Western leaders reject a future Libya led by Gadhafi

(CNN) -- In a joint opinion piece to be published Friday, the leaders of the United States, Britain and France lay out in stark terms their contention that Libya's future…

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(CNN) -- In a joint opinion piece to be published Friday, the leaders of the United States, Britain and France lay out in stark terms their contention that Libya's future must not include its leader, Moammar Gadhafi.

"It is unthinkable that someone who has tried to massacre his own people can play a part in their future government," said the article, titled "Libya's Pathway to Peace," by U.S. President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. "It would be an unconscionable betrayal."

The article, which is slated to appear in the International Herald Tribune, Le Figaro, and Times of London, was sent to reporters by the White House.

Because Gadhafi has lost the consent of his people, "any deal that leaves him in power would lead to further chaos and lawlessness," it says. "We know from bitter experience what that would mean. Neither Europe, the region, or the world can afford a new safe haven for extremists."

The leaders called for an end to violence and for the regime's forces to pull back from the embattled cities of Ajdabiya, Misurata and Zintan, which have been besieged by Libyan government forces.

"However, so long as Gadhafi is in power, NATO must maintain its operations so that civilians remain protected and the pressure on the regime builds," they wrote. "Then a genuine transition from dictatorship to an inclusive constitutional process can really begin, led by a new generation of leaders. In order for that transition to succeed, Gadhafi must go and go for good."


At that point, they added, "the United Nations and its members should help the Libyan people as they rebuild where Gadhafi has destroyed -- to repair homes and hospitals, to restore basic utilities, and to assist Libyans as they develop the institutions to underpin a prosperous and open society."

The decision about who will replace the current Libyan leaders will be left up to the Libyans themselves, they said.

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‘New varsity forms a mockery of 1M’sia’

Hundreds of sub-races have been included in the application form for entry into local univerisities, and this has got a former state Bar Council chief all riled up.

IPOH: The…

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Hundreds of sub-races have been included in the application form for entry into local univerisities, and this has got a former state Bar Council chief all riled up.

IPOH: The new application forms for entry into local universities issued by Unit Pusat Universiti (UPU) for this year makes a mockery of Najib Tun Razak’s 1Malaysia concept to unite all races.

Former Perak Bar Council chief M Mathialagan said: “Previously, there were only four columns to indicate the race of a university applicant – Malay, Chinese, Indian or other races.

“But now these four columns have been further sub-divided to include hundreds of sub-races that is mind-boggling and makes a mockery of the 1Malaysia concept,” said the outspoken lawyer.

He said the Malays have been subdivided into six categories: Bugis, Boyan, Banjar, Jawa, Jawi Pekan and Minangkabau.

The Indians are sub-divided into eight categories: Malayali, Punjabi, Sikh, Tamil, Telegu, Malabari, Indian Muslim and Orissa.

The Chinese race is sub-divided into 12 categories: Cantonese, Foochow, Hainansee, Henghua, Hokchia, Hokchiu, Hokkien, Khek (Hakka), Kwongsai, Teochew, Kongfoo and Hylam.

The Orang Asli (Peninsula) are sub-divided into eight categories: Jakun, Negrito, Sakai, Semai, Semalai, Temiar, Senoi and Penan.

The Sarawak population has the largest number of sub-divided races (57) while Sabah’s population is sub-divided into 36 categories.

Said Mathialagan: “Our future generations should not be classified into sub-races but should be treated as one

 Malaysian race .”

“The requirement by the UPU application forms is counterproductive and is a mockery of Najib’s 1Malaysia concept. Why the need for this now?” he asked.

“This will only generate class consciousness among Malaysians and divide the people further,” he said.

According to him, a university applicant has to pay RM50 to BSN to get a pin number to access his application form from the Internet.

The closing date for this year’s intake into local universities was April 4.

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A blow against press freedom

Utusan Malaysia's swift ruling against its reporter Hata Wahari is a warning to all media practitioners in the country.

PETALING JAYA: Utusan Malaysia reporter Hata Wahari’s guilty conviction by the…

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Utusan Malaysia's swift ruling against its reporter Hata Wahari is a warning to all media practitioners in the country.

PETALING JAYA: Utusan Malaysia reporter Hata Wahari’s guilty conviction by the Umno-owned newspaper is a serious blow to Malaysia’s already-scant press freedom.

The conviction by the Malay-language daily, which may see Hata sacked in the near future, is a warning to media practitioners to toe the line, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) said.

“Hata’s conviction is a serious blow to press freedom. What company secrets is he exposing about Utusan that caused him to be punished?” CIJ publicity officer Chuah Siew Eng asked.

“It is an open secret that Utusan has been using unethical media practices. It is not surprising how editors there openly justify the control (over them) by their political masters, which they accept as a given,” she said.

Hata was pronounced guilty earlier today after a three-man domestic inquiry panel accused him of criticising the Malay-language daily.

Late last year, Hata, in his capacity as president of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), accused Utusan of unfair political coverage of the Barisan Nasional (BN).

He also attacked the newspaper in early January this year for playing up racial rhetoric in its pages, attributing these factors to its declining total circulation.

Between 2005 and 2009, Utusan Malaysia’s total circulation dropped by as much as 21%.

However, these warnings were not appreciated by Utusan’s top management, which promptly canned the outspoken journalist for his views.

Chuah said that Utusan’s editors valued political patronage over all else.

“Utusan does not see the traditional role of the press, which is to be a public watchdog on the powerful,” she said.

She added that the inquiry’s decision would also hit the NUJ hard.

“This is the first time in a long while that someone from the NUJ has spoken about press freedom. Now he has been penalised for speaking,” she said.

“It shows how bad the situation (of press freedom) is.”

Premeditated decision

Utusan’s quick sentencing was also a cause for concern.

South East Asia Media Legal Defence Network project coordinator HR Dipendra said that Hata was not given enough time or a chance to defend himself.

“It is as if they (Utusan inquiry) made up their minds even before listening to what Hata had to say,” Dipendra told FMT.

The Utusan’s panel passed the judgment on the embattled reporter a mere 15 minutes after it begun its inquiry at 10.30am.

“If a newspaper can be so quick to criticise and pass judgment about everything under the sun, surely, it would be hypocritical of them to now say that no one can criticise them in return,” Dipendra said.

“For a newspaper that claims to champion press freedom, its actions against Hata are clearly against press freedom.”

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Kenyataan Surendran Berhubung Wawancara TV3 Bersama RPK

Saya merujuk kepada wawancara bersama Raja Petra Kamaruddin yang disiarkan di TV3 semalam yang bertujuan untuk memesongkan fakta di dalam Akuan Bersumpah beliau bertarikh 18 Jun 2008. Akuan Bersumpah tersebut…

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Saya merujuk kepada wawancara bersama Raja Petra Kamaruddin yang disiarkan di TV3 semalam yang bertujuan untuk memesongkan fakta di dalam Akuan Bersumpah beliau bertarikh 18 Jun 2008. Akuan Bersumpah tersebut telah mendedahkan dakwaan serius terhadap Perdana Menteri Mohd Najib Razak dan isterinya Rosmah Mansor.

