'Treat sensitive cases cautiously'

The New Straits Times 
by Syed Umar Ariff

JOHOR BARU: The sultan of Johor yesterday reminded the judiciary and courts to exercise caution when handling cases that are deemed to be sensitive, especially those related to the power of rulers.

Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar said sensitive cases should be rejected in order to safeguard racial harmony.

"This is because even if the cases are heard and judgments are passed, there are bound to be parties that are not satisfied (with the judgments).

"Therefore, it is better that such cases are not entertained, especially the ones involving the power of rulers," he said in his speech when opening the state-level seminar on the Federal Constitution here.

The sultan said all forms of debate concerning sensitive issues should be avoided as they would only widen the racial and religious gap between the people of the country.

He also reminded the people to learn from the May 13 incident in 1969, when peace was disrupted by a group of extremists.

"Any confusion (pertaining to sensitive matters) should be explained in detail, so that the people will live together harmoniously and peacefully, in ensuring the well-being of all," said the sultan.

At the same time, the sultan warned against those misinterpreting and amending the Constitution for personal gains, lest the document was reduced into a meaningless paper.

He also said people should refrain from questioning the power of rulers as such matters were not for debate as stipulated in the Constitution or state enactment.

Sultan Ibrahim said there were those who had forgotten the importance of the royal institution and had attempted to eradicate its authority.

However, he said, the same people would turn to the rulers for assistance and protection when facing certain problems.

"You throw away your umbrella during a fine weather, but come running to look for it during heavy rain," said the sultan.

Sultan Ibrahim also said that Malaysia had become a model country for being able to unify people of various races, religions and cultures.

He, however, added that some quarters of late had been championing the rights of their race and questioning the special rights of the Malays, which had long been enshrined in the Constitution.

"We must remember that the special privileges provided to the Malays have never denied the rights of other races, since they are also accorded rights under the Constitution.

"All of this is the culmination of the hard work put forth by our past leaders. What is important now for the country is that we must work together to develop our country."

Higher density for Penang projects?

Alarm bells have started ringing over premature talk of higher densities for property development on Penang Island.

Image via Wikipedia

Penang property developers must be grinning like Cheshire cats after reading a news report which said that the Penang Municipal Council has revised the plot ratio guidelines for high-rise properties in commercial and tourism areas on the island. This would allow the developers to build 122,000 sq ft per acre (i.e. up to 87 units) compared with 42,000 sq ft previously. See The Star report here. Notice also the low, low quota for medium-cost units. (Why isn’t anyone talking about  low-income housing?)
But hold your horses.
Earlier this year, the state exco apparently agreed to the higher density to make apartments more affordable for yuppies. But, from what I hear, this higher density was for transit-oriented development (TOD), and this is what is to be provided for in the draft local plan.
But for TOD to work, the proper supporting infrastructure must be in place; otherwise, the higher density will only add to the congestion along transit/transport arteries.
These TOD areas apparently can only be publicised with the release of the local plan. Presumably, applications for development will have to conform with the local plan.
Crucially, it is the full council of the MPPP (and not the state exco) that has to approve the higher density as only the MPPP has jurisdiction over this.
Now that the issue of higher density has been reported in the press, the MPPP must clarify whether such higher-density TOD areas have already been implemented and if so, who was responsibly for the approval.

Orang Asli claim harassment, bullying

Keng Yaik quits as Gerakan advisor, calls Koh an 'ostrich'

(Malaysiakini) Dr Lim Keng Yaik has resigned as Gerakan advisor citing unhappiness over the party leadership's handling of the Penang party crisis.

Lim (right) made the announcement on his own accord to a group of reporters at the sidelines of a graduation ceremony at the Wawasan Open University, Kuala Lumpur.

He said that he was "in pain" over the leadership crisis in Penang, in which a extraordinary general meeting (EGM) will be convened on Oct 10 to oust its state chief Teng Hock Nam.

"My heart is bleeding," said Lim with his usual candour.

Lim also expressed disappointment with his chosen successor Koh Tsu Koon's handling of the Penang fallout.

He said that he had discussed the issue with Koh (left) but the latter is afraid to offend people, and chose to stay out of the matter.

Lim also chided Koh for choosing to attend the MCA annual general meeting in Kuala Lumpur, that falls on the same day as the Penang EGM.

'Koh buries his head in the sand'

He said that this behaviour was unbecoming of a leader and irresponsible.

"The last straw which broke the camel's back was, when I read in the newspapers that he would attend the MCA AGM on Oct 10, instead of solving the Penang Gerakan EGM issue.

"Where is the priority? When I was party president, I had even delegated my deputy to attend a BN component party AGM before...why can't he do the same?," asked Lim, according to Bernama.

Lim relinguished his position as Gerakan president in April 2007 and Koh was made acting president.

Since then, Koh failed to take proactive steps in resolving many issues affecting the party despite being advised to do so, lamented Lim.

"Where is the party going? Maybe, my resignation will shake him up. His attitude of 'speak evil, no speak evil' has brought this problem in Gerakan. His attitude is akin to an ostrich burying its head in the ground.

"A (party) president has to take responsibilities to solve problems. What isthe point of giving advice if the person does not want to listen," he said.

EGM movers denies links

Lim will be submitting his official resignation letter tomorrow.

At the time of writing, almost all top Gerakan leaders cannot be contacted. It is believed that they are currently at the Gerakan headquarters in Cheras for an emergency meeting.

It is learnt that Koh has also cancelled his public appearance at Lim Kok Wing University tomorrow. He was initially slated to make an "important announcement", according to the press notice issued earlier today.

Meanwhile, the group which pushed for the EGM, which dubs itself Gerakanla Gerakan, has denied any links with Lim.

“No, no, no! Lim doesn't even know me,” said Yeap Ban Choon, who is the main coordinator gor Gerakanla Gerakan.

While admitting that the public will draw links between the timing of Lim's announcement with the movement to oust Teng, Yeap said that his group did not involve the senior leader.

“In fact, there is no involvement between top party leaders and the EGM,” he said when contacted.

Myth about Indian Gangsterism

The gangsterism among the Indian are long rooted from many factor ,but UMNO is using their Indian Mandore to hide the real root cause of the problem, try to hide that they are the one responsible to create it and try to get away from their responsibility , now they are doing extensive media propaganda to project as if the Indian gangsterism is due to Tamil movies especially in private TV channel, the BN Indian Mandores who should suggest solution to the government to solve the problem but they in turn give statement that Indian gangsterism is due to Tamil movie and parents negligence, they try to justified that the police need to use more harsher action to stifle Indian gangsterism by using emergency ordinance to arrest suspect as they wish and lock them up in Simpang Renggam,but that is mere UMNO usual fake propaganda to hide the real root cause.

The real root cause and under laying problem is racism for 53 years that led to poverty and lack of opportunity to earn a living in legal way, Indian youth are denied skill training , university education, even Tamil school education are poor because of lack of government support , business opportunity,land ownership program Felda and Felcra, job in civil and private, other than that the Indian displacement from estate to urban without proper planning and assistance from government are greatly contributed to the current bad state.

When estate are taken over by UMNO own companies Sime Darby and Gutherie, the Indian are displace without proper compensation, they have been cheated by given peanut Rm3500 or RM3000 and ask to leave their home in estate , their home later demolished to allow palm oil plantation and foreign labour are imported to do the work once for all denying job for estate Indians , thus this unfortunate state let them ended up as urban poor and downtrodden , living in the area not so conducive, poverty and raising cost of living made them to suffer , most of these families members work in town and cities in low wage jobs , family financial problem has made their children to quit school prematurely and they tend to expose to other social ill at urban.The Indian youth that has such a disadvantage compare to other community are easy expose to crime ,because poverty has made them desperate they are most vulnerable,member of the underworld easily picked them up to do their illegal job.

To undo long negligence towards this portion of society, what should the government do , instead put all blame on Tamil movie ,they should implement a plan for the Indian youth , Indian youth are country resource that so long been wasted and flow to the wrong way, give them all skill training, Tekun business loan, allow them into Asrama Penuh skill training school in hundred of institution available to the Malays and completely close for Indian enrolment for now.Don’t push this responsibility to MIC that cannot do anything without the support and resources from the government.Include them in all main stream development because they too born in this soil and they too sun of this soil according to the federal constitution stated in article 8 equality.

