26.00 for RM 1.00 investment 26 years ago.
But UMNO has easily bailed…

More ► More ▼

(See Starbiz 23/6/10 at page B3)
Value cap could easily pay out RM 2.6 billion at RM 26.00 for RM 1.00 investment 26 years ago.
But UMNO has easily bailed out Malay muslim renong, Perwaja Steel, Bank Bumi, Bank Rakyat and Bumi, Bank Rakyat and even paid out RM 3 Billion to Malaysian Chinese Multi Purpose Holdings.
But who speaks against UMNO’s Value Cap for these 66,459 poor and powerless Indians? PKR? DAP? PAS? Malaysiakini.com? NGOs’? Indian elite?
P. Uthayakumar

▲

Top 10As’ economically powerful Chinese SPM scholars get media attention. But not 13As poor Indian students.

Top 10As’ economically powerful Chinese SPM scholars get media attention. But not 13As poor Indian students.
This UMNO’s racism has had spill over effect even on the media in Malaysia.…

More ► More ▼

Top 10As’ economically powerful Chinese SPM scholars get media attention. But not 13As poor Indian students.
This UMNO’s racism has had spill over effect even on the media in Malaysia. These two Chinese girls rightly deserve all the attention.
But more so the estimated 2,000 over poor and high achieving Indian students who had scored 7As’ to up 13As’ but have been denied JPA government scholarships, interest free PTPTN study loans, University and Matriculation places etc.
The Chinese control 70% of the Malaysian economy and have outlets to send their children overseas for studies or to local private Universities .
Thousands of cash rich Chinese guilds and associations help out the poor Chinese students.
But even “multi-racial” Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng and DAP refuse to champion these Indian poor students. DAP, PKR and PAS also stops their 11 Indian MP mandores from championing for these poor Indian students as they will lose Malay votes!
Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice.

▲

PKR Indian mandore R. Sivarasa questions Altantuya in Parliament. Zero question on 13As’ Indian students denied scholarships?

See The Star 23/6/10 at page N 26.
Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice

Protest Note to Prime Minister on Setapak Hindu temple demolished by UMNO despite Parliamentary Statement. PKR, DAP and PAS watch this “blood letting”.

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
Your Reference :
In Reply :
Date : 24^th…

More ► More ▼

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
Your Reference :
In Reply :
Date : 24^th June 2010
YAB. Dato Seri Najib Razak
Prime Minister of Malaysia
Blok Utama Bangunan Perdana Putra,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,                      Fax: 03-88883444
62502 Putrajaya                                               E-Mail: najib@pmo.gov.my
Y. B. Senator Dato Raja Nong Chik bin
Dato Raja Zainal Abidin
Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan,
Aras 4, Blok B2,
Menara PJH, Presint 2,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,                Fax: 03-88891411
62100 Putrajaya.                                           Email: datoraja@kwp.gov.my
Y. Bhg Dato Ahmad Faud bin Ismail
Dato Bandar Kuala Lumpur                                   
Tingkat 27, Menara DBKL                 
Jalan Raja Laut Fax : 03-26919664
50350 Kuala Lumpur Email : datukbandar@dbkl.gov.my
En. Rolan bin Hj. Abd. Rahman

