Sri Lankan journalist shot in his home overnight

Sri Lankan journalist Faraz Shauketally, 54, is rushed to hospital in Colombo after being shot in his home.

(CNN) -- A few days ago, strangers appeared at the door of a Sri Lankan investigative journalist when he wasn't home, asking questions about him.

Just before midnight Friday, three men stormed Faraz Shaukatally's house as he slept, police said.

One of them shot him.

Journalists face heavy intimidation in Sri Lanka, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, which has called the island nation a "highly restrictive and dangerous nation for the press."

Shaukatally survived the attack, which left him with a bullet lodged under the neck and questions about who may have wanted him dead.

Police have not apprehended the gunmen or established a motive, but the editor of his paper thinks he was shot over his critical articles.

"He has been writing a number of investigative stories in the past weeks," said Shakuntala Perera, who heads the Sunday Leader in the capital of Colombo. "Our journalists have been under constant threat."

Though the last journalist killings were four years ago, 25 members of the press have been murdered in Sri Lanka since 1999, according to CPJ.

Nine of the murders in the past decade remain unsolved. More than 63% of journalists killed in the country covered politics as a part of their work.

In the past five years, 20 journalists have fled the country, CPJ has said.

Last year, the government blocked a freedom of information bill citing national security, further denying journalists and citizens access to documents.

Perera's predecessor, Frederica Jansz, went into exile after a businessman with close government ties bought the paper last year.

In recent weeks, the Leader ran articles critical of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Perera admitted that she does not know whether Shaukatally was attacked specifically for any of his work.

He underwent surgery Saturday to remove the bullet.

Insiden mahasiswa dikepung samseng Umno Pekan

Two women murdered on Valentine's Day

TODAY'S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL

Two women were killed on Valentine's Day in different parts of the country.

A woman was shot to death by her ex-husband on Thursday in the northern province of Samsun. The incident took place when Gürsel B. came across his ex-wife on the street. Gürsel B. reportedly shot Yasemin Kadı several times before running away. Witnesses who saw the incident immediately called the police. The seriously injured Kadı was taken to a nearby hospital, where she subsequently died. Police have launched an investigation to find Gürsel B.

Another incident took place in the southern province of Hatay. A woman was killed by a man after rejecting his proposal of marriage. Mehmet Topbaş proposed to his relative Serpil Topbaş, who had divorced her husband a year ago. When he was rejected by Serpil, he became agitated and made death threats against her. When she repeated her unwillingness to marry him, Mehmet stabbed Serpil, who died at the scene. He later called the police, admitting that he had stabbed a woman and wanted to turn himself in. The police later arrested the man after interrogating him at the police station.

Anti-Islamist blogger killed in Bangladesh violence

Dhaka: A Bangladeshi blogger who had been critical of the Islamist groups has been killed, prompting the protesters here to continue their round the clock sit-in vigil demanding death penalties for 1971 war criminals

Rajib Haidar, 30, an architect and Shahbagh protest activist, was stabbed to death near his house at Pallabi in the capital last night.

"We have launched a massive manhunt for killers of Rajib Haidar... The detective branch and the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) separately took fingerprints to track down the assailants," a police spokesman said.

The protestors at Shahbagh accused fundamentalist Jamaat- e-Islami (JI) of killing Haidar with lethal weapons last evening while he was returning home.

The killing prompted the protesters to go back to their 24-hour movement instead of seven-hour programme which they had declared hours before the death.

Haidar's death came hours after violence at southeastern Cox's Bazar district that left three people dead. The violence broke out after JI activists turned violent following Friday prayers to protest their top leaders' trial for war crimes.

JI and their student affiliate Islamic Chhatra Shibir were trying to wage counter protest attacking or torching vehicles and attacking policemen apparently under a hit and run strategy to halt their stalwarts' ongoing trial.

The violence saw deaths of at least 14 people including Haidar, who apparently came under wraths of the Islamists for his internet blog campaign demanding ban on the JI politics and boycott of the health, banking and other services as part of the youngsters "non-political and non-partisan" movement.

"We announce from here, we will not go back home until the war criminals are hanged, his (Haidar's) assailants are exposed to justice and politics of Jamaat and Shibir is banned," said a leading organiser of the Shahbagh protest.

Meanwhile, JI has called a nationwide general strike on Monday and enforced a localised one in Cox’s Bazar today to protest deaths of three of the party's activists yesterday.

PTI

Najib to face-off Anwar?

The stage is set for an exciting encounter between two sworn political foes.