Subash

Human Rights Party

Kula will never resign DAP post under mandorist arrangements with towkay Lim Kit Siang.

Way back in 2000 when PKR snatched the Lunas seat from the DAP Indians. (Lunas being a traditional DAP Indian seat) this very same M. Kulasegaran played this very same wayang kulit and resigned as the then national deputy Secretary General to appease the disgruntled Indians and under a wayang kulit arrangement be appointed National Vice Chairman within a few months when the heat died down. And now a rehearsal of the very same wayang kulit.

Kula is the most senior member of Parliament in DAP by virtue of he winning in the Teluk Intan by-elections way back in 1998.

But neither Kula nor any of the total of 11 Indian mandore MPs are empowered if not prohibited by their towkays and tuans to raise even the most elementary and pressing Indian problems. For example 150,000 Indian children being denied even their innate right to a birth certificate (B.C), when even when you buy a RM 10.00 radio you get a certificate of purchase.

Why hasn’t there been an emergency motion in Parliament? But this very same Kula and the other Indian MPs mandores spoke voraciously on the closing of the Chinese dominated Cheras residential area Highway by Grand Saga.

At worst they have to pay toll. But Kula and the other 10 Indian mandores supported ferociously Teo Nie Chee in their tirade against UMNO.

But neither Kula not his towkays Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng or his tuan Anwar Ibrahim or tuan haji Hadi Awang have or would ever raise even this BC problem.

When they don’t even do this they are not going to do for the rest of the scores of pressing Indian problems.

These towkays, tuan and tuan haji in DAP, PKR and PAS only want to use Kula and the other DAP, PKR and PAS Indian mandores for merely the Indian votes. Never the Indian problems!

Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice

‘Chettiar Land’ Scam

 

The Traveler, Monday,

Jeeva, son of a famous movie producer R B Choudry, acted in a Tamil movie ‘Pori’ which means ‘trap’.

The movie depicts how idle properties are hijacked and sold to innocent people.

In the movie, veteran actor Nages buys a small property for his son’s book shop using his retirement fund.

But, it turns out that the one who sold the property was not the real owner, the real owner was in overseas, but by a property scam syndicate.

The syndicate comprised of corrupt government officers, Politian and businessmen carrying out the hijack from the rightful owners and selling them to unsuspecting people with forged documents.

The movie is the typical reflection of what’s actually happening in Tamil Nadu.

In real life, in-laws of actor Srikanth were involved in several land and housing scams that were widely reported in Tamil media, some years ago.

The comedian Vadiveloo, also, a victim of land scams lost millions to his very own buddy often performing side-kick roles with him.

Now, coming back to Malaysia on the Banting murders, Nalliannan Sinnasamy family members land scam is very much similar.

Central to the quadruple murder seems to be the piece of land in Penang as speculated by Malaysian media.

Traveler sources have traced the details of the contentious land located at Lot 407, 332, 460 of Bandar Batu Feringgi, Daerah Timor Laut, Penang.

The 32.734 acres freehold land, worth of RM 65 psf (with squatters) and RM 95 psf (without squatters), is equally owned by three Chettiars: Nallaperumal Chidambaram Chettiar, Palamalai Chidambaram and Solachi Narayanan.

Apparently, the land owners have given the Power of Attorney to a Penang lawyer, Ramanathan Nachiappan.

On May 21st. 2009, Ramanathan lodged a police report and the gist of it;

a) A company known as Southern Symphony Sdn Bhd has entered into a sales and purchase agreement dated 17th. October 2008 to sell the properties to apple quality sdn bhd for RM 29 million.

b) A lawyer by the name of Dato Dr. S N Pathmanaban from Pathma & Nall & partners had filed an originating motion to remove inter alia caveat lodged by me (Ramanathan).

According to the report, Ramanathan has verified with the three owners of the said land: all of them denied selling any of their shares to Southern Symphony Sdn Bhd, unaware of the move to remove the caveat and never appointed the legal firm Pathma Nalli & Partners to sell their respective shares in the property concerned.

Ramanathan further contended, “someone has fraudulently represented themselves as the registered owners power of attorneys to self and to transfer the above properties without the knowledge and consent of their rightful registered owners”.

Interestingly, Traveler sources search in the Companies Commission of Malaysia found that Southern Symphony is RM 2.00 Company where the murdered millionaire Sosilawati Lawiya is one of the directors.

Apple Quality, the company that supposed to purchase the land for RM 29 million, has a paid-up capital of RM 3 million, with four partners having equal shares of RM 750,000.

The prime murder suspect, Pathmanababhan Nalliannen, is a director as well as one prominent Politian, Abd. Rahman bin Palil, former Selangor State Assemblyman, Sementa and EXCO member under Mohamad Khir Toyo tenure.

Abd Rahman bin Palil has been embroiled in a 24 hour land transfer scandal in Kapar.

The constituency Parliament member, Manikavasagam, reported the matter to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Abd Rahman bin Palil has been, also, implicated in Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal by the auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers Malaysia.

Traveler sources unable unearth two other directors’ details, at the moment.

As in the movie ‘Pori’, the system is corrupt to the core.

One who could not challenge the system takes the easy way out blaming Tamil movies and Tamil Schools.

Nazri moves to distance BTN from rep’s remarks

Nazri said Hamim’s remark was not representative of the BTN and its courses. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 — Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz defended the National Civics Bureau (BTN) today from charges of promoting racism, after a representative from the bureau was recently reported as having uttered racial slurs against the country’s Chinese and Indian communities.

Nazri said that the “racist” remarks reportedly made by BTN assistant director Hamim Husain did not reflect the courses conducted by the government agency.

“There are no modules in BTN which promotes racism. We have to look at what’s the issue here. In this case, it’s not the module which is an issue, it’s the personnel,” said Nazri in response to whether the courses run by BTN should be revamped.

The minister in the Prime Minister’s department stressed that action should be targeted against any individuals found making “irresponsible” remarks.

“These were remarks made by an irresponsible individual, therefore action should be taken against him,” Nazri told reporters today.

The Padang Rengas MP maintained that the Najib administration does not endorse any racist remarks, even if they were made by civil servants.

“The Cabinet, in its meeting last week, had already issued stern reminders to civil servants that no racist remarks will be tolerated.

“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak himself said during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly that the moderates must come forward... this was not only meant on an international level, but also in the context of our country,” added Nazri.

Hamim has since lodged a police report against The Malaysian Insider, claiming that his words had been “misinterpreted” and that his reported remarks were made in the confines of a private function.

On this, Nazri said it was Hamim’s prerogative to lodge a police report.

“Anyone can make a police report. Maybe he feels injustice has been done towards him... maybe he wants to defend himself. Whatever it is, action will be taken once investigations are completed,” said the minister.

Last week, Hamim, during a closed-door Puteri Umno function, referred to the Chinese and Indian communities as “Si Mata Sepet” and “Si Botol” respectively when asking Puteri Umno members to approach the non-Malays for votes.

“The ‘si mata sepet’ that has never gone to a mosque or surau only has one vote. The ‘si botol’ that only knows how to go up to Batu Caves up and down only has one vote,” Hamim told the closed-door gathering, as reported in The Malaysian Insider.

The Cabinet, disappointed with Hamim’s remarks, has instructed the Chief Secretary to investigate the BTN official.

The BTN, a state agency tasked with running courses on patriotism for civil servants and undergraduates, had come under fire last year for ostensibly promoting racism.

The Najib administration had then promised a revamp of BTN’s courses following a widespread public outcry.

Ex-DAP rep Keshvinder to shack up with PPP

Keshvinder quit DAP on June 15. — file pic

IPOH, Oct 4 — Malim Nawar assemblyman Keshvinder Singh who quit DAP in June to become an independent representative, today announced that he would be joining the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

He said he decided to join PPP, a Barisan Nasional (BN) component party, after being invited to do so by its vice-president Datuk Nik Sapeia Nik Yusoff.

Keshvinder will be submitting his application form to PPP president Datuk M. Kayveas when the latter returns from overseas soon.

On June 15, Keshvinder announced that he quit DAP.

“After considering that PPP is a multi-racial party, a concept which is close to my heart, I accepted the invitation,” he told reporters at the Aidilfitri open house of Yayasan Bina Upaya and Institut Darul Ridzuan, here, today.

“Several matters needed to be taken into consideration before I decided to join PPP. I am waiting for the PPP president to return from abroad to discuss the matter with him.”