Kenyataan Raja Petra semalam yang dibuat tiga tahun selepas Akuan Bersumpah tersebut kelihatan tidak begitu penting dan kurang bernilai. Satu-satu Akuan Bersumpah perlu dibaca dan ditafsirkan berdasarkan kandungan sepenuhnya. Wawancara televisyen tidak sedikit pun menjejaskan isi atau kebenaran kandungan Akuan Bersumpah, melainkan wujud bukti berlakunya tekanan yang mana ianya tidak berlaku dalam kes ini. Adalah penting untuk dinyatakan bahawa Raja Petra telah mengesahkan Akuan Bersumpah beliau pada 18 Jun 2008 di mana beliau telah dimaklumkan oleh “sumber yang boleh dipercayai” berkenaan perkara ini.

Apa yang lebih mustahak adalah tiada penjelasan yang memuaskan dari Perdana Menteri Mohd Najib atau pihak Kerajaan berkaitan dakwaan oleh akhbar Liberation yang berpengkalan di Perancis tentang kaitan pembunuhan model Mongolia Altantuya Shaariibuu dan penjualan tiga buah kapal selam oleh syarikat Amaris dari Perancis kepada kerajaan Malaysia. Pada ketika itu, Najib merupakan Menteri Pertahanan dan bertanggungjawab ke atas pembelian tersebut. Persoalan ini adalah sangat mustahak dalam konteks kepentingan awam.

Juga tiada sebarang penjelasan yang jelas tentang mengapa syarikat Perimekar dari Malaysia menerima bayaran €114 juta dari urusan pembelian kapal selam. Urusan pembelian tersebut kini di dalam siasatan di Perancis kerana dipercayai melibatkan unsur rasuah. Adalah mengecewakan manakala pihak Perancis giat meneruskan siasatan ke atas perkara ini, namun di Malaysia ianya kelihatan “disapu ke bawah Permaidani”. Dakwaan dan isu yang menyelubunginya adalah sangat serius dan sewajarnya ditubuhkan satu Suruhanjaya Diraja untuk melakukan siasatan.

N.Surendran
Naib Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

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Witness frustrates panel of judges with his answers and silence

The Star
by YUEN MEIKENG

KUALA LUMPUR: The Teoh Beng Hock Royal Commission of Inquiry was shocked to find that a witness carried a prepared script of questions and answers…

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The Star
by YUEN MEIKENG

KUALA LUMPUR: The Teoh Beng Hock Royal Commission of Inquiry was shocked to find that a witness carried a prepared script of questions and answers when taking the stand.

The discovery was made by Bar Council lawyer Cheow Wee who noticed that Mohd Khairudin Denan, a security guard on duty at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) building the night before Teoh was found dead kept referring to his diary when replying to questions.

Among the questions printed on the paper were: “Adakah Encik Khairudin dengar macam mana pegawai SPRM buat interrogate? (Did Encik Khairudin hear how MACC officers conducted interrogations?)”

A handwritten note at the back of the paper which stated: “Yang Arif menyoal saya di luar bidang tugas saya. Saya pengawal keselamatan (Your honour is asking me something that is out of my line of duty. I am a security guard)”, was also read out.

When questioned, Mohd Khairudin insisted that he had prepared the script himself.

However, he kept silent when asked whether he was taught how to answer the questions presented to him in the inquiry.

Mohd Khairudin was chided several times by commission chairman Federal Court judge Tan Sri James Foong Cheng Yuen when his statements seemed questionable.

At one point, Foong said many MACC officers had testified that they passed in front of Mohd Khairudin but the latter denied seeing anyone.

“Is your statement true? Or is it because you don’t want to say it? What are you afraid of? The Yang di-Pertuan Agong consented to this commission. If you don’t help, you will be causing difficulties. If you see anything, you have to tell us,” said Foong.

The security guard was reprimanded again when he told the commission that he did not check a bag that was left unattended at the MACC office during his watch from midnight to 8am.

Commissioner former Court of Appeal judge T. Selventhiran then asked Mohd Khairudin: “What if there was a bomb in the bag? How can you be a security guard if you don’t check it?”, to which the guard replied that he assumed the bag belonged to an MACC officer.

Foong then chided: “Are you qualified to be a guard? How are you going to continue with your job if you behave like this?”

When Mohd Khairudin remained silent, Foong ordered the inquiry to continue saying, “let it be said of our disappointment and frustration (in our report).”

During the inquiry, the commission was informed that Australian forensic psychiatrist Prof Dr Paul Mullen, brought in by the Bar Council, would assist in the inquiry to determine Teoh’s state of mind prior to his death.

The inquiry continues on Monday.

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Rebels warn of 'massacre' in Misurata

Rebels have warned of an impending "massacre" by troops loyal to Muammar Gaddafi if NATO does not intensify its attacks on government forces in and around Misurata, which has been…

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Rebels have warned of an impending "massacre" by troops loyal to Muammar Gaddafi if NATO does not intensify its attacks on government forces in and around Misurata, which has been besieged for weeks.

Libyan government forces launched a heavy attack against the coastal city on Thursday, with dozens of Grad rockets, killing at least 23 people, a rebel spokesman said.

Misurata, Libya's third-biggest city, is the only major rebel stronghold in the west of the country. It has been the scene of major fighting between rebels and Gaddafi's forces for several weeks.

"They fired Grads at a residential area called Kasr Ahmad near the port this morning. They fired at least 80 rockets on that area," Abdelbasset Abu Mzereiq told Reuters by telephone.

He later clarified that those killed had been civilians and not rebel fighters as earlier understood. The death toll from the 90 minute artillery barrage was likely to rise, the spokesman added.

"They keep killing civilians. Yesterday we lost five civilians in the shelling and 37 were wounded."

Gaddafi loyalists were firing shells on Tripoli Street, a thoroughfare which cuts to the city centre from the western outskirts, eyewitnesses told Al Jazeera.

The rocket assault on the residential area near the rebel-controlled port had also prevented a Qatari vessel from docking, another rebel spokesman said. It was not immediately clear what the ship was carrying.

It is difficult to independently verify accounts from western Libya because journalists are prevented from reporting freely. Electricity and communications lines to the city have been cut while a rebel spokesman told Al Jazeera that the city faced food shortages.

Disparate international response

While the rebels have made it clear that they will be crushed without NATO support, the international community is struggling to come up with a united approach.

The five so-called BRICS emerging powers - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - expressed misgivings about NATO air strikes after talks in China and urged an end to the two-month conflict.

Their criticism contrasted with the first joint call for Gaddafi's overthrow from a group of Middle Eastern and Western countries meeting in Qatar on Wednesday.

In its strongest language yet, the international "contact group" on Libya demanded that Gaddafi leave power and voiced support for the rebels, while Washington has taken a back seat after handing command to NATO on March 31.