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim may come face to face with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak at a Chinese New Year open house in Kajang tomorrow — and deliver highly charged political speeches.

The event is organised by Dong Zong, a Chinese education pressure group.

Anwar today said he would not avoid meeting Najib if both were to share the same stage at the gathering.

Both Najib and Anwar have agreed to attend the event.

Said Anwar: “What’s the problem [meeting him]? My battle is not personal, I’m not going to fight with him,” he said when asked by reporters whether he would meet Najib.

He was attending a Chinese New Year function at the Batu constituency here.

The encounter will whip up a frenzy of interest as the two top leaders have never met outside of Parliament since 2008.

According to media reports, Najib has informed Dong Zong about his attendance on Thursday. Yesterday, Anwar confirmed he would also be attending.

The open house is scheduled to begin at 10am at the Dong Zong headquarters in the premises of the New Era College.

Both Anwar and Najib are expected to deliver highly politically-charged speeches, should they appeared at the occasion at the same time.

Anwar said he will not be worried if Najib were to announce that the government will recognise the Chinese independent schools’ Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) at the function tomorrow.

He said Pakatan has already pledged to recognise the UEC three years ago.

“Recognising UEC is a common policy approved by the three parties in Pakatan three years ago. Najib will only now be responding to it, a month before the general election, and that is the big difference,” he said.

However, he added that the recognition of Chinese independent schools and UEC comes with the condition that the students must be able to master Bahasa Malaysia.

“We say we will continue to fully support all schools including the Chinese and Tamil schools,” he said.

On a separate matter, Anwar dismissed the controversy about him donning the Huguan Siou headgear and sash at a function in Sabah recently.

The accessories are reserved for the paramount leader of the KadazanDusunMurut (KDM) community.

The PKR de facto leader said he was only presented the headgear and sash by a local priest without being bestowed the Huguan Siou title.

“No, there was no announcement made, nothing was mentioned (about the title). My only concern at that time was whether there was a cross on the drape, because it would be used by Umno to attack me,” he said.

The incident has caused a stir with many Sabah-based leaders criticising Anwar as not being fit to wear the accessories because he was not an ethnic Kadazan.

Tindakan Najib memudaratkan keselamatan rakyat

Bekas pengarah Jabatan Siastan Jenayah, Polis, Kuala Lumpur berkata pakar patologi Thailand Dr Pronthip Rojanasunand sepatutnya dibenarkan membuat bedah siasat di negara ini.
COMMENT

Oleh: Mat Zain bin Ibrahim

Sehingga keakhir tahun 1998 nilai kesahan dan kebolehpercayaan laporan-laporan Pakar Patologi (Pathologist ) tidak banyak dipersoalkan. Malahan kebanyakkan pendapat dan penemuan pakar-pakar berkenaan diterima bulat-bulat sebagai kata pemutus.

Namun begitu keadaannya berbeza sejak beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini dimana kedapatan kewibaan dan tahap profesionalisme pakar-pakar tempatan bidang ini, bukan sahaja diragui dan dipersoalkan malahan dikecam begitu hebat apabila telah terbongkar perbuatan manipulasi dan pemalsuan yang berlaku secara terancang dalam penyediaan laporan-laporan forensik dalam kes-kes berprofil tinggi yang tertentu.

Fenomena ini lebih terserlah lagi dalam kes-kes penyiasatan melibatkan kematian Teoh Beng Hock, Kugan Ananthan (Kugan), Aminurrasyid Amza, Ahmad Sarbani dan terkini dalam kes kematian C.Sugumaran pula.

Menambah burukkan lagi keadaan, ialah apabila Malaysian Medical Council sendiri telah mendapati seorang Pakar Patologi dari Hospital Serdang, Dr.Abdul Karim Tajuddin bersalah melakukan salahlaku professional kerana memalsukan penemuan laporan post-moterm dalam kes melibatkan Kugan.

Namun begitu Peguam Negara tidak memulakan sebarang pendakwaan terhadap Pathologist terlibat walaupun kesalahan tersebut adalah perbuatan memalsukan keterangan.

Punca ketidakyakinan rakyat.

Perbuatan memalsukan dan/atau memanipulasikan laporan forensik terdedah dengan jelas dalam penyiasatan insiden mata-lebam 1998.

Dalam kes ini, Gani Patail kini Peguam Negara, dengan kerjasama rapat oleh Musa Hassan,kini seorang mantan KPN telah memujuk dan/atau menghasut dan/atau memaksa seorang Perunding Pathologist dari HKL, Dr.Abdul Rahman Yusof untuk menyediakan laporan-laporan pakar yang palsu untuk mengesahkan bahawa kecederaan yang dialami oleh Anwar Ibrahim ketika dalam tahanan polis adalah akibat dicederakan sendiri (self-inflicted injuries).

