Saturday, 24 January 2015
Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson slams Saudi flags 'nonsense'
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has condemned the lowering of flags on public buildings as a mark of respect for the Saudi king.
Ms Davidson tweeted that it was "a steaming pile of nonsense".
Downing Street and other Whitehall departments were among those to put Union Flags at half mast after the death of 90-year-old King Abdullah.
In a second tweet, Ms Davidson said it was a "stupid act on its own and a stupid precedent to set".
The UK government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) sent out the request.
Officials said it was a matter of protocol and that the formal request had been made by Buckingham Palace, which is also flying its flag at half mast.
But the move caused disquiet because of the human rights record of the country during King Abdullah's reign.
There has been recent outrage focused on the public beheading of a woman and a sentence of 1,000 lashes meted out to the creator of an online blog.
The mark of respect was not adopted north of the border.
A Scottish government spokesman said: "We offer the people of Saudi Arabia our condolences following the passing of King Abdullah.
"Flags are not routinely flown at half-mast from Scottish government buildings to mark the deaths of foreign heads of government or state."
Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy said the Scottish government had got it right.
He said: "I know there are all sorts of issues of protocol here. But when the sorts of things that happen in Saudi Arabia - a thousand lashes, the recent beheading of a woman.
"I think, all across Scotland - all across the UK - there will be a sense of bewilderment about it."
Ms Davidson's tweets came as Tory Prime Minister David Cameron and the Prince of Wales prepared to fly to Saudi Arabia to join international figures paying tribute to the king, who was seen as a crucial Western ally.
Mr Cameron said that he was "deeply saddened" and that the ruler would be "remembered for his long years of service to the kingdom, for his commitment to peace and for strengthening understanding between faiths".
Former Tory MP Louise Mensch issued a foul-mouthed response to Mr Cameron's message of condolence to the Saudi royals and said she felt "ashamed to be a Conservative" until Ms Davidson spoke out.
She said: "It is so unacceptable to offer deep condolences for a man who flogged women, didn't let them drive, saw guardian laws passed & STARVES THEM".
"I have been ashamed to be a Conservative today. Ruth Davidson has restored my faith. Somebody who truly stands for something."
The flags issue also split opinion between two of UKIP's key figures.
Leader Nigel Farage said it showed "respect for an ally in the war against terror" and that the issue of human rights should be taken up with the new king.
But MP Douglas Carswell said officials had seriously blundered and showed "immoral" values far from those of the British public.
Ms Davidson tweeted that it was "a steaming pile of nonsense".
Downing Street and other Whitehall departments were among those to put Union Flags at half mast after the death of 90-year-old King Abdullah.
In a second tweet, Ms Davidson said it was a "stupid act on its own and a stupid precedent to set".
The UK government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) sent out the request.
Officials said it was a matter of protocol and that the formal request had been made by Buckingham Palace, which is also flying its flag at half mast.
But the move caused disquiet because of the human rights record of the country during King Abdullah's reign.
There has been recent outrage focused on the public beheading of a woman and a sentence of 1,000 lashes meted out to the creator of an online blog.
The mark of respect was not adopted north of the border.
A Scottish government spokesman said: "We offer the people of Saudi Arabia our condolences following the passing of King Abdullah.
"Flags are not routinely flown at half-mast from Scottish government buildings to mark the deaths of foreign heads of government or state."
Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy said the Scottish government had got it right.
He said: "I know there are all sorts of issues of protocol here. But when the sorts of things that happen in Saudi Arabia - a thousand lashes, the recent beheading of a woman.
"I think, all across Scotland - all across the UK - there will be a sense of bewilderment about it."
Ms Davidson's tweets came as Tory Prime Minister David Cameron and the Prince of Wales prepared to fly to Saudi Arabia to join international figures paying tribute to the king, who was seen as a crucial Western ally.
Mr Cameron said that he was "deeply saddened" and that the ruler would be "remembered for his long years of service to the kingdom, for his commitment to peace and for strengthening understanding between faiths".
Former Tory MP Louise Mensch issued a foul-mouthed response to Mr Cameron's message of condolence to the Saudi royals and said she felt "ashamed to be a Conservative" until Ms Davidson spoke out.
She said: "It is so unacceptable to offer deep condolences for a man who flogged women, didn't let them drive, saw guardian laws passed & STARVES THEM".
"I have been ashamed to be a Conservative today. Ruth Davidson has restored my faith. Somebody who truly stands for something."
The flags issue also split opinion between two of UKIP's key figures.
Leader Nigel Farage said it showed "respect for an ally in the war against terror" and that the issue of human rights should be taken up with the new king.
But MP Douglas Carswell said officials had seriously blundered and showed "immoral" values far from those of the British public.
Ban on adopting Syrian, Iraqi orphans in Saudi Arabia
According to Al-Hayat newspaper on Thursday, the ministry said the children who lose their parents in areas of conflicts such as Iraq and Syria are the concern of the international humanitarian organizations.
Latifa Al-Tamimi, director of the women social supervision office in the Eastern Province, said the ministry is also looking after children of Saudi fathers with foreign wives abandoned abroad.
This article was first published in the Saudi Gazette on Jan 23, 2014.
‘Allah’ ban wrong if not linked to conversion, says law don
Any blanket ban on the use of "Allah" and other Arabic words by state laws without linking it to proselytisation is unconstitutional, Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi told a lecture on human rights today.The Universiti Teknologi Mara law lecturer said a ban on the word was particularly unfair to the people of Sabah and Sarawak, who have used it for a long time.
"I've said this many times before, 'Allah' precedes Islam.
"It may have even preceded Christianity and Judaism. It is a word more ancient that these religions," he said during question and answer session with law students at the Brickfields Asia College in Petaling Jaya today.
He said the word was also used by Sikhs and Hindus.
He said the only issue that arose was in Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution that permits the state to pass laws to regulate the preaching of religion to Muslims.
"Religiously and linguistically speaking, there is no basis for the ban, but Article 11 clause four is there.
"Some Muslims are saying that the use of the word is an attempt to proselytise," he said.
But he added that to have a blanket ban on 35 Arabic words as in the case of Selangor without linking the usage to proselytisation was beyond the scope of Article 11 (4).
"Article 11 does not authorise a complete ban no matter what, unless it invokes proselytisation," he said.
The Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988 bans non-Muslims from using 35 Arabic words and phrases, including "Allah".
Shad said today the concern now was that the Court of Appeal ban on the word appeared to be broad enough to cover Sabah and Sarawak.
He added that this was a problem as some of the people there only spoke in Malay.
"They have been using the word for a long time and nobody can tell them to wipe out their childhood memories and ask them to use new vocabulary.
"It is totally oppressive and unjust to ask them to change things," he said.
Shad was referring to the appellate court’s decision to uphold the Home Minister's ban on the use of the word Allah in the Catholic weekly.
The Catholic Church took their case to the Federal Court, which denied it leave to appeal against the ban in a 4-3 majority decision.
The church's review application against the Federal Court decision was also dismissed on Wednesday, ending the church's long struggle that began in 2009. – January 23, 2015.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/allah-ban-unconstitutional-if-not-linked-to-conversion-says-law-lecturer#sthash.UmOxbIV3.dpuf
Furious MIC man's fast ends fast
But G Kumar Aaman will be eating tonight.
This is after party president G Palanivel told him to end his strike outside the Registrar of Societies (ROS) headquarters in Putrajaya.
In an announcement late this evening, Palanivel (left) said the hunger strike should end "for the sake of MIC and BN's image".The president said he is currently dealing with the ROS issue and the validity of Kumar's appointment as MIC secretary-general.
Speaking to reporters, Kumar said he will respect the wish of his president and end the hunger strike tonight.
"I will follow the president and will await the arrival of (MIC vice-president) S Balakrishnan to officiate the ending of the strike," he said.
Kumar's strike was aimed at pushing for the Home Ministry's intervention as well as the removal of the ROS director-general and his officers.
After launching his hunger strike, Kumar had remarked: "I will stay here until my last breath. I will die for the Indian community."
The MIC man said that he would sleep outside the building and ingest only liquids until justice is done.
Kumar also revealed that his action was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi.
I never wrote to FBI, confirms Syed Hamid
"During my time, I didn't write any letter to the FBI, " Syed Hamid said after attending a signing ceremony of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), which he chairs, today.
This comes after another former home minister, Hishammuddin Hussein, also declared earlier this week that he had never issued any letter to the FBI.
Last week, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (right) defended his action on issuing a letter to the FBI.In the letter, Zahid explained that the there was no 14K triad in Malaysia and alleged 'kingpin' Paul Phua is not a member of the triad in Malaysia.
Zahid has also declared that it is within his discretion and power to issue such a letter, adding that his predecessors had issued similar letters.
Syed Hamid, who also the former Kota Tinggi MP, was appointed to become the home minister after the 12th general election in 2008.
However, he was replaced by Hishammuddin in 2009 during the cabinet reshuffle.
This was after the notorious ISA detention on Malaysia Today webmaster Raja Petra Kamaruddin, DAP Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and a Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng in late 2008.
Syed Hamid said that he did not write any letter to any agencies when he was the home minister.
“During my time, when I was heading (the ministry), there was no such case and I had never written to agency.
“If it is agency to agency, I am not interested to know as I am a policy guy. So I would leave it to the relevant agency to tackle,” he said.
Nevertheless, he defended Zahid’s action as this is the discretionary power given to the home minister to issue such letter.
MIC chief roasts deputy as a 'rumour monger'
ROS in a series of letters to MIC has asked it to re-elect its vice presidents and central working committee (CWC) members.
"Office-bearers of MIC, including the deputy president, one of the vice-presidents and others are spreading numerous allegations and misinformation to the media in respect of the issues of the elections raised by the ROS.
"The
only thing that I have not done is to discuss the party's internal
matters in the media as being done by the others, including the deputy
president and one of the vice-presidents," Palanivel said in a statement
today.He said he was aware of meetings organised by Subramaniam and others in relation to the ROS issue and that these meetings were not sanctioned by him.
The Cameron Highlands MP added that he has done what was required of a president to keep the party afloat despite there being claims that he has remained silent on the issue.
"I, as the president of MIC, took immediate steps to protect the interests and rights of MIC, contrary to the allegations levelled against me that I have done nothing.
"I would like to make it clear that there are certain procedures and proper channels provided for in the Societies Act 1966 in dealing with complaints and decisions made by the Registrar of Societies.
"We, together with the lawyers, are following proper procedures and have taken all measures necessary to protect the interest of MIC in this matter," Palanivel said.
He also said the party has lodged an appeal with the Home Ministry as the letters that were sent to MIC by ROS were defective and incorrect.
"Our lawyers have perused the letter dated Dec 31, 2014, in detail, including all the matters raised by ROS, and have advised me that the purported notice issued by ROS is flawed and wrong in law.
"Upon the legal advice from the lawyers, MIC has on Jan 14 lodged an appeal to the Minister of Home Affairs, pursuant to the provisions of the Societies Act 1966, against the contents of the letters dated Dec 5, 2014 and Dec 31, 2014 from ROS to MIC," he added.
On Monday, Subramaniam flayed Palanivel for not responding to his requests to meet up with the president to discuss the ROS issue and reiterated that the window for discussions between him and Palanivel has been "closed".
Meanwhile, MIC vice-president S Saravanan slammed Palanivel for keeping mum on the ROS issue and instead opening fire at members who spoke up.
“The reason we went to the media and talked is because Palanivel has been keeping silent on the issue for way too long,” Saravanan said at a press conference today.
He also added that the president should be transparent and make collective decisions with the rest of the committee as “MIC is not his family matter”.
Saravanan also warned the media that carried M Kumar Aaman’s allegations over him yesterday without clarifying with him, might be sued.
Malaysia still a flawed democracy, says EIU
KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s pace of democratisation has improved only marginally over the years and it remained a “flawed democracy” last year, the same category it occupied in 2008, the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) latest findings showed.
The country placed 65th out of 167 nations and federal territories reviewed in the EIU’s Democracy Index 2014, putting it 10 spots ahead of Singapore, but far behind other South-east Asian peers such as Indonesia, which is 49th, and the Philippines in the 53rd spot.
Last year, Malaysia was categorised as a flawed democracy from its aggregate grade of 6.49 out of 10, according to scores tabulated from expert assessments and public surveys.