He said PPP, as a multi-racial party, was in line with the 1Malaysia concept.

“It has Indian, Malay and Chinese members. It is suitable for me,” he added.

Perak Mentri Besar and state BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, when met at the function, described Keshvinder’s decision as wise.

He urged other opposition elected representatives who want a “change of air”, especially from the DAP which is now facing a crisis in Perak, to follow the Malim Nawar assemblyman’s move.

“We welcome anyone to join BN provided the person is willing to accept BN’s struggle,” he said. — Bernama

Ku Li perfect for Galas, says Nazri

Calls from within Umno for Ku Li to contest in Galas have continued to grow louder. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 — Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz today joined the chorus of Umno leaders calling for Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to contest the Galas by-election.

Nazri said that the Gua Musang MP would be the ideal choice to run for the Galas state seat, which became vacant last week with the death of PAS lawmaker Che Hashim Sulaima, triggering the country’s 12th by-election since Election 2008.

“When we enter a by-election, the main aim is to win. Who wants to enter a by-election to lose? We have to put in our best, put in winners.

“So as a member of Umno’s supreme council, I fully support Ku Li not only as an elections director, but also as the candidate for the Galas seat,” Nazri told reporters today.

Several Umno leader have declared their support for Tengku Razaleigh to contest as a candidate, most notably deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Nazri said that the politician popularly known as Ku Li would be the best candidate because of his track record as an Umno leader, and his having held important government positions in the past.

Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor revealed earlier today that Kelantan prince had agreed to lead BN’s campaign in Galas as elections director, although he has yet to make a formal announcement regarding the matter.

PAS leaders have, however, questioned Umno’s sincerity in saying that Tengku Razaleigh was the best candidate to recapture the Galas state seat within his Gua Musang federal constituency.

They claimed that Muhyiddin was trying to undermine the Kelantan prince’s credibility as Tengku Razaleigh has clashed with the Umno leadership over party policies, including the payment of oil royalty to the state.

Ku Li has been consistent in backing the PAS Kelantan state government in its claims for royalty payments from the federal administration.

Nazri, however, disagreed with PAS and lashed out at them today, calling them “hypocrites.”

“PAS says we are short of good leaders because we want Ku Li for Galas... well, pot calling the kettle black, eh?

“The same can be said for PAS, (Datuk) Nik Aziz (Nik Mat) has been Kelantan mentri besar for so long. He is so old but he is still there,” said Nazri.

The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said that there was nothing “insulting” in nominating a person to be an elected representative, even for a decorated leader like Tengu Razaleigh.

The Umno veteran has represented the Gua Musang constituency — which includes the Galas state seat — since 1969 and still remains an influential figure in his state.

The late Che Hashim had been suffering from colon cancer for more than a year and was admitted to Kampung Baru Medical Centre here last week before finally succumbing to his illness.

The one-term assemblyman had been diagnosed with cancer in 2009, when he underwent a medical check-up at a hospital in Kuala Lumpur. The PAS lawmaker had been receiving treatment at specialist hospitals in Kota Baru and Guangzhou, China since then.

Che Hashim won Galas with 4,399 votes, defeating incumbent Saufi Deraman. In the 2008 general election, PAS was able to capture 38 of the 45 state seats in Kelantan while BN won six and PKR managed only one.

The Malays make up 65.81 per cent of the more than 10,000 voters in the state constituency, the Chinese 22.03 per cent, Indians 1.81 per cent, while other races are at 10.32 per cent.

Two other state seats in the Gua Musang constituency — Nenggiri and Paloh — were won by BN with majority of 2,090 vote and 2,833 votes respectively.

Umno panics and does a u-turn

It looks like I have caught them with their pants down. They scream, rant and rave that I am too chicken to return to Malaysia. And then, when I call their bluff and say that I shall return, they panic and start raising all sorts of issues, which you can read in the piece below.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

For more than a year various Umno people plus the Umno blogs and websites have been calling me a coward, traitor, etc., for staying in the UK and for not coming home to Malaysia to face trial. In spite of the fact that there are no outstanding charges against me or any warrants of arrest (although the government can, if it wishes, file new charges against me) they insist of calling me a fugitive. Even as recent as today Nazri Aziz tells us that he guarantees me my safety if I were to return to Malaysia.

The most vicious of these many Umno websites is Malaysia Instinct. And in response to their ‘appeals’ for me to return I indicated that I am prepared to do so and also indicated that I shall be at the UCL at 1.00pm on Saturday, 2nd October 2010, to meet the Malaysian High Commissioner to discuss my return to Malaysia.

Well, the High Commissioner never turned up and Malaysia Instinct now raises questions as to why I want to return to Malaysia. I thought it is they who wanted me to return so the reason I am returning to Malaysia is because they want me to do so. And now that I have said I am prepared to return they question me as to why I want to do so and make all sorts of allegations of bad faith on my part.

It looks like I have caught them with their pants down. They scream, rant and rave that I am too chicken to return to Malaysia. And then, when I call their bluff and say that I shall return, they panic and start raising all sorts of issues, which you can read in the piece below.

That’s why. Never challenge someone to a duel. You never know whether they will accept the challenge. And after more than a year of challenging me and calling me all sorts of names they panic and do a u-turn when I accept the challenge to return to Malaysia.

Podah! These Umno people are all talk and no guts. They are brave when it is a big group against a small group and when they have the police giving them protection. But when it is one-to-one, suddenly their balls shrink.

Now you know why I despise these Umno Malays so much. I regard them just like dog shit stuck to the sole of my shoes. I would rather touch a pig than these people. That is how defiled they are.

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

RPK Hints That He Is Willing to Switch Side For A Good Pay

By Farrah Deebah, Malaysia Instinct

Much has been said about RPK’s warning towards Anwar that he will not be supporting PKR should the party failed to fulfill their promise to the rakyat.

Some say that this is just another Tamil drama by RPK, Anwar and PKR. Some say that RPK is beginning to sway away from PKR with the hope that he will be treated leniently by the Malaysian’s authority and law should he come back home.

Some look at RPK’s statement as an effort to divert the people’s attention from the most embarrassing PKR party election ever. Some say that RPK is really coming to his senses and is seriously thinking about making amendments with the government of Malaysia.

Being in close contact with RPK’s ‘connections’, I tend to look at his statement as a declaration of guilt.

By making the statement, RPK is directly admitting that he has always been a tool of Anwar and PKR and all the enemies of the country. He is also indirectly admitting that all or some of these parties have been paying him well just to tarnish Malaysia and our PM’s image and reputation.

RPK is actually hinting that he is willing to sway back to BN anytime by giving the most predictable reason, that PKR has lost its credibility. With this, RPK hopes to portray a clean and devout image of himself being the real truth seeker.

Well, the government is not going to fall for that, though RPK’s followers - the dumb liberal Malays, most probably will.

Every time we talk about RPK or talk to RPK, we must not forget that he is mentally not very stable. He constantly wants to be the center of attention and when he managed to achieve that, he would be carried away with his fantasies, sinking in his own stories, scripts and imagination.

He is proud for his lies and excited to see the after affect on people’s lives or the country. He is proud for having brought so much trouble to everybody.

I am not very sure why RPK suddenly wants to come home though I did hear that it’s because he is repenting. But I don’t see RPK as a man capable of repent. He is way too insane to be capable of such humane emotion and act. I don’t think that his son’s cries for him to come home managed to touch his heart either.

RPK is an egoist, which made him not very smart. Egoist often makes a fool of himself, that’s for sure. RPK is not the type who says sorry, forgive me, my fault and all those.

If RPK is really coming home and turning away from Anwar and PKR, it must be because he is having some sort of problem with his ‘organizer’ or ‘master’ and has no place to go for ‘real money’.

Or perhaps, RPK is trying to get his ass into UMNO and the government as a double agent. He wants to try writing or lying for both sides, get information for both sides and being paid by both sides.

What else do we expect from a man with no real job? How would he support his ugly wife and their luxurious lifestyle if he stopped writing lies? This guy won’t stop lying, never! That’s for sure. So, whatever he does, he does it with a cruel intention just to get paid well enough for him to continue living the way he does.

If RPK ever came back to Malaysia, nobody should risk giving him a second chance. He’s a gone case, a broken man, a lost soul. If he didn’t come back and we cannot take him to court, that’s fine with us. Just let him rot in London. Who cares!

