Monday, 9 May 2016
Zaid: Restore ‘some powers’ to Rulers, opposition too weak as check-and-balance
He suggested the move was needed as the Pakatan Harapan opposition bloc had proven to be “weak” in going up against the BN, which won a bigger mandate in the recently-ended Sarawak election.
“We do not have a strong opposition to provide check-and-balance to the ruling politicians. Some powers should be restored to the Rulers in order to help curb politicians from not being accountable.
“In that way, we would at least see some sharing of power between the politicians and Rulers” he told Malay Mail Online today.
Zaid who was minister in charge of law during the Abdullah administration was weighing in on a call by Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor last week, for an amendment to the Federal Constitution to restore the powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or Rulers to examine and approve Bills.
The former Umno politician said he had previously backed the Mahathir administration’s move to curb the power of the Malay Rulers, but emphasised that the situation now had changed.
“I supported Dr Mahathir back in 1994 as the Rulers should be held accountable for their actions, which they were not. Hence, removing powers like personal immunity was appropriate,” he said, referring to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who was instrumental in cutting down the power of the monarchs.
“However 20 years down the road, the political leaders are also not accountable for their actions. Some of their actions are worse than the Rulers’ back then. A check and balance is needed,” Zaid said.
He did not specify which powers should be restored, but said Malaysians should not be worried that the Rulers would have too much power in their hands.
Last Saturday, state news agency Bernama reported Sultan Ibrahim as saying that the monarchy should have their powers back instead of serving to only rubber-stamp Bills passed in either Parliament or the state legislative assemblies.
Poison-laced underwear rots man's genitals
A MAN in Hangzhou, China, was shocked to find that his genitals were putrefying because he was wearing underwear that had been soaked in poison, reported Kwong Wah Yit Poh.
The man, known only as Zhang, in his 50s, had quarrelled with his wife recently.
Investigation by the police showed that his wife then soaked his underwear in poison and dried it in the sun before handing it over to him to wear during their daughter's wedding.
Zhang only realised something was wrong when his genitals started to putrefy and he suffered breathing difficulties after a few days.
When he sought treatment at a hospital, he was told that he had been poisoned.
Zhang was discharged from the hospital after being warded for three weeks, including a two-week stay in the intensive care unit.
His wife was detained by the police for further investigation.
The man, known only as Zhang, in his 50s, had quarrelled with his wife recently.
Investigation by the police showed that his wife then soaked his underwear in poison and dried it in the sun before handing it over to him to wear during their daughter's wedding.
Zhang only realised something was wrong when his genitals started to putrefy and he suffered breathing difficulties after a few days.
When he sought treatment at a hospital, he was told that he had been poisoned.
Zhang was discharged from the hospital after being warded for three weeks, including a two-week stay in the intensive care unit.
His wife was detained by the police for further investigation.
Malaysians face death in Thailand over drugs
BANGKOK: Twenty-one Malaysians arrested in Thailand recently on suspicion of being “drug mules” could face the death penalty upon conviction under the country’s Narcotics Act for possession and sale of Category 1 Substances.
According to a Thai police officer, investigations are under progress and between 60% and 70% completed.
“The suspects can face the death penalty following the large seizure of methamphetamine (‘ice’) and heroin. The police have obtained strong evidence against them.
“However, despite the possibility of facing the maximum sentence under the stipulated charge, Thai courts seldom hand down the death penalty and prefer the long-term jail sentence, instead,” he said by phone yesterday.
On March 23 and 24, the Malaysians, in two groups of 15 and six men, were arrested by Thai Railway Police at four different train stations and in a passenger van.
Seized from them were 226kg of methamphetamine and 8kg of heroin found in backpacks. The train they were travelling in was enroute to Butterworth from Bangkok.
Thai police have described the drug haul as one of the largest confiscated in recent times, which could fetch about RM400mil in Europe.
The Thai police officer also said that based on information obtained, there was a link between the Malaysian suspects and a major drug trafficker whose nationality he declined to mention.
In an interview previously, Police Col Puttidej Bunkrapue from the Thai Railway Police said investigations revealed the drug smuggling attempt by the 21 Malaysian suspects was masterminded by three men. — Bernama
According to a Thai police officer, investigations are under progress and between 60% and 70% completed.
“The suspects can face the death penalty following the large seizure of methamphetamine (‘ice’) and heroin. The police have obtained strong evidence against them.
“However, despite the possibility of facing the maximum sentence under the stipulated charge, Thai courts seldom hand down the death penalty and prefer the long-term jail sentence, instead,” he said by phone yesterday.
On March 23 and 24, the Malaysians, in two groups of 15 and six men, were arrested by Thai Railway Police at four different train stations and in a passenger van.
Seized from them were 226kg of methamphetamine and 8kg of heroin found in backpacks. The train they were travelling in was enroute to Butterworth from Bangkok.
Thai police have described the drug haul as one of the largest confiscated in recent times, which could fetch about RM400mil in Europe.