Gani Patail dan Musa Hassan sanggup melakukan tindakan tersebut dipercayai untuk menyeragamkan dengan pengumuman yang dibuat 3 minggu sebelum itu oleh Perdana Menteri ketika itu, Tun Mahathir ,bahawa Anwar telah mencederakan diri sendiri.

Begitu juga dengan pemalsuan keterangan DNA diatas tilam masyhur oleh Musa dan Gani yang dipercayai dilakukan setelah sebulan sebelum itu Tun Mahathir mengumumkan bahawa pemecatan Anwar dari semua jawatan Kerajaan dan Politik, diatas sebab kelakuan tidak bermoral dan penglibatan beliau dalam aktibiti homoseksual.

Pemalsuan yang mereka lakukan ini adalah sebegitu jelas sehinggakan Hakim mendiang Datuk Augustine Paul yang dikatakan memihak kepada pihak pendakwaan pun, tidak berani untuk menerimanya sebagai keterangan sahih dan benar, lalu mengeluarkannya daripada rekod prosiding.

Bukan sahaja mereka-meraka yang melakukan pemalsuan ini diberi perlindungan oleh Kerajaan, malahan Gani Patail dan Musa Hassan masing-masing dijadikan Peguam Negara dan Ketua Polis Negara kemudiannya, diikuti dengan anugerah Darjah-Darjah Kebesaran dan rezeki yang melimpah ruah.

Mungkin akibat melihat faedah dan ganjaran yang diterima oleh mereka berdua inilah, yang mendorong satu atau dua orang lagi Pathologist yang lemah semangat untuk mengikuti jejak langkah mereka yang tidak bertanggung jawab itu.

Akibatnya kesemua laporan forensik oleh Pathologist tempatan dipertikaikan kesahan dan kebolehpercayaannya khususnya dalam kes-kes kematian ketika dalam tahanan polis.

Walhalnya Negara kita sendiri mempunyai pakar Pathologist yang bukan sahaja setaraf, malahan lebih baik lagi daripada Dr. Pornthip Rojanasunand dari Thailand itu.

Dakwaan penglibatan YAB Perdana Menteri.

Kini tahap ketidakpercayaan kepada laporan forensik oleh pakar patologi tempatan dibawa pula ketahap antarabangsa apabila, terdapat dakwaan terbuka yang mengaitkan PM Najib sebagai telah memberi tekanan kepada Perdana Menteri Thailand untuk menghalang Dr.Pornthip Rojanasunand untuk datang kesini bagi membuat pemeriksaan kedua keatas mayat Sugumaran sepertimana yang beliau lakukan dalam kes Teoh Beng Hock.

Peguam-peguam keluarga mendiang Sugumaran tidak akan membuat dakwaan terbuka yang serius sedemikian itu terhadap seorang PM, sekiranya mereka tidak mempunyai bukti yang kukuh.

Kini Dr.Pornthip sendiri telah membuat kenyataan terbuka menerusi media elektronik.Sungguhpun maklumat yang didedahkan adalah terhad,namun ianya sudah cukup untuk membuktikan bahawa memang benar terdapat sesuatu perundingan antara pemimpin kedua-dua Malaysia dan Thailand , supaya Dr.Pornthip dihalang daripada melakukan pemeriksaan kedua, keatas mayat Sugumaran walaupun beliau telah mempersetujuinya sebelum itu.

Apa yang rakyat tidak mungkin akan tahu ialah permainan dan persetujuan dibelakang tabir, diantara kedua pemimpin tersebut.Kita berharap PM Najib telah dinasihatkan oleh Jabatan Peguam Negara akan implikasi tindakan beliau itu jika terbukti benar.

Perkara yang dilakukan bukan “perundingan politik” tetapi adalah suatu konspirasi jenayah untuk menyorokkan keterangan yang benar didedahkan didalam suatu prosiding kehakiman membabitkan kematian.

“It’s all fairy tales”

Dakwaan yang dilontarkan oleh peguam N.Surendran yang mewakili keluarga mendiang Sugumaran adalah sesuatu yang sangat serious yang bukan sahaja membabitkan maruah dan kredibiliti Perdana Menteri Malaysia tetapi membabitkan juga Perdana Menteri Thailand.