Pengarah                                                     
(Jabatan Keselamatan & Pengutakuasaan)     
Jalan Tun Razak                                 Fax : 03-40218260         
50400 Kuala Lumpur E-Mail : jkp@dbkl.gov.my
Protest Note to Prime Minister on Setapak hindu temple demolished by UMNO despite Parliamentary Statement. PKR, DAP and PAS watch this “blood letting”.
This morning at about 11.30 a.m we received a distress telephone call from one Jeevamalar that the Setapak Periaanna Muneswarar Hindu Temple was demolished by the UMNO One Malay-sian Prime Minister Najib Razak’s DBKL. In the background we hear the crying of the temple caretaker Madam Kasiamma and her family. Well done Dato Seri !
This is also despite the Ministerial Statement by the Federal Territories Minister in Parliament in 2008 (NST 11/7/08 page 13) that no more Hindu temples would be demolished in Malaysia in particular in the Federal Capital. This is the height of UMNOs’ mockery of Parliamentary democracy in One Malay-sia. There are precedents in Britian and other Western Democracies that when a Ministerial statement in Parliament is not complied with the said Minister would resign or would be forced to resign. But this will never happen in UMNO’s One Malay-sia. Unless of course a miracle happens! The adjoining temple holy Jasmine flower garden was also ruthlessly bulldozed.
Despite our letter dated 10/2/2010 to the Malay-sian Prime Minister (enclosed herewith) this UMNO barbaric, racist, religious extremist and supremacist act was done with criminal vengeance. This latest act by UMNO’s DBKL is a crime punishable with three years jail according to section 295 of the Malay-sian Penal Code ( Injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class). But UMNO’s Attorney General Gani Patail will never or has any history of prosecuting the UMNO criminals but has history of instead prosecuting and sending to jail those who had opposed these crimes.
You and UMNO don’t seem to have learnt from the watershed 8^th March 2008 General election outcome! This level of racism, religious extremism and supremacy does not happen in any other part of the world. Congratulations because today Malaysia has evolved and emerged as the world’s most racist and supremacist country.
The 2.5 Million Malaysian Hindu community’s curse on you today is that your ruthless UMNO regime will fall and be wiped out in the 2012/2013 general elections.
A police report has today been lodged against UMNO and DBKL. But based on our previous experiences we expect zero criminal prosecution or a conviction by the Malay-sian Attorney General or the Judiciary for that matter. We have today advised this Hindu temple committee to defy UMNO and to rebuild the temple in its original site.
We hereby call upon the racist, religious extremist and supremacist Malay-sian UMNO led government to forthwith stop this act which is also against Article 11 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees freedom of religion.
The full facts on this Hindu temple are as per our earlier letter to UMNO Malay-sian Prime Minister dated 10/02/2010 which is enclosed herewith together with the demolished Hindu temple photographs.
Kindly revert to us accordingly.
Thank You.
Your faithfully,
P. Uthayakumar
Secretary General (pro tem)
c.c     His Excellency Mr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India,
South Block, Rai Sina Hill,                 
New Delhi,
India – 110011 Fax No: 0091-11-23019545
Shri S.M. Krishna
Minister of External Affairs,India
Room No. 169,                                 
South Block,
New Delhi – 110011 E-Mail : eam@mea.gov.in
Shri Lal Krisha Advani
Opposition Leader,
30 Prithvi Raj Road,                 
New Delhi – 110003                 
India E-mail: advanilk@sansad.nic.in
Madam Sushma Suvaraj
Opposition Leader, India
@ Vijay Jolly All India BJP Overseas Cell
Khasra No. 322, Neb Sarai, Near Ignou,     Fax No: 0091-11-29535454      
New Delhi -68 E-Mail: ewec@del3.vsnl.net.in 

Before Demolishment

 

After Demolishment

NO.6, Jalan Abdullah, Off Jalan Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 03-2282 5241 Fax: 03-2282 5245 Website: www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com

Your Reference :

In Reply :