The Thai police officer also said that based on information obtained, there was a link between the Malaysian suspects and a major drug trafficker whose nationality he declined to mention.
In an interview previously, Police Col Puttidej Bunkrapue from the Thai Railway Police said investigations revealed the drug smuggling attempt by the 21 Malaysian suspects was masterminded by three men. — Bernama
Sacred bulls predict rainfall for parched Thailand
BANGKOK: Thailand’s drought-stricken farmers got a rare bit of good news Monday, when a pair of sacred bulls predicted that the heavens would finally open during the upcoming rainy season.
The bovine prophecy came during the kingdom’s much-watched annual royal ploughing ceremony, an ancient rite officially marking the start of the main rice cultivation season.
During the ceremony, the creatures — who must adhere to a strict list of physical attributes and boast a “polite temperament” — are offered bowls containing various foods.
At Monday’s ceremony, presided over by Thailand’s Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, the two animals chose rice seeds, sesame, hay, water and liquor — a combination the country’s livestock department said meant sufficient water, bountiful crops and better foreign trade for the year ahead.
The bulls made a similarly positive prediction last year, but their forecast did not bear fruit.
Instead, like much of the greater Mekong region this year, Thailand has been hit hard by one of the worst droughts in decades.
Unable to plant their crop, rice farmers have lurched deeper into debt.
Thousands of villages in the north east have had to have water trucked to them as the river beds, reservoirs and waterfalls run dry.
Rains usually arrive from May onwards, peaking in August and September.
Thailand’s military junta, which has embarked on a particularly harsh period of repression in recent weeks, will also be hoping the rains come.
The country’s languishing economy remains the army’s weak point, with falling exports and the generals struggling to kickstart growth.
Rice farmers, most of whom are in the north and northeast, broadly support the Shinawatra political family.
They have led two administrations toppled by the military in the last decade and are loathed by the kingdom’s royalist elite.
-AFP
Dr M admits the opposition has valuable role to play
A big crowd turned up at the Straits Quay Convention Centre in Penang to witness former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng share the same stage today.The event "Quo Vadis Malaysia?" was organised by the Penang Institute as part of the Citizens' Declarations nationwide roadshow.
Penang executive councillor Dr Afif Bahardin, who moderated the event, claimed this was the biggest crowd to attend an event related to the Citizens' Declaration.
Mahathir himself was rather pleased to see the sizeable audience although it was quite expected as Penang is ruled by the opposition.
During his speech, Mahathir finally admitted that the opposition has a role to play in a democracy.
This is the man who had his opponents jailed under the Internal Security Act during his tenure as prime minister from 1987 to 2003.
He said the opposition never agreed with him but that was not a problem.
He added that his opponents were at times too personal that they refused to sit on the same table with the government.
He said it was okay for the opposition to disagree with him, although he was not very much liked by DAP senior leader Lim Kit Siang, and his son Guan Eng.
"I needed them to tell me if I was doing things right or else I would think that I am doing everything right," Mahathir said.
"They are like a mirror, sometimes you need a mirror to tell you how ugly you are," Mahathir added.
"But I would like to assure them that I do listen to them, and if what they said was good, I'd plagiarise it as my own," he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.
"Having the opposition is a good thing but of course I need to have a two-thirds majority," he added.
However, Mahathir said he did not have the money to buy the two-thirds majority.
He said even his last drawn salary after his 22 years tenure at RM20,000, was not enough to buy votes.
Mahathir then went on to explain the controversy around the 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion in Prime Minister Najib Razak's private bank accounts.
He said now only the people's voices can save Malaysia by ousting Najib which is why there was a need for the Citizens' Declaration.
"When citizens speak, the rulers will listen. The more people sign this declaration and give their ID numbers, the safer you are," Mahathir said.
"There is safety in numbers, there are big prisons in Malaysia but they cannot imprison 10 million people," he added.
Mahathir assured the crowd that only his head will be on the chopping board, not the people's.
Skepticism regarding Citizens' Declaration
Meanwhile, Guan Eng said he is aware that many are sceptical if not cynical about the Citizens' Declaration.
"Because there is too little talk on what is next after Najib," he said.
"They want to know more about what is in store for the future and not just about ousting Najib.
"This is where Mahathir has provided the answer, in the Citizens Declaration."
Lim said no PM in history, including Mahathir, had permitted Malaysia to descend to such unimaginable depths.
This he said included the 1MDB RM50 billion scandal that caused the sharpest depreciation of the ringgit and the implementation of the goods and services tax, which had caused price hikes, and not price drops, as claimed by then deputy finance minister Ahmad Maslan.
"Which is why we are asking Quo Vadis (Where are you going) Malaysia? Kalau bukan kita, siapa lagi? Kalau bukan sekarang, bila lagi?" Guan Eng asked (If not us, who else? If not now, then when?).
"We should not be blamed for working together to stop the country from bleeding," he declared.
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