Flawed democracies are countries that respect basic civil liberties and generally hold free and fair elections, though they may be marred by problems such as infringements on media freedom, said the EIU.
Apart from possible irregularities in elections, a flawed democracy also suffers from other significant weaknesses such as problems in governance, an underdeveloped political culture and low levels of political participation, the EIU said.
Civil society movements in Malaysia have previously alleged that clandestine gerrymandering, the abuse of government machinery, strict media controls and vote-rigging in elections have allowed the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition to stay in power for more than five decades.
Despite the allegations, BN lost five states to the opposition as well as its customary parliamentary supermajority in a 2008 general election that was later described as a “political tsunami”. Allegations of unfair polls arose more strongly after the following general election in 2013, when BN lost the popular vote but remained firmly in power and whittled down the number of opposition-held states to only three.
The EIU findings put Singapore in 75th place last year, under the flawed democracy category, with a score of 6.03. That was an improvement from its “hybrid regime” ranking in 2008, when it came in 82nd place with a score of 5.89.
In its report, the EIU highlighted the notable trend of a growing level of engagement in politics in Asia, including more prominent protests in countries “ranging from supposedly apathetic Singapore through to more active democracies, such as India and Taiwan”. “In Singapore, this shift has been enough to lift the country from the status of hybrid regime to flawed democracy,” the report added.
In response, a Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said: “This index is based on a rigid, ideological position that ignores the fact that democratic governments around the world take different forms, depending on their particular history and national conditions. Singapore is a fully democratic state that pragmatically pursues policies to maximise the social and economic outcomes for our citizens.”
The index considers hybrid regimes as countries with substantial election irregularities that often prevent them from being free and fair. They also tend to see government pressure on opposition parties and candidates and “serious weaknesses” in political culture and civil society, among other factors.
The EIU said the index, a snapshot on the state of democracy worldwide, was based on ratings for 60 indicators grouped into five categories: Electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of government, political participation and political culture.
Based on scores within the five categories, rankings are then assigned according to four types of regimes: Full democracies (8 to 10), flawed democracies (6 to 7.9), hybrid regimes (4 to 5.9), and authoritarian regimes (below 4).
Malaysia and Singapore share their category with 51 other countries. Twenty-four nations were categorised as full democracies, 39 as hybrid regimes and 52 as authoritarian regimes. Agencies
New IS penal code spells out gory punishments for crimes
One researcher says the punishments are derived from a literal interpretation of Islamic scriptures devoid of historical context.
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: ISIS recently published a penal code listing crimes punishable under the Islamic hudud law to be strictly enforced in areas under its rule in Iraq and Syria.
According to UK’s The Independent, the document was released after the unprecedented series of violent “retaliatory” executions within 48 hours of each other, which saw an adulteress stoned to death, 17 men crucified and two men thrown off a building on suspicion of homosexuality.
The document, now circulating on the Internet, emphasises the importance of obeying strict Shariah laws and details a list of “crimes” and its attendant punishments.
“Spying for the unbelievers”, homosexuality, murder as well as blasphemy against Allah, Prophet Mohamed and Islam were punishable by death while adultery would end in stoning till death, lashes and exile. Theft would result in amputation while those drinking alcohol and committing slander would be lashed.
According to Charlie Winter, a researcher for counter-extremism agency Quilliam, the document appeared to be authentic. He told The Independent, it was released by the Aleppo branch of IS on December 16, 2014.
In Winter’s words, “the ‘hudud’ punishments were derived from a literalistic interpretation of the Islamic scriptures without taking the historical context into account.”
As it stands literal interpretations are not just confined to its penal code but are used rampantly to justify the most evil of acts.
For example, according to the Malaysian Insider, IS has online pamphlets containing Quranic verses used to justify the taking of slaves or underaged girls for sex. These pamphlets use a question and answer format that has proven highly effective.
For example, “Is it permissible to have intercourse with a female captive?”, in which the answer states it is and cites: “Allah the almighty said: ‘(Successful are the believers) who guard their chastity, except from their wives (or the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, for then they are free from blame (Quran 23:5-6)’…”
Other forms of manipulation of Quranic verses justify sex, money, material gain and influence, a local senior police intelligence official said, thereby making IS’ cause something Muslims in Malaysia could relate to easily.
Special Branch director Datuk Seri Akhil Bulat told the Malaysian Insider, “The reason why these sects appeal to Malays is because they allow what Islam forbids, which appeals to those who are confused and pressured by their daily lives.”
These include the freedom from praying five times a day and fasting during Ramadhan.
“They are told that they can interpret the Quran as they see fit, instead of according to the interpretations of Islamic scholars or religious authorities.”
KUALA LUMPUR: ISIS recently published a penal code listing crimes punishable under the Islamic hudud law to be strictly enforced in areas under its rule in Iraq and Syria.
According to UK’s The Independent, the document was released after the unprecedented series of violent “retaliatory” executions within 48 hours of each other, which saw an adulteress stoned to death, 17 men crucified and two men thrown off a building on suspicion of homosexuality.
The document, now circulating on the Internet, emphasises the importance of obeying strict Shariah laws and details a list of “crimes” and its attendant punishments.
“Spying for the unbelievers”, homosexuality, murder as well as blasphemy against Allah, Prophet Mohamed and Islam were punishable by death while adultery would end in stoning till death, lashes and exile. Theft would result in amputation while those drinking alcohol and committing slander would be lashed.
According to Charlie Winter, a researcher for counter-extremism agency Quilliam, the document appeared to be authentic. He told The Independent, it was released by the Aleppo branch of IS on December 16, 2014.
In Winter’s words, “the ‘hudud’ punishments were derived from a literalistic interpretation of the Islamic scriptures without taking the historical context into account.”
As it stands literal interpretations are not just confined to its penal code but are used rampantly to justify the most evil of acts.
For example, according to the Malaysian Insider, IS has online pamphlets containing Quranic verses used to justify the taking of slaves or underaged girls for sex. These pamphlets use a question and answer format that has proven highly effective.
For example, “Is it permissible to have intercourse with a female captive?”, in which the answer states it is and cites: “Allah the almighty said: ‘(Successful are the believers) who guard their chastity, except from their wives (or the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, for then they are free from blame (Quran 23:5-6)’…”
Other forms of manipulation of Quranic verses justify sex, money, material gain and influence, a local senior police intelligence official said, thereby making IS’ cause something Muslims in Malaysia could relate to easily.