Jawapan “It’s all fairy tales” yang keluar dari mulut Najib sendiri adalah satu jawapan yang lemah dan tidak bermaya yang tidak sepatutnya datang dari seorang Perdana Menteri yang bertanggung jawab.Beliau sepatutnya lebih tegas dan melakukan sesuatu jika dakwaan itu tidak benar.

Kita percaya rakyat dan pemimpim-pemimpin Kabinet Thailand mempunyai pendirian mereka tersendiri khasnya apabila Perdana Menteri wanita mereka yang pertama, dikaitkan dengan konspirasi jenayah di-Negara kita.

Begitu juga dengan reaksi apabila terdapat beberapa Peguam Perancis mendedahkan yang Najib sendiri terlibat dalam scandal pembelian Scorpene .Beberapa ramai puak pengampu di-Negara ini yang kononya tersangat marah dan tersinggung dengan pendedahan tersebut.

Malahan terdapat seorang Menteri Kanan yang kononya sanggup mempertahankan Najib sehingga titisan darah yang terakhir dalam perkara ini.Terdapat juga Menteri dan pemimpin-peminpin kerajaan yang lain yang mengambil tindakan “tidak dapat tanduk,telinga dipulas” seperti yang berlaku kepada NGO Suaram.

Kita harus terima hakikat bahawa di-Thailand juga mempunyai pemimpin-pemimpin dan puak yang serupa yang akan menunggu masa untuk bertindak balas dengan cara tidak dapat tanduk telinga dipulas juga.Lebih lagi rakyat Thailand yang sangat sensitif jika Raja atau pemimpin tertinggi mereka dihina atau dituduh yang bukan-bukan.

Yang menjadi mangsanya kelak ialah rakyat jelata khasnya yang berada dipersempadanan kedua Negara.Saya faham sensitibiti mereka, kerana pernah bertugas selama 6 tahun di-Changloon dan Padang Besar ,ketika pagar dan tembok sempadan mula dibina sehingga selesai.

Apa yang boleh kita lihat dihadapan mata dan kepala kita sekarang ini pula, ialah masaalah lebih kurang 100 orang penceroboh dari kepulauan Filipina yang dikatakan bersenjata yang menyusup masuk ke-Lahad Datu,Sabah.

Jika Kerajaan mengharapkan kerjasama yang jujur daripada Kerajaan Filipina untuk mengusir penceroboh-penceroboh ini ke-Negara asal mereka, maka kita patut melupakan harapan itu.

Jika Kerajaan Najib boleh menipu dan mempermainkan Kerajaan Filipina disaat-saat akhir berkaitan dengan penyerahan Manuel Amalilio, seorang penjenayah yang dikehendakki kerana menipu lebih kurang 15,000 pelabur rakyat Filipina pelaburan berjumlah P12 Billion, maka mereka juga menantikan peluang untuk bertindak balas secara tidak dapat tanduk telinga dipulas juga.

Kerana ingin menyelamatkan seorang penjenayah yang sangat dikehendakki oleh Filipina,yang kebetulannya mempunyai pertalian persaudara dengan Musa Aman,Ketua Menteri Sabah,Anifah Aman, Menteri Luar yang berkaitan dengan Gani Patail,Peguam Negara juga,Kerajaan Najib telah meletakkan rakyat Malaysia yang tidak berdosa yang sedang berada atau bekerja di-Filipina dalam risiko untuk diapa-apakan oleh mana-mana satu daripada 15,000 orang atau sanak saudara mereka, yang menjadi mangsa penipuan oleh Amalilio.

Kita tidak boleh hairan jika pasukan keselamatan Filipina akan membiarkan sahaja lebih ramai penceroboh-penceroboh dari kumpulan yang sama, masuk ke-Lahad Datu setelah mereka diaibkan oleh Polis kita yang “merampas” Amalilio dari genggaman mereka, sejurus sebelum menaiki kapal terbang ke-Filipina.

Akhirnya kita akan terpaksa menyerahkan sebahagian dari tanah Sabah kepada penceroboh-penceroboh itu sepertimana kita terpaksa menyerahkan Pulau Batu Putih (Pedra Branca) kepada Singapura.

Kejadian penahanan seorang Senator Australia,Nick Xenophon di-Lapangan Terbang LCCT dan menghalang beliau dari memasukki Negara ini awal pagi tadi,jelas membuktikan Najib dan Kerajaannya menyimpan dendam terhadap Xenophon, kerana telah mengeluarkan kenyataan yang mengkritik Kerajaan BN tahun lalu.