Gwo Burne on the Kelana Jaya division elections : How to defend the party?

Yesterday afternoon, at a community hall at a block of flats in Desa Mentari2, PJ, a press conference was held by candidates who had lost at the recently concluded PKR Kelana Jaya division elections.

L-R : Razak and Vignes

Malaysiakini reports that “Abdul Razak Mohamed Jalil and Vigneswaran T Subramanian who contested the division chief and deputy posts, claim that they have evidence that Syed Shahir and his faction had abused their position as incumbents to push the election heavily in their favour”.

YB Loh Gwo Burne, who was present at the press conference, and who confirmed that he was at the Kelana Jaya divisional meeting and election until the end of balloting, shared his thoughts, both on the election that was the subject of the press conference, as well as the conduct of the elections generally that have taken place over the last three weekends. - by Haris Ibrahim

Jenapala : Azmin must apologise to the Indians

When former PKR deputy Sec-Gen Jenapala Perumal Subaan announced on 17th September that he was offering himself as a candidate for the post of deputy president, he had, in his press statement, alluded to an incident where “a well-known senior PKR leader openly called an Indian leader “pariah”. I had written about this HERE.
At a press conference today in PJ, Jenapala disclosed that the Indian leader was YB Gobalakrishnan.
He also named the ‘well-known senior PKR leader’ he had alluded to in his press statement.

Posted by Haris Ibrahim

Ramlan Bukan Reformis, Sebaliknya Ejen Perosak

Kenyataan akhbar Kumpulan Angkatan Peduli Insan (API)

Kami, Kumpulan Angkatan Peduli Insan (API) adalah sebuah kumpulan yang mewakili lebih 1000 orang aktivis-aktivis reformasi di seluruh Malaysia.

KENYATAAN:

1. Kami ingin menjelaskan bahawa individu bernama Ramlan Abu Bakar bukanlah seorang aktivis reformasi kerana beliau tidak pernah terlibat dalam apa jua kegiatan reformasi sejak 1998.

2.Beliau tidak dikenali dikalangan aktivis reformasi.

3.Kerana itu Gerakan Reformasi Rakyat Malaysia (Reformis) yang
beliau mengaku sebagai presiden bukanlah sebuah kumpulan yang
mewakili aktivis reformasi.

4.Kami menafikan sekeras-kerasnya tuduhan Ramlan dalam media bahawa Naib Presiden PKR Azmin Ali menawarkan ruang perniagaan di Uptown Gombak sebagai habuan kepada ahli-ahli kami untuk menjatuhkan Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

5. Sebagai penjelasan, kami mengakui ahli-ahli kami mendapat
lesen perniagaan di Uptown Gombak, tetapi ia dipohon oleh ahli-ahli kami yang mempunyai pengalaman dalam perniagaan seumpama itu khususnya di Jalan Masjid India, KL dan bukanlah sebagai imbuhan untuk menjatuhkan menjatuhkan Menteri Besar selangor’ seperti yang didakwa Ramlan.

6. Proses pemberian lesen itu dijalankan secara telus dan mengikut merit.

7. Oleh itu kenyataan Ramlan bukanlah dari seorang reformis, sebaliknya sebagai ejen perosak. Kenyataan beliau juga bersifat fitnah dan berniat jahat.

8. Kami yakin kenyataan beliau didalangi oleh pihak-pihak luar dan musuh-musuh PKR serta Pakatan Rakyat yang ingin melagakan Azmin dan Khalid.

PENDIRIAN:

1. Kami aktivis reformasi menyokong penuh kerajaan negeri
Selangor di bawah pimpinan Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

2. Kami juga menyokong penuh kempimpinan PKR di setiap peringkat.

3. Kami akan menentang setiap anasir-anasir jahat yang cuba
melagakan kepimpinan PKR dengan kerajaan Selangor.

Dikeluarkan oleh:

Ahli-ahli Jawatankuasa Penaja API
Presiden: Badrul Hisham Hanafiah
Timbalan: Mohd Hamdi Said
Setiusaha: Norzairi Jantan
Bendahari: Abdul Rahman Hackeem

3 September 2010

New IGP must seriously grapple with the new Malaysian phenomenon where crime index falls but Malaysians feel even more unsafe!

By Lim Kit Siang ,

DAP Member of Parliament for Rasah and Negri Sembilan State Assemblyman for Lobak Anthony Loke, who is also DAPSY National chief, was the latest victim of crime when he was rudely awakened early this morning by five parang-wielding robbers who broke into his Seremban home and tied him up, along with his elderly parents.

The 4am incident took place after the robbers cut through the front door lock, and woke the occupants in the double-storey terrace house in Taman Yoon Chan, Seremban – hitherto quite crime-free but no more safe.

Recently, both the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein had made great play about the successful NKRA on crime reduction, claiming that there have been a drastic drop in the crime rate with improvement of the crime index since January this year.

However, up and down the country, ordinary Malaysians do not feel this dividend of fall of crime index in their daily lives as they do not feel comparatively safer in the streets, public places or privacy of their homes as compared to previous years as highlighted by the terrible ordeal which Loke and his parents went through early this morning.

I call on the new Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar to seriously grapple with this new phenomenon in Malaysia where crime index falls but Malaysians feel even more unsafe in many areas.

I had invited public responses to the question: “Crime index down but do you feel safer?” on my twitter, facebook and blog, and the following are some of the responses:

Twitter:

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Robbery on going in my housing area for the past few weeks. If we are safe, there won’t be any gated community.
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KL, never felt more unsafe
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Safe? Even Police are not pro-active when suspicious activity is being reported to them.
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i dun feel safe. scary to see so many crimes still unsolved
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definitely still not safe. My security committee had 2publicise tat dey caught a robber 2get funds4 guards
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penang – 10 police doing roadblocks, hide behind trees, lanes in the dark – how2 be safe? when they ought to do more rounds
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YB Uncle, nobody is safe if we don’t do anything. Our security are depending on Nepal guard. Is that the way make us safer?
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No, sir, I definitely don’t feel safe walking/driving on our streets!
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We are worse off. Can someone suggest that those security fee to guard our house be exempted from income tax?
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sir, I’m sure u know the stats were manipulated. My cousin had accident, made police report but got scolded by police instead.
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thanks and NO I do not feel safe walking in Brickfields as even at day time there are snatch thefts and at night there are parang gangs walking around. Have experienced both. Like in UK the Govt must put in place safer measures to fight crime, not only increase police n patrols( which has been done but no success ) but also “talking cameras” where victims can be warned off, the observers must respond if crime is to be reduced

Blog:
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All of us will have to hire security guards from Indonesia. Give them more jobs! When police cannot protect you, you need to protect yourself, with guns.
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Crime index has not come down. William Cheng commented in today’s Oriental Daily News that in order to create a false picture that crime index has come down, police refused to entertain victims who came forward to lodge reports. These poor victims were being “pushed” to go from one police station to another until they got tired and gave up lodging the report.
*

When the people complained about the high crime rate in the country not so long ago, the Govt. said it was a matter of perception. Now we are being told that the crime index has come down. Can we say that it is also a matter of perception? With more and more neighbourhood hiring security personnel to look after the safety of the residents, how can we say that the security situation has improved? Worse, we have also to contend with hordes of foreign criminals.

Facebook
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of cos not! a auntie was just killed in a plotted robbery in front of her house early in the morning going to work recently at my kampung!
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I feel cheaper…..my life is getting cheaper every time..just waiting for the day the robbers make their way into my life..sigh…
*

the highest crime ratio in SEA is really Malaysia. Robberies, rapes,murders almost happen every second..

Where we have big robbers like Umnoputras robbing the country’s coffers, the small one also follow their big brothers’ footsteps..

Last Thursday, the new IGP unveiled his vision, the “4P” plan, for the police to deliver more efficient services to the public – proactive, protective, performance-oriented and people-oriented.

As a first step, he should prove this “4P” plan is meaningful to Malaysians, visitors, tourists and investors in ensuring a safer country to work, live and play where official announcements of falling crime index is greeted with public acclaim rather than public cynicism because there is no match between the fall in crime index as announced and the public feeling more safe from crime than before, whether for person or property.

Press Release: Stop police harassment of Orang Asli

The Malaysian Bar notes with concern the incidents of harassment and intimidation of Orang Asli in Negeri Sembilan, by the police and Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli (JHEOA), over the past week.