Special Branch director Datuk Seri Akhil Bulat told the Malaysian Insider, “The reason why these sects appeal to Malays is because they allow what Islam forbids, which appeals to those who are confused and pressured by their daily lives.”
These include the freedom from praying five times a day and fasting during Ramadhan.
“They are told that they can interpret the Quran as they see fit, instead of according to the interpretations of Islamic scholars or religious authorities.”
AG: Expect more cases on terrorism, extremism
Legal professionals must be prepared as such threats are the most difficult kind to address.
FMT
KOTA KINABALU: Judges and lawyers can anticipate another challenging year ahead, especially in the wake of extremism threats in the country, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail said today.
He said legal professionals had to be prepared for cases on terrorism and extremism which could be brought to court.
“These threats are particularly insidious and the most difficult kind to address.
“But such threats require firm and resolute, yet level-headed, calm and humane responses,” he said when opening the legal year for Sabah and Sarawak here.
Abdul Gani gave the assurance that the Attorney-General’s Chambers was committed to ensuring the highest quality of legal advice and timely prosecution in the ongoing security cases in the country.
He said this included the ongoing hearing of 30 people accused of intrusion in Lahad Datu as well as the enforcement of the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 extended to Sabah and Sarawak on April 2 last year.
“For this purpose, deputy public prosecutors have been placed in the major districts such as Lahad Datu, Sandakan and Tawau to fortify public confidence that offenders will be brought to justice expediently,” he said.
According to Abdul Gani, further action was also anticipated in relation to the enforcement of Malaysia’s immigration laws with the release of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on illegal immigrants in Sabah last month.
On calls for the secession of Sabah and Sarawak from Malaysia, he emphasised that aside from being seditious, such an act went against the spirit of federalisation.
“The social contract with Sabah is based on safeguard conditions contained in the 20-Point Agreement, while that with Sarawak is based on the 18-Point Agreement. Both were considered by the Inter-Governmental Commission set up on the recommendation of the Cobbold Commission in 1962.
“These are historical facts. They are recorded for posterity in the relevant reports of these commissions. They should be read, appreciated and properly understood by every succeeding generation of Malaysians,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abdul Gani said there was a need for proper appointments of Native Court judges on issues pertaining to Native Customary Rights (NCR) land.
In concurring with Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Richard Malanjum’s proposal during the Sabah Native Customary Rights Symposium in September 2013, the Attorney-General said those judges must be appointed among impartial and legally qualified persons with a full grasp of the native laws to enable Native Courts to be on par with the Civil and Syariah Courts.
– BERNAMA
KOTA KINABALU: Judges and lawyers can anticipate another challenging year ahead, especially in the wake of extremism threats in the country, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail said today.
He said legal professionals had to be prepared for cases on terrorism and extremism which could be brought to court.
“These threats are particularly insidious and the most difficult kind to address.
“But such threats require firm and resolute, yet level-headed, calm and humane responses,” he said when opening the legal year for Sabah and Sarawak here.
Abdul Gani gave the assurance that the Attorney-General’s Chambers was committed to ensuring the highest quality of legal advice and timely prosecution in the ongoing security cases in the country.
He said this included the ongoing hearing of 30 people accused of intrusion in Lahad Datu as well as the enforcement of the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 extended to Sabah and Sarawak on April 2 last year.
“For this purpose, deputy public prosecutors have been placed in the major districts such as Lahad Datu, Sandakan and Tawau to fortify public confidence that offenders will be brought to justice expediently,” he said.
According to Abdul Gani, further action was also anticipated in relation to the enforcement of Malaysia’s immigration laws with the release of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on illegal immigrants in Sabah last month.
On calls for the secession of Sabah and Sarawak from Malaysia, he emphasised that aside from being seditious, such an act went against the spirit of federalisation.
“The social contract with Sabah is based on safeguard conditions contained in the 20-Point Agreement, while that with Sarawak is based on the 18-Point Agreement. Both were considered by the Inter-Governmental Commission set up on the recommendation of the Cobbold Commission in 1962.
“These are historical facts. They are recorded for posterity in the relevant reports of these commissions. They should be read, appreciated and properly understood by every succeeding generation of Malaysians,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abdul Gani said there was a need for proper appointments of Native Court judges on issues pertaining to Native Customary Rights (NCR) land.
In concurring with Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Richard Malanjum’s proposal during the Sabah Native Customary Rights Symposium in September 2013, the Attorney-General said those judges must be appointed among impartial and legally qualified persons with a full grasp of the native laws to enable Native Courts to be on par with the Civil and Syariah Courts.
– BERNAMA
Four held in home-made bomb case
The police find items used in making home-made bombs and drugs at the shophouse.
FMT
GEORGE TOWN: The police have arrested four men in connection with the discovery of a paper bag containing four home-made bombs at a house in Jalan Badak Mati, Sungai Bakap, near here last Saturday.
Penang CID chief Mazlan Kesah said the four men, aged between 24 and 43, were arrested at a shophouse in Jalan Seri Aman, Sungai Bakap, at 2.45pm on Tuesday.
“Based on closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage obtained from a nearby shop, the fingerprints on the package and statements by several parties, the police tracked the four men to the shophouse.
“Following their arrest, the police found items believed to be used in producing home-made bombs as well as various kinds of drugs at the shophouse.
The police do not rule out the possibility that they may also be members of a drug syndicate,” he told reporters here today.
Last Saturday, a resident found a paper bag containing four home-made bombs at a house near a store. Three of the bombs were detonated by the Bomb Disposal Unit while one was taken to the Penang Police headquarters for investigation.
Mazlan said the police believed that with the arrest of the four men, who did not hold permanent jobs and had past criminal records, they could solve the case.
– BERNAMA
GEORGE TOWN: The police have arrested four men in connection with the discovery of a paper bag containing four home-made bombs at a house in Jalan Badak Mati, Sungai Bakap, near here last Saturday.
Penang CID chief Mazlan Kesah said the four men, aged between 24 and 43, were arrested at a shophouse in Jalan Seri Aman, Sungai Bakap, at 2.45pm on Tuesday.
“Based on closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage obtained from a nearby shop, the fingerprints on the package and statements by several parties, the police tracked the four men to the shophouse.