Jika Najib dan Kabinetnya boleh menyimpan dendam terhadap seorang Senator Australia,maka begitu juga Kabinet dan rakyat Thailand boleh menyimpan dendam terhadap rakyat Malaysia kerana mengaitkan Perdana Menteri mereka dengan salahlaku jenayah, manakala Kabinet dan rakyat Filipina pula menyimpan dendam terhadap kita akibat ditipu disaat akhir dalam kes penyerahan Amalilio.

Mungkin kepada PM Najib peristiwa yang berlaku ini dan kemungkinan sejarah akan berulang hanyalah fairy tales semata-mata.Itu hak beliau.Rakyat pula mempunyai hak untuk mengetahui perkara sebenar.

Kebolehpercayaan penafian Najib.

Berdasarkan kepada dolak-dalik Najib dalam memberikan jawapan kepada beberapa perkara penting sebelum ini dan memandangkan bahawa beliau sendiri boleh keliru atau tersilap dengan nama beliau sendiri, sama ada terdapat perkataan Muhammad atau tidak,maka jawapan beliau dalam perkara Dr.Pornthip Rojanasunand itu amat meragukan,mengelirukan dan tidak ada nilai kebolehpercayaan.

Ministerial Statement.

Memandangkan tindakan dan jawapan Najib dalam perkara-perkara yang dinyatakan diatas,boleh menimbulkan kegusaran dan perasaan bimbang dan cemas dikalangan rakyat jelata, khasnya mereka yang mempunyai keluarga atau sanak saudara dan sahabat handai yang bersempadan atau didalam Negeri Thailand,Filipina dan Australia maka PM Najib sewajarnya mengeluarkan satu Kenyataan Menteri (Ministerial Statement) bagi menjelaskan tindakan yang beliau telah ambil berkaitan perkara Dr.Pornthip Rojasunand,Manuel Amalilio dan terbaru terhadap Senator Nick Xenophon.

Jika Kerajaan boleh mengeluarkan Ministerial Statement menerusi Parlimen pada bulan Disember 2010 sebagai membela Gani Patail dan Musa Hassan daripada dakwaan salahlaku jenayah mereka berdua,maka rakyat mengharapkan penjelasan yang terperinci juga, dalam perkara yang boleh mendatangkan kemudharatan kepada kehidupan dan keharmonian rakyat sendiri.

Nota: Datuk Mat Zain bin Ibrahim adalah bekas pengarah Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah, Kuala Lumpur. Kandungan diatas adalah surat terbuka beliau kepada Ketua Polis Negara Tan Sri Ismail Hj.Omar.

Najib’s denial is a lie

PKR vice-president N Surendran and activist Latheefa Koya maintain their claim that the prime minister did stop Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand from coming here.

PETALING JAYA: PKR vice-president N Surendran and activist Latheefa Koya have reiterated that letters between the Thai Justice Ministry and renowned pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand proves that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak lied when he told the media that the Malaysian government did not stop Pornthip from conducting a post-mortem here.

The two lawyers who are representing the family of the late Sugumar, the 40-year-old security guard who was handcuffed and allegedly beaten to death by the police, said the government had prevented Pornthip from performing a second autopsy on Sugumar, who is yet to be buried although he died some two weeks ago.

“Pornthip had said that Thailand’s Ministry of Justice had informed her that there was communication from the Malaysian government on their displeasure against her, especially in her role in the earlier case of Teoh Beng Hock.

“In diplomatic language, this is a clear message from the Malaysian government that Pornthip is not welcome in Malaysia for purposes of the second autopsy on Sugumar,” they said in a press statement in response to Najib’s denial.

Yesterday, Najib refuted allegations that he prevented Pornthip, who is also a director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science at the Ministry of Justice, Bangkok, Thailand, from conducting a second post-mortem on Sugumar.

“It is not true… these are all fairy tales. Don’t listen to it. Not at all,” Najib was quoted as saying.

Sugumar was detained and allegedly beaten to death by four police personnel and a group of mob in Hulu Langat on Jan 21. The following day, a post-mortem conducted in Serdang Hospital concluded that Sugumar died of a heart attack.

The findings were disputed by the family who wants a second post-mortem. Surendran has been requesting for the second post-mortem to be conducted by Pornthip.

Surendran and Latheefa also claimed that there is a letter from the Thai Justice Ministry to Pornthip that clearly stated that the Malaysian government was against her conducting a second post-mortem on Sugumar.

“Najib’s denial is further contradicted by the existence of a letter from the Thai Ministry of Justice to Pornthip stating in effect that the Malaysian government was against her conducting the second autopsy. That letter was dated Feb 14 and was a follow-up to communications on this subject between the Malaysian and the Thai governments.