Gerard Longuet, the French defence minister, said this week Gaddafi's attacks would not be stopped without US participation in strikes on his tanks and artillery.

But Spain said it had no plan to join the seven NATO states that have conducted ground strikes while Italy, Libya's former colonial power, expressed reluctance to launch attacks.

Amid a flurry of international diplomacy over Libya, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Catherine Ashton, EU foreign policy chief, Amr Moussa, Arab League head and officials from the African Union and Organisation of the Islamic Conference discussed the war at a meeting in Cairo on Thursday.

A few dozen pro and anti-Gaddafi protesters demonstrated outside the meeting at Arab League headquarters.

Ban expressed grave concern over the escalation of violence in Libya and called for a ceasefire and the relief of besieged cities. The longer fighting went on, the more difficult a political solution would be, he said.

Britain and France are leading air strikes against Gaddafi's forces, but have grown frustrated with the lack of support from their allies. NATO says it is still short of about 10 aircraft a day for strikes.

NATO members are also divided over meeting a rebel request for weapons.

Trinidad Jimenez, Spain's foreign minister, said this was not allowed under the UN resolution authorising military action but other nations suggested it could be possible.

The rebels said they were in talks with "friendly" countries to obtain arms: "I don't think there will be a problem getting weapons," said Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, national council spokesman.

Source:Al Jazeera and agencies

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RPK: The plan was to make Ku Li the PM

Controversial blogger reveals that there was a plot to prevent Najib Tun Razak from taking over as prime minister in favour of Tengku Razaleigh.

PETALING JAYA: Controversial blogger Raja Petra…

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Controversial blogger reveals that there was a plot to prevent Najib Tun Razak from taking over as prime minister in favour of Tengku Razaleigh.

PETALING JAYA: Controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin today revealed that there was a plot engineered so that veteran Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah can take over as prime minister from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“The objective was to block Najib Tun Razak from taking over as prime minister,” said Raja Petra, better known as RPK, in his website Malaysia Today in a follow-up to an interview which was broadcast on TV3 yesterday.

“If Abdullah Ahmad Badawi can be forced to resign and if Najib is blocked from taking over, then Tengku Razaleigh (Ku Li) could become the next prime minister.

“A meeting was held in Tengku Razaleigh’s office. About 30 people, including several Umno bloggers such as Big Dog were also there. PKR people like Adlan Benan Omar and Rafizi Ramli also came.

“Many others whom you will know if I mention their names also attended (I will leave it to them whether they want to surface, but they know who I’m talking about),” he wrote in an article titled ‘Now that the shit has hit the fan’.

“The purpose of this meeting was to explore how it can be engineered so that Tengku Razaleigh can take over as prime minister.

“My friend Nik Azmi Nik Daud alias Bul was the ‘main speaker’ with all the ideas on how this can be achieved.”

Raja Petra, fondly known as RPK, said that one way to stop Najib from assuming the premiership was by linking him to the Altantuya murder.

He added that the reports he wrote on Malaysia Today, alleging Najib and Rosmah Mansor were involved in the death of Mongolian model-translator Altantuyaa Shaarriibuu was based on intelligence reports by Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Azmi Zainal Abidin, the No 2 man in military intelligence.

However Raja Petra said he never got hold of the report but based his article after his friend Nik Azmi vouched for Azmi. Raja Petra subsequently named Azmi in a statutory declaration he made in June 2008.

The media, said Raja Petra, only highlighted that he had made a statutory declaration against Rosmah and two others, Lt Cols Aziz Buyong and Norhayati Hassan even though that was not case.

“Most seem to not understand that I did not make any allegation against Rosmah or the two Lt Cols. I made only an allegation against Lt Col Azmi Zainal Abidin, the number two in the special branch of the military intelligence.”

‘Sources became turncoats’

Raja Petra revaled that he first heard of Azmi via his friend, Nik Azmi alias Bul.

“Bul then related that Lt Col Azmi Zainal has a confidential report that proved that Rosmah, Lt Col Aziz Buyong, and his wife, Lt Col Norhayati Hassan, were present at the scene of Altantuya’s murder at the time she was murdered. Bul told me to expose this.”

Raja Petra then contacted Tengku Razaleigh’s aide, John Pang for verifications of these allegations.

“John confirmed that Tengku Razaleigh knew Lt Col Azmi well and that he visited Tengku Razaleigh’s office often. He also said that Tengku Razaleigh also knew about the story of this confidential military intelligence report about Rosmah and the two Lt Cols being at the scene of the crime.”

Unfortunately, said Raja Petra, both Pang and Nik Azmi have now become Najib supporters.

“Today, Bul declares that he is a strong Najib supporter and that he has always supported Najib from way back. Suddenly he is no longer the man who was scheming on how to block Najib from taking over so that Tengku Razaleigh can be the new prime minister.

“Bul, who promised me that he will make sure I will never go to jail and that the military intelligence report would surface the instant the police come for me, today tells me that the report no longer exists.”

“John Pang, however, is now with CIMB Jakarta and we all know who owns CIMB,” added Raja Petra. CIMB is owned by Nazir Razak, the Prime Minister’s brother.

Similarly Din Merican, a blogger who spoke to Anwar Ibrahim about the matter, and assured Raja Petra that Azmi as very reliable source, has washed his hands off after being disillusioned by PKR.

Yesterday Raja Petra’s recorded interview with TV3 focused on his statutory declaration. Part two of the interview will be aired today.

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Cops must still probe RPK’s SD, says PKR veep

The blogger’s revelation on TV3 has no legal bearing on his 2008 declaration, according to lawyer N Surendran

PETALING JAYA: Despite the latest bombshell from exiled blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin,…

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The blogger’s revelation on TV3 has no legal bearing on his 2008 declaration, according to lawyer N Surendran

PETALING JAYA: Despite the latest bombshell from exiled blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, police must still investigate an allegation that Rosmah Mansor was at the scene of the Altantuya murder, PKR vice president N Surendran said today.

He said Raja Petra’s revelation in a TV3 interview aired yesterday had no legal bearing on the contents of the statutory declaration (SD) he signed in 2008 unless there was evidence that he did it under duress.

He noted that Raja Petra, in both the SD and the TV3 interview, said he was “reliably informed” that the Prime Minister’s wife was at the scene when Mongolian model and translator Altantuya Shaaribuu was killed with explosives.

The influential blogger said he received his information from a military intelligence officer, Col Azmi Zainal Abidin.

Surendran, who is also a coordinator for Lawyers for Liberty, said that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had not satisfactorily rebutted allegations by the French newspaper Liberation that there was corruption in the Malaysian purchase of submarines from France. Altantuya was said to be involved in the deal as a translator.

“At the material time, Najib was defence minister and he was responsible for the purchase,” he said.

“There is also no reasonable explanation given as to why the Malaysian company Perimekar received payment of Euro114 million out of the submarine deal. The deal is now the subject of an ongoing French corruption investigation.”