“Following their arrest, the police found items believed to be used in producing home-made bombs as well as various kinds of drugs at the shophouse.
The police do not rule out the possibility that they may also be members of a drug syndicate,” he told reporters here today.
Last Saturday, a resident found a paper bag containing four home-made bombs at a house near a store. Three of the bombs were detonated by the Bomb Disposal Unit while one was taken to the Penang Police headquarters for investigation.
Mazlan said the police believed that with the arrest of the four men, who did not hold permanent jobs and had past criminal records, they could solve the case.
– BERNAMA
Policewoman freed of bribery charge
Court finds contradictory statements in the witnesses' testimonies on the amount of bribe alleged to have been put in the accused's handbag.
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: A policewoman was acquitted and discharged by the Sessions Court here today of a charge of accepting a RM4,000 bribe for the release of a Cameroonian man arrested for robbery two years ago.
Judge Mohd Nasir Nordin made the decision after finding that the defence managed to raise a reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case against Insp Suriati Mohd Shafie, 34.
In his judgment, Mohd Nasir said the court found contradictory statements in the witnesses’ testimonies concerning the amount of bribe alleged to have been put in the accused’s handbag.
Suriati was seen to be shedding tears upon hearing the court’s decision.
She was accused of accepting a bribe of RM4,000 from Nurullizean Yahya as an inducement to release her husband, Tchouanseu Tchounga Armand, who was a suspect in a robbery case.
She was alleged to have committed the offence at Leval 3, Criminal Investigation Division at the Brickfields Police Headquarters between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on January 22, 2013.
The offence under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and fine of up to RM10,000, if convicted.
Prosecuting officer R. Lakshumana Rao prosecuted, while Suriati was represented by lawyer G. Subramaniam Nair.
– BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR: A policewoman was acquitted and discharged by the Sessions Court here today of a charge of accepting a RM4,000 bribe for the release of a Cameroonian man arrested for robbery two years ago.
Judge Mohd Nasir Nordin made the decision after finding that the defence managed to raise a reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case against Insp Suriati Mohd Shafie, 34.
In his judgment, Mohd Nasir said the court found contradictory statements in the witnesses’ testimonies concerning the amount of bribe alleged to have been put in the accused’s handbag.
Suriati was seen to be shedding tears upon hearing the court’s decision.
She was accused of accepting a bribe of RM4,000 from Nurullizean Yahya as an inducement to release her husband, Tchouanseu Tchounga Armand, who was a suspect in a robbery case.
She was alleged to have committed the offence at Leval 3, Criminal Investigation Division at the Brickfields Police Headquarters between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on January 22, 2013.
The offence under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and fine of up to RM10,000, if convicted.
Prosecuting officer R. Lakshumana Rao prosecuted, while Suriati was represented by lawyer G. Subramaniam Nair.
– BERNAMA
Najib’s Political Battles Impede Foreign Policy Agenda
Cannons to the left of him, cannons to the right of him…
By
Challenges at home suggest Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak could face an uphill battle in pursuing his foreign policy goals in the year ahead. The long-simmering battle between Najib and former Premier Mahathir Mohamad has erupted into a public spat that must have Najib looking over his shoulder given Mahathir’s role in ousting his predecessor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
As a result Najib finds himself flanked on the right by Perkasa, the equivalent of the Tea Party within his ruling United Malays National Organization and on the left by the opposition coalition led by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. No move Najib makes will please all Malaysians, and perhaps not even many, in this constrained environment.
The public mudslinging between Najib and Mahathir could weaken and distract the prime minister even as 2015 presents opportunities for Malaysia to make its mark on the international stage. Malaysia’s ruling party generally hides internal conflict from public view. But the escalation in political maneuvering between two of the party’s key leaders has changed this dynamic.
Old corruption charges have been rehashed against Daim Zainuddin, an outspoken critic of Najib. Daim is an UMNO insider, financial power broker, and two-time finance minister under Mahathir. He is seen as a proxy for the former prime minister and, to real insiders, may even be the one pulling the strings on his former boss. The government-controlled media took the unusual step of covering the case against Daim in detail, which some interpreted as a coordinated political attack and which prompted proxies on both sides to take the fight to the Internet.
The split between Najib and Mahathir burst into the open when the latter, now 89, publicly withdrew his support for Najib in an August 2014 blog. Mahathir blamed Najib for the ruling coalition’s poor showing in the 2013 national elections, attacked him for his efforts in 2011 to abolish the draconian Internal Security Act, and criticized his earlier plans to scale back the affirmative action program that provides special privileges for the country’s Malay majority. On all these issues, Mahathir has strong support from UMNO’s most conservative wing.
The bitter dispute between the two men and their respective camps appears to have picked up in earnest after a dinner between them in December did not go well. A thorny issue reportedly discussed at the meeting was the sovereign fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd., which has been plagued by charges of mismanagement and corruption and is reportedly suffering from billions of ringgit in nonperforming loans. Najib is chair of the fund’s advisory board.
Mahathir retains significant public and political influence in Malaysia as an elder statesman, particularly among conservative Malays. His profile stems from enduring public popularity, especially among older members of society who are nostalgic about his 22 years in power. Mahathir’s political influence within UMNO has loomed large over his successors since he stepped down in 2003. He leveraged this influence to undermine and ultimately remove his anointed successor, Abdullah, in 2009. Then-deputy Prime Minister Najib stepped up to become prime minister. He most certainly sees the possibility of history repeating itself.
And Malaysia’s economy is not going to provide any respite for Najib. The sharp drop in oil prices has created some stiff headwinds. Oil and gas exports account for a fifth of the country’s exports and a third of government revenue. It was therefore little surprise that Najib on January 20 announced US$1.5 billion in spending cuts and said Malaysia’s economic growth has been revised down from 6 percent to between 4.5 and 5.5 percent for 2015.
Under withering attacks from Mahathir and party conservatives, Najib has backed off many of his earlier political and economic reform plans. In recent months, his government has been criticized by the United States and human rights organizations for repeatedly using the colonial-era Sedition Act against critics. Anwar Ibrahim is awaiting a court verdict on another round of sodomy charges that could once again see him sent to prison. The verdict, expected in the next few weeks, would undoubtedly lead to further criticism from the international community.