Two days prior to a “customary meeting” (perjumpaan adat) for various villages that was scheduled to be held in Kampung Sebir, Seremban on 30 September 2010, a police officer from Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Seremban 2 questioned the Tok Batin of Kampung Sebir regarding the purpose of the meeting, and the number and identity of the attendees.  The officer stated that the Tok Batin was required to provide written notification of the meeting to the police.  On 30 September itself, JHEOA officials who went to the village on another matter also raised questions regarding the meeting.  Two police officers subsequently arrived during the meeting and stated that advance notification of such meetings must be made to the police in order to obtain approval. 

The Malaysian Bar is troubled that the authorities see fit to interfere with the basic rights of this Orang Asli community to assemble and discuss issues of concern to them.  This constitutes bullying and intimidation of these Orang Asli, and must stop.

We also note that the Government proposes to expedite the passage of amendments to the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 through Parliament.  However, despite several requests, the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development has not disclosed the contents of the proposed amendments, and the Orang Asli are therefore in the dark as to their precise nature.

The public disclosure thus far indicates that the proposed amendments will be substantial, and will have serious repercussions upon the culture and life of the Orang Asli, and their rights to their ancestral lands.  As such, the Government must ensure that the proposed reform is thoroughly discussed and seriously considered beforehand, taking into account the views of the Orang Asli who will be affected.

The Malaysian Bar calls on the Government to immediately make public the proposed amendments and to allow for a comprehensive and frank discussion with all the relevant stakeholders before the proposals are tabled in Parliament.  We also urge the authorities to uphold the rights of all persons, including the Orang Asli, to meet to discuss matters of interest and concern.

We further call on the Government to fulfil its obligation to accord full respect to the rights of the Orang Asli, and not to act in any manner inconsistent with those rights.


Ragunath Kesavan
President
Malaysian Bar

(Un?)believable: BTN man lodges police report against TMI re: racism

O.O TMI:

Perkasa Youth chief Arman Azha Abu Hanifah said he had accompanied BTN deputy director Hamim Husain to lodge a police report against The Malaysian Insider for “misinterpreting” the contents of his speech during a Puteri Umno function last week.
“He (Hamim) had lodged a report against the reporter and the news company for entering a private function, as well as misinterpreting what he had said,” claimed Arman.
“Perkasa stands firm with Hamim. He is not wrong with what he said… it was said during a private closed-door function. Media has to respect when it is a private function. If you report about what was said privately, you are jeopardising the country’s racial harmony,” said Arman.
Last week Hamim, during a closed-door Puteri Umno function, referred to the Chinese and Indian communities as “Si Mata Sepet” and “Si Botol” respectively when asking Puteri Umno members to approach the non-Malays for votes.
“The ‘si mata sepet’ that has never gone to a mosque or surau only has one vote. The ‘si botol’ that only knows how to go up to Batu Caves up and down only has one vote,” Hamim told the closed-door gathering, as reported in The Malaysian Insider.

Sigh, want to say surprised also cannot say surprised la :P After all, remember Tan Hoon Cheng? :P
I mean, I will grant it’s anyone’s right to make as many police reports as they want about anything, but now all eyes will be on the authorities.
If they so much as do anything beyond taking a statement (preferably at TMI’s own office, not at some sketchy place late at night), I think we should all be ready to object and call out this nonsense.
I don’t think anyone is under any illusions as to what BTN is really there for – to continue propagating hate and driving wedges in society, all in the hopes of perpetuating Umno-BN hegemony.
We’ve all heard first hand accounts from students and other individuals who have had to endure these things (if only we were hard working enough to compile them).
The other part that really got to me was: “If you report about what was said privately, you are jeopardising the country’s racial harmony”
This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. What is jeapordising harmony is the racism that fler is spewing, not the people reporting it!!!
This idiot thinks that if only we don’t report on racism, then racism doesn’t exist. Fools like this end up like the emperor with no clothes :P
As I’ve tried to explain in great length, it is exactly racism in private that is the greatest threat to unity.
Instead of reporting it less, we should report it more to shame the inner racist in all of us!

BTN man’s remarks ‘misinterpreted’, says Perkasa

Arman said the BTN man was not wrong in saying what he said. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 — Perkasa claimed today that remarks made by a National Civics Bureau (BTN) official had been “misinterpreted” by news reports as being racist.

Perkasa Youth chief Arman Azha Abu Hanifah said he had accompanied BTN deputy director Hamim Husain to lodge a police report against The Malaysian Insider for “misinterpreting” the contents of his speech during a Puteri Umno function last week.

“He (Hamim) had lodged a report against the reporter and the news company for entering a private function, as well as misinterpreting what he had said,” claimed Arman.

Hamim was seen earlier at the Sentul district police station here, but refused to comment or speak to reporters about the report he had made.

“Perkasa stands firm with Hamim. He is not wrong with what he said... it was said during a private closed-door function. Media has to respect when it is a private function. If you report about what was said privately, you are jeopardising the country’s racial harmony,” said Arman.

Hamim (in dark glasses) after lodging the police report today, October 4, 2010.

Malay rights group Perkasa has been defending the remarks made by the BTN official, claiming that the issue had been blown out of proportion.

Last week Hamim, during a closed-door Puteri Umno function, referred to the Chinese and Indian communities as “Si Mata Sepet” and “Si Botol” respectively when asking Puteri Umno members to approach the non-Malays for votes.

“The ‘si mata sepet’ that has never gone to a mosque or surau only has one vote. The ‘si botol’ that only knows how to go up to Batu Caves up and down only has one vote,” Hamim told the closed-door gathering, as reported in The Malaysian Insider.

The Cabinet, disappointed with Hamim’s remarks, has instructed the Chief Secretary to the Government to investigate the BTN official.

The BTN, a state agency charged with running courses on patriotism for civil servants and undergraduates, came under fire last year for promoting racism.

The Najib administration had promised a revamp of BTN’s courses following a widespread public outcry.   - The Malaysian Insider

Perkasa endorses Mustaffa Kamil in PKR vote

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 — Malay rights group Perkasa urged PKR members today to reject Azmin Ali as party deputy president and to instead vote for Mustaffa Kamil Ayub.

Perkasa Youth chief Arman Azha Abu Hanifah said Mustaffa was a more qualified candidate for the deputy presidency because of his Abim roots.

“Mustaffa is from Abim, he holds true to the Islamic agenda and fights for the betterment of the Malays... Azmin, on the other hand, is not interested to fight for the betterment of the Malay community.

“Azmin is only fit to become Anwar’s coffee boy,” said Arman (picture).

The Perkasa man slammed Azmin for his remarks made yesterday during the Gombak PKR AGM.

Azmin said yesterday that he would personally fight against Perkasa and “individuals behind the organisation” in a thinly-veiled reference to Perkasa patron Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“Azmin should show some respect to a statesman who has done so much for this country. Azmin is not fit to become a politician,” said Arman.

Dr Mahathir is currently in a hospital in Melbourne receiving treatment for flu and cough.

The hotly-contested fight for deputy presidency has revealed deep divisions within PKR and thrown the party’s commitment to direct elections into sharp focus.

Azmin, who is also Selangor chief, is believed to be Pakatan Rakyat (PR) defacto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s preferred choice, while Datuk Zaid Ibrahim is said to be popular with Sabah and Sarawak and non-Malay members in the country’s largest multi-racial political party.

PKR amended its constitution last year to give one member one vote in direct elections.

Last month, some 400,000 PKR members began voting for divisional leaders and the 25 members of the central leadership council, including president, deputy president and four vice-presidents.

The party’s 218 divisions will hold two separate meetings, one for the annual general meeting and election of divisional leaders, and a second to vote for national leaders.

The divisions will vote for national leaders on weekends, from October 29 to November 21.

'Lawyer brothers went on killing spree in India'

By B Nantha Kumar - Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: In a shocking revelation, an Indian magazine claimed that the lawyer brothers arrested in connection with the brutal murder of millionaires Sosilawati Lawiya and three others here could also be responsible for several slayings in India.

According to the prominent weekly, Junior Vikatan, the brothers had allegedly gone on a killing spree since 1992.

Their alleged victims were three lawyers identified as Annamalai, Padmanathan and Dhnabatil Singh. The brothers were also blamed for the murder of reporter Thinakaran Raman.