Last year, French authorities opened an investigation into the purchase of the Scorpene submarines following a request from Suaram, which alleged that French shipbuilder DCN had paid the Euro 114 million as commission to Perimekar, a company linked to Najib aide Abdul Razak Baginda.

Abdul Razak was charged with abetting in Altantuya’s murder but the Shah Alam High Court acquitted him in October 2008.

Surendran said he was disappointed that Malaysian authorities were keeping quiet while French authorities were investigating the allegation.

“The allegations and the surrounding issues are so serious and of such wide-ranging impact that we need a royal commission of inquiry to probe it,” he said.

RPK denies implicating Najib, Rosmah

In an interview with TV3 last night, Raja Petra revealed that his statutory declaration linking Najib with the

murder of Altantuya was made based on information and demand by several individuals aimed at preventing Najib from becoming prime minister.

According to a Bernama report yesterday, Raja Petra said he had never accused the prime minister or his wife Rosmah of being involved in the murder of the Mongolian woman and that he no longer believed the story of these individuals.

He added that these individuals were connected to several politicians including Anwar Ibrahim and that they had put pressure on him to do what he did to prevent Najib from taking over from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who was relinquishing the post.

“I no longer accept the story. I think it’s quite impossible. It can’t be that the prime minister’s wife would want to go to such place; it’s a jungle. I’m imagining, climbing up the hill, going into the jungle at night, at 12 midnight, I think it’s quite impossible,” he said in the exclusive interview, Bernama reported.

He said in the SD he made on June 18, 2008, he had stated that he received information from several individuals claiming that Rosmah was at the scene where Altantuya was murdered.

“In my SD, I said that these people had told (me) and for these people to come forward and tell their stories, and for the authority to investigate and call these people.

“That is what I’ve written in the SD. I’ve never raised any accusation. I didn’t say I knew that the prime minister’s wife was at the scene at that time,” he said.

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’10-point proposal just a short-term solution’

A Christian group says the proposal does not address the problems faced by the Christian community.

PETALING JAYA: The 10-point proposal to solve the long-running dispute between Christian groups and…

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A Christian group says the proposal does not address the problems faced by the Christian community.

PETALING JAYA: The 10-point proposal to solve the long-running dispute between Christian groups and the government over the import of the Al-Kitab (Malay language bible) is merely a short-term solution, the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) said.

CFM chairman Bishop Ng Moon Hing said in a statement that the Christian community has the right to use any language to read the bible.

“The bible is our holy scripture and it is our right to read, study and pray with it in the language of our choice as freedom of religion is enshrined under our Federal Constitution,” he said.

The Home Ministry caused a furore in the Christian community when it seized 35,000 copies of the A-Kitab in Port Klang (in 2009) and Kuching Port (on Jan 12, this year).

The Al- Kitab caters largely to native Christians in Sabah and Sarawak.

Ng said the 10-point solution did not resolve the Christian community’s problems that be traced to three laws that are still in force

The three laws are:

* The 1982 prohibition of the Al-Kitab under Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA) on the grounds that the bible is prejudicial to national interest and security of Malaysia.
* The 1986 administrative order prohibiting the use of the term “Allah” in Christian publications on the grounds of public order and prevention of misunderstanding between Muslims and Christians.
* The guidelines of the Home Ministry’s Quranic publication text control division prohibiting the use of the word “Allah”.

‘Confusing and unacceptable’

Ng also described the 10-point solution that the government came up just days before the Sarawak election as a “one-policy, two-countries” approach that is “confusing and unacceptable”.

He, however, expressed his intention to resolve the matter as stated in point nine of the solution, where the government expressed its “commitment to work with the Christian groups and all the different religious groups in order to address inter-religious issues…”

Another Christian group, Council of Churches Malaysia Youth, had also rejected the 10-point solution last week.

After much public pressure, the government agreed to release the bibles but not before stamping the Home Ministry’s official seal on them, along with a “For Christians Only” label.

This angered the importers who refused to collect the bibles, with numerous Christian groups accusing the government of desecrating the holy books.

The Al-Kitab controversy has also become an election issue in the Sarawak where almost half of the population are Christians.

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Anwar peeved by sex tape question by longhouse chief

In another development IGP Ismail Omar said the police have sufficient evidence to identify the man in the sex video.
UPDATED

KAPIT: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim stopped his ceramah in…

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In another development IGP Ismail Omar said the police have sufficient evidence to identify the man in the sex video.
UPDATED

KAPIT: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim stopped his ceramah in Kapit in the interior of central Sarawak after a longhouse chief asked him about a sex video and his Omega watch, witnesses said today.

Anwar, who had spoken for 20 minutes, left abruptly after longhouse chief Edison Bugap in Melekun asked him to explain his sodomy case, the video and the watch, according to a resident, said Bernama.

The national news agency reported that Anwar told the 120-strong crowd that they should be more worried about logging and seizure of their native customary rights land, the resident said.

The issue of the sex video allegedly featuring a man resembling Anwar has dogged his campaign trail in the Sarawak election.

On Sunday, Anwar ticked off a TV journalist who asked him about the watch.

Anwar has denied that the Omega allegedly found in a hotel room after a sex act caught on tape belonged to him.

Anwar’s aide: Bernama’s version untrue

Anwar’s camp however told FMT that the version of the event in Melekun as reported by Bernama was factually inaccurate.

“It is true that a question on the sex tape was raised but Datuk Seri (Anwar) did not abruptly leave the ceramah,” said an aide to the PKR de facto leader.

“In fact the crowd got very angry with the man who had asked the question and had wanted to assault him.

“He was asked to leave the ceramah, which he did.” added the aide.

He said that Anwar continued with his ceramah which was well-received by the locals.

Case to be completed next week

In another development, Inspector General of Police Ismail Omar said that the police have sufficient evidence to identify the man in the sex video.

He said that the investigations into the video were expected to be completed next week.

“We are now ascertaining, who is the owner of the (Omega) watch handed to the police,” he said.

He added that the police had also managed to talk to everyone involved in the sex video, throwing in the possibility that the police have also interviewed the woman in the video.

- Bernama/FMT

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SHAH KIRIT KUMAR - ................................

By Johnson,

I watched the video clip on his talk yesterday and i felt ashamed as a learned man like Shah, As the leading da’wah officer at IIS, he has…

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By Johnson,

I watched the video clip on his talk yesterday and i felt ashamed as a learned man like Shah, As the leading da’wah officer at IIS, he has been delivering talks and giving courses on Comparative Religion for ten years now. He is also the Da’wah Ambassador at SABA Islamic Media Sdn Bhd, having joined the organization in 1999.

Knowing his background of being a da'wah, he failed to understand the meaning of spreading peace, love and unity which Nabi Muhammad (pbuh) practices since Islaminception in the 7th century.

“If anyone kills a person – unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land – it would be as if he kill the whole nation: and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole nation” (Qur’an 5:32). He have touched the sensitivity issue of the Hinduism on our believes and practices which have been existing much more longer then any religion existence in this universe.