Surendran and Latheefa urged Najib to “immediately lift all diplomatic and administrative obstacles against the pathologist”.

Gazette temple land, Jeyakumar told

A temple committee in Klang wants the state government to gazette a land promised for the construction of a multi-purpose hall before dissolving the State Legislative Assembly.

KLANG: The Sri Raja Rajeswari temple committee wants Selangor executive councilor Dr Xavier Jeyakumar to keep his promise to gazette a land for construction of a multi-purpose hall at Taman Sentosa, Klang.

In making this call, the temple committee member V Thiagarajen gave the state government one week to gazette the 1.13 acre land for the use of the temple.

Speaking to FMT, Thiagarajen, better known as VT Rajen, said the state government must gazette the land before the Selangor State Legislative Assembly is dissolved to pave way for the state polls.

“We give him one week to solve this matter. If he fails to do so, then we will build a barrier around the promised land,” said Rajen, who is also Taman Mujur MIC branch chairman.

He said Jeyakumar had officiated at a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the multi-purpose hall on the land, located behind the temple complex, on June 17, 2012.

“Since then the temple committee met Xavier various times to get the state government’s nod. But, every time he gave lame excuses on the land issue,” said Rajen.

He said the temple committee fears that it would lose the land if the state government fails to approve the land before the general election.

“With the election around the corner, the state government has only about two weeks to approve and endorse the approval in its executive council meeting. This is near impossible. Everything must be completed in two weeks,” he added.

Jeyakumar, when contacted, denied the allegation saying that the state was in the process of gazetting the land.

“The state government is engaging all temples. If it is complicated, it takes time,” he told FMT.

He said if it was a “straight forward” case, then the state government would have no problem in awarding the land to the temple.

“Be patient. We are working on degazetting the land from its vacant land status and we will gazette another land as vacant to replace this,” added Jeyakumar.

Mahathir enters fray as Malaysia braces for poll

Lured into politics … South Korean singer Psy performs at an event in Penang organised by Malaysia's ruling party. Photo: AFP

KUALA LUMPUR: As Malaysia approaches its tightest election in half a century, the opposition activist Ambiga Sreenevasan has shrugged off calls for her to be stripped of her Malaysian citizenship.

''This will be the dirtiest election ever because it is the most closely fought … Cheating and fraud could be the deciding factor,'' Ms Ambiga, who heads Bersih, a group campaigning for free and fair polling, said.

This will be the dirtiest election ever because it is the most closely fought.

''There are many discrepancies appearing on electoral rolls, particularly with the sudden registering of foreigners, many of whom appear to be migrant workers.

''The mainstream media is far from free and fair … [The ruling parties] are doing everything they can to stay in power.''
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Mahathir Mohamad, the former prime minister who ruled for 22 years, last week called for Ms Ambiga to be stripped of her citizenship.

Ms Ambiga said she and her family had lived in Malaysia for generations and she would leave it to others to

"Cheating and fraud could be the deciding factor" ... opposition activist Ambiga Sreenevasan. Photo: AFP

judge whether Dr Mahathir - who broke a promise to stay out of politics when he left office in 2002 - was playing race politics in a country where ethnic Malays made up about 65 per cent of the population of 28 million. Ethnic Chinese account for another 25 per cent and ethnic Indians 8 per cent.

Opinion polls show the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition has lost much of the support of the Chinese, who have been alienated by corruption and policies favouring ethnic Malays, leaving the coalition heavily reliant on Malay votes to stay in power.

Ms Ambiga said voters had become empowered through the internet and social media and were no longer prepared to accept corruption.

''There is also for the first time a strong opposition which has brought out the scandals … I can sense the momentum is picking up,'' said Ms Ambiga, whose organisation has brought tens of thousands of people onto the streets to rally for free elections.

With only a few weeks remaining before the Prime Minister, Najib Razak, must call an election, religious tensions are also flaring over a call by an independent Muslim MP for the mass burning of Bibles which use the word ''Allah'' to refer to God.

Lim Guan Eng, the chief minister of the opposition-ruled island of Penang, put police on alert after a note was found at a church promising a Bible-burning ''festival'' this weekend. ''Let's teach 'em a lesson,'' the note read.

Financial markets are jittery over the political uncertainty in a country where the BN has never lost an election since independence from Britain in 1957.

At the last election in 2008, the BN lost its two-thirds majority as well as five out of 12 contested state governments.