Junior Vikatan also claimed that the lawyers' father was a “thug” who had moved to Malaysia some 60 years ago.

The brothers, the magazine said, owned a house in the Namakkal district in Tamil Nadu but preferred to stay with slain Indian businessman A Muthuraja whenever they visited India.

The brothers made headlines in the Indian media after reports claimed that they could have been responsible for the murder of Muthuraja, a prominent cinema financier, whose remains have yet to be discovered.

Sosilawaiti and the other three were allegedly killed at a farm belonging to the brothers in Banting, their bodies burnt and their remains strewn into a nearby river.

The police have yet to charge the brothers and six of their alleged accomplices as rumours swirl about the lack of evidence, especially in establishing the DNA of the victims.

It is also said that the brothers could be linked to more than a dozen murders.

'Muthuraja wanted for murder'

Meanwhile, another Indian magazine alleged that Muthuraja himself was wanted for murder by the Indian police.

The Reporter magazine claimed that the well-heeled cinema financier was high on the wanted list for his involvement in robberies and smuggling activities.

Muthuraja, who hailed from the small village of Vilaagam in Tamil Nadu, was also said to be close to a man identified as Vengedesan, who was shot dead by the Indian police.

The businesmman's father was a former police inspector and had stood in the 2006 Tamil Nadu state assembly election but was defeated.

Muthuraja, who was said to be involved in a prominent love scandal, surrended to the police after his father was arrested. However, he was later released on bail. The magazine did not say why Muthuraja's father was arrested.

He came to Malaysia last January, and went missing soon after.

My hubby is missing, too, says mum of four

At a loss: Jayanthy holding a picture of her missing husband Anpalagan at a press conference in Kapar yesterday.

KLANG: A 33-year-old mother of four is claiming that her husband’s disappearance may be linked to the lawyer brothers implicated in the Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya murder.

S. Jayanthy, 33, alleged that her husband, businessman Anpalagan Swami­nathan, 43, went missing on Aug 3 after saying he was going to meet friends in Banting.

She added that he was friends with one of the lawyer brothers and that he had allegedly met a policeman known as “CID Maniam” earlier in the day.

Jayanthy, from Hulu Selangor, told reporters in a press conference at Kapar near here that she had also “lost” all his assets after his disappearance.

She claimed a company secretary engaged by her husband’s firm had asked her to sign some documents after Anpalagan went missing.

Jayanthy claimed the documents were prepared by one of the lawyer suspects.

“I only have my savings to support my four children and myself now,” wept Jayanthy.

Jayanthy said she found her missing husband’s car at a resort in Hulu Langat on Sept 4 through the car’s GPS system but her husband was nowhere to be found.

She added the company secretary told her that Anpalagan had gone to India.

Meanwhile, missing Indian businessman A. Muthuraja’s brothers said they were not the ogres their brother’s second wife S. Usharani made them out to be.

“We dont have anything against her but she seems to see us as her enemies,” said Muthu­raja’s youngest brother Dr Kasi Viswanathan, 32.

Malaysia top Indian artists to pull out from Raaga radio awards

Nazri: RPK will be safe if he returns

De facto Law Minister Nazri Aziz today gave an assurance that Raja Petra Kamaruddin would be safe should be return to Malaysia.

“Why did he run away? Just like the Thai witness (pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand) for the Teoh Beng Hock case, she claimed her life was under threat but she came and returned safely,” he said at a press conference.

“This (fear for safety) is just an excuse to not cooperate... Malaysia is not a banana republic.”

Nazri stressed that rather than jumping bail, Raja Petra, better known as RPK, should instead share his information with the authorities.

“I hope he can help us.. I would prefer if he comes back and faces the charges against him, play the game according to the rules,” he said.

Najib kickstarts bid to reverse brain drain

Najib said Malaysia was now going through an exciting time. — File pic

BRUSSELS, Oct 4 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced today that Malaysia’s Talent Corporation will be launched in January to arrest the country’s growing brain drain problem.

The exodus of local talent to more developed countries has threatened his vision of transforming Malaysia into a high-income nation by 2020.

“Previously, we waited for them to get back to us but this time we will seek them out,” Najib told reporters here on last night.

“We will find out what it takes for them to consider going back home, and at the same time create more business opportunities and pay them wages that are more aligned with global wages,” he said.

Companies have complained about the lack of skilled labour in Malaysia and economists have cited this problem as a hindrance in the country’s ability to attract more high-technology industries. About 80 per cent of the country’s workforce only has secondary school education.

About 700,000 Malaysians are currently living abroad, with half of them in Singapore, while the rest can be found mostly in Australia, Britain and the United States.

An Australian immigration agency in Perth with offices in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor has reportedly said that the number of Malaysians enquiring about moving to Australia had spiked by 80 per cent since 2008.

Last night, Najib pointed out that numerous government initiatives had been successful in injecting optimism among Malaysians abroad who now saw the opportunities for them to return and contribute to the country’s development.

“They see a wider opportunity for them to play a role. I believe that if we can implement our programmes in the near future, their level of optimism will increase because they already like our new plans and strategies,” said the prime minister.

Previous government attempts to lure back Malaysian expatriates, such as the Brain Gain Malaysia and Returning Expert programmes, however, have had little success.

They have attracted fewer than 3,000 applicants despite offering financial incentives like importing cars tax-free and efforts to ease access to permanent residency for foreign spouses.

Yesterday, Najib cited effective and swift execution of the programmes as the key to draw back Malaysian expatriates.

“I think the icing on the cake will be how fast we can implement the various projects and business opportunities that have been identified; only then will we be able to attract the Malaysian diaspora to consider going back,” he said.

Many Malaysians living abroad, however, have reportedly cited racial tension and affirmative action policies among their concerns about returning to their homeland.

Although Najib has said that affirmative action would be made “market-friendly, merit-based, transparent and needs-based” under the New Economic Model, his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin recently stressed that the economic plan would protect the Malay agenda.

A sour reaction from Malay rights groups had also forced Najib to backtrack and call the policy a “trial balloon”.

Economist Terence Gomez was reported as saying that it was crucial for Malaysia to change affirmative action policies and become more of a meritocracy to bring back the diaspora.

Meanwhile, London School of Economics and Political Science economics professor Danny Quah had pointed out that brain drain has had a huge impact on Malaysia’s economic and industrial development for the past decade or longer.

Malaysia’s growth rate dropped to an average of 5.5 per cent a year from 2000 to 2008, from an average of about 9 per cent a year from 1991 to 1997.

The country is also facing uncertain economic prospects with average GDP growth in the next five years projected to be just shy of the six per cent target Najib had set.

Foreign direct investment plunged a record 81 per cent last year and the World Bank has warned that a lack of human capital is a “critical constraint in Malaysia’s ambition to become a high-income economy.”

The number of Malaysian migrants rose by more than 100-fold in a 45-year period, from 9,576 Malaysians in 1960 to 1,489,168 Malaysians in 2005, according to the World Bank.

Malaysian migrants with tertiary education living in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, numbered at 102,321 in the year 2000.

Deputy Foreign Minister Senator A. Kohilan Pillay said recently that 304,358 Malaysians had migrated from March 2008 till August 2009 compared with 139,696 Malaysians in 2007.

Syed Mokhtar eyes UEM, RRI and police land

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 — Tycoon Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary has written to Putrajaya seeking 1,200 hectares of land in Sungei Buloh and the police training centre in Jalan Semarak here apart from a RM15.6 billion bid to take over the UEM Group Berhad which runs the PLUS highways.
The Malaysian Insider understands that Syed Mokhtar’s MMC Berhad sent the UEM Group bid to the Ministry of Finance in August and it has come to the attention of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his capacity as the Finance Minister. The UEM Group is owned by government sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Berhad.
“The government’s position is that if Khazanah wants to sell, there is no objection,” a government source told The Malaysian Insider.

Syed Mokhtar is one of the richest men in the country.