Understanding Hinduism takes a life time journey and even many Mahaguru's and many of these mahaguru's don't even talk about their depth of knowledge and always remain calm and the search for them have still not ended.

But for a convert of 12 to 15 years into Islam , Shah who was Kumar at one time ... can talk as if he knows so much about Hinduism and its practices. It is very sad that someone who is in the early 50's of age talk without having any background of spiritual learning's of Hinduism religion.

He even compared Tri Murthy ( Hinduism ) and Trinty ( Christianity) which he identify as similar. As i am not a scholar in Religion ... I could identify that the Christian believes in Trinity as THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. This is what have the Christian's believed for ages and it was proven to them as believers to practice what they have been taught by the priest and the Vatican . A Roman Catholic Priest will go through a process of learning doctrines and theology for not less then 8 to 10 years.

I fail to understand that Shah Kirin a Muslim convert few years back dare to talk about other religion of which he have so little knowledge of it ... A true Muslim and a real Islam believer never would talk bad of other races, in fact he will talk more about the goodness of Islam to his own people for betterment of living as a follower of ALLAH swt.

As i was watching the video and looking at the people who gathered to hear his ceremah, i could see the blank on their faces as they don't even have the slightest knowledge of Hinduism. That will make the Muslim Brother's and Sister's confused.
What comparative studies Shah is talking about ... ????????

Is he trying to say that he knows better then Ulamak's ( The Indian Muslim preachers from india). Many of the Ulamak's,which i have met and known personally have not even utter a single word on other religion . This Ulamak's are so knowledgeable and always preaches of unity, helping people who are in need, love , care , understanding and tolerance among mankind. I have listen to the masjid India Imam besar giving sermons or kutubah on friday's and they speak so well that the devotes just sit inside the masjid for more then 2 to 3 hours just to hear a intelligent ulamak speaking but on the other hand other mosque's can't hardly bear 1 hour of Jumaat prayers and also kutubah. That's how Islam is divided in comparing the Masjid India , Masjid pakistan and our local Masjid.

It is important thing is to clean your own house first before you, Shah, point your dirty finger to another people home ... Build your own people ( the Muslim's) in true Islamic practices and teach them the real teaching of Islam that is to respect, love , care and do justice to all mankind as that is what Nabi Muhammad (phub) will expect a Leader like you to do ...

Clean your our house first that's the point here .... As the Indian's and the Hindu's have home ( not house to be precise ) ... Note : A house is just a building but a home which the Hindu's live is long existed even before Islam came into existence ... that's what i meant be comparing a house and a home ...

In your speech, shah, you have shown pictures of Tri Murthy , which i don't comprehend. the reason of my saying is , Muslims doesn't believe in statues or idol's or pictures as in the house of a Muslim ...never have they have anything except Scriptures on Arabic writings only BUT you have been carrying this pictures all around your seminars in your bag .... that show's you shallow believe in the practices of Islam... What Nabi Muhammad (phub) preaches is what u should follow. Never have i heard anyway in the Qur'an, Nabi Muhammad (phub) carries pictures of deity to preach Islam.

Whatever your reasoning maybe, I can't comprehend or understand your intention doing such a wayang kulit . What are you trying to prove in this video , shah? Where in Islam teaching have you learned to humiliate other races.

i am sad sincerely from bottom of my heart and my sorrow most felt for your father, your mother, your siblings , your relatives and also your past generations such as your great grandfathers and grand mothers , as they were Hindu's and practiced Hinduism for few hundred years and here u , kumar became Shah overnight have disgrace your own family ...

In Islam , we learn and believe that

" Surga di bawah tapak kaki Ibu ....

Heaven is beneath the footsteps of a MOTHER

If only your Mother watches this video and if she condemns you then be sure enough that your place is not in heaven , my brother Shah . i wish and pray that she doesn't watch this video and hope she will never condemn you, shah ..

My advice to you brother Shah , insaf lah dan bertuabat selagi ade masa .
Hidup nie pendek jadi jagalah tata susila kita , berdepolamasi dan banyak ber isti gafar agar kita menjadi orang orang yang beriman ... Amin

I wish you brother Shah all the best and may ALLAH guide you and your undertakings ... Wasalam

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Hindraf: Arrest brutal cops or else

The Hindu rights group says it will conduct a citizen’s arrest of the Perak and Ipoh police chiefs if they fail to act against policemen who it claims are guilty…

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The Hindu rights group says it will conduct a citizen’s arrest of the Perak and Ipoh police chiefs if they fail to act against policemen who it claims are guilty of assault.

PETALING JAYA: Hindraf Makkal Sakthi has threatened to carry out a citizen’s arrest of the Perak and Ipoh police chiefs if they refuse to detain the policemen who allegedly assaulted its national secretary, P Ramesh, yesterday.

Ramesh said in a press statement today that Perak police chief Mohd Shukri Dahlan and Ipoh OCPD Azisman Abdullah would be abetting in a crime if they failed to take action on the alleged assault during a street demonstration outside the state assembly building in Ipoh.

“If they do not act on this, then Hindraf will arrest Shukri and Azisman instead under Section 27 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which allows for citizen’s arrests,” he said.

Yesterday, Ipoh police arrested 14 people, including Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar, during a peaceful demonstration outside the state assembly building in Ipoh.

The protesters had gathered there to highlight the plight of Kampung Dewan Bandaraya Ipoh villagers, who have been waiting for more than 10 years for their land titles.

In the meelee, Ramesh said, several policemen assaulted him. He vomited and could not stand on his legs, he added (see photo).

He was rushed to the Ipoh general hospital.

Ramesh also claimed that the hospital’s personnel, under instruction from the police, did not give him proper medical attention.

“The hospital did a CT scan on me only after my wife insisted on it,” he said.

“And though I was feeling pain in my lower back, the hospital refused to conduct an MRI scan in the area.”

Ramesh also demanded that the hospital give him a medical report within 24 hours so that he could get a second opinion on his condition. He alleged that the hospital yesterday refused to furnish him with it.

“If they fail to heed my request, I shall assume that the hospital is colluding with the police to cover up the assault I suffered,” he said.

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Anwar has lost credibility, says Raja Petra

The fugitive blogger does an about-turn on the opposition leader, criticising him for deceiving the people.

KUALA LUMPUR: Blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin said Anwar Ibrahim lost his credibility whe…

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The fugitive blogger does an about-turn on the opposition leader, criticising him for deceiving the people.

KUALA LUMPUR: Blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin said Anwar Ibrahim lost his credibility when he failed to fulfil his promise that the opposition pact would form the government on Sept 16, 2008.

Admitting that he was himself deceived, Raja Petra said the opposition leader had given him false hope when the blogger was detained in Kamunting, Perak, under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

“Anwar came to the court because there were two cases going on simultaneously and told me ‘don’t worry, you will be out soon because we are going to form the government on Sept 16′,” he said in an exclusive interview with TV3 group editor Ashraf Abdullah in Perth recently.