Najib’s domestic challenges could pose risks for his foreign policy goals in 2015. This year is shaping up as an important one for Malaysia given its chairmanship of ASEAN and its non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. As ASEAN chair, Malaysia can be expected to play a key role in pressing the grouping to take steps to complete regional economic integration, keep tensions in the disputed South China Sea under control, and explore ways to bolster the role of the East Asia Summit.
Negotiators of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which Malaysia joined in 2010, are scrambling to complete the trade agreement by March. But for Malaysia to get to the finish line will require some tough decisions by Najib and his cabinet in such areas as state-owned enterprises, pharmaceuticals, and investor dispute mechanisms. Even before his latest broadsides against Najib, Mahathir, who oversaw Malaysia’s earlier transformation into an industrial powerhouse, had sharply criticized the TPP as an attempt by foreign powers to colonize Malaysia. Anwar and the opposition have also sought to foil Najib’s reform efforts.
The coming months could provide an opportunity for Malaysia and the US to put more substance into the comprehensive partnership they announced last April when President Barack Obama visited Malaysia. But the visit marked only the beginning of the process, which requires more work by both sides to achieve deeper ties, including such things as stepped up cabinet-level exchanges, more military cooperation and intelligence sharing, and closer economic ties.
Najib’s golf outing with Obama in early January showed the depth of personal comradery between the two leaders, which could help them achieve greater depth to the comprehensive partnership before Obama visits again in November. However, the sharp criticism Najib received for golfing in Hawaii while parts of Malaysia faced terrible flooding highlights some of the challenges he could face in the months ahead as he seeks to deepen the country’s regional and global foreign policy opportunities.
The US will need to make some tough decisions in the coming months about how to engage Najib and Malaysia. The country is a vital partner and a key to strengthening ASEAN. The White House will face pressure from various advocacy groups to limit or curtail engagement and there will be congressional pressure during the TPP approval process. The administration will have to step carefully but be guided by the strategic need to support political and economic reform in Malaysia. For his part, Najib will need to harden his resolve to pursue that reform.
Challenges at home suggest Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak could face an uphill battle in pursuing his foreign policy goals in the year ahead. The long-simmering battle between Najib and former Premier Mahathir Mohamad has erupted into a public spat that must have Najib looking over his shoulder given Mahathir’s role in ousting his predecessor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
As a result Najib finds himself flanked on the right by Perkasa, the equivalent of the Tea Party within his ruling United Malays National Organization and on the left by the opposition coalition led by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. No move Najib makes will please all Malaysians, and perhaps not even many, in this constrained environment.
The public mudslinging between Najib and Mahathir could weaken and distract the prime minister even as 2015 presents opportunities for Malaysia to make its mark on the international stage. Malaysia’s ruling party generally hides internal conflict from public view. But the escalation in political maneuvering between two of the party’s key leaders has changed this dynamic.
Old corruption charges have been rehashed against Daim Zainuddin, an outspoken critic of Najib. Daim is an UMNO insider, financial power broker, and two-time finance minister under Mahathir. He is seen as a proxy for the former prime minister and, to real insiders, may even be the one pulling the strings on his former boss. The government-controlled media took the unusual step of covering the case against Daim in detail, which some interpreted as a coordinated political attack and which prompted proxies on both sides to take the fight to the Internet.
The split between Najib and Mahathir burst into the open when the latter, now 89, publicly withdrew his support for Najib in an August 2014 blog. Mahathir blamed Najib for the ruling coalition’s poor showing in the 2013 national elections, attacked him for his efforts in 2011 to abolish the draconian Internal Security Act, and criticized his earlier plans to scale back the affirmative action program that provides special privileges for the country’s Malay majority. On all these issues, Mahathir has strong support from UMNO’s most conservative wing.
The bitter dispute between the two men and their respective camps appears to have picked up in earnest after a dinner between them in December did not go well. A thorny issue reportedly discussed at the meeting was the sovereign fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd., which has been plagued by charges of mismanagement and corruption and is reportedly suffering from billions of ringgit in nonperforming loans. Najib is chair of the fund’s advisory board.
Mahathir retains significant public and political influence in Malaysia as an elder statesman, particularly among conservative Malays. His profile stems from enduring public popularity, especially among older members of society who are nostalgic about his 22 years in power. Mahathir’s political influence within UMNO has loomed large over his successors since he stepped down in 2003. He leveraged this influence to undermine and ultimately remove his anointed successor, Abdullah, in 2009. Then-deputy Prime Minister Najib stepped up to become prime minister. He most certainly sees the possibility of history repeating itself.
And Malaysia’s economy is not going to provide any respite for Najib. The sharp drop in oil prices has created some stiff headwinds. Oil and gas exports account for a fifth of the country’s exports and a third of government revenue. It was therefore little surprise that Najib on January 20 announced US$1.5 billion in spending cuts and said Malaysia’s economic growth has been revised down from 6 percent to between 4.5 and 5.5 percent for 2015.
Under withering attacks from Mahathir and party conservatives, Najib has backed off many of his earlier political and economic reform plans. In recent months, his government has been criticized by the United States and human rights organizations for repeatedly using the colonial-era Sedition Act against critics. Anwar Ibrahim is awaiting a court verdict on another round of sodomy charges that could once again see him sent to prison. The verdict, expected in the next few weeks, would undoubtedly lead to further criticism from the international community.
Najib’s domestic challenges could pose risks for his foreign policy goals in 2015. This year is shaping up as an important one for Malaysia given its chairmanship of ASEAN and its non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. As ASEAN chair, Malaysia can be expected to play a key role in pressing the grouping to take steps to complete regional economic integration, keep tensions in the disputed South China Sea under control, and explore ways to bolster the role of the East Asia Summit.
Negotiators of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which Malaysia joined in 2010, are scrambling to complete the trade agreement by March. But for Malaysia to get to the finish line will require some tough decisions by Najib and his cabinet in such areas as state-owned enterprises, pharmaceuticals, and investor dispute mechanisms. Even before his latest broadsides against Najib, Mahathir, who oversaw Malaysia’s earlier transformation into an industrial powerhouse, had sharply criticized the TPP as an attempt by foreign powers to colonize Malaysia. Anwar and the opposition have also sought to foil Najib’s reform efforts.