“But the government will not force Khazanah to sell its stake in UEM to MMC,” he added. The UEM bid is just one of the deals being pursued by the Kedah-born tycoon, who rose from a transport business start-up to control rice supplies in the country to running ports. The Malaysian Business magazine last year estimated that Syed Mokhtar is worth some US$1.8 billion (RM5.58 billion) with his shareholdings in several listed companies.
It is learnt that Syed Mokhtar has also written to the government to buy 1,200 hectares out of the 3,000 hectares of Rubber Research Institute (RRI) land in Sungei Buloh to be developed by the Najib administration under his Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).
Apart from that, it is understood that the businessman is also asking to develop the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in Jalan Semarak which also houses the Police Museum and its logistics centre. The site also houses a police golf course next to the leafy Gurney residential area which counts some embassies and tycoons as its residents.
“Putrajaya has yet to decide on the RRI land or Pulapol,” the government source said.
Before the offer for the historic police land, the government had recently indicated it will develop the massive Sungei Besi airport which is a strategic base for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and the Police Air Wing. The Sungei Besi development by the government-linked 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) is also under the ETP.

Najib has left it to Khazanah to ensure the disposal of strategic stakes is to its interests.

Since Najib took office as the country’s sixth prime minister in April 2009, he has earmarked government assets in Kuala Lumpur for redevelopment and has asked Khazanah to dispose of controlling shares in the nearly 70 companies in the state asset manager’s stable. But Najib, who is Khazanah chairman, has left it to the asset manager’s managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar and his team to ensure the disposal of strategic stakes is to its interests.
Apart from MMC’s bid for UEM, Khazanah has also received a RM50 billion bid for toll road operator PLUS Expressways Berhad. It has yet to decide on any of the bids, sources said.
MMC’s bid for UEM is seen as a way to acquire PLUS, which controls the North-South Expressway and several other toll highways in Peninsular Malaysia.
Several bloggers linked to Syed Mokhtar have written that MMC intends to bid for the UEM Group by forming a special purpose vehicle (SPV) with the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) as its partners.
The proposed buyout would involve the SPV planning to raise RM16 billion, which would include a working capital of RM500 million, for the UEM Group which includes Faber Group Bhd, UEM Land Holdings Bhd, Time Engineering Bhd and the unlisted UEM Builders which is involved in constructing the Second Penang Bridge to complement its 25-year concession for the Penang Bridge.
UEM Group’s total assets as at December 31, 2009 stood at approximately RM31.1 billion.
The bloggers say both EPF and PNB have not been consulted in the structuring of the proposed deal and may not agree with the proposal of MMC’s 40 per cent being valued at RM1.92 billion, while each of EPF’s 30 per cent and PNB’s 30 per cent at RM1.44 billion each.
Syed Mokhtar’s MMC is also part of a consortium led by Gamuda proposing a RM36 billion Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) circle line in Kuala Lumpur. A decision on the project, which is part of the ETP, will be made this month.

Much at stake for Ku Li in Galas

By Hawkeye - Free Malaysia Today,

KOTA BARU: Kelantan Umno remains optimistic that Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah would throw his entire weight behind Barisan Nasional in the upcoming Galas state by-election here.


State opposition leader Md Alwi Che Ahmad said a few leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, have been in touch with the Kelantan prince and the response is indicative

that Razaleigh is supportive of the coalition.

He admitted that there are attempts by Pakatan Rakyat, especially PAS, to persuade Razaleigh, who is affectionately called Ku Li, to adopt a low profile instead.

The former Umno vice-president and finance minister, is currently in London after attending an engagement with his alma mater Queens University in Belfast, Ireland.

To-date, according to his personal assistant Mohd Lukman Ghani, Ku Li has hesitated commenting on various issues linked to the by-election, prefering to tell all in a scheduled press conference when he returns to Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

Ku Li is regarded as a statesman, therefore he is allowed the leverage to be critical of either BN or Pakatan, said Alwi in response to claims that Ku Li does not agree with Umno and had even sided with PAS on the Kelantan government's move to seek oil royalty compensation from Petronas through the courts.

However, as he remains the Gua Musang Umno division head and one of the party's revered personalities, Ku Li should take up the offer to lead the state BN election machinery, Alwi added.

The Galas by-election is expected to be called by the end of this month or early November following the demise of its incumbent Chek Hashim Sulaima from PAS last Monday.

Chek Hashim won the seat, which is one of three under the Gua Musang parliamentary constituency by defeating Ku Li's strongman Saufi Deraman in the 2008 general election with a slim majority of 646 votes.

Much at stake
Alwi said PAS has engaged in a "psy-war" approach since it was inevitable that a by-election needs to be held.

They are swaying confusion and trying to entice Ku Li to adopt a low profile or neutral stance since the latter remains highly influencial in the constituency, Alwi claimed.

This is why PAS is trying to revive the prospect of Malay unity in Galas and urging Umno to stay out of contesting as a token to the previous proposal for both parties to discuss about the possibility of a united political front, he explained.

It is learnt that Ku Li has much to ponder as Pakatan had sent overtures to him that he could become the next prime minister if it wins over Malaysia in the next federal election.

If PKR supreme leader Anwar Ibrahim is imprisoned on sodomy charges then there is no other personality big enough to assume the prime ministership except Ku Li, said a PAS leader here.

There is much at stake for the Kelantan prince, as it concerns his political future, the PAS leader added.

In the meantime, both Barisan and PAS have upped the ante as a build-up to the by-election, with Ku Li caught in the centre.

When a rotten egg cracks

By Stanley Koh - Free Malaysia Today,

COMMENT Astrologers avow that the Age of Aquarius is an era of spiritual awakening. But has mankind really entered or arrived anywhere near an era of spirituality, enlightenment, wisdom, harmony and truth?

Sceptics do not think so.
Even cartoonists are learning that their work can invite arrest, prosecution and death threats.

A few of them, no doubt, lack sensibility and wisdom. Instead of appealing to the very human sense of humour, their cartoons invite violent protests and provoke murderous instincts.

Such, for instance, was the case of Lars Vilks, the Swedish artist who offended Muslims across the globe with his perceived insult in 2007. The following year, Amsterdam police arrested Gregorius Nekschot on allegations that his work discriminated against Muslims.

In another incident, 20-year-old Bangladeshi cartoonist Ariful Rahman broke his country's law when he stirred up religious sentiments with his play of words for a caricature published in the newspaper Aalpin.

The case of Malaysian cartoonist Zunar, however, is somewhat different. He has joined the ranks of persecuted cartoonists—not for his insensitivity to the feelings of fellow human beings, but for his tendency to reveal what the authorities believe ought to be kept hidden.

To paraphrase a Russian proverb, politics is a rotten egg; if broken, it stinks.

Zunar has been trying to crack the Malaysian egg for some time now, releasing smells that the authorities cannot tolerate.

Everything looks like a nail

To the corrupt and corruptible, the truth is so precious that it must be hidden at all costs, usually with a pack of lies and half-truths.

“To the man who has a hammer, everything he encounters begins to look like a nail,” said American psychologist Abraham Maslow. As a depiction of the psychology of Malaysia’s political leadership, this is not far off the mark. Critics, it seems, should be hammered into compliance or obedience like a nail, and this can be done through repressive laws.

According to Aristotle, the mark of an educated mind is that it is able to entertain a thought—or criticism—without accepting it.

Can an individual, through written or spoken criticism, really cause nationwide rioting or trigger a violent revolution? Does a drop of water constitute an ocean? Remember that riots are usually caused by groups orchestrated by politicians and wars are conducted by military commanders, not by any one individual citizen.

The real problem with our leadership is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubts and fears. They make grave political mistakes as a result.

As George Bernard Shaw once quipped, “Political necessities sometimes turn out to be political mistakes.” That applies to all the draconian laws in the country; they are political mistakes perpetuating an out-of-date political culture.

Our political culture would make Aristotle shake his head in despair. Our so-called leaders are apparently incapable of accepting criticism and deem it fit to punish the critics. Perhaps they should heed John F Kennedy’s famous remark: “When peaceful revolution becomes impossible, violent revolution becomes inevitable.”

Silencing criticism and prohibiting press freedom under bad laws is a form of tyranny. “There is no crueller tyranny than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law and in the name of justice,” according to Charles de Montesquieu.

How many more Zunars are out there who will speak, write or draw to show what they think is true and right?

Since 2005, the Malaysian government has intimidated numerous critics, notably Nathaniel Tan, Syed Azidi Syed Aziz alias Kickdefella and Raja Petra Kamaruddin. It has not spared even radio deejays and talk-show personalities. And there is now a high profile committee to monitor some 503 websites and train cyber troopers and computer forensics experts to rein in critics and dissenters.