The second part of the interview was shown in Buletin Utama TV3 tonight.

Raja Petra said the failure of the opposition grouping to form the government as promised by Anwar had demoralised its supporters.

Raja Petra said the opposition could not even form a shadow cabinet.

“If we cannot even form a shadow cabinet, how can we rule? Who are the cabinet members? The voters want to know,” he said.

He said that opposition leaders who had not shown their ability when outside the government cannot be expected to be capable administrators.

Raja Petra said that it was much easier to be in the opposition because no implementaion was required.

“But when we become the government we have to carry out what we had criticised when we were the opposition,” he said.

Raja Petra said: “It is not so easy… criticising is easy. Putting our words into action, that is more difficult. But if we fail even as an opposition, the people will certainly not trust us as a government.”

Thus, he said, Anwar has lost his credibility and failed as a leader.

Endless crises

Raja Petra said the empty promises that Anwar had been making, the endless crises in the opposition pact and his own personal problems were enough for the people to assess for themselves Anwar’s leadership.

In the opposition pact itself, Anwar was not respected, which gave rise to the question of how would he be able to lead the country, Raja Petra said.

“It seems that he cannot take care of component parties… and the leaders. The excuse he gives is freedom of expression, but this is not true because he acts against anyone who criticises him,” he said.

Raja Petra said the parties in the opposition could not unite because of differing ideologies.

He cited instances of clashes among the opposition partners over policies.

Raja Petra said that Anwar was supposed to be the economic adviser to the Selangor government, but when there was heated disagreement over policy, he kept silent.

After three years in power in several states, the opposition pact can be assessed by the people, and many are disillusioned, Raja Petra said.
“Many people have told me how disillusioned they are… they no longer have confidence in the opposition,” he said.

- Bernama

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My New Straits Times and Straits Times (Singapore) interview

You must be smoking something. Let me know what it is so that I can get some. My loyalty from Day One was always with the rakyat: dulu, kini dan…

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You must be smoking something. Let me know what it is so that I can get some. My loyalty from Day One was always with the rakyat: dulu, kini dan selama-lamanya. Now, which part of the word rakyat don’t you understand?

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin
My interview with Alang Bendahara of New Straits Times

Q1: Why make the revelation now, why didn't you correct the media reports soon after your SD came out two years ago?

Actually the SD was signed three years ago, not two years ago. And it was published the very next day and I was arrested and charged almost immediately.

I have been writing article upon article over the last three years saying that I did not make any allegation about Rosmah Mansor and the two Lt Kols husband and wife. What I said was that an informer had informed me about the matter. By the way, have you read my SD yet?  I would suspect not, as many who comment do so without reading it. That is why you said two years instead of three. Or else you would have known it was signed in June 2008.

Anyway, is it my job to correct what the mainstream media intentionally distorts? And did anyone from the mainstream media talk to me? Most of the mainstream media actually covered my trials in 2008 but still they misreported the whole thing.

Are you saying I am to blame for the misdeeds and malicious acts of others? Their job is to whack me and that is what they did. Now, after three years of getting whacked, I am whacking back. Is this not my right?

Anyway, the TV3 interview was done two months ago, not now. People ask me why now, just before the Sarawak elections?

Two months ago there was no confirmation of the Sarawak elections. So when do I do the interview? After the Sarawak elections? Then, after the Sarawak elections, people will say why now, just before the 13th GE? So I wait until after the 13th GE and people will still ask, why now, just before a by-election?

So when should I do this interview? After Malaysia has banned elections?

Q2: Can you comment on Din Merican's denial that he was involved in the attempt to discredit Rosmah and Najib?

Did I say he was involved? I never said that. I just said I had asked him to check with Anwar Ibrahim the background of Lt Kol Azmi Zainal Abidin. And that was what he did. And he admitted this in his Blog posting. So what is the issue? Why accuse me of something I did not do?

Q3: Aside from your Statutory Declaration, do you have any proof of the involvement of the people you mentioned in the attempt to discredit Najib and Rosmah?

What do you mean by proof? Video recordings of them in towels in a hotel room? Define ‘proof’. Anwar was convicted and sentenced to 15 years jail in 1999 based on testimony. Testimony is proof and that was good enough to sentence Anwar to 15 years jail. My testimony is even better. It is in the form of an SD.

Q4: Now talks on the ground is that your sudden revelation is because you want to return to Malaysia. Your comment?

Talks on the ground is that Najib was caught for kalwat in a Port Dickson hotel room. Do you want to ask Najib this? Who cares about talks on the ground? If the government says I am welcome back in Malaysia and I tell the government to go to hell because I love it in the country of my birth, what then are you going to say?

And what ‘sudden revelation’? Have you not heard what I said? I have been repeating this again and again over the last three years. What’s so sudden about saying the same thing over three years? You mean I kept silent the last three years and only today I am talking?

Q5: You have also been accused of shifting attention from the Sarawak election with your latest allegation. Your thoughts.

Shifting attention? You really must improve your communication skills because I don’t understand what you mean. I have also been accused of going to church every Sunday and that my wife and I have left Islam to become Catholics.

Do you really think I care what they say? My interview was done before the announcement of the Sarawak elections. Maybe they held the Sarawak elections to shift attention from my interview since my interview came first.

Q6: Where does your loyalty lie now that you have turned the tables against Anwar and the opposition front?

You must be smoking something. Let me know what it is so that I can get some. My loyalty from Day One was always with the rakyat: dulu, kini dan selama-lamanya. Now, which part of the word rakyat don’t you understand?

************************************************************

Dear Raja Petra,

We spoke briefly over the phone. I am writing a story on your comments made during the TV3 interview aired on Wednesday night, and also your latest article on Malaysia Today.

I would like to get a few fresh comments from you if possible.

My questions are as follows:

1. When was the TV3 interview, and who requested it? Yourself or TV3? If you had requested it, what was the purpose of the interview? Where was it conducted? Was it edited? Was it accurate?

2. Why did you make that statement in the interview, that you do not believe that Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor were involved in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder. Do you believe now that Najib and/or Rosmah were maligned? Or do you still believe they may have been involved somehow with Altantuya's death?

3. Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has tweeted that the TV3 interview is due to the Sarawak elections. Rafizi Ramli said that the meeting at Tengku Razaleigh's place did not mention Najib, Rosmah or Altantuya. Din Merican has denied being involved in the whole thing and said he did not know you were going to sign a statutory declaration. Critics will say that the timing is close to the Sarawak election. And the interview was also aired just a few days after Anwar told reporters to ask Najib about Altantuya's murder. It could look as if your interview is aimed at neutralising this, and helping Najib's position especially in the Sarawak polls. What are your comments?

4. In your latest article on Malaysia Today, you said that the interview was to create a storm so that the police would investigate your SD. Does this mean that you do have doubts over Najib/Rosmah's innocence in the Altantuya murder?

Thank you so much for your time. I would be grateful for a reply today if that is possible.