The coming months could provide an opportunity for Malaysia and the US to put more substance into the comprehensive partnership they announced last April when President Barack Obama visited Malaysia. But the visit marked only the beginning of the process, which requires more work by both sides to achieve deeper ties, including such things as stepped up cabinet-level exchanges, more military cooperation and intelligence sharing, and closer economic ties.
Najib’s golf outing with Obama in early January showed the depth of personal comradery between the two leaders, which could help them achieve greater depth to the comprehensive partnership before Obama visits again in November. However, the sharp criticism Najib received for golfing in Hawaii while parts of Malaysia faced terrible flooding highlights some of the challenges he could face in the months ahead as he seeks to deepen the country’s regional and global foreign policy opportunities.
The US will need to make some tough decisions in the coming months about how to engage Najib and Malaysia. The country is a vital partner and a key to strengthening ASEAN. The White House will face pressure from various advocacy groups to limit or curtail engagement and there will be congressional pressure during the TPP approval process. The administration will have to step carefully but be guided by the strategic need to support political and economic reform in Malaysia. For his part, Najib will need to harden his resolve to pursue that reform.
Will Najib be Mahathir’s sixth scalp or is Malaysia hauling the first “tiger” or “crocodile” to court and prison in the country’s anti-corruption campaign?
By Lim Kit Siang blog The country’s politics is abuzz with extraordinary news recently, raising the question whether the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia will be the sixth scalp of the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia or whether the country is hauling the first “tiger” or “crocodile” to court and prison in Malaysia’s anti-corruption campaign.
In the past 45 years, the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad had collected five scalps of top political leaders in the country, starting with Bapa Malaysia and the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, two Deputy Prime Ministers who might have gone on to become Prime Ministers, Tun Musa Hitam and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the fifth Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and the eternal Prime Minister-aspirant Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
The question now is whether Mahathir will add the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, to his collection of six top political scalps in Malaysia.
But Najib is evidently not taking the possibility of his “political scalping” by Mahathir lying down, and the question has arisen whether the first “tiger” or “crocodile” will be hauled to court and prison in the history of Malaysia’s lack-lustre anti-corruption campaign.
Recently, the Najib administration and its publicity machinery trumpetted Malaysia’s anti-corruption “achievements”, even falsely claiming that Malaysia’s ranking in the Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Indeex (CPI) 2014 is “the country’s best in 10 years”.
This is of course untrue.
The TI CPI 2014 is the country’s best in six years under Najib’s premiership, but the worst compared to Tun Abdullah’s premiership with TI CPI from 2004 to 2008 ranging from 39th to 47th ranking and even worse in the nine years of Mahathir’s premiership from 1995 – 2003, ranking from 23rd placing in 1995 to No. 37th placing in 2003.
Studying the TI CPI 2014 ranking and score for the 175 countries and the 20-year series of TI CPI from 1995-2014, there is no reason or ground for anyone to believe that the target of Malaysia being ranked in the top 30 of TI CPI in 2020 is a realistic or achievable one.
In fact, come 2020, Malaysia faces the risk of being overtaken by China and even Indonesia in both in TI CPI ranking and score, when in the first TI CPI in 1995, Malaysia was ranked No. 23 out of 41 countries with a score of 5.28 out of 10, while China and Indonesia were ranked as the last two bottom countries with CPI score of 2.16 and 1.94 out of 10 respectively (i.e. hovering in the lowest 90 percentile of the CPI score).
However, in the last 20 years, Malaysia achieved the dubious distinction as one of the few countries which had been downgraded both in TI CPI ranking and score, and losing out to countries which had lower CPI ranking and score in 1995 as well as now at risk of being overtaken by countries including China and Indonesia which had been at the bottom of TI CPI in 1995.
In Indonesia, the new President Joko Widodo is personally leading the campaign against corruption while in China, though it had dropped four points in the TI CPI score last year, its corruption campaign against “tigers and flies” have seen a tremendous improvement in China’s TI CPI score in the past two decades.
Corruption arrests and prosecutions against tigers and crocodiles, whether ministerial rank or equivalents, are now a common scene in the anti-corruption campaigns in Indonesia and China, but there had not been a single “tiger” or “crocodile” hauled to court and successfully prosecuted for corruption in Malaysia in over three decades.
All Malaysians should be concerned that from these trends, Malaysia runs the risk of being overtaken by both Indonesia and China before 2020 in the annual TI CPI both in ranking and score unless Malaysia quickly buck up and show its seriousness on the anti-corruption front.
Suddenly, there seems to be a possibility that Malaysia’s anti-corruption campaign may enter a new era.
Is the country’s anti-corruption campaign on the eve of a new scenario, with “tigers” or “crocodiles” hauled to court and prison in Malaysia, like in China and Indonesia?
Crime Prevention is everyone's business
The Sun Daily by Yeo Chia Hui
KUALA LUMPUR: Crime prevention is everyone's business, says Richard Wee Thiam Seng, co-chairperson of Safer Malaysia.
In
a conference organised by Safer Malaysia, and Universiti Pertanahan
Negara Malaysia (UPNM), Richard believes that the whole community should
work together to make Malaysia a safer place.
"Every
time there is crime, the cost is immense. Crime really hurts the
economy and the money we spend to repair crime (and its consequences)
can be used for other things," he said.
Therefore, he urged the public to all play their part.
This however is not easy, as a gap between actual crime and the fear of crime has emerged.
Pemandu's
director for crime reduction Datuk Dr Amin Khan said that in reality
the crime index has came down 40% in the last five years, but the
problem is that the people do not see or feel it.
"And so, we will introduce a Crime Perception Indicator (CPI) to measure the rakyat's fear of crime," he said.
According to Amin, the crime rate has dropped from about 580 crimes a day in 2009 to 350 in 2014.
Najib To Arrive London Saturday For Three-day Working Visit
From Jamaluddin Muhammad
LONDON, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will visit the iconic eight billion pounds Malaysian-owned Battersea Power Station (BPS) project here and officiate the Razak Science Centre at Malvern College in Worcestershire during his three-day working visit starting Saturday.
Malaysian High Commissioner to United Kingdom Datuk Ahmad Rashidi Hazizi said the prime minister was scheduled to arrive here at about 3 am Saturday (11 am Saturday in Malaysia).