Mr Najib, who became Prime Minister in 2009, has abolished repressive national security laws and hopes Malaysia's strong economic performance and handouts to poorer Malaysians will shore up his support.

In a bid to placate Malay voters, he has also softened an earlier pledge to replace a 40-year-old affirmative action policy that favours Malays with a ''new economic model''.

In one poll released in January, Mr Najib was only one percentage point ahead of the charismatic Anwar Ibrahim, a former deputy prime minister who heads the multi-ethnic opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat (People's Pact).

An opposition rally drew close to 100,000 people in Kuala Lumpur on January 12, one of the country's largest-ever shows of political strength.

More than 3 million new voters have registered since the last election, deepening uncertainty about the result.

Analysts say many of them are young voters who are likely to be more open to change.

Seeking to appeal to these younger voters, Mr Najib's party lured the South Korean pop star Psy with a huge fee to perform at a Chinese New Year party in Penang on Monday.

Mr Najib promised to build 20,000 new houses and a new monorail system for the island before appearing on stage.

''Are you ready for Psy?'' he yelled to the fans, who yelled back, ''Yes''. But when Mr Najib then yelled ''Are you ready for the BN?'' many yelled, ''No''.

Ms Ambiga said her organisation is mobilising squads of citizen observers to fan out across the country to observe the election, which must be held before the end of June.

Requests to admit observers representing the United Nations or Western countries have been denied, although some local non-governmental organisations will be invited to polling stations, with restricted access.

''People have decided to take it upon themselves to observe the elections,'' Ms Ambiga said, adding she believes the election is too close to call.

''Malaysians have a habit of surprising - watch this space.''

54-Day Countdown to 13 GE – Najib should announce three ang pows at Dong Zong CNY Open House tomorrow: full recognition of UEC, approval for four Chinese Independent Secondary Schools and review of National Education Blueprint

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak should announce three ang pows at the Dong Zong Chinese New Year Open House tomorrow, namely:

* Full government recognition of Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) as one of the academic qualifications for entry into national higher learning institutions, public services and teaching academies;

* Government approval for four Chinese independent secondary schools in Petaling Jaya, Puchong, Segamat and Johore Baru;

* Review of the National Education Blueprint to give full recognition of mother-tongue education in the mainstream of the national education system, including:

1. Increase in the number of Chinese and Tamil primary schools dependent on the needs of parents to send their children to Chinese and Tamil primary schools in order to ensure the right of students to receive mother-tongue education; and

2. Fair and just capital allocations for development expenditures of Chinese and Tamil primary schools and the provision of adequate trained teachers; and

3. Assist Malaysian independent Chinese secondary schools in financing, teacher-training, curricula design, amenities, etc and to allow them to relocate, set up branches and put up new premises.

DAP and Pakatan Rakyat are committed to the full recognition of UEC and if Najib fails to make such an announcement tomorrow, then it will be one of the priority policy announcements of a new Pakatan Rakyat government in Putrajaya after the 13GE.

It will be a great disappointment and just not good enough if the Prime Minister comes to the Dong Zong CNY Open House with promises of recognition or agreement in principle to recognize the UEC, when the UEC is recognised world-wide as of high academic standards for all educational and employment purposes.

Malaysians will be very wary of such announcements after the infamous Su Qiu fiasco three general elections ago, where the Cabinet agreed “in principle” before the 1999 general election to the 83-point Su Qui Appeals, but which was disowned by the then Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Mahathir Mohamad, who after the general elections accused the Su Qiu supporters of wanting to cause racial disunity and “not much different from the communists or Al-Maunah”.

A racial confrontation was engineered after the 1999 General Elections when Mahathir alleged that the Cabinet was forced to accept Su Qui “in principle” and that UMNO/BN were “threatened then as elections were just round the corner”.

Mahathir said: “That’s why they came up with the memorandum, as a threat to the Barisan Nasional, and that if we didn’t entertain their request they would tell the Chinese not to support us. This was deliberate and the timing was well-planned. What could we do then?”

In the confrontation, the Suqiu or Malaysian Chinese Organisations Election Appeals Committee were pressured to withdraw seven of the Suqiu Appeals.

In fact, in his appearance at the Dong Zong CNY Open House tomorrow, Najib should apologise for the hypocrisy and insincerity of the Barisan Nasional Cabinet agreement “in principle” of the 83-point Suqiu Appeals on Sept. 22, 1999, but which UMNO and all the Barisan Nasional component parties, including MCA, Gerakan and SUPP reneged after the 1999 general elections.

What assurance can Najib give that there would be repetition of the Su Qiu fiascos in future?