Regards,
Hazlin Hassan
Malaysia Correspondent
The Straits Times (Singapore)

*******************************************************

Dear Hazlim,

What silly questions. How long have you been a reporter anyway? And have you already seen my entire more than one-hour interview? And do you know when the interview was done? Do you really think that this interview and the Anwar Ibrahim porn video are going to have a bearing on the Sarawak elections? If you do, then you had better ask to be transferred to the food and wine desk because you still have a long way to go to understanding politics.

Raja Petra Kamarudin

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BN Dijangka Tabur Jutaan Ringgit Pada 4 Hari Terakhir Kempen

Dari Keadilan Daily

Barisan Nasional dijangka akan menabur jutaan ringgit bukan sahaja kepada pengundi, malah kepada calon-calon KEADILAN yang bertanding pada 4 hari terakhir kempen Pilihan Raya Negeri Sarawak.

Pengarah…

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Dari Keadilan Daily

Barisan Nasional dijangka akan menabur jutaan ringgit bukan sahaja kepada pengundi, malah kepada calon-calon KEADILAN yang bertanding pada 4 hari terakhir kempen Pilihan Raya Negeri Sarawak.

Pengarah Strategi KEADILAN, Rafizi Ramli mengulas laporan mengenai calon KEADILAN bagi kerusi DUN Baleh, Bendindang Manja yang ditawarkan sejumlah wang supaya menarik diri daripada bertanding dalam pilihan raya itu, 16 April ini.

“Kita menjangkakan wang akan digandakan dan ia diluar kawalan kami. Pihak lawan sememangnya menggunakan taktik ini, bahkan hanya satu hari selepas penamaan pun ada diantara calon KEADILAN yang ditawarkan untuk menarik diri.

“Tapi, syukurlah setakat pemantauan kita, calon-calon masih bersama dengan rakyat. KEADILAN akan mengawal supaya tiada anasir Barisan Nasional yang akan mendekati untuk membeli calon kita,” kata Rafizi pada sidang media di Bilik Gerakan Utama KEADILAN, dekat Satok hari ini.

Beliau menjelaskan, sehingga kini tidak ada tanda yang menunjukkan calon-calon KEADILAN akan goyah walaupun tahu bahawa tawaran tersebut akan datang dari pelbagai pihak.

“Agak sukar sekarang ini bagi mereka menarik diri dan mengkhianati melihatkan kepada gelombang sokongan rakyat,” kata Rafizi.

Dalam pada itu, Rafizi mengingatkan kepada pengundi di Sarawak bahawa jumlah ribuan ringgit yang ditawarkan adalah terlalu sedikit jika dibandingkan dengan 30 tahun penderitaan rakyat Sarawak.

“Mereka beri seribu kita minta dua ribu. Mereka beri dua ribu, kita minta tiga ribu.

“Justeru saya ulang kepada para calon untuk turun bertemu dengan rakyat dan beritahu mereka untuk ambil wang itu, sebab ia memang wang anda.

“Tetapi undi adalah rahsia. Jangan lepaskan peluang, kerana hanya masa inilah sahaja kita mampu buat perubahan. Jika mahukan perubahan, undilah Pakatan Rakyat,” ujarnya.

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Will Mahathir be proven right that Taib could be another Wan Mohtar losing power in Sarawak because he refuses to step down after 30 years as Chief Minister?

Can former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad be proven right when he cryptically advised Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud to “learn from history” in deciding when…

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Can former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad be proven right when he cryptically advised Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud to “learn from history” in deciding when to step down, citing the case of “one MB who insisted he should continue, and lost the whole state”?

Mahathir was of course referring to the case of Tan Sri Wan Mokhtar Ahmad who was Mentri Besar of Terengganu for 25 years from 1974 to 1999 and was ignominiously evicted from office when Barisan Nasional suffered an electoral rout of 4 – 28 state assembly seats to PAS in the 1999 general elections.

Has Taib overstayed as Sarawak Chief Minister marking his 30th anniversary in office this year?

There can be no doubt that the question of getting Taib to step down as Chief Minister is the single most potent weapon and burning issue against the Barisan Nasional in the 10th Sarawak state general elections, uniting Sarawakians regardless of race or religion throughout the state not because of Taib’s age, the length of his tenure as Chief Minister but because of the lack of accountability, transparency and good governance under Taib’s Chief Ministership illustrated by the mountain of allegations on abuses of power and rampant corruption under his rule which he has not been able to rebut.

It is not that the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak is not aware of Sarawak Barisan Nasional’s Achilees heel but even he is impotent as far as getting Taib to step down as Chief Minister.

All Najib’s attempts to tie Taib down to an early date to step down had been fobbed off and foiled by the Chief Minister and there is nothing the Prime Minister could do about it.

For instance, when Najib “closed down” Putrajaya for six days and led his entire Cabinet to Sarawak to campaign in the Sarawak state general elections on Sunday, his first message was to assure Sarawakians that a change in the state leadership was imminent.

But Taib refused to “play ball” and made it very clear in Najib’s presence the next day that he was not planning any “imminent” stepping down as Chief Minister, as his time frame is “in a few years’ time”.

“A few years’ time” is not one or two years but at least three years and could even be four or five years!

On Tuesday, Taib even said that he had identified his successor as Sarawak Chief Minister and that he had been grooming his successor for 20 years!

This must rank as the greatest political mystery of the century as no one knows that Taib had been grooming his successor for 20 years – not even Taib or the candidate himself!

Yesterday, Taib vacillated talking at first about “two, three years” and later “two years” as the timeframe of his stepping down after Saturday’s state general elections.

Clearly, it is still very elastic to Taib as to the timeframe of his stepping down as Sarawak Chief Minister and depending on the outcome of Saturday’s polls, it could still range from two, three to four and even five years!

Of course, there is no question of Taib’s remaining as Chief Minister if Mahathir’s warning come true on Saturday and Barisan Nasional loses power with Pakatan Rakyat winning over half of the 71 State Assembly seats.

There are those who believe that Barisan Nasional will be voted out of power in April 16 general elections.

I am more inclined to the second scenario of denying the Barisan Nasional two-thirds State Assembly majority – although the first scenario of Barisan Nasional losing power in Sarawak through the ballot box is no more an unthinkable and impossible objective.

To deny the Barisan Nasional two-thirds majority in the Sarawak State Assembly, Pakatan Rakyat must win at least 24 out of the total of 71 State Assembly seats in Sarawak.

From the ferment and effervescence in Sarawak, the air of freedom of liberation evident among the people during the campaign, it is clear that something is in the works on Saturday affecting the political future of Sarawak and Malaysia.

The goal of denying the Barisan Nasional two-thirds State Assembly majority is eminently achievable which would in fact be the worst defeat in the history of Barisan Nasional.

There is no way Taib could continue as Chief Minister if he loses two-thirds state assembly majority on Saturday as this would impact most adversely on Najib’s political future and in particular for the long-delayed 13th national elections.