Let us have freedom

The paranoia of seemingly educated leaders and their unwillingness to give free rein to their sense of humour speak much of the prevailing crisis of representation in Malaysia.

Czech freedom fighter Vaclav Havel, in a famous essay published in 1979, aptly titled “The Power of the Powerless,” wrote that those who live under oppression and do nothing to oppose it are living a lie, the lie that their life is normal.

According to him, if people were to choose to tell the truth, to begin to act on this truth, and to resist the lies of the state, they would open up an “explosive” and “incalculable” power in society.

The Age of Aquarius is about freedom, especially of the human spirit. If power is about what politicians can control, then freedom is about what the people can unleash.

When Abraham Lincoln finally freed his nation from slavery, he wrote: “Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.”

Neither should we forget that there is one law for all humanity and against man’s cruelty. That is the Creator’s law, the law of Truth, Humanity, Logic, Justice, Compassion and Wisdom.

The greatness of a nation is measured not by its material wealth or military strength, but by the positive values it cherishes.

Politicians have no greater duty than to nurture those universal values. To carry out that duty effectively, they must realise that they, like everyone else, are not perfect.

Stanley Koh is a political observer who use to head the MCA's research unit.

Why the kid gloves with Branson, Muhyiddin?

By Ding Jo-Ann | The NutGraph

Aug 2010: Gore and Wolfowitz

“While Anwar Ibrahim is on trial before the state, the state is on trial before its people and the world. If he were to be convicted, the whole of Malaysia’s political life and its standing in the world would be damaged. And for what gain?”

Former US Vice-President Al Gore and former US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz in a joint press statement published by The Wall Street Journal. Gore and Wolfowitz criticised opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s second sodomy trial as politically motivated and damaging to Malaysia’s international reputation. (Source: Malaysia on trial, says Al Gore and Wolfowitz, The Wall Street Journal as quoted by The Malaysian Insider, 4 Aug 2010)
Muhyiddin: Malaysia will not bow to pressure

“It’s a futile attempt, as no quarters in Malaysia will bow to the calls (for Anwar to be freed from the sodomy charge).
“As a former deputy prime minister, Anwar should know better but the question is, is he so desperate as to ask for help from his American friends? The answer is clear now.”

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin when asked to comment on Gore and Wolfowitz’s remarks. Muhyiddin said the remarks showed how desperate Anwar was that he had to resort to a “lifeline” of collaborating with his foreign friends to serve his own interests. (Source: Malaysia won’t bow to any pressure over Anwar sodomy trial: Muhyiddin, The Star, 5 Aug 2010)
Sept 2010: Richard Branson

“[The Anwar sodomy trial] has gone on for a long, long time. It looks bad overseas. If you are a bold leader, you should get rid of things like that which damage your reputation.”

Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson at an investment conference in Kuala Lumpur. Branson said Malaysia had a relatively good reputation overseas but the Anwar sodomy trial was damaging that reputation. (Source: Branson warns Malaysia over Sodomy II, Agencies as quoted in Malaysiakini, 27 Sept 2010)
Muhyiddin: “He didn’t mean to interfere”

“If you ask me, of course, I wouldn’t want the [Anwar] case to be in our courts. Without such a high-profile case, Malaysia would do better (with foreign investments). It is best that the case is over as soon as possible.”
“I don’t think that [Richard Branson's] remark was meant to interfere.”

Muhyiddin‘s response to Branson’s remarks on the Anwar sodomy trial. He admitted that the trial was a blot on Malaysia’s investment radar that should be wiped clean as soon as possible.
Muhyiddin’s remarks contrasted with those of other government leaders such as Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, who dismissed Branson’s remarks, saying Branson obviously did not understand the country’s legal system. (Source: Sodomy trial a blot on investment radar: DPM, Malaysiakini, 28 Sept 2010)

Law applies to all: Hishammuddin

The Sun 

KUALA TERENGGANU (Oct 3, 2010): No officer, even one holding a high position, can place himself above the law, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

“No one can be exempted from facing the law for misconduct, as we are firm and consistent in all cases and will take those involved to court as soon as possible.

“We will not allow them (those who commit offences) to tarnish the image of those who are really committed and honest in carrying out their responsibilities under their respective agencies,” he said here today.

Hishammuddin said this when commenting on the arrests of a number of Immigration officers at the country’s entry/exit checkpoints by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for alleged involvement in corruption, reports Bernama.

The MACC had over the weekend reportedly arrested at least four senior immigration officers suspected to be on the take and nine runners who allegedly collected the money from foreigners to be allowed into the country without proper documents via ferry at  landing points on Pulau Ketam in Selangor and Port Dickson in Negri Sembilan.

It was reported that  MACC officers seized RM30,000 from an immigration officer and RM70,000 from his runner in Port Dickson and more arrests are imminent.

Hishammuddin said the ministry was always monitoring officers of its agencies including the Immigration Department, Royal Malaysian Police and Rela (People’s Volunteer Corps) to check malpractices that could affect the integrity and credibility of the agencies.

He said action would also be taken under the law in the case of 10 policemen alleged to have stolen 40kg of syabu in Pahang last year. 

“However, this does not reflect that our officers are mostly corrupt as many in the police, Immigration and Rela are proud to serve their respective organisation and will not do things that can tarnish its image,” he added. -- theSun

Magistrate gets jail, fine for graft

The New Straits Times 
by Sulaiman Jaafar

KOTA BARU: A magistrate was sentenced to three years' jail and fined a total of RM40,000 after he was found guilty by the Sessions Court yesterday on two counts of accepting bribes.

Judge Sabariah Othman meted out the sentences on magistrate for Kuala Krai and Machang Mohd Firdaus Ramlan, 28, after the prosecution proved the two cases under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act beyond a reasonable doubt.

On the first count, the judge sentenced Firdaus to three years' imprisonment and fined him RM15,000. For his second offence, the magistrate was sentenced to three years' jail and fined RM25,000.

Sabariah ordered the prison sentences to run concurrently and the fines were in default of 12 months' and 18 months' jail sentences, respectively.

Firdaus was charged with accepting a bribe of RM3,000 from Md Shani Ishak through Chief Inspector Kamarul Ahmad at the Esso petrol station at 10.30pm on Oct 11 last year as an inducement to reduce his drug sentence to a two-year good behaviour bond of RM1,000.

In the second charge, Firdaus was alleged to have asked for a bribe of RM5,000 from Shani for a similar purpose at the magistrate's office at the Kuala Krai court at 9am on Oct 6.

Both offences were punishable under Section 24 of the act, which provides for a jail term of not more than 20 years and a fine of five times the value of the bribe.

Sabariah said the court found that the defence had failed to produce evidence to show that Firdaus had been framed as he had claimed.

"The accused has also failed to deny that his voice was in the recording (made by the MACC). The defence's application to the court to reject the recording and its transcript is also denied," she said.

Firdaus was represented by lawyer Datuk Shukri Mohamed. MACC deputy public prosecutor Datuk Abdul Razak Musa, assisted by Mohd Josiendra Abu Senin and Mohd Ahsan Latif, prosecuted.

In mitigation, Shukri said his client was only 28 years old and married with an 11-month-old child, and it was his first offence.

He also said the accused was the sole earner in an extended family that included his mother who had to make kuih to supplement the household income. The lawyer added that the accused had suffered punishment as the case had been given wide media coverage even before the court found him guilty.

Razak, asking for a heavy sentence, said the accused's duty was to uphold the law but he had abused his position for his personal interests.

"This is a serious case and it is not right for the court to sympathise with him just because he is a legal officer.

"I call on the court to mete out a balanced sentence without fear of favour."

After the sentence was handed down, Shukri applied to the court to set aside the jail sentence and the fine until the appeal was heard.

Sabariah agreed to set aside the jail sentence but ordered the fine to be paid within three months. She also raised the bail from RM4,000 to RM8,000 pending appeal.

Ancient Gaza tunnels discovered

Archaeologists digging at a site on Gaza's border with Egypt have discovered ancient tunnels in the same area as today's smuggling tunnels.

They are believed to be a part of a hidden city that is estimated to be over two thousand years old. However, the excavation work is complicated by the blockade of Gaza and there is also the constant risk of being hit by an Israeli rocket targeting a modern tunnel.

There is also a shortage of funding for adequate excavation and looters are a constant threat.

Al Jazeera 's Bernard Smith reports.

Source: Al Jazeera