Najib will arrive from Riyadh after attending the funeral of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia who passed away on Friday.
During Najib's visit to BPS project on Saturday, he would monitor the progress of the project at the 39-acre site especially on plans to develop the Malaysia Square, said Ahmad Rashidi.
The design for the square centres on a two-level urban canyon with integrated bridges and stairways that are inspired by Malaysia's landscape and geology where the spaces will be clad with limestone, granite, marble, sandstone, gravel and dolomite striations that will lead people through the square.
A fountain planned for the central amphitheatre is set to be designed in the shape of hibiscus - Malaysia's national flower.
Apart from offering a space for play, surrounded by water, each of the five 'petals' represents one principle each from the Rukunegara, Malaysia's founding philosophy which forms the bedrock of national unity in its multicultural society.
Malaysia Square at the BPS will link southern entrance of the restored Power Station and the top of the new Electric Boulevard high street.
The Malaysian consortium for the entire BPS's development comprises SP Setia Bhd, Sime Darby Bhd and Employees Provident Fund (EPF) with SP Setia and Sime Darby each holding 40 per cent stake while EPF holds the rest.
The consortium bought the property of the former coal-fired power station in 2012 for 400 million pounds (RM2.2 billion) .
The eight billion pounds (RM44 billion) project, Malaysia's biggest property venture oversea, spans seven phases until 2024 and will consist of nearly 4,000 homes, over 250 shops, cafes and restaurants, hotels and office space.
The first phase, costing 790 million pounds (RM4.3 billion), was launched in 2012 comprising more than 800 residential units and due for completion by middle of next year.
The second phase will commence March this year including restoration of the power station, residential units and commercial office spaces.
The third phase comprises 1,200 residential units designed by two world's renowned architects, retail space and restaurants and was launched late last year.
BPS has secured funding arrangement, totaling 1.35 billion pounds (RM7.4 billion), for both Phase 2 and Phase 3 projects.
Ahmad Rashidi said the BPS was very significant as it involved Malaysian companies as well as symbolizing the good relationship between the two governments as Malaysia had won the bid for the project as well as support from the British government in building the northern subway line to facilitate the project.
On Monday, Najib will walk down memory lane when he visits his former college - Malvern College at Worcestershire - to officiate the Razak Science Centre there.
The centre consists of 18 state-of-the-art laboratories, including a showcase laboratory and extra prep rooms.
"The centre is funded by a Malaysian who just wanted to be known as 'seorang hamba Allah'," said Ahmad Rashidi adding that the person also refused to disclose the amount of the fund.
Najib attended the college from 1968 until 1971. Datuk Johari, Najib's younger brother also attended the college in the late 60s and early 70s.
The college is a co-educational boarding and day school founded in 1865, one of the UK's leading independent schools.
"The college was so proud of the prime minister who was their former student and had given the honour for him to officiate the centre which was named after him (in British culture, Najib is known as Mr Razak then)," said Ahmad Rashidi.
LONDON, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will visit the iconic eight billion pounds Malaysian-owned Battersea Power Station (BPS) project here and officiate the Razak Science Centre at Malvern College in Worcestershire during his three-day working visit starting Saturday.
Malaysian High Commissioner to United Kingdom Datuk Ahmad Rashidi Hazizi said the prime minister was scheduled to arrive here at about 3 am Saturday (11 am Saturday in Malaysia).
Najib will arrive from Riyadh after attending the funeral of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia who passed away on Friday.
During Najib's visit to BPS project on Saturday, he would monitor the progress of the project at the 39-acre site especially on plans to develop the Malaysia Square, said Ahmad Rashidi.
The design for the square centres on a two-level urban canyon with integrated bridges and stairways that are inspired by Malaysia's landscape and geology where the spaces will be clad with limestone, granite, marble, sandstone, gravel and dolomite striations that will lead people through the square.
A fountain planned for the central amphitheatre is set to be designed in the shape of hibiscus - Malaysia's national flower.
Apart from offering a space for play, surrounded by water, each of the five 'petals' represents one principle each from the Rukunegara, Malaysia's founding philosophy which forms the bedrock of national unity in its multicultural society.
Malaysia Square at the BPS will link southern entrance of the restored Power Station and the top of the new Electric Boulevard high street.
The Malaysian consortium for the entire BPS's development comprises SP Setia Bhd, Sime Darby Bhd and Employees Provident Fund (EPF) with SP Setia and Sime Darby each holding 40 per cent stake while EPF holds the rest.
The consortium bought the property of the former coal-fired power station in 2012 for 400 million pounds (RM2.2 billion) .
The eight billion pounds (RM44 billion) project, Malaysia's biggest property venture oversea, spans seven phases until 2024 and will consist of nearly 4,000 homes, over 250 shops, cafes and restaurants, hotels and office space.
The first phase, costing 790 million pounds (RM4.3 billion), was launched in 2012 comprising more than 800 residential units and due for completion by middle of next year.
The second phase will commence March this year including restoration of the power station, residential units and commercial office spaces.
The third phase comprises 1,200 residential units designed by two world's renowned architects, retail space and restaurants and was launched late last year.
BPS has secured funding arrangement, totaling 1.35 billion pounds (RM7.4 billion), for both Phase 2 and Phase 3 projects.
Ahmad Rashidi said the BPS was very significant as it involved Malaysian companies as well as symbolizing the good relationship between the two governments as Malaysia had won the bid for the project as well as support from the British government in building the northern subway line to facilitate the project.
On Monday, Najib will walk down memory lane when he visits his former college - Malvern College at Worcestershire - to officiate the Razak Science Centre there.
The centre consists of 18 state-of-the-art laboratories, including a showcase laboratory and extra prep rooms.
"The centre is funded by a Malaysian who just wanted to be known as 'seorang hamba Allah'," said Ahmad Rashidi adding that the person also refused to disclose the amount of the fund.
Najib attended the college from 1968 until 1971. Datuk Johari, Najib's younger brother also attended the college in the late 60s and early 70s.
The college is a co-educational boarding and day school founded in 1865, one of the UK's leading independent schools.
"The college was so proud of the prime minister who was their former student and had given the honour for him to officiate the centre which was named after him (in British culture, Najib is known as Mr Razak then)," said Ahmad Rashidi.
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