(Lim Kit Siang speech at the Perak Pakatan Rakyat Open House in Ipoh on Saturday, 16th February 2013 at 11 am)

Press Release: Absurd Detention and Deportation of Australian Senator

The Malaysian Bar is astounded at the absurdity of the Malaysian authorities in detaining Australian Senator Nick Xenophon upon his arrival on Malaysian soil this morning.  He is currently in custody, having been reportedly refused entry into the country, and will be deported.

Such shameful action on the part of the authorities shows the sizeable gulf between the aspirational statements of the Prime Minister that Malaysia is a modern democracy, and the irrational actions of the people around him.

During the Senator’s visit to Malaysia, he was scheduled to meet representatives of the Government, the Opposition, civil society groups, as well as leaders of the Malaysian Bar.

The authorities are apparently relying on section 8(3) of the Immigration Act, which stipulates the classes of prohibited immigrants, as the legal basis for detention.  However, in the public mind the most natural inference is that the Malaysian Government opposes, and is fearful of, the Senator's views and comments, as he has been outspoken and critical of the Government regarding issues of democracy and human rights.¹

Criticism of policy and governance must be respected and received without reprisal, even if they contain inconvenient and uncomfortable truths.  Any other reaction would be a sign of insecurity, and would disrespect the rule of law.

The Malaysian Bar reminds the Prime Minister that action must follow aspiration.  In this instance, the authorities owe an unreserved apology to Senator Nick Xenophon and must promise such an incident will not happen again, to him or any other visitor, merely on the basis of their views.

The Malaysian Bar also calls on the Government to allow the Senator entry into the country, and to assure his colleagues that they will be permitted entry as well.

Lim Chee Wee

President

Malaysian Bar

Mahathir has 'no intention' of contesting against Anwar

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has refused to entertain the challenge thrown at him to go against his once deputy, now Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, in the coming polls.

“I am retired (from politics), I do not have any intention to return but I am actively helping to campaign for those who once helped me to become prime minister,” he said during a press conference last night.

He was responding to the challenge put forth by former West Malaysia Malay Teachers' Union president Nordin Mahmood (left) yesterday, who felt the former premier has long wronged Anwar in many ways, and the latter must be defended.
He accused Mahathir of escalating the intensity of his attacks against the former deputy prime minister, despite bowing out of politics.
Nordin said the combat between the two would also serve to test Anwar’s strength and popularity in taking over the country’s helm.
He further suggested they fight it out in Anwar’s stronghold of Permatang Pauh in Penang, as a loss for Mahathir there would be less humbling for him.
'Coming down from the sky' to help.

According to Mahathir, however, his campaign plan now is to show appreciation for the deeds of those who aided him when he was actively politicking, to the point that he became PM.

“This is returning the deed... nowadays, people don’t often repay deeds but I still appreciate them.

“Once, they supported me, I reached the sky. Now, I come down from the sky and support them-lah,” he jested.

Mahathir had earlier officiated  at a dinner organised by Malaysia Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Alliance (Ikhlas), where he urged the audience to be more prudent when managing their business cash flow.

“Malay entrepreneurs are not skilled at managing cash. When they have money, they want to spend it.

“This causes us to be lacking money for our businesses,” he said later.

Also attending the dinner were his wife, Dr Siti Hasmah and Ikhlas president Ridzuan Abdullah (above, right in photo).

Elections closes in has MIC secured the right candidate for Sg Siput seat?

Datuk Seri G. Palanivel and his team in MIC are working really hard, to reverse the outcome of the 2008 election but the burning question is ‘Do they have a winnable candidate?’ Do they have a suitable candidate who shares the same spirit of the Leaders in MIC?

Lets look at Sg Siput – MIC needs a candidate who possesses the qualities of Datuk Seri Utama S. Samy Vellu.

Samy Vellu had done a fantastic job while being the MP of his constituency Sg Siput. He has helped eradicate social illnesses, and also the level of poverty among the community.

With the run up to the elections closes in has MIC secured the right candidate for Sg Siput seat? The candidate who is slated to contest is what locals would describe as ‘Parachuted candidate’ into MIC in the early 90s. He does not have the support of the grassroot leaders.He is also described as arrogant, selfish, and has not done much for his current constituency and the Indian community. Rumors says that he has also made his immediate relatives and family members rich in many ways than one.

According to the people here they would definitely prefer Datuk Seri Utama S. Samy Vellu to contest in Sg Siput.

With that being said, has MIC made a wise choice by fielding this candidate here? We will just have to wait and see.