Date : 10/2/2010
YAB. Dato Seri Najib Razak
Prime Minister of Malaysia
Blok Utama Bangunan Perdana Putra,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, Fax: 03-88883444
62502 Putrajaya E-Mail: najib@pmo.gov.my
Y. B. Senator Dato Raja Nong Chik bin
Dato Raja Zainal Abidin
Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan,
Aras 4, Blok B2,
Menara PJH, Presint 2,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, Fax: 03-88891411
62100 Putrajaya. Email: datoraja@kwp.gov.my
Y. Bhg Dato Ahmad Faud bin Ismail
Dato Bandar Kuala Lumpur Fax : 03-26919664
Tingkat 27, Menara DBKL Email : datukbandar@dbkl.gov.my
Jalan Raja Laut
50350 Kuala Lumpur
En. Rolan bin Hj. Abd. Rahman
Pengarah
(Jabatan Keselamatan & Pengutakuasaan) Fax : 03-40218260
Jalan Tun Razak E-Mail : jkp@dbkl.gov.my
50400 Kuala Lumpur
Re : Malaysian Police S.B,UMNO & MIC mandore axis diffuses Sri Muniandy Muniswarar, Setapak hindu temple demolishment P.C.
This hindu temple is scheduled to be demolished tomorrow (11/2/2010) by way of a DBKL notice dated 3/2/2010 (see notice below) to make way for the building of a neighbourhood public park. Why can’t the park be built anywhere else? After all Malaysia is a very big country! Why yet again pick on a hindu temple. Another 3 hindu temples within the vicinity are also scheduled to be demolished. (see photos below). Yesterday (9/2/2010) we had sent out a media event notice for a Press Conference today (10/2/2010) and for an SOS letter to the UMNO Prime Minister, Federal Territories Minister, K.L Mayor and the KL City Hall enforcement director not to demolish this hindu temple on 11/2/2010.
We believe the Malaysian police special branch picked up on this our pro active action from our website and/or e-mails sent out today and together with UMNO and their Mandore MIC axis diffused the situation by neutralizing and turning over the temple President and devotees and instructing them not to attend the scheduled Press Conference at our HRP HQ office today as related by the said temple President to us this morning.
This UMNO Malay-sian government led by One Malay-sian Prime Minister Najib Razak even has the cheek to offer a 20 feet x 20 feet piece of alternative land for this hindu temple to be relocated. This land would not even be enough to build a toilet. But this is how UMNO continuously insults the minority Malaysian Indians and hindus in Malaysia. As if this is not insulting enough vide the KL City Hall letter dated 10/12/08 (see below) they had stated that this 20 feet x 20 feet piece of land is a temporary relocation meaning it is with the view to be demolished again at a future date. If at all why not a permanent land solution?
Why does this demolishment, relocation and/or temporary policy and/or arrangement does not happen to any Islamic mosques or suraus or any other Chinese, Christian, or Buddhist places of worship.
In Malay-sia one hindu temple is demolished every week nationwide.
Between 2004 to 2007, 96 hindu temples were demolished in the state of Selangor alone at an average of one hindu temple being demolished in every ten days. Based on this we estimate the national Malaysian average is at one hindu temple being demolished in every week. This was the official reply given by the Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of Selangor at the Selangor State Assembly in reply to a written State Assembly question by the Kota Alam Shah Elected Representative Mr. Manoharan Malayalam who was then under detention (as a Hindraf legal adviser) without trial at Malay-sia’s very own Guantanamo Bay under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) (TN 30/10/08 at page 3).
The early indicators are that UMNO is starting on their hindu temple demolishment spree all over again which took a pause after the 100,000 hindraf peaceful aseembly on the 25^th November 2007 and the subsequent detention of in particular Hindraf Legal Adviser P. Uthayakumar.
UMNO Prime Minister Najib has no respect for Article 11 of the Federal Constitution which provides for freedom of religion and read with Section 295 (Injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) 296 ( Disturbing a religious assembly) and Section 298A of the Penal Code ( Causing etc., disharmony, disunity, or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill –will, or prejudicing, etc., the maintenance of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion).
The latest hindu temple demolished was the Om Sri Maha Kaliaman Alayam hindu temple in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 8/2/2010. ( see photos below).
This is also despite the Ministerial Statement by the Federal Territories Minister in Parliament last year (NST 11/7/08 page 13) that no more hindu temples would be demolished in Malaysia in particular in the Federal Capital. This is the height of UMNOs’ mockery of Parliamentary democracy in Malay-sia. There are precedents in Britian and other Western Democracies that when a Ministerial statement in Parliament is not complied with the said Minister would resign or would be forced to resign. But this will never happen in One Malay-sia. Unless of course a miracle happens!
And even the supposed multi-racial Opposition leaders of PKR, DAP, PAS, their 82 Members of Parliament (MP) in particular their eleven “mandore” MPs’ would never challenge this Federal Territories Minister’s Ministerial statement in Parliament, let alone championing the same outside Parliament on a needs, merits and seriousness based religious freedom issue as their political calculation may be that they may lose Malay votes by championing a hindu temple and/or a hindu religious rights issue. Further, after all the victims are merely the soft target and politically and economically weak ethnic minority Malaysian Indian hindus. (Note how UMNOs’ racist, religious extremist and supremacist mindset has spilled over to even PKR, DAP and PAS). This Opposition non action has in fact contributed to the hindu temple demolishments spree by UMNO and the critical Indian problems faced by the Malaysian Indians today because of the Opposition PKR, DAP and PAS’ refusal to play a check and balance role when and where it concerns and/or affects the Indians.
With UMNOs’ 52 years of continuous rule of Malaysia without a break in the chain (which happens only in some communist and dictatorial countries,) the net effect is this kind of UMNOs’ authoritarian and ruthless racist, religious extremist and supremacist policies goes on unabated and done with impunity.
For a permanent, harmonious, co-existing and forward moving solution we hereby call upon the Malaysian Prime Minister to:-
1) Retain this Sri Muniandy Muniswarar hindu temple where it is.
2) Grant state land to this and all other hindu temples in Malaysia and
gazette the same accordingly.
3) Similarly grant land to all hindu cemeteries, tamil schools and Indian
settlements and villages and gazette them accordingly.
The above will be a permanent and lasting solution opposed to the current piecemeal and temporary solutions especially as the Malaysian Indians are here in Malaysia to stay put permanently and to live and die here and never ever had the intention to be here on a temporary basis at all whatsoever.
For further and better particulars kindly access www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com.
Kindly revert to us accordingly.
P. Uthayakumar
Secretary General (pro tem)
c.c His Excellency Mr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India,
South Block, Rai Sina Hill, Fax No: 0091-11-23019545
New Delhi,
India – 110011
Shri S.M. Krishna
Minister of External Affairs
Room No. 169, E-Mail : eam@mea.gov.in
South Block,
New Delhi – 110011
Shri Lal Krisha Advani
Opposition Leader,
30 Prithvi Raj Road,
New Delhi – 110003 E-mail: advanilk@sansad.nic.in
India
Madam Sushma Suvaraj
Opposition Leader, India
@ Vijay Jolly All India BJP Overseas Cell
Khasra No. 322, Neb Sarai, Fax No: 0091-11-29535454
Near Ignou, E-Mail: ewec@del3.vsnl.net.in
New Delhi -68

▲