Although the electoral prospects for the 15 seats contested by the DAP are ever optimistic and positive by the day, I want to warn and caution all the 15 DAP candidates and election workers that we cannot be assured of victory in anyone of the seats until the votes are counted on Saturday evening and the results announced.

In the one-and-a-half days to polling, Barisan Nasional will go all out to “steal” the 10th Sarawak state general elections with their department of “dirty tricks” working 24/7.

In Kuching, SUPP leaders have declared that they are confident of winning in all the four state seats contested by DAP – Padungan, Pending, Kota Sentosa and Batu Kawah.

We must not take SUPP and Barisan Nasional boasts lightly and I call on all the four DAP candidates in Kuching as well as all the 15 DAP candidates in Sarawak and all voters, supporters and well-wishers to adopt a common approach – that no victory in any constituency is assured until the votes are counted and victory declared, and till then, an all-out effort must be launched to get out every single available vote on Saturday to usher in political change in Sarawak and Malaysia.

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A Race To The Finish In Sarawak

By Tham Choy Lin

KUCHING, April 14 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional's (BN) offensive rolled on unrelentlessly as the 10th Sarawak state election goes into the eve of polling on…

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By Tham Choy Lin

KUCHING, April 14 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional's (BN) offensive rolled on unrelentlessly as the 10th Sarawak state election goes into the eve of polling on Friday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak went through another gruelling day, visiting Miri before he again ventured into the interior, including a stopover into the remote Ba'Kelalan post in the Bario highlands to meet the people.

Najib reiterated his confidence that the people of Sarawak would return the BN to power and the state would continue to transform and become a more prosperous state.

For the first time, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, the man at the centre of attacks by the opposition, has also revealed his departure plan.

Taib, who has led the state for three decades, told the Chinese community here last night that he would retire within two years, Sin Chew Daily reported.

Speaking at the inaugural dinner of the Kuching Division Community Association, he urged the Chinese community to think deeply and continue supporting the BN.

The tussle for the Chinese-dominated seats, located in urban Kuching, Miri and Sibu is a key battle between the BN's state Chinese component, Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), and the DAP.

The outcome is a test of the SUPP's survival as a voice for the Chinese masses in the state. The SUPP lost six Chinese seats to DAP in 2006.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin met over 200 representatives of Chinese organisations here Thursday, urging them to support the BN to ensure their representation in the government and help make Sarawak more progressive and successful.

The BN is confident of repeating a two-thirds win despite facing its hardest resistance from the opposition that is helmed by peninsula-based Parti Keadilan Rakyat, DAP and PAS.

In 2006, the state BN coalition captured 62 seats in the 71-member state assembly and its tally increased to 63 after the crossover of a Sarawak National Party (SNAP) assemblyman.

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim cut short his visit to a longhouse in Kapit yesterday, according to witnesses, after he was asked by the longhouse chief about a sex video and his Omega watch.

The de facto PKR leader, whose party is gunning for 49 seats, today faced more revelations against him from Malaysia-Today blog founder Raja Petra Kamaruddin.

The blogger said in a televised interview that after Anwar's bluff to take over the government on Sept 16, 2008, the former deputy prime minister had lost his credibility and failed to become an effective leader.

Meanwhile, the police are advising voters to come early for polling on Saturday because sunny weather is expected in the morning and rain in the evening until early May.

Postal voting for the police and security personnel wrapped up today after two days.

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Sarawak & 1MDB – Remember Jho Low?

By Nathaniel Tan,

For now, just wanted to
a) Do a quick point to my article in TMI today in BM about voting without fear in Sarawak,
and
b)…

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By Nathaniel Tan,

For now, just wanted to
a) Do a quick point to my article in TMI today in BM about voting without fear in Sarawak,
and
b) Reproduce a press statement as below which looks at some interesting questions. Anyone remember Jho Low?
DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM
Wednesday 13 April 2011
1MDB – NAJIB’S POLITICAL SLUSH FUND TO PROP TAIB AND HIS CRONIES
As you may recall, I raised my concerns about 1MDB in September 2010 when Pakatan Rakyat exposed how the fund, which was already allocated RM5 billion in 2009 via government bonds, was planning to raise another RM10 billion. That would have raised the fund’s liabilities to RM15 billion by 2013, which is four times the value of bonds issued for PKFZ that amounted to RM3.68 billion.
To hoodwink the Rakyat, Dato’ Seri Najib said that 1MDB had in fact declared a profit of RM425 million in the first year of operation. He never told us how.
We have today 1MDB’s financial statements that expose BN’s blatant abuse of government funds and how it continues to mismanage the country.
1MDB was able to declare a profit for 31 Mac 2010 because it entered into a very suspicious transaction tantamount to a blatant attempt to deceive the Rakyat. The profit declared was nothing more than an accounting entry to hide a trail of arrangement to create slush funds for BN.
Hardly five months after paying RM3.5 billion in cash for an investment in a joint venture with PetroSaudi of Saudi Arabia, 1MDB sold the investment back to the owners of the Saudi concern for RM4.1 billion.
On the surface this looks like a stunning financial return; a roughly RM615 million gain that helped 1MDB show profit.
But careful reviews of the 1MDB’s financial statements show a different picture. PetroSaudi, which received cash when 1MDB bought the stake, is now paying for the transaction through an 11-year loan scheme that will only be fully repaid in 31 March 2021.
Why such a sweetheart financial arrangement?
Nearly 70% of 1MDB’S original capital is now tied-up in a loan, which there is no certainty it will be paid.
PetroSaudi and many of its associates are companies incorporated in tax havens, such as Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands. Therefore, there will not be any transparency of the transactions between 1MDB and PetroSaudi and the latter’s associates which will remain to be shrouded in secrecy.
What is even more astonishing is that the deal to sell the investment was done on 31 March 2010, which is the last day of the financial year. This sleight of hand accounting is a blatant attempt to show the dubious profit that Dato’ Seri Najib declared.
What is also as explosive is the Taib Mahmud’s connection to 1MDB and the dubious transactions it recorded.
Last year PetroSaudi paid over RM1.5 billion to takeover UBG Bhd, the financial arm of the business empire owned by Taib Mahmud’s family that was facing difficulties.
Where did that money come from?
The financial statements strongly suggest that 1MDB’s financial merry-go-round is clearly a political slush created by the BN and Najib to enrich cronies and bail them out.
Therefore, in light of the massive and unprecedented spending and political bribery seen in this Sarawak election, Pakatan Rakyat demands the following:
An appointment of a special audit to probe into the transactions involving 1MDB, PetroSaudi and UBG to ascertain whether or not government money has been used for a slush political fund;
The immediate halt of the company’s efforts to raise more funds from the banks until such probe is completed;
A freeze on any attempt by BN to transfer any government property into 1MDB, such as the plan to award the company the prime piece of real estate in Jalan Cochrane; and
A full disclosure on who is behind PetroSaudi and 1MDB to convince the Rakyat that the company is financially sound to meet all its obligations to repay the loan.

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